Abstract:
A tilt detector and tilt detection method which are capable of detecting a tilt in a radial direction of an optical disc at a high degree of precision and being cost-effective and simple in head part construction. The tilt detector comprises a light beam direction velocity output unit for outputting a signal indicative of a moving velocity of a contact point of a recording surface of an optical disc and a light beam in a direction depending on the light beam in response to a signal indicative of an operation amount of a focus actuator from a focus servo device, a circumferential velocity output unit for outputting a signal indicative of a relative tangential velocity between the light beam and the recording surface of the optical disc, and a tilt angle calculator for calculating a tilt angle of the light beam projected on the recording surface of the disc, relative to the recording surface in response to the output signal from the circumferential velocity output unit and the output signal from the light beam direction velocity output unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates in general to a tilt detector and tilt detection method for an optical head tilt servo device in an optical disc player.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    An optical disc apparatus is generally adapted to project a small and narrow beam of light on an optical disc through an object lens to scan a fine mark (pit) on the disc so as to reproduce information recorded thereon and record new information thereon.  
           [0005]    At this time, the surface of the optical disc may be tilted relative to a beam of light from an optical head due to a distortion of the disc, a surface vibration, etc. In this case, the beam of light from the optical head is incident on the surface of the optical disc to reproduce information recorded thereon, while being tilted relative to the disc surface, thereby making it difficult to accurately read the recorded information.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 7 shows variations in tilt of a spot of light formed on the surface of an optical disc by a beam of light, relative to the disc surface. In particular, the lower part of FIG. 7 shows the shapes of the light spot and the upper part thereof shows light intensity distributions of the spot.  
           [0007]    In more detail, FIG. 7 b  shows the shape and intensity distribution of the light spot when the light beam is perpendicular to the disc surface. In this drawing, the light spot is shown to have a symmetrical shape. FIGS. 7 a  and  7   c  show the shapes and intensity distributions of the light spot when the disc surface is tilted relative to the light beam. In each of these drawings, a coma-aberration is generated in the light spot on the disc, and the light spot has an asymmetrical shape.  
           [0008]    For the purpose of preventing the above coma-aberration, the optical disc apparatus comprises a tilt servo device for correcting a tilt of an optical axis of the optical head to maintain the optical axis perpendicular to the disc surface. The tilt servo device includes tilt detection means for detecting the amount of a tilt of a beam of light projected from the optical head relative to the disc surface.  
           [0009]    A tilt sensor is generally used to detect a tilt amount. This tilt sensor is conventionally installed in the tilt detection means separately from an optical system which generates a beam of light for reproduction of information recorded on the optical disc. In this construction, the tilt sensor must be spaced apart from the object lens of the optical head at a certain distance in order to avoid an interference therebetween. However, the tilt sensor and the object lens of the optical head must become closer to each other to obtain a more approximate value to a tilt amount of a projected position of a light spot on the disc surface relative to the surface.  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the construction of a head part in a conventional optical disc apparatus. A head part  102  is positioned under an optical disc  101 , and an object lens  103  of an optical head and a tilt sensor  104  of tilt detection means are arranged on the upper surface of the head part  102 . The tilt sensor  104  is arranged on the upper surface of the head part  102  in such a manner that a spot of light  106  formed by a beam of light  105  emitted from the object lens  103  passes therethrough and is substantially aligned therewith on a track  107  of the disc surface. Through this arrangement, the tilt sensor can approximately detect the position of the light spot  106  and the tilt amount of the disc surface.  
           [0011]    However, in the head part with the above-mentioned construction, because the light spot and the tilt sensor are not perfectly aligned with each other, it is inevitable that a value detected by the tilt sensor is in error. This cannot guarantee a sufficient degree of precision, for example, when a high degree of tilt correction is required according to a recording densification of the disc.  
           [0012]    Further, because the optical head and tilt detection means are provided separately, the number of components increases, resulting in an increase in cost and a complexity in the construction of the head part.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tilt detector and tilt detection method which are capable of detecting a tilt in a radial direction of an optical disc at a high degree of precision and being cost-effective and simple in head part construction.  
