Optical Filter Signal Separation for Crosstalk Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical medium reproduction methods face challenges in achieving high line density without increasing inter-symbol interference and adjacent track crosstalk, leading to complex configurations and large circuit scales.

Innovation Solution

An optical medium reproduction apparatus that uses an optical filter to spatially separate signals into different bands in the line density and track density directions, and electric filters to combine these signals, reducing crosstalk and improving signal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If three beams are used to read data simultaneously from the target track and adjacent tracks, then crosstalk cancellation is achieved, but the optical pickup configuration becomes complicated and phase alignment becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrosstalk cancellationVSAvoidoptical pickup configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal processing into optical domain (spatial filtering) and electrical domain (adaptive equalization). The optical filter divides the reflected light into multiple spatial components corresponding to different tracks, and each component is processed independently by electric filters. This segmentation avoids the complexity of using multiple physical beams while achieving the same crosstalk cancellation effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical approach of using multiple physical beams with an electrical signal processing approach. Instead of physically separating and processing signals from multiple beams, the system uses a single beam's reflected signal that is spatially filtered optically and then processed electrically to cancel crosstalk, substituting mechanical complexity with electrical processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a memory is used to make reproduced signals simultaneous, then crosstalk cancellation is achieved, but the circuit scale becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrosstalk cancellationVSAvoidcircuit scale
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the memory-based temporal synchronization approach with real-time electrical signal processing. Instead of storing and later synchronizing signals from multiple beams in memory, the system processes the single beam's spatially-separated signal components through electric filters that directly cancel crosstalk in real-time, eliminating the need for large memory circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If line density is increased by shortening channel bit length, then storage capacity is improved, but inter-symbol interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the processing parameters through adaptive equalization, adjusting tap coefficients dynamically to compensate for inter-symbol interference caused by high line density. The electric filters modify their characteristics based on the actual signal conditions, allowing the system to maintain signal quality even when channel bit length is shortened for higher capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through adaptive equalization where the reproduced signal is processed through electric filters with adjustable tap coefficients. The system continuously adjusts these coefficients based on the detected signal characteristics to minimize inter-symbol interference, creating a feedback loop that maintains signal quality at high densities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Quantity of substance

If track pitch is made narrower, then storage capacity is improved, but adjacent track crosstalk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidadjacent track crosstalk
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using spatial optical filtering to selectively process signals from specific track regions. The optical filter creates distinct spatial components for adjacent tracks, and electric filters are applied locally to each component to cancel crosstalk from neighboring tracks. This localized processing allows narrow track pitch while maintaining signal isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful adjacent track crosstalk into a useful signal component for cancellation. By using adaptive equalization with tap coefficients, the system deliberately processes the crosstalk-containing signal to extract and subtract the interfering components, turning the harmful crosstalk into information that can be used to improve signal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies the optical pickup configuration, reduces phase alignment complexity, and enhances signal quality by effectively canceling crosstalk while maintaining high line density.

Implementation Method 1

an optical filter which a beam returning from the optical medium is incident on and which forms a plurality of signals having different bands in a line density direction and/or a track density direction in a spatially optical manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering and spatial separation: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP3033747B1Optical medium reproduction apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3033747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3033747B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3033747B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus may comprise an optical filter and electric filters. The optical filter may be configured to provide electrical signals corresponding to regions of an optical beam returning from an optical medium, the optical beam being incident on the optical filter, the regions of the optical beam corresponding to different bands in a line density direction and/or a track density direction. The electric filters may be configured to provide outputs based, at least in part, on the electrical signals provided by the optical filter, wherein the reproduction apparatus is configured to obtain a reproduced signal by combining the outputs of the electric filters.