Abstract: The present invention discloses an XY platform device with nanoscale precision including an optical pickup head for focusing and seeking the tracks of an optical data storage medium; a servo device for driving the optical pickup head to move in focusing and radial directions; a carrier platform for receiving a testing object thereon and providing a connecting member to be connected with the optical pickup head. With the focusing and radial movements of the optical pickup head, the carrier platform is driven to move accordingly, and thus achieving the high-precision and low-cost effects.

Abstract: A device for correcting optical path deviation of an optical pickup in an optical recording system includes a push-pull signal generator for generating a push-pull signal while the optical pickup is operated in a focusing and non-track-locking state, a low-pass filter module for generating a direct current (DC) level error signal from the push-pull signal, and a combiner for generating a calibrating servo signal based on the DC level error signal and a servo control signal from a servo controller of the optical recording system and for applying the calibrating servo signal to a servo mechanism of the optical recording system so as to adjust position of an objective lens of the optical pickup in order to maintain the DC level of the push-pull signal at an ideal level.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup and a signal processor. The optical pickup includes an optical splitting device which splits light emitted from a first light source into a main light beam and sub-light beams which are symmetrical with respect to the main light beam and irradiates the split light beams on a recording medium, and a light detection device which receives the main light beam and the sub-light beams reflected by the recording medium, so as to detect a tracking error signal in a three-beam method and one of a push-pull method and an improved push-pull method.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a frame, having a first face formed with a groove, a second face opposite to the first face, a first hole in which a diffraction grating is disposed, and a second hole communicated with the groove and the second face; a spring plate, attached to the first face; and a spring member, including a ring portion disposed in the first hole and abutting on the diffraction grating, a first arm portion extended from an outer peripheral edge of the ring portion and inserted in the groove, and a second arm portion connected to the first arm portion and inserted in the second hole.

Abstract: A CD-DVD compatible optical pickup in which both on-axis and off-axis light form a circular light spot on a recording surface of an optical recording medium, and an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus using the same. The CD-DVD compatible optical pickup includes an optical output module, an objective lens, an optical path conversion unit, a photodetector, and an actuator. The optical output module has a mount and light sources emitting light of different wavelengths. The objective lens focuses the emitted light onto two types of optical recording media. The optical path conversion unit between the optical output module and objective lens, converts incident light. The photodetector receives beams emitted from the light sources, reflected from the optical recording media, and then passed through the optical path conversion unit, detecting data and error signals. The actuator has a movable member, moving the objective lens and compensating focusing and tracking error signals.

Abstract: An optical pickup of an optical disc apparatus has a lens holder for holding an objective lens is pivoted with a guide shaft slidably in a direction in parallel with an optical axis of the objective lens and rotatably around the guide shaft in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. For focusing a laser beam on a data recording face of an optical disc in a focusing on operation, a wobble signal of rectangular waveform having a predetermined voltage and a predetermined frequency is applied to a tracking coil for reciprocally displacing the lens holder in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, while a focusing coil is driven for moving the lens holder in the direction in parallel with the optical axis. Thus, the lens holder can be moved smoothly along the guide shaft, so that the possibility of failure of the focusing the laser beam on the optical disc can be reduced drastically.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical pick-up adapted for moving an object lens (7) supported by a lens holder (2) in a focus direction in parallel to the optical axis direction thereof and in a tracking direction perpendicular to the focus direction, and for performing control of tilt angle serving to tilt the optical axis of the object lens following inclination of an optical disc. At the lens holder, there are provided a pair of focus coils (20) and a pair of tracking coils (30).

Abstract: A focus servo device is for focusing a light irradiated from a light source onto a recording medium surface via an objective lens. Assuming that a wavelength of the light is ?, a numerical aperture of the objective lens is NA, an average run length period of the recording medium standardized with ?/NA is RL, the track pitch standardized with ?/NA is TP, and the capture range of said focus servo device is CR [?m], the following equation applies: 0.114/(RL?0.72)+0.84?CR?18000(TP?0.69)5+3.13.

Abstract: Optical disc systems and methods for controlling movement of an optical pickup to an innermost perimeter of an optical disc using track information are provided. For example, an optical disc system includes an optical pickup that includes a tracking actuator, a focus actuator, and an objective lens and radiates a laser beam onto the optical disc to detect light reflected from the optical disc. The optical disc system also includes a radio frequency amplifier, a sled motor, a servo driver, and a servo signal processor that includes an optical pickup movement determiner and outputs a servo control signal, the optical pickup movement determiner determining from a track-related signal whether tracks are detected on the optical disc at a current position of the optical pickup and outputting a track determination signal indicating whether the optical pickup has moved to the innermost perimeter of the optical disc, based on the determination result.

