OPTICAL RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE

摘要

PURPOSE:To realize an optical recording and reproducing device with longer service life of a laser light source by decreasing an output of the laser or stopping superimposition of a high frequency signal onto a laser drive current for the standby period. CONSTITUTION:A standby period (e) is referred to as a period when no recording nor reproduction is implemented and a period when a laser beam is subject to positioning or access to a disk or a track. The laser power for the period is set lower than that for a signal reproducing period in the case of focusing control of a laser beam to a disk. That is, an output of a high frequency current drive circuit 13 is attenuated by an amplitude control circuit 14 for the standby period (e) and a semiconductor layer 8 is stimulated through a switch 11 to reduce the laser output more than that for the reproduction period. Since the wear of the laser is prevented for the standby period, the available service period of the optical recording and reproducing device is extended due to the longer service life of the laser.