Abstract: An information recording medium 101 includes: a transparent substrate 109 having a first surface A and a second surface B opposite to the first surface A; reflectance reduction means 110 provided on the first surface A of the transparent substrate 109; and an information recording layer 120 provided on the second surface B of the transparent substrate 109.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus includes: a unit for applying a predetermined processing to record information divided into error correction units and generating processed record information including a plurality of record units; and a unit for recording the processed record information on an information record medium; a unit for recording, after the recording of the processed record information, predetermined dummy information of an information amount corresponding for the plurality of record units, on the information record medium, subsequent to the processed record information recorded.

Abstract: A recording medium is provided, which maximizes the recording capacity and simplifies the configuration of an information recording/reproducing apparatus including a pickup. In the medium, different types of wobbling signals are preformatted in each of the adjacent land and groove signal tracks. A same-phase wobbling signal provided by wobbling each side of the respective land and groove signal tracks in the same phase, and a different-phase wobbling signal provided by wobbling each side of the respective land and groove signal tracks in a different phase are used as the different types of wobbling signals. The physical positions of all the land and groove signal tracks are indicated by the same-phase wobbling signal.

Abstract: An optical disc is manufactured under a uniform condition by forming grooves and lands on the entire surface of the disc. The optical disc is configured to obtain a reliable reproduction signal, and the grooves and lands are formed on a lead-in area, a user data area and a lead-out area of the optical disc. Since the same manufacturing condition can be adopted in mastering discs, the yield can be enhanced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus records, reproduces and/or erases information with respect to a recording medium. The apparatus includes a servo error generation detector for detecting a generation of a servo error based on at least one of servo signals including a focus error signal and a tracking error signal which are derived from output signals of a light receiving element, and a data recording resuming section for temporarily interrupting a data recording with respect to the recording medium, temporarily turning OFF a servo and then turning ON the servo again, to thereafter synchronize recording data to recorded data already recorded on the recording medium, and resume recording of the recording data continuing without a discontinuity to an end of the recorded data recorded immediately before the interruption of the data recording, when the generation of the servo error is detected while recording data on the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical disk medium includes a track groove thereon. On the optical disk medium, information is recorded along the track groove on a block unit basis. The block unit has a predetermined length. The block unit having the predetermined length includes a number of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove. A sub-block mark is provided within each of the sub-blocks and used to identify the sub-block.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording data on and reproducing data from the disk in which a recording area is divided into sectors, includes a reproducing signal generator for generating a reproducing signal including sum signals V1 and V2 of radial pairs, a sum signal RF_sum, and a push-pull signal RF_pp from an optical signal reflected from the disk, a header area detector for generating a header area signal including a header area from the reproducing signal, a first synchronous signal level detector for detecting a magnitude Ivfo1 of a first synchronous signal in the first header by being synchronized with the header area signal, a second synchronous signal level detector for detecting a magnitude Ivfo3 of a second synchronous signal in the second header by being synchronized with the header area signal, and a balance calculator for calculating the balance of the magnitude Ivfo1 and the magnitude Ivfo3.

Abstract: A recording medium is provided, which maximizes the recording capacity and simplifies the configuration of an information recording/reproducing apparatus including a pickup. In the medium, different types of wobbling signals are preformatted in each of the adjacent land and groove signal tracks. A same-phase wobbling signal provided by wobbling each side of the respective land and groove signal tracks in the same phase, and a different-phase wobbling signal provided by wobbling each side of the respective land and groove signal tracks in a different phase are used as the different types of wobbling signals. The physical positions of all the land and groove signal tracks are indicated by the same-phase wobbling signal.

Abstract: In a recording material, physical characteristic information of the recording medium, and more specifically, material information representing the material of the disc, is recorded. Accordingly, a recording apparatus and a reading apparatus easily and accurately determine the physical characteristics of the disc, thereby making it possible to provide suitable setting for performing an operation.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an optical recording medium including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on the substrate, and the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the medium. The track is divided into a plurality of recording units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line formed by a dropout portion, wherein identification information is disposed in the track at a head of each recording unit at the dropout portion. The apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, an optical detector for detecting a reflected light from the medium, and a reproducer for reproducing information by using a signal from the detector.

