In an optical disk apparatus which reads specifications data from a control track on various types of optical disks requiring different laser powers for data reading, in reading data from the control track, the power of the laser beam of a semiconductor laser oscillator is set low according to an optical disk requiring a low-power laser beam for data reading, and when accessing the control track indicates that the optical disk actually requiring a high-power laser beam, the power of the laser beam is changed to high power.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus, and, 
more particularly, to an optical disk apparatus which optically records 
data on tracks of an optical disk, or reads recorded data therefrom by 
rotating the optical disk in relation to an optical head. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Image filing systems use an optical disk apparatus, which records data on 
spiral or concentric tracks formed on an optical disk o reproduces 
recorded data therefrom while rotating the optical disk. 
An original is two-dimensionally scanned so that its image data is 
photoelectrically converted into electric image data. The electric image 
data is optically recorded on the tracks of the optical disk by an optical 
head. The recorded data is retrieved by the optical head at the time of 
retrieval and is reproduced as a hard copy or a soft copy. 
The optical disk apparatus performs data writing or data reading with a 
laser beam produced by a semiconductor laser oscillator provided in the 
optical head. In such an optical disk apparatus, the specifications of 
usable optical disks, such as the reflection factor, the laser powers 
required for data writing and data reading, and the number of sectors 
around the optical disk, are fixed. 
There is a demand and movement to permit the use of optical disks with 
different specifications which are manufactured by various companies. If 
optical disks have different specifications mentioned above, they cannot 
generally be used in a single optical disk apparatus. 
As a solution to this shortcoming, there is proposed an optical disk on 
which specifications data such as mode data different for each 
manufacturer, or a so-called control track, is recorded for 
standardization. This control track is recorded in a specifications data 
recording area for specifications data, which is located inward of a data 
recording area where record data is to be recorded. Data of the 
specifications indicating the manufacturer of this optical disk is 
recorded in bar code on this control track. Each bar of the bar code 
consists of a group of pits arranged in rows and columns. 
Also recorded on the control track is data, such as the reflection factor, 
the laser powers required for data writing and data reading, and the 
number of sectors around the optical disk, in order to determine the 
reading/writing specifications. 
In this case, there are two types of optical disks: rewritable optical 
disks which require a high-power laser beam for data reading and 
write-once type optical disks which require a low-power laser beam for 
data reading. When a high-power laser beam is erroneously irradiated on 
the write-one optical disk to access the control track, the data on the 
optical disk would likely be destroyed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
recording/reproducing apparatus, which reads specifications data from the 
specifications data recording area on various types of optical disks 
requiring different laser powers for data reading and which prevents data 
on an optical disk designed for a low-power laser beam from being 
destroyed even when a high-power laser beam is erroneously irradiated 
thereon for data reading. 
To achieve the object, according to the present invention, there is 
provided a recording/reproducing apparatus for recording information on an 
optical recording medium by means of a laser beam of a recording 
power-level, and for reproducing recorded information from the medium by 
means of a laser beam of a reproducing power-level which is lower than the 
power level for recording, the optical recording medium having a recording 
layer selected from various types of recording layers including a first 
area on which information is recorded and reproduced, and a second area 
for storing data representing the power levels for recording and 
reproducing in accordance with the type of a recording layer, the 
recording/reproducing apparatus comprising means for generating laser 
beams of recording power-levels and laser beams of reproducing 
power-levels, and applying the laser beams to the recording layer, means 
for moving the generating means to the first and second areas, means for 
causing the generating means to generate a specific laser beam of a level 
equal to the lowest reproducing power level when the generating means is 
moved to the second area, means for detecting light reflected from the 
second area and for generating a detection signal, and means for selecting 
the power level to be generated by the generating means in accordance with 
the detection signal. 
