Abstract: An optical disc apparatus and method for recording and reproducing information to/from an optical disc, including discrimination of the optical disc, reading control information in an un-recordable area formed in an inner periphery of the optical disc, conducting focus control based on a focus error signal in a recordable area formed outside of the un-recordable area, and determining an optimum offset value of the focus error signal in the recordable area. Further, adjustment in amplitude of a reproduced signal from an inner periphery of the recordable area is conducted, test-writing in the inner periphery of the recordable area is conducted, test-writing in an outer periphery of the recordable area is conducted, and adjustment in amplitude of a reproduced signal from the outer periphery of the recordable area is conducted. The respective operations are conducted sequentially so as to make the optical disc in a reproducible and recordable condition.

Abstract: A data recording method for calculating a digital sum value (DSV) corresponding to a proportion of positive data and negative data included in predetermined data ranges, selecting a resync pattern to be inserted between the data ranges according to the DSV, and inserting the selected resync pattern between the data ranges, has a step of selecting a resync pattern that minimizes differences in DSV between the data ranges.

Abstract: An audio recording medium, methods for recording data on and reproducing data from the audio recording medium, and recording and reproducing apparatuses therefor. In the audio recording medium, audio data are recorded in a plurality of tracks in predetermined write units, and identification data for indicating the start position of each of the tracks, such as mute data, are recorded in write units segregated from the predetermined write units of the audio data. Thus, if a mute period is unnecessary, the mute data can be easily removed.

Abstract: A device in accordance with the invention for recording or reproducing information onto/from a rotating information carrier (10) has means (16) for rotating the information carrier. The device further has conversion (16) for converting a write signal (SW) into a detectable pattern on the information carrier, or for generating a read signal (SLS) in response to a detectable pattern on the information carrier. The device also includes control means (25, 26) for supplying at least one control signal (SR, SF) to the conversion means in response to an error signal (RE, FE). The device also includes detection means (25A, 26A) for generating a detection signal (DR, DF) which is a measure of a periodic variation in the error signal (RE, FE). The device in accordance with the invention is characterized by adjustment means (29) for influencing the response of the control means (25, 26) to the error signal (RE, FE) in dependence on the detection signal (DR, DF).

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus having at least two optical condenser lens for recording and reproducing information of an optical disc, comprising: means for discriminating the optical disc; means for reading control information in a ROM area which is formed in an inner periphery of said optical disc; means for conducting focus control in a RAM area which is formed outside of said ROM area; means for conducting adjustment in amplitude of a reproduced signal from an inner periphery of said RAM area; means for conducting a pre-writing (a sample-writing); means for conducting test-writing in the inner periphery of said RAM area; means for conducting test-writing in an outer periphery of said RAM area; and means for conducting adjustment in amplitude of a reproduced signal from the outer periphery of said RAM area, wherein said means conducts the respective operations sequentially, thereby making said optical disc in reproducible and recorable condition, with a short time period and with a smooth confirmation operatio

Abstract: A recording medium includes a program area in which digital data made up of a header, main data and sub-data is blocked and recorded with a variable number of sectors, with a unit sector being of a pre-set data length, and a management area in which there is recorded an identifier for discriminating the variable number of sectors in order to render the data volume of the sub-data variable with the volume of main data in the packet remaining fixed.

Abstract: A sector mark detecting circuit for detecting a sector mark on an optical storage medium includes a binarizing circuit which binarizes a reading signal of an optical head in accordance with a predetermined detection parameter and is capable of changing the detection parameter. A recognizing circuit is adapted to recognize a sector mark from an output of the binarizing circuit, and a control circuit is adapted to measure an optimal value of the detection parameter of the binarizing circuit and control the detection parameter of the binarizing circuit to the optimal value. A sector mark detection rate is thereby enhanced.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus and method for continuously reproducing data including a memory configured to store at least heading portions of respective data groups from one or more data groups recorded on a recording medium; a reproducing device configured to read at least the heading portions of one or more of the data groups from the recording medium; and a controller configured to control the memory and the reproducing device, and configured to execute a cross-fading operation, in which a portion of at least one of the data groups being reproduced from the memory are cross-faded with a portion of at least one of the data groups being reproduced from the recording medium by the reproducing device.