Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a signal processing circuit and a signal processing method, and more particularly, to a signal processing circuit and a signal processing method for converting a pulse signal into digital data corresponding to a pulse width of the pulse signal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical disk device. FIG. 2 is an illustration used for explaining a structure of an optical disk. 
     An optical disk device  100  shown in FIG. 1 is a CD-R drive, for example. A CD-R disk  40  is mounted on the optical disk device  100 . The optical disk device  100  records/reproduces information on/from the CD-R disk  40 . 
     On the CD-R disk  40 , wobbles  40   b  are formed along tracks  40   a  on/from which information is recorded/reproduced, as shown in FIG.  2 . Each of the wobbles  40   b  has a modulated frequency. Reproducing the wobble  40   b  and demodulating the frequency of the reproduction signal generates a frequency-demodulated signal. Accordingly, various control information recorded as the frequency-demodulated signal can be obtained. 
     The optical disk device  100  comprises an optical system  41 , a spindle motor  42 , a sled motor  43 , a laser driver  44 , a front monitor  45 , an ALPC (Auto Laser Power Control) circuit  46 , a recording compensation circuit  47 , a wobble signal processing unit  48 , an RF amplifier  49 , a focus/tracking servo circuit  50 , a feed servo circuit  51 , a spindle servo circuit  52 , a CD encode/decode circuit  53 , a D/A converter  54 , an audio amplifier  55 , RAMs  56  and  58 , a CD-ROM encode/decode circuit  57 , an interface/buffer controller  59 , and a CPU  60 . The optical disk device  100  records/reproduces information according to commands transmitted from a host computer  61 . 
     The spindle motor  42  is driven by the spindle servo circuit  52  so as to revolve the disk  40  at a predetermined revolving speed. The optical system  41  is arranged opposite the disk  40 . The optical system  41  projects a laser light on the disk  40  so as to record information on the disk  40 . The optical system  41  also receives a light reflected from the disk  40  so as to output a reproduction signal corresponding to information recorded on the disk  40 . The optical system  41  is controlled by the sled motor  43  and the focus/tracking servo circuit  50  so as to project a light beam at a predetermined position B on the disk  40 . 
     In this course, the sled motor  43  is driven and controlled by the feed servo circuit  51  so as to move a carriage composing the optical system  41  in a radial direction of the disk  40 . The focus/tracking servo circuit  50  drives and controls a focus/tracking actuator (not shown in the figure) of the optical system  41  so as to perform a focus/tracking control. 
     The reproduction signal reproduced by the optical system  41  is supplied to the RF amplifier  49  The RF amplifier  49  amplifies the reproduction signal. A main signal of the reproduction signal is supplied to the CD encode/decode circuit  53 , and is decoded by the CD encode/decode circuit  53 . 
     The CD-ROM encode/decode circuit  57  performs processes, such as processes of encoding/decoding ECC (Error Correction Coding) typical of a CD-ROM, and a process of detecting a header. The RAM  56  is used as a working storage for the processes performed by the CD-ROM encode/decode circuit  57 . The interface/buffer controller  59  transmits and receives data to/from the host computer  61 , and controls a data buffer. The RAM  58  is used as a working storage for the interface/buffer controller  59 . 
     Besides, when the disk  40  is an audio disk, the signal demodulated by the CD encode/decode circuit  53  is supplied to the D/A converter  54 , and is converted from digital to analog. Then, the analog signal is amplified and output by the audio amplifier  55 . 
     The CPU  60  controls the optical disk device  100  as a whole according to commands transmitted from the host computer  61 . 
     As mentioned above, on an optical disk such as a CD-R, wobbles are formed beforehand along tracks on which information is to be recorded. The wobbles are detected so as to reproduce a wobble signal. The wobble signal has a modulated frequency. This frequency-modulated (FM) signal is converted into digital data so as to obtain information such as an address indicating a position on the disk. In this course, to obtain accurate information such as an address, the frequency-modulated signal needs to be converted accurately into digital data. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional signal processing circuit. FIG.  4  and FIG. 5 are timing charts of the conventional signal processing circuit. 
     In FIG. 3, a signal processing circuit  100  comprises a both-edge detection circuit  111 , a counter circuit  112 , a latch circuit  113 , and a digital LPF circuit  114 . 
