JP2005149703A - Information medium apparatus and information medium starting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information medium apparatus capable of identifying the type of an optical disk with high reliability, and starting the optical disk at a high speed, and an information medium starting method. <P>SOLUTION: This information medium apparatus is provided with a determining means for determining whether a cartridge 102 has been previously opened, and a control means 125 for executing start processing according to an information medium 101 stored in the cartridge 102. When it is determined that the cartridge 102 has not been previously opened, the control means 125 executes first start processing (S303 to S313) for starting the information medium 101 by using a blue laser. When it is determined that the cartridge 102 has been previously opened, the control means 125 determines whether the information medium 101 is an information medium to be started by using a laser other than the blue laser. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information carrier device and an information carrier activation method for recording information on an information carrier or reproducing information recorded on an information carrier using a light beam from a light source such as a laser, and in particular, blue The present invention relates to an information carrier apparatus and an information carrier activation method for selecting one light source from a plurality of light sources such as red and infrared and executing an activation process according to the selected light source.

Conventionally, as an example of a method for discriminating the type of an optical disc, a method described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this method, the lens is moved between the closest position closest to the optical disk and the remotest position sufficiently away from the optical disk. In this movement process, whether there is reflected light from the surface of the optical disk or not By determining whether there is reflected light from the surface, the type of the optical disk is determined. Here, the closest position is a position where the lens contacts the optical disc.
JP 2000-90440 A

  However, in the optical disk device described in Patent Document 1, the closest position is the position where the lens comes into contact with the optical disk. Therefore, when the lens is moved between the closest position and the farthest position, there is a slight amount. The lens and the optical disc collide. Therefore, in the worst case, there is a problem that the optical disk may be damaged and recording or reproduction may become impossible. Further, when a blue laser is applied to an existing optical disk that is recorded or reproduced using a red laser or an infrared laser, such as a DVD disk or a CD disk, the recorded data may be destroyed. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and irradiates a blue laser to an existing optical disk that is recorded or reproduced using a red laser or an infrared laser, such as a DVD disk or a CD disk. In addition, since the lens is not brought into contact with the optical disc when the type of the optical disc is discriminated, the information carrier device and the information carrier capable of avoiding scratching the optical disc or destroying the recorded data can be avoided. The purpose is to provide an activation method. Furthermore, it is possible to provide an information carrier apparatus and an information carrier activation method capable of performing the optical disk activation process at high speed by using a cartridge switch to determine the type of the optical disk with high reliability. Objective.

  An information carrier device according to the present invention is an information carrier device that performs at least one of a recording operation and a reproducing operation on an information carrier, and whether or not a cartridge storing the information carrier has been opened. Determining means for determining whether or not the cartridge has never been opened, and when the cartridge has not been opened, the control means includes a blue laser. When the first starting process for starting the information carrier is executed and it is determined that the cartridge has been opened, the control means uses a laser other than the blue laser as the information carrier. It is used to determine whether or not the information carrier is to execute the startup process. As a result, the above object is achieved.

  If it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the control means responds to the information carrier using a laser other than the blue laser. And when the information carrier is determined not to be an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the control means uses the blue laser to perform the information processing. It may be determined whether the carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation.

  If it is determined that the information carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation, the control means executes a second activation process for activating the information carrier using the blue laser, and the information carrier If it is determined that the carrier is not stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation, the control means may output an error signal.

  In the first activation process, the control means determines whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and the information carrier has a single-layer structure. Or a start-up process depending on whether or not it has a multi-layer structure.

  In the second activation process, the control means uses the blue laser to determine whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and the information carrier You may perform the starting process according to whether it has the structure of a single layer or it has the structure of multiple layers.

  The control means is a light beam emitted from the blue laser, and the information carrier has a single layer structure according to the amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier. It may be determined whether it has a multi-layer structure.

  The control means is a light beam emitted from the blue laser, and an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier is applied to the light beam reflected by the information carrier. A normalized focus error signal is generated by normalizing with the amplitude of the total light quantity signal generated based on the information carrier, and the information carrier is directed to the cartridge according to the amplitude of the normalized focus error signal. It may be determined whether or not it is stored.

  The control means may stop the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light quantity signal are being measured.

  The control means moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and gradually approaches the convergence point of the light beam from the position to the information carrier, and the amplitude and the total of the focus error signal. Measure the amplitude of the light amount signal, and move the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light amount signal is completed. You may let them.

  The control means determines whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier that is to execute a startup process using a red laser, and the information carrier is an information carrier that is to execute a startup process using the red laser. If it is determined that there is, the control means may execute an activation process according to the information carrier using the red laser.

  The control means is a light beam emitted from the red laser, and the information carrier uses a red laser according to an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier. Then, it may be determined whether or not the information carrier is to execute the activation process.

  The control means may stop the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured.

  The control means moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and measures the amplitude of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from that position. The convergence point of the light beam may be moved so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed.

If it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier that should be activated using the red laser, the control means is information that the information carrier should perform an activation process using an infrared laser. Determine whether it is a carrier,
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the control means performs activation processing corresponding to the information carrier using the infrared laser. May be executed.

  The control means determines whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier that is to execute an activation process using an infrared laser, and the information carrier is information that is to execute an activation process using the infrared laser. If it is determined that the carrier is a carrier, the control means may execute a start-up process corresponding to the information carrier using the infrared laser.

  The control means is a light beam emitted from the infrared laser, and the information carrier is an infrared laser according to an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier. It may be determined whether or not the information carrier is to execute the activation process.

  The control means may stop the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured.

  The control means moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and measures the amplitude of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from that position. The convergence point of the light beam may be moved so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed.

  When it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier that should execute the activation process using the infrared laser, the control means is information that the information carrier should execute the activation process using a red laser. It is determined whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, and the control means uses the red laser to determine the information carrier. You may perform the starting process according to an information carrier.

  If the information carrier is a bare information carrier that is not stored in the cartridge, the control means determines whether the information carrier is an information carrier that is to perform a startup process using a laser other than the blue laser. It may be determined whether or not.

  An information carrier activation method of the present invention is an information carrier activation method executed in an information carrier device that performs at least one of a recording operation and a reproduction operation on an information carrier, and (a) stores the information carrier. Determining whether or not the cartridge being opened has been opened, and (b) executing a start-up process in accordance with the information carrier, wherein the step (b) includes opening the cartridge. If it is determined that the cartridge has not been opened, a step of executing a first activation process for activating the information carrier using a blue laser and a case where it has been determined that the cartridge has been opened Includes determining whether the information carrier is an information carrier on which a startup process is to be performed using a laser other than the blue laser. As a result, the above object is achieved.

