Abstract: A control circuit including a motor drive unit and a processing control unit is provided. The motor drive unit includes a drive current for a motor according to a modulation signal, and the motor is powered by a storage battery. The processing control unit obtains an actual speed of the motor, calculate the modulation signal by comparing the actual speed and a target speed, and transmit the modulation signal to the motor drive unit. Also, the modulation signal is used to control rotation of the motor by modulating the drive current, so that the actual speed tends to be equal to the target speed.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for harvesting energy from the pressure ripple of a fluid system. In an example embodiment, a system comprises a housing; a piezoelectric stack in fluid communication with a pressure ripple of a fluid system and configured to generate a piezoelectric voltage and an associated piezoelectric current in response to pressure ripple characteristics, wherein the piezoelectric stack is disposed within the housing; and regulatory circuitry in electrical communication with the piezoelectric stack and configured to convert the piezoelectric current into DC voltage.

Abstract: The present specification relates to systems, methods, and apparatus including computer program products for editing digital audio data. In some implementations, a method is provided that includes the actions of receiving digital audio data; dividing the audio data into first audio data and second audio data; performing on-line processing of the first and second audio data including segmenting the first audio data according to one or more partitioning parameters into discrete time partitions, sequentially analyzing for each discrete time partition the first audio data of the corresponding discrete time partition, and modifying the second audio data according to the analysis of the first audio data; and outputting the modified second audio data.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for calibrating gains of an optical storage servo system having a plant. The method includes translating a first signal of the plant from a time domain effort signal into a frequency domain effort signal, translating a second signal of the plant from a time domain error signal into a frequency domain error signal, determining a first gain of the optical storage servo system based on the first signal and the second signal, comparing a third signal from an optical disk of the optical storage servo system with a predetermined threshold, and asserting a defect flag when the third signal drops below the predetermined threshold to avoid calibrating the first gain based on the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that has fast response time to sudden profile changes in an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal that is generated in response to reading data on a storage medium, and a feed-forward correction module. The feed-forward correction module is configured to detect a profile variation based the electrical signal in a time window, and correct the electrical signal in the time window based on the detected profile variation.

Abstract: An optical disc device is configured to reproduce an optical disc. The optical disc device includes an optical pickup, a high-frequency production component, a driver and a controller. The optical pickup includes a laser emission component configured to emit a laser beam, and a light receiver configured to receive returning light of the laser beam. The high-frequency production component is configured to produce a high-frequency signal. The driver is configured to produces a drive signal for driving the laser emission component by superposing the high-frequency signal produced by the high-frequency production component onto a specific drive signal. The controller is configured to control the high-frequency production component to adjust an amplitude of the high-frequency signal.

Abstract: A digital loop filter receives a phase error output from a phase comparator to generate a digital frequency value. This digital frequency value is converted into an analog voltage by a D/A converter, and VCO outputs a synchronizing dock of frequency corresponding to the voltage output from the D/A converter. The phase error output from a phase comparator is gain-corrected by a product of an output from the digital loop filter and a specific coefficient “A”, and delivered to digital loop filter. The phase error input to the digital loop filter is changed in proportion to the output clock frequency, whereby the PLL loop as whole linearly controls the loop characteristic depending on the output clock frequency.

Abstract: An optical disc driving device includes a control circuit 4 for performing a gain adjustment for each of two recording surfaces of a multilayered optical disc 1 on the basis of an FE signal in such a way as to maintain a state in which light is focused onto either of the recording surfaces, to generate a focus servo loop signal, and for generating a focus jump signal for causing either a transition from a state in which the light is focused onto one recording surface to a state in which the light is focused onto the other recording surface, or a transition in the opposite direction from a threshold set up on the basis of an amount of gain adjustment, and a focus actuator driving circuit 5 for performing either a focus jump or an operation of maintaining the state in which the light is focused.

Abstract: Circuitry for controlling mode selection of a CD/DVD reader is described. In one embodiment, the CD/DVD reader has a first device having at least one analog output, a second device having at least one digital input and at least one analog input, and an interface circuit coupling the analog output of the first device to the digital input and the analog input in the second device. The interface circuit includes a circuitry to use a single control signal from the analog output of the first device to control the digital input and the analog input in the second device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including a self-excited oscillation semiconductor laser that has a double quantum well separate confinement heterostructure and includes a saturable absorber section to which a negative bias voltage is applied and a gain section into which a gain current is injected, an optical separation unit, an objective lens, a light reception element, a pulse detection unit, a reference signal generation unit, a phase comparison unit, a recording signal generation unit, and a control unit.

