Systems and methods for testing unformatted optical recording media

A device for writing data to and reading data from an optical media component, the device comprising:

• a first optical pickup unit for emitting laser beams that are focused by an object lens onto a surface of the optical media component, wherein the first optical pickup unit writes data to the surface of the optical media component on a first path over a width of the surface;
• and
• a second optical pickup unit for emitting laser beams that are focused by an object lens onto the surface of the optical media component, wherein the second optical pickup unit emits laser beams onto the surface of the optical media component on a second path over substantially an entire portion of the width of the surface for use in scanning and tracking data written by the first optical pickup unit, wherein the first optical pickup unit is mechanically linked to the second optical pickup unit, wherein movement of one of the first and second optical pickup units moves the other of the first and second optical pickup units.

A device for writing data to and reading data from an optical media component, the device comprising:

• a first optical pickup unit for emitting laser beams that are focused by an object lens onto a surface of the optical media component, wherein the first optical pickup unit writes data to the surface of the optical media component on a first path over a width of the surface;
• and
• a second optical pickup unit for emitting laser beams that are focused by an object lens onto the surface of the optical media component, wherein the second optical pickup unit emits laser beams onto the surface of the optical media component on a second path over substantially an entire portion of the width of the surface for use in scanning and tracking data written by the first optical pickup unit, further comprising an analysis module that analyzes signals associated with retrieval of data by the second optical pickup unit.

A system for writing data to and reading data from an unformatted optical media component that is free of data track location features, the unformatted optical media component being movable in first and second opposing directions, the system comprising:

• a first optical pickup unit for emitting laser beams that are focused by an object lens onto a surface of the unformatted optical media component, wherein the first optical pickup unit is moveable along a first path over the surface of the unformatted optical media component;
• and
• a second optical pickup unit, aligned with the first optical pickup unit, for emitting laser beams that are focused by an object lens onto the surface of the unformatted optical media component, wherein the second optical pickup unit is moveable along a second path over the surface of the unformatted optical media component that is different than the first path, wherein each of the first and second paths is generally perpendicular to the first and second opposing directions of the unformatted optical media component.

A method for use with an optical media component, the method comprising:

• writing, using a first optical pickup unit of an optical media testing device, data to a first segment of a surface of the optical media component on a first path as the optical media component moves in a first direction;
• and
• scanning, using a second optical pickup unit of the optical media testing device, the surface of the optical media component on a second path for the written data as the optical media component moves in the first direction, wherein the optical media component is free of data track location features.