OPTICAL DISC DEVICE AND REPRODUCTION OF ITS CLOCK SIGNAL

Abstract: According to the present invention, a detection signal Sk1 whose signal level rises or falls in a period longer by a predetermined period of 0.5T than the period T of a clock signal SCk is generated on the basis of a reproduction signal SRF obtained from an optical disc on the recording tracks of which recording patterns are recorded with a predetermined period, and this detection signal Sk1 is acquired at the timing of the clock signal described above to obtain a plurality of recording pattern detection signals Sp1 by sequentially representing the signal level of the detection signal SCK during a predetermined period by the period T of the clock signal described above. The recording pattern is detected except for part of the plurality of recording pattern detection signals Sp1.

Description: This invention relates to an optical disc apparatus and to a method of processing clock signals therein. In an optical disc apparatus, it is known to produce clock signals on the basis of a recording pattern recorded at a predetermined period on an optical disc, referred to hereinafter as the servo pattern, and to perform signal recording and reproduction using the clock signals as a reference. This type of the optical disc apparatus 1 is shown for example in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein an optical disc 2, on the recording tracks of which the servo patterns are formed, is rotated at a reference rotational speed by a spindle motor 3. The servo pattern is formed by forming pits at a predetermined interval on the recording tracks of the optical disc 2. The servo pattern is so set that, when the optical disc 2 is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed, the interval between the bits is equal to 18 periods of a predetermined reference time T REF , or 18 T REF . An optical head 4 irradiates the optical disc 2 with a light beam and receives the reflected light at a detection element to produce a reproduction signal S RF , shown at B in Fig. 2, having its signal level falling in accordance with the pit formed on the optical disc 2. The optical head 4 outputs this reproduction signal S RF to a pattern detection circuit 6 and also to a zero crossing detection circuit 9 by way of differentiating circuit 7 and a delay circuit 8. The zero-crossing circuit 9 receives from a counter circuit 10 a switching signal S C1 which goes to a logically high level during 20 periods of the clock signal S CK , or 20T, each time 270 clock signals are counted at the counter circuit 10. An output signal is then obtained which rises in signal level at the timing the differentiation signal of the reproduction signal S RF rises from 0 V and during the time interval of 20T in which the aforementioned switching signal S C1 is at the logically high level. A voltage controlled oscillator circuit 11 receives an output signal of the zero-crossing detection circuit 9 by way of a switching circuit 12 and a filter circuit 13, while outputting the oscillation output signal as the aforementioned clock signal S CK . The voltage controlled oscillator circuit 11 constitutes, in conjunction with the aforementioned zero-crossing detection circuit 9, the switching circuit 12, the filter circuit 13 and the counter circuit 10, a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit which fetches the reproduction signal S RF at a period 270 times the aforementioned clock signal S CK , during the time equal to 20 periods of the clock signal S CK , or 270T, and outputs the clock signal S CK on the basis of the phase data of the reproduction S RF . The frequency dividing ratio 270 is so set that, when the period T of the clock signal S CK coincides with the reference period T REF indicating the pit-to-pit interval, the period 270T at which the PLL clock acquires or fetches the reproduction signal S RF coincides with the repetition period of the servo pattern, and that the period 20T of acquiring or fetching the reproduction signal S RF coincides with the time interval since the acquisition of the reproduction sinal S RF of the first pit of the servo voltage until the acquisition of the reproduction signal S RF of the next following pit. Once the period T of the clock signal S CK coincides with the reference period T REF , there is obtained the clock signal S CK which is phase locked to the reference period T REF on the basis of the servo pattern. Thus, in the present optical disc apparatus 1, the servo pattern is first detected in the pattern detection circuit 6, the counter circuit 10 is initialized on the basis of the detection results, and the frequency dividing operation of the counter circuit 10 is performed repeatedly. In addition, in the present optical disc apparatus 1, by detecting the defect in the servo pattern with the aid of the pattern detection circuit 6, phase locking of the clock signal S CK is not disengaged despite occasional injuries, deviation or offset of the optical disc 2. That is, although the pit-to-pit interval is formed in the optical disc 2 so as to be equal to 18 periods of the reference period T REF , or 18 T REF , such defects may occur that the pit-to-pit interval is not equal to 18 T REF or no pit is formed in the region corresponding to 18 T REF . If the reproduction signal S RF is fetched from such defective servo pattern, the period of the clock signal S CK which has so far been phase locked with respect to the reference period T ref is disturbed to render correct data recording and reproduction difficult. Thus, with the present optical disc apparatus 