     The both-edge detection circuit  111  is supplied with a frequency-modulated signal indicated by FIG.  4 -(A) from a terminal  115 . The both-edge detection circuit  111  first compares the supplied frequency-modulated (FM) signal with a zero level so as to generate a pulse signal indicated by FIG.  4 -(B). The pulse signal becomes high-level when the supplied frequency-modulated signal is higher than the zero level, and becomes low-level when the supplied frequency-modulated signal is lower than the zero level. Then, the both-edge detection circuit  111  detects a rising edge and a falling edge of the generated pulse signal so as to generate a both-edge signal (numbered  118  in FIG. 3) indicated by FIG.  4 -(C). This both-edge signal is supplied to the counter circuit  112 , the latch circuit  113  and the digital LPF circuit  114 . 
     The counter circuit  112  is cleared by the both-edge signal supplied from the both-edge detection circuit  111 . The counter circuit  112  counts clocks supplied from a clock terminal  116 . The counter circuit  112  supplies the counted values varying as indicated by FIG.  4 -(D) to the latch circuit  113 . 
     The latch circuit  113  is supplied with the counted values from the counter circuit  112  and the both-edge signal from the both-edge detection circuit  111  so as to latch the counted values N 1  to Nn. The latch circuit  113  supplies the latched counted values N 1  to Nn to the digital LPF circuit  114 . 
     The digital LPF circuit  114  is supplied with the counted values from the latch circuit  113  and the both-edge signal from the both-edge detection circuit  111 . The digital LPF circuit  114  digitally performs a low pass filtering process based on the counted values supplied from the latch circuit  113  so as to cut off noise components. The frequency-modulated (FM) signal subjected to the digital filtering process is output from a terminal  117 , and then is subjected to a demodulating process so as to extract information superimposed on the wobble signal. 
     However, noises are superimposed on the frequency-modulated signal supplied to the both-edge detection circuit  111 . 
     The frequency-modulated signal supplied to the both-edge detection circuit  111  crosses the zero level a plurality of times due to the noises, as shown in a magnified view in the vicinity of the zero level in FIG.  5 . Therefore, when the frequency-modulated signal in this state is converted into the pulse signal, unnecessary pulses occur before and after the pulse signal, as indicated by FIG.  6 -(A). Due to these unnecessary pulses, a rising edge and a falling edge are detected a plurality of times, as indicated by FIG.  6 -(B). Accordingly, when clocks indicated by FIG.  6 -(C) are counted between the edges indicated by FIG.  6 -(B), a multitude of small counted values are output in the vicinity of the zero level, as indicated by FIG.  6 -(D). 
     Thereupon, there has been proposed a method for detecting the edges of the pulse signal while excluding periods influenced by the noises. A description will be given, with reference to FIG. 7, of the method for detecting the edges of the pulse signal while excluding periods influenced by the noises. 
     FIG.  7 -(A) indicates an input pulse signal. FIG.  7 -(B) indicates the pulse signal rid of influences of noises (i.e., a chattering). FIG.  7 -(C) indicates a both-edge signal of the pulse signal rid of influences of noises. 
     Conventionally, when the pulse signal continues for a predetermined period of time T 3 , an edge is detected. Although the input pulse signal indicated by FIG.  7 -(A) rises at a time t 1 , the input pulse signal falls before the predetermined period of time T 3  elapses, so that no edge is detected. On the other hand, since the input pulse signal indicated by FIG.  7 -(A) rises at a time t 2  and a time t 7 , and continues to be high-level for the predetermined period of time T 3 , so that an edge is detected. 
     Similarly, although the input pulse signal indicated by FIG.  7 -(A) falls at a time t 4 , the input pulse signal rises before the predetermined period of time T 3  elapses, so that no edge is detected. On the other hand, since the input pulse signal indicated by FIG.  7 -(A) falls at a time t 5  and a time t 9 , and continues to be low-level for the predetermined period of time T 3 , so that an edge is detected. 
     Thus, the both-edge signal indicated by FIG.  7 -(C) rid of influences of noises is detected. 
     As described above, an actual frequency-modulated signal includes noises which causes rises and falls in the pulse signal. Accordingly, when edges of the pulse signal are detected, the edges include pulses due to the noises. Therefore, counting clocks between the edges in this state causes problems such as noise components being also output as counted values, which disables an accurate signal processing. 