Abstract: A system and method employing optical disc drives for quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biochemical parameters are provided. The system including a disc drive for supporting and rotating an optical disc including at least one sensor spot; a light source for directing light onto the sensor spot; at least one optical pickup for detecting light transmitted from the sensor spot, the transmitted light being indicative of a concentration of a compound; and an analog-to-digital converter for quantifying an intensity of the transmitted light. The method comprising the steps of preparing the optical disc with a plurality of sensor spots, the sensor spots being responsive to a compound; exposing the optical disc to a fluid; measuring intensity of transmitted light from at least one of the plurality of sensor spots; and correlating the measured intensity of transmitted light to an amount of compound exposed to the optical disc.

Abstract: In a layer jump, a control signal based on a focus error signal is masked in a period based on a moving speed of an objective lens so as not to be influenced by an unnecessary light component. Thereafter, an observation of the control signal based on the focus error signal is restarted, and a brake signal is sent to the objective lens, and a focus servo is switched to the ON status. Thus, accuracy of the layer jump is improved when the unnecessary light component exists in an interlayer portion of the focus error signal.

Abstract: A tilt control apparatus includes an orthogonal shift detector (9) which detects an orthogonal shift by comparing a pair of a plurality of tap coefficients (C1, . . . , C7) of a FIR filter and generates an orthogonal shift signal, and an actuator varies the inclination of the optical axis of the light beam to correct the orthogonal shift, and a tilt controller (10) controls the drive of the actuator in accordance with the orhogonal shift signal to minimize the orthogonal shift. In the information recording operation, the orthogonal shift obtained based on a recording track is previously stored in a temporary storage portion and the stored orthogonal shift is used to conduct the tilt control.

Abstract: A positioning control apparatus for controlling a moving member to trace the position of a target member which almost equally repeats the position shift at a predetermined period comprises a position detector for detecting a relative position error, a first adder for adding a delay signal and a position error signal, a signal delay unit for outputting the delay signal which is obtained by delaying an output signal of the first adder at a period corresponding to the position shift of the target member, a second adder for adding the position error signal and the delay signal, a third adder for adding an output of the second adder and the delay signal via a filter, a compensating unit for performing the compensation for offset and/or the compensation for stabilization of the positioning control apparatus based on an output of the third adder, a drive unit for driving the moving member based on an output of the compensating unit, and a delay-amount setting unit for setting the amount of delay of a signal delayed

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus (1) for recording and/or reproducing information on/from an information surface (3) of a rotatable optical disc (5), includes a supporting assembly (7), a spindle motor (15), associated with the supporting assembly (7), having a spindle (17) with a spindle axis (19) for rotating the optical disc (5), an optical lens unit (21) associated with the supporting assembly (7) for scanning an information surface (3) of said optical disc (5) mounted on the spindle (17), and including a focussing lens assembly (23) having a focussing lens (29), a swing arm assembly (35) which is rotatable about a swing axis (39), having a movable magnetic focussing unit (45) provided near a free end (37) of the swing arm assembly (35), for driving the the movable focussing lens assembly, and consequently, the focussing lens (29) along the focussing axis (31) so as to focus the optical beam (33) on the optical disc information surface (3), and a stationary magnetic focussing unit (46) magnetically cooperating t

Abstract: An apparatus for reading and/or writing data markings of an optical recording medium having data markings arranged along a track and header markings arranged laterally offset with respect to the center of the track, the apparatus having a header identification unit. According to the present invention an intermediate track signal is formed, which enables direction identification during the traversal of tracks. The present invention comprises an apparatus having a header sequence detector, a track crossing detector and an intermediate track detector, wherein the intermediate track detector is connected to outputs of the header identification unit, the track crossing detector and the header sequence detector, and generates an intermediate track signal.

Abstract: A disk drive determines whether or not a currently loaded disk is a gravity center deviated disk based on a tracking error signal detected at different disk rotation speeds.

