Abstract: A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in n.xy form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

Abstract: Described herewith is an optical disk manufacturing apparatus for reading recorded digital data from an optical disk, comprising an encryption unit (22, 23) for encrypting entered digital data according to a plurality of key information; an optical disk substrate manufacturing unit 2 for manufacturing an optical disk substrate 4 on which the encrypted digital data and key information are recorded in the form of physical form changes; a reflection film forming unit 41 for forming a reflection film on the optical disk substrate 4; and a key information recording unit 7 for recording key information on the optical disk substrate on which the reflection film is formed. The reflection factor of the optical disk is changed locally, thereby giving a jitter to the position information of each pit edge, and desired data is recorded additionally according to this jitter. Pits, etc.

Abstract: Design, manufacture and use of optical discs that permit the concurrent and discriminable acquisition of signals from both operational features and nonoperational features is presented. The disc geometries and tracking schemes permit such discs to be read in, and data encoded by nonoperational features reported by, standard (or minimally-modified), optical disc readers. Single data layer first and second surface discs are described, as are multiple data layer discs. Use of the disks in analyte-specific assay is presented.

Abstract: An optical recording apparatus for recording a plurality of information units on an optical storage medium. Each of the information units includes a long run-length sync pattern. The optical recording apparatus includes a recording means for recording the plurality of information units on the optical storage medium and a sync pattern selector for determining the type of each of the long run-length sync patterns. The sync pattern selector determines at least one long run-length sync pattern as a mark when marks with run-lengths longer than a first length threshold do not appear for a time period longer than a first time threshold. The sync pattern selector determines at least one long run-length sync pattern as a space when spaces with run-lengths longer than a second length threshold do not appear for a time period longer than a second time threshold.

Abstract: An information storage medium according to an embodiment of this invention includes a management area for recording management information, and a data area for recording content data. The content data recorded in the data area contains a plurality of object data, each object data contains a plurality of data units, each data unit contains a plurality of packs, each pack contains at least one packet, the packet contains at least one transport stream packet, the management information recorded in the management area contains program chain information which manages the playback order of data contained in the object data, the program chain information contains cell information, and the cell information contains information that specifies an object to be played back.

Abstract: A disk recording/reproduction device ideal for processing audio-visual data streams requiring real-time characteristics. A disk device has an operating mode ideal for recording and reproduction of motion image and audio data requiring real-time continuity by limiting the time needed for error processing, and the host incorporating the disk device can easily monitor the real-time continuity. The host can specify the urgency of individual recording and reproduction instructions to the disk so that control of real-time continuity can be actively implemented in better detail. A means for assigning a total number to a plurality of simultaneously recorded or reproduced data streams as well assigning individual data stream numbers allows informing the disk device of the throughput required by the host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer record carrier, to a recording apparatus and to a method of recording on such a multilayer record carrier, and to a manufacturing method, wherein start and stop positions of recording areas at header portions (H) are shifted in a lower recording layer (8) by a predetermined distance (?) such that recording and reading in/from the lower layer (8) is not affected by a variation in the transmittivity of the upper layer (6) at the transitions between the recording areas (R) and the header portions. The shifting may be obtained by extending gap portions or adding mirror areas to the header portions (H).

Abstract: An optical disc includes a processed area that has been processed by the irradiation of a YAG laser. Concave pits and convex pits having a length 3T-14T (T=0.133 ?m) are formed in an area of the optical disc other than the processed area. The processed area includes (1) a concave pit having a length X or (2) a pit string that has a length X and includes a convex pit from which a reflection layer has been removed. A specific area of the optical disc records physical character information that shows the location and length of the concave pit or the pit string in the processed area.

