JP2001056937A - Marking device for optical disk - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a marking device for an optical disk capable of processing the marking operation by hardware and further capable of marking a marking pattern with the scrupulous expression having a variety of density. SOLUTION: A detection pulse of an encoder 10 generated in accordance with the rotation of a spindle motor 9 is fetched to a laser control part 3 as pulse signals showing the position on the optical disk 8 in the radial direction and the circumferential direction. By the laser control part 3, the pulse signals in the aforementioned radial direction and circumferential direction are counted, and the pit width of marking data from a controller 1 is corrected on the basis of the counting result, then the marking to the optical disk 8 is carried out by the pit size on the basis of this correction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical disk engraving apparatus, and more particularly to an optical disk engraving apparatus that enables an optical disk surface to be visually engraved with a laser.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical disk is a recording medium on which data can be recorded on a recording surface by irradiating a laser spot light. The optical disk includes a magneto-optical disk, a phase-change recording optical disk, a write-once optical disk, and the like, and all of them perform recording by irradiating a laser spot light. Since the shape of an optical disk does not change even when its use changes, it is necessary to clearly determine the use. Therefore, printing or engraving is performed on the surface of the disk so that the user can visually recognize the use (type), the manufacturer name, and other information. Printing is performed by a method in which ink droplets corresponding to characters and the like are ejected onto a disk surface by inkjet. For the engraving, a method is used in which the reflectivity of the disk surface is partially changed by irradiation with a laser spot so that the disk can be visually recognized.

In the case of performing marking (or printing) on the surface of an optical disk, providing a separate marking step increases the number of steps. No. 306144. An engraving device for achieving this engraving method includes:
An optical head moved by a carriage, a spindle motor for rotating and driving an optical disk, a rotary encoder for detecting a signal for each rotation of the spindle motor and a signal corresponding to a rotation angle, a spindle control unit for controlling the spindle motor, a drive motor for the carriage A laser control unit for controlling the output of the laser element of the optical head at the time of data erasing, initialization of the recording film, and printing at the time of printing, and a microprocessor having a character conversion function. I have. The microprocessor determines the track to be engraved, the irradiation timing, etc. based on the output information of the rotary encoder and the printing information such as the character, size, engraving position, etc. using the character conversion function by software, and based on the result, the laser output control unit Performs laser irradiation of a predetermined intensity according to the laser spot width of each track in accordance with the inscription contents of characters and the like. that time,
The carriage control unit moves the optical head based on the output of the rotary encoder so that the next laser irradiation does not overlap the previously irradiated part.

[0004]

However, according to the conventional optical disk engraving apparatus, the engraved data is generated by software using a microprocessor, so that it is difficult to increase the generation speed of the engraved data. For this reason, since the output frequency of the rotary encoder cannot be increased, the size of the pit cannot be reduced by engraving that performs laser exposure in synchronization with the encoder output, and a fine pattern cannot be engraved. In addition, since an engraved pattern provided with shading cannot be expressed, engraving with a large visual effect cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical disk engraving apparatus capable of performing engraving processing by hardware, engraving a fine pattern, and expressing the engraved pattern in light and shade. is there.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a motor for rotating an optical disk, an optical head for irradiating a laser beam on the surface of the optical disk, and a moving and holding optical head. An optical disk engraving comprising a stage to be rotated, an encoder for detecting rotation information of the motor, a stage control unit for controlling a drive unit of the stage based on a detection result of the encoder, and a motor control unit for controlling the motor. In the apparatus, a radial position and a circumferential position on the optical disc to be marked by the optical head are calculated based on the rotation information output from the encoder, and the radial position is added to the marking data. And a laser controller for controlling the output of the optical head according to the position in the circumferential direction. To provide a clause for the marking apparatus.