Abstract: A micro actuator for controlling a focal depth includes: a lens for forming a focal point by focusing light coming from a light source; a lens mounting unit having a lens mounted therein and allowing the lens to move in one axial direction; and an electromagnetic force generator consisting of a constant magnetic field generating member having a magnetic field in a predetermined direction and a variable magnetic field generating member for changing direction and strength of a magnetic field according to direction and amount of a current, installed at and around the lens mounting unit and causing the lens to move in a direction of an electromagnetic force generated by interaction of the two magnetic field generating members. The micro actuator for controlling a focal depth can be fabricated in a ultra-compact size, available for a mass production, and has a fast response speed.

Abstract: An optical disc drive for reading encoded information, such as on a CD, CD-R, or DVD, is modified to read biological or chemical investigational features from a disc. The modifications can include software changes or the addition of hardware desirably without the need to modify the disc drive electronics.

Abstract: A servo error detector usable in an optical disk system is provided. An envelope detecting unit (24) detects the top envelopes and bottom envelopes of RF signals SA–SH, and top envelope signals SAtop–SHtop and bottom envelope signals SAbtm–SHbtm that represent the top envelope waveforms and bottom envelope waveforms of RF signals output from an optical detector. An analog/digital conversion unit (26) converts analog top envelope signals SAtop–SHtop and bottom envelope signals SAbtm–SHbtm corresponding to all input RF signals SA–SH to digital top envelope signals QAtop–QHtop and bottom envelope signals QAbtm–QHbtm, respectively. A digital operation unit (28) performs digital operation treatment for digital top envelope signals QAtop–QHtop and bottom envelope signals QAbtm–QHbtm to generate various servo error signals.

Abstract: Two light beams are incident on the same position on a surface of an object (105) to be measured obliquely from upper sides facing each other, and positions at which the reflecting light beams are incident on respective predetermined detection surfaces are detected by position detectors (102 and 104) for outputting respectively as position detection signals. The displacement of the surface to be measured is detected by obtaining the difference between or the sum of respective position detection signals so as to cancel the components in the directions opposite to each other out of the components indicating changes from the reference position included in respective position detection signals.

Abstract: An optical recording/playback apparatus of the present invention achieves proper focus control on a target recording layer of a single-layer disk or a multilayer disk. When the focus control is performed on the target information-recording layer of a recording medium, spherical-aberration compensation is first adjusted with respect to the thickness of a transmissive protection layer (cover layer) for the target information-recording layer. Alternatively, the adjustment may be made with respect to the average thickness of transmissive protection layers for the corresponding multiple information-recording layers. An objective lens is then moved along the optical axis to perform a focus-searching operation. In that case, the polarity of a focusing error signal and the level of a reflected-beam intensity signal generated as reflected-beam information are observed so as to perform the focusing operation.

Abstract: A method for checking the existence of an optical disk using a focusing signal is provided. The method in accordance with the present invention prevents misjudgement of the existence of an optical disk which is caused by noise contained in a focus error signal or by the low reflection ratio of a disk.

Abstract: A position information signal pattern is recorded into a recording medium. The position information signal pattern is configured by arranging graphics having a circular shape, a rectangular shape or the like surrounded by a certain closed curve as pattern elements on a plane, and arranging the pattern elements in circumferential and radial directions of a disc so that a phase and a head position establish a proportional relationship in two or more frequency components of a reproduced signal. Position signals of the two frequency components included in the reproduced signal from the position information signal pattern are obtained, and the two position signals are added up with a certain ratio so that a position signal without error is obtained.

Abstract: A laser driving integrated circuit (8) to drive a laser element is mounted in an optical housing, and a wiring pattern of an actuator line (6) for supplying an actuator (1) with drive signals to drive the actuator (1) through a relay circuit board and a wiring pattern of a laser drive line (5) for supplying drive signals from the laser driving integrated circuit (8) to the laser element are formed on the same flexible wiring board (4), and, when the flexible wiring board (4) is folded, a shielding part (7) connected to the ground line is arranged to intervene between the overlapping wiring patterns of the actuator line (6) and the laser drive line (5) of the flexible wiring board (4).

Abstract: An optical head in which a plurality of semiconductor laser chips are adhered on a mount surface perpendicular to the tracking servo direction of a focusing lens. Fluctuation of an optical spot power is reduced even if the tracking servo is performed by the optical head having dispersion of an inner surface direction when a plurality of the semiconductor laser chips are mounted. In FIG. 1, a plurality of the semiconductor laser chips 4a and 4b are arranged so as to have a mounting direction which is substantially perpendicular to the tracking servo direction of the focusing lens.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is adapted to read information signals from optical recording media of two different types such as a “DVD” and a “CD” for which two light beams with different wavelengths are used and comprises a photodetector having a single light receiving section that can be shared by optical recording media of two different types. Both the light beam reflected from the signal recording surface of the “DVD” 106a and the light beam reflected from the signal recording surface of the “CD” 106b are diffracted by the diffraction element 6 and focussed to a same spot on the light receiving surface of the photodiode of a photodetector 7.

