Patent ID: 6400673
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical disk drive, provided with a light source and a light-intensity detecting unit which detects intensity of light emitted from said light source, for recording an information code on an optical disk by applying light, emitted from said light source, having a waveform of pulse series, on said optical disk, the frequency of the pulse series being higher than the frequency of the information code, said optical disk drive comprising, as a laser-power control device:a current providing unit which provides a first current to said light source; a first current adding unit which provides a second current to said light source in addition to the first current; a second current adding unit which provides a third current to said light source in addition to the first current and the second current, such that said first, second and third currents are provided to said light source simultaneously; a first switch unit which allows the second current to be provided to said light source or prevents the second current from being provided to said light source; a second switch unit which allows the third current to be provided to said light source or prevents the third current from being provided to said light source; a first pulse generator which provides a first on-off control signal having a waveform of pulse series to said first switch unit in accordance with the information code; a second pulse generator which provides a second on-off control signal having a waveform of pulse series to said second switch unit in accordance with the information code; a timing unit which generates a timing signal for preventing the first and second on-off control signal from being provided to said first switch unit and said second switch unit, respectively, during a predetermined period; a first sample-and-hold unit which samples and holds output of said light-intensity detecting unit during the period during which the timing signal is generated; a second sample-and-hold unit which samples and holds the output of said light-intensity detecting unit during a period during which the first on-off control signal is in a first level and the second on-off control signal is in a second level; a first adjusting unit which adjusts the first current depending on output of said first sample-and-hold unit; a second adjusting unit which adjusts the second current depending on output of said second sample-and-hold unit; and a third adjusting unit which adjusts the third current depending on the output of said second sample-and-hold unit.