1, referring to Fig. 3 showing the detailed structure of the pattern detection circuit 6, the reproduction signal S RF is applied to a differentiating circuit 20 to produce a differentiation signal S DRF shown at C in Fig. 2, which differentiation signal S DRF is applied to a zero-crossing detection circuit 21. This zero-crossing circuit 21 is so arranged that, when the signal level of the differentiation signal S DRF rises from 0 V, its output signal rises in level, such that, when the reproduction signal S RF is lowered in level, an output signal which rises in level at the timing of the lowest level of the reproduction signal S RF is applied to a monomultivibrator circuit 22. This monomultivibrator circuit 22 is so arranged that its signal level becomes logically high during a time interval equal to the period of the clock signal S CK at the rising timing of the output signal of the zero-crossing circuit 21, so that a detection signal S K shown at D in Fig. 2 is obtained, which falls in signal level to a logically low level after lapse of the time interval T equal to the clock period since the rising to the logically high level of the reproduction signal S RF at the timing of the lowest signal level. Thus the differentiation circuit 20, the zero-crossing detection circuit 21 and the monomultivibrator circuit 22 constitute waveform shaping means for outputting the detection signal S K which rises in signal level at the period of the clock signal S CK on the basis of the reproduction signal S RF acquired from the optical disc 2. The detection signal S K , produced at the aforementioned monomultivibrator 22, is input to a shift register circuit 24, as a detection signal S DK delayed by the time interval T equal to one period of the clock signal S CK , by way of a D flip flop circuit 23 adapted to fetch an input signal in timed relation with the clock signal S CK . The aforementioned shift register circuit 24 is formed by a 20-stage flip flop circuit adapted to sequentially transfer the input signal in timed relation with the clock signal S CK . As the output signals of the respective stages of the flipflop circuit, there are produced a plurality of recording pattern detection signals S P in which the signal level of the detection signal S K is sequentially represented, during the time interval 20T equal to 20 period of the clock signals S CK , with the period T of the clock signal S CK . The shift register circuit 24 is adapted for outputting the reference pattern detection signal S P from the 20-stage flipflop circuit to a comparator circuit 25, in time relation with the clock signals S CK . The comparator circuit 25 is adapted to compare a preset signal pattern with the recording pattern detection signal S P output from the shift register circuit 24 to detect the predetermined servo pattern. The comparator circuit 25 outputs, when the recording pattern detection signal signal S P output from the last stage flip flop circuit and the first stage flip flop circuit of the shift register circuit 24 are at the logically high level and the recording pattern detection signals S P output from the intermediate stages are at the logically low level, a detection signal S H to the switching circuit 12 shown in Fig. 1, which detection signal S H rises to a logically high level only during the time interval 20T corresponding to the 20 periods of the clock signals S CK . Thus, when the time interval which elapses since acquisition of the reproduction S RF for one pit until acquisition of the reproduction signal S RF of the next following pit coincides with the time period during which the input signal to the shift register circuit 23 is transferred to the last stage flip flop circuit, that is the time interval 20T corresponding to 20 periods of the clock signal S CK , the detection signal S H produced by the comparator circuit 25 rises to a logically high level. At this time, if the time interval T of the clock signal S CK coincides with the reference period T REF , the servo pattern may be thought to be free of defects, as shown at F in Fig. 2, since the pit-to-pit interval of the servo pattern is formed by pits of the time period 18 T REF corresponding to the 18 predetermined reference periods. The aforementioned switching circuit 12 is turned on only at this time to transmit the reproduction signal S RF to the PLL circuit, in such a manner that the reproduction S RF of the defective servo pattern is not applied to the PLL circuit. Thus the aforementioned D flip flop circuit 23, the shift register circuit 24 and the comparator 25 constitute recording pattern detection means whereby the detection signal S K is fetched at the timing of the clock signal S CK to produce a plurality of recording pattern detection signals Sp in which the signal level of the detection signal S K during the time interval 20T corresponding to the 20 periods of the clock signal S CK is sequentially represented with the periods of the clock signal S CK , and these recording pattern detection signals S P are then used for detecting the servo pattern. In this manner, the phase of the clock signal S CK may be maintained at the reference period T REF to assure positive data recording and reproduction. Meanwhile, with the above described optical disc apparatus 1, referring to Fig. 4A showing the clock signal S CK and to Fig. 4B showing the detection signal S K in order for the detection signal S K obtained at the monomultivibrator circuit 22 to be fetched positively at the flipflop circuit 23, it is necessary that the time interval T S which elapses since rising of the