  In the step (b), when it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the information carrier is used using a laser other than the blue laser. Performing the activation process according to the information carrier, and if it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the information carrier using the blue laser Determining whether or not is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation.

  The step (b) executes a second activation process for activating the information carrier using the blue laser when it is determined that the information carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation. And a step of outputting an error signal when it is determined that the information carrier is not stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation.

  The first activation process includes a step of determining whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure. And a step of executing a start-up process according to whether or not it has a layer structure.

  The second activation process includes using the blue laser to determine whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure; and And a step of executing a start-up process according to whether it has a structure or a multi-layer structure.

  The determination of whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure is based on the light beam emitted from the blue laser and reflected by the information carrier. This may be performed in accordance with the amplitude of the focus error signal generated in this way.

  The step (b) is a light beam emitted from the blue laser, and the amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier is reflected by the information carrier. Further comprising generating a normalized focus error signal by normalizing with the amplitude of the total light signal generated based on the beam, whether the information carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation This determination may be made according to the amplitude of the normalized focus error signal.

  The step (b) may further include a step of stopping the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light amount signal are measured.

  The step (b) includes a step of moving the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and the focus error signal of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam from the position closer to the information carrier. Measuring the amplitude and the amplitude of the total light quantity signal; and after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light quantity signal has been completed, the light beam converges away from the information carrier. Moving the beam convergence point may further be included.

  The step (b) includes a step of determining whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a red laser, and the information carrier performs an activation process using the red laser. When it is determined that the information carrier is a power carrier, a start-up process corresponding to the information carrier may be executed using the red laser.

  The determination as to whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a red laser is based on the light beam emitted from the red laser and reflected by the information carrier. This may be performed in accordance with the amplitude of the focus error signal generated in this way.

  The step (b) may include a step of stopping the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured.

  The step (b) includes a step of moving the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and the focus error signal of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam from the position closer to the information carrier. Measuring the amplitude, and moving the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed. .

  In the step (b), when it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, the information carrier performs an activation process using an infrared laser. A step of determining whether or not the information carrier is to be an information carrier, and if it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the infrared laser is used It may further include a step of executing an activation process according to the information carrier.

  The step (b) includes a step of determining whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using an infrared laser, and the information carrier performs an activation process using the infrared laser. If it is determined that the information carrier is to be executed, a step of executing an activation process corresponding to the information carrier using the infrared laser may be included.

  The determination as to whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using an infrared laser is a light beam emitted from the infrared laser and reflected by the information carrier May be performed according to the amplitude of the focus error signal generated based on the above.

  The step (b) may include a step of stopping the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured.

  The step (b) includes a step of moving the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and the focus error signal of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam from the position closer to the information carrier. Measuring the amplitude, and moving the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed. .

  In the step (b), when it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the information carrier should be activated using a red laser. Determining whether the information carrier is an information carrier; and if it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, the information carrier using the red laser And a step of executing a startup process according to the above.

  In the step (b), when the information carrier is a bare information carrier not stored in the cartridge, the information carrier is an information carrier that is to execute a starting process using a laser other than the blue laser. A step of determining whether or not there may be further included.

  According to the information carrier device and the information carrier activation method of the present invention, a blue laser is not irradiated to an existing optical disk that is recorded or reproduced using a red laser or an infrared laser like a DVD disk or a CD disk, Further, since the lens is not brought into contact with the optical disk when determining the type of the optical disk, it is possible to avoid scratching the optical disk or destroying recorded data. Furthermore, using the cartridge switch, the type of the optical disk can be determined with high reliability, and the optical disk activation process can be executed at high speed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the optical disc apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The optical disk apparatus of the present invention receives information from the disk motor control unit 123, the disk motor drive circuit 124, the disk motor 105, and the optical disk 101 for rotating the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 at a predetermined rotational speed. An optical head 103 for reproduction and a traverse motor (not shown) for moving the entire optical head 103 in a direction perpendicular to the track direction of the optical disk 101 are provided. The disk motor control unit 123 is provided in a digital signal processor (DSP) 125.

  The optical head 103 includes a blue laser light source 104 such as a semiconductor laser, a red laser light source 126, an infrared laser light source 127, a coupling lens, a spherical aberration correction lens, a polarizing beam splitter, a polarizing plate, a converging lens, A condenser lens, a split mirror, and a photodetector are included. In FIG. 1, components other than the light sources 104, 126, and 127 among the components of the optical head 103 are not shown.

  The optical head 103 emits a light beam from one light source selected from the blue laser light source 104, the red laser light source 126, and the infrared laser light source 127. The light source selection unit 111 selects one of the three light sources, and the laser control unit 112 and the laser drive circuit 113 adjust the laser power of the selected light source to a predetermined laser power. The light source selection unit 111 and the laser control unit 112 are provided in the DSP 125.

  The light beam emitted from the optical head 103 is collimated by a coupling lens, passes through a spherical aberration correction lens, is reflected by a polarizing beam splitter, passes through a polarizing plate, and is reflected on the surface of the optical disc 101 by a converging lens. To converge.

  The spherical aberration correction lens is driven by a spherical aberration correction control unit 128 and a spherical aberration correction drive circuit 129. As a result, it is possible to correct the spherical aberration that occurs due to the difference in the substrate thickness of the optical disc 101. The spherical aberration correction control unit 128 is provided in the DSP 125.

  In this way, a light beam spot is formed so as to have a focus point in the thickness direction of the optical disc 101 rotating by the disc motor 105.

  Reflected light from the optical disk 101 passes through a converging lens, a polarizing plate, a polarizing beam splitter, and a condensing lens, and is split into two-direction light beams by a split mirror.

  One of the light beams divided in two directions by the dividing mirror is input to the focus control device via a photodetector having a four-divided structure in the optical head 103.

  The focus control device includes a focus error signal generation unit 108, a DSP 125, a focus drive circuit 116, and a focus actuator (not shown).

