Patents by Inventor Teruyasu Watabe

Teruyasu Watabe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7652965
    Abstract: This patent specification describes a novel optical information recording method for recording mark and space information. The method for recording optical information comprises the steps of generating a peak level current waveform having a high level, generating a bias level current waveform having a low level generating a normal boost level current waveform and a low boost level current waveform, driving a laser light source with the normal boost level current waveform superimposed on the low level current waveform in a normal boost level light emission and switching a drive current waveform for the laser light source to the low boost level current waveform superimposed on the low level current waveform in a peak level sampling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7570556
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording information with improved capabilities of suitably updating numerous setting items addressing the change in recording velocity of an optical disc caused during information recording. The method for recording on the surface of the optical recording disc by a laser beam emanated from a light source, comprises, in case when a recording velocity changes during an operation of recording information, the step of selecting setting items out of a plurality of items, in which the setting items may affect to a degrade recording quality with the change in the recording velocity and the plurality of items are used for determining the shape of pulsating laser beam; identifying a set of the items to be updated including the setting items; and updating the set item by item to values suitable for the present recording velocity at a predetermined time interval while continuing the operation of recording information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7545717
    Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus for recording information on an optical information recording medium with multiple recording layers is disclosed. The optical information recording apparatus, performing an OPC operation before performing the recording, includes a reading part reading information on the type of the medium recorded thereon, a storage unit storing information on a recording condition at the time of performing the OPC operation for each recording layer with respect to each medium type, a recording condition obtaining part reading out the recording condition corresponding to the read type when the recording condition is stored in the storage unit, and reading the recording condition recorded in a corresponding one of the recording layers recording their respective recording conditions when the recording condition is not stored in the storage unit, and an OPC performance part performing the OPC operation using the obtained recording condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7391705
    Abstract: An optical information recording method records information with respect to an optical information recording medium having a multi-layer structure recording layer formed by a plurality of recording layers each capable of recording information, and carries out an Optimum Power Control (OPC) prior to carrying out the recording. Recording conditions that are used when carrying out the OPC are read from one of the recording layers of the optical information recording medium to which the recording is to be made, where each of the recording layers is recorded with the recording conditions therefor, and the OPC is carried out using the read recording conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20080069158
    Abstract: A laser power control apparatus for controlling the output power of a semiconductor laser used to record and reproduce data in and from a recording medium is provided. The laser power control apparatus includes a controller configured to vary the peak output power level of the semiconductor laser in a stepwise manner, calculate a differential efficiency at each of the varied peak output power levels, and determine a laser driving current based on a relation between the differential efficiency and the peak output power level. In addition, a laser driving unit is configured to drive the semiconductor laser using the laser driving current determined by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: TERUYASU WATABE
  • Patent number: 7304928
    Abstract: A laser power control apparatus for controlling the output power of a semiconductor laser used to record and reproduce data in and from a recording medium is provided. The laser power control apparatus includes a controller configured to vary the peak output power level of the semiconductor laser in a stepwise manner, calculate a differential efficiency at each of the varied peak output power levels, and determine a laser driving current based on a relation between the differential efficiency and the peak output power level. In addition, a laser driving unit is configured to drive the semiconductor laser using the laser driving current determined by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20070147208
    Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus for recording information on an optical information recording medium with multiple recording layers is disclosed. The optical information recording apparatus, performing an OPC operation before performing the recording, includes a reading part reading information on the type of the medium recorded thereon, a storage unit storing information on a recording condition at the time of performing the OPC operation for each recording layer with respect to each medium type, a recording condition obtaining part reading out the recording condition corresponding to the read type when the recording condition is stored in the storage unit, and reading the recording condition recorded in a corresponding one of the recording layers recording their respective recording conditions when the recording condition is not stored in the storage unit, and an OPC performance part performing the OPC operation using the obtained recording condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7212477
    Abstract: In an optical recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention, a semiconductor laser driver supplies a selected one of a plurality of drive currents, including at least a first-level drive current and a second-level drive current, to a semiconductor laser to control the emission of a laser beam by the laser. A current driver selectively outputs one of a plurality of increment currents to the laser driver in response to control signals, the plurality of increment currents including a first increment current supplied to the laser driver during an automatic power control process and a second increment current supplied to the laser driver during a special power setting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7209420
    Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus for recording information on an optical information recording medium with multiple recording layers is disclosed. The optical information recording apparatus, performing an OPC operation before performing the recording, includes a reading part reading information on the type of the medium recorded thereon, a storage unit storing information on a recording condition at the time of performing the OPC operation for each recording layer with respect to each medium type, a recording condition obtaining part reading out the recording condition corresponding to the read type when the recording condition is stored in the storage unit, and reading the recording condition recorded in a corresponding one of the recording layers recording their respective recording conditions when the recording condition is not stored in the storage unit, and an OPC performance part performing the OPC operation using the obtained recording condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7154825
