Theory of operation of today CD systems

Abstract

In this article we examine the main events that lead to the invention of the compact disc or CD, as we all call it. We consider the most important components of the playback section of the CD such as the pick-up circuit, demodulation, decoding, sample and hold circuits and the filters. A detailed examination of the CD medium and its structure is done, showing pictures to help the reader visualize the CD medium. The CD data format is also presented.