  The focus error signal generation unit 108 performs a first addition for adding two output signals from two light receiving units located diagonally among the four output signals from the photodetector having a quadrant structure in the optical head 103. Unit (not shown), a second adder (not shown) for adding the remaining two output signals of the four output signals, an output signal from the first adder, and a second adder And a differential amplifier (not shown) for generating a focus error signal (FE signal) based on the difference from the output signal from the signal. The FE signal indicates a positional deviation between the convergence point of the light beam and the optical disc 101. Such a method for detecting an FE signal is called an “astigmatism method”. The FE signal is input to the DSP 125.

  The DSP 125 is provided with a switch 115. The switch 115 is set to a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 when it is necessary to perform focus control.

  The FE signal input to the DSP 125 is input to the focus control unit 114. The focus control unit 114 is, for example, a compensation filter that is a digital filter composed of an AD converter (not shown), an adder (not shown) that compensates the phase of the focus control system, and a multiplier and a delay unit. (Not shown), a gain switching circuit (not shown) for switching the loop gain of the focus control system, and a DA converter (not shown). The output signal of the focus control unit 114 is input to the focus drive circuit 116 via the switch 115. The focus driving circuit 116 current-amplifies the output signal from the DSP 125, converts the level, and drives the focus actuator. The focus actuator is driven so that the light beam on the optical disc 101 is always in a predetermined convergence state. As a result, focus control is realized.

  The total light amount signal generation unit 134 includes an addition unit (not shown) that generates a total light amount signal (AS signal) by adding four output signals from the photodetector having a four-divided structure in the optical head 103. . The AS signal is input to the DSP 125.

  On the other hand, the other of the light beams split in two directions by the split mirror is input to the tracking control device via a photodetector having a four-split structure in the optical head 103.

  The tracking control device includes a tracking error signal generation unit 109, a DSP 125, a tracking drive circuit 122, and a tracking actuator (not shown).

  The tracking error signal generation unit 109 adds the two output signals from the two light receiving units located on the inner peripheral side with respect to the track among the four output signals from the photodetector having the four-divided structure in the optical head 103. And a second adder (not shown) that adds two output signals from two light receiving units located on the outer peripheral side of the track among the four output signals. And a subtracter (not shown) that generates a tracking error signal (TE signal) by subtracting the output signal from the second adder from the output signal from the first adder. . The TE signal indicates a positional deviation between the convergence point of the light beam and the track to be scanned. Such a TE signal detection method is called a “push-pull method”. The TE signal is input to the DSP 125.

  The TE signal input to the DSP 125 is input to the tracking control unit 121. The tracking control unit 121 includes an AD converter (not shown), an adder (not shown) that compensates the phase of the tracking control system, and a compensation filter (see FIG. 5) that is a digital filter composed of a multiplier and a delay unit. A gain switching circuit (not shown) for switching the loop gain of the tracking control system, and a DA converter (not shown). The output signal of the tracking control unit 121 is input to the tracking drive circuit 122. The tracking drive circuit 122 amplifies and level-converts the output signal from the DSP 125 to drive the tracking actuator. The tracking actuator is driven so that the convergence point of the light beam on the optical disc 101 scans a predetermined track. As a result, tracking control is realized.

  At the same time as the tracking control, the convergence point of the light beam and the center of the convergence lens coincide (that is, the optical axis of the light beam irradiated on the optical disc 101 coincides with the optical axis of the convergence lens). Although transfer control for driving the traverse motor is performed, description thereof is omitted here.

  Hereinafter, the procedure of the activation process of the optical disc 101 when the type of the optical disc 101 loaded in the optical disc apparatus is known will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. Here, it is assumed that the optical disc 101 is a single-layer disc.

  In step S201, the light source, the laser power, the spherical aberration correction amount, the gain of the focus error signal generation unit 108, the gain of the tracking signal generation unit 109, and the like are set according to the type of the optical disc 101 loaded in the optical disc apparatus.

  In step S202, the offset of the focus control system and tracking control system is adjusted.

  In step S203, desired laser control is turned on. For example, when the optical disc 101 mounted on the optical disc apparatus is a DVD disc, the control of the red laser is turned on, and when it is a CD disc, the control of the infrared laser is turned on, and the Blu-ray is turned on. If it is a disc, the blue laser control is turned on.

  In step S204, the disk motor control is turned on. As a result, the disk motor drive circuit 124 controls the disk motor 105 so as to rotate the optical disk 101 at a predetermined rotational speed.

  In step S205, focus control is started.

  In step S206, various adjustments (such as coarse focus position adjustment and tracking position (symmetry) adjustment) are performed when the focus control is on and the tracking control is off.

  In step S207, tracking control is started.

  In step S208, various adjustments (such as focus control system and tracking control system loop gain adjustment, focus position precision adjustment, etc.) when tracking control is on are performed.

  In step S209, seeking to a predetermined track is performed, and a standby state for the next process is entered in the predetermined track, and the activation process is completed. Thereafter, a reproducing operation or a recording operation with respect to the optical disc 101 is performed as necessary.

  When the optical disc 101 mounted on the optical disc apparatus has a plurality of information surfaces (layers), another information surface adjacent to the information surface on which focus control is currently performed is performed after step S208. A focus jump operation for moving the convergence point of the light beam is performed. Various adjustments are performed in steps S206 and S208 so that the recording operation or the reproducing operation on the information surface is the best.

  Hereinafter, the procedure of the startup process of the optical disc 101 when the type of the optical disc 101 mounted in the optical disc apparatus is unknown will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

  The cartridge 102 storing the optical disc 101 has a hole 1 (hole 1) used for determining whether or not the cartridge 102 has been opened, and an optical disc 101 stored in the cartridge 102. A hole 2 (hole 2) used for determining whether the disc is a single-layer disc or a double-layer disc is provided at a predetermined position. The predetermined position is determined by a standard, for example.

  The hole 1 is initially in a state where the hole is blocked. When the cartridge 102 is opened in order to take out the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102, the hole 1 is in a state where the hole is opened. For hole 1, the change from the blocked state to the opened state is irreversible, and once changed from the blocked state to the opened state, hole 1 It is not possible to return to the original state (that is, the state where the hole is blocked).

  In order to detect the state of the hole 1 (that is, whether the hole is blocked or opened), the optical disc apparatus is provided with a switch 106. By determining whether the switch 106 is on or off, it can be determined whether the cartridge 102 has been opened. That is, when the cartridge 102 has never been opened, the hole 1 is in a state where the hole is blocked, so that the switch 106 is turned on. If the cartridge 102 has been opened, the switch 106 is turned off because the hole 1 is open.

