Abstract: A label printer system includes a disk storage medium including a thermally-sensitive layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface. A rotational drive rotates the disk storage medium and a transverse drive moves a laser substantially transversely with respect to the disk storage medium. A memory includes a symbol set and a label printer driver. A processor uses the label printer driver to control the rotational drive and the transverse drive in order to thermally write the symbol set to the thermally-sensitive layer of the disk storage medium, using the laser.

Abstract: An apparatus to control a step motor in an optical disk driving system to move a sled which transfers a pickup unit, including a playing unit, a coarse search unit, and a driving unit. The playing unit generates a first step pulse at a first interval of time set by a disk speed according to a comparison between a sled control signal and a tracking driving signal in a playing mode with a predetermined threshold. The coarse search unit generates a second step pulse at a second interval of time stored in a table according to a number of motion steps and a motion direction corresponding to an amount of motion of the pickup unit due to operations in a search mode. The driving unit drives the step motor based on the first and second step pulses.

Abstract: An optical storage disc stores storage information and includes track information. A method for performing a target search on the optical storage disc includes: generating a first intermediate signal according to a readout signal generated by an optical storage device reading the storage information; generating a second intermediate signal according to the track information carried within the readout signal; generating a hybrid address signal according to the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal; and performing the target search on the optical storage disc according to the hybrid address signal and a target address set by the optical storage device.

Abstract: During a normal operation, a tracking control signal from a tracking controller is supplied to an adder via a first switch and to a radial deviation component detector. The radial deviation component detector determines a radial deviation component EC of AC caused by radial deviation of an optical disk from the tracking control signal and supplied that component to the adder via another switch. For a track jump, the first switch is turned OFF, cutting off the tracking control signal. Thus, the radial deviation component EC and a jump pulse signal from a jump signal generator are added together by the adder. However, an offset of the tracking control signal TC detected by a DC component detector is further added. To avoid instability, the track jump is compensated so as to be normally carried out even if a DC offset is added to a tracking control signal.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a pick-up for reading/writing signals from/on a disk; a pick-up base provided with the pick-up; a traverse motor for moving the pick-up in a radial direction of said disk; a feed screw rotated by the traverse motor and provided with a thread groove on its periphery; a rack having a fixing portion fixed to the pick-up base and a nut portion engaged with the thread groove; a guiding mechanism for guiding the pick-up movably in a radial direction of the disk; and a cantilever parallel spring for connecting the fixing portion to the nut portion of the rack, displaceably in a radial direction of the feed screw.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing the data to be reproduced correctly by judging the lead-in region of first session on a multi-session disc. The reproducing apparatus reproduces a multi-session disc composed of a plurality of sessions, each comprising a lead-in region recording index information including the information of reproduction start time measured from the disc innermost peripheral position, program region recording program tracks storing contents to be reproduced, and lead-out region, corresponding to the start position of each program track stored in the multi-session disc. This reproducing apparatus comprises an optical pickup for reading out the index information of specified session, and a session judging unit for judging if the lead-in region of the specified session is the lead-in region of the first session of the multi-session disc or not, on the basis of the information of the reproduction time included in the index information being read out by the optical pickup.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An optical disc that has a recognition mark area behind a recorded area and in which the last data in the recorded area is stably accessed, the recognition mark area can be accessed without bringing about an abnormal state, and the first data in a succeeding recorded area, if it exists, is stably accessed. An unrecorded area (5) is provided outside the recorded area (4) of the optical disc (1). A mark area (6) is provided between the recorded area (4) and unrecorded area (5). A recognition mark area (6d) is provided in the mark area (6) in order to recognize the boundary between the recorded area (4) and the unrecorded area (5). In the mark area (6), first and second buffer areas (6b and 6c) are provided respectively in front of and behind the recognition mark area (6d).

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which subsidiarily moves a feed at kick seek, thereby performing a tracking control is constituted to calculate a reference feed shifting amount and a compensation amount of the feed shifting on the basis of a lens offset just before starting of the kick seek and the number of tracks on an optical disk by which the lens is moved by the kick seek, further add/subtract the compensation amount to/from the reference feed shifting amount on the basis of the direction of the kick seek, thereby calculating a feed shifting amount, and subsidiarily move the feed by the feed shifting amount in concurrence with the kick seek. Thereby, tracking after the kick seek can be performed stably.

Abstract: Apparatus for clearing of an obstacle if the smooth transfer of a head is interfered with in an apparatus for reproducing data recorded in a recording medium having address information. If an obstacle is detected, the head, which is frictionally engaged in a movable manner with a drive shaft secured to an oscillation actuator that expands and contracts in response to the application of a drive signal, is transferred by driving the oscillation actuator such that it expands and contracts at different speeds.

