Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device

Abstract: The invention relates to a magneto-optic recording or reproducing unit having an erasing facility for information or data recorded on a magneto-optic recording medium. According to the invention, the erasing facility is formed by an erasing magnet (LM) having a field strength sufficient to initialize the magneto-optic recording medium without the assistance of a laser and/or an optical scanning unit. The field of application of the invention relates to magneto-optic recording or reproducing units.

Description: The invention relates to a magneto-optical recording or reproducing device for disc type magneto-optical recording media. It is also being possible for such a recording or reproducing unit to be used, for example, for the continuous magneto-optic recording, buffering and reproduction of video and/or audio signals. Magneto-optic recording media and units for recording and reproducing information stored on magneto-optic recording media are generally known. A known magneto-optic recording medium is the magneto-optic disc, which is also denoted as MOD or MO and in which there is arranged behind a transparent layer a magneto-optic layer on which information or data are stored and from which the stored information or data can be read. In order to store or write information or data onto a magneto-optic disc, the magneto-optic layer is heated by a laser beam, focused onto the disc, to a temperature in the region of the Curie or compensation temperature. Arranged behind the disc is an electromagnet which magnetizes the region heated by the laser beam in one direction of magnetization or the other. A magneto-optic writing device therefore comprises an optical scanning unit which co-operates with an electromagnet and is denoted as a pick-up. After the laser beam is switched off, the heated site cools off again below the compensation temperature, and the direction of magnetization fixed by the electromagnet is maintained. It is, so as to say, frozen. In this case, one direction of magnetization corresponds to a logic one while the opposite direction of magnetization represents a logic zero. The information or data are read using a principle which is based on the Kerr effect and on the fact that the plane of polarization of a linearly polarized light beam is rotated by an angle in the case of reflection at a magnetized mirror. The plane of polarization of the reflected light beam is rotated to the right or left in accordance with the direction of magnetization of the mirror. The rotation of the plane of polarization of the light beam reflected by the disc is detected by an optical scanning device, and a corresponding information or data signal is generated. Provided for the purpose of magnetizing the magneto-optic layer is an electromagnet which can magnetize a region which is swept over by an optical scanning device. Magneto-optic recording units are known in which information or data already stored on the recording medium must be erased before new information or data can be recorded. For this purpose, the magneto-optic layer is heated by the laser up to the Curie or compensation temperature at the sites at which the new information or data are to be stored, and magnetized in one direction. The plate is initialized. The laser power is switched between a small and a large value as a function of the bit to be stored so as to record the new information or data. For example, if a logic zero is stored at the previously erased site, the laser operates at the low power so that the Curie or compensation temperature is not reached. For the purpose of recording a logic one, by contrast, the laser heats the new site to be written on up to the Curie or compensation temperature so that said site can be remagnetized. By contrast with this, there are also already known magneto-optic recording units in which already stored information or data are directly overwritten on the recording medium without firstly having to be erased. For the purpose of reliable remagnetization, this method presupposes a high field strength which must be changed over at high speed in order to record new information or data. Since changing over high field strengths at high speed leads in a known way to intense heating of the electromagnet, the data rate up to which this method can be applied is limited. A very high data rate such as required, for example, to store a television signal would lead to impermissible overheating of the write head. In order to store new information or data at a high data rate on a magneto-optic recording medium already written onto, it is therefore necessary for the stored information or data to be erased in advance in accordance with the abovenamed method. For this purpose, before recording it is necessary to provide a time consuming erasing pass, which can be carried out by the magneto-optic writing device provided for recording information or data. In order to permit information or data to be recorded immediately, there is therefore a need for an additional magneto-optic writing device which can then be used to erase in advance information or data already recorded on the magneto-optic recording medium. The magneto-optic recording medium is then initialized by the magneto-optic writing