  The hole 2 is in a state where the hole is blocked when a single-layer disk is stored in the cartridge 102, and the hole is in a state where a hole is opened when a double-layer disk is stored in the cartridge 102. It is.

  In order to detect the state of the hole 2 (that is, whether the hole is blocked or opened), the optical disc apparatus is provided with a switch 107. By determining whether the switch 107 is on or off, it is possible to determine whether the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a single-layer disk or a dual-layer disk. That is, when the optical disc 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a single-layer disc, the hole 107 is in a state where the hole 2 is blocked, so that the switch 107 is turned on. When the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a two-layer disk, since the hole 2 is in a state where the hole is opened, the switch 107 is turned off.

  The switches 106 and 107 can be realized in any manner. For example, the switches 106 and 107 may be realized as optical switches using a photodiode and a photodetector, or the switches 106 and 107 may be realized as mechanical switches.

  Outputs of the switch 106 and the switch 107 are input to the cartridge state detection unit 110. The cartridge state detection unit 110 detects the state of the holes 1 and 2 provided in the cartridge 102, and starts the optical disk 101 (the light source or spherical surface used for the optical disk 101) according to the detected state. Change the aberration correction amount.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the ROM in the DSP 125 includes a DVD disk activation table 130 for a DVD disk, a CD disk activation table 131 for a CD disk, and a Blu-ray single-layer disk for a Blu-ray single-layer disk. A startup table 132 and a Blu-ray dual layer disk startup table 133 for a Blu-ray dual layer disc are stored. The cartridge state detection unit 110 is configured to switch the activation process of the optical disc 101 by selecting one of these four activation tables.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the procedure of the activation process of the optical disc 101 will be described.

  In step S301, it is determined whether the switch 106 is on or off. Such a determination is performed by the cartridge state detection unit 110.

  If it is determined that the switch 106 is on, the cartridge 102 has not been opened, and therefore the optical disc 101 stored in the cartridge 102 cannot be a Blu-ray disc. Therefore, when it is determined that the switch 106 is on (that is, when it is determined that the cartridge 102 has not been opened), the first activation that activates the Blu-ray disc using the blue laser Processing (steps S302 to S313) is executed.

  In step S302, a blue laser is selected. Such selection is achieved by the light source selection unit 111 selecting the blue laser light source 104. The reason why the blue laser is selected is that the Blu-ray disc is recorded or reproduced using the blue laser.

  In step S303, it is determined whether the switch 107 is on or off. Such a determination is performed by the cartridge state detection unit 110.

  If it is determined that the switch 107 is on, the Blu-ray disk stored in the cartridge 102 is a single-layer disk, and thus the Blu-ray single-layer disk activation table is selected in step S304, and the single-layer disk is selected. The laser power for the disk, the spherical aberration correction amount, the gain of the focus error signal generation unit 108 and the tracking signal generation unit 109 are set.

  If it is determined that the switch 107 is off, the Blu-ray disk stored in the cartridge 102 is a double-layer disk, and thus the Blu-ray double-layer disk activation table 133 is selected in step S305 and the double-layer disk is selected. Various settings for the disk are made.

  Instead of the two-layer disc or in addition to the two-layer disc, the activation process of the optical disc 101 having a structure of a plurality of layers of three or more layers may be executed. In this case, the number of the plurality of layers of the optical disc 101 can be determined according to a combination of open / close states of a plurality of holes (for example, three holes, hole 2, hole 3, and hole 4) provided in the cartridge 102.

  In step S306, the offsets of the focus control system and tracking control system are adjusted. In step S307, the blue laser control is turned on, and in step S308, the disk motor control is turned on. As a result, the disk motor drive circuit 124 controls the disk motor 105 so as to rotate the optical disk 101 at a predetermined rotational speed.

  Further, focus control is started in step S309, and various adjustments (such as coarse focus position adjustment and tracking position (symmetry) adjustment) are performed in step S310 when the focus control is on and the tracking control is off. In step S311, tracking control is started, and in step S312, various adjustments (loop gain adjustment, focus position precision adjustment, etc. of the focus control system and tracking control system) are performed while the tracking control is on.

  In step S313, seeking is performed on a predetermined track, and the next process is waited for on the predetermined track, and the activation process is completed. Thereafter, a reproducing operation or a recording operation with respect to the optical disc 101 is performed as necessary.

  If it is determined in step S303 that the Blu-ray disc stored in the cartridge 102 is a double-layer disc, after step S312, another information layer adjacent to the information surface on which focus control is currently performed is performed. A focus jump operation is performed to move the convergence point of the light beam to the information surface. Various adjustments performed in steps S310 and S312 are performed so that the recording operation or the reproducing operation on the information surface is the best.

  As described above, when it is determined that the cartridge 102 has never been opened, it can be immediately determined that the type of the optical disc 101 is a Blu-ray disc, and a blue laser is used to detect the Blu-ray disc. -The startup process of the ray disk can be executed immediately. As a result, the type of the optical disc can be determined with high reliability, and the optical disc activation process can be executed at high speed.

  Further, by determining whether the switch 107 is on or off, it is possible to determine whether the Blu-ray disc is a single-layer disc or a dual-layer disc. In this case, it is not necessary to irradiate the Blu-ray disc with a blue laser in order to determine whether the Blu-ray disc is a single-layer disc or a dual-layer disc. As a result, the type of the optical disc can be determined with high reliability, and the optical disc activation process can be executed at high speed.

  If it is determined in step S301 that the switch 106 is off, the cartridge 102 has been opened, so the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a DVD disk or CD other than a Blu-ray disk. There is a possibility of a disk. Further, even when the optical disc 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a Blu-ray disc, there is a possibility that the front and back of the Blu-ray disc are stored in the cartridge 102 in the opposite direction. Further, even when the cartridge 102 is a cartridge for a single-layer Blu-ray disc in which the hole 2 is blocked, there is a possibility that a double-layer Blu-ray disc is stored in the cartridge 102.

  When a blue laser is applied to an existing optical disk that is recorded or reproduced using a red laser or an infrared laser, such as a DVD disk or a CD disk, the worst recorded data may be destroyed. For this reason, when it is determined that the cartridge 102 has been opened, it is determined whether or not the optical disk 101 is a disk on which the startup process should be executed using a laser other than the blue laser (step S1). S314 to S321).

  In step S314, a red laser is selected. Such selection is achieved by the light source selection unit 111 selecting the red laser light source 126. The reason why the red laser is selected is that a DVD disk is recorded or reproduced using a red laser.

