Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for accessing a hybrid disc. The hybrid disc has a plurality of recording layers corresponding to at least two different storage densities. A proposed method includes acquiring a parameter corresponding to accessing of a target recording layer of the plurality of recording layers, storing the acquired parameter, and when a specific signal is received, performing corresponding servo control operations to access the target recording layer according to the stored parameter.

Abstract: A data managing method and optical disc drive capable of handling decoding errors of readback data retrieved from an optical disc. The data managing method includes providing a buffering pointer and a decoding pointer; utilizing the buffering pointer to indicate an address utilized for storing an un-decoded readback data; controlling the decoding pointer to indicate a starting address of a data block currently being decoded; and when a decoding error occurs during decoding a specific data sector in the data block, updating the buffering pointer to indicate that the address of the storage device utilized for storing the un-decoded readback data corresponds to the staring address indicated by the decoding pointer for re-retrieving an un-decoded readback data corresponding to the data block.

Abstract: A method for expediting defect detection and burning used for a rewritable burning system and a rewritable disc detects whether or not a target write-in area contains an unreliable area (or a defect area) during a burning. A target write-in area is sought. Data stored in the target write-in area are read. Whether or not the data are in the unreliable area is detected. The target write-in area is sought. The desired data are written. Whether or not the unreliable aera exists is determined. The desired data stored in the unreliable area are written into a spare area, if the unreliable area exists. Whether or not the burning of all data is completed is determined. The burning is repeated until the burning of all data is completed, if the burning of all data is not completed.

Abstract: A control chip for updating firmware in an optical disk drive by hardware. The control chip includes a microprocessor for controlling actions of the optical disk drive, a decoder controlled by the microprocessor and connected to an external buffer memory and a host interface, a controller controlled by the microprocessor and connected to the decoder to receive control signals and data of the optical disk drive, an extra memory connected to the microprocessor for storing an update program routine, a DMA unit controlled by the microprocessor to read data from the external buffer memory, and a macro unit controlled by the microprocessor to receive data output from the DMA unit and to write the data into the non-volatile memory. Because the firmware is updated into the flash memory in the hardware architecture, the speed is fast and the microprocessor can execute other works while updating.

Abstract: A data managing method for an optical disc drive writing user data into an optical disc having defects. The data managing method includes: determining whether to suspend a first buffering space from receiving the user data according to an amount of data stored in a second buffering space; when the first buffering space receives data corresponding to a defect of the optical disc, not suspending the first buffering space from reading the user data, and transferring the data corresponding to the defect in the first buffering space to a second buffering space; and when an amount of data stored in the second buffering space reaches a predetermined value, suspending the optical disc drive from writing data stored in the first buffering space into a user data area, and driving the optical disc drive to write data stored in the second buffering space into the spare area.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively rebuffering at least a portion of a data block read from an optical storage medium. The apparatus comprises a storage device for buffering the data block, and a rebuffering control module for rebuffering a specific portion into the storage device according to a previous decoding result, and thereby updating the buffered data block.

Abstract: A microcontroller with expandable memory banks has a microprocessor, a plurality of memory banks with only one page for storing interrupt service routines(ISR), a memory bank control circuit connected to the microprocessor, and a multiplexer for connecting the microprocessor with the plurality of memory banks. The memory bank control circuit generates a selection signal according to an interrupt signal and a microprocessor interrupt service routine execution end signal. The multiplexer outputs a page selection signal from the microprocessor or outputs a predetermined page selection signal according to the output signal from the memory bank control circuit.

Abstract: A control chip for updating firmware in an optical disk drive by hardware. The control chip includes a microprocessor for controlling actions of the optical disk drive, a decoder controlled by the microprocessor and connected to an external buffer memory and a host interface, a controller controlled by the microprocessor and connected to the decoder to receive control signals and data of the optical disk drive, an extra memory connected to the microprocessor for storing an update program routine, a DMA unit controlled by the microprocessor to read data from the external buffer memory, and a macro unit controlled by the microprocessor to receive data output from the DMA unit and to write the data into the non-volatile memory. Because the firmware is updated into the flash memory in the hardware architecture, the speed is fast and the microprocessor can execute other works while updating.

Abstract: A control chip for updating firmware in an optical disk drive by hardware. The control chip includes a microprocessor for controlling actions of the optical disk drive, a decoder controlled by the microprocessor and connected to an external buffer memory and a host interface, a controller controlled by the microprocessor and connected to the decoder to receive control signals and data of the optical disk drive, an extra memory connected to the microprocessor for storing an update program routine, a DMA unit controlled by the microprocessor to read data from the external buffer memory, and a macro unit controlled by the microprocessor to receive data output from the DMA unit and to write the data into the non-volatile memory. Because the firmware is updated into the flash memory in the hardware architecture, the speed is fast and the microprocessor can execute other works while updating.