detection signal S K until rising of the clock signal S CK be longer than the setup time of the flipflop circuit 23, and that the time interval T H which elapses since the rising of the clock signal S CK until the falling of the detection signal S K be longer than the hold time of the D flip flop circuit 23. However, in effect, with this type of the optical disc apparatus the period T of the clock signal S CK is about 90 nsec, whereas the servo pattern repetition period is as long as 270 times the clock period T, or 270T, while the pit-to-pit interval of the servo pattern is as long as 18 clock periods T, or 18T, so that it may occur that, during the time which elapses since fetching a servo pattern until fetching the next following servo pattern, the rising timing of the clock S CK is changed by about 40 nsec with respect to the rising or falling timing of the detection signal S K . In this case, referring to Fig. 5A showing the clock signal S CK and to Fig. 5B showing the detection signal S K , the rising or falling timing of the detection signal S K approaches the rising timing of the clock signal S CK , so that it become difficult to obtain a sufficient setup time or hold time, such that the detection signal S CK cannot be fetched positively. In this case, even with a defectless servo pattern, it becomes difficult to obtain a detection signal S H from the pattern detection circuit 6 and to compensate for changes in the clock signal S CK with respect to the reference period T REF . As a result, phase shift or deviation of the clock signal S CK cannot be compensated with respect to the aforementioned reference period T REF , so that the phase deviation tends to be increased gradually until the data cannot be recorded or reproduced reliably. Above all, when the rotational speed of the optical disc is increased to shorted the reference period, only a slight phase deviation of the clock signal S CK can be corrected, such that, the higher the data recording density on the recording tracks, the more readily may occur the state in which such phase deviation can no longer be corrected. The present invention is concerned with attempting to improve the reliability with which the phase deviation of the clock signal can be corrected reliably. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an optical disc apparatus, comprising: means for reproducing a signal recorded on recording tracks; means for generating a clock signal; means for detecting in the reproduced signal synchronisation patterns each consisting of a predetermined pattern of pulses repetitively recorded at a predetermined period on recording tracks; and means for synchronising the clock signal to the times of detection of the synchronisation pattern; said means for detecting said synchronisation pattern comprising: waveform shaping means for producing a detection signal replacing the detected pulses of the synchronisation patterns by wave-shaped pulses; synchronisation pattern fetching means for fetching the pulses of said detection signal at the timing of said clock signal thereby synchronising them with the clock signal with a duration equal to the period of the clock signal; shifting means receiving said fetched detection signal and said clock signal for sequentially shifting said fetched detection signal at the period of the clock signal so as to produce a plurality of shifted fetched detection signals shifted with respect to each other sequentially by one period of the clock signal; and means for comparing the pattern momentarily represented by said plurality of shifted fetched detection signals in parallel with said predetermined pattern; characterised in that: the wave-shaped pulses are each longer by a predetermined time period than the period of said clock signal; and the comparing means does not compare at least the signals from said plurality of shifted signals neighbouring in time the signals corresponding to pulse locations in said predetermined pattern. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of processing clock signals in an optical disc apparatus, comprising the steps of: reproducing a signal recorded on recording tracks; generating a clock signal; detecting in the reproduced signal synchronisation patterns each consisting of a predetermined pattern of pulses repetitively recorded at a predetermined period on recording tracks; and synchronising the clock signal to the times of detection of the synchronisation pattern; said detecting steps comprising the steps of: producing a detection signal replacing the detected pulses of the synchronisation patterns by wave-shaped pulses; fetching the pulses of said detection signal at the timing of said clock signal thereby synchronising them with the clock signal with a duration equal to the period of the clock signal; receiving said fetched detection signal and said clock signal for sequentially shifting said fetched detection signal at the period of the clock signal so as to produce a plurality of shifted fetched detection signals shifted with respect to each other sequentially by one period of the clock signal; and comparing the pattern momentarily represented by said plurality of shifted fetched detection signals in parallel with said predetermined pattern; characterised in that: the wave-shaped pulses are each longer by a predetermined time period than the period of said clock signal; and in the comparing step at least the signals from said plurality of shifted fetched detection signals neighbouring in time the signals corresponding to pulse locations in said predetermined pattern are not