Abstract: A method of recording and reproducing an optical recording medium which detects a defocus and a tilt of the optical recording medium and compensates the detected defocus and tilt in a high-density optical recording medium. In a free running state in which only a focus servo is turned on, the amount of defocus offset that corresponds to a maximum level of a tracking error signal is detected in a plurality of positions on inner and outer peripheries of a disc, and a tilt-zero in the respective position is detected and stored, so that a tilt servo and a focus servo are performed with the value stored in the corresponding position during an actual recording/reproduction. The method can prevent the deterioration of quality of data due the defocus during recording/reproduction, enabling real time recording by quickly stabilizing the focus servo, and stable operation of the system.

Abstract: An optical disc player having an optical pickup records and retrieves information on an optical disc while the optical disc is rotating. A rotation pulse is generated each time the optical disc rotates through a prescribed angle. A rotation frequency data representing a frequency of the rotation pulse is also generated. A servo processor performs servo processing for rotation control on the optical disc in accordance with the rotation frequency data. A sampling pulse generator performs computational processing on an input data signal to generate a sampling pulse. The sampling pulse generator also corrects the rotation frequency data based on a phase error between the sampling pulse and the rotation pulse to use a corrected rotation frequency data as the input data signal. Another servo processor performs servo processing for repetitive control on the optical pickup using the sampling pulse.

Abstract: A device for amplifying and converting current signals into voltage signals for processing The current signals are delivered by sensors, e.g. optical transducers, magnetical heads. The current signals are first amplified using a current to current amplifier, the amplified current signals are then transported using electrical conductors and eventually amplified using a current to voltage amplifier. The invention may find application in consumer electronic devices, cars, planes, industrial machines.

Abstract: There are provided an information write device and an information read device enabling to generate highly accurate contrast signals. When a main light spot Pc is located at the center of the a groove G, the light spot Pc and sub light spots Psa, Psb are each adapted to radiate a disc DSC such that the sub light spots Psa, Psb radiate positions displaced from the center of the land L. The reflected beams of light from the disc DSC caused by the radiation with the light spots Pc, Psa, Psb are detected to generate push-pull signals each corresponding to the light spots Pc, Psa, Psb, respectively, in accordance with each of the detected signals. Furthermore, a signal to be obtained by amplifying an addition signal, given by adding the push-pull signals each corresponding to the sub light spots Psa, Psb, with a predetermined amplification factor K/n, and a push-pull signal corresponding to the main light spot Pc are added to thereby generate a contrast signal.

Abstract: An objective lens driving apparatus includes a lens holder 1 that holds an objective lens 2, and a stationary base 9 that supports the lens holder 1 by a support shaft 3 parallel to an optical axis of the objective lens 2. A stationary yoke 11 and the magnet 8 are mounted to the stationary base 9. A focusing coil 4 and the tracking coils 5a and 5b are mounted to the lens holder 1. The interaction between the current in the focusing coil 4 and the magnetic field caused by the magnet 8 generates an electromagnetic force that moves the lens holder 1 along the support shaft 3. The interaction between the current in the tracking coils 5a and 5b and the magnetic field caused by the magnet 8 generates an electromagnetic force that rotates the lens holder 1 about the support shaft 3.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing nonoperational data acquired from optical discs, and in particular, trackable optical discs having concurrently readable nonoperational structures are provided. Analysis can involve identifying patterns in the data that reproducibly distinguish underlying structures, or identifying patterns in the data that report physical properties of the nonoperational structures. When an optical disc has a plurality of physically nonidentical concurrently readable nonoperational structures, analysis can involve identifying patterns in the data that distinguish among the physically nonidentical nonoperational structures. Also, relative physical locations of nonoperational structures on the disc can be calculated. A system for remotely analyzing data in order to expedite complex data analysis and reporting the results thereof is also provided.