     Additionally, the method described above with reference to FIG. 7 has problems such as that the edges cannot always be detected accurately, because a measurement of the period of time T 3  is performed with respect to each individual pulse of the input pulse signal, and thus is likely to be influenced by one particular noise component. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful signal processing circuit and a signal processing method in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated. 
     A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a signal processing circuit and a signal processing method which can accurately detect a high-level period and/or a low-level period of an input pulse signal excluding influences of noise components. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to one aspect of the present invention a signal processing circuit outputting an output signal corresponding to a pulse width of an input pulse signal, the circuit comprising: 
     integrating means for integrating pulse widths of the input pulse signal for a predetermined period of time, each of the pulse widths having one of polarities; and 
     outputting means for outputting the output signal corresponding to the pulse widths integrated by the integrating means. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the integrating means may comprise a charging circuit storing a charged voltage according to either of polarities of the input pulse signal; and 
     a sample hold circuit sampling and holding the charged voltage stored according to one of the polarities, during a period of the input pulse signal having the other of the polarities and including no chattering. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the charging circuit may include a first charge circuit charged with a constant current during a period of the input pulse signal having a positive polarity; and 
     a second charge circuit charged with a constant current during a period of the input pulse signal having a negative polarity, 
     the sample hold circuit may include a first comparing circuit comparing a charged voltage of the first charge circuit with a reference voltage; 
     a second comparing circuit comparing a charged voltage of the second charge circuit with a reference voltage; 
     a first sample hold circuit sampling and holding the charged voltage of the second charge circuit, based on a comparison result of the first comparing circuit; and 
     a second sample hold circuit sampling and holding the charged voltage of the first charge circuit, based on a comparison result of the second comparing circuit, and 
     the outputting means may output a voltage sampled and held in the first sample hold circuit, according to the comparison result of the first comparing circuit, and outputs a voltage sampled and held in the second sample hold circuit, according to the comparison result of the second comparing circuit. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the first sample hold circuit may include a first switch circuit switched according to the comparison result of the first comparing circuit; and 
     a first capacitor charged according to the charged voltage of the second charge circuit, when the first switch circuit is switched on, and 
     the second sample hold circuit may include a second switch circuit switched according to the comparison result of the second comparing circuit; and 
     a second capacitor charged according to the charged voltage of the first charge circuit, when the second switch circuit is switched on. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the first charge circuit may include a first constant current source outputting the constant current; 
     a first charging switch circuit switched on when the input pulse signal has a positive polarity so as to output the constant current output from the first constant current source; 
     a third capacitor charged with the constant current output from the first charging switch circuit, when the first charging switch circuit is switched on; and 
     a first discharging switch circuit switched on according to the comparison result of the second comparing circuit so as to discharge the third capacitor, and 
     the second charge circuit may include a second constant current source outputting the constant current; 
     a second charging switch circuit switched on when the input pulse signal has a negative polarity so as to output the constant current output from the second constant current source; 
     a fourth capacitor charged with the constant current output from the second charging switch circuit, when the second charging switch circuit is switched on; and 
     a second discharging switch circuit switched on according to the comparison result of the first comparing circuit so as to discharge the fourth capacitor. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the charging circuit may include a constant current source generating a constant current; 
     a first charge element charged with the constant current; 
     a second charge element charged with the constant current; and 
     a switch switched according to the input pulse signal so as to supply the first charge element with the constant current generated by the constant current source when the input pulse signal has the one of the polarities, and to supply the second charge element with the constant current generated by the constant current source when the input pulse signal has the other of the polarities. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the outputting means may comprise an output circuit outputting a voltage sampled and held in the sample hold circuit as the output signal. 
     Additionally, in the signal processing circuit according to the present invention, the output circuit may include a switch circuit selectively outputting either of the voltage sampled and held in the first sample hold circuit and the voltage sampled and held in the second sample hold circuit; and 
     a switch control circuit switching the switch circuit so as to select the voltage sampled and held in the first sample hold circuit according to the comparison result of the first comparing circuit, and to select the voltage sampled and held in the second sample hold circuit according to the comparison result of the second comparing circuit. 