  In step S315, disk discrimination processing using a red laser is executed.

  The FE signal input to the DSP 125 is input to the focus control unit 114 and also to the disc determination unit 120. An AS signal is also input to the disc discrimination unit 120.

  The disc determination unit 120 includes an FE amplitude measurement unit 117 that measures the amplitude of the input FE signal, an FE amplitude comparison unit 118 that compares the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 with a predetermined value, An AS amplitude measurement unit 135 that measures the amplitude of the input AS signal, and an amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is normalized by the amplitude of the AS signal measured by the AS amplitude measurement unit 135. A normalization calculation unit 136 that calculates the amplitude of the normalized FE signal; a normalization FE amplitude comparison unit 137 that compares the amplitude of the normalized FE signal calculated by the normalization calculation unit 136 with a predetermined value; An ascending / descending drive signal generation unit 119 that generates a drive signal for moving the focus actuator up and down.

  When the disc determination process using the red laser (S315) is executed, the switch 115 is set to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1, so that the output signal of the ascending / descending drive signal generation unit 119 is the focus drive. The focus actuator is driven via the circuit 116.

  Next, the operation (amplitude measurement operation) of the disc determination unit 120 in the disc determination process (S315) using the red laser will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows the waveform of the FE signal obtained when the focus actuator is moved up and down. 4A shows the case of a single-layer disc, and FIG. 4B shows the case of a dual-layer disc.

  When the focus actuator is moved up and down, an S-shaped waveform appears in the FE signal near the surface and the information surface due to the reflected light from the surface of the optical disc 101 and the reflected light from the information surface. Due to the reflectivity and aberration of the optical disk 101, the amplitude of the S-shaped waveform is such that the DVD disk is irradiated with a red laser, the CD disk is irradiated with an infrared laser, and the blue disk is irradiated with a blue laser. The ray disk provides the maximum amplitude.

  Furthermore, the single-layer disc and the double-layer disc have a higher S-shaped amplitude than the double-layer disc because the single-layer disc has higher reflectivity.

  In the amplitude measurement operation, the disc discriminating unit 120 moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the optical disc 101, and measures the amplitude of the FE signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the optical disc 101 from that position. Then, after the measurement of the amplitude of the FE signal is completed, the convergence point of the light beam is moved so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the optical disc 101. Such an amplitude measurement operation is performed by, for example, moving the focus actuator (converging lens) to a position sufficiently away from the optical disc 101 by the drive signal generation unit 119 outputting a drive signal in the downward direction, and thereafter The ascending / descending drive signal generating unit 119 outputs an ascending drive signal so that the convergence point of the light beam gradually approaches the optical disc 101, and the FE amplitude measuring unit 117 starts measuring the amplitude of the FE signal. This is achieved by updating the maximum and minimum values of the measured FE signal.

  Since the S-shaped waveform appears in the FE signal as the focus actuator (converging lens) rises, the FE amplitude measuring unit 117 measures the amplitude of the S-shaped waveform. Here, in the single-layer disc, the S-shaped waveform due to the reflected light from the information surface, and in the double-layer disc, after the S-shaped waveform due to the reflected light from the information surface far from the optical head 103 appears, Therefore, when the measurement value in the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is not updated for a certain period of time, the ascending / descending drive signal generating unit 119 stops the output of the ascending drive signal, and conversely, the output of the descending drive signal To start.

  By driving the focus actuator in this way, it is possible to avoid the convergent lens from colliding with the optical disc 101.

  Further, by stopping the rotation of the optical disc 101 while the amplitude of the FE signal is measured, even if the converging lens collides with the optical disc 101, the influence of the collision on the optical disc 101 can be reduced. It becomes possible. Such control is achieved, for example, by keeping the disk motor 105 stopped while the ascending / descending drive signal generating unit 119 outputs a drive signal.

  In step S316, it is determined whether or not the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a DVD disk (that is, a disk on which a startup process is to be performed using a red laser).

  When the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 is determined to be a DVD disc. In this case, the DVD disk activation table 130 is selected in step S317, and the DVD disk activation process is executed.

  In the DVD disk activation process, it is necessary to determine the type of the DVD disk (for example, to determine whether the DVD disk is a DVD-ROM or a DVD-RAM). However, a method for discriminating the type of DVD disc and a start-up process corresponding to the type of DVD disc are known. Therefore, the description is omitted here.

  When the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that the optical disc 101 is not a DVD disc (that is, a disc other than a DVD disc). In this case, an infrared laser is selected in step S318, and a disc discrimination process using the infrared laser is executed in S319.

  The disc discriminating process (amplitude measuring operation) of the disc discriminating unit 120 in the disc discriminating process (S319) using the infrared laser is the disc discriminating process (using the red laser) except that the infrared laser is used instead of the red laser. Since this is the same as the operation (amplitude measurement operation) of the disc determination unit 120 in S315), its description is omitted here.

  In step S320, it is determined whether or not the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a CD disk (that is, a disk on which an activation process is to be performed using an infrared laser).

  When the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 is determined to be a CD disc. In this case, the CD disk activation table 131 is selected in step S321, and the CD disk activation process is executed.

  In the CD disk activation process, it is necessary to determine the type of the CD disk (for example, to determine whether the CD disk is a CD-R or a CD-RW). However, a method for discriminating the type of CD disc and a start-up process corresponding to the type of CD disc are known. Therefore, the description is omitted here.

  If it is determined that the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is neither a DVD disk nor a CD disk (that is, No in step S320), the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is red. There is no possibility of an existing optical disc that performs recording or reproduction using a laser or an infrared laser.

  In step S322, a blue laser is selected. Such selection is achieved by the light source selection unit 111 selecting the blue laser light source 104.

  In step S323, a disc determination process using a blue laser is performed. However, at this stage, there is a possibility that the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a disk stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back sides thereof being reversed. Accordingly, in step S323, it is determined whether or not the optical disc 101 is stored in the cartridge 102 in the correct orientation.

  The disc discriminating operation (amplitude measuring operation) of the disc discriminating unit 120 in the disc discriminating process (S323) using the blue laser is disc discriminating using the red laser except that the blue laser is used instead of the red laser or the infrared laser. This is the same as the operation (amplitude measurement operation) of the disc discrimination unit 120 in the processing (S315) or disc discrimination processing (S319) using an infrared laser. However, in the disk discrimination process using the blue laser (S323), it is determined whether or not the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a disk stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back sides reversed. Therefore, the amplitude of the AS signal is measured simultaneously with the measurement of the amplitude of the FE signal.

