CD response to vibration during playback of a CD

Abstract

A system and methods for evaluating the response of an optical digital disk player to vibration encountered during playback of optical digital disks are provided. The system includes a simulator configured to provide digital simulated output signals simulating the output of an optical digital disk player encountering vibration during playback of an optical digital disk. The system also includes digital-to-analog converter circuitry to convert the digital simulated output signals to analog simulated output signals and provide the analog simulated output signals to processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates control signals based on the value of the analog simulated output signals, and provides the control signals as outputs.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A test system for evaluating the response of optical digital disk player components to vibration during playback of an optical digital disk, comprising:
 a simulator comprising at least one digital output, said simulator configured to provide a simulated digital output signal at said at least one digital output simulating waveform characteristics provided by a pickup mechanism of an optical digital disk player experiencing vibration during playback of an optical digital disk; 
 a digital-to-analog converter coupled to said at least one digital output, said digital-to-analog converter being configured to convert the simulated digital output signal to a simulated analog output signal; and 
 processing circuitry coupled to said digital-to-analog converter, said processing circuitry being configured to receive the simulated analog output signal from said digital-to-analog converter, determine the value of at least one control signal to be issued from said processing circuitry based on the value of the simulated analog output signal, and provide the at least one control signal as an output; 
 wherein said simulator is a computer comprising logic circuitry and memory comprising at least one algorithm, and wherein said at least one algorithm is configured to cause said logic circuitry to provide the simulated digital output signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The test system of  claim 1 , further comprising analog-to-digital converter circuitry coupled to said simulator and said processing circuitry, wherein said analog to digital converter circuitry is configured to convert the at least one control signal provided by said processing circuitry into digital form, and provide the at least one converted digital control signal to said simulator, and wherein said simulator is configured to monitor the converted digital control signal to evaluate the performance of said processing circuitry. 
     
     
       3. The test system of  claim 2 , wherein said simulator is further configured to alter the simulated digital output signal responsive to the converted digital control signal. 
     
     
       4. The test system of  claim 1 , wherein said simulator is configured to monitor the at least one control signal to evaluate the performance of said processing circuitry. 
     
     
       5. The test system of  claim 4 , wherein said simulator is further configured to alter the simulated digital output signal responsive to the control signal. 
     
     
       6. The test system of  claim 5 , wherein said simulator is further configured to simulate a response of at least one of a tracking adjustment mechanism, focus adjustment mechanism, and sled adjustment mechanism of an optical digital disk player to the at least one control signal, and generate at least one value indicative of the simulated response. 
     
     
       7. The test system of  claim 6 , wherein said simulator is configured to monitor the at least one value indicative of the simulated response to evaluate performance of said processing circuitry. 
     
     
       8. The test system of  claim 7 , wherein said simulator is further configured to alter the simulated analog output signal responsive to the at least one value indicative of the simulated response. 
     
     
       9. The test system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer is configured to monitor the at least one control signal to evaluate the performance of said processing circuitry, and is further configured to alter the simulated digital output signal responsive to the at least one control signal. 
     
     
       10. The test system of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical digital disk player simulation algorithm located in the memory of said computer, said optical digital disk player simulation algorithm configured to cause the logic circuitry of said computer to simulate a response of at least one of a tracking adjustment mechanism, focus adjustment mechanism, and sled adjustment mechanism of an optical digital disk player to the at least one control signal, and generate at least one value indicative of the simulated response. 
     
     
       11. The test system of  claim 10 , wherein said computer is configured to monitor the at least one value indicative of the simulated response to evaluate the performance of said processing circuitry, and is further configured to alter the simulated digital output signal responsive to the at least one value indicative of the simulated response. 
     
     
       12. The test system of  claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry further comprises audio processing circuitry configured to process audio data from a pickup mechanism of an optical digital disk player playing an audio CD to provide an audio signal. 
     
     
       13. The test system of  claim 1 , wherein said processing circuitry further comprises a digital data output configured to provide the at least one control signal to monitoring circuitry external to said processing circuitry. 
     
