Maximizing the quality of a signal reproduced from a recording disk

A method for reproducing a video signal from a recording medium having a plurality of concentric tracks formed thereon, in which the video signal is recorded on at least one of the plurality of concentric tracks of the recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a head member at a predetermined position of a predetermined concentric track containing the recorded video signal so that an envelope of the recorded video signal is maximized;
• reading the predetermined concentric track to reproduce the video signal recorded on the predetermined concentric track;
• storing data corresponding to the reproduced video signal read from the predetermined concentric track in a memory;
• obtaining a threshold value based upon the envelope of the recorded video signal;
• determining portions of the predetermined concentric track to re-read, based upon the envelope of the recorded video signal;
• and
• performing at least one re-read operation of the predetermined concentric track by re-positioning the head member at another predetermined position of the predetermined concentric track to maximize an envelope of at least one portion of the predetermined concentric track that is to be re-read, re-reading the at least one portion of the predetermined concentric track, and replacing a portion of the data corresponding to the reproduced video signal stored in the memory with another data portion obtained by the re-read operation.

An apparatus for reproducing a signal recorded on at least one concentric track of a plurality of concentric tracks of a recording medium, comprising:

• a head member that is positioned at a predetermined position of a predetermined concentric track containing said recorded signal so that an envelope of said signal read by said head member is maximized;
• a memory that stores data corresponding to said signal read from said predetermined concentric track;
• an envelope detector that detects an envelope waveform signal of said signal read from said predetermined position;
• and
• a controller that controls said positioning of said head member in accordance with said envelope waveform signal, said controller comparing said envelope waveform signal to a threshold value to determine whether portions of said predetermined concentric track should be re-read, said controller initiating at least one re-read operation of said predetermined concentric track by re-positioning said head member at another predetermined position of said predetermined concentric track to maximize said envelope waveform signal of at least one portion of said predetermined concentric track that is re-read, and replacing a portion of said data stored in said memory with data obtained by said re-read operation.

A method for reproducing a signal recorded on at least one track of a plurality of tracks of a storage medium, comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning a head member at a predetermined track of the storage medium containing the recorded signal, the head member being positioned so as to maximize an envelope of at least a portion of the recorded signal to enable at least the portion of the recorded signal to be reproduced;
• (b) storing the reproduced recorded signal in a memory;
• (c) comparing an amplitude of the envelope with a threshold value to determine which portions of the recorded signal should be re-read;
• and
• (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) for remaining portions of the recorded signal for which envelopes are not maximized, portions of the reproduced recorded signal stored in the memory being replaced with new portions in which the envelope is maximized, until an envelope for all portions of the reproduced recorded signal are maximized.