           [0014]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a tilt detector adapted to, by measuring a velocity of a spot position on a recording surface of an optical disc at which a beam of light is condensed, in a focusing direction of the optical disc and a velocity of the spot position in a rotation direction of the optical disc, calculate an angle defined by three vectors, or a focusing direction velocity vector in the focusing direction of the optical disc, a rotation direction velocity vector perpendicular to the focusing direction of the optical disc and a resultant vector of the focusing direction velocity vector and the rotation direction velocity vector and detect a tangential tilt angle on the basis of the calculated angle, the tangential tilt angle being a tilt angle in a tangential direction of the optical disc.  
           [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tilt detector for an optical disc information recording/reproduction apparatus which includes an optical head for projecting a condensed beam of light on a recording surface of a rotating optical disc and receiving the projected beam of light reflected from the recording surface of the optical disc, a focus actuator for focusing the condensed beam of light on its projected position of the recording surface of the optical disc, and focus servo means for controlling the focus actuator, the tilt detector comprising light beam direction velocity output means for outputting a signal indicative of a moving velocity of a contact point of the recording surface of the disc and the light beam in a direction depending on the light beam in response to a signal indicative of an operation amount of the focus actuator from the focus servo means; circumferential velocity output means for outputting a signal indicative of a relative tangential velocity between the light beam and the recording surface of the optical disc; and tilt angle calculation means for calculating a tilt angle of the light beam projected on the recording surface of the disc, relative to the recording surface in response to the output signal from the circumferential velocity output means and the output signal from the light beam direction velocity output means.  
           [0016]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tilt detector for an optical disc information recording/reproducing apparatus which includes an optical head for projecting a condensed beam of light on a recording surface of a rotating optical disc and receiving the projected beam of light reflected from the recording surface of the optical disc, an focus actuator for focusing the condensed beam of light on its projected position of the recording surface of the optical disc, focus servo means for controlling the focus actuator, and moving means for moving the projected position of the light beam on the disc with rotation of the disc, the tilt detector comprising light beam direction velocity output means for outputting a signal indicative of a moving velocity of a contact point of the recording surface of the disc and the light beam in a direction depending on the light beam in response to a signal from a certain point in the focus servo means; timing signal generation means for generating a timing signal in response to each rotation of the disc; storage means for storing the output signal from the light beam direction velocity output means in response to the timing signal from the timing signal generation means; and tilt angle calculation means for calculating a radial tilt angle of the light beam projected on the recording surface of the disc, relative to the recording surface in response to an output signal from the storage means, the radial tilt angle being a tilt angle in a radial direction of the disc.  
           [0017]    Preferably, the focus servo means may include subtraction means for obtaining a difference between a target focusing value and a signal indicative of a current focusing state; and a compensator for outputting a signal indicative of an operation amount of the focus actuator in response to an output signal from the subtraction means; the light beam direction velocity output means being operated in response to the output signal from the subtraction means in the focus servo means.  
           [0018]    Alternatively, the focus servo means may include subtraction means for obtaining a difference between a target focusing value and a signal indicative of a current focusing state; and a compensator for outputting a signal indicative of an operation amount of the focus actuator in response to an output signal from the subtraction means; the light beam direction velocity output means being operated in response to the output signal from the compensator in the focus servo means.  
           [0019]    As an alternative, the focus servo means may include subtraction means for obtaining a difference between a target focusing value and a signal indicative of a current focusing state; and a compensator for outputting a signal indicative of an operation amount of the focus actuator in response to an output signal from the subtraction means; the light beam direction velocity output means being operation in response to the signal indicative of the current focusing state in the focus servo means.  
           [0020]    Preferably, the tilt detector may further comprise prediction means for predicting a position of the contact point of the recording surface of the disc and the light beam in the direction depending on the light beam on the basis of the tilt angle calculated by the tilt angle calculation means.  