Abstract: A method for playing a recording medium, in particular an optical storage disc, used to access titles more quickly. Stored in a run-in area of the recording medium is at least one address area that includes at least one address of a beginning of a title stored on the recording medium. The recording medium is played in a player having a read device. When the at least one address area is read out, the at least one address of a title beginning is converted to a start time of exactly one time unit and stored in a memory, with the start time corresponding approximately to the playing time of the recording medium up to the addressed title beginning. To position the read device at the beginning of the title, the track jump time is calculated directly from the corresponding start time stored in the memory.

Abstract: A user can designate a track for program reservation of a Carousel player capable of loading both a CD and DVD-Audio, smoothly irrespective of the type of a disk. It is first checked whether a track corresponding to the disk number entered by a user is a track of CD or DVD-Audio. If the track is a track of a CD, after the disk number input, the user is immediately requested to enter a track number, whereas if the track is a track of a DVD-Audio, the user is requested to enter a group number and then the user is requested to enter a track number.

Abstract: A tracking servo system with a feed-forward control loop is presented. Periodic variations in a control signal can be detected. These periodic variations can be added into the control signal to form a new control signal so that on subsequent cycles the control signal does not include the periodic variations.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus, such as CD-WO and the like, realizes stabilization of a waiting state after recording to an optical disc, and realizes stabilization during switching of rotational speed. The optical disc apparatus has a CPU for performing an administration which makes a laser pickup follow a track in a predetermined area on the optical disc, seek a head of the area when the laser pickup exceeds the area, and repeat the following operation and the seeking operation until a next command is issued.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a lead-in area and a data area for storing contents information. The lead-in area includes a first lead-in information area and a second lead-in information area. The first lead-in information area corresponds to a first playback mode. The second lead-in information area corresponds to a second playback mode different from the first playback mode. The first lead-in information area has a first depth and is designed for storing lead-in information related to the contents information stored in the data area. The second lead-in information area includes pre-pits having a second depth greater than the first depth. The pre-pits represent predetermined information, such as information of copyright protection, related to the contents information stored in the data area.

Abstract: A quality-testing apparatus is disclosed for an optical disk of the type that stores optically readable information in the form of a spiral or annular pattern defining a plurality of essentially concentric tracks. The apparatus has a laser light source and a drive mechanism which projects a laser beam spot from the laser light source onto a surface of the optical disk and moves the projected laser beam spot radically over a portion of the disc surface across at least some of the tracks. A light detector detects a reflection from the projected laser beam spot during its movement. The light detector produces a time variant measurement signal (HF) being associated with passages of the moving laser beam spot across respective tracks. A processing device measures the signal amplitude of selected parts of the optical disk and provides an output comprising key parameters such as symmetry and relative signal strength for the annular pattern of pits and lands.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus and a data recording method for use with such apparatus are disclosed, wherein data can be recorded on an optical disc with safety and reliably by using the so-called overburn-based recording technique.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus and method for recording information of a recording block including a plurality of sectors as one verifying unit into an optical information recording medium, a recording area of the optical information recording medium including a plurality of zones, and wherein each zone is different in a sector number per round of a track. A recorder records information of a plurality of recording blocks into the optical information recording medium and a verification conductor conducts a verify control. A number of the recording block included in the verifying unit is determined to be a minimal number in a rotation waiting sector number.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for jumping tracks on a double-layer optical disk from a first address A on a first data layer to a target address D on a second data layer. According to the method, the first address A where the optical head is currently positioned is read. Then, after jumping to the second data layer, a relative second address B on the second data layer that corresponds to the first address A on the first data layer is read. If the second address B on the second data layer is smaller than the first address A on the first data layer, then the address of the second address B on the second data layer is shifted and a new target address is obtained on the second data layer based on this address shift. A calculation function is performed based on the first address A and the new target address, and then the optical head is moved to the new target address on the second data layer.

Abstract: A system and method for reading and writing in a multilevel optical data system is disclosed. The system provides control signals for timing acquisition, level calibration, DC control, AGC, equalizer training and data synchronization. The user data is ECC protected and optionally convolutionally encoded before being combined with the control signals in an information block. The multilevel information block can be written to an optical disc as a series of multilevel marks. The optical disc may also contain an Address in Pregroove signal (AIP) to facilitate synchronization during writing of an information block. The AIP signal has an integer number of address frames per information block.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method capable of swiftly completing to record information data even under influence of an external disturbance or the like. 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 is carried out on the address data, to obtain corrected address data. Determination is made as to whether or not the corrected address data is a correct address. In this process, in the case 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 for execution until the corrected address data is determined as an incorrect address.

