JP2003338068A - Optical disk recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of a recording error and a reproduction error of information to an optical disk by detecting dirt at an optical pickup device without using the optical disk. <P>SOLUTION: In a state where the optical disk 3 is absent in a tray 16 to which the optical disk 3 is to be set in recording or reproducing operation, a photodetector 2 is provided at the prescribed position of a top plate 1 which is to be irradiated with laser beams from the optical pickup device 4. The photodetecting quantity of the photodetector 2 at the initial adjustment step of the output light quantity of the optical pickup device 4 is stored as a reference value in a memory 9, and the photodetecting quantity of the photodetector 2 at and after the initial adjustment is compared with the reference value. Thereby, the degree of dirt at the optical pickup device 4 is detected without using the optical disk 3 and the occurrence of the recording error and the reproduction error of information to the optical disk 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and / or reproducing information on an optical disk, and more particularly to an optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus having a function of detecting dirt on an optical pickup device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus which drives an optical disk capable of optically writing and / or reading information to record and / or reproduce information. In such an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus, a light emitting element such as a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, an optical element (lens) for guiding the laser beam emitted from the light emitting element to a recording surface of the optical disc, and a reflection from the optical disc An optical pickup device having a light receiving element for receiving light is provided.

The amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device is adjusted by, for example, preparing an optical disk whose reflectance of light is known in advance at the time of production at a factory, and setting this optical disk on the tray of the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus. Then
The set optical disk is irradiated with laser light, the amount of reflected light is detected and stored in a non-volatile memory, and the stored amount of reflected light is used as a reference value. This is performed based on this reference value.

[0004]

However, when such an optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus is used for a long period of time,
The dust and dirt in the air stains the optical elements of the optical pickup device, and if the optical disc is set in the tray and the information is recorded or reproduced in this state, a recording error or a reproduction error may occur. there were.

Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of a recording error or a reproducing error, for example, in the optical pickup device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-159341, a monitor light receiving element for monitoring the light quantity of a semiconductor laser element is provided on the optical surface. By providing it at a position that is affected by dirt, it is possible to reflect the actual recording light flux level in the detection signal of the monitor light receiving element, but to obtain the detection signal of the monitor light receiving element, drive the optical disk. , Must be set for recording or playback.

That is, in this conventional optical pickup device, an optical disk is required to detect the dirt, and the optical reflectance of the optical disk differs depending on the type. When adjusting the amount of emitted light, the optical reflectance must be known in advance. If you use an optical disc that has a different reflectance than the optical disc used for adjustment for recording or playback, the amount of received light will be the reference after adjustment even if the optical pickup device is clean. Unlike the value, it may cause false detection of dirt.

In the optical pickup device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-176004, light detection is performed to detect a light beam emitted from a laser diode and condensed on a signal recording surface of an optical disc, which is reflected by the signal recording surface. The emitted light amount is controlled according to the light amount of the reflected light flux detected in the container, but in this case as well, an optical disk is required to detect the dirt of the optical pickup device as in the above-mentioned conventional technique, and the same problem occurs. Occurs.

Therefore, dirt on the optical pickup device can be detected without using an optical disk, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-26.
An optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method thereof disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 9603 are known. In this optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method thereof, a light flux reflecting means for receiving and reflecting a light flux emitted from an optical head (optical pickup device) is provided independently of the optical disc, and the light flux reflecting means is provided. The reflected light of is received by the light receiving means and is stored in the reference light amount storage means with this received light amount as a reference value, and the light beam is again transmitted from the optical head to the light beam reflecting means each time information is recorded on or reproduced from the optical disc. The light amount of the light receiving means at this time is compared with the reference value stored in the reference light amount storage means, and the dirt of the optical head is detected based on the comparison result, and a recording error or a reproduction error occurs. I try to prevent it.

However, in the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method thereof, the light flux reflecting means provided for detecting the dirt of the optical head is not covered with dust or dust in the air when used for a long period of time. There is a possibility that the reflecting surface may be soiled, and soiling of the optical head cannot be detected accurately.

