Control method for accessing a track of an optical disk in an optical disk apparatus

Abstract: A control method for accessing a track of an optical disk in a macrojump control in an optical disk apparatus is disclosed. In the control method, after applying a positive accelerating pulse to a tracking actuator for moving an objective lens of a light pickup so that the objective lens jumps predetermined plural tracks, a direct current voltage is applied thereto. Thereafter, a negative decelerating pulse is applied thereto so that said objective lens is positioned at a position facing a distinction track.

Description: The present invention relates to a control method and tracking system for accessing a track of an optical disk in an optical disk apparatus, and more particularly, to a control method and tracking system for driving a tracking actuator in the optical disk apparatus responsive to a jump trigger pulse so as to access a target track of the optical disk. Fig. 1 shows essential elements of an optical disk reproduction apparatus, schematically. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the optical disk reproduction apparatus provides a light pickup 1 for accessing a target track of an optical disk 2 which is rotated by a spindle motor 3. The light pickup 1 is driven so as to move in right and left directions on the drawing, namely in a radius direction of the optical disk 2 by a driving mechanism (not shown) including a driving motor, as indicated by an arrow A. An objective lens 4 installed in the light pickup 1 is driven also in the radius direction B of the optical disk 2 by a tracking actuator 5 as shown in Fig. 5. In a conventional control method for accessing a target track of the optical disk 2, there are provided a rough search for moving the light pickup 1 in the right and left directions in Fig. 1 so as to move the light pickup 1 to the vicinity of the target track quickly, and a minute search for moving the objective lens 4 from the position given by the rough search to the target track. In the above minute search, when a jump pulse is applied to a coil 5a of the tracking actuator 5, an amortisseur 5b is moved in a direction indicated by the arrow B so that the optical axis of the objective lens 4 connected to the amortisseur 5b is moved in this direction as shown in Fig. 2. There are provided a single jump for going across one track of the optical disk 2 responsive to one jump pulse, and a macrojump for going across plural tracks of the optical disk 2 responsive to one jump pulse. Fig. 3 shows one example of a waveform of a tracking servo error signal RES outputted from a tracking servo circuit (not shown) for controlling the rotation of the spindle motor 3 upon a macrojump for going across three tracks 2a of the optical disk 2. Fig. 4a is a timing chart shoving a jump trigger pulse, a jump pulse, and a tracking servo error signal RES in the conventional signal jump control, and Fig. 4b is a timing chart showing a jump trigger pulse, a jump pulse, and a tracking servo error signal RES in the conventional macrojump control. In Figs. 4a and 4b, P 1 denotes an accelerating pulse for accelerating the movement of the objective lens 4, and P 2 denotes a decelerating pulse for decelerating the movement of the objective lens 4. Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional jumping control circuit. Referring to Fig. 5, the tracking servo error signal RES outputted from the tracking servo circuit and the jump trigger pulse generated by a jump trigger pulse generator 11 are input to timing signal circuit 12. Responsive to the tracking servo error signal RES and the jump trigger pulse, the timing signal generator 12 generates timing signals and a switching control signal at predetermined timings, respectively, so as to output them to an accelerating pulse generator 13, a decelerating pulse generator 14, and a switching circuit 16. Responsive to the timing signal, the accelerating pulse generator 13 outputs an accelerating pulse P 1 having a predetermined positive voltage to the switching circuit 16. Responsive to the timing signal, the decelerating pulse generator 14 outputs a decelerating pulse P 2 having a predetermined negative voltage to the switching circuit 16. The switching circuit 16 outputs either the accelerating pulse P 1 or the decelerating pulse P 2 selectively as a driving pulse at a predetermined timing based on the switching control signal to the tracking actuator 5 through an adder 18 and a driver 17. As shown in Fig. 4b, in the macrojump control, a small oscillation of the actuator 5 is scanned after the decelerating pulse P 2 is input thereto. Since the ratio of the jumping time to the track accessing time is considerably large, it is necessary to settle the jump properly so as to attenuate the above oscillation quickly in order to reduce the track accessing time. However, conventionally, between the accelerating pulse P 1 and the decelerating pulse P 2 , zero volt voltage is applied to the coil 5a of the tracking actuator 5, or both the terminals of the coil 5a are made an open state so that any current does not flow in the coil 5a of the actuator 5. Therefore, the setting time required for settling the jump varies and the jump action becomes unstable because the objective lens 4 is swung back and also the position thereof is controlled by only an inertia force, and it is difficult to settle the jump properly. The above setting time varies depend on the action characteristics of the actuator 5, and the above oscillation may continue until the next accelerating pulse is applied thereto. In this case, the jump operation may become unstable, and the time required for performing the jump operation may become relatively long. JP-A-62-277629 and corresponding Patent Abstracts of Japan, Vol. 12, No. 163 (B-703)(3010) which reflect the preamble of the independent claims describe a tracking servo pull-in method for improving the quality of reproduced pictures by applying an acceleration pulse to an actuator for a prescribed period of time and subsequently applying a deceleration pulse, wherein the level and the length of the deceleration pulse are controlled in response to the frequency of a tracking error signal. It would be desirable to provide a control method and apparatus for accessing a track of an optical disk in an optical disk apparatus which is able to reduce the above setting time in order to access a target track quickly. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for moving an objective lens in an optical head assembly across the tracks of an optical medium wherein an objective lens accelerating pulse and an objective lens decelerating pulse are applied sequentially to a drive means for altering the position of the objective lens across the tracks of said optical medium, characterised in that a positive or negative direct current voltage is applied to said drive means between said accelerating pulse and said decelerating pulse. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tracking system for an optical disk apparatus wherein for changing track a first accelerating pulse and a second decelerating pulse are applied to an actuator to respectively initiate and terminate the required movement, characterised in that a positive or negative direct current voltage is applied to said actuator between said first and second pulses. These and other features of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic longitudinal view showing a conventional tracking actuator; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a conventional tracking actuator; Fig. 3 shows a relationship between tracks of an optical disk and a tracking servo error signal RES; Fig. 4a is a timing chart showing a jump trigger pulse, a jump pulse, and a tracking servo error signal RES in the conventional single jump control; Fig. 4b is a timing chart showing a jumping trigger pulse, a jump pulse, and a tracking servo error signal RES in the conventional macrojump control; Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional jumping control circuit; Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a jumping control circuit of an preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a timing chart showing a jump trigger pulse, a macrojump pulse, and a tracking servo error signal RES in the jumping control circuit shown in Fig. 6. A preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Fig. 6 shows a jumping control circuit of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. In Fig. 6, the same things as that shown in Fig. 5 are denoted by the same symbols, respectively. As is apparent from the comparison between Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the jumping control circuit of the present preferred embodiment is characterized in that a direct current signal generator 15 is provided in addition to the jumping control circuit shown in Fig. 5, and a switching circuit 16a for selectively outputting one of the signals outputted from the generators 13, 14 and 15 to the tracking actuator 5 through the driver 17 is provided in place of the switching circuit 16. Referring to Fig. 6, a tracking servo error signal RES outputted from a tracking servo circuit (not shown) is input to the timing signal generator 12. The jump trigger pulse generator 11 generates the jump trigger pulse so as to output it to the timing signal generator 12 in both the signal jump control and the macrojump control. Responsive to a jump trigger pulse and a tracking servo error signal RES, the timing signal generator 12 generates timing signals and a switching control signal at predetermined timings so as to output them to the accelerating pulse generator 13, the decelerating pulse generator 14, a direct current signal generator 15 and a switching circuit 16a. Namely, in the signal jump control, after outputting a timing signal to the accelerating pulse generator 13 upon moving the objective lens 4 by a pitch between a track of the optical disk 2 and the adjacent track thereof, the timing signal generator 12 outputs a timing signal to the decelerating pulse generator 14 at the trailing edge of the accelerating pulse P 1 . On the other hand, in the macrojump control, after outputting a timing signal to the accelerating pulse generator 13 upon moving the objective lens 4 by plural pitches, the timing signal generator 12 outputs a timing signal to the direct current signal generator 15 at the trailing edge of the accelerating pulse P 1 . After a period t d therefrom, the timing signal generator 12 outputs a timing signal to the decelerating pulse generator 14. Responsive to the timing signal, the accelerating pulse generator 13 outputs the accelerating pulse having a predetermined positive voltage and a predetermined pulse width t o to the switching circuit 16a. Responsive to the timing signal, the decelerating pulse generator 14 outputs the decelerating pulse having a predetermined negative voltage and a predetermined pulse width t o to the switching circuit 16a. Responsive to the timing signal, the direct current signal generator 15 outputs a positive direct current voltage D 0 for the period t d to the switching circuit 16a. The switching circuit 16a outputs either of the accelerating pulse P 1 , the decelerating pulse P 2 or the direct current voltage D o selectively as a driving pulse at a predetermined