Abstract: An optical read/write apparatus causes a read/write light beam from illuminating means to strike only one side of an optical storage medium including stacked data storage layers each of which is readable/writeable separately from the other layers. In this case, the optical read/write apparatus operates so that data is read/written from/into a second data storage layer after fully recording a recordable area of a first data storage layer. Thus, light can be shone with uniform intensity across the substantially entire recordable area of the second data storage layer without using a complex read/write system even under such conditions that the transmittance to light of the first data storage layer in the recordable area may vary depending on whether any data is recorded in the recordable area.

Abstract: In a servo controller and an optical disk device (FIG. 4), the following performance for disturbance is improved. By disposing a characteristic change section to change a characteristic to improve the following performance for disturbance, the disturbance is detected by use of a signal in a stage after the characteristic change section.

Abstract: A recording power determination method for determining a recording power of an optical beam for recording data on an information storage medium includes the steps of recording test data on the information storage medium at a plurality of test recording powers; reading the test data recorded at each test recording power, generating a signal, and measuring a modulation factor of the signal corresponding to each test recording power; calculating a product of an n'th power of each test recording power and the corresponding modulation factor, thereby obtaining a plurality of products corresponding to the plurality of test recording powers, where n is a value of exponent and is a real number other than 1; calculating a first recording power based on the correlation between the plurality of test recording powers and the plurality of products; and calculating the recording power based on the first recording power.

Abstract: A method of determining a recording power used to record information to an optical disc, includes carrying out test recording which records predetermined data to a predetermined area of the optical disc to determine the recording power, and recording predetermined data with a power equal to or more than the determined recording power to an area adjacent to the predetermined area.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording device for recording record information onto at least one of (i) a recording medium including: a first recording layer and a second recording layer in which the record information is recorded by irradiating laser light thereon, each of the first and second recording layers including a buffer area and a calibration area, and (ii) a recording medium including: the first recording layer and the second recording layer, each of the first and second recording layers including the calibration area; a setting device for setting a reserved area having a predetermined size for extending or generating the buffer area, by each recording unit in the calibration area; a calibrating device for calibrating the power by using the calibration area other than the set reserved area; and a controlling device for controlling the recording device to record the record information into at least the reserved area.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a write strategy of a recordable disc comprises steps of: generating a test pattern on a power calibrating area of the recordable disc according to a first write strategy, a first write power, and a first target ? value; establishing a Pit-to-Land Inter-Symbol Interference table and a Land-to-Pit Inter-Symbol Interference table by measuring a plurality of Pits and Lands with different time lengths in the test pattern; generating an updated timing parameter set by adjusting a timing parameter set of the first write strategy according to the Pit-to-Land Inter-Symbol Interference table and the Land-to-Pit Inter-Symbol Interference table; and generating an updated target ? value according to the updated timing parameter set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for checking the quality of a recording on a disk intended to be read with a first wavelength and intended to be recorded with a second wavelength, directly with the second wavelength used by the recording system. According to the invention, the method uses a modified jitter definition when a jitter value of recorded information is measured using light of the first wavelength. A special equalizer takes account of a required asymmetry.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information reproducing method of detecting a record mark formed in an optical information recording medium and generating a reproduced signal, comprising the steps of: detecting a mark length of each record mark on basis of a reproduced signal, and correcting the reproduced signal by a correction amount corresponding to the detected mark length, and an optical information reproducing apparatus for detecting a record mark formed in an optical information recording medium and generating a reproduced signal, comprising: a detection circuit for detecting a mark length of each record mark on basis of a reproduced signal, and a correction circuit for correcting the reproduced signal by a correction amount corresponding to the detected mark length.

Abstract: In a super-resolution optical disk for the purpose of achieving an increase in the density of recording data by reproducing a recording mark smaller than optical resolution, the optimum reproduction power needs to be determined since the quality of a super-resolution reproduced signal strongly depends on the reproduction laser power. However, since the track error signal required for tracking servo also depends on the reproduction power, there is a need for a method for determining the reproduction power taking into account both the stabilization of tracking servo and a quality improvement of the reproduction signal. The reproduction power is changed under conditions with focusing servo applied but without application of tracking servo. Thereby, a cross track signal is detected to identify a reproduction power region that leads to quality improvement of both a reproduction signal and a track error signal.

Abstract: An optimum power calibration method is provided and is implemented for writing a rewritable optical storage medium including a power calibration area. The method includes the steps of determining whether the power calibration area is recorded with data, erasing the entire power calibration area when the power calibration area is not recorded, and executing an optimum power calibration procedure. In addition, the optimum power calibration method is applied to a rewritable optical disk drive.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes a test recording portion, a power control portion, a recording portion and a power correction portion. The power control portion determines a first recording power to record recording information to the optical disk based on test information recorded by the test recording portion. The power correction portion calculates a first average of modulation of the recording information recorded on a first track of the optical disk at the first recording power and a second average of modulation of the recording information recorded on a second track of the optical disk at the first recording power. The power correction portion increases the first recording power to a second recording power when the second average of the modulation drops below a first threshold value that is preset and drops below a second threshold value that is calculated based on the first average of modulation.

