Patent Publication Number: US-2011063959-A1

Title: Loader module of an optical access apparatus

Description:
This application claims the benefit from the priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 098217073 filed on Sep. 16, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a loader module. More specifically, the present invention relates to a loader module of an optical access apparatus. 
     2. Descriptions of the Related Art 
     The optical access apparatuses that are currently available on the market (such as optical disc drives, DVD optical disc drives, and Blu-ray optical disc drives) comprise both a control printed circuit board (PCB) and a loader system. The optical access apparatus manufacturer generally needs to perform a calibration test on the loader system of the optical access apparatus in the course of manufacturing the optical access apparatus to ensure stability of the optical access apparatus in writing/burning information. The main purpose of the calibration test is to record laser power calibration information of the optical pick-up head of the loader system while the optical access apparatus is writing/burning information. Afterward, the optical access apparatus manufacturer stores the laser power calibration information in a memory of the control printed circuit board of the optical access apparatus. 
     Thus, when the consumer uses the above-mentioned optical access apparatus in writing/burning information, the loader system will read the laser power calibration information stored in the memory via the control printed circuit board, and will be optimally adjusted in accordance with different types/quality optical storage media (such as optical disc, DVD, Blu-ray disc, etc.), so that the rate of failure in writing/burning information is reduced. 
     However, different optical access apparatus manufacturers have different types of requirements for the control printed circuit board of the optical access apparatus, thus, manufacturers usually purchase the above-mentioned loader system only, and then the control printed circuit board of the optical access apparatus is specially customized based on the manufacturer&#39;s requirements. Accordingly, optical access apparatus manufacturers need to make large investments and expend labor to proceed with the calibration of the optical pick-up head of the loader system on their own. As a result, the testing time and manufacturing costs are increased. 
     In addition, even if optical access apparatus manufacturers purchase both the above-mentioned control printed circuit boards and loader systems for manufacturing to optical access apparatus, the manufacturers still have to modify, purchase or configure additional components to the control printed circuit board if the control printed circuit board does not fulfill the function thereof. Thus, the cost of labor and investment is increased. 
     Accordingly, the objective of the present invention is to improve the manufacturing process of an optical access apparatus, and reducing the test time, overall cost of production and the waste of resources. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, an objective of the present invention is to provide a loader module of an optical access apparatus. The optical access apparatus has a main control printed circuit board (PCB). The loader module comprises an optical pick-up head, a drive unit, a first signal line, a second signal line and a non-volatile memory (NVM) (for instance, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH). The first signal line is configured to electrically connect the optical pick-up head, the drive unit and the main control PCB. The second signal line is configured to electrically connect the NVM and the main control PCB. The NVM is configured to store control information, and the control information comprises data format calculation information, pick-up head control information, drive unit control information, motor control information and switch detection information, which can be used to control the actions of the optical access apparatus. The control information is transmitted to the main control PCB via the second signal line so that the main control PCB controls the operation of the loader module according to the control information via the first signal line. The pick-up head control information is transmitted to the main control PCB via the second signal lines so that the main control PCB operates the optical pick-up head according to the pick-up head control information via the first signal line. The drive unit control information is transmitted to the main control PCB by the second signal line so that the main control PCB controls the drive unit according to the drive unit control information via the first signal line. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide an optical access apparatus. The optical access apparatus comprises a main control printed circuit board (PCB), at least one first signal line, a second signal line, a switch circuit, a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a loader module. The loader module further comprises an optical pick-up head and a drive unit. The optical pick-up head, the drive unit and the main control PCB are electrically connected via the at least one first signal line. The NVM and the main control PCB are electrically connected via the second signal line. The switch circuit is configured to control a status of the optical access apparatus. The NVM is configured to store control information, and the control information comprises data format calculation information, pick-up head control information, drive unit control information, motor control information and switch detection information, which can be used to control the actions of the optical access apparatus. The control information is transmitted to the main control PCB via the second signal line so that the main control PCB controls the operation of the loader module according to the control information via the at least one first signal line. The pick-up head control information is transmitted to the main control PCB via the second signal lines so that the main control PCB operates the optical pick-up head according to the pick-up head control information via the at least one first signal line. The drive unit control information is transmitted to the main control PCB via the second signal line so that the main control PCB controls the drive unit according to the drive unit control information via the at least one first signal line. 
     In view of the above, the loader module of an optical access apparatus of the present invention can be manufactured separately from the main control PCB used in the optical access apparatus. In addition, the loader module, in the initial stage of manufacturing, is calibrated by the manufacturer of the loader module. Thus, the manufacturer of optical access apparatus need not require investing additional testing time and testing capital in the loader module calibration. At the same time, the manufacturer of optical access apparatus can manufacture the main control PCB in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer. With the framework of the present invention, module manufacturers only need to assemble the internal components of the module and does not require special technology in the manufacturing process. Therefore, the manufacturing procedures of optical access apparatuses are simplified and the production cost is greatly reduced. 
     The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     References will be made to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrative and not limiting. These embodiments illustrate drawings with omitted non-directly related components and it should be understood that the dimension of the individual components is merely for the understanding of the invention and is not intended so limit the actual dimension thereof. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, which is a loader module  11  of an optical access apparatus  1 . The optical access apparatus  1  can be CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-ray, ROM or optical disc burner with data-write function and its derivative of optical disc access apparatus, which comprises a loader module  11 , a main control printed circuit board (PCB)  13 , two first signal lines  15   a ,  15   b  and a second signal line  17 . The loader module  11  comprises an optical pick-up head  111 , a drive unit  113 , a switch circuit  115  and a non-volatile memory (NVM)  117 . 