           [0021]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tilt detection method for an optical disc information recording/reproduction apparatus which includes an optical head for projecting a condensed beam of light on a recording surface of a rotating optical disc and receiving the projected beam of light reflected from the recording surface of the optical disc, a focus actuator for focusing the condensed beam of light on its projected position of the recording surface of the optical disc, and focus servo means for controlling the focus actuator, the method comprising the steps of a) outputting a light beam direction velocity signal indicative of a moving velocity of a contact point of the recording surface of the disc and the light beam in a direction depending on the light beam in response to a signal indicative of an operation amount of the focus actuator from the focus servo means; b) outputting a circumferential velocity signal indicative of a relative tangential velocity between the light beam and the recording surface of the optical disc; and c) calculating a tilt angle of the light beam projected on the recording surface of the disc, relative to the recording surface in response to the circumferential velocity signal and the light beam direction velocity signal. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall construction of an information recording/reproduction apparatus to which the present invention is applied;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating relative positions between an optical disc and a head;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a control unit in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a control unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the operation of a predictor in FIG. 4;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a control unit in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 7 a  to  7   c  are views showing variations in tilt of a spot of light formed on the surface of an optical disc by a beam of light, relative to the disc surface; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the construction of a head part in a conventional optical disc apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    A description will first be given of the overall construction of an information recording/reproduction apparatus, such as an optical disc player or the like, to which the present invention is applied, with reference to FIG. 1. A pit  2   a  is formed on a track  2  of an optical disc  1  on which information to be reproduced is recorded. A head  3  for reproducing the recorded information is arranged at a position facing a surface on which the pit  2   a  is formed.  
         [0032]    The head  3  is movable in a radial direction R of the optical disc  1  by moving means, not shown. A spot of light  8  is projected on the track  2  of the optical disc  1  by a beam of light  8   a  emitted from the head  3 . The moving means moves a radial position of the light spot  8  with rotation of the optical disc  1 , thereby enabling the spot  8  to scan the track  2 .  
         [0033]    The head  3  includes a laser diode  4  for emitting a beam of laser light, a collimating lens  4   a  for transforming the beam of laser light emitted from the laser diode  4  into a collimated beam of light, a beam splitter  5 , an object lens  6  for receiving the collimated beam of light from the collimating lens  4   a  through the beam splitter  5 , condensing it on a recording surface  2   b  of the optical disc  1  on which the pit  2   a  is formed and collimating a beam of light reflected from the recording surface  2   b , a collimating lens  7   a  for condensing the reflected beam of light collimated by the object lens  6 , and a sensor  7  for receiving the reflected beam of light condensed by the collimating lens  7   a.    
         [0034]    The laser diode  4  emits a beam of laser light, which is then collimated by the collimating lens  4   a , reflected by the beam splitter  5  and condensed by the object lens  6 , resulting in the formation of a beam of light  8   a . Then, a spot of light  8  is projected on the track  2  of the optical disc  1  by the light beam  8   a . This light beam is then intensity-modulated and reflected by the pit  2   a  on the track  2  to the beam splitter  5  via the object lens  6 . Thereafter, the reflected beam of light is transmitted to the collimating lens  7   a  through the beam splitter  5 , condensed by the collimating lens  7   a  and then received by the sensor  7 . The sensor  7  outputs a radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to the received light beam, or the light beam intensity-modulated by the pit  2   a.    
         [0035]    The object lens  6  in the head  3  is driven in a parallel direction with an optical axis  11  of the light beam  8   a , namely, in a Z-axis direction by a focus actuator  9 , thereby causing the light spot  8  to be focused on the track  2 . A control unit  12  is provided to control the focus actuator  9 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating reflective positions between the optical disc  1  and the head  3 . Assume that the recording surface  2   b  of the optical disc  1  moves in a tangential direction of the track  2  (T direction in FIG. 1) at a velocity V L  with rotation of the disc  1  under the condition that it is tilted by θ T  relative to the optical axis  11  of the light beam. At this time, assuming that the recording surface  2   b  moves in the Z-axis direction at a velocity V Z , an equation tan θ=V 1 /V 1  can be established.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the control unit  12  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The control unit  12  includes an actuator model  14  for simulating the operation of the focus actuator  9  to focus the light spot  8 , a linear velocity output unit  17  for outputting a signal indicative of a tangential velocity V L  with rotation of the optical disc  1 , and a tilt angle calculator  18  for calculating a tangential tilt angle θ T .  
         [0038]    A focus servo device  13  includes a subtracter  20  for obtaining a difference between a target value r and a feedback signal s and outputting an error signal corresponding to the obtained difference, and a compensator  15  for compensating for a linearity and phase of the sensor  7 .  