Abstract: An optical disk reproducing device includes: a signal reproducing section configured to read and decode information recorded on an optical disk by an optical pickup unit, and reproduce the information, wherein the signal reproducing section includes a gain controlled amplifier circuit configured to amplify an radio frequency signal generated from a light receiving element, an automatic gain control circuit configured to control a gain of the gain controlled amplifier circuit, and a signal processing section configured to derive a part of an automatic gain control value generated in the automatic gain control circuit, and generate a control signal for adjusting one of an optical system path and a detection system path for controlling the optical pickup unit.

Abstract: A recording device that records information in an optical recording medium includes: a self excited oscillation semiconductor laser including a saturable absorber section to apply a bias voltage and a gain section to inject a gain current, and also emitting a laser light to record the information in the optical recording medium; a reference signal generation unit generating a master clock signal and also supplying an injection signal synchronized with the master clock signal to the gain section of the self excited oscillation semiconductor laser; and a recording signal generation unit generating a recording signal based upon the master clock signal and also applying the recording signal to the saturable absorber section of the self excited oscillation semiconductor laser as the bias voltage.

Abstract: A defect portion in a signal is processed by receiving an input signal. A location of a defect portion within the input signal and an amplitude of the defect portion is determined. An adjusted signal is generated by adjusting the amplitude of the defect portion using the determined location of the defect portion and the determined amplitude of the defect portion. Information associated with the adjusted signal is decoded.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that includes a signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal to produce input data samples, and a feed-forward correction module configured to delay the input data samples to produce delayed data samples, to apply the delayed data samples to a timing loop during periods when a profile variation of the data samples is not detected, and to apply the input data sample to the timing loop during periods when a profile variation of the data samples is detected.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems describing digital techniques to decode signals extracted from computer-readable storage media include, in at least some implementations, a method including receiving a digital signal representing at least a portion of an analog signal from a computer-readable storage medium, the analog signal including a repeatable runout (RRO) signal component, determining an estimate of a magnitude of at least a portion of the RRO signal component, and decoding the digital signal at least in part by configuring a gain target value based on the estimate of the magnitude. In some implementations, the method includes causing the gain target value to change from a predetermined default gain target value to the configured gain target value based on the estimate of the magnitude.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for an optical disk drive is provided. The recording apparatus includes a driver, a servo signal generator, a filter, and a counter. The driver controls a recording speed of the optical disk drive. The servo signal generator generates at least a servo signal. The filter with a specific bandwidth filters the servo signal to generate a filtered servo signal. The counter generate a count value according to the filtered servo signal and instructs the driver to decrease the recording speed of the optical disk drive when the count value exceeds a trigger value, so as to record with the decreased recording speed.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes: a splitting section for splitting a beam; a light-receiving section for receiving the split beams. The light-receiving section includes: a tracking-use main light-receiving region and tracking-use sub light-receiving regions, and auxiliary light-receiving regions. Each of the auxiliary light-receiving regions receives only a light beam reflected off a recording layer other than a recording layer subjected to an information writing/reading process. A light-receiving area of each of the auxiliary light-receiving area is smaller than a light-receiving area of each tracking-use light-receiving region. Further, an optical pickup device includes: a splitting section for splitting a beam; and a light-receiving section for receiving the split beams. The light-receiving section includes a sub light-receiving regions for receiving tracking-use sub beams.

Abstract: A current gain control system is described and comprises first and second gain blocks respectively associated with the first and second input channels, wherein first and second gain blocks transmit first and second gain signals in response to receiving first and second input signals; first and second converters adapted to be respectively coupled to the first and second gain blocks, the first and second converters operative for setting gains associated with the first and second input channel and for transmitting first and second converted signals in response to receiving the first and second gain signals; and first and second switches for selectively coupling the first and second converters to first and second channel drivers, respectively, wherein the first and second channel drivers transmit channel gain signals in response to receiving the first converted signal, and the channel gain signal allows control of the gain associated with the input channel.

