For jumping a light spot on a track of a recording medium

A device for generating a light spot control signal for jumping a light spot on a track of a recording medium comprising:

• error signal detecting means for generating an error signal representative of positions of a light spot relative to tracks, from a light beam irradiated on a recording medium having said tracks on which information is recorded;
• means for generating a control signal for moving the light spot in a desired direction;
• timing signal detecting means for detecting from the error signal a timing signal representative of an instant at which the light spot is present at the middle point between adjacent tracks, said timing signal detecting means including first means for providing, from the error signal, first pulse outputs in opposite phases which change at zero points of said error signal, second means for providing second pulse outputs representative of times when each of the first pulse outputs rise, and third means for selecting one of the second pulse outputs in accordance with the desired direction and delivering the selected pulse output as the timing signal;
• and
• means for controlling the polarity of said control signal in response to said timing signal, whereby said control signal jumps the light spot from a track being scanned thereby to an adjacent track.