         [0039]    The subtracter  20  outputs an error signal e in response to the target value r and the feedback signal s. This error signal e is applied to the compensator  15 , which then provides its output signal e to the focus actuator  9  and actuator module  14 . In response to the output signal u from the compensator  15 , the actuator model  14  outputs a signal indicative of a Z-axial velocity V Z  at a projected position of the light spot  8  on the recording surface  2   b  of the optical disc  1 .  
         [0040]    Namely, the actuator model  14  receives the output signal u from the compensator  15 , or a drive signal (drive current) to drive the focus actuator  9 , and integrates the received signal once to output the signal indicative of the velocity V 1 . The actuator model  14  further integrates the received signal twice to output a signal indicative of a position P 2 , as will be described later in detail.  
         [0041]    The tilt angle calculator  18  calculates the tangential tilt angle θ T  in response to the signal indicative of the Z-axial velocity V Z  from the actuator model  14  and the signal indicative of the tangential velocity V L  from the linear velocity output unit  17 .  
         [0042]    The operation of this embodiment will hereinafter be described in detail. The subtracter  20  obtains a difference between a target value r of a predetermined focusing state and a feedback signal s indicative of the current focusing state and outputs the obtained difference as an error signal e. This error signal e is applied to the compensator  15 , which then compensates for the linearity and phase of the sensor  7  in response to the error signal e. Then, the compensator  15  provides its output signal u to the focus actuator  9  and actuator model  14 .  
         [0043]    The focus actuator  9  moves the object lens  6  in the head  3  in the Z-axis direction to vary the focused state of the light spot. The variation in the focused state of the light spot signifies, for example, a variation in the amplitude of the RF signal output from the sensor  7 . In this case, the variation in the amplitude of the RF signal is extracted as the feedback signal s and then fed back to the subtracter  20 .  
         [0044]    This focus servo loop operation is performed by the servo device to make the target value r and feedback signal s equal so as to focus the light spot  8 .  
         [0045]    On the other hand, the output signal u from the compensator  15 , or the drive signal to drive the focus actuator  9 , is also applied to the actuator model  14 . In response to the applied signal u, the actuator model  14  calculates a velocity at which the focus actuator  9  moves the object lens  6  in the head  3  in the Z-axis direction.  
         [0046]    The focus servo loop operation is performed to focus the light spot  8  by maintaining a distance between the object lens  6  in the head  3  and the projected position of the light spot  8  on the recording surface  2   b  of the disc  1  constant. Accordingly, the Z-axial moving velocity of the object lens  6  in the head  3  is equal to the Z-axial moving velocity V 1  at the projected position of the light spot  8  on the optical disc  1 .  
         [0047]    The linear velocity output unit  17  outputs a signal indicative of a predetermined linear velocity of the optical disc  1 , namely, a relative tangential velocity V 1  between the light spot  8  and the recording surface  2   b  of the optical disc  1 .  
         [0048]    The optical disc  1  can rotate in a constant linear velocity (CLV) mode where the linear velocity is constant, a constant angular velocity (CAV) mode where the angular velocity (rotation velocity) is constant or a zone constant angular velocity (ZCAV) mode where the angular velocity (rotation velocity) is constant on a zone basis. In any mode, the information recording/reproduction apparatus of this embodiment can reproduce information from the optical disc.  
         [0049]    In other words, for the reproduction of information from the optical disc in the CLV mode, the linear velocity output unit  17  outputs a signal indicative of a constant linear velocity V L . On the contrary, for the reproduction of information from the optical disc in the CAV mode or ZCAV mode, the linear velocity output unit  17  outputs a signal indicative of a linear velocity V L  varying with a radial position of the track  2  being reproduced.  
         [0050]    In the CLV mode, data is read and written on/from the disc under the condition that the moving velocity of the recording surface is constant relative to the head irrespective of the inner/outer circumferences of the disc. In this regard, in order to maintain the moving velocity of the recording surface relative to the head constant, the disc must rotate fast when the head scans the inner circumference of the disc and be delayed in rotation when the head scans the outer circumference of the disc. For this reason, in an apparatus for reading and writing data from/on the disc in the CLV mode, a servo mechanism must be provided in a driving part rotating the disc, for the purpose of controlling the rotation velocity of the disc according to a radial position of the head.  