Further, in the optical disc device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-49226, which can detect the dirt of the optical pickup device without using the optical disc, it is provided so as to face the objective lens of the optical head (optical pickup device), Light quantity measuring means for measuring the quantity of light emitted from the objective lens is provided, and the lens dirt of the optical head is detected depending on whether or not the quantity of light received by the light quantity measuring means is within an allowable range. It is unclear how to set the allowable range, and it is impossible to judge whether the received light amount of the light amount measuring means is the optimum value, and therefore it is impossible to accurately detect the contamination of the optical head. There is.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and enables dirt on an optical pickup device to be accurately detected without using an optical disk, thereby causing an error in recording or reproducing an information on the optical disk. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus capable of preventing the above problem.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 emits a laser beam for recording and / or reproducing information on an optical disc and receives a reflected light from the optical disc. In an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus including an optical pickup device for controlling the optical output of the optical pickup device,
A photo detector that receives the laser light, converts it into an electric signal, and outputs the electric light is provided at a predetermined position where the laser light from the optical pickup device is irradiated in a state where the optical disk is not set on the tray where the optical disk is set during recording or reproduction. A storage means for storing as a reference value the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser light from the optical pickup device at the stage of initial adjustment of the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device; and the optical pickup device after the initial adjustment. Comparing means for comparing the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser beam with the reference value of the storage means, and a warning when the amount of light received by the photodetector in the comparison is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. The warning generating means that is generated and the above-mentioned When the amount of light received by the detector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, the operation stopping means for temporarily stopping the start of the writing operation or the reading operation on the optical disc, and the comparison by the comparing means, the number of times the optical disc is used. Or periodically according to the operating time and when the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range with respect to the reference value of the storage means, the light output control circuit is controlled so that the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device becomes an optimum value. There is provided an optical disk recording / reproducing device having readjustment means for readjustment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when laser light is emitted from the optical pickup device in a state where there is no optical disk on the tray on which the optical disk is set during recording or reproduction, the laser light is received by the photodetector, and the laser light is emitted. Converted to a signal. This electric signal indicates the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser beam from the optical pickup device in the initial adjustment stage, and this amount of received light is stored in the storage means as a reference value.

Then, the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser beam from the optical pickup device after the initial adjustment and the reference value of the storage means are compared by the comparison means.
In this comparison, if the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the permissible range for the reference value of the storage means, the warning generation means issues a warning, whereby the user does not use the optical disc and the optical pickup device is contaminated. You can know that there is.

Similarly, in the above comparison, when the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, the start of the write operation or read operation on the optical disk is temporarily stopped by the operation stop means, which causes It is possible to prevent the recording error and the reproduction error of information from the optical disc.

Further, when the comparison by the comparison means is performed periodically according to the number of times of use of the optical disk and the operating time, and the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range regarding the reference value of the storage means, the light output control circuit. Is controlled,
Since the read light amount is readjusted by the readjusting device so that the light output amount of the optical pickup device becomes the optimum value, the optical pickup device can always output the optimum light amount, and the occurrence of the recording error or the reproduction error of the information on the optical disc is prevented. It can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an optical pickup device which emits a laser beam for recording and / or reproducing information on the optical disc and receives reflected light from the optical disc, and an optical output of the optical pickup device. In an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus having an optical output control circuit for controlling the optical disc, in a state where there is no optical disc in the tray on which the optical disc is set at the time of recording or reproducing, a predetermined position irradiated with the laser beam from the optical pickup device, A photodetector that receives the laser light, converts it into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal is provided, and the received light amount of the photodetector that receives the laser light from the optical pickup device in the initial adjustment stage of the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device is used as a reference value. The storage means for storing and the optical pickup after the initial adjustment are stored. To provide an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus having a light-receiving amount of said photodetector which receives the laser beam and comparing means for comparing the reference value of the storage unit from the device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when laser light is emitted from the optical pickup device when there is no optical disk on the tray on which the optical disk is set at the time of recording or reproduction, the laser light is received by the photodetector, and electric Converted to a signal. This electric signal indicates the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser beam from the optical pickup device in the initial adjustment stage, and this amount of received light is stored in the storage means as a reference value.