Abstract: An information storage medium according to an embodiment of this invention includes a wobble track whose wobble period is modulated by multi-frequency shift keying corresponding to playback control information, wherein the playback control information contains header data and address data, and the header data contains a VFO area formed from a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A physical identification data (PID) addressing method using a wobble signal, a wobble address encoding circuit, a method and circuit for detecting the wobble address and a recording medium therefor. Groove tracks are classified into odd groove tracks and even groove tracks. Address information indicating physical identification information is phase modulated using wobble signals having a predetermined phase difference between two adjacent groove tracks, and recorded in each groove track so that address information modulated using the wobble signals having the phase difference of 90° between adjacent two groove tracks can be a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signal. Accordingly, a larger amount of data can be recorded on the recording medium, and since an interval in which a wobble signal disappears is not caused, recovery of a wobble clock signal can be advantageously performed.

Abstract: A recording method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on the substrate, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of units, each of the units including a dropout portion of the groove structure which is a non-groove portion along the track in a circumferential direction of the track, the groove structure being wobbled in a fixed cycle in a radial direction which continues in the circumferential direction along the track. When the wobble is formed in the circumferential direction of the track, the dropout portion is formed so that a phase of the wobble is continued with a phase of the wobble of the groove structure within another unit adjacent to the dropout portion. The method includes providing the optical medium, and recording information by irradiating an optical spot on the medium.

Abstract: An optical disc includes a plurality of lands and grooves alternately arranged in a radial direction of the optical disc, each land wobbling in the radial direction and recording a header recording part for holding address information, there being a difference in elevation between each land and each groove, each grove having a data recording part for storing data, wherein the header recording parts offset alternately for respective lands in the radial direction, the data recording part in the groove and the header recording part in the land are arranged offset in a circumferential direction of the optical disc, and the header recording part in each land enables the same address information to be reproduced for two groove at both sides of each land.

Abstract: An optical disc includes a read-only area having a first wobble, which is a data wobble formed in the read-only area for only reading, a readable/writable area having a second wobble, which is different from the data wobble, and a connection area between the read-only area and the readable/writable area having a third wobble having the same frequency as one of the first and second wobbles.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an optical recording medium having a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on the substrate, and each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of recording units. Each of the recording units includes a dropout portion of the groove structure which is a non-groove portion along the track in a circumferential direction of the track, and the groove structure is wobbled in a fixed cycle in a radial direction, which continues in the circumferential direction along the track. The apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, an optical detector for detecting a reflected light from the medium, and a reproducer for reproducing information by using a signal from the detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an optical recording medium, including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on the substrate, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of recording units. Each of the recording units includes a dropout portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure with the dropout portion being a non-groove portion. The groove structure is formed with a wobble in a fixed cycle in a radial direction which continues in the circumferential direction along the track. Each length of the recording units is an integer multiple of the cycle of the wobble. The apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the medium, an optical detector for detecting a reflected light from the medium, and a reproducer for reproducing information by using a signal from the optical detector.

Abstract: An optical disk, a recording apparatus and playing apparatus which can record various kinds of identification information in the form of a pit train and a bar code without decreasing the data recording area for main information. Both a first data block including a pit train indicating first identification information and a second data block including a bar code indicating second identification information are formed in the recording part at the same radius.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting pre-pit information is disclosed, including an optical pickup, an optical-detecting section, a difference-detecting circuit, a first peak-value detecting circuit, a filtering circuit, a second peak-value detecting circuit, a differential potential-dividing circuit, and a comparator.

Abstract: A PLL circuit for generating a clock signal using a reference signal, the frequency of which is relatively low. The PLL circuit includes a first loop circuit for generating a first clock signal which is synchronized with a first reference signal. A second loop circuit generates a second clock signal which is synchronized with a second reference signal. The frequency of the second reference signal is sufficiently lower than the frequency of the first reference signal. The first reference signal is compared with the first clock signal to generate a first control voltage. The second reference signal is compared with the second clock signal to generate a second control voltage. The second loop circuit generates the second clock signal in accordance with the first control voltage and the second control voltage.

Abstract: An optical disc is manufactured under a uniform condition by forming grooves and lands on the entire surface of the disc. The optical disc is configured to obtain a reliable reproduction signal, and the grooves and lands are formed on a lead-in area, a user data area and a lead-out area of the optical disc. Since the same manufacturing condition can be adopted in mastering discs, the yield can be enhanced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a playback apparatus for retrieving information from an information carrier (2). The information has been recorded on the information carrier (2) in the form of variations of a first physical parameter. The playback apparatus scans the information carrier by means of a transducer (4), which is responsive to said variations of said physical parameter. An information recovering circuit (5) recovers the information from a first detection signal (D1) received from the transducer (4). The information recovering circuit (5) comprises a phase-locked loop (51). The information carrier (2) exhibits a second variation of a second physical parameter, which differs from said first physical parameter but which is detectable by means of said transducer (4). A detection circuit (6) detects the presence of the second variation on the basis of a second detection signal (D2) received from the transducer (4).