Abstract: A method for increasing the internal memory in a processor. The method includes providing an extended memory in the processor, adding bits to data addresses and register addresses with an address extender, and adding bits to stack addresses with a stack pointer generator so that the processor is capable of accessing memory addresses larger than the bit width of the command set of the processor. The method also includes carrying over the bits when the stack address exceeds the limit of the conventional memory and accessing the stack data exceeding the limit of the conventional memory in the extended memory.

Abstract: An optical disc drive includes a microprocessor, a control IC, an RF IC, and an interface unit. The microprocessor is electrically coupled to the control IC. The control IC is electrically coupled to the RF IC, a volatile RAM, an optional non-volatile ROM, and to a bus interface for communications with an external host. The interface unit is electrically coupled to the bus interface. Initialization of the optical disc drive is performed using initialization data stored in a non-volatile manner in the ROM, if present, or downloaded from the host if the ROM is not present. After the initialization, the interface unit signals an application program in the host to download the optical drive's operational firmware and writes received data into the RAM. The microprocessor is initialized with the operational firmware's starting address and the microprocessor executes the downloaded operational firmware. The ROM may also store read operation firmware to enable the optical disc drive to read data stored in the disc.

Abstract: An optical disc drive includes a microprocessor, a control IC, an RF IC, and an interface unit. The microprocessor is electrically coupled to the control IC. The control IC is electrically coupled to the RF IC, a volatile RAM, an optional non-volatile ROM, and to a bus interface for communications with an external host. The interface unit is electrically coupled to the bus interface. Initialization of the optical disc drive is performed using initialization data stored in a non-volatile manner in the ROM, if present, or downloaded from the host if the ROM is not present. After the initialization, the interface unit signals an application program in the host to download the optical drive's operational firmware and writes received data into the RAM. The microprocessor is initialized with the operational firmware's starting address and the microprocessor executes the downloaded operational firmware.

Abstract: A method of accessing encrypted instructions includes utilizing an instruction access controller to access an encrypted instruction, utilizing a microprocessor to drive the instruction access controller to access the encrypted instruction, decrypting the encrypted instruction to generate a decrypted instruction, and utilizing the microprocessor to operate according to the decrypted instruction.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory is installed in an electronic device. A method for updating a firmware code stored in a non-volatile memory includes: providing an updating control unit having a command set; providing the updating control unit with a trigger signal to enable at least one command of the command set; and utilizing the updating control unit to read/write the non-volatile memory according to the enabled command to update the firmware code. Wherein each command of the command set is a memory read/write command. The method further includes updating at least one command of the command set in real time. The present invention further provides an electronic device corresponding to the method.

Abstract: A method for switching modes of a circuit system. The circuit system includes at least a first memory device, a second memory device, and a microprocessor. The method includes utilizing the second memory device to store a program code division and utilizing the microprocessor to execute the program code division stored in the second memory device so that the microprocessor and the first memory device can accurately switch modes when the circuit system proceeds with mode-switching procedures.

Abstract: A method is provided for simultaneously loading and executing program code in a circuit system. The circuit system includes a plurality of memory devices, a microprocessor, and a loading circuit. The method includes dividing the program code into a plurality of code divisions and utilizing the microprocessor to execute at least a code division when the loading circuit loads any other code division into a memory device of the plurality of memory devices.

Abstract: A memory module of an electrical apparatus has a normal firmware section. A method for determining correctness of program code in the memory module includes making a value stored in at least one specific address match a first rule; providing a inspection instruction; and determining whether the value stored in at least one specific address matches the first rule or not according to the inspection instruction. The electrical apparatus executes the inspection instruction at power-on in order to determine correctness of the program code in the normal firmware section.

Abstract: When an optical storage drive executes a control procedure or operation, a method of handling an interrupt request includes utilizing the optical storage drive to receive an interrupt request from a control circuit; checking whether the interrupt request is a read command; if the interrupt request is a read command, checking whether data indicated by the read command is in a buffer; and if the indicated data in the buffer, transferring the corresponding data to the control circuit from the buffer to respond to the interrupt request.

Abstract: A method for accessing a memory to protect a memory section from being accessed or changed incorrectly when accessing the memory, the method includes (a) generating a first logic address data, (b) selectively outputting the first logic address data or a second logic address data as physical address data by using an address translator according to a control signal, and (c) accessing the memory according to the physical address data, wherein the second logic address data is a result obtained after operating the first logic address data.

Abstract: A method of searching a new writable address (NWA) for an optical recordable medium includes providing an optical pickup head and setting a first search starting point thereof; determining if NWA is located at the latest track and setting a search finishing point of the optical pickup head; setting a second search starting point as the distance between the search finishing point and the first search starting point is less than a first predetermined block time duration; decoding the stored digital information and lasting the step of decoding for a third predetermined block time from the first search starting point; and detecting whether a run-out block has been decoded during a N block time duration, wherein said N block time duration is less than said third predetermined block time duration, and determining said new writable address.