Abstract: A recording device that records information in an optical recording medium includes: a self excited oscillation semiconductor laser including a saturable absorber section to apply a bias voltage and a gain section to inject a gain current, and also emitting a laser light to record the information in the optical recording medium; a reference signal generation unit generating a master clock signal and also supplying an injection signal synchronized with the master clock signal to the gain section of the self excited oscillation semiconductor laser; and a recording signal generation unit generating a recording signal based upon the master clock signal and also applying the recording signal to the saturable absorber section of the self excited oscillation semiconductor laser as the bias voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical disk playback apparatus including: a signal playback device configured to read and decode information recorded to an optical disk through an optical pickup unit in order to reproduce the information; the signal playback device including a signal generation circuit, a first signal processing device, a second signal processing device, a modulator, a switch, an analog to digital converter, and a third signal processing device.

Abstract: A first signal is detected from the central part of a light beam returning from a super-resolution optical disc; a second signal is detected from a peripheral part in a direction corresponding to a track on the super-resolution optical disc; a gain adjustment unit is provided to adjust the amplitude of the first signal; a subtraction unit is provided to generate a third signal by subtracting, from the second signal, the first signal with the amplitude adjusted by the gain adjustment unit; and an unit is provided to generate a reproduced signal by combining the first signal and a signal obtained by delaying the third signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that has fast response time to sudden profile changes in an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal that is generated in response to reading data on a storage medium, and a feed-forward correction module. The feed-forward correction module is configured to detect a profile variation based the electrical signal in a time window, and correct the electrical signal in the time window based on the detected profile variation.

Abstract: A comparator includes a variable-gain amplifier circuit configured to vary an amplitude of an input signal by changing a gain in accordance with a control signal, and a comparison section configured to compare a slice level interlocked with a signal level received from the variable-gain amplifier circuit with an output signal received from the variable-gain amplifier circuit and generate an output signal in accordance with a comparison result.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems describing digital techniques to decode signals extracted from computer-readable storage media. A digital signal that includes a digital representation of a repeatable runout signal having a magnitude and included in an analog signal is obtained. An estimate of the magnitude of the RRO signal based on the digital signal is determined. The estimate is provided for decoding the digital signal to extract the included data by adapting a detector gain target in accordance with the estimate. The detector gain target is a function of a desired amplitude of the RRO signal.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus includes the following elements. A reproducing head unit irradiates an optical disk with a laser beam to obtain a reproduced signal. An offset cancellation circuit cancels an offset element of the reproduced signal. An automatic gain control circuit adjusts the amplitude of the reproduced signal processed through the offset cancellation circuit. A band switching control unit detects a fingerprint period during which the reproduced signal is affected by a fingerprint on the surface of the optical disk and, for the fingerprint period, switches a frequency band in which the offset cancellation circuit and the automatic gain control circuit function to a higher frequency band than that associated with a non-fingerprint period. A decoding unit decodes the reproduced signal processed through the automatic gain control circuit to output binary data. A data reproduction processing unit performs reproduction processing on the binary data to obtain reproduced data.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a signal detection unit which detects a signal corresponding to a wobbling guide groove formed on an optical disk, a timing signal generating unit which generates first and second timing signals in accordance with an amplitude level of the signal detected, a photodetector which detects reflective light from the optical disk, and a wobble signal generating unit which outputs as a wobble signal a signal which is amplified with a low gain amount by the first timing signal in a case where an arithmetic signal, which is generated for the wobble signal on the basis of a signal detected by the photodetector, is at a high amplification level, and outputs as the wobble signal a signal which is amplified with a high gain amount by the second timing signal in a case where the arithmetic signal is at a low amplification level.

