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US4789974A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical information recording/reproducing apparatus

Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1987-09-10
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2007-09-10
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Abstract

Abstract In an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing information on or from an optical disc, a laser beam is focused on the surface of a substrate of the optical disc so that the intensity or a high frequency component of a reflected laser beam is used to detect contaminants on the optical disc surface or a test signal containing a plurality frequency components and recorded on a specified track on the optical disc is reproduced and detected so that the difference between amplitudes of the frequency components is used to detect contaminants on the optical disc surface. Scattering of the laser beam can be prevented and recording/reproducing can be effected with a proper level of laser power.

Inventors

  • 👤 Isao Satoh
  • 👤 Yuzuru Kuroki
  • 👤 Makoto Ichinose
  • 👤 Katsumi Murai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 16:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/08; G11B7/09; G11B7/12; G11B7/125; G11B7/126; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/04; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B20/18; G11B20/1816; G11B20/182; G11B7/002; G11B7/0037; G11B7/00375

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: optical means for converging laser beams from a laser light source on an optical disc formed with guide tracks; first focus control means for focusing a laser beam on a guide track on said optical disc; second focus control means for focusing the laser beam on a surface of a substrate of said optical disc; and reflected beam intensity detection means for detecting intensity of reflection of the laser beam which is focused on the surface of said optical disc substrate, said reflected beam detection means producing an output signal having a level which is representative of detection of contaminants on the surface of said optical disc.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: optical means for converging laser beams from a laser light source on an optical disc formed with guide tracks; first focus control means for focusing a laser beam on a guide track on said optical disc; second focus control means for focusing the laser beam on a surface of a substrate of said optical disc; and reflected beam intensity detection means for detecting intensity of reflection of the laser beam which is focused on the surface of said optical disc substrate, said reflected beam detection means producing an output signal having a level which is representative of detection of contaminants on the surface of said optical disc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second focus control means is activated each time said optical disc is exchanged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second focus control means is activated in interlocked relationship with the outermost circumferential portion of said optical disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reflected beam intensity detection means inhibits recording on said optical disc by the output signal level lower than reference signal level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 123 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: optical means for converging laser beams from a laser light source on an optical disc formed with guide tracks; first focus control means for focusing a laser beam on a guide track on said optical disc; second focus control means for focusing the laser beam on a surface of a substrate of said optical disc; and high frequency component detection means for detecting a high frequency component in excess of a reference value from reflection of the laser beam which is focused on the surface of said optical disc substrate, said high frequency component detection means producing an output signal having a level which is representative of detection of contaminants on the surface of said optical disc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 123 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: optical means for converging laser beams from a laser light source on an optical disc formed with guide tracks; first focus control means for focusing a laser beam on a guide track on said optical disc; second focus control means for focusing the laser beam on a surface of a substrate of said optical disc; and high frequency component detection means for detecting a high frequency component in excess of a reference value from reflection of the laser beam which is focused on the surface of said optical disc substrate, said high frequency component detection means producing an output signal having a level which is representative of detection of contaminants on the surface of said optical disc.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second focus control means is activated each time said optical disc is exchanged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second focus control means is activated in interlocked relationship with the outermost circumferential portion of said optical disc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 36 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said high frequency component detection means inhibits recording on said optical disc when it detects a high frequency component in excess of a predetermined reference value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 141 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing information on or from an optical disc formed with guide tracks, comprising: optical means for converging laser beams from a laser light source on said optical disc; focus control means for focusing a laser beam on a guide track on said optical disc; recording means for modulating and recording information; reproducing means for receiving reflection of a focused laser beam to produce a signal; and test signal detection means for detecting a test signal containing predetermined frequency components from the output signal delivered out of said reproducing means, said test signal being recorded on a specified track and containing at least two frequency components, said test signal detection means detecting a difference between amplitudes of said two frequency components to detect contaminants on the surface of said optical disc in accordance with the difference.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 141 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing information on or from an optical disc formed with guide tracks, comprising: optical means for converging laser beams from a laser light source on said optical disc; focus control means for focusing a laser beam on a guide track on said optical disc; recording means for modulating and recording information; reproducing means for receiving reflection of a focused laser beam to produce a signal; and test signal detection means for detecting a test signal containing predetermined frequency components from the output signal delivered out of said reproducing means, said test signal being recorded on a specified track and containing at least two frequency components, said test signal detection means detecting a difference between amplitudes of said two frequency components to detect contaminants on the surface of said optical disc in accordance with the difference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 30 words
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said two frequency components correspond to the maximum and minimum frequencies of the recording signal for said recording means, respectively.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4363961A Cited
US4286318A Cited
US4417330A Cited
US4613961A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-12-06 1992-06-06 1992-12-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-12-06 1996-06-06 1996-12-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-12-06 2000-06-06 2000-12-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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