  Further, the rotation of the optical disc 101 may be stopped while the amplitude of the FE signal and the amplitude of the AS signal are measured. Thus, even if the convergent lens collides with the optical disc 101, it is possible to reduce the influence of the collision on the optical disc 101.

  In the disk stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back sides reversed, only the S-shaped waveform and the AS waveform due to the surface reflection on the label surface are detected, but the reflectivity of the label surface varies greatly depending on the type of the disk. The FE signal alone cannot be distinguished from the Blu-ray disc.

  FIG. 6 shows the waveforms of the FE signal, AS signal, and FE signal normalized by the AS signal obtained when the focus actuator is moved up and down. FIG. 6A shows the case of a single-layer Blu-ray disc, and FIG. 6B shows the case of a disc stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back sides reversed.

  In the blue laser, the influence of the spherical aberration caused by the difference in the substrate thickness of the optical disc 101 is larger than that of the laser other than the blue laser, and when the spherical aberration is shifted, compared with the case where the spherical aberration is not shifted, There is a characteristic that the deterioration of the amplitude of the FE signal is larger than the deterioration of the amplitude of the AS signal. When the disc is stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back sides reversed, the substrate thickness is about 0.1 mm compared to the case where the Blu-ray disc is stored in the cartridge 102 in the correct orientation. Therefore, even if the amplitude of the S-shaped waveform due to the surface reflection is the same as the amplitude of the S-shaped waveform due to the recording film of the Blu-ray disc, there is a difference in the amplitude of the normalized FE signal. Become. That is, when the Blu-ray disc is stored in the cartridge 102 in the correct orientation, the disc is stored in the cartridge 102 in a state where the front and back sides are reversed in comparison with the amplitude of the normalized FE signal. The amplitude of the normalized FE signal obtained when The reason is that normalization absorbs the difference in reflectance, and only the influence of spherical aberration remains.

  When performing disc discrimination processing using a blue laser, recording data is destroyed when a single-layer Blu-ray disc is irradiated with a blue laser with laser power for a dual-layer Blu-ray disc (reproducing light). (Degradation) is possible, so all settings including laser power are set for single layer.

  If the amplitude of the normalized FE signal calculated by the normalization calculation unit 136 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value in step S324, the optical disk 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a disk other than the Blu-ray disk. It is determined that there is. Here, also when the optical disk 101 is stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back sides thereof being reversed, it is determined No in step S324. In this case, the startup process ends with an error.

  If it is determined Yes in step S324, the Blu-ray disc is stored in the cartridge 102 in the correct orientation. Therefore, the second activation process (S325, S304 to S313) for activating the Ble-ray disc using the blue laser is executed.

  In step 325, when the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is determined to be a single-layer Blu-ray disc. . In this case, the processes of step S304 and steps S306 to S313 are executed to complete the activation process. Thereafter, a reproducing operation or a recording operation with respect to the optical disc 101 is performed as necessary.

  On the other hand, if the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value in step S325, it is determined that the optical disc 101 stored in the cartridge 102 is a two-layer Blu-ray disc. Is done. In this case, after executing the processing of step S305 to step S313, a focus jump operation for moving the convergence point of the light beam from the information surface on which focus control is currently performed to another adjacent information surface is performed. Various adjustments performed in steps S310 and S312 are performed so that the recording operation or the reproducing operation on the information surface is the best.

  As described above, when the cartridge 102 is opened even once, a laser other than the blue laser is once selected and disc discrimination is performed based on the amplitude of the FE signal, so that a red laser or a DVD disc or a CD disc can be detected. Even if an existing optical disk to be recorded or reproduced using an infrared laser is stored in the cartridge 102, the startup process corresponding to the type of the disk is executed without destroying the recorded data by irradiation with the blue laser. can do. Further, by performing the single layer setting including the laser power when discriminating the disc by the blue laser, it is possible to avoid destroying the recording data by irradiating the single layer disc with the double layer laser power. It can also be determined whether or not the disk is stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back reversed.

  In this embodiment, when the cartridge 102 is opened even once, the red laser is selected, the DVD disk is discriminated, the infrared laser is selected, and the CD disc is discriminated. However, it is possible to obtain the same effect by selecting an infrared laser, discriminating a CD disc, selecting a red laser, and discriminating a DVD disc.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment relates to a startup process for the bare optical disc 101. Here, “naked optical disk” means that the optical disk is not stored in the cartridge.

  The activation process of the bare optical disk 101 can be realized in the same manner as the activation process of the optical disk 101 when it is determined that the cartridge 102 described in the first embodiment has been opened.

  Hereinafter, the procedure of the startup process of the optical disc 101 when the optical disc 101 mounted on the optical disc apparatus is a bare optical disc will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

  In step S501, a red laser is selected. Such selection is achieved by the light source selection unit 111 selecting the red laser light source 126. The reason why the red laser is selected is that the bare optical disk 101 is highly likely to be a DVD disk or a CD disk.

  In step S502, disk discrimination processing using a red laser is executed. Since the method for measuring the amplitude of the FE signal including the vertical movement operation of the focus actuator is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S503, it is determined whether or not the optical disk 101 is a DVD disk (that is, a disk on which a startup process is to be performed using a red laser).

  If the amplitude measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the optical disc 101 is a DVD disc. In this case, the DVD disk activation table 130 is selected in step S504, and the DVD disk activation process is executed. Here, the DVD disk start-up process is substantially the same as the start-up process described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  When the amplitude measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that the optical disc 101 is not a DVD disc (that is, a disc other than a DVD disc). In this case, an infrared laser is selected in step S505, and disk discrimination processing using the infrared laser is executed in step S506. Here, since the method for measuring the amplitude of the FE signal including the vertical movement operation of the focus actuator is the same as that by the red laser described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S507, it is determined whether or not the optical disk 101 is a CD disk (that is, a disk on which an activation process is to be performed using an infrared laser).

  When the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 is determined to be a CD disc. In this case, the CD disk activation table 131 is selected in step S508, and the CD disk activation process is executed. Here, the CD disk start-up process is substantially the same as the above-described start-up process, as is the case with the DVD disk, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  At this stage, there is no possibility that the optical disk is an existing optical disk on which recording or reproduction is performed using a red laser or an infrared laser, such as a DVD disk or a CD disk. A disk discrimination process using a laser is executed. Since the method for measuring the amplitude of the FE signal and the method for measuring the amplitude of the AS signal including the vertical movement operation of the focus actuator are the same as those of the blue laser according to the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  When disc determination is performed using a blue laser, if the single layer Blu-ray disc is irradiated with the blue laser with the laser power for the dual-layer Blu-ray disc as in the first embodiment, the recorded data is destroyed. Therefore, all settings including the laser power are set as single layer settings.