Abstract: A wobble detection circuit detects a signal by a common photodetector (light receiving) element from several kinds of media having different pre-formats. Further, the wobble detection circuit changes a gain for amplifying the signal in a wobble signal detection process depending on the pre-format of a reproducing or recording medium to obtain a wobble signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides simple finalizing that is quicker to be done. To ensure that the finalized recording medium can be replayed by any type of playback apparatus, the invention includes means for additional finalizing that makes the medium the same as processed by normal finalizing.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a gain control signal for a multilevel read signal. In one embodiment, maximum automatic gain control marks are periodically inserted amongst a series of data fields. The automatic gain control marks include a series of high level marks such that the maximum signal detected in the interior portion of each maximum automatic gain control mark is not reduced by intersymbol interference. Minimum automatic gain control marks are also periodically inserted amongst a series of data fields. The automatic gain control marks include a series of high level marks such that the maximum signal detected in the interior portion of each minimum automatic gain control mark is not reduced by intersymbol interference. In another embodiment, multilevel signals are encoded to facilitate automatic gain control. The effect of a plurality of candidate merge symbols on the residual running total power associated with a current data block is determined.

Abstract: The ability of a data reader, such as a CD-ROM drive, to access, extract, or otherwise read the data on a digital audio compact disc provides a problem for the music industry. A user can use his CD-ROM drive to read the data from an audio disc into a computer file, and then that data can be copied. To provide copy protection, errors are deliberately introduced into the data on a CD, but these errors are of a type which are generally transparent to an audio player but which will interfere with the reading of the audio data by a data reader. According to the standards, the data on a CD is encoded into frames by EFM (eight to fourteen modulation). Each frame has sync data, sub-code bits providing control and display symbols, data bits and parity bits, and includes 24 bytes of data, which is audio data for a CD-DA. The standard requires that 98 such frames are grouped into a sector. To provide copy protection, each is provided with a non-standard number of frames, for example, has 99 rather than 98 frames.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a gate signal generator for generating a gate signal in accordance with the data signal; a pre-pit signal generator for generating a pre-pit signal from a signal read from the recording medium; a gate circuit for generating a pre-pit pulse train by allowing the pre-pit signal to pass therethrough in response to the gate signal; a pulse extractor for extracting pulses of predetermined waveform from the pre-pit pulse train; and a synchronization signal generator for generating a recording synchronization signal based on the pulses of predetermined waveform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering land pre-pits from a signal obtained from an optical recording medium.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for discriminating a signal from one or more mixed signals, where the mixed signal may include two or more signal components, an interpreting unit generates a plurality of multiplication parameters based on a plurality of inputs that are related to a mixed signal. A finite impulse response (FIR) filter may output a removal-target signal based on the generated multiplication parameters. A subtracting unit may then generate an output signal representing a signal component of the mixed signal by subtracting the removal-target signal from a second signal.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method using an optical recording medium having an aligned prepit portion straddled on a plurality of tracks in a radial direction which includes a first and a second prepit portion divided in a track direction. The respective first and second prepit portion are arranged on a boundary of respective tracks and include a synchronous information prepit arranged at every two-track pitch in the radial direction and positioned at opposite boundaries of the same track. A trailing end of the first prepit portion is aligned with the radial direction in arrangement. the method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical recording medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical recording medium, and reproducing information on the optical recording medium by using a signal obtained in accordance with the reflected beam.

Abstract: A BCA (Burst Cutting Area) code including a unique disk code indicating the type of a disk is written in a BCA code area of the disk. If the disk is mounted into the optical disk player, the optical disk player reads data written in the BCA code area, extracts the disk code contained in the read data, and confirms the type of the disk corresponding to the extracted disk code by retrieving a disk code table in which disk codes corresponding to the types of disks are mapped.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for use with a read-only optical information storage medium having a plurality of areas, including: a recording and/or reading unit which records data on and/or reads data from the plurality of areas; and a controller which: controls the recording and/or reading unit to record data in at least one of the plurality of areas in the form of pits in a first pit pattern, and controls the recording and/or reading unit to record data in others of the plurality of areas in the form of pits in a second pit pattern different from the first.

Abstract: For mapping sampled digital audio information onto a linear physical mapping space that is partitioned in a string of uniform-sized blocks, in particular for variable-rate coded audio information that is distributed over successive audio units which are each composed from one or more audio packets, each block is supplemented with a block header for indicating an actual content of the block in question with respect to any constituent packet of the audio information.