device, also denoted as an erase pick-up. The above-mentioned principles to erase, initialize, record or read disc type magneto-optical recording media are for example disclosed in EP-A-0 537 952, US 5,503,924 and US 5,327,417. A magneto-optical recording and readout method for tape-type magneto-optical recording media has been disclosed according to EP-A-657 878. The description reads that in the case of magneto-optical disc, since the recording medium is rotated on a track, it is impossible to effect erasing of the medium by use of a magnetic field alone because in this case, the just recorded signal, too, is erased. It is the object of the invention to create a magneto-optic recording or reproducing unit which permits information or data recorded on a magneto-optic recording medium to be overwritten with information or data of a high data rate without a magneto-optic writing device for erasing recorded information or data, and which requires a low outlay. This object is achieved by means of the features specified in the independent claims 1 and 9. Advantageous embodiments and developments are specified in subclaims. The invention proceeds from the finding that overwriting directly with a high data rate is rendered possible when there is arranged upstream of the magneto-optic writing device or upstream of the write head an erasing magnet which is, for example, a permanent magnet or electromagnet whose field strength is sufficient to initialize a region upstream of a track to be written without the assistance of a laser. It has been found that magneto-optic recording media can be initialized by a sufficiently strong magnetic field even without the assistance of a laser. This measure renders an erasing pass and an erase pick-up no longer necessary. Information or data already recorded on a magneto-optic disc are directly overwritten with the new information or data, which can also have a high data rate, without a previous erasing pass and a low outlay is required. Recording information or data onto the magneto-optic recording medium is then performed, for example, in a known way using a constant magnetic field and pulsed laser, and the erasing magnet has a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnet of the writing device. With regard to the strength of its magnetic field, the erasing magnet is selected such that it erases the disc and/or the magneto-optic recording medium even without the assistance of a laser. In order, when returning to the start of the disc not to erase information or data already recorded and still to be reproduced in the case of a device for continuous recording, the erasing magnet is distanced from the disc, and thus deactivated, during the return, for example by means of an electromagnet or a mechanical device. In the case of a magneto-optic recording and reproducing unit for continuous recording and simultaneous or continuous reproduction of information or data, two optical scanning units are then provided, of which one optical scanning unit overwrites the magneto-optic recording medium in conjunction with a magnet, while the other respectively continuously reproduces. The use of the erasing magnet dispenses with an optical scanning unit for erasing information or data before the recording of new information or data onto the magneto-optic recording medium. The outlay for such a unit is thereby reduced. Although the invention advantageously permits overwriting of information or data stored on magneto-optic recording media with information or data of a high data rate without a magneto-optic writing device for erasing recorded information, it is not, however, limited to recording or reproducing information or data with a high data rate. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sketch of the principle of a magneto-optic recording and reproducing unit having an erasing facility for information or data recorded on a magneto-optic recording medium, and Figure 2 shows a sketch of the principle of a magneto-optic recording unit having means for distancing the erasing facility. Reference symbols are used uniformly in the Figures. For the purpose of simplification, it is only elements of a magneto-optic recording and reproducing unit having an erasing facility for information or data recorded on a magneto-optic recording medium which are specified in the sketch of the principle, represented in Figure 1. However, by omitting appropriate modules the unit can also be designed as a magneto-optic reproducing unit having an erasing facility or as a magneto-optic recording unit having an erasing facility. The magneto-optic recording and reproducing unit represented in Figure 1 can advantageously be used both as a conventional recording and reproducing unit and as a magneto-optic recording and reproducing unit for continuous recording and reproduction. In accordance with this design, which can be used, for example, for monitoring purposes in banks or for time-shifted reproduction of television transmissions, a magneto-optic recording medium sectioned along its diameter is represented in perspective in Figure 1. By means of a write head, which comprises a writing magnet SM and a first optical scanning unit OPU1, information or data are written onto the magneto-optic recording medium inserted into the unit. The writing magnet