Abstract: A reproducing device acquires a content information including a content ID and a number of reproduction times of a content from an external device. The reproducing device determines a reproduction order of the content based on the number of reproduction times. Then, the reproducing device acquires the content corresponding to the reproduction order from the external device via communication network to reproduce the content in the reproducing device. Thus, operations of a user are reduced when the content recorded in the external device is reproduced in the reproducing device.

Abstract: An optical disc reader comprising a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on an optical disc and a counter that counts the number of zero crossings in a tracking error signal. Between the completion of focusing operation and the start of tracking operation, the controller determines whether or not the light beam is properly focused on a data recording layer in the optical disc based on the number of zero crossings in the tracking error signal counted by the counter. If it is determined that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing operation to be performed again. Otherwise, if it is determined that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking operation to be performed and then starts the read operation.

Abstract: A detection signal is asserted when a surface of an optical disc or an information recording layer is detected. An asserting (masking) time interval of the detection signal is set such that the number of times of asserting the detection signal becomes at most two times when a focal position of the objective lens passes at least the surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes an optical pickup, a focus drive section, a detection section, a time measurement section and a disk identification section. The detection section detects reflected light reflected from an optical disk while the focus drive section moves a focus position of the optical pickup. The time measurement section measures a focus search time between when the reflected light reflected from a disk surface of the optical disk is detected and when the reflected light reflected from an information recording layer of the optical disk is detected. The time measurement section measures a false reflection search time between when the reflected light reflected from the disk surface is detected and when false reflection light is detected. The disk identification section calculates a ratio of the focus search time to the false reflection search time, and identifies a type of the optical disk based on the ratio.

Abstract: While reproducing information on an optical disc, an optical disc apparatus varies a focus balance value in both positive and negative directions from a currently set value thereof by ±a which will not affect reproduction operation, measures jitter levels c and d of a reproduced signal when the focus balance value is varied in the positive and negative directions, and calculates a difference e=c?d between the measured jitter levels. If this difference e exceeds a threshold value f, the optical disc apparatus varies the focus balance value by a specified amount g in a direction in which the difference e approaches 0, thereby updating the current focus balance value.

Abstract: An optical disc reader comprising a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on an optical disc and a counter that counts the number of zero crossings in a tracking error signal. Between the completion of focusing operation and the start of tracking operation, the controller determines whether or not the light beam is properly focused on a data recording layer in the optical disc based on the number of zero crossings in the tracking error signal counted by the counter. If it is determined that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing operation to be performed again. Otherwise, if it is determined that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking operation to be performed and then starts the read operation.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes an optical pickup, a measurement unit and a control unit. The optical pickup is configured to emit laser light to a disk to record data. The measurement unit is operatively coupled to the optical pickup to measure a peak value of a RF signal outputted from the optical pickup, a fluctuation amplitude of the peak value of the RF signal and an amplitude of the focus drive signal of the optical pickup. The control unit is operatively coupled to the measurement unit to correct the peak value of the RF signal measured during a second recording based on the fluctuation amplitude of the peak value of the RF signal and the amplitude of the focus drive signal measured during a first recording prior to the second recording.

Abstract: A detection signal is asserted when a surface of an optical disc or an information recording layer is detected. An asserting (masking) time interval of the detection signal is set such that the number of times of asserting the detection signal becomes at most two times when a focal position of the objective lens passes at least the surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes an optical pickup, a focus drive section, a detection section, a time measurement section and a disk identification section. The detection section detects reflected light reflected from an optical disk while the focus drive section moves a focus position of the optical pickup. The time measurement section measures a focus search time between when the reflected light reflected from a disk surface of the optical disk is detected and when the reflected light reflected from an information recording layer of the optical disk is detected. The time measurement section measures a false reflection search time between when the reflected light reflected from the disk surface is detected and when false reflection light is detected. The disk identification section calculates a ratio of the focus search time to the false reflection search time, and identifies a type of the optical disk based on the ratio.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus detects a predetermined tilt angle and a predetermined focus bias at least two detection points on an inner and an outer circumferences of the optical disk. On the basis of the predetermined tilt angle detected at the detection points, the apparatus estimates the predetermined tilt angle at a radial position of the optical disk, and also estimates a focus bias. The apparatus controls the tilt angle according to a radial position of target track and a focus bias on the basis of estimation results at the time of recording and reading data on the optical disk.