    Abstract: In an optical recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention, a semiconductor laser driver supplies a selected one of a plurality of drive currents, including at least a first-level drive current and a second-level drive current, to a semiconductor laser to control the emission of a laser beam by the laser. A current driver selectively outputs one of a plurality of increment currents to the laser driver in response to control signals, the plurality of increment currents including a first increment current supplied to the laser driver during an automatic power control process and a second increment current supplied to the laser driver during a special power setting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20060120241
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording information with improved capabilities of suitably updating numerous setting items addressing the change in recording velocity of an optical disc caused during information recording. The method for recording on the surface of the optical recording disc by a laser beam emanated from a light source, comprises, in case when a recording velocity changes during an operation of recording information, the step of selecting setting items out of a plurality of items, in which the setting items may affect to a degrade recording quality with the change in the recording velocity and the plurality of items are used for determining the shape of pulsating laser beam; identifying a set of the items to be updated including the setting items; and updating the set item by item to values suitable for the present recording velocity at a predetermined time interval while continuing the operation of recording information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 7035185
    Abstract: An optical information recording method records information with respect to an optical information recording medium having a multi-layer structure recording layer formed by a plurality of recording layers each capable of recording information, and carries out an Optimum Power Control (OPC) prior to carrying out the recording. Recording conditions that are used when carrying out the OPC are read from one of the recording layers of the optical information recording medium to which the recording is to be made, where each of the recording layers is recorded with the recording conditions therefor, and the OPC is carried out using the read recording conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20060067706
    Abstract: This patent specification describes a novel optical information recording method for recording mark and space information. The method for recording optical information comprises the steps of generating a peak level current waveform having a high level, generating a bias level current waveform having a low level generating a normal boost level current waveform and a low boost level current waveform, driving a laser light source with the normal boost level current waveform superimposed on the low level current waveform in a normal boost level light emission and switching a drive current waveform for the laser light source to the low boost level current waveform superimposed on the low level current waveform in a peak level sampling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20060062113
    Abstract: An optical information recording method records information with respect to an optical information recording medium having a multi-layer structure recording layer formed by a plurality of recording layers each capable of recording information, and carries out an Optimum Power Control (OPC) prior to carrying out the recording. Recording conditions that are used when carrying out the OPC are read from one of the recording layers of the optical information recording medium to which the recording is to be made, where each of the recording layers is recorded with the recording conditions therefor, and the OPC is carried out using the read recording conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20050185546
    Abstract: In an optical recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention, a semiconductor laser driver supplies a selected one of a plurality of drive currents, including at least a first-level drive current and a second-level drive current, to a semiconductor laser to control the emission of a laser beam by the laser. A current driver selectively outputs one of a plurality of increment currents to the laser driver in response to control signals, the plurality of increment currents including a first increment current supplied to the laser driver during an automatic power control process and a second increment current supplied to the laser driver during a special power setting process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20050025012
    Abstract: An optical information recording method records information with respect to an optical information recording medium having a multi-layer structure recording layer formed by a plurality of recording layers each capable of recording information, and carries out an Optimum Power Control (OPC) prior to carrying out the recording. Recording conditions that are used when carrying out the OPC are read from one of the recording layers of the optical information recording medium to which the recording is to be made, where each of the recording layers is recorded with the recording conditions therefor, and the OPC is carried out using the read recording conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20050025014
    Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus for recording information on an optical information recording medium with multiple recording layers is disclosed. The optical information recording apparatus, performing an OPC operation before performing the recording, includes a reading part reading information on the type of the medium recorded thereon, a storage unit storing information on a recording condition at the time of performing the OPC operation for each recording layer with respect to each medium type, a recording condition obtaining part reading out the recording condition corresponding to the read type when the recording condition is stored in the storage unit, and reading the recording condition recorded in a corresponding one of the recording layers recording their respective recording conditions when the recording condition is not stored in the storage unit, and an OPC performance part performing the OPC operation using the obtained recording condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20040257964
    Abstract: A laser power control apparatus for controlling the output power of a semiconductor laser used to record and reproduce data in and from a recording medium is provided. The laser power control apparatus includes a controller configured to vary the peak output power level of the semiconductor laser in a stepwise manner, calculate a differential efficiency at each of the varied peak output power levels, and determine a laser driving current based on a relation between the differential efficiency and the peak output power level. In addition, a laser driving unit is configured to drive the semiconductor laser using the laser driving current determined by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Patent number: 6747935
    Abstract: There are times when an abnormal light emission occurs and damage the medium when updating the setting register of the pulse width or the laser driving current during recording operation in an optical information recording and reproducing device. There are thus provided a plurality of pulse width setting registers for setting the pulse width of the multi-pulse emissions. When updating the pulse width of the multi-pulse, the pulse width setting register is changed and then the recording operation is performed, and at the time to change the pulse width setting register during recording, the generation of recording pulse train is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe
  • Publication number: 20020191518
    Abstract: There are times when an abnormal light emission occurs and damage the medium when updating the setting register of the pulse width or the laser driving current during recording operation in an optical information recording and reproducing device. There are thus provided a plurality of pulse width setting registers for setting the pulse width of the multi-pulse emissions. When updating the pulse width of the multi-pulse, the pulse width setting register is changed and then the recording operation is performed, and at the time to change the pulse width setting register during recording, the generation of recording pulse train is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Teruyasu Watabe