According to this configuration, the radial position and the circumferential position on the optical disk are calculated based on the rotation information of the drive motor output from the encoder, and the output of the optical head is calculated based on the position calculation result. Control. Since the correction (correction) of the engraved data for driving the optical head is performed by hardware, the generation speed of the engraved data can be increased, and the pit size can be reduced, so that fine engraving can be performed. . In addition, by controlling the exposure power, it is possible to perform engraving with shading.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an optical disk marking device according to the present invention. The marking device for an optical disk of the present invention includes a controller 1 and a graphic editor 2 provided in the controller 1 and having a function of editing marking data, exposure power setting data, and pit width correction data.
The laser controller 3, the stage controller 4, and the spindle controller 5 are connected to the controller 1. A drive unit (not shown) of the stage 6 is connected to the stage control unit 4. The stage 6 has an optical head 7 for outputting a laser beam (exposure beam). Optical head 7
Has a built-in laser element (not shown) for irradiating the optical disk 8 with a laser beam, and performs not only the initialization of the optical disk 8 and the writing of data, but also the engraving intended by the present invention. The optical disk 8 rotates with the spindle motor 9 as a drive source, and an encoder 10 for detecting rotation of the spindle motor 9 is mounted. The optical head 7 is positioned above the optical disk 8. The detection signal from the encoder 10 is taken into the spindle control unit 5.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the graphic editor 2
In addition to editing the engraved image (characters, numbers, symbols, illustrations, etc.), the pit width correction data and the exposure power data corresponding to each part of the engraved image are edited. The pit width correction shortens or increases the exposure time of the laser beam by the optical head 7. By correcting the pit width, a line portion such as an inclined portion of a character can be engraved smoothly, Is expressed in an accurate shape, or the reproducibility of characters and the like is improved by combining a thick line and a thin line like a kanji. Editing of the exposure power data is editing to reduce or increase the laser output (exposure power) of the optical head 7. By changing the exposure power, it is possible to generate a multi-valued image with engraved marks. As described above, according to the present invention, characters and the like can be finely engraved, and an image with shading can be engraved.

[0010] The outline of the process of engraving will be described. First, the engraved image is edited by the graphic editor 2 of the controller 1, and at the same time, the pit width correction data and the exposure power data are edited. The pit width correction data and the exposure power data obtained by this editing are stored in a specified memory of the laser control unit 3. Then, drive the stage 6,
The optical head 7 is moved above the optical disk 8. Then, based on the information edited by the graphic editor 2, the laser control unit 3 controls the light emission of the laser written on the optical disk 8 in synchronization with the encoder signal of the spindle motor 9. As the writing progresses, the stage controller 4 moves the stage 6 outward or inward in the radial direction of the optical disk 8. After the writing is completed, if there is no other process for the optical disk 8, the stage control unit 4 retracts the optical head 7 from the optical disk 8.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the laser control unit 3 of FIG. In FIG. 2, the laser control unit 3
1, a pit width correction unit 22, a pit width correction memory 23 for storing pit width correction information, an image memory 24 for storing image information to be actually engraved, a power control memory 25 for storing exposure power information corresponding to each pit, It comprises a radial counter 26 and a circumferential counter 27.

The laser unit 21 turns on / off the laser based on the data in the image memory 24 passed through the pit width correction unit 22.
It has a function of turning off the laser and controlling the laser power based on the data in the power control memory 25 passed through the pit width correction unit 22. The pit width correction unit 22 stores data (pulse width) in the image memory 24 and the power control memory 25 based on the data stored in the pit width correction memory 23.
Increase or decrease the time. The radial counter 26 counts the spindle origin signal from the spindle control unit 5,
Each address of the pit width correction memory 23, the image memory 24, and the power control memory 25 is controlled. The circumferential direction counter 27 counts the spindle rotation signal from the spindle control unit 6 and controls each address of the pit width correction memory 23, the image memory 24, and the power control memory 25. It is assumed that the image memory 24, the power control memory 25, and the pit width correction memory 23 handle, for example, an address as 12 bits (A0 to A11) and data as 8 bits (D0 to D7).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a stamp image and a stamp result. Here, as an image to be engraved on the optical disc,
The alphabet “A” is illustrated, and the left side of FIG. 3 shows the engraved image, and the right side shows the engraved result by the optical head 7. Here, the engraved length in the circumferential direction is the same between the engraved image and the engraved result, but if the pits are different lengths for the adjacent tracks, the continuity of the hatched portion is enhanced, Fine marking can be performed even in binary representation. Further, if the pit length in the circumferential direction and the pit length in the radial direction are increased or decreased, enlargement / reduction in the circumferential direction is possible.

