Abstract: An optical disc apparatus comprising an optical disc drive for recording on and/or playing back an optical disc; a storage part for storing information; and a save control part for accumulating and saving error information in the storage part, the error information including information that indicates specific error contents in a case in which an error has been generated in the optical disc drive.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus comprising an optical disc drive for recording on and/or playing back an optical disc; a storage part for storing information; and a save control part for accumulating and saving error information in the storage part, the error information including information that indicates specific error contents in a case in which an error has been generated in the optical disc drive.

Abstract: The invention provides a driving circuit for a voice coil motor. In one embodiment, the driving circuit includes a logic circuit, a digital-to-analog converter, and an output circuit. The logic circuit generates a series of samples of a digital output signal according to a digital input signal, wherein the samples of the digital output signal sequentially alter from a first input value of the digital input value to a second input value of the digital input signal according to an alteration pattern determined by a mode selection signal. The digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal to an analog output signal. The output circuit generates a driving current signal according to the analog output signal for driving the voice coil motor.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus according to the present invention includes a spindle motor that rotates an optical disk on whose information recording surface a plurality of addresses is recorded, an optical pickup that records/reproduces an information signal on/from the information recording surface of the optical disk rotated by the spindle motor, an strobe light-emitting unit that irradiates a label surface of the optical disk with light, and a control unit that causes the strobe light-emitting unit to emit light based on an address selected from the plurality of addresses as a reference address and a reference signal readable from the optical disk.

Abstract: When an optical disk player is switched on, a controller obtains information of a sampling frequency or sampling frequencies that are supported by an appliance that is connected to the optical disc player through an HDMI cable. Then, when a playing start command is input, it is judged whether the connected appliance supports the audio output or not. When the connected appliance supports the audio output, and the sampling frequency of a sound source is larger than the sampling frequency or frequencies that the connected appliance supports, the audio signals are down-sampled to fit the connected appliance. Output of the audio signals is then started.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus capable of irradiating an optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers on which a signal is recorded with laser light includes a light source emitting the laser light, a light-concentrating element concentrating the laser light emitted from the light source on the optical recording medium, a phase difference element having a region divided into at least two regions which the laser light reflected by the optical recording medium enters and producing a phase difference between first light and second light reflected by a non-target layer which is not a target of recording or reproduction of the signal out of the plurality of recording layers and entering the at least two regions such that the first and the second light weaken each other, and a photodetector receiving the laser light emitted from the phase difference element.

Abstract: An optical disc reproducing apparatus includes: a decode processing circuit configured to generate decoded data by decoding encoded data read out from an optical disc such that the decoded data is written into a buffer memory, and to output a write signal to indicate a data rate when the decoded data is written in the buffer memory. A data processing circuit converts the decoded data read out from the buffer memory into an output data, and outputs a read signal to indicate a data rate when the decoded data is read out from the buffer memory. An optical disc rotation control circuit controls a number of rotations of the optical disc based on the write signal and the read signal.

Abstract: A disk drive and an information processing system optimizes the number of rotations of a disk. Data read from a disk and previously-read cache data are temporarily stored in buffer memory. When a total amount of cache data achieved during a given period of time T1 or an average amount of the same is equal to or less than a threshold value X1, a system controller controls the number of rotations in an increasing manner, thereby optimizing the number of rotations. When a total amount of cache data achieved during a given period of time T2 (T1<T2) or an average amount of the same is equal to or greater than a threshold value X2, a system controller controls the number of rotations in an decreasing manner, thereby optimizing the number of rotations.

Abstract: An optical disk playback device includes a control means (an LSI 5 for system control) for performing a track search according to contents information, comparing a current track start point position at the time after performing the track search with a target track start point position, when the comparison result shows that they differ from each other, setting up a new target track start point position by performing a predetermined arithmetic operation, then performing a track search again, and, when a new current track start point position at the time after performing the track search again matches the set-up new target track start point position, starting a playback from the new current track start point position.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an SA compensation level of an optical drive is provided. The method includes steps of providing a plurality of SA compensation levels; obtaining a peak-to-peak value of an S curve corresponding to each of the SA compensation levels; selecting a maximum of the peak-to-peak values of the S curves and the SA compensation level corresponding to the maximum; and setting the selected SA compensation level to be an optimal SA compensation level.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus for outputting a plurality of picture data forming reproduced data to a reproduction apparatus for reproduction, the data processing apparatus having a processing circuit for judging if the reproduction rate of the picture data by the reproduction apparatus is slower than a transfer rate for transferring the picture data to the reproduction apparatus and outputting all of the picture data forming the reproduced data to the reproduction apparatus when judging as a result of the judgment that the reproduction rate is slower than the transfer rate.

