Abstract: An optical disk apparatus capable of determining the type of a loaded optical disk. In accordance with an RF signal output from a pickup, an RF processing section of the optical disk apparatus generates a focus signal (an FOK signal), which is an envelope of the RF signal, and supplies the focus signal to a DSP. In the DSP, the level of the FOK signal is compared with a threshold value, and a result of comparison is supplied to a controller. The controller determines occurrence of defocus on the basis of the comparison result. Concurrently, the controller quantitatively evaluates the level of the FOK signal by means of sequentially changing the threshold value, thereby determining the type of the optical disk on the basis of the reflectivity of the optical disk.

Abstract: A disk device for improving a S/N ratio is provided with a spindle motor control substrate 10 arranged below a tray 3 via a buffer material and a medium substrate 12 arranged at a position different from the spindle motor control substrate 10 below the tray 3. The spindle motor control substrate 10, the medium substrate 12 and the main control substrate 7 of the device body are connected each other with a flexible print circuit (FPC) 9. The medium substrate 12 and a pickup head 1c are connected with other FPC. The head detection signal is provided to the main control substrate 7 through the medium substrate 12. A driver IC for motor drive system is carried on the spindle motor control substrate 10. The motor drive signal is apart from the head detection signal and is provided to a spindle motor 1a or a head transferring motor.

Abstract: A recording medium driving apparatus is provided. A signal from the tray position sensor 13 is provided to the connection point E to control a mute signal generator 80a in the driver IC. When the system controller is abnormal, the potential of the connection point E is low according to the signal from the tray position sensor 13, even though the HIGH signal is output on the buses 172, 75. The mute signal from the mute signal generator 80a is output, and the sled motor driver, the spindle motor driver and the solenoid driver for driving the solenoid 28b of the lock mechanism are maintained at the off state. Even though the system controller is abnormal, the sled motor and the lock mechanism of the tray are maintained at the non-driven state.

Abstract: A disk device includes a housing in which a disk is provided, a disk support member for supporting the disk in the housing so that the disk can be rotated, and a driving part for rotating the disk support member, wherein the housing includes an air intake part for introducing air to an adjacent place to the disk support member.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus capable of determining the type of a loaded optical disk. In accordance with an RF signal output from a pickup, an RF processing section of the optical disk apparatus generates a focus signal (an FOK signal), which is an envelope of the RF signal, and supplies the focus signal to a DSP. In the DSP, the level of the FOK signal is compared with a threshold value, and a result of comparison is supplied to a controller. The controller determines occurrence of defocus on the basis of the comparison result. Concurrently, the controller quantitatively evaluates the level of the FOK signal by means of sequentially changing the threshold value, thereby determining the type of the optical disk on the basis of the reflectivity of the optical disk.

Abstract: A disk device for improving a SIN ratio is provided with a spindle motor control substrate 10 arranged below a tray 3 via a buffer material and a medium substrate 12 arranged at a position different from the spindle motor control substrate 10 below the tray 3. The spindle motor control substrate 10, the medium substrate 12 and the main control substrate 7 of the device body are connected each other with a flexible print circuit (FPC) 9. The medium substrate 12 and a pickup head 1c are connected with other FPC. The head detection signal is provided to the main control substrate 7 through the medium substrate 12. A driver IC for motor drive system is carried on the spindle motor control substrate 10. The motor drive signal is apart from the head detection signal and is provided to a spindle motor 1a or a head transferring motor.

Abstract: A recording medium driving apparatus is provided. A signal from the tray position sensor 13 is provided to the connection point E to control a mute signal generator 80a in the driver IC. When the system controller is abnormal, the potential of the connection point E is low according to the signal from the tray position sensor 13, even though the HIGH signal is output on the buses 172, 75. The mute signal from the mute signal generator 80a is output, and the sled motor driver, the spindle motor driver and the solenoid driver for driving the solenoid 28b of the lock mechanism are maintained at the off state. Even though the system controller is abnormal, the sled motor and the lock mechanism of the tray are maintained at the non-driven state.

