# US 2007/0104061 A1 · Apparatus and method for analysis of optical storage media > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0104061 A1 - Document ID: US20070104061A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/558,759 - Filed: 2006-11-10 - Published: 2007-05-10 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-10 - Assignees: CheckFlix, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Aufderheide; James Eckerman; Ian Freeman; John Meyer; Charles Calvin Partee; Timothy Skwiot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070104061A1 ## CPC - G01N 21/9506: {Optical discs} - G11B 7/00375: {arrangements for detection of physical defects, e.g. of recording layer} - G01N 21/94: Investigating contamination, e.g. dust (G01N21/85 takes precedence) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract Various apparatus and related methods are disclosed that are capable of detecting surface defects on an optical storage media. One example of an apparatus is configured to direct at least one light signal, which may be from one or more lasers, on an outer surface of an optical storage medium, such as a CD, DVD or the like, which includes encoded data. The light encounters both the optical storage media surface as well as any smudges, scratches, dents, or other defects thereon. Some or all of the light reflected from the defects and the surface are detected by one or more detectors, which may be a photodiode. The detector(s) produce an output signal commensurate with the detected reflected light, which output is processed to determine whether the encoded data may be accurately read from the optical storage media. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for analyzing the surface of an optical storage medium comprising: directing at least one light signal on an outer surface of an optical storage medium, the optical storage medium including encoded data; detecting some portion of the at least one light signal reflected from the outer surface of the optical storage medium; and determining whether the encoded data may be accurately read as a function of detecting some portion of the at least one light signal reflected from the outer surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing relative movement between the optical storage medium and the at least one light signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the operation of providing relative movement between the optical storage medium and the at least one light signal comprises rotating the optical storage medium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the operation of providing relative movement between the optical storage medium and the at least one light signal comprises moving a source of the at least one light signal relative to the optical storage medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the operation of providing relative movement between the optical storage medium and the at least one light signal comprises moving the optical storage medium relative to the at least one light signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of directing at least one light signal on an outer surface of an optical storage medium comprises directing at least one light signal on a coating of the outer surface of the optical storage medium. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining operation comprises determining a likelihood of accurately reading the data encoded on the optical storage medium as a function of the detection of the at least one reflected light signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the operation of detecting further comprises providing an output signal that is a function of the detected portion of the at least one light signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the operation of determining comprises comparing the output signal with a reference signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising comparing the output signal with a first reference voltage, a second reference voltage, a third reference voltage and a fourth reference voltage, wherein each reference voltage is associated with defects of the optical storage medium that are associated with the likelihood of accurately reading the data encoded on the optical storage medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one light detector includes a first light detector and a second light detector, and the operation of determining comprises computing a damage level according to the formulation: damage level=square root {A*(V1)ˆ2+B*(V2)ˆ2 }/M where V1=digitized voltage from a first light detector, V2=digitized voltage from the second light detector, and A, B, and M are adjustable parameters dependent on the desired weighting of each detector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one light signal comprises a laser light signal. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for analyzing an optical storage medium comprising: a platform configured to support the optical storage medium, the optical storage medium defining at least one side having a data layer; at least one light positioned to illuminate the at least one side having a data layer; at least one light detector positioned to receive light reflected from the optical storage medium and provide an output signal as function of the received reflected light; and at least one circuit element configured to receive the output signal from the light detector and to provide an output indicative of the integrity of the at least one side having a data layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light is positioned to illuminate the at least one side having a data layer along a principle axis, and the at least one light detector is positioned along a principle reflected axis, the principle reflected axis being the path taken by light reflected from a substantially unblemished surface of the optical storage medium and incident on the unblemished surface along the principle axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising at least one off axis light detector not positioned along the principle reflected axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light detector is a charge coupled device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light detector is a photodiode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one circuit element comprises at least one comparator configured to compare the output signal from the at least one light detector to a reference voltage and provide a comparator output indicative of the integrity of the at least one side having a data layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least on circuit element comprises a digital signal processor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light is positioned to illuminate the at least one side having a data layer along a principle axis, and the at least one light detector comprises a first light detector positioned off-axis from a principle reflected axis, the principle reflected axis being the path taken by light reflected from a substantially unblemished surface of the optical storage medium and incident on the unblemished surface along the principle axis, and a second light detector positioned off-axis and orthogonal to the first light detector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one circuit element comprises a digital signal processor configured to compute a damage level according to the formulation: damage level=square root {A*(V1)ˆ2+B*(V2)ˆ2 }/M where V1=digitized voltage from the first light detector, V2=digitized voltage from the second light detector, and A, B, and M are adjustable parameters dependent on the desired weighting of each detector. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the platform includes a motor operably coupled with a hub configured to support the optical storage medium, the motor configured to rotate the hub and supported optical storage medium. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a moveably mounted carrier supporting the at least one light and the at least one detector. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the carrier includes a gear, and further comprising a worm gear operably coupled with the gear. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light is a laser. ### Claim 26 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one circuit element is configured to receive a signal from the at least one light detector and to provide an output indicative of the integrity of a coating on the at least one side having a data layer. ### Claim 27 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light is arranged to move relative to the at least one light detector in order to scan some portion of the optical storage medium. ### Claim 28 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one light detector is arranged to move relative to the at least one light in order to scan some portion of the optical storage medium. ### Claim 29 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the platform is configured to support the optical storage medium to provide relative movement with respect to at least one of the at least one light and the at least one light detector. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the operation of computing a damage level. ### Claim 31 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one circuit element comprises a processor configured to compute a damage level. ### Claim 32 An apparatus for analyzing an optical storage medium comprising: means for supporting an optical storage medium; means for directing a light signal on an outer surface of the optical storage medium; means for detecting some portion of the light signal reflected from the optical storage medium and providing at least one output signal; and means for assessing the output signal to determine the integrity of the outer surface of the optical storage medium.