SM and the first optical scanning unit OPU1 are arranged, in accordance with Figure 1, in a fashion mechanically connected to one another and opposite one another, while the magneto-optic recording medium is located between them. Since recordings are made on magneto-optic recording media in a track from the inside to the outside, new information or data are recorded in a first region NR of the magneto-optic recording medium in accordance with Figure 1. The write head is, for example, designed by analogy with known write heads. Also provided in accordance with Figure 1 is an erasing facility which is formed in accordance with the invention exclusively by an erasing magnet LM and is arranged upstream of the write head in the scanning direction of the magneto-optic recording medium. The erasing magnet LM is used to initialise the magneto-optic recording medium directly before the recording of new information or data. The result is to produce on the magneto-optic recording medium upstream of the writing magnet SM a second region AE in which information or data previously stored on the magneto-optic recording medium are erased. The initialization of the magneto-optic recording medium before the recording of new information or data renders it possible, in particular, for regions of the magneto-optic recording medium already written on earlier to be recorded and/or overwritten with a high data rate such as is required, for example, to record video signals. The erasing magnet LM is provided in Figure 1 as a so-called permanent magnet which is arranged next to the writing magnet SM on the same side relative to the magneto-optic recording medium, and has a direction of magnetization opposite to the writing magnet SM. In addition, both the writing magnet SM and the erasing magnet LM can optionally also be designed as electromagnets. It is to be seen that the erasing facility consists only of an erasing magnet LM, and that no optical scanning unit assigned to the erasing magnet LM is provided. No laser which heats the magneto-optic recording medium is provided for erasing stored information or data. In order, nevertheless, to achieve erasure of information or data already stored on a magneto-optic recording medium, and/or to initialize the magneto-optic recording medium, provision is made of an erasing magnet LM with a field strength sufficient to erase and/or initialize the magneto-optic recording medium. The field strength of the erasing magnet LM, which is greater by comparison with the field strength of the writing magnet SM, is used to erase information or data stored on the magneto-optic recording medium and to initialize the magneto-optic recording medium even without the assistance of a laser. This comparatively greater field strength of the erasing magnet LM leads, if appropriate, to the fact that, in accordance with the Figure, a plurality of tracks of the magneto-optic recording medium are simultaneously erased and/or initialized, thus producing on the magneto-optic recording medium a third region BE, which corresponds to a region currently erased and/or currently initialized. In particular in a unit for the continuous recording or simultaneous reproduction of information or data, the simultaneous erasure of a plurality of tracks is insignificant, since the erasure region is small by comparison with the recording region and the progress of the erasure corresponds to that of the writing. In accordance with Figure 1, the erasing magnet LM is preferably mechanically connected to the write head, and is thereby guided over the magneto-optic recording medium in advance of the write head in the normal write or read direction of the magneto-optic recording medium. In the case of an optical scanning unit OPU1 comprising coarse and fine drives, the mechanical connection between the writing magnet SM and the erasing magnet LM is provided in such a way that the writing magnet SM and the erasing magnet LM are connected to the coarse drive of the optical scanning unit OPU1, or follow of the coarse drive. In an embodiment according to Figure 1 which uses permanent magnets and laser modulation as the selected writing method, only slight requirements are placed on the quality and/or accuracy of the positioning and tracking of the writing magnet SM and the erasing magnet LM. It is sufficient to connect the writing magnet SM and erasing magnet LM to the optical scanning unit OPU1 in a fashion corresponding to a metal or plastic angle which is produced with moderate precision. In an embodiment in accordance with Figure 1, a means is to be provided for deactivating the erasing magnet LM, in order not to erase recorded information or data during a jump into the inner region of the magneto-optic recording medium. For this purpose, the connection between the erasing magnet LM and the writing device is, if appropriate, to be provided, in accordance with Figure 2, via a joint G, and the erasing magnet LM is to be distanced from the magneto-optic recording medium for example by an electromagnet EM. For the purpose of continuous recording, the write head is displaced in a jump from the outer into the inner region of the magneto-optic recording medium. Deactivation of the writing magnet SM is not required if the field strength of the writing magnet SM is selected such that