Abstract: A recording method for an optical disk drive is implemented as follows. First, at least one of the level of the focusing error signal, the level of the tracking error signal, a wobble synchronization pattern loss, the error rate of demodulating a wobble signal and the frequency of buffer under-run occurrence is detected. If at least one detected value exceeds the preset value, the recording will be ceased. Then, the rotation speed of the optical disk drive is decreased, and the recording is resumed with the decreased rotation speed.

Abstract: In one embodiment the method includes reading speed information from a specific area of the recording medium. The speed information includes one or more speed flags to indicate whether a corresponding speed is applicable to the recording medium. A first speed flag for a first recording speed lower than a second recording speed is set to be dependent on a second speed flag for the second recording speed. Data is recorded on a main data area of the optical recording medium based on the read speed information.

Abstract: A method is provided for variably controlling a data read speed in an optical disc drive. The method includes determining whether or not a read command has been issued; if the determining step determines that the read command has been issued, examining additional information associated with the read command; and variably controlling a data read speed for an optical disc according to the additional information.

Abstract: A disk device is arranged to select an appropriate rotation control method according to a kind of an optical disk, a recording format or a recording method so that a recording operation for a certain amount of information may be completed as fast as possible, even if a waiting time takes place until the rotation is set. The disk device includes a unit for selecting the rotation control method for recording a certain amount of information more efficiently and rapidly in light of time according to a kind of an optical disk, a recording format or a recording method. The selected rotation control method is executed to control the rotation of the optical disk when recording information on the disk.

Abstract: A method of automatically pausing an optical pickup in a DVD-RAM disc drive includes driving a DVD-RAM disc; determining whether a tracking error signal is generated during the driving of the DVD-RAM disc; generating a land/groove signal to discern land tracks and groove tracks of the DVD-RAM disc; determining from which track the tracking error signal has been generated in response to the determination that the tracking error signal has been generated; generating a jump signal in response to a state of the land/groove signal varying; and moving the optical pickup back by ½ of a track in response to the jump signal.

Abstract: As an optical disc is being rotated within an optical drive, an optical mechanism of the optical drive traces a discrete spiral path relative to the optical disc. As the discrete spiral path is traced by the optical mechanism of the optical drive, the optical mechanism selectively writes to the optical disc.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a play speed in an optical disc device in which the current play speed is rapidly lowered when the address information of an optical disc such as a CD or DVD is abnormally detected under the condition in which the transfer rate of data temporarily stored in a buffer is a basic speed 1×, and in a sequential play mode for sequentially reading and reproducing A/V data recorded on the optical disc, thereby being capable of efficiently preventing discontinuous reproduction of A/V data caused by the repetition of pause and play operations during the sequential play operation.

Abstract: A rotation speed of a disk-type storage medium is suitably controlled in order to save power and to reduce noise in a disk-type storage medium driving apparatus provided with one or more communication interfaces. A disk-type storage medium driving apparatus that can switch rotation speed of a disk-type storage medium, to drive the disk-type storage medium, includes one or more communication interface units, which perform data transfer to and from peripheral devices; and a control unit that judges necessity of switching a rotation speed of the disk-type storage medium when there occurs a data transfer request through one of the communication interface units.

Abstract: A disk drive and an information processing system optimizes the number of rotations of a disk. Data read from a disk and previously-read cache data are temporarily stored in buffer memory. When a total amount of cache data achieved during a given period of time T1 or an average amount of the same is equal to or less than a threshold value X1, a system controller controls the number of rotations in an increasing manner, thereby optimizing the number of rotations. When a total amount of cache data achieved during a given period of time T2 (T1<T2) or an average amount of the same is equal to or greater than a threshold value X2, a system controller controls the number of rotations in an decreasing manner, thereby optimizing the number of rotations.

Abstract: A hybrid switching method of spindle motor of optical disc drive analyze a disc position status for write/read in said optical disc drive, according said optical disc drive speed to detect a switch mode, and determine said optical disc drive of write/read mode to got a switch point.

