Information disk apparatus and information disk apparatus installing direction detection method

Abstract

The direction in which an information disk apparatus is installed is judged without employing a sensor means. A control means ( 116 ) measures the number of track crossings when a reading means ( 104 ) is moved by a driving means ( 109 ) in a direction corresponding to the radius of an optical disk ( 102 ) for a predetermined period of time, and judges a direction in which a DVD-ROM player ( 101 ) is installed on the basis of the measured number of track crossings.

1 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . An information disk apparatus which records or reproduces information in/from an information disk on which information tracks are formed spirally or concentrically, comprising: 
 a disk rotation means for rotating the information disk;    a reading means for reading a signal from the information disk;    a driving means for driving the reading means in a direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk;    a track crossing signal generation means for generating an information track crossing signal of the information disk from a reproduction signal from the reading means; and    a control means for controlling the disk rotation means, the reading means, the driving means, and the track crossing signal generation means, wherein    the control means drives the reading means in the direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk for a predetermined period of time by means of the driving means, while counting the information track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means, and    detects a direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed on the basis of the obtained count value.    
   
   
       5 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , which is able to reproduce or record information from/in plural types of information disks having different track pitches, further comprising: 
 a track pitch detecting means for detecting a track pitch of the information disk, wherein 
 the control means moves the reading means in a direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined speed, by means of the driving means, while counting the information track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means, and  
   detects the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed on the basis of the obtained count value and track pitch of the information disk.    
   
   
       6 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a table which indicates standard track pitch values for respective types of the information disks, wherein    the track pitch detection means detects the type of the information disk, and refers to the table of track pitch values, thereby detecting the track pitch of the information disk.    
   
   
       7 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the track pitch detection means has a linear speed detection means for detecting a linear speed of the information disk; and a reproduction speed detection means for detecting a current reproduction speed of the information disk, and detects the type of the information disk, and 
 the control means detects a linear speed of the disk by employing the linear speed detection means,    rotates the information disk which is mounted on the disk rotation means at a prescribed speed,    moves the reading means to a position corresponding to a prescribed address on the information disk (hereinafter, referred to simply as an “address”) by means of the driving means,    detects a reproduction speed at the prescribed rotational speed and at the prescribed address, by employing the reproduction speed detection means, and    calculates the track pitch of the information disk on the basis of the linear speed of the information disk which is detected by the linear speed detection means, the reproduction speed detected at the prescribed rotational speed and address, the prescribed rotational speed, the address value, an innermost circumference diameter of a data area which is inherent in the detected type of the information disk, and a data rate value in a case of reproduction at a prescribed reproduction speed which is inherent in the detected type of the information disk.    
   
   
       8 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the control means compares the obtained count value with a threshold value, thereby detecting the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed.  
   
   
       9 . An information disk apparatus which records or reproduces information in/from an information disk on which information tracks are formed spirally or concentrically, comprising: 
 a disk rotation means for rotating the information disk;    a reading means for reading a signal from the information disk;    a driving means for driving the reading means in a direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk;    a track crossing signal generation means for generating a information track crossing signal of the information disk from a reproduction signal from the reading means; and    a control means for controlling the disk rotation means, the reading means, the driving means, and the track crossing signal generation means, wherein    the control means reciprocates the reading means in the direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk for a predetermined period of time by means of the driving means, while counting the information track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means, and    detects a direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed on the basis of the count values obtained for the reciprocation.    
   
   
       10 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein 
 the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of a difference between a count value for a forward path and a count value for a backward path in the count values for the reciprocation.    
   
   
       11 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein 
 the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of a ratio between a count value for a forward path and a count value for a backward path in the count values for the reciprocation.    
   
   
       12 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , which is able to reproduce or record information from/in plural types of information disks having different track pitches, further comprising: 
 a track pitch detecting means for detecting a track pitch of the information disk, wherein    the control means reciprocates the reading means in the direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk for a predetermined period of time by means of the driving means, while counting the information track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means, and    detects the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed on the basis of the obtained count values for the reciprocation and track pitch of the information disk.    
   
   
       13 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein 
 the control means compares the obtained count values for the reciprocation with a threshold value, thereby detecting the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed.    
   
   
       14 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 4  further comprising a rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the information disk, wherein 
 the time for which the reading means is moved by the driving means is an integer multiple of a time required for one rotation which is detected by the rotational speed detection means.    
   
   
       15 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein 
 the driving means is set so that it can be driven with an inclination with respect to the gravity direction in at least one of directions in which the information disk apparatus is installed,    the reading means is reciprocated by the driving means in the radial direction for a predetermined period of time, from an inner circumference of the information disk toward an outer circumference as well as from an outer circumference toward an inner circumference, while the track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means is counted, and    the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of the obtained count value.    
   
   
       16 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the inclination with respect to the gravity direction is between 15° and 75° or 105° and 165°.  
   
   
       17 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein 
 the inclination with respect to the gravity direction is not approximately equal to any of 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°.    
   
   
       18 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein 
 the inclination with respect to the gravity direction is between 15° and 30°, 60° and 75°, 105° and 120°, or 150° and 165°.    
   
   
       19 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method for detecting a direction in which an information disk apparatus that records or reproduces information in/from an information disk on which information tracks are formed spirally or concentrically is installed, comprising: 
 generating an information track crossing signal of the information disk from a reproduction signal which is obtained from the information disk by a reading means;    moving the reading means by a driving means in a direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk, for a predetermined period of time, while counting the information track crossing signal; and    detecting the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed, on the basis of the obtained count value.    
   