Further according to the present invention, there is provided an optical 
disk apparatus for recording data on, and reading data from, an optical 
disk, the apparatus comprising an optical disk having a data recording 
area in which data is to be recorded, and from which data is to be read, 
and a specifications data recording area which is surrounded by the data 
recording area and consists of a plurality of tracks, in each of which 
three identical items of specifications data are recorded, each item 
representing specifications of the optical disk, such as the reflection 
factor of the optical disk, laser powers required for writing data from, 
and reading data in, the data recording area, and the number of sectors of 
the optical disk; an optical head having laser means for generating a 
low-power laser beam and a high-power laser beam, both for reading data, 
and photoelectric conversion means for converting light, which is 
reflected from the data recording area when the low-power laser beam is 
applied to the data recording area, to an electric signal; head-moving 
means for moving the optical head in a radial direction of the optical 
disk, from the specifications data recording area to the data recording 
area; detecting means for detecting recorded portions and unrecorded 
portions of the data recording area of the optical disk, in accordance 
with the electric signal generated by the optical head; 
specification-determining means for determining, from data defined by the 
recorded and unrecorded portions which the detecting means detects the 
specifications such as the reflection factor of the optical disk, laser 
powers required for writing data from, and reading data in, the data 
recording area, and the number of sectors of the optical disk; and control 
means for controlling the optical head such that the laser means of the 
optical head generates a low-power laser beam or a high-power laser beam 
in accordance with the specifications determined by the 
specification-determining means. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the 
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the 
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects 
and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of 
the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the 
appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of an optical disk 
apparatus according to the present invention. 
An optical disk 1 shown in FIG. 1 has spiral or concentric grooves (tracks) 
formed on its surface. This optical disk 1 is driven at, for example, a 
constant speed (1800 rpm), by a motor 2 which is controlled by a motor 
controller 18. 
The optical disk 1 may be a rewritable type which requires a high-power 
laser beam of 1.5 mW for data reading and a write-one type which needs a 
low-power laser beam of 0.4 mW for the same purpose. For the former type, 
a laser beam of 8 to 10 mW is used for data recording or erasing. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical disk 1 comprises a glass or plastic, 
disk-shaped substrate with a diameter of, for example, 5.25 in (about 13.3 
cm), and a metal coating layer or recording film, which is coated in a 
doughnut shape on one surface of the substrate and is composed of 
tellurium or bismuth. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical disk 1 has on its surface a data recording 
area 1a having tracks formed therein and a specifications data recording 
area 1b located inward of the data recording area 1a. The latter area 1b 
has no guide grooves formed therein. 
The data recording area 1a is divided into a plurality of sectors with a 
reference mark as its reference point. Data of a variable length is 
recordable over a plurality of blocks on the optical disk 1; there are 
300,000 blocks formed on 36,000 tracks on the optical disk 1. 
In the data recording area la, a block header A, as preformat data, is 
recorded at the beginning of each block, a recording unit, at the time the 
optical disk 1 is manufactured. The block header A includes a block number 
and a track number. 
In the specifications data recording area 1b, a control track C is likewise 
recorded at the time of manufacturing the optical disk 1. The same data is 
recorded three times for one revolution, in a bar code shape in the 
circumferential direction on the control track C. The specifications data 
includes the reflection factor as the film characteristic of the optical 
disk 1, the laser powers of a semiconductor laser oscillator required for 
data writing, data erasing and data reproduction, and the number of 
sectors around the optical disk, as a format type. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the control track C indicates data in the form of 
consecutive or non-consecutive columns of bits, and is recorded radially 
in the radial direction of the optical disk 1. The recording position of 
the control track C is defined by the distance from the center of the 
optical disk 1 or the radial position thereof. 
For instance, the control track C is recorded over a region from the 
position of the radius of 29.0 cm to the position of the radius of 29.3 
cm. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the control track C consists of three sectors each 
including a gap, preamble, a sync signal, specifications data, 
sector/track address data and CRC check data. 
With regard to one bit of data on the control track C, it is determined to 
be bit "0" if 82 consecutive pits exist at the first half of the optical 
disk 1, and is considered to be bit "1" if 82 consecutive pits exist at 
the second half, as shown in FIG. 4. 
