Patent ID: 6611478
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
Apparatus for recovering recorded data and clock signals simultaneously from an optical recording medium, wherein the recorded clock signal has a frequency higher than the highest frequency components of the recorded data signal, the apparatus comprising:a laser configured to generate an incident beam of light having a predetermined wavelength; an optical assembly configured to focus the incident beam of light onto the optical recording medium, to produce a reflected beam having an intensity that is modulated according to the recorded data and clock signals; a beam splitter configured to separate the reflected beam into first and second beams; a nonconfocal data detector configured to receive the first beam and produce a recovered data signal that varies according to the recorded data signal, wherein the bandwidth of the nonconfocal data detector is insufficient to detect the amplitude modulation of the recorded clock signal; and a confocal clock detector configured to receive the second beam and produce a recovered clock signal representative of the recorded clock signal.