Circuit for generating a track traverse detecting signal in an information recording and reproducing apparatus for an optical information recording medium

Abstract: A circuit for generating a track traverse detecting signal in an information recording and reproducing apparatus for an optical information recording medium comprises: a generator for a tracking error signal changing its polarity upon traverse of each track on said medium by an optical head; a comparator (CMP200) having a feedback element between its output and non-inverting input (+) and comparing said tracking error signal at its inverting input (-) with the potential at its non-inverting input; a pontential control circuit increasing the feedback amount of said element when a tracking control signal is supplied to make said optical head follow said track, and fixing the potential at said non-inverting input (+), and reducing the feedback amount of said element when said tracking control signal is not supplied, and changing the potential at said non-inverting input (+) by a direction control signal controlling the motion direction of said optical head; and an output circuit (EXOR200) producing a track traverse detecting signal by the comparator (CMP200) output signal and said direction control signal, thereby generating a correct track traverse detecting signal according to said tracking error signal.

Description: The present invention relates to circuit for generating a track traverse detecting signal in an information recording and reproducing apparatus for an optical information recording medium wherein information is recorded by forming a pit upon application of a light beam to the recording medium while aligning an optical head to a track position, and information is read from a pit by using the light beam. For the optical head in a conventional information recording and reproducing apparatus a means is provided for generating a tracking error signal whose polarity changes between a positive polarity and negative polarity in response to a track traverse by the optical head. A track traverse detecting signal is generated by comparing the tracking error signal with a reference signal. The apparatus uses a fixed reference signal so that a trakking error signal of a low level is not detected in some cases. Furthermore, when noises having substantially a large level are generated in the circuit, these noises may be detected as a track traverse, thereby forming an incorrect track traverse detecting signal. Further, if the optical system is adjusted improperly, a shoulder is generated on a tracking error signal, thereby forming an incorrect track traverse detecting signal. Still further, an incorrect track traverse detecting signal may be generated by a distortion of the tracking error signal caused by dust or scratches on the surface of an optical image recording medium. It is the object of the present invention to provide a circuit in an apparatus of the above kind, for generating a track traverse detecting signal capable of correctly detecting a track traverse even if some errors are present on a tracking error signal. In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides % circuit for generating a track traverse detecting signal for an information recording and reproducing apparatus for an optical information recording medium, comprising: signal generating means for generating a tracking error signal changing the polarity between a positive polarity and a negative polarity in response to a traverse of each track of the optical information recording medium by an optical head; a comparator having an inverting input terminal, non-inverting input terminal, and output terminal, with a feedback element being connected between the non-inverting input terminal and the output terminal, for receiving the tracking error signal at the inverting input terminal, judging the level of the tracking error signal by using the potential at the non-inverting input terminal, and outputting the judgment result from the output terminal; a potential control circuit for changing the feedback element between the non-inverting input terminal and the output terminal to have a large feedback amount when a tracking control signal is supplied so as to make the optical head follow the track, and fixing the potential at the non-inverting input terminal, and changing the feedback element to have a small feedback amount when the tracking control signal is not supplied, and changing the potential at the non-inverting input terminal in accordance with a direction control signal for controlling the motion direction of the optical head; and an output circuit for outputting a track traverse detecting signal in accordance with the judgment result by the comparator and the direction control signal, whereby the track traverse detecting signal is generated in accordance with the tracking error signal. The signal generating means generates a tracking error signal reversing its polarity in response to a traverse of a track of an optical information recording medium by an optical head. This tracking error signal is supplied to the inverting input terminal of a comparator to compare it with a potential at the non-inverting input terminal. The comparator outputs a comparison result signal to an output terminal. This output signal is fed back to the non-inverting input terminal via a feedback element so that the potential at the non-inverting input terminal changes with the output signal of the comparator. With the operation of the potential control circuit, a large feedback amount of the feedback element is used when a tracking control signal is supplied, so that the potential at the non-inverting input terminal is easy to change with the output signal level. When the tracking control signal is not supplied, a small feedback amount is used to change the potential at the non-inverting input terminal with the output signal level. Specifically, the level of the signal supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator changes, which means that a reference level for judging the level of the tracking error signal changes. Therefore, even if the trakking error signal contains a level change which may cause an error, this level change is not detected because of the change in the reference level. The signal detected by the comparator is supplied to the output circuit to reference the direction control signal and generate a track traverse detecting signal. According to the present invention, a feedback element is connected between the non-inverting input terminal and output terminal of the comparator for checking the level of the tracking error, and the reference potential at the non-inverting input terminal is changed with the level of the tracking error signal. Accordingly, a track traverse can be detected without adverse affect of noises contained in the tracking error signal. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the circuit arrangement of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows signal waveforms at various circuit portions shown in Fig. 1 during the forward direction near jump; Fig. 3 shows signal waveforms at various circuit portions shown in Fig. 1 during the backward direction near jump; and Fig. 4 shows signal waveforms at various circuit portions shown in Fig. 1 during the far jump. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a circuit arrangement for generating a track traverse detecting signal for an information recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this apparatus, information is recorded and reproduced using a so-called optical card as an optical information recording medium (not shown). A light beam of an optical head (not shown) is focussed on the recording surface of the optical card. The position of the light beam on the optical card is detected by a tracking error detector (not shown) which detects a reflected light as a tracking error signal. In Fig. 1, IN201 to IN203 represent input terminals. The input terminal IN201 is supplied with the tracking error signal detected by the detector assembled with the optical head. The input terminal IN202 is supplied with a tracking control signal, and the input terminal IN203 is supplied with a direction control signal. The tracking error signal applied to the input terminal IN201 is an analog signal whose polarity becomes positive and negative in response to a track traverse of the optical head. The tracking error signal is supplied to the inverting input terminal of a comparator CMP200 via an integrator made of a resistor R201 and capacitor C201. Connected between the non-inverting input terminal and output terminal of the comparator CMP200 are a first feedback element constructed of a resistor R203, a second feedback element constructed of a serially connected resistor R204 and capacitor C202, and a third feedback element constructed of a serially connected resistor R205 and switch SW201. The first and second feedback elements are always connected, and the third feedback element is connected or disconnected by the switch SW201 to change the feedback amount which becomes large when the switch SW201 is closed, and small when it is opened. The tracking control signal applied to the input terminal IN202 is an on/off signal which is directly supplied to the switches SW201 and SW202. These switches close during the on-tracking, and open during the off-tracking. When the switch SW201 closes, the resistor R205 is connected between the non-inverting input terminal and output terminal of the comparator CMP200 to increase the feedback amount between these terminals. When the switch SW202 closes, the interconnection point between the resistors R208 and R209 is grounded via the switch SW202, so that the direction control signal applied form the input terminal IN203 via the resistor R209 does not reach the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP200. The direction control signal applied to the input terminal IN203 is an on/off signal which is directly supplied to the switch SW203. The switch SW203 opens for the forward direction, and closes for the backward direction. The direction control signal is applied to one input terminal of an exclusive OR EXOR200, and the other input terminal is supplied with an output signal from the comparator CMP200. The result of the logical operation by EXOR200 is used in generating the track traverse detecting signal. The integrated tracking error signal from the integrator R201, C201 is applied to the inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP200. The non-inverting input terminal is grounded via a resistor R202, and connected via the resistors R208 and R209 to the interconnection point between a resistor 210 and switch SW203. The switch SW203 opens and closes in response to the on and off of the direction control signal. During the forward direction control, the switch SW203 opens to supply a positive voltage +V from a positive power source to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP200 via the resistors R208 and R209. During the backward direction control, the switch SW203 closes to supply a negative voltage -V from a negative power source to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP200 via the resistors R208 and R209. An output terminal of the comparator CMP200 is connected to the positive power source +V via a resistor R206, and to the other input terminal of EXOR200 via an integrator made of a resistor R207 and capacitor C203. Fig. 2 to 4 show waveforms at various circuit portions of the circuit shown in Fig. 1 during various operations. Fig. 2 is for the forward direction near jump, Fig. 3 is for the backward direction near jump, and Fig. 4 is for the far jump, a comparison with a conventional circuit operation being provided. In Figs. 2 to 4, waveforms indicated at (a) are of the tracking error signal, waveforms indicated at (b) are of a slice signal for slicing the tracking error signal, waveforms indicated at (d) are of the signal at an output terminal OUT, and waveforms indicated at (e) are of the output signal of the comparator CMP200. Three operation modes including a forward direction near jump mode, backward direction near jump mode, and far jump mode, are selected by the on/off operations of the switches SW201 to SW203. In the forward near jump mode, all the switches SW201, SW202, and SW203 are turned off. In the backward near jump mode, the switches SW201 and SW202 are turned off and the switch SW203 is turned on. In these two jump modes, the tracking control is performed to correctly align the optical head on a track. In the far jump mode, the switches SW201 and SW202 are turned on (the switch SW203 may be turned on or off). In the far jump mode, it is sufficient if the number of tracks jumped by the optical head can be correctly known, and it is not important to check whether the optical head is correctly on a track. Forward Direction Near Jump In the forward direction near jump mode, all the switches SW201 to SW203 are open. Therefore, the first feedback element made of the resistor R203 and the second