Abstract: A CD-ROM drive has a disk tray ejectable from a data transfer position within a casing, where the disk is read, to a load/unload position outside the casing where the disk is loaded on and unloaded from the tray. Being locked in the data transfer position against the bias of an ejector spring, the tray is ejected by being unlocked by brief energization of a solenoid under the direction of a controller. The solenoid might overheat to self-destruction if, upon malfunctioning of the controller, it were left energized after tray ejection. A protection circuit is therefore provided for permitting a solenoid driver circuit to energize the solenoid in response to an ejection command from the controller only when the tray is in the data transfer position.

Abstract: A recording medium loading device includes a chassis, a movable unit for holding a recording medium, and a lock unit including a lock member and an operation member. The movable unit is movable between a housed position in which the movable unit is housed in the chassis and an ejected position to which the movable unit is ejected from the chassis. The lock member is movable between a locking position to lock the movable unit in the housed position and an unlocking position to unlock the movable unit. The operation member includes an operation part and an engaging part engaging the lock member. The operation part is manually operated to move the operation member so that the operation member moves the lock member from the locking position to the unlocking position by applying force to the lock member through the engaging part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for allowing the innermost radial position of the optical pickup on an optical disk mounted on an optical disk drive to be detected, without having to use the inner switch.

Abstract: A CD-ROM drive (2) is disclosed which has a safety circuit (40). The safety circuit (40) includes a NOR gate (51) having one input connected to a disk motor drive control signal terminal (48) of a system controller (31), and another input connected to the output (P1) of a sensor (13). The system controller (31) puts out a signal that goes low for activating a motor (18) and high for inactivating the same. The motor (18) is set into rotation when the NOR gate (51) is high, and out of rotation when the NOR gate is low. When the sensor (13) is high, however, the NOR gate (51) goes low, stopping the motor (18), regardless of the other input to the NOR gate from the system controller (31).

Abstract: An optical disk drive capable of error-free reading of any such optical disks as CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs in the face of a possible offset in the asymmetry of the RF data signal from the transducer. Included is a comparator for providing a binary data signal comparing the RF data signal with a reference voltage fed back from the comparator output via a low-pass filter. For optimization of the reference voltage for most error-free reading, an optimization circuit is provided which supplies a series of corrective values to be added to the reference voltage. Having an input connected to an error detector/corrector circuit on the output side of the comparator, the optimization circuit compares the error rates at all the corrective values added to the reference voltage and determines the optimum corrective value at which the error rate is at a minimum.

Abstract: A disk device includes a housing in which a disk is provided, a disk support member for supporting the disk in the housing so that the disk can be rotated, and a driving part for rotating the disk support member, wherein the housing comprises an air intake part for introducing air to an adjacent place to the disk support member.

Abstract: A recording medium loading device includes a chassis, a movable unit for holding a recording medium, and a lock unit including a lock member and an operation member. The movable unit is movable between a housed position in which the movable unit is housed in the chassis and an ejected position to which the movable unit is ejected from the chassis. The lock member is movable between a locking position to lock the movable unit in the housed position and an unlocking position to unlock the movable unit. The operation member includes an operation part and an engaging part engaging the lock member. The operation part is manually operated to move the operation member so that the operation member moves the lock member from the locking position to the unlocking position by applying force to the lock member through the engaging part.

Abstract: An optical disk drive driving an optical disk includes a vibration detecting part for detecting a vibration due to rotation of the optical disk, an operation part for calculating a rotational speed of the optical disk at which the vibration detected by the vibration detecting part is equal to or close to a given threshold value which is a critical point for tolerable vibration, and a control part for controlling the optical disk to be rotated at the rotational speed calculated by the operation part.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus prevents an occurrence of an error in the mirror signal due to a change in a reproducing speed or usage of different kinds of optical discs. A mirror circuit generates a mirror signal by comparing a level of a bottom signal with a level of a reference level signal. The bottom signal is detected from a reflection signal obtained by optically scanning the optical disc. A reference level control circuit generates a reference level control signal based on the reproducing speed. A reference level signal setting circuit sets a level of the reference level signal in accordance with the reference level control signal.

Abstract: A disk storage unit according to the present invention has a head driving member for driving a float type head so that a head can be separated from a disk while the disk stops rotating and approached to the disk when the disk starts to rotate, and a head driving mechanism for driving the head driving member. Incidentally, the head driving mechanism may be made of shape memory alloy or piezoceramic.