Abstract: A data recording and/or playing method for recording or playing data to or from an optical disc having a first recording area, where a frame sync signal and the data are recorded, and a second recording area, where a predetermined pattern is preformed, and having address data recorded therein, while rotating the optical disc by a rotation drive unit. The optical disc rotated by the rotation drive unit is scanned by a head unit, and when the head unit is scanning the first recording area, the rotation drive unit is controlled in a first rotation control mode. When the head unit is scanning the second recording area, the rotation drive unit is controlled in a second rotation control mode.

Abstract: A system and method of switching the control modes of spindle motor are described. The switch system comprises a first control module, a second control module and a switch controller. The first control module electrically coupled to the spindle motor and the OPU controls the spindle motor to be operated in a present mode. The second control module is electrically coupled to the spindle motor to control the spindle motor to be operated in the transition mode between the present mode and the target mode. The switch controller electrically coupled to the first control module, the second control module and the spindle motor receives a present feedback signal associated with the rotation of spindle motor to generate a first switch signal. Furthermore, the switch controller receives a target indicative signal associated with the information on the optical storage medium to generate a second switch signal.

Abstract: A method is designed for recording contents information along a track of an optical disk of a writeable type. A volume detection step is carried out for detecting an actual volume of the contents information to be recorded into the optical disk. A capacity detection step is carried out for detecting a nominal capacity of the optical disk, which indicates a rated volume of information to be recorded at maximum. A density determination step is carried out for determining a recording density of the contents information based on the detected actual volume and the detected nominal capacity. A recording step is carried out for recording the contents information into the optical disk at the determined recording density such that the actual volume of the contents information can fit into the nominal capacity of the optical disk.

Abstract: A novel optical disc driving system and method for determining the rotation speed of an optical disc are provided, which allow to determine the highest rotation speed optimal for reading out audio and video data in the optical disc in accordance with the environmental conditions in the vicinity of the optical disc driving unit, in particular the time and temperature. The rotation speed is determined by reading out the data recorded in the optical disc under the permissible operation conditions, which result from both actually measured parameters for environmental conditions and predetermined upper and lower limits of the rotation speed for a disc spindle motor for the respective ranges of parameters. The parameters for environmental conditions and the upper and lower limits of the rotation speed can be manually changed by user's instruction.

Abstract: A disk device in which at the recovery job of a focus pull-in operation, a CPU supplies servo control means with the respective correction values of the rotational speed of an optical disk and the moving speed of a lens which are described in the data table of a RAM, and performs the focus pull-in operation and determines whether or not the focus pull-in operation is successfully performed at the respective adjustment steps, and if the focus pull-in operation is successfully performed, the servo control means changes the amount of movement of the lens in response to a surface swing of the optical disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting an offset in a DVD player includes: an offset measuring unit which measures one or more offset parameters for initial reproducing operations of the DVD player; and an offset setting unit which, when the offset measuring unit measures the one or more offset parameters a number of times, calculates an average value of the measured offset values of the one or more offset parameters and sets, for each of the one or more offset parameters of the DVD player, the average value as a set offset value.

Abstract: A method is used for calibrating a writing power of an optical storage carrier player. The player has an access device for writing data onto the optical storage carrier. The carrier includes a center, an inner power calibration area (first calibration area), a data storage area, and an outer power calibration area (second calibration area). The method determines a writing location of the data in the data storage area, and controls the access device to perform an optical power calibration process in either the inner power calibration area or the outer power calibration area according to the writing location. Once completed, the method then utilizes a result of the optical power calibration process to determine a required writing power, and finally controls the access device to write the data to the optical storage carrier in the writing location with the required writing power.

Abstract: In a case of recording data into an optical disk (100), a disk apparatus (10) rotates the optical disk (100) by a ZCLV system, and in a case of reading out the data from the optical disk, the disk apparatus rotates the optical disk by a ZCAV system. By rotating the optical disk by the ZCLV system, a DSP (28) performs a read of a modified read carried out before recording, and a read of a verification carried out after the recording, and thereby, no occurrence of a change of a rotating speed of the optical disk among the modified read, the recording, and the verification.

Abstract: A method is designed for recording contents information along a track of an optical disk of a writeable type. A volume detection step is carried out for detecting an actual volume of the contents information to be recorded into the optical disk. A capacity detection step is carried out for detecting a nominal capacity of the optical disk, which indicates a rated volume of information to be recorded at maximum. A density determination step is carried out for determining a recording density of the contents information based on the detected actual volume and the detected nominal capacity. A record step is carried out for recording the contents information into the optical disk at the determined recording density such that the actual volume of the contents information can fit into the nominal capacity of the optical disk.

