OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for an optical information record medium (101) on which a plurality of tracks are arranged substantially in parallel, comprises a light source (107), a first optical system (108,119,109) for forming a small spot on the record medium by converging a light beam from the light source, a second optical system (109,113) for obtaining the light beam from the record medium, a detecting device (115,10,11,12) for receiving the light beam obtained by the second optical system to output a tracking signal, a vibrating device (15,111) for vibrating the spot relatively to the record medium in a direction intersecting the extension of the track, a control device (13,111) for effecting a tracking control with respect to the track, and a selecting device (17,16,14) for selectively actuating the vibrating device and the control device in accordance with the tracking signal from said detecting device.

Description: The present invention relates to an optical information recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording information on an optical information recording medium, reproducing the information recorded on the medium and/or erasing the information recorded on the medium. Such an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus, for example, may use as recording medium a card-shaped information recording medium having a plurality of linear information tracks arranged in parallel. Disk-shaped, card-shaped and tape-shaped optical recording media have been known. Of those, the card-shaped optical information recording medium (hereinafter referred to as an optical card) is compact and light in weight, convenient to carry and has a large memory capacity. Accordingly, a big demand is expected. On such an optical card, information is recorded as a line of optically detectable record bits (information track) by scanning the card by a light beam which is modulated by recording information and focused into a small spot. In order to exactly record information without trouble such as crossing of information tracks, it is necessary to control (auto-tracking or AT) an irradiation position of the light beam spot on the optical card in a direction normal to the scan direction. In order to irradiate the light beam as a stable small spot irrespective of curvature of the optical card or mechanical tolerance, it is necessary to control (auto-focusing or AF) the light beam spot in a direction normal to the optical card surface. Further, in order to compensate for variation in a scan speed, it is necessary to have a clock signal. For reproduction, AT and AF are also required. Accordingly, a tracking track, a clock track or other preformat is formed on the optical card in addition to the information track. Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an optical card of known format. On an optical card 101, clock tracks 21, 22, 23, ... having clock signals recorded thereon to form discontinuous broken lines and tracking tracks 31, 32, 33, ... formed in continuous lines, are arranged alternately at a constant interval. Record areas 41, 42, 43, ... for recording information are provided one for each of the tracks. The optical card 101 has record areas between the clock tracks and the tracking tracks. Fig. 2 shows a configuration of an optical card information recording and reproducing apparatus. Such apparatus is described, for example, in United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2170632. Numeral 106 denotes a motor for driving an optical card 101 in a direction shown by an arrow, numeral 107 denotes a light source such as a semiconductor laser, numeral 108 denotes a collimator lens, numeral 119 denotes a diffraction grating, numeral 110 denotes an objective lens, numeral 109 denotes a beam splitter, numeral 111 denotes a tracking coil, numeral 112 denotes a focusing coil, numerals 113 and 114 denote condenser lenses, numerals 115 and 116 denote photo-electric conversion elements, numeral 117 denotes a tracking control circuit, and numeral 118 denotes a focusing control circuit. Currents are supplied to the tracking coil 111 and the focusing coil 112 under the control of the control circuits 117 and 118 in accordance with signals detected by the photo-electric conversion elements 115 and 116 so that the objective lens is driven to carry out AT and AF. The photoelectric conversion elements 115 and 116 produce clock signals and reproduce signals. The optical card information recording and reproducing apparatus is constructed by the elements other than the optical card 101 and the motor 106 shown in Fig. 2. A method for recording and reproducing information to and from the optical card by such an apparatus is now explained. