Johannes J Verboom

US Patent:

6407970, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Jan 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/767997

Inventors:

Johannes J. Verboom - Colorado Springs CO

Assignee:

Plasmon LMS, Inc. - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

G11B 509

US Classification:

369 5917, 369 5918, 369 5331, 369 5335, 36912415

Abstract:

A method, circuit and system for selectively and adaptively effecting conditioning of selected samples of a read signal in storage technologies. A circuit embodying the present invention includes sample logic, arithmetic logic and conditioning logic. The sample logic receives samples and provides a main sample and one or more selected neighbor samples. The arithmetic logic compares the main sample to the neighbor samples toward determining satisfaction of selected conditioning criteria. If the selected conditioning criteria are satisfied, the conditioning logic selectively and adaptively effects level conditioning as to the main sample. Further, the level conditioning is combined with a rule compliance system to insure the read data is following the protocol of the data coding format being used. A method embodying the present invention comprises obtaining level conditioning parameters in association with a reference field of the read signal; sampling the read signal at channel bit locations to provide a plurality of samples; selecting a main sample from the plurality of samples; selecting one or more neighbor samples from the plurality of samples, the neighbor samples being disposed at predetermined distances, in channel bits, from the main sample; comparing the main sample to each of the neighbor samples to determine satisfaction of selected conditioning criteria; applying, where the selected conditioning criteria are determined to be satisfied, level conditioning to the main sample, such level conditioning being responsive to the level conditioning parameters.

US Patent:

6487146, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/523891

Inventors:

Johannes J. Verboom - Colorado Springs CO

Assignee:

Plasmon LMS Inc. - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

G11B 700

US Classification:

369 4425, 369 5328

Abstract:

Writing predetermined data pattern to an allocated segment of a disk drive and appropriately reading that one data pattern while varying the read focus characteristics provides for efficient and effective read focus optimization in an optical disk drive. In order to produce helpful data, the read focus offset is varied while reading the different segments of the data pattern, thus producing read out signals with different peak to peak amplitudes. This is compared to data which is obtained by reading the same data pattern while the offset is held constant. Optimization of the read focus offset is carried out and made possible by appropriate analysis of the waveforms produced when reading the predetermined data pattern in these two reading passes. By appropriately tracking the results of the various read focus offsets, an optimum read focus offset can be easily determined.

US Patent:

6891868, May 10, 2005

Filed:

May 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/851287

Inventors:

Johannes J. Verboom - Colorado Springs CO, US
Jeffrey M. Brooke - Colorado Springs CO, US
Gary L. Kline - Colorado Springs CO, US

Assignee:

Plasmon LMS, Inc. - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

H01S003/00

US Classification:

372 3808, 372 3802

Abstract:

In order to provide a low noise laser beam, a noise reducing feedback network is provided which creates a noise reducing signal and provides that signal to the laser itself. In order to produce the noise reducing signal, the operation of the laser is monitored and the feedback signal is a direct result of this monitoring. Monitoring is accomplished by a fast-forward sense detector, which receives a portion of the laser beam from the operating laser. The output from this fast-forward sense detector is provided to an amplifier which inverts and amplifies the signal. A noise reduction feedback network then receives the amplified signal, appropriately filters this signal, and provides it to the laser itself so as to reduce noise in the laser-beam for the frequency band of importance for reading the recorded data from the optical medium. The noise reduction feedback signal further has sufficiently high impedance so as to not disturb the traditional CW operation of the laser and to avoid interference with the traditional RF modulation of the laser.

US Patent:

7248557, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

Dec 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/749163

Inventors:

Johannes J. Verboom - Colorado Springs CO, US
John C. Rathe - Colorado Springs CO, US

Assignee:

Plasmon LMS, Inc. - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

G11B 7/24

US Classification:

3692753, 369 5925

Abstract:

For the purpose of providing sector-address information on optical disks, a robust header is realized by utilizing a very simple encoding method that allows asynchronous reading. In order to provide robustness and reliability, the header uses a biphase data format to encode addressing information. The embossed header is further configured with redundant address-fields in a checkerboard pattern between adjacent tracks, in order to provide robustness for media-contamination. Each address-field starts with a unique address-mark and ends with parity-check information to provide reliable error-detection. The entire header can be decoded without the need for a slice-level, thus making it very tolerant to amplitude-variations and DC-offset variations. By combining these characteristics, a header is achieved which is reliable and inherently resistant to failures in providing sector-address information on optical disks.