Abstract: An information recording medium of this invention has a spiral track. The spiral track has one or more header fields per round of the spiral track, and a data field located between neighboring header fields. The data field has a variable length corresponding to an integer multiple of a predetermined length Lw so as to minimize a deviation between the n-th header field in a predetermined round of the spiral track, and the n-th header field in a round different from the predetermined round in the track direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel optical information storage media having M information storage decks. Each information storage deck has N information storage layers, and each information storage layer has a pair of information storage structures. Each paired information storage structure has a characteristic wavelength and polarization state, and from which recorded information can be read by a laser beam having similar wavelength and polarization-state characteristics. A novel system is provided for reading the optical information storage media of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiment, an optical storage device of the present invention having MxNx2 information storage layers can be read using only N laser lines (i.e. spectral components), thereby providing a 2Mfold increase in information storage capacity over prior art systems. The information storage and retrieval system of the present invention is completely backward compatible to allow for the reading of conventional CD-ROM devices.

Abstract: An optical disc that has a recognition mark area behind a recorded area and in which the last data in the recorded area is stably accessed, the recognition mark area can be accessed without bringing about an abnormal state, and the first data in a succeeding recorded area, if it exists, is stably accessed. An unrecorded area (5) is provided outside the recorded area (4) of the optical disc (1). A mark area (6) is provided between the recorded area (4) and unrecorded area (5). A recognition mark area (6d) is provided in the mark area (6) in order to recognize the boundary between the recorded area (4) and the unrecorded area (5). In the mark area (6), first and second buffer areas (6b and 6c) are provided respectively in front of and behind the recognition mark area (6d).

Abstract: An optical disk changer that is capable of automatically playing both sides of a dual-sided optical disk. By coordinated delivery of disks between a disk reader, a disk transfer mechanism, or a disk turner and a carrousel that is approximately toroid shaped, both sides of a dual-sided optical disk can be automatically accessed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical disk of the type including at least one spiral track on which information marks are written in sectors whose addresses are substantially sequential along the track, wherein said disk includes a copy protection zone (PZ) comprising two parts of equal size each including a series of sectors designated by identical addresses on each of the two parts, the data written in this zone being shared between the sectors of the two parts, each sector of the zone also carrying an identifier (D1, D2) characteristic of the part to which the sector belongs, and specific protection data to enable verification of the presence and constitution of said protection zone (PZ) and to enable use of the data written in this zone, at least part of said specific protection data being recorded on said disk. The invention is notably applicable to anti-piracy protection of CD-ROM and DVD-ROM type disks.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing unit with improved operability. A reading section (10) reads information recorded in an optical disk, and outputs a read signal. A DSP (20) detects the read signal and processes to a reproducible form. A quick return button selects at least one of the processing details for starting or stopping the information processing and for changing a reproducing position of the information. When a reproducing state changing section (120) recognizes a change instruction for changing a processing state for the information, a reproduction control section (52) changes the processing state by the DSP 20 based on the processing details selected with the quick return button.

Abstract: A method for performing a track skip and a playback device (10) for optical storage disks (15) are proposed that enable an accelerated track skip in the case of a non-moving storage disk (15). A time is determined for the track skip of a read device (2) between a current track and a selected track (3) of a storage disk (15) inserted in the playback device (10), as a function of the tracks to be skipped in this instance, and the read device (2) is moved in the direction of the selected track (30) for the determined time. In response to a track skip request, the read device (2) is moved in the direction of a lead-in area (20) of the optical storage disk (15) until a starting position (25) is detected. The time necessary for the track skip from starting position (25) to the selected track (30) is determined from this track (30).

Abstract: An optical disk device has a recording information management portion which detects a distribution of a recorded region R and an unrecorded region M based on reflection light received by an optical head and an access target setting circuit which determines an access target of an optical head so as to make access to a target position of a recording layer of an optical disk while avoiding the unrecorded region M based on the detected distribution of the regions. Since an access is made while passing through only the recorded region R, a servo operation can be stabilized.

