International Business Machines Corporation

Bryan A Cassels

Daniel James Winarski

Ian E Henderson

Andrew A Gaudet

James J Dente

A system to monitor write power calibration values in an optical drive to detect media and lens contamination, and take appropriate remedial action when contamination is found. A laser device writes data to an optical medium housed in the optical drive by imparting a laser beam upon the medium. The laser device provides the laser beam with a level of output power selected in accordance with a W/C value. A controller generates and repeatedly updates the W/C value, and provides it to the laser device. The controller samples the W/C value at selected times, and compares it to a predetermined value. If the W/C value exceeds the predetermined value, the controller executes a specific operational sequence. For example, the controller may issue a contamination warning. When the W/C value exceeds a second predetermined value, the controller may logically write-protect the optical medium, or shift the medium to another optical drive. Where the controller is implemented in an optical library with multiple optical drives, the controller may store a comprehensive list of W/C values for the drives.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Bryan A Cassels