Abstract: A disc drive device optimally controls a speed for reading RTR-format data, such as video and audio, recorded on a DVD-format disc, thereby enabling real-time playback without interruption. In the disc drive device, information added to each sector is used for determining whether data is RTR-format data. When an error occurs at high-speed reading of RTR-format data and therefore the reading speed is changed to a low speed, the reading speed is so controlled as to be kept at the low speed for reading the following RTR-format data. Thus, for RTR-format data, overhead due to repetitive acceleration and deceleration processes can be avoided, and reading can be carried out without interfering with real-time playback. For normal data, reading can be carried out in a manner similar to that in the background art.

Abstract: A rotation control circuit comprising, a pickup controller configured to amplify an error signal detected by a pickup from an optical disk, and to generate both a low-frequency component in the error signal and a pickup control signal so as to control the pickup, a memory controller configured to generate a memory address control signal in synchronization with a frequency generator signal provided by a disk motor, a memory circuit configured to store the low-frequency component by using the memory address control signal at a specified timing, a compensation signal adder configured to add the low-frequency component to the pickup control signal at another specified timing, and a system controller configured to control operational timing of the memory controller and the compensation signal adder.

Abstract: A recordable optical information recording medium having an address t for each sector, comprises: an area A1 starting from an address t1 to which access is made only when a recording apparatus performs recording operation; an area A2 starting from an address t2 to which access is made either when the recording apparatus performs the recording operation or when the recording apparatus performs reproducing operation; and an area A3 starting from an address t3 to which access is made either when either the recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatus performs recording or when either the recording apparatus or the reproducing apparatus performs reproducing. The addresses t are set consecutively with respect to a physical arrangement of the sectors in each of the areas A2 and A3, and the area A1 has at least one inconsecutive part at which the addresses t are not consecutive with respect to the physical arrangement of the sectors.

Abstract: A device and method for calibrating linear velocity and track pitch for an optical disc is disclosed. The device comprises a frequency divider, a synchronous bit-clock generator, a counter and a linear velocity and track pitch calculator. The frequency divider receives a motor frequency generator (FG) pulse and generates a motor rotation period signal (FG/X). The synchronous bit-clock generator generates a high frequency bit-clock according to a reproduced signal read from disc. The bit counter counts the pulse of the bit-clock for each period of the motor rotation period signal to generate the data amount M. The linear velocity and track pitch calculator calculates the linear velocity by a linear velocity function with the information of the data amount M and the motor rotation period. Then, the linear velocity and track pitch calculator calculates the track pitch by a pitch function with the information of the data amount, radius and linear velocity at different tracks.

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus of the present invention comprises a rotating section 2 for rotating an information carrier 1 on which a unit of continuous information capable of being continuously read out is recorded, a CLV control section 9 for controlling the rotating section in such a manner that the information carrier is rotated at a constant linear velocity, a CAV control section 9 for controlling the rotating section in such a manner that the information carrier is rotated at a constant angular velocity, a rotation control selection 14 for selectively operating the CLV or CAV control section, and an information determination section 14 for detecting an information length of the continuous information. The rotation control selection section is constructed in such a manner as to selectively operate the CLV or CAV control section based on a result of the detection of the information length of the continuous information.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiples or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: A recording data string is composed of a plurality of synchronous frames each of which has synchronous data and coding data. Data items in the coding data contributed to creation of the same column of the error correction code are arranged at regular intervals of E in the recording data string. A data segment length L is obtained by adding an additional synchronous frame to the recording data string. Wherein, a physical segment length A satisfies the equation L=mA, m is a natural number. And A is set indivisible by E.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the time a host computer requires to recognize a recordable disc such as CD-R/CD-RW. The method includes the steps of determining whether or not an optical disc loaded in the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus is an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written (S46), and if the preceding step S46 determines the loaded disc as an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written, acquisition of disc information required for recording on the optical disc is performed by the host computer inter-relatedly with a spinup in the same step (S47). Thus, the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus returns the disc information to the host computer in step (S4E) without performing the step (S4D) for acquiring the disc information after the completion of the spinup (S4A) for the optical disc onto which data is likely to be written. Thus, the time required for recognizing a recordable disc can be reduced when the disc is loaded.

