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COMPACT DISC AND PLAYERS

Introduction
Compact Disc (CD) is a digital audio storage medium. In appearance, it is similar to LP disc but of smaller in size and made up of different material. As a digital medium, it stores 1 and 0. A one is stored as "pits" and a zero is stored as "flats or "no pits" in the disc medium. Optical methods are used for writing and readout process. CD system was first introduced in 1980 by a joint venture between Sony and Phillips. It is the CD that has introduced most people to digital audio reproduction system. Table 1 shows main CD parameters. Table 1 : CD Parameter Disk Diameter Rotation Speed Playing time (maximum) No. of Tracks Tracking spacing Lead in diameter Lead out diameter Total track length Timer velocity 120 mm 568 228 rpm (at 1.4 m/s) 486 196 rpm (at 1.2 m/s) 74 minutes 20625 1.6 m 46 mm 116 mm 5300 m 1.2 or 1.4 m/s

Audio Processing
The analog audio signal is converted into digital signal by Analog to Digital converters with 16 bit linear quantization at a sampling frequency rate of 44.1 kHz. During recording, first order pre-emphasis may be applied. Pre-emphasis standards agreed for CD format are 50 and 15 s. In this case the player must apply a similar de-emphasis to the decoded signal to obtain a flat frequency response. A specific control code recorded along with the audio signal on the compact disc is used to inform the player whether pre-emphasis is used and so the player switches on the corresponding de-emphasis circuit.

Induction Course (Radio) Moreover, audio information on the CD may comprise four music channels instead of two. This is also identified by a control code to allow automatic switching of players equipped with a four channel play back facility.

Fig.1 Conversion of analog audio signal to digital audio signal

CD Cutting
CD cutting is similar to LP record cutting except that the former employs digital technology and uses laser beam for cutting photo resistive material for producing master disc. CD production follows seven main stages as illustrated in Fig. 2. A glass plate is polished for optimum smoothness. Photo resist coating is applied to its surface. The roughness of glass surface and the thickness of coating determine the depth of the pit on CD. Photo-resist coating is then exposed to a laser beam, the intensity of which is acoustically modulated with digitized audio information. The photo-resist layer is developed and then the pits of information are revealed. The surface is silvered to protect the pits. The surface is plated with nickel to make metal master. The metal master is then used to make mother plates. These mothers are used to make further metal masters or stammers. The stamping process although named like LP record production, is in fact, an injection moulding, compression moulding or polymerization process, producing plastic disc. The signal surface of each disc is then coated with a reflective material (vaporized aluminium) to enable optical readout and further protected with plastic layer, which also support the disc label. 30 004/IC(Radio)/2001

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Fig. 2. Stages in Cutting of a Compact Disc Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)562, (DC314) The block schematic of CD cutter and focus subsystem are shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 3. Compact Disc Cutter Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)563,(DC315)

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Readout Process
In the readout process, a readout beam is applied from the opposite side of cutting. The readout beam produces a spot size of 1.2 m at the disc base. Since this beam is applied from the opposite side of cutting a pit is read as a bump. The beam enters through the largest possible area of the surface approx. 0.7 mm dia circle for a spot size of 1.2 m at the disc base. The size of entry circle is a function of refractive index of the optical system and the thickness of the disc. The necessary dimensions are shown in fig. 4 (a) and 4(b).

Fig. 4(a)
( Fig. 4(a): The objective lens of a CD pickup has a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.45; thus the outermost rays will be inclined at approximately 27 to the normal. Refraction at the air/disk interface changes this to an approximately 17 within the disk. Thus light focused to a spot on the information layer has entered the disk through a 0.7 mm diameter circle, giving good resistance to surface contamination.)

It is evident from the figure that the readout surface is thicker than the label surface. Therefore, a minor scratch on the readout surface is very well tolerated. Since the label side lacquer coating is only 30 mm thick, writing on this side is not recommended.

Fig.4(b)
(Fig. 4(b): CD readout principle. The presence of a bump causes destructive interference in the reflected light.)

