Patent ID: 7313068

Claim:
A method of correcting for a difference between a real optical power output and a measured optical output in an automatic power control structure of an optical recording apparatus, the optical recording apparatus having a photodiode for sensing the optical output power of a laser diode and generating a sensed power level signal, the method comprising: producing a first recording pulse train of normal writing power for a targeted recording speed from the laser diode of sufficient duration to allow the sensed power level signal to substantially stabilize; measuring a first voltage level of the substantially stabilized sensed power level signal; producing a second recording pulse train of normal writing power for the targeted recording speed from the laser diode of a duration equal to that of a real recording for the write strategy being used; measuring a second voltage level of the sensed power level signal, the second voltage being approximately equal to a maximum voltage occurring in the sensed power level signal during the second recording pulse train; and calibrating the automatic power control structure according to the first voltage level and the second voltage level.