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STORAGE DEVICE AND ITS DRIVE STARTUP METHOD

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The time required for starting up drives in a storage device mounted with both hard disk drives and solid state drives is shortened. A storage controller of the storage device identifies the type (HDD/SSD) of the mounted drives before starting up the drives. The storage controller thereafter performs staggered spinup to the HDDs in several batches. After the startup of HDDs is complete, the storage controller collectively starts up the SSDs. The storage controller determines the drive startup processing based on a pre-set drive startup policy such as reduction of the peak current reduction or shortening of the startup time, and the drive type identification result.

Multi-bit phase alignment for synchronization mark pattern matching

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the detection of synchronization marks in data storage and retrieval. To detect a synchronization mark, embodiments of the present invention require both pattern matching and proper phase alignment, following a repeating synchronization field. According to one particular embodiment, proper phase alignment following a repeated four bit synchronization field, is utilized in conjunction with pattern matching, to identify a synchronization mark. By allowing a synchronization mark to be identified only with proper phase alignment at the earliest possible occurrence of the synchronization mark, accuracy of synchronization mark detection may be improved.

OPTICAL PICKUP AND OPTICAL DISC APPARATUS

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A base of an optical pickup includes a first bearing portion through which one of two guide shafts disposed in parallel to each other is inserted and a second bearing portion through which the other guide shaft is inserted, and is slidable along the two guide shafts. Under the first guide shaft that is inserted through the first bearing portion, a nut hold portion for holding a nut that connects a member of a drive mechanism for driving the base and the base to each other is disposed on the base. The nut hold portion includes an insertion opening that allows the nut to be inserted along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the first guide shaft.

MAGNETO-OPTICAL DEVICE

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A magneto-optical device is disclosed that includes a non-magnetic support body and a fine particle arrangement layer on the non-magnetic support body. The fine particle arrangement layer includes multiple regularly arranged fine metal magnetic particles. In the magneto-optical device, magnetization is generated by applying an external magnetic field to the fine metal magnetic particles, and linearly polarized light is made incident on the fine metal magnetic particles, so that a magneto-optical effect is increased by the interaction between the incident light on the fine metal magnetic particles and the surface plasmon oscillation of the fine metal magnetic particles.

RECORDING DEVICE AND RADIAL OFFSET CALIBRATION METHOD

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The present invention relates to a method of calibrating a radial offset of an optical recorder after a recordable record carrier is inserted ( 1000 ), the method comprising the steps of: determining wobble signal amplitudes at different radial offset values of a radial control loop ( 102 ), finding an optimal radial offset value at which the wobble signal amplitude is substantially maximal ( 104 ), and recording the data on at least one wobbled recording track (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , . . . Tn) of the recordable record carrier using the optimal radial offset value ( 106 ). This is useful for all optical recording devices.

Optical Scanning Apparatus for Appliances for Recording or Reproducing Information Using an Optical Recording Medium

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The invention provides an optical scanning apparatus for appliances for recording or reproducing information using an optical recording medium, said scanning apparatus automatically matching itself to the curvature of a curved recording medium or of a recording medium with axial runout without there being different wire diameters for the resilient support of the lens holder (LH) or other additional damping means or an additional control loop for this purpose. This object is achieved by virtue of an arrangement comprising coils and magnets being provided which has an asymmetrical magnetic field distribution which is provided for matching the orientation of a lens (L) in the optical scanning device to a curved recording medium or to any axial runout in the recording medium. The asymmetrical magnetic field distribution is achieved with magnets arranged offset laterally or with magnets (MS) which are bevelled on one side or with a focusing coil which is asymmetrically shaped or is arranged asymmetrically with respect to the magnets. The individual embodiments for achieving an asymmetrical magnetic field distribution can be combined with one another.

Optical Information Recording/Reproducing Method and Optical Information Recording/Reproducing Device

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An acceleration pulse waveform adjusting circuit ( 10 ) and a deceleration pulse waveform adjusting circuit ( 11 ) change the amplitude of a track jump pulse in accordance to linear velocity, so as to stably carry out track jump over a wide range of linear velocities. In case tracking gain is to be changed according to the linear velocity, the acceleration pulse waveform adjusting circuit ( 10 ) and the deceleration pulse waveform adjusting circuit ( 11 ) make the amplitude of acceleration pulse larger and the amplitude of deceleration pulse smaller, respectively, when the tracking gain is high, so as to stably carry out track jump operation with the given tracking gain.

OPTICAL DISC DEVICE

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A focus error signal is generated by a first-order diffracted light diffracted by regions 23 b, 24 b on a hologram plane 2 a, and an offset of a tracking error signal is canceled by first-order diffracted light diffracted by regions 21 a, 22 a, 23 a, 24 a on the hologram plane 2 a. Consequently, even when there is an error in the substrate thicknesses of optical discs, jitter of a reproduction signal at a focus control point can be reduced by decreasing the distance between the focus control point and the point where the jitter is minimized.

DISC DRIVE AND PHOTO-DETECTOR CIRCUITS

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A method of reducing power dissipation in a variable-gain photo-detector circuit is described. The variable-gain photo-detector circuit has an output to output a main spot signal and at least one side spot signal. The main spot (M) and the side spot (Si or S 2 ) are formed by separating a light beam into a main beam and at least one side beam and focusing the main beam on the main spot (M) and the side beam on at least one side spot (Si or S 2 ) on an optical record carrier The method processes the main spot signal with a first averaging circuit having a first cut-off frequency. The side spot signal is processed with a second averaging circuit having a second cut-off frequency. The second cut-off frequency is lower than the first cut-off frequency. The above technique reduces power dissipation in the variable-gain photo-detector circuit and is useful for all optical devices.

