Disc accessing using coarse and fine actuators with the fine actuator locked during coarse actuator movement

Claim 3

An access method according to claim 1, wherein an optical disc capable of at least one of recording or reproducing information using a light beam is used as said rotary medium, and said light beam is emitted from an optical head whose position is controlled by said coarse actuator and irradiated onto said optical disc such that the irradiation position of said light beam is controlled by said fine actuator carried in said optical head.

Claim 4

An access method according to claim 2, wherein said coarse actuator is a linear motor operable to move said optical head in a radial direction of said optical disc.

Claim 5

An access method according to claim 2, wherein said fine actuator comprises an actuator disposed in said optical head capable of moving an objective lens.

Claim 6

An access method according to claim 2, wherein said fine actuator is a movable mirror capable of deflecting said light beam in a radial direction of said optical disc.

Claim 7

An access method according to claim 5, wherein said detector detects deflection angles of said movable mirror.

Claim 8

An information memory accessing apparatus comprising: a rotary recording medium; a coarse actuator; a fine actuator; a head which is positioned at a desired track of said rotary recording medium by means of said coarse actuator and said fine actuator; a detector for detecting movements of said fine actuator; a lock signal generator for comparing a first output signal produced from said detector immediately prior to initiation of an access operation of said coarse actuator with a second output signal subsequently produced from said detector during the access operation of said coarse actuator to produce a comparison output signal; and means, responsive to said comparison output signal from said lock signal generator, for locking said fine actuator during the access operatin of said coarse actuator.

Claim 9

An information memory accessing apparatus comprising: a rotary recording medium; a coarse actuator; a fine actuator; a head which is positioned at a desired track of said rotary recording medium by means of said coarse actuator and said fine actuator; a detector for detecting movements of said fine actuator; a lock signal generator for comparing a first output signal produced from said detector immediately prior to initiation of an access operation of said coarse actuator with a second output signal subsequently produced from said detector during the access operation of said coarse actuator to produce a comparison output signal; and means, responsive to said comparison output signal from said lock signal generator, for locking said fine actuator during the access operatin of said coarse actuator.

Claim 10

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said head is an optical head and said rotary recording medium comprises an optical disc capable of at least one of recording or reproducing information using a light beam, said coarse actuator comprises means for moving said optical head for irradiation of said light beam onto said optical disc in a radial direction of said optical disc, and said fine actuator comprises means, carried in said optical head, for controlling a radial irradiation position of said light beam on said optical disc.

Claim 11

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said coarse actuator is a linear motor.

Claim 12

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fine actuator comprises means, disposed in said optical head, for moving an objective lens.

Claim 13

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a fine actuator is a movable mirror for deflection of said light beam.

Claim 14

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detector detects deflection angles of said movable mirror.

Claim 15

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detector comprises a light emitting element for irradiation of light only said movable mirror, and a light receiving element for receiving light from said movable mirror and for producing an output signal representative of a deflection angle of said movable mirror.

Claim 16

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lock signal generator comprises first means responsive to an access initiation signal to sample and hold said first output signal produced from said detector, and second means for comparing said first output signal of said first means with said second output signal subsequently produced from said detector to produce a difference signal indicative of the comparison output signal.

Claim 17

An information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said lock signal generator further comprises third means, connected to said second means, for compensating for the phase of the difference signal of said second means.

Claim 18

An optical information memory accessing apparatus comprising: a rotary recording medium capable of at least one of recording or reproducing information by using a light beam; an optical head for irradiation of said light beam onto said rotary recording medium; a first actuator for moving said optical head in a radial direction of said recording medium; a second actuator, carried on said optical head, for controlling a radial irradiation position of said light beam on said rotary recording medium; detector means for detecting movements of said second actuator; lock signal generator means for comparing a first output signal produced from said detector means immediately prior to initiation of an access operation of said first actuator with a second output signal subsequently produced from said detector during the access operation of said first actuator to produce a comparison output signal and for generating on the basis of said comparison output signal a lock signal; and means, responsive to the lock signal from said lock signal generating means, for locking said second actuator at a state occurring immediately prior to the initiation of said access operation during said access operation of said first actuator.

Claim 19

An optical information memory accessing apparatus comprising: a rotary recording medium capable of at least one of recording or reproducing information by using a light beam; an optical head for irradiation of said light beam onto said rotary recording medium; a first actuator for moving said optical head in a radial direction of said recording medium; a second actuator, carried on said optical head, for controlling a radial irradiation position of said light beam on said rotary recording medium; detector means for detecting movements of said second actuator; lock signal generator means for comparing a first output signal produced from said detector means immediately prior to initiation of an access operation of said first actuator with a second output signal subsequently produced from said detector during the access operation of said first actuator to produce a comparison output signal and for generating on the basis of said comparison output signal a lock signal; and means, responsive to the lock signal from said lock signal generating means, for locking said second actuator at a state occurring immediately prior to the initiation of said access operation during said access operation of said first actuator.

Claim 20

An optical information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first actuator is a linear motor and said second actuator is a movable mirror for deflection of said light beam.

Claim 21

An optical information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said detector means is a deflection angle detector comprising a light emitting element for irradiation of light onto said movable mirror and a light receiving element for receiving light from said movable mirror and for producing an output signal representative of a deflection angle of said movable mirror.

Claim 22

An optical information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said lock signal generator means comprises a sample and hold circuit connected to said detector means and controlled by an access initiation signal, and a differential circuit connected to said detector means and said sample and hold circuit for producing a difference between said first and second output signals.

Claim 23

An optical information memory accessing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said lock signal generator means further comprises a phase compensation circuit connected to said differential circuit.