Abstract: A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in either n.xy or n.x. form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

Abstract: An absolute time area is expanded by using an area of relatively low importance such as zero-data area and/or relative time area or the like in a Q channel in a sub-code in a recording format of a CD. Thus, an absolute time expression which can cope with a disc having a large capacity or the like can be performed. An absolute time expression is performed in a manner such that a digit of “100 minutes” is BCD expressed by using lower 4 bits in the 8-bit zero-data area ZERO. Thus, the absolute time of up to 999min59sec74frame can be expressed. A digit of “hour” is also expressed by using the lower 4 bits in the zero-data area. For example, identification information showing that a disc is a high density optical disc of large capacity is expressed by using the upper 4 bits in the zero-data area ZERO.

Abstract: For each sync frame, an AND circuit detects whether a pre-pit synchronization signal can be obtained within a window set by a timing generator. Detection result of the AND circuit is held by a shift register, where it is shifted in response to each sync frame. On the basis of a parallel output from the shift register, a decoder determines whether the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is accurate or erroneous. Count value of a counter is incremented by one each time the decoder determines that the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is accurate, but is decremented by one each time the decoder determines that the detection of the pre-pit synchronization signal is erroneous. Identification section identifies stability/instability of the pre-pit synchronization signal detection.

Abstract: In an information detecting circuit, an equalizer equalizes an output from an A/D converter as an A/D converting information. A first interpolation circuit generates an interpolating value. A delay circuit delays the A/D converting information with a delay quantity equivalent to an output delay quantity of the equalizer. A second interpolation circuit generates an interpolating value. An interpolating position generating circuit produces an interpolating position information for generating an interpolating value synchronized in phase with the channel clock and supplies the interpolating position information into the first interpolation circuit and the second interpolation circuit. A binary encoder converts the output of the first interpolation circuit. A tap coefficient controller generates a tap coefficient from interpolating value outputs of the first and second interpolations. A rate correcting circuit converts the tap coefficient to be fed-back to the equalizer.

Abstract: A signal delay apparatus is provided with; a FIR filter for detecting a leakage signal, which is mixed in a digital detected signal, which is optically obtained from a main truck to be detected in association with the information recorded on a sub truck adjacent to the main truck to be detected, based n a filter coefficient; a coefficient setting unit for generating the above filter coefficient based on the digital detected signal, of which leakage signal is removed, and a digital detected signal, and outputting the generated filter coefficient to the filter; a CPU for controlling the delay amount in the delay with respect to any filter coefficient based on the change of the filter coefficient, which is generated in a predetermined time period and variable delay circuits and for delaying the digital detected signal and the digital detected signal by the controlled delay amount.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: An information recording medium of this invention has a plurality of sector fields that record data, and each sector field has an identification information area (recording type area). The identification information area records one of first identification information indicating that data recorded in the sector field has high integrity, and second identification information indicating that data has low integrity.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus with a teletext recording capability comprises an FM tuner (11) for receiving teletext with text information multiplexed with an FM signal; a text information decoder (21) for extracting the text information from the output of the FM tuner (11); a RAM (3) for temporarily storing the text information from the text information decoder (21); an audio circuit (41) for performing an audio signal processing based on the output of the FM tuner (11); and a recording/reproducing means (5) for recording an audio signal from the audio circuit (41) in a mini disc (6) with recording and reproducing capabilities and reproducing the audio signal from the disc; whereby, after recording the audio signal in the mini disc (6), a content of the text information preselected as additional information to the audio signal is read out from the RAM (3) and automatically recorded in a predetermined area of the mini disc (6).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: An information reproducing method for an optical recording medium in which grooves and lands are formed on a substrate, information recording areas are formed in association with both a groove and a land, and an address area is formed at the information recording area preceding the groove and the land. First and second address pits are disposed in the address area on an extension of a boundary between the groove and the land and the first and second address pits are disposed to satisfy predetermined requirements.

