Abstract: A final area retrieving apparatus, an information reproducing apparatus, a final area retrieving method, and a final area retrieving program are provided, which are capable of decreasing a period of time necessary for acquiring information necessary for reproduction of optical disc. When a final area of optical disc D is retrieved, a system control unit 6 stores a start address of the area, and the like in a flash memory 5. When the optical disc D is inserted again, and a final area is newly retrieved, it is determined whether a final area retrieved at the last time exists on the optical disc D, based on a starting address of final area stored in the flash memory 5. In a case where it is determined that a final area retrieved at the last time exists on the optical disc D, the acquisition of start address of next area, and the like is started from a final area retrieved at the last time, and a final area is retrieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a servo adjustment method, and the like realizing reduced time required for servo adjustment. An information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. The apparatus includes: signal level measuring means for measuring a signal level of each of recording layers; and servo adjusting means for performing servo adjustment on at least one of the recording layers, storing a servo adjustment value in the servo adjustment, and in the case where the recorded information is reproduced from the recording layers, performing servo adjustment on the recording layers so as to become to the servo adjustment value.

Abstract: [Problems] In an objective lens driving device used for an optical disc and the like, a moving speed of the objective lens is changed corresponding to amount of vertical deviation of the optical disc, and when the vertical deviation is small, time for aligning the focus is reduced. [Means for Solving Problems] In a case that an objective lens is moved from a bottom limit to an upper limit in a specific range for aligning the focus, when the objective lens is positioned nearer a point (basic focusing position) where light is focused on an optical disc 11 having no vertical deviation than a position away from the basic focusing position, the servo signal processor 5 moves the objective lens faster.

Abstract: In a navigation-related processing, when it is necessary to access a navigation data area 121 in a hard disk device, an access data amount determining portion 211 determines whether the navigation-related processing includes access by a predetermined amount or more of data. When the determination result is affirmative, an access restriction instructing portion 212 sends a hard disk access restricting instruction to a disk recording processing portion 221. In a state where the access of the disk recording processing portion 221 to an additional-function data area 122 of the hard disk is restricted, a navigation processing section 210 accesses the navigation data area 121. As a result, even when a navigation-related processing and a specific additional function-related process other than a navigation function are concurrently performed, it is possible to provide navigation information well.

Abstract: [Problems] To accurately and speedily perform discrimination of a plurality of kinds of optical discs by an optical disc discriminating device. [Means for Solving Problems] At the time of discriminating CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc, a laser beam is applied from a laser diode for CD to an optical disc to be discriminated, a focus error signal level and an AS signal level are measured from the reflecting light, and discrimination of three kinds is performed by the results, based on previously set first threshold values (Vfe1, Vas1), second threshold values (Vfe2, Vas2) and a ratio (Vfeas1) of the focus error signal level to the AS signal level as a third threshold value. When the disc is not discriminated as CD or DVD or Blu-ray Disc by using the laser diode for CD, the laser diode is switched to a laser diode for Blu-ray Disc to apply a laser beam, the focus error signal level and the AS signal level are measured from the reflecting light, and the disc is discriminated based on third threshold values (Vfe3, Vas3).

Abstract: A boundary detection apparatus is provided that can quickly and accurately detect an end of a recorded area even if there is a defect caused by a scratch or a extraneous matter adhered on the recording face of a CD, or the CD itself is decentered. When it is detected that information is recorded at a predetermined dividing point B, a pickup is moved to a dividing point C located ahead seen from the dividing point B after moving. On the other hand, when it is detected that information is not recorded at the dividing point B, the pickup is moved to a dividing point A located on the opposite side from the dividing point B, and the pickup is further moved after the end containing range is ultimately determined. Thus, an end is detected.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for recording and reproducing information. The apparatus comprises a reading device to read out information recorded on a recording medium, a first recording device in which the information read out by the reading device is written, an output device to output the information written in the first recording device, a second recording device in which the information read out by the reading device is recorded, and a controller. The controller controls the reading, first recording, output, and second recording devices such that an operation specified by an operation command and directed to all the information recorded on the recording medium is performed, during an operation for recording the information into the second recording device, and the recording operation is continued.

Abstract: An information recording medium reproducing system has an insertion opening, a recording medium storing portion and a medium carrying device. Photodetectors are provided for detecting passing of the recording medium and for producing a passing signal when the medium passes. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the medium carrying device. The controller applies a discharge signal to the medium carrying device when the passing signal is not produced within a predetermined time, whereby the medium carrying device is actuated in discharge operation.

Abstract: An optical disk playing apparatus which performs at least a focusing servo operation for reading light as a servo operation and irradiates the reading light onto one optical disk, receives reflected light from the optical disk by a pickup to obtains a light receiving signal, moves an irradiated position of the reading light onto the optical disk to cross tracks on the disk; generates a tracking error signal in response to the reading signal during the track crossing; compares the tracking error signal with a threshold value; and determines the type of the optical disk in accordance with the number of pulses in the compared result signal within a predetermined period from start of the track crossing.