Also, as shown in FIG. 5, one bit of data on the control track C is 
determined to be bit "0" if plural columns of pits exist in 328 channel 
bits at the first half of the optical disk 1, and is considered to be bit 
"1" if plural columns of pits exist in 328 channel bits at the second 
half. 
An optical head 3 is disposed below the optical disk 1, close to the bottom 
thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, this optical head 3 comprises an objective 
lens 6, drive coils 4 and 5 for driving the objective lens 6, a 
photosensor 8, a semiconductor laser oscillator 9, a focusing lens 10a, a 
cylindrical lens 10b, a collimator lens 11a for collimating a laser beam 
from the laser oscillator 9, a half prism 11b and a light-receiving 
element PD for detecting the amount of light emitted from the laser 
oscillator 9. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the objective lens 6 is suspended from a fixed portion 
(not shown) by a wire suspension. This objective lens 6 moves in the 
focusing direction or along the optical axis of the lens 6 when driven by 
the drive coil 5, and moves in the tracking direction or in the direction 
perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 6 when driven by the drive 
coil 4. 
The optical head 3 is secured to a drive coil 13 serving as a movable 
portion of a linear motor 31. The drive coil 13 is connected to a linear 
motor controller 17 which is connected to a linear motor position detector 
26. This position detector 26 detects an optical scale 25 provided at the 
optical head 3 and outputs a position signal. 
At a fixed portion of the linear motor 31, a permanent magnet (not shown) 
is provided so that when the drive coil 13 is excited by the linear motor 
controller 17, the laser beam from the optical head 3 moves in the radial 
direction of the optical disk 1 with the movement of the linear motor 31. 
A laser beam generated by the semiconductor laser oscillator 9, which is 
driven by a laser controller 14, is irradiated on the optical disk 1 
through the collimator lens 11a, the half prism 11b and the objective lens 
6. Reflection light from the optical disk 1 is led to the photosensor 8 
through the objective lens 6, half prism 11b, focusing lens 10a and 
cylindrical lens 10b. 
In response to a command from a CPU 23 (to be described later), the laser 
controller 14 causes the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 to generate a 
high-power laser beam of 1.5 mW for data reading or a low-power laser beam 
of 0.4 mW for data reading. In response to a command from the CPU 23, the 
laser controller 14 permits the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 to 
generate a laser beam with power of 8 to 10 mW for data recording or data 
erasing. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the laser controller 14 comprises a setting section 14a 
for setting the amount or energy of reproducing light, a setting section 
14b for setting the amount or energy of recording/erasing light, an NPN 
type transistor Ta, an FET (Field Effect Transistor) Tb, and resistors Ra 
and Rb. 
The reproducing light energy setting section 14a sends a drive signal, 
corresponding to a reproduction signal and a light energy select signal 
supplied from the CPU 23, to the base of the transistor Ta. 
The recording/erasing light energy setting section 14b outputs a control 
signal, associated with a modulation signal corresponding to record data 
from the CPU 23 at the time of data recording, to the gate of the FET Tb. 
The setting section 14b also outputs a control signal, supplied from the 
CPU 23 at the time of data erasing, to the gate of the FET Tb. 
In the transistor Ta, a current is amplified by an amplification factor 
corresponding to the drive signal from the setting section 14a. With 
different current amplifications of the transistor Ta, different currents 
flow through the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 so that the laser 
oscillator 9 generates a high-power laser beam of 1.5 mW for data reading 
and a low-power laser beam of 0.4mw for data reading accordingly. 
The FET Tb is rendered ON or OFF by the control signal supplied from the 
setting section 14b. The FET Tb, when turned ON, permits a current to flow 
to the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 which in turn generates a laser 
beam with power of 8 to 10 mW. 
The emitter of the transistor Ta and the drain of the FET Tb are both 
connected to a voltage source (V.sub.CC) through the semiconductor laser 
oscillator 9 and resistor Ra. The transistor Ta has its collector grounded 
through the resistor Rb, and the FET Tb has it source grounded. 
