JPH03290833A - Optical information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the entering of dust by making the revolving speed of a cooling fan when the recording and reproducing are not performed lower than the revolving speed when an optical information recording medium is loaded and recording and reproducing are performed. CONSTITUTION:The revolving speed of the cooling fan 21 when the recording and reproducing are not performed is controlled to be lower than the revolving speed when the optical information recording medium 16 is loaded and the recording and reproducing are performed. Thus, by performing the cooling with an air quantity that is suitable for the inside temp. under each state whenever each state of a driving device is effective, the suction quantity of outside air by the fan 21 can be suppressed to a min. By this method, the dust to be introduced thus suppressing contamination of optical parts represented by an objective lens 18 to a min. accordingly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing device that records, reproduces, erases, etc. information on a disk-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk, and particularly relates to a recording/reproducing device that records, reproduces, erases, etc. information on a disc-shaped recording medium such as an optical disk. The present invention relates to a control device for a recording/reproducing device that can minimize the dust contamination of optical components caused by.

(Prior art) In recent years, various data or audio/visual (AV)
Optical disks and magneto-optical disks, which are compact but capable of recording large amounts of information, have become common as media for recording signals. Optical information recording and reproducing devices that can also write have been widely developed.

In such an optical disk drive device of an optical information recording and reproducing device, light from a semiconductor laser is focused by an objective lens located at an output end of an optical pickup to form a minute spot on an optical disk. Since the objective lens emits a laser beam and detects reflected light, it is generally constructed so that the surface of the objective lens is always exposed to the atmosphere regardless of whether or not the drive device is driven.

On the other hand, various kinds of dust, typified by cigarette smoke, are floating in the atmosphere, and these dusts can also enter the inside of the drive device.

In particular, when the drive unit is powered on, the forced cooling fan placed behind the drive unit rotates and sucks outside air into the drive even if no optical disk is inserted. Therefore, a lot of dust will enter. These dust particles adhere and accumulate on the surfaces of optical components such as objective lenses, lowering the reflectance and transmittance of the optical components, and as a result, have an adverse effect that hinders information recording and reproduction.

In order to solve such problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-1785
Publication No. 24 states that when an optical disc is not loaded, it is located at a position facing the objective lens and covers the objective lens, and when the optical disc is inserted, it is pressed by the cartridge and retreats to a position not facing the objective lens, and the objective lens is closed. A cover is disclosed that exposes the lens.

7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams of the structure of the cover described in the above publication, and reference numeral 1 indicates the housing of the drive device.

2 is a cartridge containing a recording medium; 3 is a tray that receives the inserted cartridge 2; and 4 is an optical pickup equipped with an objective lens 5.

A lever 6 has one end rotatably supported by a pin 9 at a position that does not interfere with insertion of the cartridge 2, and an objective lens cover 7 is disposed at the other end. The torsion spring 8 wrapped around the pin 9 has one end attached to the tray 3.
The lever 6 is urged to the lens closing position shown in FIG. 7 by being locked to a locking protrusion IO protruding from the back surface of the lever 6 and having the other end detected by a protrusion 11 provided on the lever 6.

A pin 13 protruding from the lever 6 protrudes into the movement path of the cartridge, and when the cartridge 3 is pushed in the IN direction, the lever 6 rotates against the spring 8 and returns to the lens exposure position, as shown in FIG. evacuate. Conversely, when the cartridge 3 is ejected, the lever 6 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 7 by the spring 8, and the objective lens 5 is covered by the cover 7.

By configuring as described above, it is possible to prevent contamination of the objective lens, etc., at least when the drive device is powered on and no optical disk is mounted.

However, in the conventional example described above, the surface of the objective lens is exposed and in contact with the air when the optical disc is mounted. Moreover, the forced cooling fan located behind the drive device continues to rotate and draw outside air into the drive device, regardless of whether information is recorded or reproduced on the disk. Therefore, a large amount of dust enters the drive, adheres to and accumulates on optical components such as objective lenses, reduces reflectance and transmittance, and becomes a major hindrance to recording and reproducing information.

Furthermore, in today's world where there is a strong demand for miniaturization of drive devices, it is not easy to add a mechanism centered around the lever to the drive device.

