Servo Processor Receiving Photodetector Signals

A digital servo method for an optical disk drive, comprising:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• receiving low-pass filtered and gain-adjusted versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a tracking control signal based on a tracking error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

A digital servo method for an optical disk drive, comprising:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• low-pass filtering and gain-adjusting versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a focus control signal based on a focus error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

A digital servo method for an optical disk drive, comprising:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• low-pass filtering and gain-adjusting versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a tracking control signal based on a tracking error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

An optical disk drive, comprising:

• a microprocessor configured to perform control functions of the optical disk drive;
• an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert low-pass filtered and gain-adjusted versions of photodetector output signals into at least one digital signal;
• and
• a digital signal processor configured to determine a focus error from the at least one digital signal and to determine, through at least one servo algorithm executed by the digital signal processor, a focus control signal from the focus error, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

An optical disk drive, comprising:

• a microprocessor configured to perform control functions of the optical disk drive;
• an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert low-pass filtered and gain-adjusted versions of photodetector output signals into at least one digital signal;
• and
• a digital signal processor configured to determine a tracking error from the at least one digital signal and to determine, through at least one servo algorithm executed by the digital signal processor, a tracking control signal from the tracking error, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

An optical disk drive, comprising:

• a microprocessor configured to perform control functions of the optical disk drive;
• at least one low pass filter;
• at least one amplifier;
• an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert, into at least one digital signal, versions of photodetector output signals low-pass filtered by the at least one low pass filter and gain-adjusted by the at least one amplifier;
• and
• a digital signal processor configured to determine a focus error from the at least one digital signal and to determine, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a focus control signal from the focus error, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

An optical disk drive, comprising:

• a microprocessor configured to perform control functions of the optical disk drive;
• at least one low pass filter;
• at least one amplifier;
• an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert, into at least one digital signal, versions of photodetector output signals low-pass filtered by the at least one low pass filter and gain-adjusted by the at least one amplifier;
• and
• a digital signal processor configured to determine a tracking error from the at least one digital signal and to determine, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a tracking control signal from the tracking error, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, executable by a machine, for a digital servo method for an optical disk drive, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• low-pass filtering and gain-adjusting versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a focus control signal based on a focus error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, executable by a machine, for a digital servo method for an optical disk drive, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• low-pass filtering and gain-adjusting versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a tracking control signal based on a tracking error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, executable by a machine, for a digital servo method for an optical disk drive, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• receiving low-pass filtered and gain-adjusted versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a focus control signal based on a focus error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, executable by a machine, for a digital servo method for an optical disk drive, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

• controlling functions of the optical disk drive with a microprocessor;
• receiving low-pass filtered and gain-adjusted versions of photodetector output signals resulting from an illumination of an optical disk;
• digitizing versions of the photodetector signals to produce digital signals;
• and
• determining, through at least one servo algorithm executed by a digital signal processor, a tracking control signal based on a tracking error determined from the digital signals, wherein the digital signal processor has a specialized structure and arrangement for processing digital signals at a higher speed than the microprocessor.