Optical disc analysis system including related methods for biological and medical imaging

Abstract

An optical disc system includes a photo detector circuit of an optical disc drive and a signal processing system. The photo detector circuit is configured to generate at least one information-carrying signal from an optical disc assembly. The signal processing system is coupled to the photo detector circuit to obtain from the at least one information-carrying signal both operational information used to operate the optical disc system and data indicative of presence and/or characteristics of an investigational feature associated with the optical disc assembly. Methods and discs for imaging a biological or medical investigational feature are also provided.

1 . An optical disc system, comprising: 
 a photo detector circuit of an optical disc drive configured to generate at least one information-carrying signal from an optical disc assembly; and    a signal processing system coupled to the photo detector circuit to obtain from said at least one information-carrying signal both operational information used to operate the optical disc system and indicia data indicative of a presence of an investigational feature associated with the optical disc assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein the signal processing system includes a PC and analog-to-digital converter coupled between said at least one information carrying signal and the PC.  
   
   
       3 . The optical disc system of  claim 2  wherein said analog-to-digital converter provides a digitized signal and said PC includes a first program module to detect and characterize peaks in the digitized signal.  
   
   
       4 . The optical disc system of  claim 3  wherein said PC further includes a second program module to detect and count double peaks in the digitized signal.  
   
   
       5 . The optical disc system of  claim 2  wherein said signal processing system further includes an analyzer coupled between said analog-to-digital converter and the PC, said analog-to-digital converter provides a digitized signal, and said analyzer includes logic to detect and characterize peaks in the digitized signal.  
   
   
       6 . The optical disc system of  claim 5  wherein the analyzer further includes logic to detect and count double peaks in the digitized signal.  
   
   
       7 . The optical disc system of  claim 2  wherein the signal processing system further includes an audio processing module coupled between said at least one information-carrying signal and the analog-to-digital converter.  
   
   
       8 . The optical disc system of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a predetermined sound recorded on said optical disc assembly; and    a program module in said PC for detecting said indicia data in a deviation of said at least one information carrying signal from the predetermined sound when the investigational feature is present.    
   
   
       9 . The optical disc system of  claim 8  wherein the predetermined sound is encoded silence.  
   
   
       10 . The optical disc system of  claim 2  wherein said signal processing system further includes a buffer coupled between said at least one information-carrying signal and said analog-to-digital converter.  
   
   
       11 . The optical disc system of  claim 2  wherein the signal processing system further includes a trigger detection circuit coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, said trigger detection circuit being operative to detect a particular time in relation to a time when said indicia data is present in said at least one information-carrying signal.  
   
   
       12 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein the signal processing system includes a programmable digital signal processor selectively configurable to extract the operational information from said at least one information-carrying signal while in a first configuration and operate as an analog-to-digital converter to provide the indicia data while in a second configuration.  
   
   
       13 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein said signal processing system includes: 
 a PC;    a programmable digital signal processor coupled to said at least one information-carrying signal; and    an analyzer coupled between said programmable digital signal processor and said PC so that said analyzer provides said indicia data.    
   
   
       14 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein the signal processing system further includes a trigger detection circuit that detects a time period during which the investigational feature associated with the optical disc assembly is scanned by said photo detector circuit.  
   
   
       15 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein said signal processing system further includes a trigger detection circuit that detects a particular trigger time in relation to a respective time duration during which said indicia data is present in said at least one information-carrying signal, and each respective time duration occurs periodically with a respective investigational feature and a corresponding set of indicia data.  
   
   
       16 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein said signal processing system includes a PC and an audio processing module coupled between said PC and said at least one information-carrying signal.  
   
   
       17 . The optical disc system of  claim 16  wherein said audio processing module is one of: 
 an external module independent of the optical disc drive;    a drive module that is a part of the optical disc drive; and    a modified drive module that is a part of the optical disc drive.    
   
   
       18 . The optical disc system of  claim 16  wherein said PC includes a processor coupled to said audio module, and a software module stored in a memory to control said processor to extract said indicia data from audio data.  
   
   
       19 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  wherein the photo detector circuit includes circuitry to generate an analog signal as said at least one information-carrying signal, said analog signal including one of a high frequency signal from a photo detector, a tracking error signal, a focus error signal, an automatic gain control setting, a push-pull tracking signal, a CD tracking signal, a CDR tracking signal, a focus signal, a differential phase detector signal, a laser power monitor signal, and a sound signal.  
   
   
       20 . The optical disc system of  claim 1  further comprising the optical disc assembly, wherein said optical disc assembly has disposed thereon the associated investigational feature in a first disc sector and has encoded thereon said operational information used to operate said optical disc drive in a remaining disc sector.