compared. A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of the optical disc apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a waveform diagram for illustrating the principle of a general servo pattern detection in the above optical disc apparatus; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional circuit arrangement of a pattern detection circuit employed in the above optical disc apparatus; Figs. 4 and 5 are waveform diagrams for illustrating certain inconveniences in the pattern detection operation in the above pattern detection circuit; Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed structure of a pattern detection circuit forming an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the optical disc apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a waveform diagram for illustrating the principle of the servo pattern detection operation by the above pattern detection circuit; and Figs. 8 and 9 are waveform diagrams for illustrating the operation of the above pattern detection circuit. The block diagram of Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of a pattern detection circuit 50 in which the present invention is applied to an optical disc apparatus 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This pattern detection circuit 50 is made up of a differentiating circuit 51, fed with a reproduced signal S RF of the optical disc apparatus, a zero-crossing detection circuit 52 fed with the differentation signal S DRF produced at the differentiating circuit 51, a monomultivibrator circuit 53 triggerd by a zero-crossing detection signal produced by a zero-crossing detection circuit 52, a shift register circuit 55 fed with a detection signal S k1 produced at the monomultivibrator circuit 53 by way of a D flip flop circuit 54, and a comparator circuit 56 for comparing a reference pattern detection signal S p1 produced by the shift register circuit 55 with the preset predetermined period pattern to detect the predetermined servo pattern. The zero-crossing circuit 52 is so arranged that its signal level rises when the signal level of the differentiation signal S DRF obtained at the differentiation circuit 51 rises from 0 V, whereby, when the signal level of the reproduced signal S RF falls, as shown at A in Fig. 7, the zero-crossing point of the differentiation signal S DRF , shown at B in Fig. 7, obtained at the differentiating circuit 51, is detected, and an output signal which rises at the timing of the lowest level point of the reproduced signal S RF is supplied to the monomultivibration circuit 53. The signal level of the monomultivibrator 53 is adapted to rise to a logically high level, at the rising timing of the output signal of the zero-crossing detection circuit 52, during the time period equal to 1.5 periods of the clock signal S CK shown at C in Fig. 7, or 1.5T, whereby there is produced a detection signal S k1 , shown at D in Fig. 7, the signal level of which rises to the logically high level at the timing of the lowest signal level of the reproduced signal S RF and, after the lapse of 1.5 clock periods, or 1.5T, falls to a logically low level. With the use of such monomultivibrator circuit 53, the aforementioned detection signal S k1 may be positively fetched by the shift register circuit 55 by way of the D flip flop circuit 54 to detect the servo pattern as shown at E in Fig. 7, even if the rising of the clock signal S CK is changed by about 40 nsec with respect to the rising or falling timing of the detection signal S k1 . That is, as shown in Fig. 8, when the clock signal S CK shown at A in Fig. 8 rises with a delay of about 0.75T with respect to the rising timing of the detection signal S k1 shown at B in Fig. 8, a detection signal S DK , shown at C in Fig. 8, the signal level of which rises to a logically high level at the rising timing of the clock signal S CK and falls after lapse of the clock period T, is produced as the output from the D flip flop circuit 54. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 9, when the clock signal S CK shown at A in Fig. 9 draws near by about 40 nsec to the rising timing of the detection signal S k1 shown at B in Fig. 9, the detection signal S DK , shown at C in Fig. 9, the signal level of which rises to the logically high level at the rising timing of the clock signal S CK and then falls after lapse of the clock period T, is produced as the output of the D flip flop circuit 54. Similarly, in the case of a delay of about 40 nsec with respect to the rising timing of the detection signal S k1 , the detection signal S DK which rises in signal level to a logically high level at the rising timing of the clock signal S CK and falls after lapse of the clock period T may be obtained as the output of the D flip flop circuit 54. In this manner, the differentiating circuit 51, the zero-crossing circuit 52 and the monomultivibrator circuit 53 make up waveform shaping means for outputting the detection signal S k1 , the signal level of which rises for a time period equal to 1.5 clock period, based on the reproduced signal S RF from the optical disc, wherein T designates the period of the clock signal S CK . When the time period during which the signal level of the detection signal S k1 rises to the logically high level is set so as to be 1.5 times the clock period T, it may occur that, in case of fluctuations in the phase of the clock signal S CK , the detection signal S DK is obtained as the output of the D flip flop circuit 54, which detection signal rises to a logically high level during the one period of the clock signal S CK and is maintained