         [0051]    On the other hand, in the CAV mode, data is read and written on/from the disc under the condition that the disc rotates at a constant angular velocity (rotation velocity). Because the inner and outer circumferences of the disc are different in length, the linear velocity of the recording surface relative to the head becomes higher as the head goes to the outer circumference.  
         [0052]    The ZCAV mode has both the characteristics of the CLV mode and CAV mode. In this ZCAV mode, the disc is partitioned into a plurality of zones from its inner circumference to outer circumference and the angular velocity (rotation velocity) is constant for each of the partitioned zones.  
         [0053]    The tilt angle calculator  18  calculates the tilt angle θ T  in response to the signal indicative of the Z-axial velocity V 1  from the actuator model  14  and the signal indicative of the linear velocity V L  from the linear velocity output unit  17 . Referring to FIG. 2, the relation among the tilt angle θ T , Z-axial velocity V Z  and linear velocity V L  can be expressed by θ 1  =tan −1 (V Z /V L ).  
         [0054]    The tilt angle θ T  can be obtained in the above manner. Then, the tilt angle correction can be performed on the basis of the obtained tilt angle θ 1 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the control unit  12  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the focus servo device  13  in the control unit  12  is the same in construction as the first embodiment.  
         [0056]    The compensator  15  in the focus servo device  13  provides its output signal u to the actuator model  14 , which also receives a timing signal TS from a timing signal generator  21 . The actuator model  14  outputs a Z-axial positioning signal P, indicative of a Z-axial position at the projected position of the light spot  8  on the recording surface  2   b  of the optical disc  1 . The Z-axial positioning signal P Z  from the actuator model  14  is stored in a storage unit  22  and then transferred to a tilt angle calculator  23 , which also receives a track interval signal INT from a track interval output unit  24 , indicating an interval between adjacent tracks  2  of the optical disc  1 . The tilt angle calculator  23  calculates a radical tilt angle θ R .  
         [0057]    Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. The actuator model  14  calculates the Z-axial position at the projected position of the light spot  8  on the recording surface  2   b  of the optical disc  1  in response to the output signal u from the compensator  15  and outputs the calculated result P 3  to the storage unit  22 , which then stores the result P 2 .  
         [0058]    The timing signal generator  21  generates the timing signal TS for each rotation of the optical disc  1  and outputs it to the actuator model  14 . Whenever the timing signal TS is generated, namely, the optical disc  1  makes one rotation, the actuator model  14  calculates the Z-axial position and outputs the calculated result P Z  to the storage unit  22 . As a result, a plurality of calculated results are accumulated in the storage unit  22 .  
         [0059]    The storage unit  22  transfers the accumulated, calculated results to the tilt angle calculator  23 , which also receives the track interval signal INT from the track interval output unit  24 . Then, the tilt angle calculator  23  calculates the radial tilt angle θ R  on the basis of the calculated results from the storage unit  22  and the track interval signal INT from the track interval output unit  24 .  
         [0060]    The calculated radial tilt angle θ R  from the tilt angle calculator  23  is applied to a predictor  25 , which also receives the Z-axial positioning signal P Z  indicative of the Z-axial position of the current track  2  and the track interval signal INT. On the basis of these signals, the predictor  25  predicts a Z-axial position of the next track as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of the control unit  12  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the error signal e from the subtracter  20  is transferred via a filter  26  to a Z-axial position output unit  27 , which also receives the timing signal TS from the timing signal generator  21 . Whenever the timing signal TS is generated, namely, the optical disc  1  makes one rotation, the Z-axial position output unit  27  outputs the Z-axial positioning signal P Z on the basis of the output of the filter  26 . Except for this, the third embodiment is the same in construction and operation as the second embodiment.  
         [0062]    As an alternative to the third embodiment, the input to the system for calculation of the tilt angle θ R , namely, the input to the filter  26  may be obtained from the feedback signal s in the focus service device  13 .  
         [0063]    As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, light spot projection means and tilt angle detection means can constitute a single unit, and a tilt angle detection position can be perfected matched with a projected position of a spot of light, thereby making it possible to detect a tilt angle at a high degree of precision.  
         [0064]    Further, the implementation of the light spot projection means and tilt angle detection means as a single unit can limit the number of components and cost and make the construction of a head part simple.  
         [0065]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.