Abstract: A method to determine an optimal erase power in an optical disc apparatus detects optimal erase power in an erasing operation before performing an optimum power calibration (OPC) for detecting optimal recording power of an optical disc, and includes: acquiring a power-to-modulation curve, in which applied power is changed to adjust an amount of light which is incident on the optical disc; calculating an amount of change of modulation according to the change of the power in the power-to-modulation curve; and setting the optimal erase power using the calculated change amount of the modulation. Therefore, a part to have the OPC performed is erased by the optimal erase power and then the OPC is performed such that an OPC performance result having a relatively high reliability can be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling power of a laser diode (LD) are provided, which allow the power of the laser diode (LD) affecting a performance of an optical recording apparatus to be constantly maintained at an optimum state, regardless of a variation in temperature. The method for controlling power of a laser diode (LD) used for an optical recording apparatus to record data in an optical recording device comprises: a) sampling the LD's power generated when data is recorded; and b) compensating for a variation of the LD's power changed according to sampling locations.