at the logically high level during the ensuing one period. In the present embodiment, the shift register 55 is formed by a 24-stage flip flop circuit and the detection signal S DK is fetched by the shift register circuit 55 during 24 clock periods T or 24T, in such a manner that a plurality of recording pattern detection signals S P1 , in which the signal levels of the detection signals S DK during the time interval of the 24 clock periods are sequentially represented with the periods of the clock signals S CK , are supplied from the shift register circuit 55 to the comparator circuit 56. The comparator circuit 56 receives the plurality of recording pattern detection signals S P1 produced at the shift register circuit 55 and outputs a detection signal S H which rises in signal level to the logically high level for the servo pattern shown at E in Fig. 7, in which the recording pattern detection signal S P1 output from the leading stage flip flop circuit of the shift register circuit 55 is at the "L" level, the recording pattern detection signal S P1 output from the third stage flip flop circuit as counted from the leading stage is at the "H" level, the recording pattern detection signals S P1 output from the 5th to the 20th stages as counted from the leading stage are at the "H" level and the recording pattern detection signal S P1 output from the 24th or last stage flipflop circuit is at the "L" level. The comparator circuit 56 detects, on the basis of the recording pattern detection signals S P1 outputted from other than the 2nd, 4th, 21th and 24th stage flip flop circuits, from among the recording pattern detection signals S P1 obtained at the shift register circuit 55, whether or not the servo pattern is the correct one as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and outputs the detection signal S H indicating the results of detection. The switching circuit 12 of the optical disc apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is turned on by the detection signal S H produced at the comparator circuit 56 to supply the reproduced signal S RF to the PLL circuit so that the reproduced signal S RF of the defective servo pattern is not applied to the PLL circuit. That is, by detecting the servo pattern on the basis of the signal except for part of the plural recording pattern detection signals S P1 produced at the shift register 55, the servo pattern may be detected reliably even if the phase of the clock signal S CK is fluctuated and the signal level of the detection signal S DK rises during the two clock periods 2T. Thus the D flip flop circuit 54, the shift register circuit 55 and the comparator circuit 53 constitute recording pattern detection means for fetching the detection signal S K1 at the timing of the clock signal S CK to produce the plurality of recording pattern detection signal S P1 in which the signal level of the detection signal S K1 during the 24 clock periods or 24T is sequentially represented with the period T of the clock signal S CK , and for detecting the servo pattern with the use of the signal excluding a part of the plural recording pattern detection signals. In this manner, phase deviation of the clock signal S CK may be positively corrected on the basis of the results of detection by the recording pattern detection means to permit high density data recording and reproduction on or from the recording tracks of the optical disc. In the above arrangement, the time period during which the signal level of the detection signal S K1 is at the high level is set to 1.5T, T being the period of the clock signal S CK , and the servo pattern is detected using the signal except a part of the recording pattern detection signal S P1 in which the signal level of the detection signal S K1 during the 24 clock periods or 24T is sequentially represented with the period T of the clock signal S CK , so that the servo pattern may be detected positively despite occasional phase deviation of the clock signal S CK . Although the foregoing embodiment is concerned with the case of detecting the servo pattern on the basis of the detection signal S K1 which rises in signal level at the zero-crossing timing of the reproduction signal S RF , the present invention is not limited to this embodiment but may be applied for example to an optical disc apparatus in which the servo pattern is detected on the basis of the detection signal S K1 which falls in signal level at the zero-crossing timing of the reproduction signal S RF . Although the foregoing embodiment is concerned with the case of raising the signal level of the detection signal S K1 during the 1.5 clock period, this is not limitative and the time period during which the signal level is raised may be selected freely as the occasion may demand. When the signal level of the detection signal is raised during the time period longer than, for example, two clock periods, it suffices to change the comparison standard of the comparator circuit 56 in dependence upon the length of the time period of raiseing the signal level. Although the above embodiment is directed to the case of detecting the servo pattern in which the pit-to-pit interval is equal to 18 reference periods, the present invention may be applied to detection of a variety of recording patterns other than the above described servo pattern. In addition, although the above embodiment is directed to the optical disc apparatus adapted for data recording and reproduction, the present invention may also be applied to an optical disc apparatus having only the function of reproduction, such as a compact disc player.