Then, the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser beam from the optical pickup device after the initial adjustment and the reference value of the storage means are compared by the comparison means.
Therefore, by judging the comparison result, it is possible to detect the dirt of the optical pickup device without using the optical disk, and it is possible to prevent the recording error and the reproduction error of the information on the optical disk.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the comparison means allows:
The user is provided with a warning generating means for generating a warning when the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, so that the user can clean the optical pickup device without using the optical disk. Can be known from the warning.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the comparing means allows
When the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, the operation detector for temporarily stopping the write operation or the read operation on the optical disc is provided. If the amount of received light is not within the permissible range for the reference value of the storage means, the start of the write operation or read operation on the optical disc is temporarily stopped, which prevents the recording error or the reproduction error of the information on the optical disc. it can.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the comparison by the comparison means is periodically performed according to the number of times of use of the optical disk and the operating time, and the amount of light received by the photodetector is the storage means. In the case where the optical pickup device does not fall within the allowable range of the reference value, the optical pickup device is provided with readjustment means for controlling the optical output control circuit to readjust the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device to an optimum value. It is possible to always emit the optimum amount of light, and it is possible to prevent an error in recording or reproducing information on the optical disc.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to control of an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
Although not shown, the optical pickup device 4 includes a light emitting element such as a laser diode that emits laser light, an optical element that guides the laser light emitted from this light emitting element to the recording surface of the optical disc 3, and a reflected light from the optical disc 3. And a light receiving element for receiving the light. The optical output control circuit 5 is
The amount of light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical pickup device 4 becomes constant based on the amount of reflected light received by the light receiving element of the optical pickup device 4 and the preset reference value (reference light amount) when reading data from the optical disc 3. And the amount of light of the light emitting element of the optical pickup device 4 when writing data on the optical disk 3.

The photodetector 2, which is a feature of this embodiment, has a position where the laser light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 can be received when the optical disc 3 is not set on the tray 16, for example, the back surface of the top plate 1. The laser light from the optical pickup device 4 is received and output as an electric signal. The light amount detection circuit 6 converts the electric signal (analog signal) output from the photodetector 2 into a digital signal, gives it to the CPU 8 as digital data corresponding to the light amount, and an optical pickup when the reflected light from the optical disc 3 is received. The output signal (analog signal) of the light receiving element of the device 4 is converted into a digital signal and given to the CPU 8 as digital data corresponding to the amount of reflected light.

The control unit 15 is a CPU 8 that performs calculations and processing for controlling each unit of the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus.
The memory 9 for storing the data necessary for the operation of the CPU 8, the counter 7 for counting the number of times of use and the operation time of the optical disk 3, the reference value data stored in the memory 9 and the data before the use (writing to the optical disk 3 after the initial adjustment) Or before and after reading), data is transmitted and received between the comparator 10 for comparing the received light amount data of the photodetector 2 received from the optical pickup device 4 and the host device 14 using this optical disk recording / reproducing device as an external storage device. The interface 11 for performing is provided.

The LED (light emitting diode) 13 is provided to the user when the optical element of the optical pickup device 4 is contaminated and the optical pickup device 4 adversely affects the read operation and / or the write operation of the optical disc 3. Drive circuit 1 for warning
The reference numeral 2 outputs a drive signal in response to a drive command signal from the CPU 8 to drive the LED 13.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process for adjusting the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. A process for adjusting the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to this flowchart and FIG.

First, before the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus is shipped as a product, in a factory or the like, the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus is powered on and the optical disc 3 is moved to the tray in order to adjust the emitted light amount (optical power) of the optical pickup device 4. 1
The optical pickup device 4 is driven in a state that the optical pickup device 4 is not set to emit laser light from the light emitting element of the optical pickup device 4. This laser light strikes the light-receiving surface of the photodetector 2 attached to the back surface of the top plate 1 and is converted into an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light. That is, the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 at the initial adjustment stage of the optical pickup device 4 is obtained (step S1).

The electric signal output from the photo detector 2 is converted into digital data by the light amount detection circuit 6 and input to the CPU 8 of the control unit 15. In response to this, the CPU 8 stores the digital data (received light amount) in the memory 9 as a reference value of the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device 4 in the initial adjustment stage (step S2).