     According to the present invention, integrating pulse widths of the input pulse signal having one of the polarities enables the detection of a period of the input pulse signal having one of the polarities, excluding influences of a chattering. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical disk device; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration used for explaining a structure of an optical disk; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional signal processing circuit; 
     FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the conventional signal processing circuit; 
     FIG. 5 is a timing chart of a frequency-modulated signal of the conventional signal processing circuit; 
     FIG. 6 is a timing chart of the conventional signal processing circuit influenced by noises; 
     FIG. 7 is a timing chart used for describing a conventional method for detecting edges of a pulse signal with excluding periods influenced by noises; 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a signal processing circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram of operations of the signal processing circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a variation of the signal processing circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will now be given, with reference to the drawings, of embodiments according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a signal processing circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     A signal processing circuit  1  is provided in the wobble signal processing unit  48  shown in FIG.  1 . The signal processing circuit  1  comprises analog circuits. The signal processing circuit  1  includes constant current sources  11  and  12 , analog switch circuits  13  to  19 , capacitors  20  to  23 , buffer amplifiers  24  and  25 , comparators  26  and  27 , a latch-circuit/amplifier  28  and a latch-circuit/amplifier  29 , one-shot multivibrators (MVs)  30  to  33 , an RS flip-flop (RS-FF)  34 , a low-pass filter  35 , a reference voltage source  36 , and an inverter circuit  37 . Besides, the capacitors  20  and  21  and other elements compose integrating means. The constant current sources  11  and  12 , the analog switch circuits  13  and  14 , the capacitors  20  and  21 , the inverter circuit  37  and other elements compose a charging circuit of the integrating means. The constant current source  11 , the analog switch circuit  13 , the capacitor  20  and other elements compose a first charge circuit of the charging circuit. The constant current source  11  composes a first constant current source of the first charge circuit. The analog switch circuit  13  forms a first charging switch circuit of the first charge circuit. The capacitor  20  composes a third capacitor of the first charge circuit. The analog switch circuit  15  composes a first discharging switch circuit of the first charge circuit. The constant current source  12 , the analog switch circuit  14 , the capacitor  21 , the inverter circuit  37  and other elements compose a second charge circuit of the charging circuit. The constant current source  12  composes a second constant current source of the second charge circuit. The analog switch circuit  14  composes a second charging switch circuit of the second charge circuit. The capacitor  21  composes a fourth capacitor of the second charge circuit. The analog switch circuit  16  composes a second discharging switch circuit of the second charge circuit. The analog switch circuits  17  and  18 , the capacitors  22  and  23 , the buffer amplifiers  24  and  25  and other elements compose a sample hold circuit of the integrating means. The comparator  26  composes a first comparing circuit of the sample hold circuit. The comparator  27  composes a second comparing circuit of the sample hold circuit. The analog switch circuit  18 , the capacitor  23 , the buffer amplifier  25  and other elements compose a first sample hold circuit of the sample hold circuit. The analog switch circuit  18  composes a first switch circuit of the first sample hold circuit. The capacitor  23  composes a first capacitor of the first sample hold circuit. The analog switch circuit  17 , the capacitor  22 , the buffer amplifier  24  and other elements compose a second sample hold circuit of the sample hold circuit. The analog switch circuit  17  composes a second switch circuit of the second sample hold circuit. The capacitor  22  composes a second capacitor of the second sample hold circuit. The analog switch circuit  19 , the latch-circuit/amplifier  28 , the latch-circuit/amplifier  29 , the RS flip-flop  34  and other elements compose outputting means (including an output circuit). The analog switch circuit  19  composes a switch circuit of the output circuit. The RS flip-flop  34  composes a switch control circuit of the output circuit. 
     A description will be given, with reference to FIG. 9, of operations of the signal processing circuit  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram of operations of the signal processing circuit  1 . FIG.  9 -(A) indicates a wobble signal. FIG.  9 -(B) indicates changes in a charged voltage of the capacitor  20 . FIG.  9 -(C) indicates an output of the inverter circuit  37 . FIG.  9 -(D) indicates changes in a charged voltage of the capacitor  21 . FIG.  9 -(E) indicates an output of the comparator  26 . FIG.  9 -(F) indicates an output of the multivibrator  30 . FIG.  9 -(G) indicates an output of the multivibrator  32 . FIG.  9 -(H) indicates an output of the comparator  27 . FIG.  9 -(I) indicates an output of the multivibrator  31 . FIG.  9 -(J) indicates an output of the multivibrator  33 . FIG.  9 -(K) indicates an output of the RS flip-flop  34 . 
