Patent ID: 7548570

Claim:
A laser power control apparatus for controlling an output of laser light which is exclusively applied onto a first optical disk and a second optical disk in a combination drive to record or read information thereon or therefrom, the apparatus comprising: first laser light generating means for generating first laser light to be applied onto the first optical disk; first drive current generating means for generating a drive current of the first laser light generating means; second laser light generating means for generating second laser light to be applied onto the second optical disk; second drive current generating means for generating a drive current of the second laser light generating means; laser light intensity detection means for exclusively collecting the first laser light and the second laser light and generating a first laser light intensity signal which indicates an intensity of the collected laser light; first laser light generating current control means for controlling the first laser light generating means based on the first laser light intensity signal; second laser light generating current control means for controlling the second laser light generating means based on the first laser light intensity signal; second laser light intensity detection means for collecting the second laser light and generating a second laser light intensity signal; a first sample/hold circuit for sampling and holding the first laser light intensity signal; a variable gain circuit for amplifying the first laser light intensity signal with a predetermined gain; a second sample/hold circuit for sampling and holding the first laser light intensity signal having been amplified with the predetermined gain; a first switch for selecting one selected from the group consisting of an output from the first sample/hold circuit, an output from the second sample/hold circuit, and the first laser light intensity signal, based on the second laser light intensity signal, and outputting the selected one; and a second switch for selecting one of an output from the first switch and the second laser light intensity signal based on the second laser light intensity signal, and outputting the selected one, wherein the second laser light generating current control means controls the second laser light generating means based on the output from the second switch.