JPH0369029A - Dust removing system for optical disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively clean the surface of an objective lens by optically detecting the amount of dust accumulated on the objective lens of an optical head and displaying a dust removing method corresponding to the detection level by using an interactive language. CONSTITUTION:On a first stage that the dust 15 is slightly accumulated on the objective lens 11, the dust is automatically removed by a brush 10 in a disk driving device 6 and a host computer 3 displays a state under cleaning on a display 16 while removing the dust. Next, on a second stage that the dust 15 on the objective lens 11 is not cleaned off any more by the use for a long time, and further the level of reflected light 12 is lowered, the computer 3 sends out a signal to an image ROM 1 or the device 6 and it is displayed on the display 16 tp eject a cassette 7 and to insert a cleaning disk. The cycle of these first and second stages is repeated and when the level of the reflected light 12 is further lowered on a third stage, the computer 3 displays the dust removing method by manual operation and the exchanging method of the brush 10 when required on the display 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a system for cleaning an objective lens of an optical head in a system using an optical or magneto-optical disk recording/reproducing device, and a method for removing dust therefrom.

[Conventional technology]

Some conventional devices disassemble to clean the objective lens of the optical head, and others automatically clean the top surface of the objective lens with a brush by inserting and ejecting a disk.

Related devices of this type include, for example, JP-A-62-
No. 24449, No. 63-52339, and the like.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned prior art, it is not clear how to deal with the case where dust cannot be removed even if the upper surface of the objective lens is cleaned with a brush or the like. In addition, because no specific method was specified, users or service personnel had to manually disassemble the device and clean the top surface of the objective lens, or if the device was left as it was, dust could not be removed at the wrong time or cleaning was troublesome. , and the subsequent MTBF becomes shorter, causing
There was a problem that the TTR became long, the operating rate of the system decreased, and the availability deteriorated.

Furthermore, since the user cannot freely and safely clean the device, there is a problem in that availability and maintainability deteriorate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for effectively cleaning an objective lens and improving system availability and maintainability.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above objective, b) the reflection signal level of the objective lens is sent to the host computer, and b the drive device automatically cleans the objective lens with a brush and ejects the disk based on the level, and performs ``dust removal with a cleaning disk''; Instructions for automatically and manually performing the ``sequence of cleaning the upper surface of the direct objective lens by disassembly'' are displayed in interactive language on the display.

[Effect]

The display allows automatic and manual objective lens cleaning to be performed easily and in an orderly manner, which reduces MTTR and allows dust removal to be carried out step by step and regularly, allowing MTBF to be operated for an appropriate period of time. rate and improve mobility. Furthermore, since the user can also remove dust using the information on the display, maintainability can be improved.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 in FIG. 1 indicates a stand-alone type CD-ROM drive device with a built-in function for processing image data, etc. Compression is performed from a CD-ROM disk 5 by command operation from a host computer 3 such as a personal computer via a bus 2. The host computer 3 reads and restores the image data, etc.
It has a built-in function of a laser beam printer interface, and a function of making a hard copy of restored image data.

The stand-alone type CD-ROM drive device 1 is hereinafter referred to as an image ROM 1 to distinguish it from a built-in type CD-ROM drive device.

The image ROMI shown in FIG. 1.5 has a built-in optical disk drive device 6 (hereinafter referred to as disk drive device 6) shown in FIG.
mode (not shown in the diagram) by external operations such as inserting the
It consists of an insertion/ejection section which has the function of rotating the disk 7 to position it on a reproducing or recording means and eject it, a pickup unit having an optical head 8 which reads or writes information from the disk 7, and a control section.

A cleaning brush 10 is provided in the storage case 9 of the cassette 5 containing the disk 7 of the disk drive device 6 shown in FIG. When the intensity of the light beam 12 is weakened and falls to a certain level, the control unit issues a signal to move the optical head 8 and place the objective lens 11 at the tip of the brush 10.
It has a function of cleaning by bringing the brush 10 or objective lens 11 into contact with it and slightly moving the brush 10 or objective lens 11.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical head 8 is exposed by moving the upper top plate 17, and a wall 13 is provided at the irradiation area to avoid direct irradiation of the laser beam, and the top plate 2
Selector switch 1 that lowers the level of laser light by moving
4 are linked together. Also image ROM
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical head 1 is provided with a lid 1b on its top surface 1a so that the optical head 8 can be exposed.

In the system having the above configuration, the dust removal procedure is performed in the seventh step.
．． This will be explained according to Figure 8.9. Objective lens 11 in FIG.
In the first stage, when a small amount of dust 15 has accumulated on the disk drive device 6, the dust is automatically removed using a brush 10 as shown in FIG. The level is transferred to the host computer 3 through buses 2 and 2, and the host computer 3
If it is determined that it is at the first stage level, its display 16
``Cleaning j'' is displayed during dust removal, and when the level of reflected light 12 returns to a certain level, the brush 10 stops the dust removal operation based on the judgment of the control unit 18.

Even if you repeat this operation, if you use it for a long time, the objective lens 11
In the second stage, when the dust 15 on the top has settled down and the level of the reflected light 12 has further decreased, the reflected light 12 is continuously transmitted from the image ROMI or disk drive device 6 to the bus 2,
The host computer 3 which receives the data via the image ROM 1 or the disk drive device 6 sends a signal to the display 16 to eject the cassette 7 and to insert a "cleaning disk". During this disk cleaning, the reflected light 12 is constantly read and the objective lens 11 is moved 1 m by the cleaning disk until it returns to a certain level.If the cycle of the first stage and second stage is repeated and the cycle is continued for a longer period of time, the reflected light 12
When the level of 2 further decreases and reaches the third stage, the host computer 3 ejects the cassette 5 and stores the image ROM1.
The lid 16 of the disk drive device is opened and the top plate 17 of the disk drive device is opened, and instructions on how to manually remove dust from the objective lens 11 and how to replace the brush 10 if necessary are displayed on the display 16. The user or service person sees this, removes dust, and returns the level of the reflected light 12 to its initial state.

Since the content displayed on the display 16 by the host computer 3 is designed to be performed using full spoken language, even the user can easily perform the dust removal operation.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the method for cleaning the objective lens and replacing the brush is displayed in detail on the display step by step according to the amount of dust, according to a program with an interactive language. Dust on an objective lens can be easily cleaned in a short time. As a result, the total MT
By reducing TF and increasing MTBF above a certain value, system availability and mobility were improved.

Additionally, when manually cleaning the objective lens, a wall to prevent direct laser beams from being exposed and a switch to weaken the laser light prevent user and service personnel from infringing, and improve the maintainability of the system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 5 is a perspective view including a partial sectional view of a root-in type optical disk drive device, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an image ROM, and FIG.
7 is a block diagram of the dust removal system itself, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts of its operation. 1... Image ROM, 2... Bus, 3... Host computer, 4... Control console, 5... Cassette,
6...Built-in optical disk drive device, 7
... Optical disc, 8... Optical head, 9... Cassette storage case, 10... Brush, 11... Objective lens, 12... Reflected light, 13... Wall, 14... Switch, 15...Dust, 16...Display, 17.
... Top plate, 18... Control unit of the disk drive device. Most / 潴大28／ゝ＼〜lθ 3rd圀最最

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a system that reads, processes or converts data from an optical disk and transfers the data to the host computer in response to commands from the host computer via a bus, the controller removes dust accumulated on the objective lens of the optical head. A dust removal method characterized in that the amount of reflected light is converted into an output voltage level and a signal is sent to a host computer, and the host computer displays a dust removal method on a display using an interactive language according to the output voltage or the level of the digital signal. system.