Abstract: An objective lens driving apparatus includes a lens holder 1 that holds an objective lens 2, and a stationary base 9 that supports the lens holder 1 by a support shaft 3 parallel to an optical axis of the objective lens 2. A stationary yoke 11 and the magnet 8 are mounted to the stationary base 9. A focusing coil 4 and the tracking coils 5a and 5b are mounted to the lens holder 1. The interaction between the current in the focusing coil 4 and the magnetic field caused by the magnet 8 generates an electromagnetic force that moves the lens holder 1 along the support shaft 3. The interaction between the current in the tracking coils 5a and 5b and the magnetic field caused by the magnet 8 generates an electromagnetic force that rotates the lens holder 1 about the support shaft 3.

Abstract: Focusing control for maintaining a distance between an objective lens and a recording medium constant is executed using light whose wavelength is longer than that of recording light and whose detection sensitivity is better than that of the recording light, and a deviation of a focal point of the recording light is detected using reflected light which is reflected by the recording medium to thereby correct a control target position for a focusing control circuit, whereby the distance between the objective lens and the recording medium is corrected to a desirable distance throughout recording. In this manner, excellent focusing control is performed on recording light which has a low detection sensitivity and belongs to the UV range, while correcting a focusing control position for the recording light throughout recording.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: A reflecting microoptical system is formed of only two optical surfaces having a continuous configuration, and has a simple configuration suitable for glass molding. Different combinations of convex, planar and concave surfaces are disclosed for the two optical surfaces, to provide different advantageous properties. In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one, and in some cases both, of the optical surfaces have an aspherical shape to correct for aberrations.

Abstract: A computing system is adapted for use with an optical disk drive, and includes a motherboard and a control key. The motherboard is adapted to be coupled electrically to the optical disk drive. The control key is coupled electrically to the motherboard, and is operable so as to provide a control signal to the motherboard. The motherboard is adapted to control disk loading and disk unloading operations of the optical disk drive in accordance with the control signal provided by the control key.

Abstract: A lensless optical servo system has an unfocused light source and patterned photodetectors. The unfocused light is reflected by markings on a rotating disk and the reflected light carriers the pattern of the markings to the photodetectors. The convolution of this light pattern and a mating geometric pattern on the photodetectors causes the photodetectors to generate signals representing the position of the track on the disk. In one embodiment, a laser diode and three detectors are formed on the same silicon substrate. Sinusoidal metalization is applied to the detectors in the radial direction. The period of the sinusoidal metalization is two times the tracking pitch of the disk. The metalization on the first detector is approximately ninety degrees behind the metalization on the second detector and the metalization on the third detector is approximately ninety degrees ahead of the metalization on the second detector.

Abstract: A compatible optical pickup, including first and second light sources for emitting lights with different wavelengths and first and second photodetectors for detecting an information signal and/or an error signal, and a method of detecting the amount of output light using the compatible optical pickup. The first photodetector monitors the amount of light output from the second light source, and the second photodetector monitors the amount of light output from the first light source. Since the first and second photodetectors are used to detect a signal for use in monitoring the amount of light output from each of the second and first light sources, no extra front photodetectors are required. Thus, the number of optical component parts included in the optical pickup can be reduced, thereby lowering the manufacturing costs for the optical pickup. Also, there is no need to secure a space in a base where a front photodetector is to be installed, so the base is simplified.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high precision positioning apparatus capable of realizing accurate positioning of a recording medium with respect to an optical system by minute movement at a relatively low cost. The high precision positioning apparatus comprises a driving unit 1 for minutely moving a flat-plate shaped recording medium 10, which records/reproduces information using light, with respect to an optical system in an in-plane direction of the recording medium 10. The driving unit 1 comprises a frame-shaped unit body 2, a first drive frame 3 accommodated inside the unit body 2, and a second drive frame 4 accommodated inside the first drive frame 3 and fixed in the vicinity of a recording portion 11 of the recording medium 10.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a high-density recording medium, such as a high-density optical disc and a recording and/or reproducing device therefor. At a transition area of the high-density optical disc allocated between a clamping area and an information area of the high-density optical disc is formed a step having a prescribed slope so that the high-density optical disc does not collide with an objective lens of an optical pickup provided in an optical disc device although the objective lens of the optical pickup is upwardly moved toward a recording layer of the high-density optical disc until it moves to the maximum working distance when the high-density optical disc, such as a Blu-ray disc, is improperly placed on a turntable provided in the optical disc device, e.g., when the high-density optical disc is placed upside down on the turntable. The thickness of the information area is smaller than that of the clamping area by the provision of the step at the transition area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a position adjustment mechanism, comprising two cylindrical portions, a first one of the portions being slidably disposed inside a second one of the portions. One of the portions has at least three detents and the other portion has at least three members for engaging in respective said detents to hold said portions in a first position, the members being removable from said detents to allow said portions to move into a second position; wherein the detents and members are equi-spaced around the first and second portions.