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, a light beam emitted from the light source 107 is collimated by the collimator lens 108 and it is split by the diffraction grating 119 into three beams at different angles with respect to the direction normal to the plane of the drawing. They are reflected by the beam splitter 109 and form three beam spots on the information record plane of the optical card 101 through the objective lens 110. Fig. 3 shows a partial enlarged plan view of the information record plane of the optical card 101. When information is to be recorded on the optical card 101, spots S₁, S₂ and S₃ are formed on the information record plane with the spot S₁ being on the clock track 2₁ and the spot S₃ being on the tracking track 3₁. The spots S₁ ∿ S₃ are scanned in a direction a by causing a relative displacement between the optical head, which forms the spots, and the optical card. A clock signal is reproduced from light reflected from the spot S₁. Light reflected from the spot S₃ is directed to the photo-electric conversion element 115 in the optical head, and a tracking signal is produced in the tracking control circuit 117 by a known method such as push-pull. The tracking coil 111 is energized in accordance with the tracking signal to drive the objective lens 110 horizontally. Thus, the spots S₁, S₂ and S₃ are all moved in a direction normal to the scan direction to perform auto-tracking. Thus, record bits 5 are recorded on the record area 4₁ by the spot S₂ along the tracking track S₃. When information is to be recorded on the record area 4₂, the spots S₁', S₂' and S₃ are irradiated as shown and a clock signal is reproduced from the clock track 2₂ by the spot S₃' and a tracking signal is reproduced from the tracking track 3₁ by the spot S₁'. Information is recorded by the spot S₂' while the auto-tracking is carried out. In this manner, information can be recorded on all areas of the record area. Fig. 4 shows a partial enlarged plan view of the information record plane of the optical card 101. When information recorded on the optical card is to be reproduced, the intensity of the light beam spot to be irradiated to the record bits need not be so high. Therefore, two lines may be simultaneously read. Namely, the spots S₁, S₂ and S₃ are irradiated to the record track 25₁, tracking track 3₁ and record track 25₂. Those spots are scanned in the direction a as in the recording mode. Since no clocking is required for reproduction, no spot is irradiated to the clock track. A tracking signal is reproduced from light reflected from the spot S₂ and also signals are reproduced from light reflected from the spots S₁ and S₃. In recording and reproducing information by light beam, it is necessary to position the light beam spot relative to the predetermined tracking track to effect the AT control (AT pull-in of the light beam spot). In the AT pull-in of the light beam, the optical head is moved to the vicinity of the target track, the light beam spot is formed on the record medium surface, and after sufficient in-focus state has been attained, the AT servo system is activated to carry out the AT pull-in for the target track. As shown in Fig. 3, tracks are formed on the optical card or record medium parallel to the scan direction of the light beam spot (direction a shown in Fig. 3). Accordingly, if the light beam spot is formed in the AT pull-in mode at an intermediate point between the tracks on the record medium, AT pull-in is not attained. In the prior art optical card recording and reproducing apparatus, the entire optical head is moved orthogonally to the tracks of the optical card (direction b in Fig. 6) and when the tracking light beam spot reaches the position corresponding to the desired tracking track, the AT control is started so that the AT pull-in is attained for the target track. However, when the optical head is to be moved to cause the light beam spot to move across the tracks, if the actuator is rapidly driven, the light beam spot tends to overshoot the desired tracking track. AT pull-in is not attained immediately for the target track. In order to accommodate AT pull-in it would be necessary then to slow down the drive speed of the optical head. Hence a long time would be required to attain AT pull-in. An alternative approach, that might be envisaged, is shown in Fig. 7. Here the tracking light beam spot is scanned obliquely (direction c ) with respect to the direction of the tracking track 3₂ so that the light beam spot crosses the tracking track and AT pull-in is carried out during this period. However, this method would require a relatively long distance scan and again would require a long time to attain AT pull-in. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to provide an optical information recording and/or reproducing apparatus as a remedy to the problems previously encountered and accordingly it is intended to achieve more rapid AT pull-in. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for recording and/ or reproducing optical information on an optical information recording medium having a plurality of tracks, said apparatus comprising: a light source; first optical means for converging light emitted from said light source to form one or more light spots on said recording medium; second optical means for collecting light from said recording medium; detecting means for receiving light collected by said second optical means, and for producing a tracking signal; and control means for effecting a tracking control of said one or more light spots relative to said tracks in response to said tracking signal produced by said detecting means; which apparatus is characterised by: vibration means for causing said one or more light spots or the recording medium to vibrate relative to one another in a direction traversing the direction of extent of said tracks; discrimination means, responsive to said tracking signal, for discriminating whether or not said one or more light spots is within a control area for which the tracking control loop, provided by said second optical means, said detecting means, said control means and said first optical means, is responsive; and selection means, responsive to said discrimination means, for engaging said control means and said vibration means selectively in dependance upon the result of discrimination. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling the position of a beam spot in an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing optical information on an optical information recording medium having a plurality of tracks, said method comprising: engaging and operating a tracking servo-control loop for controlling the lateral position of said beam spot when the beam spot is positioned within a predetermdined area of the medium; which method is characteried by: disengaging said tracking servo-control loop when the beam spot is positioned outside said predetermined area; vibrating said beam spot or medium to cause a relative vibrational displacement therebetween in a direction traversing the direction of extent of said tracks to bring said beam spot again within said predetermined area; and thereupon re-engaging and operating said servo-control loop to reposition the beam spot relative to said tracks. Thus in the event that the or each of the one or more light spots should irradiate an area of the medium that is outside AT pull-in servo control, vibration is caused and when as a result the or each light spot is again brought within the control area, AT pull-in servo control is then re-engaged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an optical card, Fig. 2 shows a known configuration of an optical card recording and reproducing apparatus, Fig. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13 and 14 show partial enlarged plan views of optical card information record planes, Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate possible approaches to AT pull-in, Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of an AT pull-in control unit of the present apparatus, Fig. 9 shows a front view of a photo-electric conversion element, Fig. 12 illustrates AT pull-in in the present invention, and Figs. 15 and 16 show other embodiments of an AT pull-in control unit of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of an AT pull-in control unit of an optical card recording and reproducing apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment of the optical information recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus of the present embodiment has an overall configuration similar to that shown in Fig. 2. A photo-electric conversion element 115 has three two-split sensors corresponding to three light beams, as described in connection with Fig. 2. Fig. 9 shows a front view of the photoelectric conversion element 115. Numerals 10₁ ∿ 10₃ denote two-split sensors each having two sense areas. Fig. 8 shows only one of the three two-split sensors of the photo-electric conversion element 115. In order to attain the information record status shown by the light beam spots S₁ ∿ S₃ in Fig. 3, the spot S₃ is used for tracking and the spot S₃ is focused onto the two-split sensor 10₃. Outputs from the sense areas of the two-split sensor 10₃ are supplied to sensor amplifiers 11a and 11b, respectively, and outputs from the amplifiers are supplied to an operational circuit 12, which produces a differential signal of two inputs thereto. The output of the operational circuit 12 is supplied to a terminal P of a driver amplifier 14 through a buffer 13. Numeral 15 denotes a vibration voltage generation circuit, an output of which is applied to a terminal Q of the driver amplifier 14. One terminal of a switch 16a is connected to the buffer 13 and the terminal P and the other terminal of the switch 16a is grounded. Similarly, one terminal of a switch 16b is connected to the vibration voltage generation circuit 15 and the terminal Θ and the other terminal of the switch 16b is grounded. Numeral 17 denotes a control circuit which receives the output of the operational circuit 12. The control circuit 17 produced ON/OFF control signals for the switches 16a and 16b. The output of the driver amplifier 14 is supplied to a tracking coil 111. Numeral 110 denotes an objective lens. The sensor amplifiers 11a and 11b, operational circuit 12, buffer 13 and driver amplifier 14 form a portion of the tracking control circuit 117 of Fig. 2. In the present embodiment, the optical head is moved to the vicinity of the target track and the light beam spot is formed on the surface of the record medium. After sufficient in-focus state has been attained, electrical signals of an image of the light beam spot S₃ detected by the two-split sensor 10₃ are supplied from the sensor amplifiers 11a and 11b to the operational amplifier 12 in which a differential signal is produced and it is supplied to the buffer 13. On the other hand, the vibration voltage generation circuit 15 generates a sawtooth wave or sine wave vibration voltage. As shown in Fig. 10, when the light beam spot S₃ is at a position other than the tracking track 3₂ of the information record medium, same amount of light is directed to each sense area of the two-split sensor 10₃ and the sensor amplifiers 11a and 11b produce the same output and the output of the operational