Method and apparatus to generate a monitoring signal for an optical recording/reproducing system

• US 6,801,486 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Byoung-ho, Park, In-sik, Ma, Byung-in, Doh, Tae-yong, Jeon, Jin-hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US09/993,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 369/44.11, 369/44.27, 369/44.28, 369/44.32, 369/44.34, 369/44.41, 369/44.42, 369/47.1, 369/53.1, 369/53.19, 369/53.45, 369/59.1, 369/59.14, 369/124.01
• US Class Current: 369/44.41
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0901 for track following only G11B7/0925, G11B7/094, G11B7/0941, G11B7/0943, G11B7/0945, G11B7/0946, G11B7/0948 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0908 for focusing only G11B7/0925, G11B7/094, G11B7/0941, G11B7/0943, G11B7/0945, G11B7/0946, G11B7/0948 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0956 to compensate for tilt, skew, warp or inclination of the disc, i.e. maintain the optical axis at right angles to the disc
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/131 Arrangement of detectors in a multiple array

Abstract

At least part of a light beam reflected from an optical disc is divided into first through fourth light areas in directions corresponding to the radial and tangential directions of the disc, and first through fourth detection signals are output from the light areas. The first through fourth light areas are ordered counterclockwise or clockwise. A phase difference is obtained between a first sum signal obtained by summing the first and third detection signals and a second sum signal obtained by summing the second and fourth detection signals and first and second phase difference signals are output based upon the phase difference. The phase difference signals are summed to generate an optical recording/reproducing system monitoring signal for system adjustment even for high density optical discs, the monitoring signal being proportional to the degrees of a radial tilt, tangential tilt, a defocus, or a detrack.

Claims

1. A method of generating an optical recording/reproducing system monitoring signal, comprising:

dividing at least part of a light beam reflected from a recording surface of a recording medium into first through fourth light areas in directions corresponding to radial and tangential directions of the recording medium, the first through fourth light areas being ordered counterclockwise or clockwise;

outputting first through fourth detection signals from the first through fourth light areas;

detecting a phase difference between a first sum signal obtained by summing the first and third detection signals and a second sum signal obtained by summing the second and fourth detection signals;

outputting first and second phase difference signals based upon the detected phase difference; and

summing the first and second phase difference signals to generate an optical recording/reproducing system monitoring signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising low-pass filtering the first and second phase difference signals before the summing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first through fourth light areas are spaced out a predetermined distance in at least one direction between the directions corresponding to the radial and tangential directions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first through fourth light areas are spaced out a predetermined distance in at least one direction between the directions corresponding to the radial and tangential directions.

5. An apparatus to generate an optical recording/reproducing system monitoring signal, comprising:

a photodetector including first through fourth light receiving areas to divide at least part of a light beam reflected from a recording surface of a recording medium into first through fourth light areas in directions corresponding to radial and tangential directions of the recording medium, the first through fourth light areas being ordered counterclockwise or clockwise;

a phase difference detector to compare phase of a first sum signal obtained by summing first and third detection signals output from the first and third light receiving areas, respectively, with phase of a second sum signal obtained by summing second and fourth detection signals output from the second and fourth light receiving areas to output first and second phase difference signals based upon the comparing of the phases; and

an adder to sum the first and second phase difference signals output from the phase difference detector to generate an optical recording/reproducing system monitoring signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a low-pass filter to low-pass filter the first and second phase difference signals between an output terminal of the phase difference detector and an input terminal of the adder.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first through fourth light receiving areas are spaced out in at least one direction between the directions corresponding to the radial and tangential directions.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first through fourth light receiving areas are spaced out in at least one direction between the directions corresponding to the radial and tangential directions.

9. A method of gene rating a monitoring signal for an optical recording/reproducing system, comprising:

receiving a light beam reflected from an optical disc;

detecting phase difference signals of detection signals from the light beam according to a differential phase detection method; and

adding the phase difference signals to output the monitoring signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising dividing the light beam into at least four light areas to detect the detection signals and further detecting from the phase difference signals an information reproduction signal, a focus error signal and/or a tracking error signal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

adjusting at least one state of the optical recording/reproduction system according to the monitoring signal, wherein the monitoring signal changes according to the at least one state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the states comprise a radial tilt, a tangential tilt, a defocus, or a detrack.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring the monitoring signal for a minimum and adjusting the one of the states to remove an offset for the one state based upon the minimum.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the optical disc has characteristics of a small track pitch with respect to size of an optical spot and the method further comprises:

dividing the light beam into at least four light areas to detect the detection signals; and

adjusting states of the optical recording/reproduction system according to the monitoring signal, wherein the monitoring signal changes according to the states.

15. A system to generate an optical recording/reproducing monitoring signal used by an optical recording/reproducing system, comprising:

a photodetector to receive a light beam reflected from an optical disc;

a phase difference detector to detect phase difference signals of detection signals from the light beam according to a differential phase detection method; and

an adder to add the phase difference signals to output the monitoring signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the photodetector further divides the light beam into at least four light areas to detect the detection signals and the system further detects from the phase difference signals an information reproduction signal, a focus error signal and/or a tracking error signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the optical recording/reproducing system monitors the monitoring signal for a minimum and adjusts one of the states to remove an offset for the one state based upon the minimum.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the optical recording/reproducing system adjusts at least one state of the optical recording/reproducing system according to the monitoring signal, which reflects changes of the least one state comprising a radial tilt, a tangential tilt, a defocus, or a detrack.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein

the optical disc has characteristics of a small track pitch with respect to size of an optical spot;

the photodetctor divides the light beam into at least four light areas to detect the detection signals; and

the optical recording/reproducing system adjusts states of the system according to the monitoring signal, which reflects changes of the states comprising a radial tilt, a tangential tilt, a defocus, or a detrack.

20. A method of generating a monitoring signal for an optical recording/reproducing system, comprising:

receiving a light beam reflected from an optical disc;

detecting phase difference signals of detection signals from the light beam according to a differential phase detection method; and

adding the phase difference signals to output a monitoring signal proportional to degrees of a radial tilt, a tangential tilt, a defocus, or a detrack of the optical recording/reproduction system.

21. A system to generate an optical recording/reproducing monitoring signal used by an optical recording/reproducing system, comprising:

a photodetector to receive a light beam reflected from an optical disc;

a phase difference detector to detect phase difference signals of detection signals from the light beam according to a differential phase detection method; and

an adder to add the phase difference signals to output a monitoring signal proportional to degrees of a radial tilt, a tangential tilt, a defocus, or a detrack of the optical recording/reproduction system.