Next, the operation of the optical disk marking apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the data of the engraved image shown on the left side of FIG.
And edit the exposure power and pit width correction data. Although information of each dot is specified on the graphic editor 2, the length of the dot in the radial direction (the number of tracks) and the length in the circumferential direction (the number of encoder pulses from the spindle control unit 5) can be specified. Reduction is easy. The controller 1 writes the data of the engraved image, the exposure power, and the pit width correction edited by the graphic editor 2 into the image memory 24, the power control memory 25,
And the pit width correction memory 23. Addresses A0 to A7 are circumferential addresses, and addresses A8 to A1
1 is set as a radial address, and the engraved image is assigned to one address in units of 8 dots.

The controller 1 sets a counter value for incrementing the radial address of the image memory 24, the power control memory 25, and the pit width correction memory 23 in the radial counter 26. This counter value is set based on information on the radial length (the number of tracks) of the dots edited by the graphic editor 2.
Further, the controller 1 sets a counter value for incrementing the circumferential address of the image memory 24, the power control memory 25, and the pit width correction memory 23 in the circumferential counter 27. This counter value is set based on information on the length in the circumferential direction (the number of pulses detected by the encoder 10) edited by the graphic editor 2.

The controller 1 initializes each address of the image memory 24, the power control memory 25, and the pit width correction memory 23. Then, the controller 1 issues a command to the stage control unit 4 and the spindle control unit 5, and moves the stage 6 so that the optical head 7 comes to the exposure start position. Next, the spindle motor 9 is rotated to rotate the optical disk 8. After that, the controller 1 outputs an exposure start command to the stage controller 4 and the laser controller 3. The stage 6 moves stepwise in the radial direction of the optical disk 8 as the exposure progresses.

The spindle control unit 5 includes a laser control unit 3 and a stage which output a rotation angle origin pulse (hereinafter, referred to as a Z pulse) of the spindle motor 9 and a multiplied output pulse of the encoder 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a P pulse). Control unit 4
Send to The stage control unit 4 includes a spindle control unit 5
The optical head 7 is moved by controlling the stage 6 on the basis of the pulse from. As a result, the track pitch is kept constant.

The radial counter 26 counts the number of Z-pulses sent from the spindle control unit 5, and counts the number of tracks (one in the radial direction) preset by the controller 1.
When the length reaches the dot length, the radial addresses of the image memory 24, the power control memory 25, and the pit width correction memory 23 are incremented. Further, the circumferential direction counter 27 receives the P value sent from the spindle control unit 5.
The number of pulses is counted, and the number of encoder pulses preset by the controller 1 (the length of one dot in the circumferential direction)
, The image memory 24, the power control memory 2
5, and the circumferential address of the pit width correction memory 23 are incremented. Thus, the radial counter 2
6 and the operation of the circumferential direction counter 27, the correct data is read from the image memory 24, the power control memory 25, and the pit width correction memory 23 in accordance with the position of the optical head 7 on the optical disk 8. Output to the unit 22.

The pit width correction unit 22 adjusts output data (time and pulse width) of the image memory 24 and the power control memory 25 according to the output data from the pit width correction memory 23. As one of the adjustment methods, there is a method of shortening or lengthening the original signal by combining an original signal and a signal obtained by delaying the original signal with a delay line or the like by an AND circuit or an OR circuit. The laser section 21 controls ON / OFF of laser oscillation according to data from the image memory 24 through the pit width correction section 22. The laser unit 21 adjusts the laser power according to the output data of the power control memory 25 through the pit width correction unit 22. By adjusting the laser power, engraving with shading is performed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the optical disk marking apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those shown in FIG. 1, and thus redundant description will be omitted below. In the marking device for an optical disk shown in FIG. 4, a character data generation unit 40 and an image data generation unit 41 are provided in the controller 1, and a focus control unit 42 is provided in parallel with the laser control unit 3. Thus, the burden of editing the engraving pattern by the graphic editor 2 is reduced. The character data generation unit 40 generates a standard character data pattern such as alphanumeric characters and sends it to the graphic editor 2. This reduces the burden of editing the engraving pattern. Further, the image data generation unit 41 converts the contents of a standard image file such as a bitmap or an icon into an engraving pattern, and sends this to the graphic editor 2. This reduces the burden of editing the engraving pattern.

