time period ed1 longer thereby generating the ropc1 u2032 signal illustrated in dashed lines in fig6 the ropc1 u2032 signal advantageously avoids sampling the transition noise at the rising edges of the reflected laser power signal r_laser_pwr consequently the ropc1 u2032 signal accurately samples the stable areas 650 651 of the r_laser_pwr signal user programmable delay circuit 550 of write strategy circuit 510 operates in the following manner to generate the ropc1 sampling control signal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the user of circuit 500 writes delay values representative of the desired time periods ed1 and ed2 to delay control circuit 511 delay control circuit 511 then applies these user selected delay values to programmable delay lines 501 and 502 thereby causing these delay lines 501 and 502 to exhibit delays equal to time periods ed1 and ed2 respectively both of delay lines 501 and 502 are coupled to receive the efm1 signal each rising edge of the efm1 signal is propagated through delay line 501 such that delay line 501 provides an output signal having a rising edge at time ed1 after the rising edge of the efm1 signal ropc1 output control circuit 521 asserts the ropc1 signal upon detecting a rising edge from delay line 501 similarly each falling edge of the efm1 signal is propagated through delay line.