Abstract: An optical disc recording method of suppressing variations in the record quality due to variations in an initial strategy of a write strategy using many parameters corresponding to a next-generation large-capacity optical disc. Modulation conditions for recorded data on the optical disc are determined based on a real measurement thereof; an initial strategy that meets the modulation conditions is determined; an optical strategy is determined in which the record quality is best in the vicinity of the initial strategy; and data is recorded on the optical disc, using the optimal strategy.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal on and from an optical disc includes a memory. The information signal is written into the memory. The information signal is read out from the memory. An optical head generates a laser beam in response to the readout information signal, and applies the laser beam to the optical disc to record the readout information signal on the optical disc. A test signal is recorded on a position of the optical disc near a recording position thereof via the optical head during the writing of the information signal into the memory. The test signal is reproduced from the optical disc. The reproduced test signal is evaluated to generate an evaluation result. An intensity of the laser beam is optimized in response to the evaluation result.

Abstract: A recording method, a recording apparatus, and an optical recording medium that can improve quality of a signal reproduced from a high multi-speed recording medium. The recording method includes generating a box type recording pattern including a first pulse, which has a duration determined according to a length of a recording mark and which has a first power level, and a second pulse which has a second power level different from that of the first power level, and recording data according to the box type recording pattern.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth a method and a system for calibrating optimized power of an optical pick-up unit of an optical disk drive. The system comprises a micro-processor, and a signal processor. The micro-processor coupled to the optical pick-up unit sets an initial power corresponding to an optical disk, and calculates a predetermined number of power levels to cover the range of the initial power for performing a recording procedure. The signal processor coupled to the micro-processor determines whether a servo state failed during optimized power calibration, and calculates recording performance of each power level. The signal processor transmits the servo state and the recording performance to the micro-processor for determining the optimized power.

Abstract: An optical disk, which has a storage area is disclosed. Data is recorded and reproduced by emitting laser light into the storage area on the optical disk Power condition information and recording write strategy information which correspond to recording speed information for recording and reproducing data are recorded. The recording speed information is indicative of constant linear velocity and different linear velocity from the constant linear velocity.

Abstract: A specific recording pattern is sequentially written onto an optical disc using each of three sets of recording pulse conditions as trial writing. The recording patterns are reproduced sequentially. Edge shift amounts of a mark which corresponds to each of three sets of recording pulse conditions are measured from a reproduction signal. Compensation values for the recording pulse conditions are obtained from calculation by linear approximation based on the measured values.

Abstract: An optical read/write apparatus causes a read/write light beam from illuminating means to strike only one side of an optical storage medium including stacked data storage layers each of which is readable/writeable separately from the other layers. In this case, the optical read/write apparatus operates so that data is read/written from/into a second data storage layer after fully recording a recordable area of a first data storage layer. Thus, light can be shone with uniform intensity across the substantially entire recordable area of the second data storage layer without using a complex read/write system even under such conditions that the transmittance to light of the first data storage layer in the recordable area may vary depending on whether any data is recorded in the recordable area.

Abstract: An optical disc includes a data area, a first test recording area, a second test recording area, and a recording information management area. The first test recording area extends inward of the data area, and has a portion which has undergone test recording. The second test recording area extends outward of the data area, and has a portion which has undergone test recording. The recording information management area includes an address information area storing an address of the portion of the first test recording area and an address of the portion of the second test recording area. The recording information management area may further include a recording condition information area storing information representing a condition of the test recording the portion of the first test recording area has undergone and information representing a condition of the test recording the portion of the second test recording area has undergone.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction apparatus, comprising a first recording section for recording test information onto a medium using at least one recording power, a reproduction section for reproducing at least one test signal indicating the test information from the medium, and a second recording section for recording information onto the medium using one of the at least one recording power. The reproduction section comprises a decoding section for performing maximum likelihood decoding of the at least one test signal and generating at least one binary signal indicating a result of the maximum likelihood decoding, a calculation section for calculating a reliability of the result of the maximum likelihood decoding based on the at least one test signal and the at least one binary signal, and an adjustment section for adjusting a recording power for recording the information onto the medium to the one recording power based on the reliability.

Abstract: An enhanced write splice for optical recording channels is disclosed. Optical control circuitry locks to previously-written data and determines the estimated write splice location. A training sequence is written to the optical medium at a location based on the estimated write splice location. The phase offset is then estimated by reading the training sequence. A new write splice location may then be calculated compensating for the phase offset estimate. Finally, the new data to be spliced may be written or overwritten to the channel at the new write splice location.