Abstract: An optical disk device which performs data recording and reproduction with regard to an optical disk on which pre-pit information for specifying an address is formed. An optical disk is irradiated with a laser beam and return light from the optical disk is detected by two photodetectors which are disposed in the radial direction. After the levels of two signals from the photodetectors are limited, a difference between these signals is calculated. Due to the limitation of the levels, noise during the recording power period is removed so that pre-pit information during the reproducing power period, namely during the space period, is extracted. Further, by calculating a difference between the two signals from the photodetectors, pre-pit information during the recording power period is extracted.

Abstract: A predetermined synchronization pattern (40), a so-called VFO field, in, for example, the headers 3 of an information carrier. The predetermined synchronization pattern contains a first part with marks having a first length of (d+1) times the channel bit length, and spaces having a second length of (d+1) times the channel bit length, and a second part with marks having a third length of (k+1) times the channel bit length and spaces having a fourth length of (k+1) times the channel bit length and a third part, which third part contains marks having a length of (k?d) times the channel bit length and spaces having a length of (k?d) times the channel bit length. This sequence of patterns is advantageous for setting the dynamic range of an Automatic Gain Controlled (AGC) amplifier located within a device reading the information carrier.

Abstract: In a recording material, physical characteristic information of the recording medium, and more specifically, material information representing the material of the disc, is recorded. Accordingly, a recording apparatus and a reading apparatus easily and accurately determine the physical characteristics of the disc, thereby making it possible to provide suitable setting for performing an operation.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for storing and reading a file system structure in a write-once memory array. In one preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits representing a file system structure is inverted and stored in a write-once memory array. When the inverted plurality of bits is read from the memory array, the bits are inverted to provide the file system structure bits in their original, non-inverted configuration. With this preferred embodiment, a file system structure can be updated to reflect data stored in the memory array after the file system structure was written. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Abstract: An optical disk and a method of recording data in the optical disk are provided. When data is overwritten on a recordable and/or reproducible optical disk, the method includes performing linking in front of a physical cluster from which overwriting starts. According to the method, when overwriting is performed on a portion of an optical disk in which data has been recorded, or when overwriting is performed on a portion including a defective area, linking is performed in front of the portion on which the overwriting is performed or behind the defective area, thereby realizing reliable data recording and reproducing.

Abstract: An information recording method for a recording medium including a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on a disk-like substrate, wherein each of the tracks is divided into a plurality of recording units. Each of the recording units includes a blank portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure, the blank portion being a non-groove portion, the groove structure being formed with a wobble in a fixed cycle in a radial direction, the fixed cycle of the wobble continuing in the circumferential direction along the track, and each length of the recording units is an integer multiple of the cycle of the wobble. The method includes irradiating a light beam to the recording medium, and recording information to the recording medium.

Abstract: In a recording material, physical characteristic information of the recording medium, and more specifically, material information representing the material of the disc, is recorded. Accordingly, a recording apparatus and a reading apparatus easily and accurately determine the physical characteristics of the disc, thereby making it possible to provide suitable setting for performing an operation.

Abstract: In a disc drive device (10) described as a specific embodiment of the present invention, AC0 to AC14 of ADIP cluster address are associated with address bits AU6 to AU20 of an address unit. On the basis of 8-bit sector address on the lower side of cluster address arranged in ADIP address of a conventional MD, 0/1 representing sector address FC to 0D of a former-half cluster and sector address 0E to 1F of a latter-half cluster of a sector of a next-generation MD(1) is associated with address bit AU5 of the address unit. To a part (110) of 4 address bits AU4 to AU1 below this, 4 bits representing individual parts obtained by equally dividing one recording block by 16 are allocated. Thus, a higher-density data volume can be handled without causing any inconvenience while utilizing an existing recording format.

Abstract: In a disc drive device (10) described as a specific embodiment of the present invention, AC0 to AC14 of ADIP cluster address are associated with address bits AU6 to AU20 of an address unit. On the basis of 8-bit sector address on the lower side of cluster address arranged in ADIP address of a conventional MD, 0/1 representing sector address FC to 0D of a former-half cluster and sector address 0E to 1F of a latter-half cluster of a sector of a next-generation MD(1) is associated with address bit AU5 of the address unit. To a part (110) of 4 address bits AU4 to AU1 below this, 4 bits representing individual parts obtained by equally dividing one recording block by 16 are allocated. Thus, a higher-density data volume can be handled without causing any inconvenience while utilizing an existing recording format.