The photosensor 8 comprises four photosensor cells 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d, as 
shown in FIG. 1. 
The output signal of the photosensor cell 8a is supplied via an amplifier 
12a to one end of an adder 30a as well as one end of an adder 30c. The 
output signal of the photosensor cell 8b is supplied via an amplifier 12b 
to one end of each of adders 30b and 30d. The output signal of the 
photosensor cell 8c is supplied via an amplifier 12c to the other end of 
each of the adders 30b and 30c. The output signal of the photosensor cell 
8d is supplied via an amplifier 12d to the other end of each of the adders 
30a and 30d. 
The output signal of the adder 30a is supplied to an inverting input 
terminal of a differential amplifier OPl whose non-inverting input 
terminal is supplied with the output signal of the adder 30b. The 
differential amplifier OPl sends a track difference signal corresponding 
to the difference between the outputs of the adders 30a and 30b, to a 
tracking controller 16. The tracking controller 16 prepares a track drive 
signal in accordance with the track difference signal from the 
differential amplifier OPl. 
The track drive signal from the tracking controller 16 is sent to the drive 
coil 4 that moves the objective lens in the tracking direction. The track 
difference signal used in the tracking controller 16 is sent to the linear 
motor controller 17. 
The output signal of the adder 30c is supplied to an inverting input 
terminal of a differential amplifier OP2 which non-inverting input 
terminal is supplied with the output signal of the adder 30d. The 
differential amplifier OP2 sends a signal associated with the focus point 
and corresponding to the difference between the outputs of the adders 30c 
and 30d, to a focusing controller 15. The output signal of this focusing 
controller 15 is supplied to the focusing drive coil 5, so that the laser 
beam is controlled to be always just in focus on the optical disk 1. 
With the focusing and tracking being effected, a signal representing the 
sum of the outputs of the individual photosensor cells 8a to 8d of the 
photosensor 8, or the output signals of the adders 30a and 30b reflect the 
upheaval statuses of the pits (recorded data) formed on the tracks. These 
signals are supplied to a video circuit 19 which reproduces image data and 
address data (track number, sector number, etc.). 
A binary signal reproduced by video circuit 19 is output via an interface 
circuit 70 to an optical disk controller 71. 
The output signals of the adders 30a and 30b are also supplied to a control 
track read circuit 32. In accordance with the received signals, the 
control track circuit 32 outputs count values as time intervals 
corresponding to the recorded portion corresponding to the recorded data 
on the control track C and the unrecorded portion. 
At the time of accessing the control track C, the count values of the 
control track read circuit 32 are sent to the CPU 23 (which will be 
described later). 
At the time of accessing the control track C, the CPU 23 causes the optical 
head 3 to move from the innermost track on the optical disk 1. When the 
optical head 3 moves by 11.5 scales of the optical scale 25, the CPU 23 
determines that the optical head 3 is positioned at the vicinity of the 
center of the control track C, and stops the optical head 3. At this time, 
the CPU 23 checks the count values supplied from input ports 51 and 52 (to 
be described later) of the control track read circuit 32, i.e., the time 
intervals of the recorded portion and unrecorded portion, to read out the 
specifications data on the control track C, and performs an operational 
control in accordance with this specifications data. In other words, this 
apparatus is controlled in accordance with different optical disks 1 
having different specifications (companies). 
The optical disk apparatus employs a D/A converter 22 to ensure data 
exchange between the CPU 23 and the focusing controller 15, tracking 
controller 16, or linear motor controller 17. 
The tracking controller 16 moves the objective lens 6 to shift the laser 
beam by one track in accordance with a track jump signal supplied via the 
D/A converter 22 from the CPU 23 
The laser controller 14, focusing controller 15, tracking controller 16, 
linear motor controller 17, motor controller 18, and the video circuit 19 
are controlled via a bus line 20 by the CPU 23. These units are controlled 
by a program stored in a memory 24 under the control of the CPU 23. 
