Magneto-optical memory device

Abstract

An magneto-optical memory device for recording, reproducing or erasing information by applying an optical beam such as a laser beam onto a magneto-optical recording medium, the magneto optical memory device including a recorded region detecting circuit for detecting information recorded region formed in the recording medium. In the memory, a timing control for recording, reproducing or erasing is performed with the use of one result obtained through detection of a synchronizing signal such as a sector mark indicative of a starting point of an information block and another result obtained through detection in the recorded region detecting circuit. The recorded region detecting circuit comprises a pair of peak hold circuits for detecting a peak levels of the playback signals and first and second selecting circuits for selecting one of the reproduced signals and for selecting one of two reference voltages with different voltage levels, respectively smoothing the playback signal, and a comparator for comparing the outputs of the first and second selecting circuits.