Patent US5748589A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5748589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Diagnosis of an optical disk apparatus using a diagnostic method contained on an optical disk medium
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1996-06-19
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Granted: 1998-05-05
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Expires: 2016-06-19
Abstract
Abstract An optical disk apparatus that does not need the intervention of a host apparatus, such as a host computer, performs a diagnostic method of checking the optical disk apparatus for diagnosis using a diagnostic optical disk medium. Upon the detection of the loading of a diagnostic optical disk medium into an optical disk apparatus, an optical head reads diagnostic information written beforehand on the diagnostic optical disk medium, and a diagnostic operation is carried out to diagnose a writing or reading operation of the optical disk apparatus under the control of a main control circuit without requiring the intervention of a host computer. The results of diagnosis are written on the diagnostic optical disk medium or provided in some other fashion. If the results are stored on the disk, the host computer makes reference to the stored results when necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 Kikuo Shimizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:52
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B20/18; G11B20/1816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An optical disk apparatus, comprising: detecting means for detecting presence/absence of an optical disk; disk rotating means for rotatably driving the optical disk; an optical head for writing information on and reading information from the optical disk; optical head position control means for controlling the position of the optical head relative to the optical disk; a signal control system for controlling write signals representing information to be written by the optical head and read signals representing information read by the optical head; and means for reading a predetermined read-only diagnostic identification information writing zone of the optical disk upon loading of the optical disk to thereby determine whether the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk, and for selecting one of a diagnostic mode and a normal operating mode according to the determination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An optical disk apparatus, comprising: detecting means for detecting presence/absence of an optical disk; disk rotating means for rotatably driving the optical disk; an optical head for writing information on and reading information from the optical disk; optical head position control means for controlling the position of the optical head relative to the optical disk; a signal control system for controlling write signals representing information to be written by the optical head and read signals representing information read by the optical head; and means for reading a predetermined read-only diagnostic identification information writing zone of the optical disk upon loading of the optical disk to thereby determine whether the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk, and for selecting one of a diagnostic mode and a normal operating mode according to the determination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A self-diagnostic method of checking an optical disk apparatus that reads information from an optical disk loaded into the optical disk apparatus, the diagnostic method comprising the following steps: determining whether the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk upon loading of the optical disk into the optical disk apparatus; if said determining step determines that the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk, reading diagnostic information written on the diagnostic optical disk; and carrying out diagnosis of an optical disk apparatus according to the diagnostic information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A self-diagnostic method of checking an optical disk apparatus that reads information from an optical disk loaded into the optical disk apparatus, the diagnostic method comprising the following steps: determining whether the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk upon loading of the optical disk into the optical disk apparatus; if said determining step determines that the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk, reading diagnostic information written on the diagnostic optical disk; and carrying out diagnosis of an optical disk apparatus according to the diagnostic information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A diagnostic optical disk containing first information identifying itself as a diagnostic optical disk for diagnosing an optical disk apparatus, and second information specifying contents of diagnosis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A diagnostic optical disk containing first information identifying itself as a diagnostic optical disk for diagnosing an optical disk apparatus, and second information specifying contents of diagnosis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for reading a predetermined diagnostic identification information writing zone reads the predetermined diagnostic identification information writing zone automatically upon loading of the optical disk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical disk contains contents of diagnosis stored in a user's zone of the optical disk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for autonomously starting diagnosis upon loading of the optical disk and upon determination by said means for reading a predetermined diagnostic identification information writing zone that the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk; wherein the means for autonomously starting diagnosis automatically reads diagnostic information, including contents of diagnosis, from the optical disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for setting the optical disk apparatus in a diagnosis-ineffective mode upon completion of diagnosis, thereby inhibiting the automatic start of diagnosis upon loading of the optical disk.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for writing results of the diagnosis in text format.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical disk contains contents of diagnosis stored in a read-only medium definition information writing zone of the optical disk.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for autonomously starting diagnosis upon loading of the optical disk and upon determination by said means for reading a predetermined diagnostic identification information writing zone that the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk; wherein the means for autonomously starting diagnosis automatically reads diagnostic information, including the contents of diagnosis, from the medium definition information writing zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for writing results of the diagnosis in text format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising means for setting the optical disk apparatus in a diagnosis-ineffective mode upon completion of diagnosis, thereby inhibiting the automatic start of diagnosis upon loading of the optical disk.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the diagnostic identification information writing zone is located in the medium definition information writing zone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical disk apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined diagnostic identification information writing zone is located in the disk definition structure DDS of the optical disk.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A self-diagnostic method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the optical disk is a diagnostic optical disk is performed by reading predetermined diagnostic identification information from a diagnostic identification information writing zone on the optical disk.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A self-diagnostic method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of reading diagnostic information is performed autonomously.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A self-diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of setting the optical disk apparatus in a diagnosis-ineffective mode upon completion of diagnosis, thereby inhibiting the automatic start of diagnosis upon loading of the optical disk.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A self-diagnostic method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of writing results of the diagnosis in text format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A diagnostic optical disk as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second information is stored in a user's zone of the diagnostic optical disk.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A diagnostic optical disk as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second information is stored in a read-only medium definition information writing zone of the diagnostic optical disk.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A diagnostic optical disk as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first information is located in the disk definition structure DDS of the diagnostic optical disk.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A diagnostic optical disk as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first information and second information are both located in a read-only information writing zone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-04 | 2001-11-03 | 2002-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-04 | 2005-11-03 | 2006-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-04 | 2009-11-03 | 2010-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |