Disk discriminating method and disk discriminating apparatus

A disk discriminating method comprising the steps of:

• measuring an amplitude of a tracking error signal several times and storing the results of the measurement in respective storing locations in a measurement order;
• reading a current counter value from the stored results of the measurement, comparing the counter value with a threshold value, and determining whether to change an amplification gain of the tracking error signal;
• changing the amplification gain of the tracking error signal, if it is determined to change the amplification gain of the tracking error signal, in the determining step;
• and
• discriminating the kind of a disk that performs a tracking servo-on step if it is determined that tracking gain-up is not required, and a count routine if it is determined that the tracking gain-up is required,
• if an initial value of the counter is zero and the method proceeds from the discriminating step, 1 is added to the value of the counter, the method proceeds to the determining step after the results of measurement are compared with the threshold value if the result of the addition is less than a prescribed value, and the method proceeds to the tracking servo-on step if the result of the addition is more than the prescribed value.

A disk discriminating method comprising the steps of:

• measuring an amplitude of a focus error signal several times and storing results of the measurement in respective storing locations in a measurement order;
• reading a current counter value from the stored results of the measurement, comparing the counter value with a threshold value, and determining whether to change an amplification gain of the focus error signal;
• changing the amplification gain of the focus error signal, if it is determined to change the amplification gain of the focus error signal, in the determining step;
• and
• discriminating the kind of a disk that performs a focus servo-on step if it is determined that focus gain-up is not required, and a count routine if it is determined that the focus gain-up is required,
• if an initial value of the counter is zero and the method proceeds from the discriminating step, 1 is added to the value of the counter, the method proceeds to the determining step after the results of measurement are compared with the threshold value if a result of the addition is less than a prescribed value, and the method proceeds to the focus servo-on step if the result of the addition is more than the prescribed value.

A disk discriminating apparatus for discriminating the kind of an optical disk, comprising:

• measuring means for measuring an amplitude of one of a focus error signal and a tracking error signal several times, the focus error signal being generated based on a focus drive signal giving disturbance to a pickup in a focus direction and the tracking error signal being generated based on a tracking drive signal giving disturbance to the pickup in a radial direction of the optical disk;
• comparing means for comparing the measured amplitude of one of the focus error signal and the tracking error signal with a threshold value;
• and
• discriminating means for discriminating the kind of the optical disk according to the result of the comparison.