Next, before setting the optical disc 3 on the tray 16 of the optical disc recording / reproducing device, the optical pickup device 4 is driven to emit a laser beam from the light emitting element of the optical pickup device 4. This laser light hits the light receiving surface of the photodetector 2 attached to the back surface of the top plate 1,
It is converted into an electric signal according to the amount of light. That is, the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 corresponding to the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 before writing or reading data on the optical disc 3 is obtained (step S).
3).

Then, the electric signal output from the photo detector 2 is converted into digital data by the light amount detection circuit 6, and this digital data is input to the comparator 10 of the control unit 15. In the comparator 10, digital data (memory 9) of a reference value indicating the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 corresponding to the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 in the initial adjustment stage.
(Reference value stored in) and the digital data indicating the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 corresponding to the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 before the optical disc 3 is set (before writing or reading is used) (step S).
4) If both are the same, writing or reading on the optical disc 3 can be started (step S5).

If they are not equal to each other, it is judged whether or not the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 before use is within the permissible range for the reference value (step S6), and the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 before use is within the permissible range. If so, it becomes possible to start writing or reading on the optical disc 3 (step S7). If the optical elements of the optical pickup device 4 become heavily contaminated and adversely affect recording or reproduction, the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 is outside the allowable range.
Therefore, even if the optical element of the optical pickup device 4 is slightly dirty, it does not affect recording or reproduction when the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 is within the allowable range.

If the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 before use is not within the allowable range, the CPU 8 gives a drive signal to the drive circuit 12 and causes the LED 13 to blink, for example.
Generate a warning (step S8), write to the user,
Or informs that reading is not possible. As a result, the user knows that the optical element of the optical pickup device 4 is contaminated and the data cannot be written in or read from the optical disc 3 accurately.
The warning to the user may be given by voice. Thereafter, the start of the writing operation or the reading operation is temporarily stopped so that the writing or reading on the optical disc 3 cannot be performed (step S9).

When writing is performed on the optical disc 3 by the writing software provided in the host device 14 and capable of performing the writing process, the optical elements of the optical pickup device 4 are contaminated before the writing by the processes of steps S4 and S6. If the optical pickup device 4 is soiled, the host device 14 transmits a warning command signal and an operation stop command signal to the CPU 8 via the interface 11, whereby the CPU 8 drives the LED 13 and the user is informed. A warning is issued, and the start of the writing operation on the optical disc 3 is temporarily stopped by the operation stopping means. The warning can also be displayed on the display unit of the host device 14.

By such processing, after the start of the writing operation or the reading operation is temporarily stopped, stains on the optical elements of the optical pickup device 4 are removed, and the processing from step S3 is performed again.
Alternatively, when the reading operation cannot be started, the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 is adjusted to an optimum value.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for automatically adjusting the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. A process for automatically adjusting the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to this flowchart and FIG.

First, before the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus is shipped as a product, in a factory or the like, the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus is powered on and the optical disc 3 is moved to the tray in order to adjust the emitted light amount (optical power) of the optical pickup device 4. 1
The optical pickup device 4 is driven in a state that the optical pickup device 4 is not set to emit laser light from the light emitting element of the optical pickup device 4. The laser light hits the light receiving surface of the photodetector 2 attached to the back surface of the top plate 1, for example, and is converted into an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light. That is, the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 at the initial adjustment stage of the optical pickup device 4 is obtained (step S1).
1).

The electric signal output from the photo detector 2 is converted into digital data by the light amount detection circuit 6 and input to the CPU 8 of the control section 15. In response to this, the CPU 8 stores the digital data (amount of received light) in the memory 9 as a reference value of the amount of emitted light of the optical pickup device 4 in the initial adjustment stage (step S12).

Here, in order to write data on the optical disc 3, for example, when the user sets the optical disc 3 on the tray 16 of the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus and starts the writing operation, the counter 7 of the control unit 15 causes the optical disc 3 to read.
Counting of the number of times of use is started, and it is determined whether or not the count value has reached a predetermined value (step S13).

The number of times the optical disc 16 has been used is, for example, the number of eject operations for operating the tray 16 in order to set the optical disc 3 on the tray 16 or remove it from the tray 16. Also,
In this case, the operation time of recording (writing) or reproducing (reading) the optical disc 3 may be counted. The number of times of use may be the number of times the power of the optical disk reproducing / recording device is turned on or off.

