Abstract: The present invention ensures successful focus acquisition in an optical disk drive independent of a travelling speed of an objective lens at the time when a focus servo circuit loop is closed. The present invention provides sending a signal to a focus actuator for bringing an objective lens close to an in-focus position while a focus servo circuit loop is opened; closing the loop by shutting off the signal sent to the focus actuator; adding an offset of a predetermined level to the focus error signal; detecting that the focus error signal to which the offset is added reaches a predetermined level; and closing the loop when it is detected that the predetermined level is reached, and gradually decreasing the value of the offset to be added to the focus error signal.

Abstract: An optical disk drive apparatus operable under track following mode and seek mode wherein, upon the detection of a track following operation error, a seek operation is initiated for seeking a new target track at a predetermined number of tracks distant from the current track. The seek operation is controlled to follow a velocity profile thus regaining control over an optical head that may have been jolted into an out of control velocity when the track following error occurred. The velocity profile provides for a reduced velocity as the target track is approached. The new target track is selected at a relatively large number of tracks distant from the current track if the head velocity is high and at a relatively small number of current tracks if the head velocity is low. If the current track is sensed to be an outer track, the new target track is selected toward the inner track and if the current track is sensed to be an inner track, the new target track is selected to be an outer track.

Abstract: In this invention, a driving circuit for moving a head in the radial direction on the recording surface of a disk is coupled to a velocity detecting circuit for detecting the velocity at which the head moves. A velocity profile is provided for storing information on the target velocity of the head. A driving signal generating circuit is coupled to the velocity profile and the velocity detecting circuit for comparing a signal from the velocity detecting circuit with a signal from the velocity profile. The driving signal generating circuit outputs a driving signal to the driving circuit based on the result of the comparison. A controller is coupled to the driving circuit for measuring a time required for moving the head a predetermined distance at a predetermined reference value, and modifying the driving signal based on the result of the comparison. Scatter in feedback quantities or fluctuation in the driving signal during velocity control is thereby corrected.

Abstract: The invention calculates the number of track crossing signals to be counted until a target position is reached without an actual seek operation, thus making it possible to complete a seek operation in a short time and without the need of the additional seek operation disclosed in the related art. A memory means is provided for storing the relation between the number of tracks (Delta t) from a current position to a target position and an indicator of the movement of said optical head toward said target position. A control means is provided for calculating the number of track crossing signals to be counted during a seek operation based on said stored relation when the target position is given, and for generating a control signal causing said optical head to seek based on the number of the calculated track crossing signals.

Abstract: A printer head is connected to its counterbalance by a counter drive in a manner to reduce shock and noise when the printer head is reciprocated by a linear motor. The counter drive comprises a pulley and a pair of belts or wires which are wound approximately half way around the pulley in respective opposite directions on opposite sides of the pulley, with one end of each belt being connected to the counterbalance, and the other end of each belt being connected to the printer head. Thus, the counterbalance moves in the opposite direction of the printer head. A movable element of the linear motor is connected coaxially to the counterbalance, in a manner such that the weight of the movable element is included in the total weight of the counterbalance. The printer head is mounted on a carriage which the carriage has a roller spaced laterally from the shaft. slides along a shaft.