PURPOSE: To expand the life of a semiconductor laser by stopping the functions of an optical disc device while keeping the state to be immediately restored when the device is not selected for a long period.

CONSTITUTION: A control device 1 outputs a selecting signal to an optical disc device 2 to select the optical disc device and write/read data in/from the selected optical disc device. When the control device 1 selects another optical device and the succeeding selecting signal 12 is not inputted during a prescribed time, a LASER-ON signal 13 is applied to stop a laser driving circuit 8 and signals 15, 16 are applied to stop an automatical focusing circuit 6 and a tracking circuit 7. When the succeeding selecting signal is inputted, the signal 13 is generated again to actuate the driving circuit 8 and a start signal 14 is sent from a control circuit 4 to restore the optical disc device 2 to a controllable state. Thus, the device fulfills a large effect in case of a long waiting time.