From this point of view, in order to maintain normal operation of the device, it is important to reduce the amount of dust that enters the drive device not only when an optical disk is not installed, but also when an optical disk is installed, without increasing the size of the device. has become an important issue.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides a new mechanism to prevent dust from entering due to the continuous operation of the cooling fan when the power of the recording/reproducing device is turned on. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical information recording/reproducing device that can prevent such damage without adding any additional information.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention records and reproduces information by irradiating a laser beam focused by an objective lens onto an optical information recording medium, and continues to drive a cooling fan when the power is turned on. In an optical information recording and reproducing device that introduces and recirculates outside air, the number of rotations of the cooling fan when the optical information recording medium is not installed and when the optical information recording medium is installed and recording and reproducing is not performed is determined by the optical system. It is characterized in that the rotational speed is controlled to be lower than the rotational speed when the information recording medium is loaded and recording/reproduction is being performed.

Further, the present invention includes an optical pickup that records and reproduces information by irradiating a laser beam focused by an objective lens onto an optical information recording medium, and continuously drives a cooling fan when the power is turned on to introduce outside air. - In an optical information recording and reproducing device that performs exhaust, the stop position in the seek direction of the optical pickup when the optical information recording medium is not installed and when the optical information recording medium is installed and recording and reproducing is not performed for a certain period of time or more,
The optical pickup is characterized in that the driving mechanism of the optical pickup is controlled so that the optical pickup is located on the windward side of the airflow formed by the cooling fan.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan sectional view and a front sectional view showing the configuration and operation of a recording/reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

This recording/reproducing device is an add-on type recording/reproducing device that is attached externally to a host machine such as a computer, and a housing I5 of the main body of the drive device is disposed inside the device exterior part 14. A cartridge 16 with an optical disk inside is configured to be removable from the bezel on the front wall (left side in the drawing) of the housing I5, and
An output shaft 22 of a spindle motor projects upward from a chassis 19 located at the inner bottom of the spindle motor 5 . Further, an optical pickup 17 having an objective lens 18 is disposed on the chassis 19.
is supported so as to be movable in the radial direction. pickup 1
7 protrudes into the inside of the cartridge from the window lea of the cartridge 16 to make the objective lens 18 face the internal disk. A fan 21 for forcedly cooling the drive device is arranged on the rear wall of the exterior part 14, as shown in FIG.
Embodiment 1 is a type that sucks outside air from the front of the device.

The example shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) is a type in which suction is performed from the back of the device. In each figure, A and B indicate the direction of the generated airflow, respectively.

Note that numerals 20 and 23 indicate the position of the electronic board.

The fan 21 starts rotating when the device is powered on, and performs cooling by circulating air through the drive device main body and a power source (not shown).
The air volume of the conventional fan 21 is constant, and the output is set based on the assumption that the heat generation of the drive device, etc. is at its maximum. Therefore, if the heat generation amount is less than the maximum heat generation amount, that is, the power of the device is turned on. If the cartridge 16 is not inserted into the drive device, or the drive is in a standby state where the drive has finished a predetermined recording/playback operation and is waiting for a command input from the user (normally, the spindle 22 continues to rotate). , the pickup 17 continues tracing on the same track on the optical disk, or continues tracking in a spiral manner), cooling is performed with an air volume exceeding the required strength.

In the present invention, the number of rotations of the fan 21 is determined in a state in which no cartridge is installed in the drive device (state X) and in a state in which the drive device has finished a predetermined recording/reproducing operation and is waiting for a command (state Y). It is characteristic that the rotational speed is controlled to be lower than the rotational speed in a state (state 2) in which the cartridge is installed and both recording and reproduction are being performed on the optical disc.

In other words, the amount of outside air sucked by the fan 21 is minimized by performing cooling for each state of the drive device with an air volume suitable for the internal temperature under each state.

Here, the minimum required rotational speed of the fan 21 in each state X, Y, and Z is r (X) and r (Y), respectively.

``(2), then the relationship between each rotation speed is ``(X)<r
(Y) <r (Z), and the rotation speed control flow of the fan 21 from the time of power-on is as shown in FIG.