   
       23 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein 
 the information disk apparatus is able to reproduce or record information from/in plural types of information disks having different track pitches,    a track pitch of the information disk is detected by a track pitch detection means,    the reading means is moved by the driving means, in the direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk, for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined speed, while the information track crossing signal is counted, and    the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of the obtained count value and track pitch of the information disk.    
   
   
       24 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein 
 a table which indicates track pitch standard values for respective types of the information disks is provided, and    the track pitch detection means detects the type of the information disk, and refers to the table of the track pitch values, thereby detecting the track pitch of the information disk.    
   
   
       25 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein 
 the track pitch detection means has a linear speed detection means for detecting a linear speed of the information disk; and a reproduction speed detection means for detecting a current reproduction speed of the information disk, and detects the type of the information disk,    the linear speed detection means detects a linear speed of the disk,    the information disk mounted on the disk rotation means is rotated at a prescribed speed,    the reading means is moved to a position corresponding to a prescribed address on the information disk (hereinafter, referred to simply as an “address”) by the driving means,    the reproduction speed detection means detects a reproduction speed at the prescribed rotational speed and at the prescribed address, and    the track pitch of the information disk is calculated on the basis of the linear speed of the information disk which is detected by the linear speed detection means, the reproduction speed detected at the prescribed rotational speed and address, the prescribed rotational speed, the address value, an innermost circumference diameter of a data area which is inherent in the detected type of the information disk, and a data rate value in reproduction at a prescribed reproduction speed which is inherent in the detected type of the information disk.    
   
   
       26 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 22  comprising: comparing the obtained count value with a threshold value, thereby detecting the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed.  
   
   
       27 . A method for detecting a direction in which an information disk apparatus that records or reproduces information in/from an information disk on which information tracks are formed spirally or concentrically, comprising: 
 generating an information track crossing signal of the information disk from a reproduction signal which is obtained by a reading means from the information disk;    reciprocating the reading means by a driving means in a direction of the radius of the information disk, for a predetermined period of time, while counting the information track crossing signal; and    detecting the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed, on the basis of the obtained count values for the reciprocation.    
   
   
       28 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein 
 the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of a difference between a count value for a forward path and a count value for a backward path in the count values for the reciprocation.    
   
   
       29 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein 
 the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of a ratio between a count value for a forward path and a count value for a backward path in the count values for the reciprocation.    
   
   
       30 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein 
 the information disk apparatus is able to reproduce or record information from/in plural types of information disks having different track pitches,    a track pitch of the information disk is detected by a track pitch detection means,    the reading means is reciprocated by the driving means in the direction corresponding to the radius of the information disk, for a predetermined period of time, while the information track crossing signal is counted, and    the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of the obtained count values for the reciprocation and track pitch of the information disk.    
   
   
       31 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 27  comprising: 
 comparing the obtained count values for the reciprocation with a threshold value, thereby detecting the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed.    
   
   
       32 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein 
 the information disk apparatus further comprises a rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the information disk, and    the time for which the reading means is moved by the driving means is an integer multiple of a time required for one rotation which is detected by the rotational speed detection means.    
   
   
       33 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein 
 the driving means is installed so that it can be driven with an inclination with respect to the gravity direction in at least one of directions in which the information disk apparatus is installed.    
   
   
       34 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 33 , wherein 
 the inclination with respect to the gravity direction is between 15° and 75° or 105° and 165°.    
   
   
       35 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 33 , wherein 
 the inclination with respect to the gravity direction is not approximately equal to any of 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°.    
   
   
       36 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 33 , wherein 
 the inclination with respect to the gravity direction in the information disk device between 15° and 30°, 60° and 75°, 105° and 120°, or 150° and 165°.    
   
   
       37 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein 
 the driving means is set so that it can be driven with an inclination with respect to the gravity direction in at least one of directions in which the information disk apparatus is installed,    the reading means is reciprocated by the driving means in the radial direction for a predetermined period of time, from an inner circumference of the information disk toward an outer circumference as well as from an outer circumference toward an inner circumference, while the track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means is counted, and    the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of the obtained count value.    
   
   
       38 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein 
 the driving means is set so that it can be driven with an inclination with respect to the gravity direction in at least one of directions in which the information disk apparatus is installed,    the reading means is reciprocated by the driving means in the radial direction for a predetermined period of time, from an inner circumference of the information disk toward an outer circumference as well as from an outer circumference toward an inner circumference, while the track crossing signal generated by the track crossing signal generation means is counted, and    the direction in which the information disk apparatus is installed is detected on the basis of the obtained count value.    
   
   
       39 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein 
 the information disk apparatus further comprises a rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the information disk, and    the time for which the reading means is moved by the driving means is an integer multiple of a time required for one rotation which is detected by the rotational speed detection means.    
   
   
       40 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 28 , wherein 
 the driving means is installed so that it can be driven with an inclination with respect to the gravity direction in at least one of directions in which the information disk apparatus is installed.    
   
   
       41 . The information disk apparatus installing direction detection method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein 
 the driving means is installed so that it can be driven with an inclination with respect to the gravity direction in at least one of directions in which the information disk apparatus is installed.    
   
   
       42 . The information disk apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the information disk, wherein 
 the time for which the reading means is moved by the driving means is an integer multiple of a time required for one rotation which is detected by the rotational speed detection means.