Optical recording/reproducing apparatus having means for periodically supervising drive current supplied to actuator

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

• condensing means for condensing a beam spot, which is used to record or reproduce information to and from an optical recording medium having a plurality of tracks, onto said optical recording medium;
• displacement means for displacing at least a portion of said condensing means with respect to said optical recording medium in at least either direction in which a focal point is adjusted or a direction which transverses said track;
• drive means for supplying a drive current to said displacement means;
• cutting means for cutting said drive current;
• comparison means for detecting whether or not said drive current output from said drive means exceeds a predetermined range;
• counting means for counting the number of times at which said comparison means has determined that said drive current output from said drive means exceeds said predetermined range, said counting being made in a predetermined supervisory period at every detection time the interval of which is shorter than said supervisory time;
• determination means for determining whether or not a counted value counted by said counting means exceeds a reference number;
• and
• control means for cutting said drive current by operating said cutting means in accordance with a determination signal denoting a fact that a determination has been made by said determination means that said counted value exceeds said reference number.