Abstract: A digital servo system of an optical disk drive with a calibrated inverse non-linearity function is disclosed. A look-up table is determined, for example, with a focus error signal gain corresponding with a focus error signal offset so that the response of the focus servo system is substantially linear. Additionally, the look-up table can include tracking error signal gain, tracking error signal offset, or tracking loop gain parameters corresponding with the focus error signal offset.

Abstract: A control system for an optical disc for optical media with a premastered area that cannot be overwritten and a user-writeable area that can be overwritten, comprises a first processor operable to communicate with a second processor via a status register. The first processor sequences and monitors functions performed in the second processor and the second processor issues an interrupt when an error condition is detected in the second processor. The first processor detects the interrupt, and disables detecting further interrupts until the interrupt is serviced. Servicing the interrupt includes recording the error state and changing focus and tracking parameters based on the error condition detected.

Abstract: A system and method for handling events issued as a result of error conditions in the operation of an optical disc drive include suspending processing of commanded operations in the disc drive while attempting to recover from the error condition. The recovery attempt can include increasing levels of recovery effort, such as dynamically recalibrating various components in the disc drive. The system can also determine whether a previous notice was received for the same error condition. If so, the system can determine whether excessive recovery attempts have been initiated based criteria such as the time between the notices, and/or the number of notices, for the same error condition. The recovery attempts are aborted when they become excessive. If the recovery attempt is successful, the interrupted operation is resumed at the point where the processing was suspended, such as during a write or read command.

Abstract: A design tool for assembling component objects to form an object-based computer system application includes a declarative user input interface mechanism and a design engine. The declarative user input interface mechanism provides an input structure for the input of user declarations specifying operative interactions between component objects. The design engine automatically generates, in response to input user declarations, an application design definition modeling an application infrastructure for managing component object interactions. The design engine automatically generates, in response to input user declarations, a match between an application view field definition and a parameter of an associated component object operations.

Abstract: A calibration of input signal offset in an optical disk drive is presented. The input signal offsets the input signals received from an optical pick-up unit before digitization. In some embodiments, the input signal offset is set such that the digitized input signals are zero when laser power is off. Further, a thermal drift correction is presented.

Abstract: A head load algorithm for an optical disk drive is presented. On startup, the optical media can be spun up. Then an optical pick-up unit can be positioned at an extreme position, for example at the inner diameter, and focus can be closed. The optical pick-up unit then can be incrementally moved away from the extreme position while the tracking error signal is monitored to locate an area of the optical media with tracks. Once the area is located, a tracking servo system can close on one of the tracks.

Abstract: A calibration for a tracking error signal gain in a tracking servo system of an optical disk drive is presented. The calibration determines the peak-to-peak tracking error signal when the tracking servo system is open, calculates a gain factor in response to the peak-to-peak tracking error signal, and calculates a new tracking error signal gain based on the tracking error signal gain and the gain factor. New tracking error signal gains are calculated until the gain factor is approximately one.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a motor system that addresses the design challenges for the small form factor optical disk system. The control system can include a first module for providing a period error, a proportional gain (Kp) and an integration gain (Ki); a second module for operating on the Ki and Kp to provide an output; and a third module for commutating the motor in response to the output.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a motor system that addresses the design challenges for the small form factor optical disk system. The control system can be operable to obtain digital feedback from a spin motor. The present invention includes detecting data representing a position on an optical medium and determining a detection rate; comparing the detection rate to a reference rate to provide an error rate; generating an output command in response to the error rate to provide a drive output which commands a voltage applied to a spin motor to adjust the spin speed of said spin motor.

Abstract: A close tracking algorithm for a tracking servo system is disclosed. The track crossing rate of an optical pick-up unit positioned over an optical media is determined. When the track crossing rate is below a threshold value, then a tracking servo algorithm is enabled. The tracking servo algorithm provides control signals to control an actuator arm that controls the position of the optical pick-up unit over the tracks of the optical media. In some embodiments, the track crossing rate can be determined by monitoring the zero crossings of a tracking error signal derived from optical signals measured in the optical pick-up unit.