Abstract: A pre-pit detection unit having pre-pit detection circuits (600 and 700) respectively corresponding to beam intensity in mark and space periods that are provided in parallel on the output side of a push-pull circuit (500) for generating a pre-data signal. The pre-pit detection unit finally outputs the OR of the outputs of both pre-pit detection circuits as a pre-pit detection signal (l). An AGC circuit (601 and 701) for making the maximum amplitude of a radial push-pull signal (d) obtainable from said push-pull circuit coincide with a reference value is provided in the preceding stages of pre-pit detecting comparators (606 and 706) in the respective pre-pit detection circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium in which the recording density can be increase to secure a large storage capacity and in which there is no risk of an address section being mistakenly detected by cross-talk from a neighboring track, is disclosed. Specifically, an optical disc of a continuous servo system in which tracking is controlled using a pre-groove and in which information is recorded and/or reproduced with constant angular velocity using clocks of a sole frequency, is disclosed. On the disc is formed a spiral track made up of a data portion for recording data and an address section for recording management information for recording/reproducing data. Both a groove and a land are used as a recording/reproducing track. Odd tracks are formed on the land, while even tracks are formed on the groove.

Abstract: A DVD audio data structure following high-sound-quality specifications is realized, making the best use of the audio data structure standard in DVD video. A first sample data string created by digitizing a first channel audio signal at a first sampling frequency in a first number of quantization bits, a second sample data string created by digitizing a second channel audio signal at a second sampling frequency in a second number of quantization bits, and header data including timing data to synchronize the first sample data string with the second sample data string are recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording medium of this invention has a plurality of sector fields that record data, and each sector field has an identification information area (recording type area). The identification information area records one of first identification information indicating that data recorded in the sector field has high integrity, and second identification information indicating that data has low integrity.

Abstract: A data recording medium suitable for an optical disk such as DVD is disclosed. The data recording medium has a plurality of sectors. The sector has a header area to store address information of the sector, a gap area for power calibration of a laser beam used for data recording, a data recording area to store a plurality of modulated codes obtained by modulating the data, a postamble area located immediately after the data recording area, and a buffer area to separate sectors. The modulated code includes information to demodulate a modulated code located immediately before each modulated code. The postamble area stores information to demodulate the final demodulated code in the data recording area. A data pattern stored in the postamble area includes synchronization pattern, and is determined based on a DSV of the data pattern, or satisfying the run length limitation.

Abstract: A method for reproducing information from an optical medium including a substrate with grooves and lands alternately formed on the substrate in a radial direction. The grooves and the lands both serve as tracks which are divided into units in the circumferential direction. Each unit has a prepit area in a non-groove portion of the substrate with a first prepit being represented as VFO information in the prepit area and a second prepit being represented as address information in the prepit area. The first prepit and second prepit are located on both sides of a center line of one track and are arranged with respect to one another. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting address information, controlling the irradiation position of the optical spot on the basis of the address information and reproducing information.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: A prepit detecting apparatus which uses an optical recording medium having information recording tracks on which information is recorded and guide tracks each of which guides a light beam to the information recording track and on which prepits for saving pre-information are formed such that the light beam is applied to the information track of the optical recording medium, the prepit detecting apparatus comprising: light receiving means divided into a first divided light receiving portion and a second divided light receiving portion divided along an optically parallel division line in a direction of tangent of the information tracks and arranged to receive reflected light of the light beam with which the optical recording medium has been irradiated; and a difference calculator for calculating the difference between a first read signal output from the first divided light receiving portion and a second read signal output from the second divided light receiving portion so that the prepit is detected in response

