Optical disk reproducing apparatus which automatically determines the format type of the optical disk

A reproducing apparatus for reproducing optical discs having at least two different kinds of recording format types for recording either non-audio, information data or audio information data, respectively, the discs further having recorded thereon format type discriminating data, wherein the reproducing apparatus comprises:

• optical reading means for optically reproducing recorded data from an optical disc;
• a first input means for inputting commands by a user of the reproducing apparatus when the optical disc records audio information data;
• a second input means for inputting commands by the user of the reproducing apparatus when the optical disc records non-audio information data;
• a first signal processing means for processing reproduced audio information data;
• a second signal processing means for processing reproduced non-audio information data;
• discriminating means connected to the optical reading means and supplied with recorded data reproduced from the optical disc for detecting, at the time of starting the disc reproducing operation, the format type discriminating data recorded on the disc, discriminating the format type of the optical disc on the basis of the format type discriminating data, and causing the reproduced recorded data from the optical reading means to be supplied either to the first signal processing means or the second signal processing means depending upon the format type of the optical disc;
• central processing means connected to the first signal processing means, the second signal processing means, the first input means, the second input means, and the discriminating means for causing, under the control of the discriminating means, either reproduced audio information data or non-audio information data to be accessible to a user of the reproducing apparatus, and wherein the central processing means further generates display control signals indicating the type of the optical disc on the basis of the format type discrimination data and a control signal for enabling one of the first input means and the second input means according to the format type discriminating data;
• wherein the optical reading means includes an optical pickup and the central processing means causes the optical reading means to shift the optical pickup towards the innermost periphery of the disc at the time of starting a data reproducing operation to read out the format type discrimination data recorded towards an innermost periphery of the disc;
• wherein, when the format type discrimination data indicate that the disc is an non-audio information data disc, the central processing means transmits the display control signal before moving the optical pickup to a record start portion of the disc;
• and
• wherein, when the type discriminating data indicate that the disc is an optical disc on which audio information data are recorded, the central processing means outputs a record time signal, in addition to the display control signals, indicating a total record time of audio information data programs on the disc.