Abstract: A multi-layered disc (D1, D2, D3) is provided with a plurality of recording layers laminated with each other in a direction of a normal line of the recording layers, in each of which an information data recording area (2, 4) for recording information data and a control data recording area (1, 3) for recording control data to control an operation of recording and/or reproducing the information data are disposed on a same plane, the control data being recorded by a CAV method over a plurality of tracks in the control data recording area. The control data recording area in each of the recording layers is disposed such that the control data recording area (1) of one of the recording layers is not superimposed with the control data recording area (3) of another of the recording layers in the direction of the normal line.

Abstract: In a recording medium which is circular and has first and second recording layers, the first and second recording layers each include one or more first tracks extending concentrically or spirally and one or more second tracks extending concentrically or spirally, each of the one or more first tracks and the one or more second tracks includes a plurality of first sectors and a plurality of second sectors, each of the plurality of first sectors includes first and second regions, each of the plurality of second sectors includes third and fourth regions, first and second grooves are formed in each of the second and fourth regions, the first and second grooves extending concentrically or spirally and oscillating sinusoidally, oscillation of the first groove has a first oscillation characteristic at a first prescribed position in the second region, oscillation of the second groove has a second oscillation characteristic at a second prescribed position in the fourth region, and the first and second oscillation chara

Abstract: A method and device for recording information signals on a partly recorded writable record carrier (11), e.g., an optical disc. An information signal represents at least one information unit. The record carrier has a recording track which includes pre-formed track position information indicative of locations for recording the information units. From the information signal, a modulated signal is generated having successive frames, each frame including a synchronizing signal. The modulated signal is recorded at a one of the locations, while maintaining a fixed relationship between the track position information and the synchronizing signals. In the event that the location is after and adjacent to an already recorded location, the recording is started at a link position (31) before the end of a last frame of the earlier recorded information signal, at a predefined distance before a first synchronizing signal (30) of the modulated signal.

Abstract: A ping-pong recording method and apparatus is disclosed, which allows the mixing process to proceed while listening to the sounds for all of the parts. The ping-pong recording apparatus includes a hard disk-based multi-track recorder means 10, a first mixer means 20, a second mixer means 30, and a master recorder means 40. During the ping-pong recording process, the musical data for which the parts have finished the mixing may be saved in the saving area 12 that is provided in the multi-track recorder means 10. When the mixing is retried, it may be accomplished by moving the musical data that has been saved in the saving area 12 back to the appropriate tracks and reproducing the musical data from those tracks, and by reproducing other musical data for which the parts have finished the mixing.

Abstract: In a wobble-format type optical recording medium 10 involving a guide groove 11 wherein the guide groove is allowed to meander over substantially the whole length thereof to form wobble, and wobbled intermittent sections 12 where there are no meandrous area are placed at predetermined positions in the wobble; a first wobbled intermittent section 12a for determining reference position is disposed at at least one reference position A in the optical recording medium, and furthermore, a second wobbled intermittent section 12b is disposed selectively at each predetermined position B apart from each reference position by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: In a method of recording or reproducing data out of an optical disk of the present invention, the optical disk is includes a substrate formed with a spiral groove track and a land track formed between nearby portions of the groove track. Header information is periodically recorded in each of the groove track and land track. Beam spots are formed on the land track and groove at the same time. Data are recorded in or reproduced out of the land track and groove track at the same time on the basis of a timing determined by the header information read out of the land track and groove track. When one beam spot formed on either one of the land track and groove track is reading the header information, the other beam spot is inhibited from recording or reproducing data.

Abstract: In a disc drive device (10) described as a specific embodiment of the present invention, AC0 to AC14 of ADIP cluster address are associated with address bits AU6 to AU20 of an address unit. On the basis of 8-bit sector address on the lower side of cluster address arranged in ADIP address of a conventional MD, 0/1 representing sector address FC to 0D of a former-half cluster and sector address 0E to 1F of a latter-half cluster of a sector of a next-generation MD(1) is associated with address bit AU5 of the address unit. To a part (110) of 4 address bits AU4 to AU1 below this, 4 bits representing individual parts obtained by equally dividing one recording block by 16 are allocated. Thus, a higher-density data volume can be handled without causing any inconvenience while utilizing an existing recording format.

