Abstract: Data is written on a plurality of data tracks on an optical disk by a plurality of laser beams. The spots illuminated by the beams are spaced apart to prevent thermal interference. The spots are aligned along a line at an angle to the tangent of the data tracks. The angle of the line of spots is determined by an equation using variables that include the track pitch, the minimum distance between spots and the difference in track numbers between tracks being written.

Abstract: An optical head with excellent optical characteristics even when using a light source that substantially has a wavelength broadening is provided. The optical head includes a light source, an objective lens for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source on an information recording medium and a photodetector for detecting the light beam reflected from the information recording medium, wherein defocusing correction means and spherical aberration correction means are provided in an optical path between the light source and the information recording medium. Since both the defocusing correction means and the spherical aberration correction means are provided, while defocusing of a focused spot on the information recording medium caused by a wavelength broadening of the light source and chromatic aberration of the optical system can be corrected, the spherical aberration of the optical system caused by wavelength difference between a design wavelength and an incident wavelength also can be corrected.

Abstract: After the read head of a composite head reads sector data from a disk, a read circuit detects a sync mark in the sector data. The read circuit demodulates user data subsequent to the detected sync mark, and outputs it to a disk controller. A sequencer incorporated in the disk controller measures, as a read preamble data length, the data length of preamble data preceding to the detected sync mark. The sequencer determines the head gap length of the composite head from the data length of the preamble data of sector data to be written to the disk, a write path delay, the read preamble data length and a read path delay.

Abstract: A transversal filter subjects a reproduced signal to partial-response waveform equalization responsive to tap coefficients to generate an equalization-resultant signal. There is generated 0-point information representing whether or not the reproduced signal corresponds to a zero-cross point. A temporary decision device calculates a temporary decision value of the equalization-resultant signal on the basis of a PR mode signal, an RLL mode signal, at least four successive samples of the 0-point information, and at least four successive samples of the equalization-resultant signal. Calculation is made as to a difference between the temporary decision value of the equalization-resultant signal and an actual value thereof. An error signal is generated in response to the calculated difference. The tap coefficients of the transversal filter are controlled in response to the generated error signal. The partial-response waveform equalization is PR(a, b, b, b, a).

Abstract: A write-once high density optical recording medium capable of a high speed recording that effectively forms space between recording marks. A recording layer 18 of a high speed write-once optical recording medium 10 is formed by laminating a first sub recording layer 18A and a second sub recording layer 18B each containing a metal as its main component. When the recording layer (laminated recording layer) 18 is irradiated with a laser beam, the main component metals contained in the first and second sub recording layers 18A, 18B diffuse and are mixed together by means of the irradiation, thereby forming recording marks whose reflectance have been irreversibly changed due to such mixing. At this time, after an irradiation using a laser beam for forming recording marks, a power level P1 lower than a read power is maintained for a predetermined time Ti.

Abstract: Tracking system for guiding an optical beam on tracks on an optical disc, said tracking system comprising a photodetector (A1, A2) for detecting optical beams derived from said optical beam, said photodetector generating a first output signal (A) and a second output signal (B), said tracking system comprising first processing means for generating a first differential signal (PP(DC)) corresponding to the low-frequency part of a difference between said first and second output signals. The tracking system comprises second processing means for generating a tracking error signal (PP(AC/DC)) defined by the addition of said first differential signal (PP(DC)) to a second differential signal (PP?(AC)), said second differential signal corresponding to a fraction of the difference in amplitude of the high-frequency components of said first and second output signals. Use: Optical disc player/writer.

Abstract: A driving power is applied to a light source to control emission of a light beam to a recording layer of an optical storage medium, the driving power including a sequence of mark and space portions, each mark portion having a pulse width that corresponds to a multiple of a period T of a write clock. A multi-pulse waveform of each mark portion of the driving power includes a front-end portion having a first pulse width t1 with a high-power write level Pw and starting from a middle-power erase level Pe, a multi-pulse portion including write pulses each having a second pulse width t2 with the write level Pw and a third pulse width t3 with a low-power base level Pb, the multi-pulse portion having a duty ratio z=t2/(t2+t3), and a tail-end portion having a fourth pulse width t4 with the base level Pb and ending at the erase level Pe. The waveform is controlled, when a linear velocity of rotation of the medium is set in a range from 5 m/s to 28 m/s, such that the first pulse width t1 ranges 0.

Abstract: A method of compensating for tilt and/or defocus and an apparatus therefor. The apparatus has a tilt and/or defocus detector detecting the tilt and/or defocus of an optical recording medium, and a recording compensator compensating a write pulse having a predetermined recording pattern using a predetermined system with respect to the detected tilt and/or defocus. The apparatus both adjusts write power with respect to the detected defocus, shifts the recording pattern with respect to the detected tilt, adjusts a power level and/or write time required for recording, and records a recording mark having a desired size (length and width). The apparatus is useful in compensating for tilt and/or defocus in a high-density optical system.

Abstract: The invention is disclosed a method for promptly protecting a voice coil motor in an optical disk drive. A step (A) allows a data signal processor (DSP) to execute a protect module of the voice coil motor every preset time interval. In a step (B), the DSP executes following further steps during executing the protect module. A step (b1) reads tracking error (TE)/focusing error (FE) and determines if the TE/FE is over a safety range. A step (b2) starts a gain decrease operation of a signal amplifier if the TE/FE in step (b1) has been over the safety range for more than the first preset number of times so as to lower the control current outputting to the voice coil motor. A step (b3) starts an operation of speed reduction and a low current operation of a controller to secure the voice coil motor being safe if the TE/FE in step (b1) has been over the safety range for more than a second preset number of times.