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Fig. 5 Mechanical specification of CD. Between diameters of 46 and 117 mm is a spiral track 5.7 km long. Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)329,(DC90) The base material of CD is a polycarbonate plastic material, better known as macrolon. It has got the property of excellent mechanical and optical stability over a wide range of temperature. An alternative material is poly methyl methacrylate (pmma), known by trade name of Perplex and Plexiglas. The wavelength of laser beam used for readout of bumps and flats is 780 nm in air. Wavelength of light in other medium varies inversely with refractive index, when light passes through CD medium having refractive index of 1.55; its wavelength is reduced to 500 nm (780/1.55 = 500 nm or 0.5 m). The height of bump is about /4 of laser beam used for readout. While reading CD, the laser spot of 1.2 m dia moves along the track whose bump width is 0.5 m and height is 0.13 m. (Fig.4(b)). When the laser beam traces the bump, the phase of reflected light will be /2 apart (bump height = /4) and hence will cancel out. When the laser traces the flat, the phases of reflected laser for flat area as well as the adjacent area will be the same and hence will add up. We can say that, there will be no output when laser traces the bump and there will be output when laser traces the flat and thus '1' and '0' are identified.

Focus and Tracking Mechanism

The optical system has to provide automatic focussing of the beam to compensate for vertical movement of the disc. The focussing system moves an objective lens if the laser beam is not focussed precisely (within + 1 m) on the pits. A focus error system is used to drive the objective lens. Different methods of detecting focus error are available. In one method four photo-diodes are used. Here the main laser is detected by these four equally spaced photo-diode. If the main beam is properly STI(T) Publication 33 004/IC(Radio)/2001

Induction Course (Radio) focussed, the beam spot is round, and all four diodes receive the same amount of light. If the beam is not properly focussed, the beam spot is elliptical (as shown in Fig. 6) and the four diodes receive different amount of light. Then the outputs from the four diodes are summed in an error amplifiers. The error, if any is fed to focus coil or actuator that moves the objective lens up or down as necessary to correct the focus.

Fig. 6 Focus Mechanism Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)564,(DC316) The track pitch is 1.6 m, and so a track following mechanism is necessary to keep the spot centralized on the track. There are several ways in which a tracking error can be derived. In 3-spot method, two additional light beams are focussed on the disc track, one offset to each side of track central line as shown in fig. 7. The amplitude of the side spot changes differentially with tracking error. The laser head contains a diffraction grating to produce the side spots, and two extra photo sensors on to which the reflections of side spots are focussed. The side spots feed a differential amplifier. After being reflected by the disc, each laser beam is routed through the optical system to corresponding photo detectors. The error signal from the sub-beams is converted into an electrical signal and then fed to an error-amplifier. As long as the tracking is precise, the output of error-signal amplifier is zero. However, if there is a radial tracking error, the difference signal of side spot detector produce an output which is fed to radial tracking servo and coil, which moves the objective lens as necessary to correct the position of the main laser beam. STI(T) Publication 34 004/IC(Radio)/2001

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Fig. 7(a) Three possible tracking scenarios

Fig. 7(b) The various error signals obtained from the photo detectors of the optical pick-up

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Channel Coding and Disc Format

Before being recorded, the digital audio signal must be extended with several additional items of data. These include a. b. c. d. Error correction data. Control data (time, title, lyrics, graphics and information about the recording format or emphasis). Synchronization signals, used to detect beginning of each data block and Merging bits (added between each data symbol to reduce the d.c. component of the output signal).