circuit 12 is zero. Accordingly, no input is applied to the control circuit 17. Thus, the control circuit 17 produces a signal to close (ON) the switch 16a and open (OFF) the switch 16b so that the switches assumes the positions shown in Fig. 8. (After the AT servo has been later turned on, the control circuit 17 does not produce a signal to reset the switches 16a and 16b even after the output of the operational circuit 12 has assumed zero.). Accordingly, no input is applied to the terminal P of the driver amplifier 14 and the vibration voltage is applied to the terminal Q. The voltage signal is converted by the driver amplifier to a current signal, which is supplied to the coil 111. Thus, the objective lens 110 is vibrated across the track. The direction d of vibration of the light beam spot S₃ is shown in Fig. 12. The amplitude of the vibration is preferably equal to a track pitch so that the spot S₃ moves across the target track 3₂. If the period of vibration is too short, the velocity of the light beam spot across the track is too fast to attain AT pull-in. Accordingly, it is chosen to be long enough to allow AT pull-in, depending here on the gain of the AT servo system. In the experience of the inventors, AT pull-in can be attained for a velocity of up to 5 µm/msec. As the objective lens 110 starts to vibrate, the light beam spot S₃ is moved across the tracking track 3₂ as shown in Fig. 11. At this time, the amounts of light directed to the sense areas of the two-split sensor 10₃ are different. Accordingly the outputs of the sensor amplifiers 11a and 11b are different and the operational circuit 12 produces a non-zero output. This output is supplied to the control circuit 17 which compares it with a predetermined threshold level. The control circuit 17 produces a signal to turn off the switch 16a and turn on the switch 16b. As a result, the input to the terminal Q of the driver amplifier 14 is terminated and the output of the operational circuit 12 is supplied to the driver amplifier 14 through the buffer 13 and the terminal P. In this manner, the AT servo control is effected for the target track and AT pull-in is attained. Under this condition, the record medium is moved relative to the optical head along the track while the AT servo system is operated to record, reproduce and/or erase information. In the above embodiment, the light beam spot S₃ is used for tracking. When the light beam S₁' (shown in Fig. 3) or the light beam S₂ (shown in Fig. 4) is used for tracking, the AT pull-in may be similarly attained by utilizing the signals derived from the two-split sensors 10₁ and 10₂. In the above embodiment, the AT pull-in is attained by utilizing the tracking track. Alternatively, the AT pull-in may be attained by utilizing another track available for tracking,that is, the clock track 2₂ of the information record medium as shown in Fig. 13. When information is to be reproduced, the AT pull-in may be attained by utilizing the record area 25₂ formed on the information record medium as shown in Fig. 14. In the above embodiment, the objective lens 110 is vibrated by utilizing the tracking coil 111. Alternatively, a separate vibration coil may may be provided to vibrate the objective lens. The vibration and drive means for the objective lens is not limited to the electromagnetic means but it may be other means such as a piezoelectric element. To summarise, the optical head is driven to the vicinity of the target track, the light beam spot is formed on the surface of the record medium and after sufficient in-focus state has been attained, the tracking servo system is activated. If the light beam spot is outside the control area of the tracking servo loop, loop control is disengaged temporarily whilst the light beam spot is vibrated across the track at an amplitude equal to the track pitch. When the light beam spot is within the control area of the loop, the loop is re-activated. In this manner, exact and rapid AT pull-in is attained. In the above embodiment, the light beam spot is vibrated by utilizing the objective lens 110. Alternatively, a rotating mirror 120 may be used to vibrate the light beam spot, as shown in Fig. 15. In this arrangement, crosstalk is prevented and a stable servo system is provided. In the above embodiment, the AT pull-in is attained by vibrating the light beam spot. Alternatively, the optical card 101 may be vibrated by using a motor 126 as shown in Fig. 16. In this case, the optical card 101 is carried by a shuttle 102 which is vibrated by the motor 126. In the above embodiment, AT pull-in is attained by using the control system. The control system may be used also to compensate for off-tracking. If the apparatus is jogged and the light beam spot caused to move off-track, for example as shown in Fig. 10, compensation for this can be provided. In this case, since there is no change in the signals derived from the three two-split sensors 10₁, 10₂ and 10₃, it may be detected and the control system may cause the light beam spot to vibrate so that the light beam spot is driven back to the tracking control area. In the above embodiment, a write-after-read type optical card is used as an information record medium. Alternatively, other record media having linear tracks available for tracking arranged in parallel such as read-only or rewritable optical card may be used.