Abstract: An optical disk has a recording track constituted by sectors arranged in a concentric or spiral form. Each sector is divided into segments, and each segment includes a data field where data is recorded and a clock mark field having a different light reflectance from that of the data field. The data field in the sector has synchronization patterns S. Hence, a highly reliable optical disk, optical reproduction device, and optical recording device can be offered that are capable of performing recording and reproduction even if a clock mark is defective due to a flaw.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for a phase-change optical disk detects the boundary between a first region and a second region prior to detecting a synchronization mark. The synchronization mark is detected in accordance with the position of the detected boundary between the first region and the second region. User data is read from a data region in accordance with the detected synchronization mark.

Abstract: A clock signal generating system using a wobble signal and a data reproducing apparatus, has a first block to detect a frequency error signal or a phase error signal from the RF signals on the recording medium and to output the detected frequency error signal or the detected phase error signal. A second block detects a wobble error signal from the wobble signals on the recording medium and outputs the detected wobble error signal. A clock generating unit generates a clock signal using the detected frequency error signal or the detected phase error signal of the second block when the RF signals have an error, and using the detected wobble error signal of the first block when the wobble signals have an error.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiplies or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: A signal recording medium has a plurality of recording layers. Each recording layer has tracks for recording information. The tracks have a wobbling structure in which they are wobbled at different periods for the respective recording layers. Appropriate processing can be performed for a target recording layer by monitoring the wobbling period of the track.

Abstract: A method and device for recording information signals on a partly recorded writable record carrier (11), e.g. an optical disc. An information signal represents at least one information unit. The record carrier has a recording track which comprises preformed track position information indicative of locations for recording the information units. From the information signal a modulated signal is generated, and the recording track is scanned for recording the modulated signal. If recording is after and adjacent an existing recorded unit, linking information is read from an end boundary area of the existing recorded unit and used for logically generating the modulated signal. If recording is before and adjacent to an existing unit, linking information is read from a begin boundary area of the existing unit and thereafter used for logically generating the modulated signal.

Abstract: An estimation method produces a reproduction signal while reading from an information recording medium such as an optical disk, and uses an equalizer to produce an equalization signal. The method then synthesizes distribution levels of the equalization signal that range over distributions of (n+1) levels L0, L1, . . . , Ln (in which L0<L1 . . . <Ln and n>2), thereby creating a new distribution. The method then uses the standard deviation of the new distribution as an estimation reference value to estimate the quality of an information reproduction apparatus or the quality of the information recording medium. The quality estimate may be used to adjust a circuit in an information reproduction apparatus that reads the information recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium having wobbled groove tracks out of phase with wobbled land tracks, a servo controlling apparatus using a wobble signal and a method thereof. The recording medium has land tracks and groove tracks, wherein both the land tracks and the groove tracks are wobbled, and wherein the wobbles of either individual groove tracks or individual land tracks are out of phase and the wobbles of the other type of individual tracks are in phase. Thus, it is possible to reliably address whether a groove (or land) track which is currently tracked by the pickup unit is a groove track or a land track, thereby ensuring addressing, and servo control can be effectively performed.

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: A high-definition optical disk device for recording and reproducing data with respect to lands and grooves of an optical disk. The grooves and the lands of the optical disk are wobbled, and address information is embedded in gray code. In the grooves and the lands, both groove track address systems and land track address systems are embedded and form redundant systems. When detecting the address of a land, in addition to demodulation of the address data from the land track address system, the address data is also extracted from the groove track address system. The address data thus extracted is used for verification to detect an error in the demodulated address data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technology for increasing the recording system clock speed for high-speed information recording onto an optical disk or the like without sacrificing the frequency resolution. A necessary recording system clock frequency is calculated from address information that is modulated by a wobble signal and recorded. A crystal oscillator or other stable reference signal source generates a signal having the calculated frequency by a synthesizing method. The generated signal is used as a recording system clock.

Abstract: Logical triggering methods and apparatus for use with optical bio-discs. Some embodiments place physical triggers on the surface of the disc. Other embodiments logically encode triggers in user data area of optical bio discs. Still other embodiments take advantage of common optical disc operational components such as pits, lands, and other information encoding indicia for the purpose of encoding triggers. Primary decoding components are used to decode logical triggers. Alternatively, an added secondary decoding component or a data processor may also be used for the purpose of processing triggers. Logical triggers may be encoded in a pit/land pattern, encoded in the time code control information of wobble signal of a CD-R/RW disc, encoded in the header address information of a DVD-RAM based disc, or may be superimposed on the operational logic of the drive. Other triggering patterns are invoked by chemical reaction caused by chemistry placed on the discs.