Abstract: A description is provided of an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus. The apparatus comprises: a holographic memory made of a photorefractive crystalline material; a support portion for detachably supporting the memory; a reference beam supplying portion for supplying a coherent reference beam of a first wavelength incident on the memory; a signal beam generating portion for supplying a coherent signal beam of the first wavelength, which is modulated in accordance with image data, incident on the memory, intersecting therein the signal beam with the reference beam, and generating a three-dimensional interference pattern of the beams; a detecting portion for detecting a diffracted light from a refractive index grating of the interference pattern in the memory, due to irradiation of the reference beam; and a medium position adjusting portion for moving a position of the support portion in accordance with a signal corresponding to positioning images from the detection portion.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: Information reproduction apparatus of the present invention is directed to realize data reproduction properly and reliably from an optical disk, including a wobble detection circuit (130) to detect a wobble signal read out by an optical head (500), a PLL circuit (150) to frequency-multiply the wobble signal to generate a synchronizing signal (SS0), a delay circuit (170) delaying a synchronizing signal (SS0) sequentially to generate a plurality of synchronizing signals (SS0-SS10) of different phases, a particular pattern detection circuit (190) to detect a particular pattern in a reproduced signal, and a switching unit (210) to select one synchronizing signal having a phase difference preset by a preset circuit (180) with respect to a detected particular pattern and supplying the selected synchronizing signal to a laser drive circuit (230) and to a signal demodulation circuit (90).

Abstract: A method for reproducing information from an optical medium including a substrate with grooves and lands serving as recording tracks alternately formed on the substrate in a radial direction, the recording tracks are divided into recording units in the circumferential direction and each recording unit has a prepit area in a non-groove portion of the substrate including a first prepit representative of VFO information and a second prepit representative of address information. The first prepit and second prepit are located on both sides of a center line of one track and formed on each side of the center line of the one track so as to be shared with an adjacent track adjacent the one side of the center line of the track, and every prepit does not exist at opposing positions on both sides of the center line of one track. Information recorded on the optical medium is reproduced.

Abstract: Optical disk recording device includes a beam projection section for projecting a light beam onto a write-once optical disk, and a photodetector having two light receiving surfaces divided in a radial direction of the optical disk for detecting reflected light from the optical disk, and wobble-signal reproduction circuitry for reproducing a wobble signal on the basis of reflected light detection signals output from the two light receiving surfaces of the photodetector. The wobble-signal reproduction circuitry includes peak-holding circuits for, when the optical disk device is in a reproduction mode, detecting and holding respective upper envelopes of the two light detection signals from the photodetector. The wobble-signal reproduction circuitry also includes holding circuits for, when the optical disk device is in a recording mode, detecting respective lower envelopes of the two light detection signals from the photodetector.

Abstract: A device for recording information on CDRs or other recording media and printing file information for observing what is recorded thereon. The information may be medical images such as x-rays, cat scans, magnetic resonance images, or sonograms. The discs can have patient names and other information selected from information stored thereon, printed on the disc as well as logos for the hospital, service provider or trademarks. The discs can be automatically loaded into the recorder and printer. The fields of information or logos printed on the discs can be changed to suit the user. A database creates and updates a directory of patent files so the discs can be located and the images thereon viewed for each patient. The discs have software allowing the computer to view the images on the disc so that a personal computer not having imaging software can operate the disc. The image information can be downloaded from a remote imaging machine for storage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading and/or writing data markings of an optical recording medium having data markings arranged along a track and header markings arranged laterally offset with respect to the center of this track. The apparatus has a signal conditioner, a header identification unit and a switch unit driven by the latter. The object of the invention is to enable data and header markings to be read out with the lowest possible error rate. For this purpose, the apparatus according to the invention has a threshold value forming unit and a storage unit with at least two storage locations, in which case, by means of the switching unit, the input of the storage unit can be connected to the output of the threshold value forming unit and the output of the said storage unit can be connected to a threshold value input of the signal conditioner. The apparatus according to the invention is suitable for reading from or writing to optical recording media such as a DVD-RAM, for example.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: A prepit detection unit for detecting prepits in an optical recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information on a recordable, optical record medium including preinformation such as address information in a prepit form. In the prepit detection unit, for first and second divisional RF signals output from a pickup being divided into a first divisional light reception part and a second divisional light reception part by a division line optically parallel to the tangential direction of an information track for receiving reflected light from the optical record medium, mark sections and space sections are clamped by potential correction circuits and a difference is found by a radial push-pull circuit.