Disk reproducing speed control method and a disk reproducing apparatus using this method

Claim 2

A disc reproducer for rotating a disc, comprising: a detector detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and a rotator for rotating said disc in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotator operating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detector is more specifically a dynamic detector detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detector detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotator, when radial imbalance does occur, limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 3

A reproducer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said detector detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance using at least one of: at least one weight sensor; at least one vibration sensor; at lest one centrifugal force sensor; a track crossing counter; at least one of a spindle motor current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector; and, at least one of an information reader actuator current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector.

Claim 4

A reproducer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said rotator more specifically operating at said highest speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

Claim 5

A reproducer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said reproducer is more specifically for reproducing at least one of a compact disc (CD), a CD read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital video disc (DVD) and a mini-disc.

Claim 6

A disc reproducer for rotating a disc, comprising: a detector detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and a rotator for rotating said disc in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotator operating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detector is more specifically a dynamic detector detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different speeds starting from a high speed and progressing toward a low speed; said detector detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of speeds; and said rotator, when radial imbalance above a predetermined level does occur, limiting rotating to a highest speed at which said predetermined level of radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 7

A disc reproducer for rotating a disc, comprising: a detector detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and a rotator for rotating said disc in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotator operating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detector is more specifically a dynamic detector detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different speeds starting from a high speed and progressing toward a low speed; said detector detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of speeds; and said rotator, when radial imbalance above a predetermined level does occur, limiting rotating to a highest speed at which said predetermined level of radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 8

A reproducer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said detector detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance using at least one of: at least one weight sensor; at least one vibration sensor; at lest one centrifugal force sensor; a track crossing counter; at least one of a spindle motor current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector; and, at least one of an information reader actuator current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector.

Claim 9

A reproducer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said rotator more specifically operating at said highest speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

Claim 10

A reproducer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said reproducer is more specifically for reproducing at least one of a compact disc (CD), a CD read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital video disc (DVD) and a mini-disc.

Claim 11

A disc reproducing method for rotating a disc, comprising the steps of: detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and rotating said disc with a rotator in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotating step more specifically rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detecting step is more specifically a dynamic detecting step detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is initially operated at said at least one substitute speed; and said rotating step more specifically limiting rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotating step, when radial imbalance does occur, more specifically limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 12

A disc reproducing method for rotating a disc, comprising the steps of: detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and rotating said disc with a rotator in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotating step more specifically rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detecting step is more specifically a dynamic detecting step detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is initially operated at said at least one substitute speed; and said rotating step more specifically limiting rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotating step, when radial imbalance does occur, more specifically limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said detecting step more specifically detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance using at least one of: at least one weight sensor; at least one vibration sensor; at lest one centrifugal force sensor; a track crossing counter; at least one of a spindle motor current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector; and, at least one of an information reader actuator current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said rotating step more specifically rotating at said highest speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said method is more specifically for reproducing at least one of a compact disc (CD), a CD read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital video disc (DVD) and a mini-disc.

Claim 16

A disc reproducing method for rotating a disc, comprising the steps of: detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and rotating said disc with a rotator in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotating step more specifically rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detecting step is more specifically a dynamic detecting step detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different speeds starting from a high speed and progressing toward a low speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of speeds; and said rotating step, when radial imbalance above a predetermined level does occur, more specifically limiting rotating to a highest speed at which said predetermined level of radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 17

A disc reproducing method for rotating a disc, comprising the steps of: detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and rotating said disc with a rotator in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotating step more specifically rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detecting step is more specifically a dynamic detecting step detecting said condition reflecting an imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different speeds starting from a high speed and progressing toward a low speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of speeds; and said rotating step, when radial imbalance above a predetermined level does occur, more specifically limiting rotating to a highest speed at which said predetermined level of radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 18

A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said detecting step more specifically detecting a condition reflecting an imbalance using at least one of: at least one weight sensor; at least one vibration sensor; at lest one centrifugal force sensor; a track crossing counter; at least one of a spindle motor current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector; and, at least one of an information reader actuator current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector.

Claim 19

A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said rotating step more specifically rotating at said highest speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition outside of a predetermined acceptable range.

Claim 20

A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said method is more specifically for reproducing at least one of a compact disc (CD), a CD read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital video disc (DVD) and a mini-disc.

Claim 21

A disc reproducer for rotating a disc, comprising: a detector detecting a condition reflecting a gravity imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and a rotator for rotating said disc in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotator operating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detector is more specifically a dynamic detector detecting said condition reflecting a gravity imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detector detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance due to said gravity imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotator, when radial imbalance does occur, limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 22

A disc reproducer for rotating a disc, comprising: a detector detecting a condition reflecting a gravity imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and a rotator for rotating said disc in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotator operating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detector is more specifically a dynamic detector detecting said condition reflecting a gravity imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detector detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance due to said gravity imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotator, when radial imbalance does occur, limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 23

A reproducer as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said detector detecting a condition reflecting said gravity imbalance using at least one of: at least one weight sensor; at least one vibration sensor, at least one centrifugal force sensor; a track crossing counter; at least one of a spindle motor current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector; and, at least one of an information reader actuator current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector.

Claim 24

A disc reproducing method for rotating a disc, comprising the steps of: detecting a condition reflecting a gravity imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and rotating said disc with a rotator in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotating step more specifically rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detecting step is more specifically a dynamic detecting step detecting said condition reflecting a gravity imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting said condition reflecting a gravity imbalance while said disc is initially operated at said at least one substitute speed; and said rotating step more specifically limiting rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotating step, when radial imbalance does occur, more specifically limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 25

A disc reproducing method for rotating a disc, comprising the steps of: detecting a condition reflecting a gravity imbalance in a radial direction of said disc and outputting an imbalance signal; and rotating said disc with a rotator in accordance with a result of said detecting, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; and said rotating step more specifically rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said detecting step is more specifically a dynamic detecting step detecting said condition reflecting a gravity imbalance while said disc is rotated, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a normal speed and at least one substitute speed, said at least one substitute speed being different than said normal speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting said condition reflecting a gravity imbalance while said disc is initially operated at said at least one substitute speed; and said rotating step more specifically limiting rotating at said at least one substitute speed when said imbalance signal is indicative of a rotational irregularity condition of said disc, wherein said rotator is more specifically capable of rotating said disc at a plurality of different substitute speeds, and stepping rotating of said disc through said plurality of different substitute speeds starting from a low substitute speed and progressing toward a high substitute speed; said detecting step more specifically detecting for occurrence of a radial imbalance while said disc is operated at each speed of at least a subset of said plurality of substitute speeds; and said rotating step, when radial imbalance does occur, more specifically limiting rotating to a highest substitute speed at which radial imbalance does not occur.

Claim 26

A reproducer as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said detecting step more specifically detecting a condition reflecting said gravity imbalance using at least one of: at least one weight sensor; at least one vibration sensor, at least one centrifugal force sensor; a track crossing counter; at least one of a spindle motor current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector; and, at least one of an information reader actuator current, voltage and temperature irregularity detector.