The focus control unit 42 includes the laser control unit 3
In the same manner as described above, a counter for counting the detection pulses of the encoder 10 and a memory are incorporated. Further, it has a function of adjusting the spot diameter of the exposure beam (laser beam) according to the position of the optical head 7 on the optical disk 8. Thus, when a rough pattern that is not very fine is imprinted, focus control is performed to increase the beam spot diameter. Increasing the beam spot diameter decreases the exposure power per unit area, so that the laser output may be increased. For this reason, when marking is performed by rotating the optical disc 8 a plurality of times, the number of rotations of the spindle motor 9 can be reduced, thereby shortening the exposure time.

[0022]

As described above, according to the optical disk engraving device of the present invention, the radial position and the circumferential position on the optical disk which are engraved by the optical head based on the rotation information output from the encoder. And a laser control unit for controlling the output of the optical head in accordance with the radial position and the circumferential position in addition to the engraving data is provided. ) Becomes possible, the operation speed is increased because the load on the software is reduced, the pits can be made smaller, and fine marking can be performed. Further, since the length of the pit width can be changed, engraving in the circumferential direction can be performed. In addition, hardware control reduces the burden on software, so user interface,
Functions such as error monitoring can be enhanced.

Further, by controlling the exposure power in the output control of the optical head, it is possible to express shading on the inscription. Furthermore, by providing an engraving pattern editor function, it is possible to engrave not only characters but also any pattern by enlarging / reducing it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a marking device for an optical disk according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a laser control unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a stamp image and a stamp result.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the optical disk marking device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 controller 2 graphic editor 3 laser control unit 4 stage control unit 5 spindle control unit 6 stage 7 optical head 8 optical disk 9 spindle motor 10 encoder 21 laser unit 22 pit width correction unit 23 pit width correction memory 24 image memory 25 power control memory 26 Radial direction counter 27 Circumferential direction counter 40 Character data generator 41 Image data generator 42 Focus controller

Claims (5)

[Claims] A motor for rotating an optical disk; an optical head for irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of the optical disk; a stage for holding and moving the optical head; an encoder for detecting rotation information of the motor; A stage control unit that controls a drive unit of the stage based on a detection result of an encoder, and an optical disk marking device that includes a motor control unit that controls the motor, wherein: Calculate the radial position and the circumferential position on the optical disk that are marked by the optical head, and calculate the output of the optical head according to the radial position and the circumferential position in addition to the marking data. An engraving device for an optical disk, comprising a laser control unit for controlling. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser control unit controls the output of the optical head by inputting engraved data, exposure power setting data, and pit width correction data edited by a graphic editor. An optical disk marking device according to the above. 3. A pit width correction memory for storing information for correcting a pit width of a pit exposed by the optical head; an image memory for storing image information to be stamped; A power control memory for storing information relating to power; a counter for controlling each address of the pit width correction memory, the image memory, and the power control memory based on a detection signal of the encoder; A correction unit that corrects the data of the image memory and the power control memory based on the data being output, and controls the output of the optical head based on the data from the image memory and the data from the power control memory. 2. The engraving device for an optical disk according to claim 1, further comprising: . 4. The graphic editor generates image data based on a pattern of standard character data such as alphanumeric characters generated by a character data generating unit and the contents of a standard image file such as a bitmap or an icon. 2. The marking device for an optical disk according to claim 1, wherein the marking pattern generated by the section is input. 5. The optical disk marking device according to claim 1, wherein the optical head is controlled by a focus control unit that adjusts a spot diameter of a laser beam according to a position on the optical disk.