After a lapse of time from the start of the writing operation and after reaching a predetermined value, an eject operation is performed and the optical disk 3 is taken out from the tray 16, then it is determined that there is an eject operation (step S14). After that, before setting the optical disc 3 on the tray 16 of the optical disc recording / reproducing device, the optical pickup device 4 is driven to emit laser light from the light emitting element of the optical pickup device 4. The laser light hits the light receiving surface of the photodetector 2 attached to the back surface of the top plate 1, for example, and is converted into an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light. That is, the optical disc 3
Thus, the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 corresponding to the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 before writing or reading data to or from is obtained.

The electric signal output from the photodetector 2 is converted into digital data by the light amount detection circuit 6, and this digital data is input to the comparator 10 of the controller 15. In the comparator 10, the digital data of the reference value indicating the received light amount of the photodetector 2 corresponding to the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device 4 in the initial adjustment stage and before the setting of the optical disc 3 (before writing or reading use)
And the digital data indicating the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 corresponding to the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 is compared (step S15).
It becomes possible to start writing or reading for (step S16).

If they are not equal to each other, it is judged whether or not the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 before use is within an allowable range based on the reference value (step S17), and the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 before use is judged. If is within the allowable range, it becomes possible to start writing or reading on the optical disc 3 (step S18).

If the amount of light received by the photodetector 2 before use is not within the allowable range, the CPU 8 gives an adjustment command signal to the light output control circuit 5, and in response thereto, the light output control circuit 5 causes the comparison result of the comparator 10 to be output. Optical pickup device 4 based on
The emitted light amount of is reset to the optimum value (step S19). Then, the process returns to step S15.

With such processing, the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 is regularly inspected, and the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device 4 is always adjusted to an optimum value without using an optical disk. .

[0046]

As described above, according to the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the laser light from the optical pickup device is irradiated in a state where there is no optical disc in the tray on which the optical disc is set at the time of recording or reproducing. A photodetector that receives laser light, converts it into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal is provided at a predetermined position, and the photodetector that receives the laser light from the optical pickup device at the stage of initial adjustment of the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device is received by the photodetector. Storage means for storing the amount as a reference value, comparison means for comparing the received light amount of the photodetector that received the laser light from the optical pickup device after the initial adjustment with the reference value of the storage means, and in the comparison, The amount of light received by the photodetector is within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. And a warning generating means for generating a warning when the comparison result is the same, and temporarily starts the writing operation or the reading operation with respect to the optical disc when the received light amount of the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means in the comparison. The optical output control circuit is used when the comparison between the operation stopping means for stopping and the comparing means is performed periodically according to the number of times of use of the optical disk and the operating time and the received light amount of the photodetector is not within the allowable range related to the reference value of the storage means. And a readjustment unit for readjusting the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device to an optimum value.

With such a configuration, when the comparison shows that the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, the warning generation means issues a warning, whereby the optical pickup device. The dirt on the optical element can be accurately detected, so that the user can know that the optical pickup device is dirty without using the optical disk.

Similarly, in the above comparison, when the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, the writing operation (recording operation) or the reading operation (reproducing operation) on the optical disk is started. It is temporarily stopped by the stopping means, and thereby it is possible to prevent an error in recording or reproducing an information on the optical disc.

Further, when the comparison by the comparison means is performed periodically according to the number of times the optical disc is used and the operating time, and the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range with respect to the reference value of the storage means, the light output control circuit. Is controlled and readjusted by the readjusting means so that the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device becomes an optimum value. Therefore, the optical pickup device can always emit the optimum amount of light, and the recording error or the reproduction error of the information on the optical disc can be prevented. Can be prevented.

According to the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, information is recorded and / or recorded on the optical disk.
Alternatively, in an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus including an optical pickup device that emits a laser beam for reproduction and receives reflected light from an optical disc, and an optical output control circuit that controls an optical output of the optical pickup device, A photodetector for receiving the laser light, converting it into an electric signal and outputting the electric light is provided at a predetermined position where the laser light from the optical pickup device is irradiated in a state where the optical disk is not set on the tray where the optical disk is set during reproduction. A storage unit that stores the received light amount of the photodetector that receives the laser light from the optical pickup device as a reference value in the initial adjustment stage of the emitted light amount of the pickup device, and the laser light from the optical pickup device after the initial adjustment. Amount of light received by the photodetector and the memory And a comparing means for comparing the reference value of the stage.