     
       14. A method for evaluating the response of an optical digital disk player to vibration during playback of an optical digital disk, comprising the steps of:
 coupling simulator circuitry to processing circuitry configured to process signals from an optical digital disk player pickup mechanism; 
 electronically creating in the simulator circuitry a simulated anomaly signal simulating anomaly waveform characteristics provided by a pickup mechanism of an optical digital disk player encountering vibration during playback of an optical digital disk; 
 providing the simulated anomaly signal to the processing circuitry; and 
 processing the simulated anomaly signal in the processing circuitry to generate at least one control signal; 
 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to process data from an audio CD, and wherein the processing circuitry includes at least one of a skip indicator, mute audio indicator, and output data signal, and further including the step of monitoring at least one of the skip indicator, mute audio indicator and output data signal to evaluate the response of the processing circuitry to the simulated anomaly signal. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of monitoring the at least one control signal to evaluate the response of the processing circuitry to the simulated anomaly signal. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further including the step of altering the simulated anomaly signal responsive to the at least one control signal. 
     
     
       17. A method for evaluating the response of an audio compact disk player circuitry to vibration during playback of an audio compact disk, comprising the steps of:
 coupling simulator circuitry including logic, memory comprising an algorithm, and a digital-to-analog converter to processing circuitry configured to process signals provided by an audio compact disk player; 
 executing the algorithm in the logic of the signal generating circuitry to electronically create in the simulator circuitry a simulated anomaly signal simulating waveform characteristics provided by a pickup mechanism of an audio compact disk player encountering vibration during playback of an audio compact disk; 
 providing the simulated anomaly signal to the processing circuitry; 
 processing the simulated anomaly signal in the processing circuitry to generate at least one control signal; and 
 monitoring the at least one control signal to evaluate the response of the processing circuitry to the simulated anomaly signal. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of altering the simulated anomaly signal responsive to the at least one control signal. 
     
     
       19. A simulator for a media player, wherein the media player comprises a pickup mechanism, a control processing circuit, a drive motor, a focus adjustment mechanism, a tracking adjustment mechanism, and a sled adjustment mechanism, and wherein the simulator is configured to:
 simulate an anomaly signal by generating digital simulated waveform characteristics representative of waveforms received from a pickup mechanism of a media player during a disrupted playback event;   implement a media player simulation algorithm to simulate a response to processing of the simulated anomaly signal based on one or more control signals that are generated by a control processing circuit; and   evaluate the simulated response and adjust the simulated anomaly signal by an adjustment value based on the evaluated simulated response.   
     
     
       20. The simulator of claim 19, wherein the one or more control signal is generated by a control signal processing circuit, communicatively coupled to the simulator, and wherein the one or more control signal includes at least one of a motor control signal, a focus control signal, a tracking control signal, or a sled control signal. 
     
     
       21. The simulator of claim 20, wherein the motor control signal is configured to control a speed and direction of a drive motor of the media player. 
     
     
       22. The simulator of claim 20, wherein the focus control signal is configured to control a focus adjustment mechanism of the media player. 
     
     
       23. The simulator of claim 20, wherein the tracking control signal is configured to control a tracking adjustment mechanism of the media player. 
     
     
       24. The simulator of claim 20, wherein the sled control signal is configured to control a sled adjustment mechanism of the media player. 
     
     
       25. The simulator of claim 19, wherein the media player simulation algorithm is further configured to cause the logic circuitry of the simulator to generate the adjustment value. 
     
     
       26. The simulator of claim 19, wherein the disrupted playback event is representative of disruptions comprising at least one of a defective surface of a media and vibration of the media player. 
     
     
       27. A simulator for a media player, wherein the media player comprises a pickup mechanism, a control processing circuit, a drive motor, a focus adjustment mechanism, a tracking adjustment mechanism, and a sled adjustment mechanism, and wherein the simulator is configured to:
 generate a simulated disrupted signal on a media player;   implement a media player simulation algorithm to simulate a response of at least one of an adjustment mechanism and a spindle drive motor;   monitor a control signal generated by a control processing circuit for the at least one of the adjustment mechanism and the spindle drive motor based on the simulated and monitored response, and further monitor a performance response associated with the monitored control signal; and   alter the generated simulated signal based on an evaluation of the monitored performance response.   
     
     
       28. The simulator of claim 27, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a tracking adjustment mechanism, a focus adjustment mechanism, and a sled adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
       29. The simulator of claim 27, wherein the media player simulation algorithm is further configured to cause the logic circuitry of the simulator to generate an adjustment value. 
     
     
       30. The similar of claim 29, wherein the altered generated simulated signal is altered by the adjustment value. 
     
     
       31. The simulator of claim 27, wherein the simulated disrupted signal is representative of a disruption comprising at least one of a defective surface of a media and vibration of the media player.