That is, when the power of the drive device is turned on, it is first checked in step 100 whether or not a recording medium such as an optical disk is inserted, and if it is inserted, step 101 is performed.
It is checked whether recording/playback is to be performed. record·
When performing playback, the fan should be rotated at a rotation speed of ``(2)'' and 0 rotation speed for recording and playback while rotating. This is the maximum number of rotations required to lower the engine.

If no medium is inserted in step I00, the fan is controlled to have the lowest rotational speed r (X) (104).

When recording/reproducing is not performed in step lot, the fan is controlled to have an intermediate rotational speed (Y) (105).

In this way, in the present invention, the control unit (not shown) controls the motor of the fan 21 to set the minimum number of rotations required to lower the internal heat generation temperature, which varies for each state x, y, and z, to a predetermined temperature. Since the output is controlled, the amount of airborne dust sucked in due to excessive suction power is minimized and contamination of the optical system is minimized without increasing the size by adding a particularly complex mechanism. can be reduced.

In the above embodiments, an external type recording/reproducing device is illustrated, but the present invention can be applied to a built-in type device in the same manner.

2(a) and 2(b) are a plan sectional view and a front sectional view showing the operation of the recording/reproducing device of FIG. 1 during suction,
Since there is no difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the suction direction is different, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

Next, FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a recording and reproducing apparatus to which the control method of the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.
The embodiment is characterized by control that is varied depending on each state such as the position of the pickup.

That is, this recording/reproducing apparatus is an external type recording/reproducing apparatus similar to that of the first embodiment, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Arrows C%D, E, and F in the figure are air flows, and the fan 21
When airflow C flows in from the front of the casing due to the suction of
The air flows into the air, becomes an airflow E under the influence of the rotation of the disk, and exits again through the window 26a, becomes an airflow F and is exhausted from the fan 21. This air flow E passes through the edge P of the window +6a of the cartridge as it exits the window +6a.

At this time, a lot of floating dust adheres and accumulates in this part, so that the pickup is not attached to the outermost diameter part of the window 16a (
When it is located near the edge P), it is most likely to be contaminated by dust.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, when the cartridge is not installed in the drive device, or when the cartridge is installed but recording and reproduction are not performed for a certain period of time, the pickup 17 including the objective lens is moved as shown in FIG. As shown in (a), the moving mechanism of the pickup is controlled so as to keep it at a predetermined position on the inner circumferential side (windward side). This pickup movement control is performed in the seek range.

FIG. 6 shows the control flow of the device in FIG. 4(al(b)). After the drive device is powered on, it is first checked to see if a cartridge is inserted (step 110). Step 111
At this point, it is checked whether recording or reproduction is to be performed within a certain period of time. If recording/reproducing is to be performed, return to step 111;
To! If recording/reproduction is not to be performed, the process proceeds to step 114 and the pickup is positioned at a predetermined position on the inner circumferential side.

If the cartridge is not inserted in step 110, the process proceeds to step 113 and the pickup is moved to a predetermined position on the inner circumferential side.

In this embodiment, in order to prevent dust from adhering to the pickup, which is caused by locating the pickup 17 near the position on the air flow path where dust is most likely to accumulate (the outer diameter side edge of the window). When a cartridge is installed but no recording/playback operation is being performed,
The pickup drive mechanism is controlled so that the pickup is retracted to a position where it is less affected by airflow (upwind side = inner peripheral side). The reason why the cartridge is retracted even when it is not installed is that if it is located in the outer diameter direction, there is a risk that it will be contaminated by the air flow that passes through a path other than the air flow E. The reason why it is required that the cartridge is installed and that recording and reproduction have not been performed for more than a certain period of time is to eliminate cases where no operation is performed for a short period of time due to a mere interruption of recording and reproduction operations.

In this way, in the embodiment of FIG. 4(a) lbl, it is possible to avoid the influence of air flow, which tends to cause floating dust to adhere to the pickup, without increasing the size of the pickup by adding a special and complicated mechanism. Can be done. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a recording/reproducing device of the type in which outside air flows in from the back of the drive device. This air enters the window 16a of the cartridge, becomes an airflow I under the influence of the rotation of the disk, and exits through the window 16a again, and finally becomes an airflow H and is exhausted from the front of the device. When the airflow passes through the edge Q of the window 16a, it deposits a lot of dust on this area.