Claims: An apparatus (fig. 8; fig. 15; fig. 16) for recording and/or reproducing optical information on an optical information recording medium (101) having a plurality of tracks (fig. 1: 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 41, 42, 43), said apparatus comprising: a light source (107); first optical means (108, 119, 109, 110) for converging light emitted from said light source (107) to form one or more light spots (S₁,S₂,S₃) on said recording medium (101); second optical means (110, 109, 113) for collecting light from said recording medium (101); detecting means (115, 117), for receiving light collected by said second optical means (110 , 109, 113), and for producing a tracking signal; and control means (111; 120; 111) for effecting a tracking control of said one or more light spots (S₁, S₂,S₃) relative to said tracks (21,22,23,31,32,41, 42,43) in response to said tracking signal produced by said detecting means (115, 117); which apparatus is characterised by: vibration means (15, 14, 111; 15,14,120; 15,14,126) for causing said one or more light spots (S₁,S₂,S₃) or the recording medium (101) to vibrate relative to one another in a direction (b) traversing the direction (a) of extent of said tracks (21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 41, 42, 43); discrimination means (17), responsive to said tracking signal, for discriminating whether or not said one or more light spots (S₁,S₂,S₃) is within a control area for which the tracking control loop, provided by said second optical means (110,109,113), said detecting means (115,117), said control means (111;120;111) and said first optical means (108,119,109,111), is responsive; and selection means (16a, 16b), responsive to said discrimination means (17), for engaging said control means (111; 120; 111) and said vibration means (15, 14,111; 15,14,120; 15,14,126) selectively in dependance upon the result of discrimination. Apparatus (fig. 8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first optical means includes an objective lens (110) that is movable under control of said vibration means (15,14,111) to vibrate said one or more light spots (S₁, S₂, S₃) relative to the recording medium (101) in said traversing direction. Apparatus (fig. 15), as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first optical means includes a mirror (120) that is movable under control of said vibration means (15,14,111) to vibrate said one or more light spots (S₁,S₂,S₃) relative to the recording medium (101) in said traversing direction. Apparatus (fig. 16), as claimed in claim 1, including motor means (126) for vibrating said recording medium (101) relative to said one or more light spots (S₁,S₂,S₃) in said traversing direction. Apparatus, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said vibration means (15, 14,111; 15,14,120; 15,14,126) is such as to cause vibration at an amplitude, measured in a direction normal to the direction of extent of said tracks (21,22,23, 31,32,41, 42, 43) substantially equal to track pitch. A method for controlling the position of a beam spot (S₁,S₂,S₃) in an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing optical information on an optical information recording medium (101) having a plurality of tracks (21,22,23, 31,32, 41, 42,43), said method comprising: engaging and operating a tracking servo-control loop (110, 109, 113, 115, 117, 111) for controlling the lateral position of said beam spot (S₁,S₂,S₃) when the beam spot (S₁,S₂,S₃) is positioned within a predetermined area of the medium (101); which method is characterised by: vibrating said beam spot or medium to cause a relative vibrational displacement therebetween in a direction that said beam spot traverses said tracks when said beam spot is positioned outside said predetermined area; detecting whether said beam spot is positioned within said predetermined area or not by said vibrational displacement; and engaging and operating said tracking servo-control loop in accordance with the result of said detection.

Inventors: HOSOYA, HIDEKI, KITAI, HIROTO, SHIKICHI, SATOSHI
Applicants: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B7, G11B23