Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method conducts a high-speed search on an optical medium having a plurality of tracks on which information is recorded. At least a first light spot and a second light spot are directed by the apparatus onto the optical medium. The light spots traverse across the tracks in one of a first direction and a second direction. A photodetector unit receives a reflected component of the first light spot to form a first electrical signal and a reflected component of the second light spot to form a second electrical signal. Digital shaping circuitry respectively converts the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal into a first digital signal and a second digital signal. A quadrature detector is configured to receive the first digital signal and the second digital signal. The first digital signal and the second digital signal are arranged in a quadrature relationship to each other. The quadrature detector produces from the first digital signal and the second digital signal an up-count signal indicating that the light spots are traversing the tracks in the first direction and a down-count signal indicating that the light spots are traversing the tracks in the second direction. A counter counts, during the search, the up-count signal and the down-count signal to determine a number of tracks traversed by the light spots.

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First Claim