As has already been said, the drive itself handles the printing process immediately
after burning the compilation onto the disc. It is very interesting to see
how the hardware is designed.
Drive manufacturers can use their old DVD burners, but there are some modifications
and additions that need to be made, to enable LightScribe technology.
First of all, there is an additional optical encoder that needs to be added
close to the spindle mechanism. For now, all manufacturers use a separate
small optical encoder PCB, that needs to be wired with the main PCB, as you
can see in the following picture. Clicking on the image will open a higher
resolution picture.
There are also some modifications on the follower (sledge guiding rack). Manufacturers need to modify its shape and dimensions to reach CFZ at ID. Below, you can see the sledge guiding rack.
Of course, these modifications cannot be done in any drive in order to enable
LightScribe. The drive itself must have enough power to perform LightScribe
printing. As
HP states, "with minimal hardware and firmware modifications, Lightscribe-licensed
drives can burn labels on LightScribe media using the drive's existing
laser. A high-speed interface coordinates drive capabilities to optimize labeling
and imaging commands to facilitate
burning. Drives are turned into combination label burners and data reader/writers
via solutions that include:
- Laser focus: A novel focus strategy provides sufficient focus
control for consistent, uniform imaging on the label surface
- Tracking control: Images are printed as concentric circular
tracks, so precise tracking control is required. A tracking
solution maintains constant track spacing, measured in microns, as the laser moves
across the disc
- Low-speed spindle control: Accurate speed control is essential for pixel placement
along a track as the disc rotates. A speed control solution achieves the required pixel
placement accuracy
- Write channel: A high-speed hardware communications channel - distinct
from that used for data writing - is used for labeling"
Many drive manufacturers are now ready to release their LightScribe solutions, mainly by modifying their latest burners. Some of them are BenQ, HP and LaCie.
