Abstract: A device for optically scanning an information plane having tracks. Radiation is supplied by a radiation source focused on the information plane by an objective system. The beam reflected by the information plane is incident on a dividing element, for example a grating which divides the beam into two halves along a dividing line. Two sub-gratings at both sides of the dividing line each form a detection beam from one half of the beam, which detection beams are detected each by a detector. A focus error signal is generated from the detector signals by forming a difference signal of the two detector signals and dividing this difference signal by the sum signal of the two detector signals. The focus error signal is relatively insensitive to the position accuracy of the detectors with respect to the detection beams.

Abstract: A laser power supply control circuit may, when the power supply is initially turned on, temporarily permit an excessive supply voltage which may damage the laser. To prevent that, but without restricting the operating range or speed of response of the control circuit, the invention provides a sensing circuit for deriving a sensor signal indicative of a change in the loop gain of the control circuit when it departs from its normal operating mode. The sensor signal is used to prevent the power supply control signal from increasing excessively after a temporary reduction in supply voltage, but permits the control signal to operate substantially immediately when the supply voltage returns to its normal operating range.

Abstract: Optoelectronic devices in which optoelectronic components comprising a diode laser are fastened on a carrier plate having good heat conduction, and in which the carrier plate is provided with connection conductors for the components which are separated from the carrier plate by an electrically insulating medium, are used inter alia in equipment for optical reading and/or writing of information carriers such as CD (audio) or CDROM. The known device is comparatively expensive, especially because of the necessity of using a special connector when a flexible connection is desired. According to the invention, the electrically insulating medium comprises a strip-shaped flexible foil which carries conductor tracks, extends over and beyond the carrier plate, is fastened on the carrier plate, and has a void above the carrier plate in which the diode laser is present.

Abstract: A current amplifier arrangement in which a current-current converter (30) has an input connected to the input (33) of the current amplifier arrangement and a power supply input (34, 35) to which a current source (51-54) is connected a current mirror circuit (31, 32, 42, 44)has an input connected to the output (36-39) current converter and an output (46-49) connected to the output (50) of the current amplifier arrangement. The current converter includes a first output transistor (T1, T3) whose main current path is arranged between the input (33) and the output (37, 39) of the converter and whose base is connected to the power supply input (34, 36), and a diode-connected driver transistor (T2, T4) connected between the base of the first output transistor (T1, T3) and a node (K) which provides a reference potential during operation. The main current path of a second output transistor (T5, T6) is connected to the output of the arrangement and the base of this transistor is connected to said node.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising a radiation-sensitive element (A . . . D). The radiation-sensitive element includes a transistor (T) having an emitter region (6), a base region (4) and a collector region (2), and further a radiation-sensitive region (7) having a rectifying junction (5). Due to the presence of the transistor (T), such an element (A . . . D) can supply a considerably larger output signal than a photodiode. On the contrary, however, the first-mentioned element (A . . . D) is comparatively slow as compared with a photodiode due to the parasitic capacitance of the rectifying junction (5). The invention obviates this disadvantage in that according to the invention the radiation-sensitive region (7) has at least a first subregion (71) and a second subregion (72) and the transistor (T) is subdivided into two subtransistors (T.sub.1, T.sub.2), whose base regions (4) are separately connected to the subregions (71, 72).

Abstract: A focus control system for optical record carrier scanning apparatus includes a mechanical actuator (13) for moving the focus of the scanning beam relative to a recording layer of the record carrier, a focus-error detection circuit (15, 16, 17) for generating a focus-error signal (FE), and a control circuit (26) for generating a first control signal (AS') for the actuator (13) which is proportional to the focus-error signal (FE). In order to ensure that the actuator is within its generating range when it locks-in to the focus-error signal, the system also includes a lock-in circuit (20) having a signal generator (21) and an integrator (23) for generating an additional control signal (AS') for the actuator (13) prior to lock-in.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive semiconductor device, more particularly but not exclusively a photo detection arrangement for determining the postion of a luminous spot, including a semiconductor body having at least two radiation-sensitive diodes and amplifying circuitry for the photocurrent generated by the luminous spot. The amplifying circuitry includes transistors arranged outside the area of the semiconductor body occupied by the radiation-sensitive diodes. Each transistor is assigned to and connected to a radiation-sensitive diode, while at least the active parts of the transistors are arranged more closely to each other in the semiconductor body than the diodes to which they are assigned. A focusing arrangement may advantageously incorporate such as semiconductor photodetector.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor body having a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, which adjoins with one side a surface of the semiconductor body and adjoins within it at a certain distance from and substantially parallel to the surface a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first type and forms with it a first pn junction. Such semiconductor devices are used in a reading or writing unit for a system for optical recording, such as CD, LV, DOR and CDV.In one embodiment having a semiconductor region at least two further regions are present, which are located at the surface and each form with the first semiconductor region a further pn junction substantially parallel to the surface and at a smaller distance therefrom than the first pn junction. Moreover, the further regions, like the first semiconductor region, are coupled to reading members, by means of which a current can be measured.