Abstract: A current gain control system is described and comprises first and second gain blocks respectively associated with the first and second input channels, wherein first and second gain blocks transmit first and second gain signals in response to receiving first and second input signals; first and second converters adapted to be respectively coupled to the first and second gain blocks, the first and second converters operative for setting gains associated with the first and second input channel and for transmitting first and second converted signals in response to receiving the first and second gain signals; and first and second switches for selectively coupling the first and second converters to first and second channel drivers, respectively, wherein the first and second channel drivers transmit channel gain signals in response to receiving the first converted signal, and the channel gain signal allows control of the gain associated with the input channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an audio recording level. The apparatus variably controls a recording level of audio data recorded on a rewritable recording medium such as a DVD-RW disk on the basis of either a firstly-recorded audio level average value in song units or a previously-recorded audio level average value in song units, and then records the resultant data on the recording medium. In this way, the apparatus records the audio data to be recorded on a single recording medium at a prescribed audio recoding level within the appropriate range, resulting in even playback audio levels regardless of the type and/or format of audio data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selecting a range of gain values (2000) of a gain-bandwidth limited photo-detector circuit (45) for reading data from a record carrier (104). The method comprises: a) finding a first read power by setting a maximum allowable gain value (gma?), the first read power being a minimum read power value at which data is readable from the rotating record carrier at a first speed; and b) finding a second read power and a second gain value, by increasing the first read power value and decreasing the maximum allowable gain value. The second read power being the minimum read power value at which data is readable from the rotating record carrier at a second speed. The method is useful for all kinds of photo-detector circuits in optimizing gain values and achieving optimum performance with the optimum number of gain values.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical disk playback apparatus including: a signal playback device configured to read and decode information recorded to an optical disk through an optical pickup unit in order to reproduce the information; the signal playback device including a signal generation circuit, a first signal processing device, a second signal processing device, a modulator, a switch, an analog to digital converter, and a third signal processing device.

Abstract: A comparator includes a variable-gain amplifier circuit configured to vary an amplitude of an input signal by changing a gain in accordance with a control signal, and a comparison section configured to compare a slice level interlocked with a signal level received from the variable-gain amplifier circuit with an output signal received from the variable-gain amplifier circuit and generate an output signal in accordance with a comparison result.

Abstract: A system of sampling interface for an optical pick-up head comprises an optical pick-up head, a PMOS, a boost circuit, and a sample and hold circuit. The optical pick-up head outputs one of a reading voltage and a writing voltage. The PMOS gate receives the gate voltage and then the PMOS is turned on to pass the reading voltage to the sample and hold circuit. Moreover, the substrate of the PMOS receives a control voltage. The boost circuit is used to boost the gate voltage higher than the control voltage for turning off the PMOS and isolating the writing voltage.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for an optical disk system which apparatus has a variable gain amplifier that amplifies with a variable gain a light-detected signal obtained from an optical disk on which to perform playback processing so as to make a level of the light-detected signal coincide with a first reference level. The apparatus comprises a comparator that compares the level of the light-detected signal amplified by the variable gain amplifier with the first reference level; a gain adjuster that generates and supplies a control signal to adjust the variable gain according to a result of the comparing to the variable gain amplifier; and a gain adjustment controller that, when the level of the light-detected signal amplified is within a level range including the first reference level, controls a level of the control signal of the gain adjuster to be held at its preceding value.

Abstract: The invention described is an apparatus for reproducing information from an information carrier (11) comprising: a waveform equalizer (6) for obtaining a corrected signal (S?) by performing a waveform equalization to a read signal (S), the waveform equalizer (6) having an amplifying element with a gain (K); and gain setting means (1) for reading a numerical gain setting stored on the information carrier (11) and setting the gain (K) of the amplifying element to a value related to the numerical gain setting. By reading the numerical gain setting from the information carrier, the apparatus is able to set the gain (K) of the waveform equalizer to the optimal value for suppressing noise and inter symbol interference. The equalizer can be followed by a limit equalizer, the gain of which can also be wave form read from the information carrier.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus includes the following elements. A reproducing head unit irradiates an optical disk with a laser beam to obtain a reproduced signal. An offset cancellation circuit cancels an offset element of the reproduced signal. An automatic gain control circuit adjusts the amplitude of the reproduced signal processed through the offset cancellation circuit. A band switching control unit detects a fingerprint period during which the reproduced signal is affected by a fingerprint on the surface of the optical disk and, for the fingerprint period, switches a frequency band in which the offset cancellation circuit and the automatic gain control circuit function to a higher frequency band than that associated with a non-fingerprint period. A decoding unit decodes the reproduced signal processed through the automatic gain control circuit to output binary data. A data reproduction processing unit performs reproduction processing on the binary data to obtain reproduced data.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes: a read unit for outputting an RF signal, which is a read signal of data recorded in an optical disc, by irradiating a laser beam to the optical disc and detecting reflected light in a photo detector; an equalize unit for performing equalize adjustment on the RF signal, which is an output from the read unit; a playback unit for generating a playback signal from the RF signal having undergone the equalize adjustment by the equalize unit and outputting the playback signal; a parameter storage unit for storing initial values of parameters used for the equalize adjustment by the equalize unit; and a parameter detection unit for detecting a value of at least one parameter at which jitter of the RF signal having undergone the equalize adjustment by the equalize unit becomes optimal during playback of the optical disc.