Abstract: A media type detector in a tracking and focus servo system is presented. Operating parameters for a first media type are loaded and a peak-to-peak value of a tracking error signal is calculated. Whether the media type is the first media or a second media can then be determined by comparing the peak-to-peak value with a threshold value.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for recovering from performance errors in an optical disc drive is provided for optical media with a pitted premastered area that cannot be overwritten and a grooved user-writeable area that can be overwritten. The system includes instructions operable to detect a problem with at least one of: focus control, tracking control, or spin control when accessing the optical media; instructions operable to save the current state of the disc drive; instructions operable to attempt to recover from the problem; and instructions operable to restore the current state of the disc drive after recovering from the problem.

Abstract: A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices during certain off-peak hours comprises three types of periods: an earning period over which earned credits are accumulated responsive to the level of play on the gaming device, a redeeming period where the earned credits can be played, and a regular period where credits are neither earnable or playable. In this way, the player is given an incentive to play during certain times of the week which are otherwise off-peak playing times where the casino might be relatively empty. The amount of credits earned and redeemed can also be dependent upon the player level so that more valuable customers are given preferential bonuses to encourage play.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling spin speed, which includes a module for receiving an indication to make a velocity change from a first RPM to a second RPM. The difference between the first RPM and the second RPM is a predetermined value. The module is operable to rotate an optical medium at a maximum control effort from the first RPM to the second RPM, and rotate the optical medium with a proportional plus integral (P+I) control at the second RPM.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing samples, such as biological samples, to accurately and effectively determine the susceptibility of the samples to antimicrobial materials, so as to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the respective samples and antimicrobial materials. At each of a plurality of time intervals, the system and method directs a plurality of different analyzing light wavelengths, such as red, green and blue wavelengths, onto each of a plurality of sample wells, and detects a respective resultant light wavelength emanating from the respective sample wells for each of the analyzing light wavelengths. The system and method uses resultant light wavelengths to generate at least two growth indicator characteristic curves representing, for example, the redox state and turbidity characteristics of the sample wells.

Abstract: A device with an optical disk drive with a digital servo system for controlling tracking or focus in an optical disk driver is presented. A servo system according to the present invention includes an optical pick-up with detectors providing optical signals, an analog processor receiving the optical signals and providing a digital signal, and digital processors receiving the digital signal and providing a control signal that controls the position of the optical pick-up unit. The digital processor executes an algorithm that calculates an error signal, provides amplification and biasing to the error signal, provides filtering for the error signal, and computes the control signal. The error signal can be the focus error signal or the tracking error signal. The device can be any device.

Abstract: A system and method for scanning individuals for illicit objects include the ability to scan a wheeled user transport device and an individual being transported thereby for metallic objects and to determine whether an illicit object may be present, without activating an alarm for the user transport device while detecting illicit objects on the individual.

Abstract: A determination of a focus sum threshold in a tracking and focus servo system of an optical disk drive is presented. The focus sum threshold can be determined by moving an optical pick-up unit sinusoidally through a focus position, for example by moving the optical pick-up unit between its closest position to an optical media and its farthest position from the optical media. While moving the optical pick-up unit, a sum signal is monitored. In some embodiments, the sum signal is the sum of signals from a plurality of detectors in the optical pick-up unit. The focus sum threshold is set to a fraction of a peak value of the sum signal.

Abstract: A digital servo system for controlling tracking or focus in an optical disk driver is presented. A servo system according to the present invention includes an optical pick-up with detectors providing optical signals, an analog processor receiving the optical signals and providing a digital signal, and digital processors receiving the digital signal and providing a control signal that controls the position of the optical pick-up unit. The digital processor executes an algorithm that calculates an error signal, provides amplification and biasing to the error signal, provides filtering for the error signal, and computes the control signal. The error signal can be the focus error signal or the tracking error signal.

Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices are described. Ambient light from a natural or artificial source is used to replace and/or supplement light normally supplied by a backlight. This is done by directing ambient light to the rear of a transmissive display panel. A window, light tunnel, or a reflective surface located in the rear or top of a display device may be used to direct the ambient light to the back of the display panel. A translucent diffuser and/or diffuse reflector are used to diffuse the ambient light to reduce the chance of bright spots appearing on the display. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of light, incident on the front and/or rear of a display panel and by automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. In this manner, backlight intensity can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.