Abstract: Apparatus for scanning a record carrier having substantially parallel recording tracks, which apparatus includes a position control system with position and velocity feedback for controlling the scanning point toward the center of a track being scanned. Such position control system produces a velocity signal (RS) indicative of the velocity of the scanning point and an error signal (RE) which, within a limited first range to either side of the track center, is proportional to the deviation from the track center. The position control system has a feedback loop which includes a control circuit for controlling the positioning of the scanning point in accordance with the error signal (RE) and the velocity signal (RS), such control circuit generating at least one substitute error signal (PE', UC') when the scanning point deviation is in a second range beyond the aforesaid first range, the substitute error signal having a sign indicative of the direction of such deviation.

Abstract: In a multi-track record carrier the data is stored in words which comprise an increased number of smybols as a result of added redundancy. In order to neutralize so-called burst errors, the symbols of a word are stored in a distributed manner, for example by interleaving. In the case of loss of track, a regrouped word may then actually consist of parts of two or more different words (i.e. words situated on several tracks). Decoding of such a word is prevented in practice in that a series of symbols are invalidated in the case of loss of track, for example by inversion or by means of an invalidity flag.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reading an optically readable record carrier, in which apparatus various control signals are derived from signals obtained by sampling the signals supplied by two optical-detector halves with the bit frequency both during the intermediate areas and the pits, the samples taken during the pits being processed separately from the samples taken during the intermediate areas.Preferably, only one sample is taken for each pit and each intermediate area, namely only if the pit or intermediate area is longer than a specific number of clock periods.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information in the form of one or more information blocks in the track of a record carrier, for example a compact-disc digital audio player, is equipped with a memory having n storage locations for storing in each of these storage locations one sequence number corresponding to an information block (if present) whose beginning is situated in a portion of the record carrier corresponding to each storage location, where n<99, and first means for the storage of or containing data relating to the size and the location of the portions on the record carrier, or for the storage of or containing data from which the size and the location of the portions on the record carrier can be derived. Suitably, n is not greater than 10. By means of such an apparatus searching for a following track number that has been selected can be effected more rapidly.

Abstract: A D/A converter providing a binary weighted series of currents (I.sub.3, I.sub.4, I.sub.5) via first current-source transistors (T.sub.3, T.sub.4, T.sub.5) each in a given ratio to a reference current (I.sub.1) in a reference transistor (T.sub.1). The weighted currents are switched to analog output (15) or to positive supply terminal (20) via first switching devices (3.1, 3.2, 3.3). A control device includes a second current-source transistor (T.sub.8) connected to a reference-current source or to the positive supply terminal via a second switching device (4). The current (I.sub.8) in the transistor T.sub.8 has a given ratio to the reference current (I.sub.1). By connecting the second current-source transistor to the positive supply terminal or to the reference current source, the reference transistor carries the full reference current (I.sub.ref) from the reference current source or only a fraction of the full reference current, respectively. As the weighted currents are in a given ratio to the current (I.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading a disc-shaped record carrier with a light beam. A radial positioning apparatus controls the radial position of the light beam spot on the information track of a record carrier. A lock-in system is provided for switching the radial positioning apparatus into a tracking mode when the light spot is positioned to coincide with the information track. The direction of relative radial movement between the light spot and the information track is detected and a first control signal is supplied to initiate radial tracking of the information track when the relative radial movement between the reading beam and the information track changes from an outward movement of the light spot over the track to an inward movement of the light spot over the track. At the instant the transition occurs, the radial positioning apparatus is enabled to permit the read spot to follow the information track.

Abstract: For detecting whether an input signal is above or below a reference level in such a way that brief signal interruptions and negative spurious pulses are not interpreted as decreases below the reference level, the detector includes an input comparator, a first delay circuit, a second delay circuit and an output circuit. The first delay circuit comprises a first integrator comprising a first transistor and a first capacitor, a first current source and a second comparator. The second delay circuit comprises a second integrator with a second transistor and a second capacitor, a second current source and a third comparator. The first delay circuit and the second delay circuit have equal delay times.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing optical discs is described, in which for a smoother locking-in of the focus servo control the focussing error signal is initially derived from the amplitude of the h.f. signal, followed by a gradual change-over to a difference signal derived by means of subdetectors. In this way the focus control point with the servo loop closed is shifted towards the desired in-focus point.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reading optically coded discs. In this apparatus the photodiode signals are amplified by current amplifiers which are biased by the unipolar photodiode signal currents, so that offset-free class-B operation is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reproducing digital information from an optically readable disc. In order to measure the phase difference between a channel clock and the intersections of the data signal being read with a decision level, samples on both sides of said intersections are interpolated and the amplitudes of the samples are compared with the decision level. The amplitude difference is a measure of the phase difference.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading an optical record carrier on which information has been digitally recorded as a track of pit and land areas. The apparatus detects track-loss by comparing the amplitudes of the signals obtained from read-out of the pit areas with the signals obtained from read-out of the land areas. The signals are sampled in synchronism with the frequency of the digital bits stored on the record carrier and are processed digitally.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reading an optically readable record carrier in which a light beam which has been modulated by the record carrier is incident on a detector divided into four quadrants. A tracking-error signal is obtained by measuring the time intervals between corresponding zero crossings of a first signal supplied by two diagonally situated sub-detectors of said detector and a second signal supplied by the two other diagonally situated sub-detectors and/or all four sub-detectors.