Cross Interleaved Reed Solomon Code (CIRC) One of the important advantages of digital technology is its ability to correct any error in the form of mutilation of bit due to various reasons. There are various types of error correction codes. (CIRC) Cross-interleaved Reed Solomon Code - error-correcting technique is used in CD system. CIRC encoder has been shown in fig. 8. This technique is based mainly on parity check and interleaving method of error corrections. The principle of operation is briefly explained below The stereo audio signal is sampled and digitized at the ADC and the 16 bit samples are split into two 8-bit words called symbols. Six of the 16 bit samples from each channel i.e. 24-8bit symbols, are applied to CIRC encoder and stored in a RAM memory. The first operation in 'CIRC' encoder is called "Scrambling". The scrambling operation consists of a two-symbol delay for the even samples and a mixing up of connections to the C2 encoder. The 24 word scrambled signals are then applied to the C2 encoder which generates 4-8bit parity symbols called Q words. The C2 encoder inserts the Q words between 24 incoming symbols, so that at the output of the encoder 28 symbols result. Between C2 and C1 encoder there are 28 eight-bit delay lines with unequal delays. Due to different delays, the sequence of symbols is changed completely according to a pre-determined pattern. The C1 encoder generates further 4-8bit parity symbols known as p words, resulting in a total of 32 eight bit symbols. After the C1 encoder, the even words are subjected to a one-symbol delay and all P and Q control words are inverted. The resultant sequenced 32 eight bit symbols is called a frame and is a CIRC encoded signal and this is applied to 36 004/IC(Radio)/2001

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Compact Disc and Players EFM modulator. On play back, CIRC decoding circuit restores the original 16 bit samples which are then applied to a D/A converter. The output of CIRC encoder thus becomes 1.4112 X 32 24 = 1.8816 MBS.

Fig. 8 CIRC Encoder Ref. Drg. No:-STI(T)565,(DC317)

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Control Words
After CIRC, control word of 8 bit is added for every 32 symbol of block data (frame) from the encoder. For 98 frames 98 eight-bit control words are added. The eight bits carry information of P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W sub codes. This is explained in the fig. 9(a). Out of these only sub codes P and Q are presently used and other sub codes are for future enhancement.

Fig. 9(a) Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)566,(DC318) The P sub code is music track separator flag that is normally zero during music and lead-in-track but is one at the start of each selection. In the lead out track, it switches from 0 to 1 in 2Hz rhythm to indicate the end of the disc. The Q sub code is used for more sophisticated control purposes. It contains data such as track number and time. Other codes are not used at present. With the addition of control word (8 bits) for each frame (32 word block) the bit rate increases to 1.8816 x 33/32 = 1.9404 MBS. Eight to Fourteen Modulation (EFM) EFM, or eight to fourteen modulation, is a technique which converts each 8-bit symbol into a 14-bit symbol, with the purpose of a) b) c) reducing required bandwidth reducing signals d.c. content and adding extra synchronization information. 38 004/IC(Radio)/2001

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Fig. 9 (b) Conversion of 8-bit data after EFM to NRZI format. Studies have shown that an optimal matching to the transmission channel CD-System will be gained, if in a transferred data word a certain condition for the sequence of 0-1 changeover is fulfilled : between two binary 1-values at least two (3T), but not more than ten binary 0 (11T) values have to appear. This condition cannot be fulfilled by a 8-bit data word with its 256 possible combinations but with a 14 bit data word with its 16384 possible bit combinations. The procedure is to use 14-bit code words to present all possible combinations of the 8bit code. Out of 16384, 14-bit code words, only 256 are selected having combinations which aid processing of the signal. A ROM-based look up table is used to assign all 256 possible 8-bit input combinations to the 256 chosen combinations within the 14-bit code. In addition to EFM modulation, three extra bits, known as merging bits are added to each 14-bit symbol, with the purpose of further lowering d.c. content of the signal. Finally the data bits are changed from NRZ to NRZI (non return to zero inverted) format, by converting each positive-going pulse of the NRZ signal into a single transition. The resultant signal has a minimum length of 3 T (three clock period) and a maximum of 11T (eleven clock periods) as shown in fig. 9(b). The bit rate is now 1.9404 x 17/8 = 4.12335 x 106 bits/sec.

Sync Word
With the 33 symbols comprising of 17 bit each (33 x 17 = 561 bits), a sync word of 24 bits and 3 merging bits are added thus making the total 588 (561 + 24+ 3 = 588) bits per frame (Refer to Fig. 9(a) ). The sync word has two functions. One is that they indicate the start of each frame and the second is, sync word frequency is used to control the player motor speed. Fig. 9(c) shows structure of one CD data block. STI(T) Publication 39 004/IC(Radio)/2001

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Hence the final bit rate is = 4.12335 x 588/561 = 4.3218 MBS. The frame frequency is 4.3218/588 = 7350 Hz. As mentioned already, each of the 8 sub codes P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are extended 98 frames and so the sub code frequency is 7350/98 = 75 Hz. This frequency can be used to run the playing time display.

