Disc player capable of reproducing a partially recorded disc

An apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a disc, comprising:

• a reading device that reads information recorded on said disc and outputs a corresponding read signal;
• an amplifier that amplifies said read signal to produce an amplified signal;
• and
• a controller which positions said reading device at a first position within a non-program area of said disc and determines if said amplified signal output from said reading device has a valid signal level when said reading device is positioned at said first position by evaluating said amplified signal,
• wherein, if said amplified signal does not have the valid signal level when said reading device is positioned at said first position, said controller moves said reading device to a second position within a program area of said disc,
• wherein said controller determines if said amplified signal output from said reading device has the valid signal level when said reading device is positioned at said second position.

A method for reproducing information recorded on a disc, wherein a reproduction signal is irradiated towards said disc to produce a corresponding read signal, comprising:

• (a) positioning said reproduction signal at a first position within a non-program area of said disc;
• (b) attempting to focus said reproduction signal on said disc;
• (c) determining if said reproduction signal is focused on said disc by at least indirectly evaluating said read signal;
• (d) if said reproduction signal is focused on said disc, determining if said read signal has a valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position;
• (e) if said read signal does not have the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position, moving said reproduction signal to a second position within a program area of said disc while said reproduction signal remains focused on said disc;
• and
• (f) determining if said read signal has the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said second position.

A method for reproducing information recorded on a disc, wherein a reproduction signal is irradiated towards said disc to produce a corresponding read signal, comprising:

• (a) positioning said reproduction signal at a first position within a non-program area of said disc;
• (b) amplifying said read signal to produce an amplified signal;
• and
• (c) determining if said amplified signal has a valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position by evaluating said amplified signal;
• (d) if said amplified signal does not have the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position, moving said reproduction signal to a second position within a program area of said disc;
• (e) determining if said amplified signal has the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said second position.

A software program contained on a computer readable medium which is executed by a controller that instructs a reproduction signal to be irradiated towards a disc to produce a corresponding read signal, wherein the software program instructs the controller to perform the operations of:

• (a) positioning said reproduction signal at a first position within a non-program area of said disc;
• (b) attempting to focus said reproduction signal on said disc;
• (c) determining if said reproduction signal is focused on said disc by at least indirectly evaluating said read signal;
• (d) if said reproduction signal is focused on said disc, determining if said read signal has a valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position;
• (e) if said read signal does not have the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position, moving said reproduction signal to a second position within a program area of said disc while said reproduction signal remains focused on said disc;
• and
• (f) determining if said read signal has the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said second position.

A software program contained on a computer readable medium which is executed by a controller that instructs a reproduction signal to be irradiated towards a disc to produce a corresponding read signal, wherein the software program instructs the controller to perform the operations of:

• (a) positioning said reproduction signal at a first position within a non-program area of said disc;
• (b) amplifying said read signal to produce an amplified signal;
• and
• (c) determining if said amplified signal has a valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position by evaluating said amplified signal;
• (d) if said amplified signal does not have the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said first position, moving said reproduction signal to a second position within a program area of said disc;
• (e) determining if said amplified signal has the valid signal level when said reproduction signal is positioned at said second position.