Abstract: A circuit for electronically compensating for optical and mechanical instabilities induced into the focus control and tracking control servo circuits of an optical disk apparatus. The circuit contains a filter and a variable gain amplifier for passing a tracking error signal compensation component at a selected frequency within the range of frequencies in which mechanical resonance is significant and at a magnitude equal to the focus error signal component at that frequency. The result is the electronic elimination of optical feedthrough at mechanically resonating frequencies. A calibration circuit establishes the compensation component magnitude for each optical disk inserted into the apparatus.

Abstract: Error correction in a feedback servo system. The feedback servo loop in, for example, a head positioning circuit in an optical disk data recording and retrieval system is provided with means for forcing the feedback signal to zero when the head is positioned at best focus as determined by a peak in the laser monitoring diode. The head in such a system must be dynamically maintained at a best focus position but, through use and transporting, the alignment of the head position error detecting system can be disturbed. In some cases, the loop circuit parameters may drift from their original values. To correct for errors introduced from such causes, the head is positioned at best focus and the focus error (head position error) signal is sensed. A correction system forces the sensed value to zero, e.g, by adjusting the gain of amplifiers used in the feedback loop.