A quality-testing apparatus is disclosed for an optical disk of the type
that stores optically readable information in the form of a spiral or
annular pattern defining a plurality of essentially concentric tracks.
The apparatus has a laser light source and a drive mechanism which
projects a laser beam spot from the laser light source onto a surface of
the optical disk and moves the projected laser beam spot radically over a
portion of the disc surface across at least some of the tracks. A light
detector detects a reflection from the projected laser beam spot during
its movement. The light detector produces a time variant measurement
signal (HF) being associated with passages of the moving laser beam spot
across respective tracks. A processing device measures the signal
amplitude of selected parts of the optical disk and provides an output
comprising key parameters such as symmetry and relative signal strength
for the annular pattern of pits and lands.