Abstract: A photocurrent amplifier circuit is capable of selectively amplifying one or more of photocurrents which are respectively obtainable from plural receiving devices, and can be realized to have a small size. The photocurrent amplifier circuit includes: light receiving devices; amplifier devices associated with the light receiving devices; device selector switches which apply input voltages, which inactivate the amplifier devices, to the associated amplifier devices; and a differential amplifier circuit having an inverting input unit configured by the amplifier devices which are connected in parallel. The inputs of the amplifier devices and the output of the differential amplifier circuit are connected by gain resistances. The differential amplifier circuit amplifies, into voltage signals, photocurrents flowing from the light receiving devices which respectively associated with the gain resistances.

Abstract: A method for determining a sub-beam add signal (SBAD) value is provided. At first, a jth read SBAD value is obtained at the jth read status. Next, the jth write SBAD value is determined according to the (j?1)th write SBAD gain at the jth write status. Then, the jth SBAD multiple is obtained according to the jth write SBAD value and the jth read SBAD value. Next, the (j?1)th write SBAD gain is changed into the jth write SBAD gain according to the jth SBAD multiple. At last, the level of the (j+1)th write SBAD value is adjusted according to the jth write SBAD gain at the (j+1)th write status.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes a head including an actuator that supports and moves an objective lens at least in a direction of focusing, and a slider for transporting the head in the direction of tracking. In response to a static acceleration acting on the objective lens in response to a change in the posture of the optical disk device, and a low-frequency component of a tracking servo signal for causing the objective lens to track, a slider controller drives the slider so that the objective lens is aligned with the center of an optical field of view of the head. In this arrangement, the slider is controlled with reference to the low-frequency component of the tracking servo signal corrected in accordance with the level of gravity acting on the objective lens. Slider control is thus achieved to prevent a displacement, between the objective lens and the center of the optical field of view, caused by a change in the posture of the optical disk device.

Abstract: The invention provides a wobble detection circuit. An exemplary embodiment of the wobble detection circuit comprises an automatic gain control module, an analog to digital converter, a digital band pass filter, and a digital band pass filter. The automatic gain control module amplifies a first input signal and a second input signal detected by a pickup head to the same magnitude to obtain a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal. The adder then subtracts the second amplified signal from the first amplified signal to obtain an analog wobble signal. The analog to digital converter then converts the analog wobble signal to a first digital wobble signal. Finally, the digital band pass filter accepts frequency components of the first digital wobble signal within a pass band and rejects frequency components of the first digital wobble signal outside the pass band to obtain a second digital wobble signal.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for demodulating an Address In Pre-groove (ADIP) symbol. The ADIP symbol is carried by a wobble signal of an optical disk and comprises a series of ADIP bits permuted according to one of a plurality of permutation patterns to make up the ADIP symbol. A wobble extraction module extracts the wobble signal from the optical disk. A reference wobble generator generates a reference wobble with the same frequency and phase as a fundamental frequency and phase of a positive wobble cycle of the wobble signal. A waveform difference measurement module then measures a difference between the wobble signal and the reference wobble to obtain a series of difference measurement values respectively corresponding to the ADIP bits. A pattern matching module then compares probabilities of the permutation of the ADIP bits agreeing with each of the permutation patterns according to the difference measurement values to determine the ADIP symbol.