timing based on the switching control signal to the tracking actuator 5 through the driver 17. The action of the macrojump control of the jump control circuit shown in Fig. 6 will be described below, referring to a timing chart shown in Fig. 7. At a timing t 1 upon moving the objective lens 4 by plural pitches, a jump trigger pulse is generated by the jump trigger generator 11, and responsive to the jump trigger pulse, a timing signal is generated by the timing signal generator 12 and is input to the accelerating pulse generator 13. Then, the accelerating pulse P 1 is generated by the accelerating pulse generator 13 and is outputted to the tracking actuator 5 through the switching circuit 16a and the driver 17. At a timing t 2 being the trailing edge of the accelerating pulse P 1 , a timing signal is generated by the timing signal generator 12 and is input to the direct current signal generator 15. Then, the direct current voltage D 0 is generated for the period t d by the direct current signal generator 15 and is applied to the tracking actuator 5 through the switching circuit 16a and the driver 17. Therefore, for the period between the timings t 1 and t 3 , the objective lens 4 is moved by predetermined plural pitches so as to jump plural tracks. At a timing t 3 after the period t d from the timing t 2 , the timing signal is generated by the timing signal generator 12 and is input to the decelerating pulse generator 14. Then, a decelerating pulse P 2 is generated by the decelerating pulse generator 14 and is applied to the tracking actuator 5 through the switching circuit 16a and the driver 17. After the trailing edge of the decelerating pulse P 2 , the objective lens 4 is positioned at a position facing a distinction track. Then, the action of the macrojump control is completed. As described above, the direct current voltage D 0 is applied to the coil 5a of the tracking actuator 5 for the period t d between the accelerating pulse P 1 and the decelerating pulse P 2 . Therefore, since a predetermined force is applied to the objective lens 4 by the actuator 5 responsive to the direct current voltage D 0 as soon as the accelerating pulse P 1 is applied thereto, the action of swinging back of the objective lens 4 is suppressed, and the jump operation can be performed stably as compared with the conventional apparatus, resulting in that the above setting time can be reduced, and a target track of the optical disk 2 can be accessed at a higher speed. In the above preferred embodiment, the positive direct current voltage D 0 is applied to coil 5a of the actuator 5 after applying the accelerating pulse P 1 thereto, however, a negative direct current voltage may be applied thereto depending on the action characteristics of the actuator 5. Furthermore, the level of the direct current voltage D 0 may be determined depending on the action characteristics of the actuator 5.

Claims: A method for moving an objective lens (4) in an optical head assembly (1) across the tracks of an optical medium (2) wherein an objective lens accelerating pulse (P 1 ) and an objective lens decelerating pulse (P 2 ) are applied sequentially to a drive means (17) for altering the position of the objective lens (4) across the tracks of said optical medium (2), characterised in that a positive or negative direct current voltage (D 0 ) is applied to said drive means (17) between said accelerating pulse and said decelerating pulse. A control method for accessing a track of an optical disk (2) in an optical disk apparatus, for a macrojump control for jumping a plurality of tracks so that an objective lens (4) of a light pickup (1) is positioned at a position facing a target track, wherein the objective lens (4) is moved in accordance with the method of claim 1, said accelerating pulse (P 1 ) being generated in response to a jump trigger pulse and applied to a tracking actuator (5) for moving said objective lens (4) so that said objective lens (4) jumps said plurality of tracks; said direct current voltage (D 0 ) being applied to said tracking actuator (5) after said accelerating pulse and said decelerating pulse (P 2 ) being applied to said tracking actuator (5) after said direct current voltage (D 0 ) so that said objective lens (4) is positioned at the position facing said target track. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the level of said direct current voltage (D 0 ) is predetermined depending on action characteristics of said tracking actuator (5). A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said direct current voltage (D 0 ) is positive. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said direct current voltage (D 0 ) is negative. A tracking system for an optical disk apparatus wherein for changing track a first accelerating pulse (P 1 ) and a second decelerating pulse (P 2 ) are applied to an actuator (5) to respectively initiate and terminate the required movement, characterised in that a positive or negative direct current voltage (D 0 ) is applied to said actuator between said first (P 1 ) and second (P 2 ) pulses. A system as claimed in claim 6, comprising an optical head assembly comprising: an objective lens (4); control means (11-16,18) for generating said first (P 1 ) and second (P 2 ) pulses and said direct current voltage (D 0 ); and drive means (17) operable in response to said pulses and said voltage to cause said actuator (5) to alter the position of said objective lens (4).

Inventors: NISHIOKA YOSHIKI, SAKAMOTO NORIAKI, SUGIURA TERUKI, TAGUCHI AISAKU, YAMANE DAIJI, NISHIOKA, YOSHIKI, SAKAMOTO, NORIAKI, SUGIURA, TERUKI, TAGUCHI, AISAKU, YAMANE, DAIJI
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B7