OPTICAL-IRRADIATION-POWER CALIBRATION METHOD AND INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING UNIT

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The optical information recording/reproducing unit distinguishes an unrecorded area of a set optical disc (step A 100 ). Thereafter, recording is performed in the unrecorded area under a plurality of recording conditions wherein the recording power is changed with a bias power being constant, to select a recording power providing an optimum reproduced-signal quality (step B 100 ). Subsequently, recording is performed using the selected recording power under a plurality of recording conditions wherein the recording power is fixed onto the selected recording power and the bias power is changed, to select a bias power providing an optimum reproduced-signal quality (step C 100 ). The selected recording power and the selected bias power are set as the recording-use optical irradiation power and bias power, respectively (step D 100 ).

METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO AN OPTICAL DISC

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

A device for controlling access to an optical disc includes a control word calculator and a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO). The control word calculator is arranged to calculate a control word corresponding to a radius where the optical disc is accessed. In addition, the NCO is arranged to generate an output frequency according to the control word, wherein the output frequency is utilized for accessing the optical disc. An associated method for controlling access to an optical disc includes: calculating a control word corresponding to a radius where the optical disc is accessed; and generating an output frequency according to the control word, wherein the output frequency is utilized for accessing the optical disc.

OPTICAL STORAGE MEDIUM, INFORMATION RECORDING APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION REPRODUCING APPARATUS

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An optical storage medium can be provided by which illegal usage of the optical storage medium involving an infringement on the copyright can be prevented effectively without impairment of the functions for reproducing physical format information and optical storage medium manufacturing information. The optical storage medium includes a main information region in which encrypted data information is recorded as a pit row that is capable of being read out by means of light and a control data region. In the control data region, key information for decoding the encryption of the data information, the physical format information and the optical storage medium manufacturing information are recorded by wobbling a groove.

OPTICAL PICKUP AND INFORMATION DEVICE

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An optical pickup for irradiating an information recording medium, such as a DVD, with a laser beam when an information signal is recorded or reproduced, and information equipment provided with the optical pickup.

OPTICAL HEAD UNIT AND OPTICAL INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An optical head unit is configured as an optical head unit corresponding to an optical recording medium of BD standard, and an optical recording medium of HD DVD standard. A magnification-variable lens includes convex lens, concave lens, and convex lens. The magnification-variable lens allows each lens to be movable along the optical axis direction, and has the function of changing the ratio of diameter of light incident from the convex lens to the diameter of light that exits from the convex lens within a specific ratio. The magnification-variable lens emits light having a diameter corresponding to the numerical aperture, 0.85, of the objective lens towards the objective lens upon recording/reproducing on a disk of BD standard, and emits light having a diameter corresponding to the numerical aperture, 0.65, of the objective lens upon recording/reproducing on a disk of HD DVD standard.

MIXED-SIGNAL SINGLE-CHIP INTEGRATED SYSTEM ELECTRONICS FOR DATA STORAGE DEVICES

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An integrated data storage control system provides, in a single integrated circuit, RDC, servo logic, ATA interface, microprocessor, and other formerly discrete components in one highly integrated system design. The integrated circuit is rendered using a single integrated circuit technology type (e.g., digital CMOS) for all components. Analog and digital circuits are combined in such a way as to eliminate or reduce noise or interference in digital circuits from analog circuit components. Individual elements may have their outputs and inputs MUXed together such that individual elements can be selectively switched (during testing modes) such that the integrated circuit emulates or behaves in the same or similar manner as one of the prior art components. The present invention may be applied to magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs) or other types of storage devices such as floppy disk controllers, optical disk drives (e.g., CD-ROMs and the like), tape drives, and other data storage devices.

OPTICAL DISC DEVICE

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

This optical disc drive can read and/or write data from/on an optical disc 20 with multiple information layers including first and second information layers. The drive includes: a light source 3, 4 that emits the light beam; an objective lens 1 ; an actuator 2 for moving the objective lens perpendicularly to the information layers; a focus error generator 7 for generating a focus error signal representing how much the light beam has been converged on a target one of the information layers; and focus control means for forming a focal point of the light beam on the target information layer by driving the actuator in accordance with the focus error signal. According to the present invention, while a focus jump is being made to shift the focal point of the light beam from the first information layer of the optical disc 20 to the second information layer thereof by moving the objective lens 1 , wavelengths and/or numerical apertures for the light beam are changeable while the objective lens 1 is moving.

OPTICAL PICKUP AND INFORMATION DEVICE

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An optical pickup ( 100 ) includes: (i) a light source ( 101 ) for emitting a laser beam; (ii) an optical system ( 105, etc.) for introducing the laser beam into one of recording layers; (iii) an optical function element ( 104 ) for changing a predetermined polarized state in the laser beam in the unit of micro regions contained in the region where the laser beam is applied for each of the micro region positions; and (iv) light receiving means (PD 0, etc.) for receiving at least the laser beam.

OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIUM, VISIBLE INFORMATION RECORDING METHOD AND METHOD FOR USING DYE COMPOUND

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

There is provided an optical recording medium having, on a substrate, a visible information recording layer including a dye compound represented by Formula (1). In Formula (1), R a1 , R a2 , R a3 , R b1 , R b2 and R b3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent substituent (R a2 and R a3 may bonded to each other to form a 5-membered to 7-membered heterocyclic ring), A represents a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring group, and n represents 0, 1, 2 or 3.

OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIUM AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFOR, AND SPUTTERING TARGET AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFOR

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

An optical recording medium includes a substrate having features that define track regions, an optical recording layer disposed on the substrate, and a light-transmitting layer disposed on the optical recording layer. The optical recording layer has a composition of (Sb 2 Se 3 ) w Te x O y Pd z , where w, x, y, and z each represent a molar percent and satisfy 10 (mol %)≦w≦60 (mol %), 0 (mol %)