Abstract: Tracking device for an optical memory card includes an inclination information sampling unit for calculating changes per unit time of the low-frequency component of a tracking error signal, a detection unit for outputting a detection signal for duration of a deviation occurring during tracking that exceeds a predetermined standard range, a cumulative addition unit for cumulatively adding the output of the inclination information sampling unit of the low-frequency component of the tracking error signal that is generated when the detection signal is generated at each unit time during the generation of the detection signal, and a switch-over unit for outputting as an optical system tracking control signal the tracking error signal during the normal operation and the output of the cumulative addition unit during the outputting of the detection signal.

Abstract: A tracking device performs tracking correction by moving a mobile objective lens of an optical system in the transverse direction of tracks on an optical memory card in accordance with the tracking error of the optical system relative to the optical memory card. The tracking device includes comparison means for determining whether or not tracking error information is within a predetermined standard range and for generating a direction signal that represents the direction for correction, correcting signal generating means for generating a correcting signal when the result of the determination conducted by the comparison means is negative, and retaining portion moving means for moving a retaining portion of the objective lens in the direction indicated by the direction signal in response to the correcting signal delivered from the generating means.