Abstract: Physical addresses of the recording areas provided on an optical disc are represented in a time-axis data format and in a binary data format. The physical address value gradually increases from the inner part of the disc to the outer part of the disc, while the formats remain in one-to-one correspondence over the recording areas. The distance the optical head must move to reach a target recording area can therefore be calculated easily independently of where on the disc the optical head is located, enabling the optical head to quickly access the target recording area.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing the data to be reproduced correctly by judging the lead-in region of first session on a multi-session disc. The reproducing apparatus reproduces a multi-session disc composed of a plurality of sessions, each comprising a lead-in region recording index information including the information of reproduction start time measured from the disc innermost peripheral position, program region recording program tracks storing contents to be reproduced, and lead-out region, corresponding to the start position of each program track stored in the multi-session disc. This reproducing apparatus comprises an optical pickup for reading out the index information of specified session, and a session judging unit for judging if the lead-in region of the specified session is the lead-in region of the first session of the multi-session disc or not, on the basis of the information of the reproduction time included in the index information being read out by the optical pickup.

Abstract: Apparatus for scanning a rotating information carrier having mutually substantially parallel tracks for the recording of information. The apparatus includes a transducer for scanning the information carrier and for generating a position signal which indicates a position of a scanning point scanned by the transducer. The apparatus further includes means for rotating the information carrier about an axis and means for moving the scanning point in a radial direction with respect to the axis. The apparatus has a scanning mode in which the scanning point jumps both from one track to another in a first radial direction and from one track to another in an opposite second direction during reading or writing of a file.

Abstract: High speed access to an information recording medium is made possible by preparing information relative to a lower level recording unit, e.g., a fragment, the magnitude of which is set smaller than a higher level recording unit, e.g., a session in the information recording medium. A fragment identifier, typically, a fragment number is assigned to each fragment, sequentially and in ascending order. A fragment number (greatest fragment number) that is greater than any other fragment number in the session is recorded in the information recording medium for each session.

Abstract: A substrate for an optical recording medium, includes recording tracks formed in guide grooves on a disc; and an address section having an address pit sequence formed between the recording tracks in the guide grooves along an information reading direction of the recording tracks. The recording tracks in the guide grooves are divided into a prescribed number of zones. In each of the zones, the center of the address section corresponding to a recording track in the radially outermost or radially innermost guide groove is disposed so as to shift in a radial direction of the disc in relative relationship to the center of the recording track in the guide groove.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the position of an optical head of a disc during high speed recording. In one embodiment of the method, an optical disc has a plurality of tracks. The method comprises implementing CLV recording by said optical drive, determining a wobble signal based on address information contained in said plurality of tracks of said optical disk and determining a wobble clock signal based on said wobble signal. The method further comprises decoding said wobble clock signal by a decoder, said decoder to provide a sync clock signal to an encoder loop circuit, said sync clock signal based on said wobble clock signal generating an encoder clock signal using said encoder loop circuit. In addition, the method comprises comparing said sync clock signal to said encoder clock signal to provide a position command to position the optical head of said optical drive.

Abstract: A reproducing system is produced for reproducing music recorded on a digital disc, and a rotating dial is provided to be rotated by a user.

Abstract: A data modulation method resistant to channel distortion and a method of correcting error in data coded by the modulation method. The data modulation method uses a run length limited (RLL) modulation code applied to write data to an optical storage medium, the RLL modulation code being expressed as RLL (d, k, m, n, s) with s=2 or greater, where d is minimum run length, k is maximum run length, m is a data bit length before modulation, n is a codeword bit length after modulation, and s is a space length between codewords. Further, the data modulation method provides run lengths expressed as in+1=in+s (n=1, 2, . . . ), where i1=d.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reproduction method and also to a reproduction apparatus adapted to transmit a first digital signal for main data of a piece of music and additional data accompanying the main data and including the number of the piece of music and the elapsed time on the track and a second digital signal for main data of the piece of music and accompanying absolute time data on a common digital interface.

Abstract: An anti-piracy recording disk. The disk includes a main recording track which has interruptions or changes of turn. This gives rise to non-sequential reading and therefore to information which is difficult to access. The copying of such a disk by conventional means is very difficult making it possible to easily detect counterfeits or to render any copy unusable.

Abstract: A optical storage disk provides multiple logical disks without the need to physically alter the structure of the optical storage disk. According to one example embodiment of the present invention, a dual-layer data disk is adapted to store data in each of two layers readable by an optical disk reader. A first region of the disk includes data recorded for a first logical disk, and a second region is adapted to store data for a second logical disk, and the first and second regions are located on the two layers. Each of the data logical disks includes a lead-in region and a lead-out region and for data therebetween traversing each of the two layers. The lead-out region of the first logical disk stores pointing data which points to the lead-in region of second logical disk, and the logical disks are not necessarily physically contiguous.