US Patent:

7586831, Sep 8, 2009

Filed:

Mar 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/085721

Inventors:

Johannes J. Verboom - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kurt W. Getreuer - Colorado Springs CO, US

Assignee:

Alliance Storage Technologies, Inc. - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

G11B 7/24

US Classification:

3692753, 369 5925, 369 5334

Abstract:

In order to help maximize the capacity of an optical storage device, and increase the efficiency of addressing, a unique addressing scheme is utilized to provide addressing for an optical storage disk. Importantly, this scheme is compatible with multilayer disks and helps to minimize the potential for errors. In the addressing scheme of the present invention, the storage media is provided with a wobbled groove, which includes addressing information for the media. More specifically, the surface of the media is divided into predetermined sections, or portions, each portion having a selected number of wobble periods. Within these wobble periods, the amplitude of one single wobble period is either reduced or eliminated. The location of this reduced or eliminated wobble signal can then be determined by the readout system of the present invention and utilized to provide addressing information. A look-up table is provided, which includes a corresponding address value for each predetermined wobble period within a defined address frame.

US Patent:

20030079161, Apr 24, 2003

Filed:

Oct 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/014392

Inventors:

Johannes Verboom - Colorado Springs CO, US

International Classification:

G06F011/00

US Classification:

714/042000

Abstract:

The accuracy of a data storage device is improved by incorporating a number of multipurpose reference bytes throughout the data. The reference bytes are used to coordinate the timing and accuracy of data when retrieved from the media. Additionally, the referene bytes provide meaningful error correction information in a manner that is easily implemented. This use of reference bytes supplements many well known error correction methodologies to provide for the accurate retrieval of information to the user. In order to coordinate the use of reference bytes, unique operations are undertaken using a predefined preamble to appropriately set the operating parameters of the storage device. For example, both the preamble and the reference bytes are used to carefully control the most optimun gain and phase control for the data storage device.

US Patent:

20040017749, Jan 29, 2004

Filed:

Jul 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202285

Inventors:

Jeffrey Brooke - Colorado Springs CO, US
Johannes Verboom - Colorado Springs CO, US
Robert Longman - Cambridge, GB
Robert Somekh - Cambridge, GB
Paul Blanchard - Hertfordshire, GB
Gary Kline - Colorado Springs CO, US

Assignee:

Plasmon LMS, Inc.

International Classification:

G11B007/00

US Classification:

369/047510, 369/053180

Abstract:

In order to minimize potential damage to a rewritable storage media, and to consequently extend the life of the media, the laser power is carefully controlled in order to avoide sharp power transitions. Rather than simply turning the laser power on to its full power level, the power utilized during writing dedicated sections of data sectors is transitioned from 0 to its full power level over a desired period of time. In this way, the thermal shock caused by repeated rewriting in these areas can be minimized, thus extending the life of the rewritable media.

US Patent:

20040095863, May 20, 2004

Filed:

Nov 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/704294

Inventors:

Johannes Verboom - Colorado Springs CO, US
Fred Wamble - Colorado Springs CO, US
Kurt Getreuer - Colorado Springs CO, US
Keith Holstine - Colorado Springs CO, US

International Classification:

G11B007/00

US Classification:

369/047280, 369/047480

Abstract:

A system and method for use in a data storage system which provides a combined phase lock loop (PLL) that utilizes a common Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) and common integrator/loop-filter, but which is operational in a wobble-mode and a data-mode to provide most optimum operation and quick capture. Digital circuitry is primarily used in addition to the VCO and a loop-filter for acquiring frequency and phase lock while the optical disc drive is writing and reading. A digital Phase-detector for operation in the wobble-mode employs a down-counter that can be configured for both Frequency-Lock and Phase-Lock in a way that offers a large capture range and can adapt quickly to the multiple data-zones of the media-format.