As shown in FIG. 7, the control track read circuit 32 comprises an adder 
circuit 32a, a low-level detector 32b, a binary value producing circuit 
32c and a time interval counting section 32d. 
The lower-level detector 32b comprises a diode D1, an integrator comprising 
a capacitor C1 and an amplifier 33. The binary value producing circuit 32c 
comprises diodes D2 and D3, a resistor R1, a capacitor C2 and a comparator 
34. 
The time interval counting section 32d comprises a sync circuit 40, an 
output switching timing circuit 41, clear signal generators 42 and 43, 
recorded-portion measuring counter 44, an unrecorded-portion measuring 
counter 45, an inverter circuit 46, an OR circuit 47, flip-flop circuits 
(FF circuits) 48 and 49, a switch 50, and input ports 51 and 52. 
The adder circuit 32a adds the output signals of the adders 30a and 30b and 
outputs a reproduction signal r corresponding to the sum of the detection 
signals of the photosensor cells 8a to 8d. The lower-level detector 32b 
detects the lower-level of the reproduction signal r from the adder 
circuit 32a and produces a lower-level detection signal 1 which is a 
signal resulting from the detection of the peak of the dark level of the 
reproduction signal r. The comparator 34 of the binary value production 
circuit 32c compares the lower-level detection signal 1 from the 
lower-level detector 32b with a delay signal d which is acquired by 
delaying a former signal 1. If the delay signal d is smaller than the 
lower-level detection signal 1, the comparator 34 outputs an "H"-level 
signal or a signal corresponding to the recorded portion. Accordingly, a 
binary signal t corresponding to the recorded data on the control track C 
is output to the time interval counting section 32d. 
For instance, the lower-level detection signal 1 as shown in FIG. 8B is 
detected from the reproduction signal r as shown in FIG. 8A and the binary 
signal t as shown in FIG. 8C is acquired by comparing the first two 
signals 1 and d with each other. 
The time interval counting section 32d detects a blank gap based on the 
binary signal t from the binary value producing circuit 32c, and the 
number of counts of the recorded portion and unrecorded portion following 
this blank gap is output to the CPU 23. 
The sync circuit 40 synchronizes the binary signal t from the binary value 
producing circuit 32c with a clock from an oscillator (not shown), and 
sends its output to the output switching timing circuit 41, clear signal 
generators 42 and 43, recorded-portion measuring counter 44, and input 
port 51. The output of the sync circuit 40 is also supplied to the 
unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 after being inverted by the 
inverter circuit 46. The output switching timing circuit 41 switches a 
switch contact 50a of the switch 50 to a fixed contact 50b when the signal 
from the sync circuit 40 has an "L" level, and switches the switch contact 
50a to a fixed contact 50c when the signal from the sync circuit 40 has an 
"H" level. 
When the level of the signal from the sync circuit 40 is changed to the "L" 
level from the "H" level, the clear signal generator 42 outputs a clear 
signal to the unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45. When the level of 
the signal from the sync circuit 40 is changed to the "H" level from the 
"L" level, the clear signal generator 43 outputs a clear signal to the 
recorded-portion measuring counter 44. When the "H"-level signal is 
supplied from the sync circuit 40, the recorded-portion measuring counter 
44 counts the number of clocks from the oscillator. When the "H"-level 
signal is supplied via the inverter circuit 46 from the sync circuit 40, 
the unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 counts the number of clocks 
from the oscillator. The count values of the counters 44 and 45 are 
selectively output to the CPU 23 via the switch 50, input port 52 and bus 
line 20. When the unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 corresponds to 
the blank gap, an overflow occurs and a carry signal is output. When the 
recorded-portion measuring counter 44 corresponds to dust, an overflow 
occurs and a carry signal is output. The carry signal of the 
recorded-portion measuring counter 44 is sent via the OR circuit 47 to the 
FF circuit 48, then is output therefrom to the input port 51. The carry 
signal of the unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 is sent to the FF 
circuit 49, then is output therefrom to the input port 51. 