feedback element made of the serially connected resistor R204 and capacitor C202 are inserted between the non-inverting input terminal and output terminal of the comparator CMP200. The non-inverting input terminal is connected to the positive power source +V via the resistors R208 to R210. Accordingly, the potential or slice level at the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP200 is a voltage obtained by dividing the positive voltage +V by the serially connected resistors R202, R208, R209 and R210. This voltage is a positive value Vsl as indicated at (b) of Fig. 2. The level of the tracking error signal at the input terminal IN201 is checked by this positive high voltage. Therefore, the output signal of the comparator CMP200 is a correct rectangle as indicated at (e) of Fig. 2. If the waveforms indicated at (e) and (d) of Fig. 2 are compared with a conventional track traverse detected signal indicated at (c) of Fig. 2, it can be seen that there is a distinct difference therebetween. Specifically, the waveform indicated at (d) of Fig. 2 is a correct rectangle, without having a pulsating signal C at the disturbed area A of the signal near the zero level indicated at (a) of Fig. 2 and a short duration rectangle D at the shoulder B indicated at (a) of Fig. 2. At the falling edge Po in the negative direction of the rectangular signal indicated at (d) of Fig. 2, information is written. The circuit constants are selected and the slice level is set to detect this falling edge correctly. Negative Direction Near Jump In the negative direction near jump mode, the switches SW201 and SW202 are off and the switch SW203 is on. Therefore, a different point from the positive direction near jump ist that the negative power source -V is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator CMP200 via the switch SW203 and resistors R208 and R209. The slice level of the comparator CMP200 is a negative value Vs2. The level of the tracking error signal is checked using this slice level. A rectangular signal indicated at (e) of Fig. 3 is generated accordingly. As indicated at (d) of Fig. 3, the signal at the output terminal OUT200 is also a rectangular signal. Similar to the forward direction near jump explained in Fig. 2, the waveform indicated at (d) of Fig. 3 is a correct rectangle, without having a pulsating signal C at the disturbed area A of the signal near the zero level indicated at (a) of Fig. 3 and a short duration rectangle D at the shoulder B indicated at (a) of Fig. 3. At the rising edge Po in the positive direction of the rectangular signal indicated at (d) of Fig. 3, information is written. The circuit constants are selected and the slice level is set to detect this rising edge correctly. Far jump In the far jump mode, the switches SW201 and SW202 are on. Therefore, the first to third feedback elements are connected between the non-inverting input terminal and output terminal of the comparator CMP200 providing a large feedback amount. Different from the near jump, the comparator CMP200 is not supplied with a voltage via the resistors R208 and R209, and so the potential at the non-inverting input terminal changes with a signal at the output terminal. Therefore, two positive and negative slice levels Vs1' and Vs2' corresponding to the slice levels Vsl and Vs2 indicated at (b) of Fig. 2 and 3 are obtained as indicated at (b) of Fig. 4. The level of the tracking error signal is chekked by using these slice levels. A rectangular signal indicated at (e) of Fig. 4 is generated accordingly. A rectangular signal indicated at (d) of Fig. 4 is also obtained at the output terminal OUT. Similar to the near jump explained in Fig. 2 and 3, the waveform indicated at (d) of Fig. 4 is a correct rectangle, without having a pulsating signal C at the disturbed area A of the signal near the zero level indicated at (a) of Fig. 4 and a short duration rectangle D at the shoulder B indicated at (a) of Fig. 4. The rectangular signal indicated at (d) of Fig. 4 is not so precise as the falling edge Po in the negative direction or the rising edge Po in the positive direction of the rectangular signal in the near jump mode. However, the far jump control does not pose any problem even if it is coarse, because the near jump control is executed thereafter. As described above, in both the near jump mode and far jump mode, the track traverse detecting signal can be obtained from the tracking error signal without being adversely affected by noises contained in the tracking error signal.

Claims: A track traverse detecting signal generating circuit for an information recording and reproducing apparatus using an optical information recording medium, comprising: signal generating means for generating a tracking error signal changing the polarity between a positive polarity and a negative polarity in response to a traverse of each track of the optical information recording medium by an optical head; a comparator (CMP200) having an inverting input terminal, non-inverting input terminal, and output terminal, with a feedback element being connected between said non-inverting input terminal and said output terminal, for receiving said tracking error signal at said inverting input terminal, judging the level of said tracking error signal by using the potential at said non-inverting input terminal, and outputting the judgment result from said output terminal; a potential control circuit for changing said feedback element between said non-inverting input terminal and said output terminal to have a large feedback amount when a tracking control signal is supplied so as to make said optical head follow said track, and fixing the potential at said non-inverting input terminal, and changing said feedback element to have a small feedback amount when said tracking control signal is not supplied, and changing the potential at said non-inverting input terminal in accordance with a direction control signal for controlling the motion direction of said optical head; and an output circuit (EXOR200) for outputting a track traverse detecting signal in accordance with the judgment result by said comparator (CMP200) and said direction control signal, whereby said track traverse detecting signal is generated in accordance with said tracking error signal. Circuit according to claim 1, wherein said output circuit is an exclusive OR gate (EXOR200).

Inventors: ONODERA AKIRA, YAMAZAKI KOICHI, ONODERA, AKIRA, YAMAZAKI, KOICHI
Applicants: NIPPON CONLUX CO LTD, NIPPON CONLUX CO., LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B7