Abstract: The invention provides an automatic gain controller processing an input signal for wobble detection circuit. An exemplary embodiment of the automatic gain controller comprises an envelope detection module, an analog to digital converter, a digital control module, a digital to analog converter, and a variable gain amplifier. The envelope detection module detects an envelope magnitude of an amplified signal. The analog to digital converter converts the envelope magnitude from analog to digital to obtain a digital envelope signal. The digital control module determines a digital gain signal for amplification of the input signal according to the digital envelope signal. The digital to analog converter converts the digital gain signal to an analog gain signal. The variable gain amplifier then amplifies the input signal according to the analog gain signal to obtain the amplified wobble signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the wobble carrier frequency of an optical disk is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an offset canceller, a binary conversion module, an adjustable band pass filter, and a frequency detection module. The offset canceller cancels the direct current offset of a first wobble signal to obtain a second wobble signal. The binary conversion module converts the second wobble signal to a binary data stream. The adjustable band pass filter passes only an adjustable frequency range of the binary data stream to generate a filtered signal, wherein the center frequency of the adjustable frequency range is sequentially adjusted. The frequency detection module then determines maximum amplitude of the filtered signal, and determines the center frequency of the adjustable frequency range according to which the filtered signal with the maximum amplitude is generated, wherein the wobble carrier frequency is the center frequency corresponding to the maximum amplitude.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to stably reproduce wobble signals of all disks of CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM by one wobble signal reproducing circuit. In the wobble signal reproducing circuit, an AGC (AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL) circuit for equating a push-pull circuit output of a wide range and an RF amplitude of an optical detector output of two systems obtained by push-pull, and an AGC (AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL) circuit for making a wobble amplitude uniform are provided with a function to hold a gain or to change over a response time constant, and at the time of reproduction of the DVD-R/RW, a land pre-pit region is detected by the push-pull output to hold AGC (AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL) or change over a response time constant. Besides, in an address information recording region (PID region) at the time of reproduction of the DVD-RAM, the AGC (AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL) is held or the response time constant is changed over.

Abstract: An offset adjusting circuit for an optical disc comprises an offset-adjustment differential operational amplifier having an input terminal to which an output signal of an optical pickup is input and the other input terminal to which a control voltage is applied, an A/D converter that outputs a digital signal based on an output signal of the offset-adjustment differential operational amplifier, and a control voltage adjuster that varies the control voltage applied to the offset-adjustment differential operational amplifier based on the digital signal so as to remove an offset.

Abstract: An RF signal that is a disk reproduction signal is binarized through an equalizer and a slicer, followed by data demodulation, and an error rate of the reproduction signal is detected in an error detection circuit. If the error rate in the error detection circuit is higher than a prescribed value, a slice balance adjustment circuit performs slice balance adjustment for the slicer and a boost adjustment circuit performs boost adjustment for the equalizer.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has an equalizing filter which performs partial response equalization of a detection signal detected by a detecting section and which outputs an equalized signal, a variable gain amplifier which corrects the potential of the equalized signal in accordance with a correction amount determined in accordance with a plurality of reference levels that are used for maximum-likelihood decoding and a plurality of peak levels in a histogram of equalized signals corresponding to the plurality of reference levels, and a maximum-likelihood decoder which performs the maximum-likelihood decoding by referencing the reference levels, in accordance with the equalized signal that has been corrected. The apparatus controls the signal amplitude of the equalized signal to an appropriate value, thereby implementing high-reliable decoding processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to dynamically adjust the amplitude of a signal comprising information read from an information storage medium. The method first forms (N) digital signals comprising information read from an information storage medium. The method provides a first signal comprising information read an information storage medium, wherein that first signal is one of the (N) digital signals. The method provides a first gain level, and calculates a first gain adjusted signal comprising the multiplication product of the first signal and the first gain level. To dynamically adjust that gain level, Applicants' method determines a gain error. Using that gain error, Applicants' method then calculates a second gain level by multiplying the gain error times a multiplier coefficient, and adding that multiplication product to the first gain level.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus includes a light source module which emits a light beam, a beam splitter which reflects or transmits the light beam emitted from the light source module, an objective lens which focuses the light beam passing through the beam splitter onto a disc, and a photodetector which receives and detects the light beam reflected by the disc, wherein the light source module includes a first light source and a second light source that emit first and second light beams having different wavelengths and are formed into a single module. The optical pickup apparatus further includes a first grating which divides the first light beam emitted from the first light source into three beams of the first light beam and transmits the second light beam emitted from the second light source, and a second grating which transmits the first light beam emitted from the first light source and divides the second light beam emitted from the second light source into three beams of the second light beam.

Abstract: A ROM 51 stores a plurality of volume set values and a plurality of level change rates corresponding to each other and an IC 5 accepts a volume set value specified by a user when carrying out volume setting. Moreover, it is decided whether a reproducing object is a CD or a DVD depending on a decision signal output from a loader section 1. A level change rate corresponding to the volume set value is output to an IC 2 if the reproducing object is the DVD, and the level change rate corresponding to the volume set value is adjusted at a predetermined adjusting rate and the level change rate thus adjusted is output to the IC 2 if the reproducing object is the CD. The IC 2 changes the level of an analog signal indicative of a voice input from the loader section 1 at the level change rate and outputs the signal to an amplifying circuit 3.