Abstract: Device for the reading-out and/or testing of matrices or optical storage media (2) that have been set in rotation, with an opto-electronic scanning system (1), an electronic control device (18) for the opto-electronic scanning system (1), an amplifier device (7) for the amplification of the HF signals originating in the opto-electronic scanning system (1), a decoder device (10) for the decoding of amplified HF signals, and an optionally present signal-processing device (11) for the processing of amplified HF signals for a measurement and evaluation device (19), at least the amplifier device (7) that is able to be releasably connected to the opto-electronic scanning system (1) and the decoder device (10) being configured as separate modules (6, 9) which are preferably able to be releasably connected to each other via plug connectors (17′b) and/or connection lines (25).

Abstract: In an optical disc device that selectively implements a tracking servo and a spot position servo, a discontinuation cancellation unit is provided so that, when switching from the tracking servo to the spot position servo, and when switching in the opposite direction, the low-frequency component of the tracking drive signal and the low-frequency component of the spot position servo connect smoothly so that there is no step difference.

Abstract: The position of a light blocking object is detected not only within a display screen, but also outside the display screen. With the use of the function of detecting the position in a region outside the display screen, it becomes possible to provide virtual buttons in this region and detect dust around a light retro-reflector. Dirt on the light retro-reflector is detected based on the levels of light receiving signals of optical units.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus is provided which is capable of certainly preventing an optical disk from coming into contact with an objective lens, even when its power is kept turned off and servo control is not in operation, and preventing an optical disk from hitting the objective lens, even though it undergoes a strong disturbance. A cartridge 2 includes an opening portion through which an objective lens 4 comes close to an optical disk 1 and a rib 2b which is formed near the cartridge outer-edge connection part of the opening portion; the plane of the rib 2b on the side of the objective lens 4 is substantially on the same plane with the plane of incidence of the optical disk 1; when an optical disk apparatus 100 is turned off, a traverse mechanism 22 moves the objective lens 4 and a protective member 5 to a position P2 that faces the plane of the rib 2b on the side of the objective lens 4 when the cartridge 2 is housed in the optical disk apparatus 100.

Abstract: An optical recording medium used as a recording medium for information signals in which, in forming a groove along a recording track, a first groove and a second groove are formed to a first depth x to describe a double helix and a third groove having a second depth y shallower than the first depth x is formed between the first and second groves describing double helices. By setting the phase depths of these grooves to a pre-set range, signals required for tracking servo or seek are obtained to sufficient levels to realize stable tracking servo and seek.

Abstract: The storage media recording/writing system includes a media drive circuit, a head retaining means, a head moving means, a head drive circuit, a signal processing circuit, and a controller to control these. The head drive circuit possesses a first semiconductor integrated circuit having an amplifier that amplifies the read signal from the head, and a second semiconductor integrated circuit placed between the first semiconductor integrated circuit and the signal processing circuit, which has a circuit that receives write data from the signal processing circuit and generates a drive signal to drive a write head. Further, the first semiconductor integrated circuit is mounted on a part near the front of the head retaining means, and the second semiconductor integrated circuit is installed on the side of the moving means.

Abstract: An information reproduction unit has a data read means with a pickup for intermittently reading data recorded on a storage medium, a write means for writing the data in a memory, and a reproduction means for sequentially reading out the data written in the memory. The unit also has a defect detection means for detecting a defect of the storage medium during a data read waiting period. The defect detection means may determine the presence of a defect based on a readout result provided by the data read means. The unit may further include a storage means for storing a defect position information. Furthermore, a read characteristic may be adjusted on reading data at the defect position on the storage medium.

Abstract: An objective lens driving device for an optical head has a lens holder including one or more tracking coils, one or more focusing coils, a plurality of wires which supply control currents to the tracking coils and the focusing coils and which support the lens holder in a cantilever manner, and a pair of movable magnets which are provided on a lower face of the lens holder in a track direction with an interval therebetween. A base part includes a pair of fixed magnets which are arranged so as to be opposed to the tracking coils and the focusing coils of the lens holder thereby to act thereon, a pair of right and left coils for correcting tilt angles which are arranged so as to be respectively opposed to the movable magnets thereby to act thereon, and power supply lines for supplying control currents to the tilt angle correcting coils.