     The wobble signal indicated by FIG.  9 -(A) is a FM (frequency-modulated) pulse signal, and is supplied from a terminal T 1  to the analog switch circuit  13 , and to the analog switch circuit  14  via the inverter circuit  37 . The analog switch circuits  13  and  14  turn on when the pulse signal supplied thereto has a positive polarity, and turn off when the pulse signal supplied thereto has a negative polarity. When the analog switch circuit  13  turns on, the capacitor  20  is charged with a constant current from the constant current source  11 . When the analog switch circuit  14  turns on, the capacitor  21  is charged with a constant current from the constant current source  12 . 
     The analog switch circuit  13  turns on when the pulse signal from the terminal T 1  exhibits a positive-polarity pulse. The analog switch circuit  14  turns on when the pulse signal from the terminal T 1  exhibits a negative-polarity pulse, because the pulse signal from the terminal T 1  is inverted by the inverter circuit  37 . When the analog switch circuit  13  turns on at a time t 1  and a time t 7 , the capacitor  20  starts to be charged with the constant current from the constant current source  11 . In this course, since the capacitor  20  is charged only when the pulse signal from the terminal T 1  is a positive-polarity pulse, the charged voltage of the capacitor  20  increases gradually as indicated by FIG.  9 -(B) when a chattering occurs, i.e., when positive-polarity pulses are supplied intermittently as shown in FIG.  9 -(A) immediately after the time t 1  and a time t 4 . 
     The charged voltage of the capacitor  20  is amplified by the buffer amplifier  24 , and is supplied to the analog switch circuit  17  and to a noninverting input terminal of the comparator  26 . A reference voltage is supplied from the reference voltage source  36  to an inverting input terminal of the comparator  26 . The comparator  26  makes the output thereof high-level, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(E), when an output (the amplified charged voltage) of the buffer amplifier  24  becomes higher than the reference voltage supplied from the reference voltage source  36 , i.e., when the charged voltage of the capacitor  20  becomes higher than a predetermined voltage (Ref), as indicated by FIG.  9 -(B). 
     The output of the comparator  26  is supplied to the one-shot multivibrator  30 . When the output of the buffer amplifier  24  becomes higher than the reference voltage supplied from the reference voltage source  36  at the time t 2  and a time t 8  based on the charged voltage of the capacitor  20  so that the output of the comparator  26  becomes high-level, the one-shot multivibrator  30  detects a rise of the output of the comparator  26  from low-level to high-level so as to output a one-shot pulse, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(F). 
     The output (the one-shot pulse) of the one-shot multivibrator  30  is supplied to the analog switch circuit  18 , the one-shot multivibrator  32 , and the RS flip-flop  34 . The analog switch circuit  18  turns on during a period in which the one-shot pulse is supplied from the one-shot multivibrator  30 . 
     When the analog switch circuit  18  turns on, the capacitor  23  is charged with an output voltage of the buffer amplifier  25  so that an output of the buffer amplifier  25 , i.e., the charged voltage of the capacitor  21 , is sampled. A charged voltage of the capacitor  23  is amplified by the amplifier  29 , and is supplied to the analog switch circuit  19 . 
     On the other hand, the RS flip-flop  34  is reset by a rise of the one-shot pulse supplied from the one-shot multivibrator  30  so that the output of the RS flip-flop  34  becomes low-level, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(K). The output of the RS flip-flop  34  is used as a switching signal of the analog switch circuit  19 . The analog switch circuit  19  selects an output of the amplifier  28  when the output of the RS flip-flop  34  is high-level, and selects an output of the amplifier  29  when the output of the RS flip-flop  34  is low-level. Accordingly, when the output of the RS flip-flop  34  becomes low-level at the time t 2 , the analog switch circuit  19  selects the output of the amplifier  29 , i.e., the charged voltage of the capacitor  23 , and supplies the output of the amplifier  29  to the low-pass filter  35 . 
     When the one-shot multivibrator  32  detects falls of the one-shot pulse output from the one-shot multivibrator  30  at a time t 3  and a time t 9 , the one-shot multivibrator  32  outputs a one-shot pulse, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(G). The one-shot pulse output from the one-shot multivibrator  32  is supplied to the analog switch circuit  16 . The analog switch circuit  16  turns on in response to the one-shot pulse. When the analog switch circuit  16  turns on, the capacitor  21  is discharged, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(D). 
