Samuel P Fumanti

US Patent:

20070008861, Jan 11, 2007

Filed:

Jul 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/176774

Inventors:

Samuel Fumanti - Peckville PA, US

International Classification:

G11B 7/00

US Classification:

369116000

Abstract:

Improvements to an optical recording apparatus comprising a laser light source are provided. The improvements include installing a photodiode in an optical path of at least a portion of the laser light beam from the laser light source, and connecting said photodiode to a detection circuit. The photodiode detects the laser light beam and generates a detection signal based on the detected beam. The detection circuit monitors the detection signal and generates an alarm signal if the detection signal indicates a dropout in the laser beam. The alarm signal can trigger an alarm indicator and/or cause a recording process to be halted.