Therefore, the pickup is located at the innermost diameter part (edge Q) of the window 16a.
dust contamination is most likely to occur when the area is located in the vicinity).

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the pickup 17 including the objective lens is Figure 5(a)
The moving mechanism of the pickup is controlled so that the pickup is positioned at a predetermined position on the outer circumferential side (upwind side) as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the layer also prevents dust from adhering to the pickup, which is caused by locating the pickup 17 in the vicinity of a position where dust tends to accumulate (the outer diameter side edge of the window). To prevent this, when a cartridge is installed but no recording/playback operation is being performed,
The pickup drive mechanism is controlled so that the pickup is retracted to a position where it is less affected by airflow (upwind side = inner peripheral side). The reason why the cartridge is retracted even when it is not installed is that if it is located in the outer diameter direction, there is a risk that it will be contaminated by the air flow that passes through a path other than the air flow E. The reason why it is required that the cartridge is installed and that no recording or reproduction is performed for a certain period of time is to eliminate cases in which no operation is performed for a short period of time due to a mere interruption of both recording and reproducing operations.

In this way, in the embodiment of FIG. 4 (at (bl),
It is possible to avoid the influence of airflow, which tends to cause floating dust to adhere to the pickup, without increasing the size of the pickup by adding a special and complicated mechanism. Figure 5 shows the drive being removed from the back.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the present invention, first, when a recording medium is not installed in the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus, and when it is installed but no recording/reproducing operation is performed, the recording medium is The number of revolutions of the fan that cools the recording/reproducing device is reduced compared to when the recording/reproducing device is installed and recording/playing is being performed on the recording medium, thereby minimizing dust introduced into the device by the air flow of the fan. As a result, contamination of optical components such as objective lenses can be minimized.

In addition, in the present invention, when a recording medium is not installed in the recording/amplifying device, or when it is installed but no recording/reproducing operation is performed for a certain period of time, the optical pickup including the objective lens is removed from the pickup. Seek (S
eek) positioning within the range of operation upwind of the airflow formed by the cooling fan to minimize contamination of the optical components by dust carried by the fan airflow; be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1(a) and 1(b) are a plan sectional view and a front sectional view showing the configuration and operation of a recording/reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied;
Figures (a) and tb) are plan sectional views and front sectional views showing the operation of the recording/reproducing device in Figure 1 during suction, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 (1a) lb) and Figure 2 (a) (b). ) is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the embodiment. 4(a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of a recording/reproducing apparatus to which the control method of the second embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 1a) and (b) are diagrams of the third embodiment of the present invention. An explanatory diagram of a recording and reproducing apparatus to which the control method is applied, No. ev! I is l! Figure 4 (a)
A flowchart showing the control procedure of the embodiment (b), and FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams of the conventional example. I4... Device exterior part 15... Housing of drive device main body 16... Cartridge 16a... Window 1
7... Optical pickup 18... Objective lens I9
... Chassis 21 ... Fan 22 ・

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Laser light focused by an objective lens is irradiated onto the optical information recording medium to record and reproduce information, and when the power is turned on, the cooling fan is continuously driven to introduce outside air.
In an optical information recording and reproducing device that performs exhaust air, the rotational speed of the cooling fan when the optical information recording medium is not installed and when the optical information recording medium is installed and recording and reproducing is not performed, and when the optical information recording medium is installed. An optical information recording and reproducing device characterized in that the rotational speed is controlled to be lower than the rotational speed during recording and reproducing. (2) Equipped with an optical pickup that records and reproduces information by irradiating a laser beam focused by an objective lens onto an optical information recording medium, and continuously drives a cooling fan when the power is turned on to introduce and exhaust outside air. In the optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, the stop position of the optical pickup in the seek direction is formed by the cooling fan when the optical information recording medium is not installed and when the optical information recording medium is installed and recording and reproducing are not performed for a certain period of time or more. 1. An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, characterized in that a drive mechanism of the optical pickup is controlled so that the optical pickup is located on the windward side of the airflow.