System and method for controlling a tracking servo during label printing

• US 7,436,420 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Honda, Kazuhiko, Kondo, Tamon
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, HAI CHI
• Application Number:
  US11/210,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 369/44.29, 369/59.25, 369 5328- 5329, 369 5338- 5339, 347224-225
• US Class Current: 347/224
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 19/16 Special spacing mechanisms for circular, spiral, or diagonal-printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/47 using the combination of scanning and modulation of light
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4071 Printing on disk-shaped media, e.g. CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0037 with discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/08505 Methods for track change, selection or preliminary positioning by moving the head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2403 Layers; Shape, structure or physical properties thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24094 Indication parts or information parts for identification

Abstract

A visible light characteristic changing layer formed from photosensitive or heat-sensitive material is formed in a location which can be viewed from a part of a label surface of an optical disk. The optical disk is set on a turntable of an optical disk unit while the label surface of the optical disk is directed downward. The optical disk and an optical pickup are moved mutually along the plane of the optical disk. In synchronism with the relative movement, the power of a laser beam output from the optical pickup is modulated in accordance with image data, such as characters or graphic images to be printed, and the laser beam is emitted onto the visible light characteristic changing layer. As a result of the visible light characteristic changing layer being exposed to the laser beam, a visible-light reflectivity of the visible light characteristic changing layer is changed, thereby forming a image corresponding to the image data on the label surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical pickup;

a system controller coupled to the optical pickup, which controls relative movement between the optical pickup and an optical medium;

a tracking servo coupled to the system controller; and

a focus servo coupled to the system controller, wherein the optical pickup forms visible information on the optical medium in connection with the focus servo and independent of the tracking servo.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system controller turns the tracking servo off prior to forming the visible information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system controller maintains the tracking servo in an off state prior to forming the visible information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking servo and focus servo are active while writing data on the optical medium.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium is rotated at a constant angular velocity while the visible information is formed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a frequency generator coupled to the system controller, wherein the system controller detects a peripheral position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium using a signal from the frequency generator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a feed position sensor coupled to the system controller, which detects a radial position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a feed position sensor coupled to the system controller, which detects a radial position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium and a direction tangent to a track of the optical medium.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the feed position sensor comprises a first feed position sensor that detects the radial position and a second feed position sensor that detects the direction tangent to the track.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical pickup, system controller and tracking servo are components of an optical disk drive.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optical disk drive is coupled to a computer.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optical disk drive is a standalone optical disk recorder.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium has a disk shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium is a CD-type optical disk.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium is a DVD-type optical disk.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium includes a guide groove which is used while writing data on the optical medium.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium includes a guide groove, and the visible information is formed independent of the guide groove.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visible information is formed by heating the optical medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the visible information is formed by photosensitizing the optical medium.

20. A method for forming visible information on an optical medium, comprising the acts of:

arranging the optical medium relative to an optical pickup;

receiving image data;

relatively moving the optical medium and the optical pickup along a plane of the optical medium; and

using the optical pickup to form visible information, based at least in part on the image data, on the optical medium in connection with a focus servo and independent of a tracking servo operation.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the act of:

turning the tracking servo off prior to forming the visible information.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

maintaining the tracking servo in an off state prior to forming the visible information.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the act of:

turning the focus servo on prior to forming the visible information.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the act of:

writing data on the optical medium using the optical pickup, wherein a tracking servo and focus servo are active during the data writing.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical medium is rotated at a constant angular velocity while the visible information is formed.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising the act of:

detecting a peripheral position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium using a signal from a frequency generator.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the act of:

detecting, by a feed position sensor, a radial position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising the act of:

detecting, by a feed position sensor, a radial position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium and a direction tangent to a track of the optical medium.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein a first feed position sensor detects the radial position and a second feed position sensor detects the direction tangent to the track.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical medium has a disk shape.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical medium is a CD-type optical disk.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical medium is a DVD-type optical disk.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical pickup heats the optical medium to form the visible information.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical pickup photosensitizes the optical medium to form the visible information.

35. A method for forming visible information on an optical medium, comprising the acts of:

arranging the optical medium relative to an optical pickup; and

using the optical pickup to form visible information on the optical medium in connection with a focus servo and independent of a tracking servo operation.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the act of:

turning a tracking servo off prior to forming the visible information.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

maintaining a tracking servo in an off state prior to forming the visible information.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising the act of:

writing data on the optical medium using the optical pickup, wherein the tracking servo and focus servo are active during the data writing.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the optical medium includes a guide groove which is used while writing data on the optical medium.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the optical medium includes a guide groove, and the visible information is formed independent of the guide groove.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the optical medium is rotated at a constant angular velocity while the visible information is formed.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising the act of:

detecting a peripheral position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium using a signal from a frequency generator.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the act of:

detecting, by a feed position sensor, a radial position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium.

44. The method of claim 35, further comprising the act of:

detecting, by a feed position sensor, a radial position of the optical pickup relative to the optical medium and a direction tangent to a track of the optical medium.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein a first feed position sensor detects the radial position and a second feed position sensor detects the direction tangent to the track.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein the optical medium has a disk shape.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein the optical medium is a DVD-type optical disk.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein the optical medium is a CD-type optical disk.

49. The method of claim 35, wherein the optical pickup heats the optical medium to form the visible information.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein the optical pickup photosensitizes the optical medium to form the visible information.