Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable recording medium are disclosed, for recording information in an information recording medium. The method includes a first step of outputting, in response to an initialization request for initializing the information recording medium, termination information indicative of termination of the initialization before the initialization starts, and a second step of starting the initialization at a predetermined timing after the output of the termination information. In this procedure, it is possible to start to record data in a blank disc sooner than in conventional methods.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: An optical module has a first light source which emits a first light beam from a first light emission point in a predetermined direction, a second light source which emits a second light beam from a second light emission point in the predetermined direction, and an optical element. The optical element includes a plurality of reflection surfaces for reflecting the first and second light beams, and finally outputting the first and second light beams in the predetermined direction with a separation between the first and second light beams smaller than a distance between the first and second light emission points.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device whose optical axis adjustment can be performed while an increase in cost is suppressed and whose optical axis correction can be accurately performed even when a variation in arrangement between laser elements occurs. The optical pickup device includes a semiconductor 101 that houses at least three laser elements having at least three different emission wavelengths in a single package, and first and second diffraction gratings 102 and 111 for substantially matching optical axes of lasers emitted from the laser elements with the optical axis of the reference laser beam by a diffraction effect. The first diffraction grating 102 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect. The second diffraction grating 111 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for DVD (655 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect.

Abstract: A mark representing information of a multivalued level is recorded in each of cells arranged in a recording medium. Upon reproducing the multivalued level from a reproduction signal of the recording medium, the multivalued level of a present cell is judged by referring to a judged multivalued level of a preceding cell preceding the present cell or an ensuing cell ensuing the present cell, or by referring to the judged multivalued levels of both the preceding cell and the ensuing cell.

Abstract: In a PLL circuit, a phase error of a reproduced signal is extracted in either a way based on a zero-cross timing or a way based on a self-running timing. A decision is made as to whether the reproduced signal is in a continuous-wave interval where an inversion period of the reproduced signal remains constant or in a random-wave interval where the inversion period of the reproduced signal varies at random. When the reproduced signal is in a continuous-wave interval, a phase error is extracted on the self-running-timing basis. When the reproduced signal is in a random-wave interval, a phase error is extracted on the zero-cross-timing basis. A continuous-wave interval may be replaced by a specified-pattern repetition interval where the inversion period of the reproduced signal changes in accordance with a repetition of a specified pattern.

Abstract: A calibration of a focus error signal gain in a focus servo system of an optical disk drive is presented. The focus error signal gain can be calibrated by oscillating an optical pick-up unit in a focus direction through a focus point and determining a focus sum threshold. The optical pick-up unit can then be oscillated around a focus control effort that results in a sum signal equal to the focus sum threshold and the peak-to-peak value of a focus error signal can be measured. The focus error signal gain can be determined from the peak-to-peak value of the focus error signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling tracking in a disc drive using a tracking actuator, a feed motor, and an objective lens, including monitoring whether the tracking actuator deviates from a dynamic range based on a signal controlling the feed motor when tracking is performed; and returning the objective lens connected to the tracking actuator to a neutral point when it is determined that the tracking actuator deviates from the dynamic range.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium includes a lead-in area, a lead-out area, and a user data area between the lead-in and lead-out areas and in which user data is recorded. Pits are formed in the lead-in area, the user data area, and the lead-out area, and a track pitch in all or a portion of the lead-in area is different from a track pitch in the remaining area of the optical information storage medium.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus records information on an information recording medium by focusing a light beam emitted from a light source on the information recording medium. The apparatus has an information reading device of a type of the information recording medium, a recording strategy storage device, and an unknown information recording medium notification device. The information reading device is configured to read information as to the type of the information recording medium recorded thereon. The storage device is configured to store a recording strategy corresponding to an information recording medium type. The notification device is configured to send an unknown information recording medium notification, when the recording strategy corresponding to the type of the information recording medium is not found in the storage device.

Abstract: An information playback method and apparatus that includes reading first identification information from an auxiliary recording region of a recording medium, including the auxiliary recording region in which writing of content data is prohibited and a main storing region in which the content data can be written and reading second identification information from the main recording region. When first identification information is read from the auxiliary recording region and second identification information is read from the main recording region, comparing the first identification information with the second identification information, and outputting the content data read from the main recording region when the first identification information corresponds to the second identification information.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method records information data, regardless of an external disturbance. According to a demodulated timing pulse, a synchronization signal and address data representative of an address is demodulated from a readout signal. An error correction process carried out on the address data obtains corrected address data. A determination is made if the corrected address data is a correct address. When the synchronization signal has a period equal to a predetermined period, a synchronization process is executed to place the demodulated timing pulse in synchronism with the synchronization signal, wherein, when the corrected address data is determined as a correct address, then the re-synchronization process is put into stand-by until the corrected address data is determined as an incorrect address.

Abstract: In a recordable data storage medium on which property data was recorded after having been modulated and on which data that is decodable by a cryptographic key to be generated from the property data was recorded, the property data was preferably modulated by a different method from that applied to a read-only data storage medium. Then, an optical disc drive, having no ability to distinguish the recordable data storage medium from the read-only data storage medium, cannot read the recordable data storage medium. Consequently, a greater number of drives should be equipped with the function of recognizing the type of a given data storage medium and the copyright protection function should be consolidated.

Abstract: A recording medium has a first recording area on which multiplexed audio informations are recorded as sets of one or more information units, a second recording area on which control information for controlling recording of the multiplexed audio informations are recorded. The control informations include first information representing the number of sets of information composing the multiplexed audio informations, and second information instructing to record the multiplexed audio informations as a stream.

Abstract: An optical disk drive apparatus is provided has a reading section which reads the reflection of a laser beam from a disk to produce a read signal, a filter section which filters the read signal with the use of three or more different cutoff frequencies upon receiving a control signal from a two or more bits control line, a reproducing section which playbacks the read signal filtered by the filter, and a control section which provides the filter with the control signal along the two or more bits control line so that the filtering action with the three or more different cutoff frequencies of the filter is carried out throughout three or more consecutive periods respectively.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for adjusting the rotational speed of a disk player based on a calculated variable. The method increases the rotational speed of the disk player when the calculated variable is greater than a first threshold and decreases the rotational speed of the disk player when the calculated variable is less than a second threshold.

Abstract: Even in the case where there is used technique such as “high NA”, “multi-layer recording”, etc., in order to carry out optimum correction of wave front aberration produced thereby with a simple technique, such an aberration correcting element to vary variable A and variable B(A?B) of phase distribution formula A(?r4)?B(?r2) as phase correction pattern by aberration correcting element is realized by using a liquid crystal element (30). The liquid crystal element (30) forms such an electrode pattern to generate phase distribution corresponding to spherical aberration at one transparent electrode (31A), and forms such an electrode pattern to generate defocus pattern at the other transparent electrode (31B). In addition, by controlling applied voltages with respect to these electrodes, it becomes possible to independently carry out variable control of the above-described variables A and B.