When the level of the signal supplied to the input port 51 from the sync 
circuit 40 is changed to the "L" level from the "H" level, the input port 
52 outputs the count value of the recorded-portion measuring counter 44 
supplied from the switch 50 to the CPU 23 through the bus line 20. When 
the level of the signal supplied to the input port 51 from the sync 
circuit 40 is changed to the "H" level from the "L" level, the input port 
52 outputs the count value of the unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 
supplied from the switch 50 to the CPU 23 through the bus line 20. 
Referring now to the flowchart shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, description will 
be given of the operation of reading the control track C with the above 
structure. Assuming that a command to access the control track C is 
supplied to the CPU 23 from the optical disk controller 71, then the CPU 
23 controls the linear motor controller 17 to move the optical head 3 
outward from the innermost track. 
When the linear motor 41 is moved by 11.5 scales or when the laser beam 
from the optical head 3 is positioned in the vicinity of the center of the 
control track C, the CPU 23 stops the optical head 3. 
The CPU 23 then causes the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 to generate a 
laser beam with power of 0.4 mW. This low-power laser beam of 0.4 mW for 
data reading from the laser oscillator 9 is irradiated on the optical disk 
1 through the collimator lens 11a, half prism 11b and objective lens 6. 
Light reflected from the optical disk 1 is led to the photosensor 8 
through the objective lens 6, half prism 11b, focusing lens 10a, and 
cylindrical lens 10b. 
The output signal of the photosensor cell 8a is supplied via the amplifier 
12a to one end of the adder 30a as well as one end of the adder 30c. The 
output signal of the photosensor cell 8b is supplied via the amplifier 12b 
to one end of each of the adders 30b and 30d. The output signal of the 
photosensor cell 8c is supplied via the amplifier 12c to the other end of 
each of the adders 30b and 30c. The output signal of the photosensor cell 
8d is supplied via the amplifier 12d to the other end of each of the 
adders 30a and 30d. 
Under the above circumstance, the signals from the adders 30a and 30b are 
supplied to the adder circuit 32a The adder circuit 32a then outputs the 
reproduction signal r as shown in FIG. 8A, corresponding to the sum of the 
detection signals from the photosensor cells 8a-8d, to the lower-level 
detector 32b. 
The lower-level detector 32b detects the lower level of the reproduction 
signal r from the adder circuit 32a, and outputs the lower-level detection 
signal 1, indicated by the solid line in FIG. 8B, to the binary value 
producing circuit 32c. The comparator 34 of the binary value producing 
circuit 32c compares the lower-level detection signal 1 from the detector 
32b with the delay signal d, which is acquired by delaying the signal 1 as 
indicated by the broken line in FIG. 8B. When the delay signal d is 
smaller than the lower-level detection signal 1, the comparator 34 outputs 
a signal of the "L" level. When the lower-level detection signal 1 is 
smaller than the delay signal d, the comparator 34 outputs a signal of the 
"H" level. As a result, the binary signal t in FIG. 8C corresponding to 
the recorded data of the control track C is output to the time interval 
counting section 32d. 
Accordingly, the counting section 32d detects a blank gap using the binary 
signal t from the binary value producing circuit 32c, and data 
corresponding to the number of counts of the recorded portion and the 
unrecorded portion following the blank gap is output to the CPU 23. 
That is, when a signal of the "L" level corresponding to the unrecorded 
portion is output from the sync circuit 40, the unrecorded-portion 
measuring counter 45 counts the clocks from the oscillator. When the count 
value of the counter 45 causes an overflow, a carry signal is sent to the 
FF circuit 49 which in turn outputs the carry signal to the CPU 23 through 
the input port 51 and bus line 20. The CPU 23 detects the blank gap from 
the carry signal and determines the beginning of one sector of the control 
track C. 
When the level of the output of the sync circuit 40 is changed to the "H" 
level corresponding to the recorded portion from the "L" level 
corresponding to the unrecorded portion, the clear signal from the clear 
signal generator 43 and the "H"-level signal from the sync circuit 40 are 
supplied to the recorded-portion measuring counter 44. Consequently, the 
counter 44 is initialized to start counting the number of clocks from the 
oscillator (not shown). 