Abstract: An optical disk physical has a recording region divided into zones, each zone including physical tracks adjacent to each other. An integer number of sectors are provided in each physical track. The angular recording density is higher in the more outward zones such that the linear recording density is substantially constant throughout the recording region, and logical tracks are formed of a predetermined number of sectors, independent of the physical tracks. The conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from a host device is easy. The addresses written in headers of the sectors in the logical track in which data are actually recorded, including substitute sectors used in place of defect sectors, are preferably consecutive to further facilitate the conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from the host device.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which subsidiarily moves a feed at kick seek, thereby performing a tracking control is constituted to calculate a reference feed shifting amount and a compensation amount of the feed shifting on the basis of a lens offset just before starting of the kick seek and the number of tracks on an optical disk by which the lens is moved by the kick seek, further add/subtract the compensation amount to/from the reference feed shifting amount on the basis of the direction of the kick seek, thereby calculating a feed shifting amount, and subsidiarily move the feed by the feed shifting amount in concurrence with the kick seek. Thereby, tracking after the kick seek can be performed stably.

Abstract: The disk player is capable of preventing a shift of an object lens in an optical pickup and a poor action caused by the shift. In the disk player, a first servo mechanism drives a motor, which moves an optical pickup in a radial direction of a disk. A second servo mechanism moves an object lens in a radial direction in the optical pickup so as to trace tracks of the disk. A control unit controls the first and second servo mechanisms so as to move the optical pickup from a current track to an object track. The control unit moves the optical pickup to the object track by the steps of: driving the motor without driving the second servo mechanism so as to move the optical pickup to a track near the object track; driving the second servo mechanism after the optical pickup reaches near the object track; stopping the second servo mechanism; and driving the first servo mechanism and the second servo mechanism after the laps of a prescribed time so as to move the optical pickup to the object track.

Abstract: Address groups are composed of two of address blocks 16, 17, 18, and 19, where the address blocks 16, 17, 18, and 19 are disposed in a sector address region 5 and include identifiable information of address numbers 13 and overlapping sequential numbers 14. The address groups are disposed so that each group is alternately shifted from a track center 2 toward the inner periphery side or the outer periphery side, by a width substantially equal to half the track pitch, along the radius direction.

Abstract: When the recording capacity of a DVD RAM 1001 is running short, recording onto a hard disk is started. In this case, overlap period recording information is recorded onto both of the DVD-RAM and the hard disk as information for a concatenating part. In playback management information for each of the DVD-RAM and the hard disk, entry point information is recorded so that the overlap period recording information can be skipped.

Abstract: A servo control apparatus for carrying out a servo control when information is reproduced from an information record medium having an embossed area where information cannot be recorded, such as DVD-RW, is provided. The servo control apparatus detects a position of a light spot formed by the light beam except the embossed area on the information record medium, and shifts the light spot beyond the embossed area to a predetermined target position to be radiated with the light beam, which is positioned in another side of the embossed area on the information record medium, on the basis of the detected position.

Abstract: An information recording/reproduction apparatus is adapted to quickly move the optical pickup to a desired position on the optical disk being used with it without emitting any sound of collision. The information recording/reproduction apparatus adapted to use an optical disk comprises an optical pickup 5 supported by a lead screw 9 so to move freely at least in a radial direction of the optical disk 1, a thread motor 4 for driving the optical pickup 5 to move by the distance specified by a drive signal in the radial direction of the optical disk 1, a position detecting switch 7 for detecting the innermost movable limit of the optical pickup 5 in the radial direction of the optical disk 1 and a system controller 6 for controlling the movement of the optical pickup 5 by means of the drive signal applied to the thread motor 4, using the detected position as reference.

Abstract: A multiple storage-device data storage system that utilizes parity data to enhance performance. In one embodiment, the system signals the availability of a needed segment of user data after all but one of its sub-segments become available. In another embodiment, the system Predicts which sub-segment is likely to take the longest to retrieve and never issues a command for the retrieval of that sub-segment.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention is usable for an optical disc including a bar code area and a control data area adjacent to the bar code area in a radial direction of the optical disc. The optical disc apparatus includes an optical head for directing an optical beam toward the optical disc so as to form an optical spot on the optical disc and output a signal in accordance with the optical beam reflected by the optical disc, a bar code area determination section for determining whether or not the optical spot is positioned on the bar code area of the optical disc based on the signal output by the optical head; and a control section for controlling the optical head so that the optical spot moves toward the control data area, when the optical spot is determined to be positioned on the bar code area.