     NVM  117  can be a flash memory or a carrier with information storage capability, and it is disposed within the switch circuit  115 . The first signal lines  15   a ,  15   b  and the second signal line  17  can be a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The components mentioned above which are adapted for NVM  117 , the first signal lines  15   a ;  15   b  and the second signal line  17  are not used to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications may be provided by replacing components with similar functions, thus it will not be further described hereinafter. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the manufacturing of optical access apparatus  1  can be divided into two different stages, i.e., the first stage is about the loader module  11  and the second stage is about the connection between the loader module  11  and the main control PCB  13 . 
     In more detail, during the first stage, different types/quality optical storage media (such as optical disc, DVD optical disc, Blu-ray optical disc) are first subjected to information-reading/information-writing optimization tests by the manufacturer of the loader module. After that, based on the result of the optimization test, control information is obtained and is stored in the NVM  117 . 
     The control information comprises pick-up head control information  1100  related to the optical pick-up head  111 , drive unit control information  1102  related to the drive unit  113 , data format calculation information  1104 , motor control information  1106  and switch detection information  1108 . It should be noted that the pick-up head control information  1100 , the drive unit control information  1102 , the motor control information  1106  and the switch detection information  1108  comprised in the control information  1100  are control-related information generated for the operating hardware. 
     After the loader module  11  has converted the optical analog signal into the logic signal, the data format calculation information  1104  is used to process the above-mentioned logic signal. The rear modules (not shown) at the rear end of the optical access apparatus  1  receive the logic signal which has been processed by the data format calculation information  1104 , and the logic signal is then processed. 
     Afterwards, during the second stage, the manufacturer of the optical access apparatus can manufacture the main control PCB  13  to fulfill requirements. The main control PCB  13  and the optical pick-up head  111  are electrically connected to each other via the first signal line  15   a . The main control PCB  13  and the drive unit  113  are electrically connected to each other via the first signal line  15   b . The main control PCB  13  and the NVM  117  are electrically connected to each other via the second signal line  17 . 
     The main control PCB  13  reads the control information, which is pre-stored in the NVM  117 , via the second signal line  17 . In other words, the pick-up head control information  1100 , the drive unit control information  1102 , the data format calculation information  1104 , the motor control information  1106  and the switch detection information  1108 , which are included in the control information, are transmitted to the main control PCB  13  via the second signal line  17  as well. Next, the main PCB  13  reads the pick-up head control information  1100  stored in the NVM  117  to operate the optical pick-up head  11  via the first signal line  15   a . At the same time, the main control PCB  13  reads the drive unit control information  1102  stored in the NVM  117  via another first signal line  15   b  to proceed with process control on the drive unit  113 . 
     In other words, in view of the above mentioned contents, the main control PCB  13  proceeds with the related control on the loader module  11  according to the control information via the first signal lines  15   a ,  15   b . Hence, the optical access apparatus  1  can make use of different types or quality optical storage media (such as optical disc, DVD optical disc, Blu-ray optical disc, etc) to read/write information. Accordingly, the rate of failure of reading/writing information is reduced. 
     In particular, the afore-mentioned method of electrically connecting the optical pick-up head  111  and the drive unit  113  via the first signal lines  15   a ,  15   b , respectively, is not limited to the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily make use of a single line to simultaneously and electrically connect the optical pick-up head  111  and the drive unit  113 . At the same time, the single line delivers in parallel and/or in sequence to the pick-up head control information  1100  and the drive unit control information  1102 . Thus, further description is omitted. 
     Furthermore, when optical access apparatus manufacturers want to apply the loader module  11  in the optical access apparatus  1  with the function of reading/writing Blu-ray disc, a Advanced Access Content System Key (AASC Key)  114  required in Blu-ray disc is first stored in the NVM  117 . If the optical access apparatus  1  needs to decode information by the AASC key  114  when reading Blue-ray discs, the main control PCB  13  only needs to read the AASC key  114  stored in the NVM  117  via the second signal line  17  to decode the Blu-ray disc information  116  transmitted from the optical pick-up head  111 . 
     It should be appreciated that the present invention does not restrict the position of the NVM  117  in the optical access apparatus  1 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the function and operation of the components with identical reference numbers for the optical access apparatus  2  shown in  FIG. 2  and the optical access apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  are the same, therefore, further description is omitted. The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the NVM  117  of the optical access apparatus  2  of the second embodiment is mounted alone with the loader module  11  but not with the switch circuit  115 . As a result, the configuration of the components of the loader module  11  has a greater flexibility so that the optical access apparatus manufacturers can retrieve a better configuration of the loader module  11  within the optical access apparatus. In other words, optical access apparatus manufacturers can dispose the NVM  117  alone at any optional position within the loader module  11 , at the same time, the loader module  11  can be further adjusted in accordance with the dimension of the optical access apparatus. 
     Furthermore,  FIG. 3  illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the functions and operations of the components with identical reference numbers for the optical access apparatus  3  shown in  FIG. 3  and the optical access apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  are the same in the first preferred embodiment; therefore, further description is therefore omitted. In view of the contents shown in  FIG. 3 , the difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is that the NVM  117  of the optical access apparatus  3  does not need to be disposed on the loader module  11  or the switch circuit  115  of the loader module  11 . In other words, as long as the NVM  117  electrically connects correctly to the main control PCB  13  via the second signal line  17 , then the position of the NVM  117  in the optical access apparatus  3  is not restricted. 
     In view of the above, the calibration information does not need to be stored in the control PCB based on the present invention. Accordingly, extra costs of calibration testing are eliminated when the optical disc drive manufactures want to produce the PCB on their own. Furthermore, the waste of spare material when producing the components can be reduced as well. Accordingly, the present invention simplifies the subsequent production procedure to reduce the capital and also mitigates the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
     The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.