When the level of the output of the sync circuit 40 is changed to the "L" 
level, corresponding to the unrecorded portion, from the "H" level, 
corresponding to the recorded portion, the counting operation of the 
recorded-portion measuring counter 44 is stopped and the movable contact 
50a of the switch 50 is switched to the fixed contact 50b by the switching 
signal from the output switching timing circuit 41. As a result, the count 
value from the counter 44 is output to the input port 52 via the switch 
50. 
Further, the clear signal from the clear signal generator 42 and the 
"L"-level signal from the sync circuit 40 are supplied to the 
unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45. Consequently, the counter 45 is 
initialized to start counting the number of clocks from the oscillator 
(not shown). 
When the level of the output of the sync circuit 40 is changed to the "H" 
level corresponding to the recorded portion, from the "L" level, 
corresponding to the unrecorded portion, the count value of the 
recorded-portion measuring counter 44 supplied via the switch 50 to the 
input port 52 is output over the bus line 20 to the CPU 23. The CPU 23 
stores the count value of the recorded portion in the memory 24. At this 
time, the counting operation of the unrecorded-portion measuring counter 
45 is stopped. 
Then, the movable contact 50a of the switch 50 is set to the fixed contact 
50c by the switching signal from the output switching timing circuit 41. 
Consequently, the count value from the unrecorded-portion measuring 
counter 45 is output via the switch 50 to the input port 52. The clear 
signal from the clear signal generator 43 and the "H"-level signal from 
the sync circuit 40 ar supplied to the recorded-portion measuring counter 
44. As a result, the counter 44 is initialized to start counting the 
number of clocks from the oscillator (not shown). 
When the level of the output of the sync circuit 40 is changed to the "L" 
level, corresponding to the unrecorded portion, from the "H" level, 
corresponding to the recorded portion, the count value of the 
unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 supplied via the switch 50 to the 
input port 52 is output over the bus line 20 to the CPU 23. The CPU 23 
stores the count value of the unrecorded portion in the memory 24. 
Thereafter, the count value of the recorded portion and that of the 
unrecorded portion are likewise stored in the memory 24. 
When data for one sector is read out, or when the carry signal from the 
unrecorded-portion measuring counter 45 is supplied again to the CPU 23 
and the CPU 23 determines it as a blank gap, the CPU 23 checks the time 
intervals of the recorded portion and unrecorded portion using the count 
values stored in the memory 24 and reads out (demodulates) the 
specifications data on the control operation track C. The CPU 23 then 
performs a control corresponding to the read-out specifications data. That 
is, the CPU 23 performs a control corresponding to different optical disks 
1 with various specifications (companies). 
For instance, when it is determined from the specifications data that data 
reading for the optical disk 1 requires a high-power laser beam, the CPU 
23 outputs a switching signal to the laser controller 14. In response to 
the switching signal, the laser controller 14 switches the power of the 
laser beam from the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 to a high power (1.5 
mW). 
Further, the film characteristic (reflection factor) of the optical disk 1, 
the power of the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 for data recording, the 
format type (number of sectors per track), etc. are controlled by the 
specifications of the optical disk. 
As described above, in reading data from the control track, the power of 
the laser beam of the semiconductor laser oscillator 9 is set low 
according to an optical disk requiring a low-power laser beam for data 
reading, and when accessing the control, track indicates that the optical 
disk actually requires a high-power laser beam, the power of the laser 
beam is changed to high power. 
Accordingly, in an optical disk apparatus which reads specifications data 
from the control track on various types of optical disks requiring 
different laser powers for data reading, it is possible to prevent data on 
an optical disk designed for a low-power laser beam from being destroyed 
even when a high-power laser beam is erroneously irradiated thereon for 
data reading. 
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled 
in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited 
to the specific details, and representative devices, shown and described 
herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing 
from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by 
the appended claims and their equivalents.