     When the input pulse signal supplied to the terminal T 1  becomes low-level at the time t 4 , the analog switch circuit  13  turns off, and the analog switch circuit  14  turns on. When the analog switch circuit  14  turns on, the capacitor  21  is charged with the constant current from the constant current source  12  so that the charged voltage of the capacitor  21  increases as indicated by FIG.  9 -(D). 
     The charged voltage of the capacitor  21  is amplified by the buffer amplifier  25 , and is supplied to a noninverting input terminal of the comparator  27 . The comparator  27  compares an output (the amplified charged voltage) of the buffer amplifier  25  with the reference voltage supplied from the reference voltage source  36 , and makes the output thereof high-level as indicated by FIG.  9 -(H), when the output of the buffer amplifier  25  becomes higher than the reference voltage supplied from the reference voltage source  36 , i.e., when the charged voltage of the capacitor  21  becomes higher than the predetermined voltage (Ref), as indicated by FIG.  9 -(D). The output of the comparator  27  is supplied to the one-shot multivibrator  31 . The one-shot multivibrator  31  outputs a one-shot pulse according to the output of the comparator  27 , as indicated by FIG.  9 -(I). The output (the one-shot pulse) of the one-shot multivibrator  31  is supplied to the analog switch circuit  17 , the one-shot multivibrator  33 , and the RS flip-flop  34 . The analog switch circuit  17  turns on during a period of the one-shot pulse supplied from the one-shot multivibrator  31 . During a period in which the analog switch circuit  17  is on, the capacitor  22  is charged with the output of the buffer amplifier  24 . A charged voltage of the capacitor  22  is amplified by the amplifier  28 , and is supplied to the analog switch circuit  19 . 
     On the other hand, the RS flip-flop  34  is set by the one-shot pulse supplied from the one-shot multivibrator  31 . When the RS flip-flop  34  is set, the RS flip-flop  34  makes the output thereof high-level, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(K). When the output of the RS flip-flop  34  becomes high-level, the analog switch circuit  19  selects the output of the amplifier  28 , and supplies the output of the amplifier  28  to the low-pass filter  35 . 
     The multivibrator  33  outputs a one-shot pulse at a time t 6 , as indicated by FIG.  9 -(J), in response to a fall of the one-shot pulse output from the one-shot multivibrator  31 . The one-shot pulse output from the multivibrator  33  is supplied to the analog switch circuit  15 . The analog switch circuit  15  turns on during a period of the one-shot pulse. When the analog switch circuit  15  turns on, the capacitor  20  is discharged, as indicated by FIG.  9 -(B). 
     As described above, since the capacitors are gradually charged during a boundary period including noises between a low level and a high level of the wobble signal, influences of noises are alleviated (buffered) so that a high-level period and a low-level period of the wobble signal are accurately detected. 
     Although the signal processing circuit  1  according to the present embodiment comprises the constant current source  11  and the analog switch circuit  13  used for charging the capacitor  20  upon the pulse signal having a positive polarity, and comprises the inverter circuit  37 , the constant current source  12  and the analog switch circuit  14  used for charging the capacitor  21  upon the pulse signal having a negative polarity, the charging can be controlled by using a single switch. 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a variation of the signal processing circuit according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention. Elements in FIG. 10 that are identical to the elements shown in FIG. 8 are referenced by the same reference marks, and will not be described in detail. 
     A signal processing circuit  200  according to the present variation comprises a constant current source  201  and a switch  202 , in place of the constant current sources  11  and  12 , the analog switch circuits  13  and  14 , and the inverter circuit  37  shown in FIG.  8 . Besides, in the present variation, the capacitors  20  and  21  compose first and second charge elements of the charging circuit. 
     The switch  202  supplies the capacitor  20  with a constant current from the constant current source  201  when the input pulse signal supplied to the terminal T 1  is high-level, and supplies the capacitor  21  with the constant current from the constant current source  201  when the input pulse signal supplied to the terminal T 1  is low-level. 
     According to the present variation, the signal processing circuit  200  has a simpler configuration than the signal processing circuit  1  shown in FIG. 8 for performing similar operations. 
     Besides, although the present embodiment is described as being applied to an optical disk device, the present invention is not limited thereto, but is preferably applicable to an instance of detecting a high-level period and a low-level period of a pulse signal. 
     The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application is based on Japanese priority applications No. 2001-044223 filed on Feb. 20, 2001, and No. 2001-333102 filed on Oct. 30, 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technology Category: g