Patent ID: 6144628
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An apparatus for reproducing information recorded in a medium, the medium having a plurality of tracks, the tracks having a plurality of sectors, and the sectors each having a first area in which information was recorded using MO techniques, and a second area in which the information was not recorded using said MO techniques, said apparatus comprising:a light source for producing a light beam,means for scanning the light beam over the sectors in succession by rotating the medium, the light beam being reflected by the medium,means for reproducing information recorded in the medium from the reflected light of the light beam, andmeans for controlling the power applied to the light source, and the resulting intensity of the light beam, as the light beam scans the mediumsaid controlling means providing a first power level P1 to the light source for reproducing information in the second areas,said controlling means setting an initial power level for reproducing information using MO techniques by increasing a power level of the light source from the first power level to a second power level P1+P2, said second variable power level P2 being decided in accordance with information reproduction results when said light beam scans a head portion of said first areas, andsaid controlling means setting an optimum power level for reproduction of the information using MO techniques by adding a predetermined third power level P3 to the initial power level for reproducing information P1+P2.