Fig. 9(c) Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)566,(DC318)

(Fig. 9(b): One CD data block begins with a unique sync pattern, one subcode byte, followed by 24 audio bytes and eight redundancy bytes. Note that each byte requires 14T in EFM with 3T packing between symbols making 17T.)

The number of bits required to be recorded for one hour programme on CD = 4.3218 x 60 x 60 = 635.04 Gbytes and the rest are used for CIRC redundant bits, sub code, EFM channel coding, sync and merging bits. This is very high storage capacity and so CD also used as ROM in computers. The step by step increase in bit rate is explained in fig. 10.

Fig. 10

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CD Player
A block diagram giving essential components of a CD Player is shown in Fig. 11. Power loading is usually implemented on the players where the disc is placed in a drawer.

Fig. 11 Block Diagram of CD Player Showing the Data Path (Board Arrow) and Control / Servo System Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)567,(DC319) Then the drawer is pulled into the machine, the disc is lowered on to the drive spindle and clamped at the center and this process is known as chucking. In simpler top loading machines, the disc is placed on the spindle by hand, and clamp is attached to the lid so that it operates as the lid is closed. The lid or drawer mechanism has safety switch to prevent the lower operating when the machine is open. Actually, there is very little hazard in a CD pick up. This is because the beam is focussed a few milli meters away from the objective lens, and beyond the focal point the beam diverges and the intensity falls rapidly. It is almost impossible to position an eye at the focal point when the pick up is mounted in the player. The data path consists of the data separator, time base correction and de-interleaving and error-correction process followed by errorconcealment mechanism. The data separator, which converts the read out waveform into data, is LSI chip developed by Sony and also by Phillips. The separated output consists of sub code bytes, audio samples, redundancy and a clock. The data stream and the clock will contain speed variations due to disc run out and chucking tolerances, and these have to be removed by a time base corrector.

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Induction Course (Radio) The time base corrector is a memory addressed by counters which are arranged to overflow, giving the memory a ring structure as shown below in fig. 12.

Fig. 12 Writing into the memory is done using clocks from the data separator whose frequency rises or falls with run-outs, where as reading is done using a crystal controlled clock, which removes speed variations from the samples, and makes wow and flutter unmeasurable. If the time base corrector functions properly, the long-term data rate from disc is equal to the crystal-clock rate. To ensure this, the disc speed is controlled. The disc speed can be controlled by two methods. In one method, the data separator clock counts samples off the disc. By phase comparing this clock with the crystal reference, the phase error can be used to drive the spindle motor. The system is used in Sony CDP-101, where the principle is implemented with a CX-193 chip. The alternative approach is to analyze the address relationship of the time base corrector. If the disc is turning too fast, the write address will move towards the read address. Subtraction of these two addresses produces an error signal that can be fed to the motor. The TBC (time base corrector) RAM in Phillips players, which also serves as the de-interleave memory, is a 2Kbyte, SSB 2016, and this is controlled by the SAA 7020, which produces the motor control signal. The de-interleave process is achieved by writing sequentially into a memory and reading out using a sequencer. The RAM can perform the function of time base corrector also. The memory capacity should be 2048 bytes. C1 decoder corrects random errors before de-interleaving and C2 decoder corrects after de-interleaving. After de-interleaving, error correction, interpolation and muting, the signal is fed to DAC and subsequently to analog amplifier which gives out about 0 dB output. CD 02A Professional CD Player designed and developed by ER & DC. AIR has introduced CD players in the network for last couple of years. The general specification is same as that of Sony or Phillips (AES/EBU) standard excepting some STI(T) Publication 42 004/IC(Radio)/2001

Compact Disc and Players special features like fader start and memory for the retaining the last selection when power failure occurs during transmission so as to resume from the same spot where power failure has occurred. A block schematic of diagram of C20 2A player is given below. (Fig. 13)

Fig. 13 Block Diagram Compact Disc Player CD02A Ref. Drg.No:-STI(T)568(DC320)

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