the magneto-optic recording medium is influenced only in co-operation with the laser of the optical scanning unit OPU1. A recording and reproducing unit according to Figure 1 for continuously recording and reproducing information or data has a second optical scanning unit OPU2 for reading the recorded information or data. However, a second optical scanning unit OPU2 is required only if, for example, it is intended to reproduce a radio or television transmission while simultaneously recording a radio or television transmission, in order to enable a time-shifted reproduction, for example. After the reproduction of information or data which are recorded, in accordance with Figure 1, in a fourth region LR on the magneto-optic recording medium, the reading device and/or second optical scanning unit OPU2 reaches the outer region of the magneto-optic recording medium. To continue the reproduction, the second optical scanning unit OPU2 consequently jumps into the interior or first region NR of the magneto-optic recording medium, in which new information or data are recorded. In Figure 1, this jump is specified by an optical scanning unit OPU2 represented by dashed lines. In the case of a unit for simultaneously recording and reproducing information or data, provision is then made of a first optical scanning unit OPU1 for overwriting and a second optical scanning unit OPU2 for reproduction, without the need for a third optical scanning unit for erasing. The use of the permanent magnet for erasing renders superfluous the use of a third optical scanning unit which would be used to carry out erasure before the recording. However, the second optical scanning unit OPU2, provided exclusively for reading the magneto-optic recording medium, and/or the reading device of the magneto-optic recording medium can also be used in a known way for optionally accessing information or data on the magneto-optic recording medium. A connection to a so-called live transmission is then achieved, for example, by jumping over recording regions. In the case of a reproducing unit having an erasing facility, it is possible in accordance with a selected embodiment to provide a separate drive for the erasing magnet LM or the erasing magnet LM can be connected to the second opticel scanning unit.

Claims: Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device for disc type magneto-optical recording media having an information erasing means and, in the case of recording information, having a writing device, formed from a writing magnet (SM) and an optical scanning device (OPU1), for overwriting information or data recorded on said magneto-optical recording medium, characterized in that said information erasing means is formed by an erasing magnet (LM) running in front of said writing device and arranged at one side contactless with respect to said recording medium and having a field strength sufficient to initialize the magneto-optical recording medium without the assistance of a laser. Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the erasing magnet (LM) has a mechanical connection to the writing device. Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical connection of the erasing magnet (LM) to the writing device is a joint (G). Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the erasing facility is an erasing magnet (LM) having a magnetic field, which is directed opposite to a magnet (SM) of the writing device. Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the erasing magnet (LM) is a permanent magnet Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the erasing magnet (LM) is connected to a means for deactivating the erasing magnet (LM) in order not to erase recorded information or data during a jump into the inner region of the magneto-optical recording medium. Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the means for deactivating the erasing magnet (LM) is an electromagnet (EM) in order not to erase recorded information or data during a jump into the inner region of the magneto-optical recording medium. Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the erasing magnet (LM) is an electromagnet. Magneto-optical recording or reproducing device for disc type magneto-optical recording media having an information erasing means and, in the case of recording information, having a writing device, formed from a writing magnet (SM) and an optical scanning device (OPU1), for overwriting information or data recorded on said magneto-optical recording medium, characterized in that a first optical scanning device (OPU1) connected to said writing magnet (SM) for recording data on the magneto-optical recording medium, an erasing magnet (LM) running in front of said writing device and arranged at one side contactless with respect to said recording medium for initializing the magneto-optical recording medium without the assistance of a laser, and a second optical scanning device (OPU2) for reproducing information or data stored on the magneto-optical recording medium are provided for the purpose of simultaneously recording and reproducing information or data.

Inventors: ZUCKER FRIEDHELM, ZUCKER, FRIEDHELM
Applicants: THOMSON BRANDT GMBH, DEUTSCHE THOMSON-BRANDT GMBH
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G11B11
IPC codes: G11B5, G11B13, G11B11