Abstract: When recording data on a medium where a certain data rate is required, an allocation manager in the player must allocate sections of the logical space in such a way that the recording medium is efficiently filled and that an adequate data rate can be guaranteed even in the presence of defective ECC blocks. The allocation rules for the allocation manager are complex. The rules can be simplified by placing a lower limit on the size of an extent and by increasing the size of the extent depending on the number of defect ECC blocks in the extent.

Abstract: An optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus permitting a recording test using an external memory, and a method of driving the apparatus is provided. The optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus reads and bypasses test data to be recorded, which is stored in a buffer memory in a compact disc-digital audio (CD-DA) format or a data format similar to the CD-DA format. The bypassed data is directly converted into serial data by a synchronizer without being encoded, and is then used in a write strategy for a write strategy unit.

Abstract: After pre-coding bit data of address information to be recorded on an optical disc on the basis of at least 4 wobble units, wobble data pre-coded on at least 4 wobble units is modulated by a BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) or ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) method, and the modulated wobble data is alternately recorded on both sides of a land and/or groove of the optical disc. As a result, wobble signals, recorded on sides of signal tracks of a groove and a land, in consecutively repeated anti-phase, or having consecutively repeated different amplitudes, are avoided. There are no consecutively repeated zero-level sections in a push-pull signal, thereby minimizing performance degradation of a wobble PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) and a noise generated in a reproduction RF signal.

Abstract: A medium judgment program is recorded on an information recording medium. The program causes a computer to judge whether the medium is authorized. The judgment may be based on information on a unique value preformed in the medium in regard to each of the media. If the computer determines that the information recording medium is right or authorized, the program permits the computer to reproduce a main program. The main program is different than the medium judgment program. If the computer determines that the information recording medium is wrong or unauthorized, the computer is prohibited from reproducing the main program.

Abstract: The invention detects the thickness error of the transparent substrate using a general focus error signal detection system employing the fact that the reflecting light from the optical disk causes distortions in diffraction image at the detection plane or unsymmetrical expansions before and after the detection plane due to spherical aberration as a result of thickness errors of the transparent substrate. The absolute amount of the thickness error of the transparent substrate and its symbol are detected by detecting the difference between the absolute value of the positive side peak and the absolute value of the negative side peak of the focus sum signal, or the difference in focus positions between the peak point of the focus sum signals and the zero point of the focus error signals using the focus error signal detection system according to the knife-edge method. This enables it to detect the thickness error of the transparent substrate without using a special optical system.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a light source which emits light, a grating which separates a portion of the light emitted from the light source, a reflecting member which reflects another portion of the light emitted from the light source, a monitoring photodetector disposed on a traveling path of the light reflected from the reflecting member and which measures the reflected light, an optical path changer which changes an optical path of the light separated by the grating, an objective lens light which condenses the light the optical path of which is changed onto a disc, and a signal detecting photodetector which receives the light reflected from the disc.

Abstract: An optical-disk drive device is provided which is capable of executing recording or reproduction at a plurality of numerical apertures and keeping constant the quantity of light which is emitted by a light-emitting element.

Abstract: A recording medium that is a write-once recording medium with data rewritability, thereby increasing the usability of the write-once recording medium, is provided. In a write-once recording medium, a main data area has a normal record and playback sub-area (a user data section), a rewriting replacement sub-area (an OSA), and a replacement management sub-area (an ISA). In response to a request to write data to an address at which data has been recorded, the rewritten data is recorded in the rewriting replacement sub-area (the OSA), and replacement management information that associates the original address with the address in the rewriting replacement sub-area is recorded into the replacement management sub-area (the ISA). Thus, data rewriting is achieved. Accordingly, a write-once recording medium can be substantially used as a data rewritable recording medium.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit includes a light source emitting a light beam, an objective lens focusing the light beam onto an information recording medium, a light detection part receiving the light beam reflected from the information recording medium, and a light blocking part selectively blocking a part of the light beam with respect to a radial direction. The light blocking part is provided in an optical path of the light beam centered on an optical axis.

Abstract: A storage apparatus rotates an optical recording medium at two or more kinds of rotational speeds. The rotational speed is decreased when a read or write margin becomes less than or equal to a first predetermined value or, when a frequency of generation of a servo abnormality of a tracking servo and/or a focus servo is greater than or equal to a first predetermined frequency. On the other hand, the rotational speed is increased when the read or write margin becomes greater than or equal to a second predetermined value or, when the frequency of generation of the servo abnormality of the tracking servo and/or the focus servo is less than or equal to a second predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A method is designed for recording contents information along a track of an optical disk of a writeable type. A volume detection step is carried out for detecting an actual volume of the contents information to be recorded into the optical disk. A capacity detection step is carried out for detecting a nominal capacity of the optical disk, which indicates a rated volume of information to be recorded at maximum. A density determination step is carried out for determining a recording density of the contents information based on the detected actual volume and the detected nominal capacity. A recording step is carried out for recording the contents information into the optical disk at the determined recording density such that the actual volume of the contents information can fit into the nominal capacity of the optical disk.