Abstract: While reproducing information on an optical disc, an optical disc apparatus varies a focus balance value in both positive and negative directions from a currently set value thereof by ±a which will not affect reproduction operation, measures jitter levels c and d of a reproduced signal when the focus balance value is varied in the positive and negative directions, and calculates a difference e=c?d between the measured jitter levels. If this difference e exceeds a threshold value f, the optical disc apparatus varies the focus balance value by a specified amount g in a direction in which the difference e approaches 0, thereby updating the current focus balance value.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes an optical pickup, a measurement unit and a control unit. The optical pickup is configured to emit laser light to a disk to record data. The measurement unit is operatively coupled to the optical pickup to measure a peak value of a RF signal outputted from the optical pickup, a fluctuation amplitude of the peak value of the RF signal and an amplitude of the focus drive signal of the optical pickup. The control unit is operatively coupled to the measurement unit to correct the peak value of the RF signal measured during a second recording based on the fluctuation amplitude of the peak value of the RF signal and the amplitude of the focus drive signal measured during a first recording prior to the second recording.

Abstract: At the initialization, a tilt mechanism 9 is activated in a state where an optical pick-up 3 is fixed, and set up at a position where an E-F phase difference obtained in a signal processing portion 4 is 180°. Thereafter, a reproducing operation is started. During the reproducing operation, the tilt mechanism 9 is not activated and the focus control is made with the focus servo by moving the optical pick-up 3 up or down, while the level of a focus error signal is within a certain range. Further, if the level of focus error signal is beyond the certain range because the optical disk 1 is greatly inclined, the tilt mechanism 9 is activated to cause the optical disk 1 to come closer to the optical pick-up 3 to enable the control of the focus servo.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus detects a predetermined tilt angle and a predetermined focus bias at least two detection points on an inner and an outer circumferences of the optical disk. On the basis of the predetermined tilt angle detected at the detection points, the apparatus estimates the predetermined tilt angle at a radial position of the optical disk, and also estimates a focus bias. The apparatus controls the tilt angle according to a radial position of target track and a focus bias on the basis of estimation results at the time of recording and reading data on the optical disk.

Abstract: At the initialization, a tilt mechanism 9 is activated in a state where an optical pick-up 3 is fixed, and set up at a position where the level of a focus error signal obtained from an output of the optical pick-up 3 is at minimum. Thereafter, a reproducing operation is started. During the reproducing operation, the tilt mechanism 9 is not activated and the focus control is made with the focus servo by moving the optical pick-up 3 up or down, while the level of focus error signal is within a certain range. Further, if the level of focus error signal is beyond the certain range because the optical disk 1 is greatly inclined, the tilt mechanism 9 is activated to cause the optical disk 1 to come closer to the optical pick-up 3 to enable the control of the focus servo.

Abstract: At the initialization, a tilt mechanism 9 is activated in a state where an optical pick-up 3 is fixed, and set up at a position where an E-F phase difference obtained in a signal processing portion 4 is 180°. Thereafter, a reproducing operation is started. During the reproducing operation, the tilt mechanism 9 is not activated and the focus control is made with the focus servo by moving the optical pick-up 3 up or down, while the level of a focus error signal is within a certain range. Further, if the level of focus error signal is beyond the certain range because the optical disk 1 is greatly inclined, the tilt mechanism 9 is activated to cause the optical disk 1 to come closer to the optical pick-up 3 to enable the control of the focus servo.