Claims: An optical disc apparatus (1), comprising: means (4) for reproducing a signal (S RF ) recorded on recording tracks; means (11) for generating a clock signal (S CK ); means (50) for detecting in the reproduced signal synchronisation patterns each consisting of a predetermined pattern of pulses repetitively recorded at a predetermined period on recording tracks; and means (7 to 10, 12, 13) for synchronising the clock signal to the times of detection of the synchronisation pattern; said means for detecting said synchronisation pattern comprising: waveform shaping means (51, 52, 53) for producing a detection signal (S K1 ) replacing the detected pulses of the synchronisation patterns by wave-shaped pulses; synchronisation pattern fetching means (54) for fetching the pulses of said detection signal at the timing of said clock signal thereby synchronising them with the clock signal with a duration equal to the period of the clock signal; shifting means (55) receiving said fetched detection signal (S DK ) and said clock signal for sequentially shifting said fetched detection signal at the period of the clock signal so as to produce a plurality of shifted fetched detection signals (S P1 ) shifted with respect to each other sequentially by one period of the clock signal; and means (56) for comparing the pattern momentarily represented by said plurality of shifted fetched detection signals in parallel with said predetermined pattern; characterised in that: the wave-shaped pulses are each longer by a predetermined time period than the period of said clock signal; and the comparing means does not compare at least the signals from said plurality of shifted fetched detection signals neighbouring in time the signals corresponding to pulse locations in said predetermined pattern. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined time period is half of the period of said clock signal. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said recording pattern of the optical disc is represented by a first level region affording a first signal level and a second level region affording a second signal level, said first level region being provided for a predetermined plurality of periods of said clock signal and said second level region being provided before and after said first level region for at least one period of said clock signal. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said synchronisation pattern detection means (50) detects the recording pattern except for the recording pattern detection signals for said second level region provided before and after said first level region. A method of processing clock signals in an optical disc apparatus (1), comprising the steps of: reproducing a signal (S RF ) recorded on recording tracks; generating a clock signal (S CK ); detecting in the reproduced signal synchronisation patterns each consisting of a predetermined pattern of pulses repetitively recorded at a predetermined period on recording tracks; and synchronising the clock signal to the times of detection of the synchronisation pattern; said detecting steps comprising the steps of: producing a detection signal (S K1 ) replacing the detected pulses of the synchronisation patterns by wave-shaped pulses; fetching the pulses of said detection signal at the timing of said clock signal thereby synchronising them with the clock signal with a duration equal to the period of the clock signal; receiving said fetched detection signal (S DK ) and said clock signal for sequentially shifting said fetched detection signal at the period of the clock signal so as to produce a plurality of shifted fetched detection signals (S P1 ) shifted with respect to each other sequentially by one period of the clock signal; and comparing the pattern momentarily represented by said plurality of shifted fetched detection signals in parallel with said predetermined pattern; characterised in that: the wave-shaped pulses are each longer by a predetermined time period than the period of said clock signal; and in the comparing step at least the signals from said plurality of shifted signals neighbouring in time the signals corresponding to pulse locations in said predetermined pattern are not compared. A method according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined period is half of the period of said clock signal. A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein comparison of the synchronisation pattern on the optical disc, in which a first level region according a first signal level is provided for a predetermined plurality of periods of said clock signal and a second level region affording a second signal level is provided for at least one period of said clock signal before and after said first level region, is performed except for the detection signal for the second level region provided before and after said first level region.

Inventors: KOBAYASHI SEIJI, KOBAYASHI, SEIJI
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: G11B20, G11B27