Abstract: A method of automatically pausing an optical pickup in a DVD-RAM disc drive includes driving a DVD-RAM disc; determining whether a tracking error signal is generated during the driving of the DVD-RAM disc; generating a land/groove signal to discern land tracks and groove tracks of the DVD-RAM disc; determining from which track the tracking error signal has been generated in response to the determination that the tracking error signal has been generated; generating a jump signal in response to a state of the land/groove signal varying; and moving the optical pickup back by ½ of a track in response to the jump signal.

Abstract: Provided is a disc drive device that optimally controls a speed for reading RTR-format data, such as video and audio, recorded on a DVD-format disc, thereby enabling real-time playback without interruption. In the disc drive device, information added to each sector is used for determining whether data is RTR-format data. When an error occurs at high-speed reading of RTR-format data and therefore the reading speed is changed to a low speed, the reading speed is so controlled as to be kept at the low speed for reading the following RTR-format data. Thus, for RTR-format data, overhead due to repetitive acceleration and deceleration processes can be avoided, and reading can be carried out without interfering with real-time playback. For normal data, reading can be carried out in a manner similar to that in background art.

Abstract: The optical disk player is capable of correctly restarting to write data. Data protection means returns an optical pick-up from an interruption address to a synchronization starting address. The data protection means reads data from the synchronization starting address to the interruption address at a reading velocity equal to a former writing velocity. The data protection means restarts writing data from the interruption address if a phase of data read is synchronized with a phase of data to be written. The data protection means returns the optical pick-up to the synchronization starting address and reads data from there to the interruption address at a reading velocity slower than the former writing velocity so as to synchronize the phases if the synchronization is failed.

Abstract: A reference clock generating circuit of a disk data burst cutting area is disclosed. Thereby, the BCA reference clock is generated by dividing the reference clock of a spindle control circuit for further capturing the BCA clock and the BCA data so that the BCA data and BCA clock are stably generated even if the rotary speed of the motor is changed.

Abstract: Provided is a disc drive device that optimally controls a speed for reading RTR-format data, such as video and audio, recorded on a DVD-format disc, thereby enabling real-time playback without interruption. In the disc drive device, information added to each sector is used for determining whether data is RTR-format data. When an error occurs at high-speed reading of RTR-format data and therefore the reading speed is changed to a low speed, the reading speed is so controlled as to be kept at the low speed for reading the following RTR-format data. Thus, for RTR-format data, overhead due to repetitive acceleration and deceleration processes can be avoided, and reading can be carried out without interfering with real-time playback. For normal data, reading can be carried out in a manner similar to that in background art.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has a function of controlling rotation of a recording medium which is divided into a plurality of zones in a radial direction thereof and employing a ZCAV system. The storage apparatus is provided with a setting part for setting a mode to one of a normal mode in which the recording medium is controlled to rotate at a first rotational speed, and a high-speed mode in which the recording medium is controlled to rotated at a plurality of second rotational speeds respectively corresponding to a plurality of areas to which the recording medium is divided in the radial direction thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an audio appliance, such as a CD or DVD player. To read and reproduce both compressed and uncompressed audio data on such an audio appliance in real time without buffer-storage, the audio appliance is designed such that the rotation speed of the storage medium may be set on the basis of the type of audio data which are to be read.

Abstract: An optical disc has an information recording portion. The information recording portion has a spiral of a groove, and land portions located between portions of the groove which neighbor each other as viewed in a disc radial direction. Auxiliary information used when an information signal is recorded on and reproduced from the groove is previously recorded on the land portions. The auxiliary information is represented by pre-pits provided in the land portions. The information recording portion is divided into a plurality of zones as viewed in the disc radial direction. In each of the zones, at least one of two sides of the groove wobbles at a fixed frequency in accordance with a constant angular velocity system. In each of the zones, phases of wobbles of respective neighboring portions of the groove are equal to each other.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus comprising a reproduced signal detector which digitizes a reproduced signal from an optical disk, a broadband synchronizing clock signal generator for generating a synchronizing clock signal for use in reproducing data, a signal processor for processing signals, and a disk rotation controller for controlling the optical disk by switching control modes according to the reproducing position of the disk, that is, performing CAV control using the constant rotating velocity which is the same as the current rotating velocity in a range where the synchronizing clock signal generator allows a reproduced signal to be subjected to pull-in-synchronization, and performing CLV control so that the linear velocity is constant to minimize the pull-in-enable changes of number of revolutions in a range exceeding the pull-in-synchronization range, by which arrangement the amount of change of number of spindle motor revolutions when the reproducing position of the optical pickup changes is minimized, th