  In step S511, when the amplitude of the normalized FE signal calculated by the normalization calculation unit 136 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 is determined to be a disc other than a Blu-ray disc. In this case, the startup process ends with an error.

  In step S512, when the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE signal amplitude measuring unit 117 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 is determined to be a single layer Blu-ray disc. In this case, the processing from step S513 and step S515 to step S522 is executed, and the activation process is completed. Thereafter, a reproducing operation and a recording operation with respect to the optical disc 101 are performed as necessary.

  On the other hand, when the amplitude of the FE signal measured by the FE amplitude measurement unit 117 in step S512 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the optical disc 101 is determined to be a two-layer Blu-ray disc. In this case, after executing the processing from step S514 to step S522, a focus jump operation is performed to move the convergence point of the light beam from the information surface on which focus control is currently performed to another adjacent information surface. Various adjustments performed in steps S519 and S521 are performed so that the recording operation or the reproducing operation on the information surface is the best.

  As described above, when a bare optical disc is loaded, a laser other than the blue laser is selected once, and disc discrimination is performed based on the amplitude of the FE signal. Even when an existing optical disk that performs recording or reproduction using an external laser is mounted, the start-up process corresponding to the type of the disk can be executed without destroying the recording data by irradiation with the blue laser. Further, by performing the single layer setting including the laser power when discriminating the disc by the blue laser, it is possible to avoid destroying the recording data by irradiating the single layer disc with the double layer laser power. It can also be determined whether or not the disk is stored in the cartridge 102 with the front and back reversed.

  In the present embodiment, the red laser is first selected, the DVD disk is discriminated, the infrared laser is selected, and the CD disc is discriminated. However, as in the first embodiment, first, The same effect can be obtained by adopting a configuration in which an infrared laser is selected and a CD disk is discriminated, then a red laser is selected and a DVD disc is discriminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an optical disk is used as an example of an information carrier has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As the information carrier, any medium capable of performing a recording operation or a reproducing operation can be used.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been illustrated using preferable embodiment of this invention, this invention should not be limited and limited to this embodiment. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be construed only by the claims. It is understood that those skilled in the art can implement an equivalent range based on the description of the present invention and the common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments of the present invention. Patents, patent applications, and documents cited herein should be incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if the contents themselves were specifically described herein. Understood.

  An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention has a disc discriminating method with high reliability by using disc discriminating by a cartridge switch and disc discriminating by reflected light from an optical disc together, and a Blu-ray disc equipped with a blue laser. Useful as a recorder. Moreover, it is applicable not only to a recorder but also to a PC drive or the like.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical disc device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart showing the procedure of the optical disk activation process when the type of optical disk loaded in the optical disk device is known Flowchart showing the procedure of the optical disk startup process when the type of optical disk loaded in the optical disk device is unknown The figure which shows the waveform of the FE signal obtained when a focus actuator is moved up and down Flowchart showing the procedure of optical disk start-up processing when the optical disk loaded in the optical disk apparatus is a bare optical disk The figure which shows the waveform of the FE signal normalized by the FE signal, AS signal, and AS signal obtained when a focus actuator is moved up and down

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Optical disk 102 Cartridge 103 Optical head 104 Blue laser light source 105 Disk motor 106 Opening / closing history detection switch 107 Kind detection switch 108 Focus error signal generation part 109 Tracking error signal generation part 110 Cartridge state detection part 111 Light source selection part 112 Laser control part 113 Laser Drive circuit 114 Focus control unit 115 Switch 116 Focus drive circuit 117 FE amplitude measurement unit 118 FE amplitude comparison unit 119 Up / down drive signal generation unit 120 Disc determination unit 121 Tracking control unit 122 Tracking drive circuit 123 Disc motor control unit 124 Disc motor Drive circuit 125 DSP
126 Red Laser Light Source 127 Infrared Laser Light Source 128 Spherical Aberration Correction Control Unit 129 Spherical Aberration Correction Drive Circuit 130 DVD Disc Startup Table 131 CD Disc Startup Table 132 Blu-ray Single-Layer Disc Startup Table 133 Blu-ray Two-Layer Disc Startup Table 134 All Light amount signal generation unit 135 AS amplitude measurement unit 136 normalization calculation unit 137 normalization FE amplitude comparison unit

Claims (40)

