Patent ID: 6865141

Claim:
An optical disc apparatus having a focus jump function for enabling a focus control on each of a plurality of recording layers of a disc on and from which data can be recorded and reproduced, comprising: an objective lens for focusing laser light on a recording layer of the disc; focus error signal generating means for generating a focus error signal based on reflection light that is obtained through the objective lens; generating means for generating, based on the focus error signal, a focus control signal for controlling the objective lens; drive voltage generating means for outputting a voltage necessary to move the objective lens; moving means for moving the objective lens in a direction approximately perpendicular to the recording layers of the disc in accordance with the output voltage of the drive voltage generating means; and control means for starting, when a focus jump becomes necessary during data recording, the focus jump after switching laser light power that is currently made high to enable the data recording to such a low power that neither data recording nor erasure can be effected.