With such a configuration, by judging the comparison result, it is possible to accurately detect the dirt on the optical element of the optical pickup device without using the optical disk, and the information recording error on the optical disk is detected. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a playback error.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the comparison means allows
The user is provided with a warning generation means for generating a warning when the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. It is possible to know the dirt of the element or the like by the warning.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the comparison means allows:
When the case where the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means is shown, the operation stop means for temporarily stopping the start of the write operation or the read operation for the optical disc is provided. If the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the permissible range for the reference value of the storage means, the start of the write operation (recording operation) or read operation (reproduction operation) on the optical disc is temporarily stopped, which causes the information on the optical disc to be read. It is possible to prevent the recording error and the playback error from occurring.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the comparison by the comparison means is periodically performed according to the number of times the optical disc is used and the operating time, and the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. At this time, since the optical pickup device is provided with the readjustment means for controlling the optical output control circuit to readjust the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device to the optimum value, the optical pickup device can always emit the optimum light amount. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of an information recording error or a reproduction error with respect to the.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to control of an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process for adjusting the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for automatically adjusting the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device in the optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Top plate (predetermined position where laser light is irradiated) 2 Photo detector 3 optical disks 4 Optical pickup device 5 Optical output control circuit 7 counter 8 CPU (operation stop means, readjustment means) 9 memory (storage means) 10 Comparator (comparing means) 13 LED (warning generating means) 16 trays

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Information is recorded on and / or recorded on an optical disc.
Alternatively, in an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus including an optical pickup device that emits a laser beam for reproduction and receives reflected light from an optical disc, and an optical output control circuit that controls an optical output of the optical pickup device, A photodetector that receives the laser light, converts it into an electric signal, and outputs the electric light is provided at a predetermined position where the laser light from the optical pickup device is irradiated in a state where the optical disk is not set on the tray where the optical disk is set during reproduction. Storage means for storing, as a reference value, the amount of light received by the photodetector that has received the laser light from the optical pickup device at the stage of initial adjustment of the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device, and the laser light from the optical pickup device after the initial adjustment. The amount of light received by the photodetector that received Comparing means for comparing with a reference value of means, warning generating means for issuing a warning when the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within an allowable range for the reference value of the storing means in the comparison, and the photodetector in the comparison as well. When the amount of received light is not within the allowable range with respect to the reference value of the storage means, the operation stopping means for temporarily stopping the start of the writing operation or the reading operation on the optical disc, and the comparison by the comparing means, When the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within the allowable range for the reference value of the storage means, the light output control circuit is controlled so that the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device becomes an optimum value. An optical disk recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a readjustment unit for readjustment. 2. An optical pickup device for emitting a laser beam for recording / reproducing information to / from an optical disc and receiving a reflected light from the optical disc, and an optical output control circuit for controlling an optical output of the optical pickup device. In an optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus including the above, the laser light is received at a predetermined position where the laser beam from the optical pickup device is irradiated and the electric light is emitted from the optical pickup device in a state where the optical disc is not set on the tray on which the optical disc is set at the time of recording or reproducing. A photodetector for converting into a signal and outputting the signal is provided, and a storage unit that stores the received light amount of the photodetector that receives the laser light from the optical pickup device in the initial adjustment stage of the emitted light amount of the optical pickup device as a reference value, and Received laser light from the optical pickup device after initial adjustment An optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a comparing unit that compares the amount of light received by the photo detector with a reference value of the storing unit. 3. The warning generating means for generating a warning when the comparison means indicates that the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within an allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. 2. The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to item 2. 4. An operation of temporarily stopping the start of a write operation or a read operation on the optical disc when the comparison means indicates that the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within an allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a stopping unit. 5. The optical output when the comparison by the comparison means is performed periodically according to the number of times the optical disc has been used and the operating time, and the amount of light received by the photodetector is not within an allowable range for the reference value of the storage means. 3. The optical disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a readjustment unit that controls a control circuit to readjust the amount of light emitted from the optical pickup device to an optimum value.