An information carrier device that performs at least one of a recording operation and a reproducing operation on an information carrier,
Determining means for determining whether or not a cartridge storing the information carrier has been opened;
Control means for executing a start-up process according to the information carrier,
If it is determined that the cartridge has not been opened, the control means executes a first activation process for activating the information carrier using a blue laser,
If it is determined that the cartridge has been opened, the control means determines whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier that is to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser. An information carrier device. If it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the control means responds to the information carrier using a laser other than the blue laser. Run the startup process
If it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the control means uses the blue laser to direct the information carrier to the cartridge in the correct orientation. The information carrier device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the information carrier is stored. If it is determined that the information carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation, the control means executes a second activation process for activating the information carrier using the blue laser,
3. The information carrier device according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that the information carrier is not stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation, the control means outputs an error signal.   In the first activation process, the control means determines whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and the information carrier has a single-layer structure. The information carrier device according to claim 1, wherein an activation process is executed in accordance with whether or not it has a multi-layer structure.   In the second activation process, the control means uses the blue laser to determine whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and the information carrier The information carrier device according to claim 3, wherein an activation process is executed in accordance with whether a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure is used.   The control means is a light beam emitted from the blue laser, and the information carrier has a single layer structure according to the amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier. The information carrier device according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether the device has a multi-layer structure.   The control means is a light beam emitted from the blue laser, and an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier is applied to the light beam reflected by the information carrier. A normalized focus error signal is generated by normalizing with the amplitude of the total light quantity signal generated based on the information carrier, and the information carrier is directed to the cartridge according to the amplitude of the normalized focus error signal. The information carrier device according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether or not the information carrier is stored.   8. The information carrier device according to claim 7, wherein the control means stops the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light quantity signal are measured.   The control means moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and gradually approaches the convergence point of the light beam from the position to the information carrier, and the amplitude and the total of the focus error signal. Measure the amplitude of the light amount signal, and move the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light amount signal is completed. The information carrier device according to claim 7. The control means determines whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a red laser,
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, the control means executes the activation process corresponding to the information carrier using the red laser. The information carrier device according to claim 2.   The control means is a light beam emitted from the red laser, and the information carrier uses a red laser according to an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier. The information carrier device according to claim 10, wherein it is determined whether or not the information carrier is to execute the activation process.   12. The information carrier device according to claim 11, wherein the control means stops the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured.   The control means moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and measures the amplitude of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from that position. 12. The information carrier device according to claim 11, wherein the convergence point of the light beam is moved so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed. If it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier that should be activated using the red laser, the control means is information that the information carrier should perform an activation process using an infrared laser. Determine whether it is a carrier,
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the control means performs activation processing corresponding to the information carrier using the infrared laser. 11. The information carrier device according to claim 10, which is executed. The control means determines whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using an infrared laser,
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the control means performs activation processing corresponding to the information carrier using the infrared laser. The information carrier device according to claim 2, which is executed.   The control means is a light beam emitted from the infrared laser, and the information carrier is an infrared laser according to an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier. The information carrier device according to claim 15, wherein it is determined whether or not the information carrier is to be subjected to a starting process.   The information carrier device according to claim 16, wherein the control means stops the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is measured.   The control means moves the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and measures the amplitude of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from that position. 17. The information carrier device according to claim 16, wherein after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed, the convergence point of the light beam is moved so that the convergence point of the light beam is away from the information carrier. When it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier that should execute the activation process using the infrared laser, the control means is information that the information carrier should execute the activation process using a red laser. Determine whether it is a carrier,
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, the control means executes the activation process corresponding to the information carrier using the red laser. The information carrier device according to claim 15.   If the information carrier is a bare information carrier that is not stored in the cartridge, the control means determines whether the information carrier is an information carrier that is to perform a startup process using a laser other than the blue laser. The information carrier device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not. An information carrier activation method executed in an information carrier device that performs at least one of a recording operation and a reproduction operation on an information carrier,
(A) determining whether a cartridge storing the information carrier has been opened;
(B) including a step of executing an activation process according to the information carrier,
The step (b)
If it is determined that the cartridge has not been opened, performing a first activation process for activating the information carrier using a blue laser; and
Determining that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser if it is determined that the cartridge has been opened. An information carrier starting method. The step (b)
If it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, the activation process corresponding to the information carrier is performed using a laser other than the blue laser. And steps to
If it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser, is the information carrier stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation using the blue laser? The information carrier activation method according to claim 21, further comprising: determining whether or not. The step (b)
If it is determined that the information carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation, performing a second activation process for activating the information carrier using the blue laser;
23. The information carrier activation method according to claim 22, further comprising: outputting an error signal when it is determined that the information carrier is not stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation.   The first activation process includes a step of determining whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, and whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure. The information carrier activation method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of executing an activation process according to whether or not a layer structure is provided.   The second activation process includes using the blue laser to determine whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure; and 24. The information carrier activation method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of executing an activation process according to whether or not the structure has a structure or a multi-layer structure.   The determination of whether the information carrier has a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure is based on the light beam emitted from the blue laser and reflected by the information carrier. 26. The information carrier activation method according to claim 25, wherein the information carrier activation method is performed in accordance with an amplitude of a focus error signal generated in the above-described manner. The step (b)
A light beam emitted from the blue laser and generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier, the amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the light beam reflected by the information carrier Further comprising generating a normalized focus error signal by normalizing with the amplitude of the total light signal,
23. The information carrier activation method according to claim 22, wherein the determination as to whether or not the information carrier is stored in the cartridge in the correct orientation is made according to the amplitude of the normalized focus error signal. The step (b)
28. The information carrier activation method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of stopping the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light quantity signal are measured. The step (b)
Moving the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier;
Measuring the focus error signal amplitude and the total light amount signal amplitude while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from the position;
The method further comprises: moving the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal and the amplitude of the total light quantity signal is completed. Item 27. The information carrier activation method according to Item 27. The step (b)
Determining whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a red laser; and
23. When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, the activation process corresponding to the information carrier is performed using the red laser. The information carrier starting method as described.   The determination as to whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a red laser is based on the light beam emitted from the red laser and reflected by the information carrier. 31. The information carrier activation method according to claim 30, wherein the information carrier activation method is performed in accordance with an amplitude of a focus error signal generated in the first step. The step (b)
32. The information carrier activation method according to claim 31, comprising stopping the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured. The step (b)
Moving the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier;
Measuring the amplitude of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from the position;
32. The information carrier activation according to claim 31, further comprising: moving the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed. Method. The step (b)
If it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier that should be activated using the red laser, whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier that should be activated using an infrared laser Determining whether or not
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the activation process corresponding to the information carrier is performed using the infrared laser. The information carrier activation method according to claim 30, further comprising: The step (b)
Determining whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using an infrared laser; and
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, the activation process corresponding to the information carrier is performed using the infrared laser. The information bearing activation method according to claim 22, which is included.   The determination as to whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using an infrared laser is a light beam emitted from the infrared laser and reflected by the information carrier 36. The information carrier activation method according to claim 35, which is performed according to an amplitude of a focus error signal generated based on the information. The step (b)
37. The information carrier activation method according to claim 36, comprising the step of stopping the rotation of the information carrier while the amplitude of the focus error signal is being measured. The step (b)
Moving the convergence point of the light beam to a position away from the information carrier, and measuring the amplitude of the focus error signal while gradually bringing the convergence point of the light beam closer to the information carrier from the position; 37. The information carrier activation according to claim 36, further comprising the step of moving the convergence point of the light beam so that the convergence point of the light beam moves away from the information carrier after the measurement of the amplitude of the focus error signal is completed. Method. The step (b)
If it is determined that the information carrier is not an information carrier to be activated using the infrared laser, whether or not the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a red laser Determining
When it is determined that the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using the red laser, the activation process corresponding to the information carrier is performed using the red laser. 36. The information carrier activation method according to claim 35. The step (b)
If the information carrier is a bare information carrier not stored in the cartridge, it is determined whether the information carrier is an information carrier to be activated using a laser other than the blue laser. The information carrier activation method according to claim 21, further comprising a step.

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