Abstract: An imaging unit captures an image of an entire recording surface of an optical recording medium. An image storing unit stores the image captured as one image of a recording surface image. A track-information calculating unit calculates a virtual center point and an actual track pitch of the optical recording medium. An image-analysis-path generating unit matches a center of an image analysis path with the virtual center point of the recording surface image stored. An image analyzing unit performs an image analysis of the pits sequentially from an innermost periphery according to the image analysis path, and converts the pit arrangement information of the track into a digital signal, and stores the digital signal converted.

Abstract: An information recording medium reproducing system has an insertion opening, a recording medium storing portion and a medium carrying device. Photodetectors are provided for detecting passing of the recording medium and for producing a passing signal when the medium passes. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the medium carrying device. The controller applies a discharge signal to the medium carrying device when the passing signal is not produced within a predetermined time, whereby the medium carrying device is actuated in discharge operation.

Abstract: There is provided a player which efficiently restricts reproduction of information. The type of a recording disk (1) is determined by a disk distinction unit of a microcomputer (130), and a reproduction processing is immediately started unless the recording disk is determined as a DVD. If the disk is determined as a DVD, a key-bunch determination unit of the microcomputer (130) determines whether MKB information as a content for protection according to the CPPM technique is recorded or not. If not recorded, the reproduction processing is started immediately. Otherwise, if recorded, a wobble signal determination unit of the microcomputer (130) determines whether a wobble exists or not. If a wobble does not exist, the reproduction processing is started immediately. If a wobble exists, a restriction unit of the microcomputer (130) determines whether information has been properly recorded or not. If the information is an illegal copy, reproduction is inhibited.

Abstract: A recording-medium-identification apparatus that emits a light beam onto a recording medium, is provided with: a light-receiving device which receives said reflected light beam that is reflected from said recording medium; a first extraction device which extracts a specified wobble-frequency signal from said output received-light signal that corresponds to the wobble frequency of the recording tracks on a specified recording medium from among a plurality of types of said recording media; a second extraction device which extracts another wobble-frequency signal from said output received-light signal that corresponds to the wobble frequency of the recording tracks on another recording medium other than the said specified recording medium from among a plurality of types of said recording media; and an identification device which uses at least said specified wobble-frequency signal or said other wobble-frequency signal to identify the type of said recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium identification apparatus that emits a light beam onto a recording medium having recording layers, is provided with; a recording-layer-number-judgment device which determines the number of said recording layers on said recording medium based on the reflected light of said light beam that is reflected from said recording medium; a first identification device which identifies that said recording medium is a recording medium that includes two or more said recording layers when said recording medium is determined to have two or more said recording layers; a shape-judgment device which determines the shape of the recording track on said recording layer based on said reflected light when it is determined that the number of said recording layers is one; and a second identification device which further classifies and identifies the type of recording medium that includes one said recording layer based on said determined shape.

Abstract: A focusing controller executes an appropriate focus jump even in a multilayer disk having layers of characteristics greatly different from each other. The focusing controller has an optical pickup including an objective lens for converging the light beam and a detector for receiving reflected light from the multilayer recording medium; an error signal generator for generating a focus error signal of the irradiated light beam from a detecting signal of the detector; an actuator for operating the objective lens; and a controller for controlling a focusing position of the light beam by operating the actuator based on the focus error signal. The controller calculates intensities of the reflected lights of two layers based on the detecting signal of the detector, and thus controls the timings of acceleration and deceleration signals of a focus jump between these two layers.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for recording and reproducing information. The apparatus comprises a reading device to read out information recorded on a recording medium, a first recording device in which the information read out by the reading device is written, an output device to output the information written in the first recording device, a second recording device in which the information read out by the reading device is recorded, and a controller. The controller controls the reading, first recording, output, and second recording devices such that an operation specified by an operation command and directed to all the information recorded on the recording medium is performed, during an operation for recording the information into the second recording device, and the recording operation is continued.

Abstract: An information recording medium reproducing system has an insertion opening, a recording medium storing portion and a medium carrying device. Photodetectors are provided for detecting passing of the recording medium and for producing a passing signal when the medium passes. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the medium carrying device. The controller applies a discharge signal to the medium carrying device when the passing signal is not produced within a predetermined time, whereby the medium carrying device is actuated in discharge operation.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus is provided for use with a recording medium on which sub-data is recorded in association with main data. The apparatus includes a reading device for reading the sub-data from the recording medium, a memory for storing the sub-data, a data discriminator for determining whether a piece of sub-data read from the recording medium, which is at least one portion of the sub-data, is included in stored data already stored in the memory, and a controller. The controller stops the reading device from reading the sub-data when the data discriminator determines that the piece of sub-data is included in the stored data.

Abstract: An information recording medium reproducing system has an insertion opening, a recording medium storing portion and a medium carrying device. Photodetectors are provided for detecting passing of the recording medium and for producing a passing signal when the medium passes. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the medium carrying device. The controller applies a discharge signal to the medium carrying device when the passing signal is not produced within a predetermined time, whereby the medium carrying device is actuated in discharge operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the absence or the presence of the occurrence of the abnormal insertion that a plurality of disc bodies each of which should be inserted separately one by one are inserted consecutively, provided with: a passing detecting device for detecting the passing of the disc body, mounted on the passing route of the disc body, and a determining device for determining the occurrence of the abnormal insertion if the detecting device detects the passing again after the detecting device detected the passing once.