Patent attributes
An information signal is read from a recording medium to generate a reproduced signal. A sync detector detects a sync signal in the reproduced signal on a pattern search basis during operation in a direct mode. The sync detector sets a detection window and detects a sync signal in the reproduced signal in the detection window during operation in an inertia mode. A special pattern signal in the reproduced signal is detected and counted to generate a count result. The count result is reset in response to detection of a first special signal in the reproduced signal. A detection flag is generated in cases where a second special signal in the reproduced signal is detected when the count result denotes a last sector in a block of the reproduced signal. The sync detector changes its operation from the inertia mode to the direct mode when the detection flag is generated.
