Patent ID: 8203915

Claim:
An optical disc reader comprising: light emission means for emitting a light beam; light collection means for collecting the light beam emitted from the light emission means and focusing the light beam onto an optical disc; focusing means for performing a focusing operation to cause the light collection means to focus the light beam on a data recording layer in the optical disc; tracking error signal generating means for generating a tracking error signal corresponding to a radial offset of a focal point of the light collection means from a data recording track on the optical disc; tracking means for performing a tracking operation to cause the light collection means to focus the light beam on the data recording track on the optical disc, based on the tracking error signal generated by the tracking error signal generating means; and a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on the optical disc, wherein, after causing the focusing means to perform the focusing operation, the controller executes a determination process for determining whether or not the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer based on the tracking error signal generated by the tracking error signal generating means, before causing the tracking means to perform the tracking operation; wherein, when, as a result of the determination process, the controller determines that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing means to perform the focusing operation again; and wherein, when, as a result of the determination process, the controller determines that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking means to perform the tracking operation and then starts the read operation.