Optical disc apparatus and optical-pickup movement control method installed in optical disc apparatus

Abstract

A light beam is emitted to an optical disc from an optical pickup. The optical pickup is moved over the optical disc so that a light spot of the light beam crosses tracks formed on the optical disc. Detected are tracking error signals carried by a light beam reflected from the optical disc. Each tracking error signal is detected when the light spot crosses a corresponding track among the tracks formed on the optical disc. Track crossing pulses are generated based on the tracking error signals. Each track crossing pulse is generated for the corresponding track. Measured next is a half period of each track crossing pulse. It is determined whether a defect occurs to each track crossing pulse, based on a latest half period measured at present and an anterior half period measured one half-period before the latest half period. Generated when determined that no defect occurs is an average half period of the latest and the anterior half periods. Generated when determined that the defect occurs is a corrected average half period based on the latest half period and a plurality of anterior half periods measured before the latest half period. A reference half period is generated that indicates a predetermined speed for the optical pickup to move over the optical disc. The optical pickup is then moved at the predetermined speed based on the reference half period and the average half period or the corrected average half period.