Abstract: A disc drive is provided with an optical pick-up for reading data recorded in a program area of an optical disc; and a photo-interrupter for optically reading out bar information of a bar code which is arranged in an arc shape within at least a part of an annular bar code area provided on the optical disc between the program area and a clamping area of the optical disk so as to be readable from either side of the top and underside surfaces of the optical disk, wherein the photo-interrupter is located on the opposite side of the optical disc relative to the optical pick-up when the optical disc is loaded in the disc drive to read the information of the bar code from that position. Preferably, the photo-interrupter is provided on a clamper support which is provided for supporting a disc clamper for holding the optical disc between the disc clamper and a turntable for rotating the optical disc. This arrangement makes it easy to provide the photo-interrupter for reading the bar code.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a disc drive main body having a playback or recording/playback mechanism of a disc and a disc tray which is constructed to support the disc thereon and is movable with respect to the disc drive main body between a disc eject position and a disc loaded position; and a motor provided in the disc drive main body for moving the disc tray, wherein the moving speed of the disc tray is variable by changing the number of rotations of the motor. The motor is driven by rectangular pulses from the motor driver, in which the number of rotations of the motor is varied by changing the on/off widths of the rectangular pulses so that the moving speed of the disc tray is reduced in a stepwise manner over the period from the start to the stop of the disc tray movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading an identification indication such as a bar code provided on an optical disk is provided. The bar code is provided in at least a part of an annular-shaped bar code area formed between a program area and a clamping area of the optical disc, and the bar code represents predetermined information and has a reading end representation at the rear portion of the bar code in the rotational direction of the optical disc. The apparatus comprises a detector for optically acquiring the information of the bar code and a discriminating section for discriminating based on the output from the detector as to whether the bar code is accurately read.