Abstract: A recording power determination method for determining a recording power of an optical beam for recording data on an information storage medium includes the steps of recording test data on the information storage medium at a plurality of test recording powers; reading the test data recorded at each test recording power, generating a signal, and measuring a modulation factor of the signal corresponding to each test recording power; calculating a product of an n'th power of each test recording power and the corresponding modulation factor, thereby obtaining a plurality of products corresponding to the plurality of test recording powers, where n is a value of exponent and is a real number other than 1; calculating a first recording power based on the correlation between the plurality of test recording powers and the plurality of products; and calculating the recording power based on the first recording power.

Abstract: When recording is carried out in a DVD-RAM, if at least one address mark could have been detected at the header section, after a test light emission for a laser power control is carried out at a GAP section, normal recording is carried out from GUARD1. Herein, if the delay time in the reproduced data would have increased, and if the head of the GAP section has been passed by at the timing when the AM4 is detected in a period during judging whether the fourth AM has been detected or not, it would not be possible to carry out a test light emission normally at the GAP section. In an optical disc recording device of the present invention, when any of the first to third address marks could have been detected, a test light emission is carried out at the GAP section as conventional, and normal recording is carried out from GUARD1 with controlling the laser powers on the basis of that result.

Abstract: Provided is an optical disc apparatus including: a recording unit configured to record data on an optical disc with laser lights of recoding powers set for first and second layers thereof; and a control unit configured to record/reproduce test data on/from these layers, determine first and second optimum recording powers for these layers, and set the determined first and second optimum recording powers in the recording unit, wherein the control unit changes the recording power across a predetermined search width, centering on a first recommended value for the first layer to determine the first optimum recording power, and corrects a second recommended value for the second layer on the basis of the first recommended value and the first optimum recording power and changes the recording power across the search width, centering on the corrected second recommended value to determine the second optimum recording power.

Abstract: A method of recording information using a laser on a multilayer optical disk having a plurality of recording layers is provided. The plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer and a second recording layer adjacent the first recording layer. The first recording layer is provided with a first test writing area to be used for calibration of write power, and the second recording layer is provided with a second test writing area to be used for calibration of write power. The disk is arranged so that a first region of the first test writing area is superposed with a second region of the second test writing area when considered in the direction in which the laser is arranged to irradiate.

Abstract: An information recording medium according to the present invention includes a plurality of recording layers, and a test area for determining a recording power of a laser light for each of the plurality of recording layers, in which a first test area of a first layer and a second test area of a second layer adjacent to the first layer are provided at different radial positions.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, the multi-layered information recording medium comprising: a user data area for recording user data; and a plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement region, wherein when the user data area includes at least one defect region, the at least one replacement region may be used in place of the at least one defect region, wherein a first spare area of the plurality of spare areas is positioned so as to be contiguous to a first user data area of a first recording layer, a second spare area of the plurality of spare areas is positioned so as to be contiguous to a second user data area of a second recording layer, and the first spare area and the second spare area are positioned approximately at the same radial position on the multi-layered information recording medium.

Abstract: There is provided an information recording and reproducing method and an apparatus for the same capable of optimizing the shift adjustment of a recording pulse recorded in an optical disk even at the time of recording information on the optical disk at a high speed. The shift adjustment value of the recording pulse optimized at a low speed recording on an optical disk is multiplied by a constant value to be taken as the optimum shift conditions of the recording pulse at the high speed recording.

Abstract: A method for controlling the recording power of an optical disc apparatus. The method can search for an optimum recording power using a starting power stored in a recordable high density optical disc based on a manufacturer thereof, and perform recording operations with the optimum recording power while the start power is properly varied through an Optimum Power Control (OPC) procedure. The method comprises the operations of: obtaining an initial start power for performing the OPC procedure of a recordable optical disc; performing the OPC procedure, and judging whether the initial start power is within a range of allowable levels for determining the optimum recording power of the optical disc; re-performing the OPC procedure by varying the initial start power when the initial start power deviates from the range of allowable levels; and storing the new start power when within the range of allowable levels for improved subsequent OPC procedures.

Abstract: An information storage medium according to the present invention has n information storage layers (where n is an integer and n?3), on which data can be written with a laser beam and which are stacked one upon the other. Each of the n storage layers has a test write zone for determining the recording power of the laser beam. When those n layers are counted from the one that is located most distant from the surface of the medium on which the laser beam is incident, there is a bigger radial location difference between the outer peripheral end of the inner one of the test write zones of ith and (i+1)th information storage layers (where i is an integer that satisfies 2?i?n?1) and the inner peripheral end of the other outer test write zone than between the outer peripheral end of the inner one of the test write zones of jth and (j+1)th information storage layers (where j is an integer that satisfies 1?j?i?1) and the inner peripheral end of the other outer test write zone.

Abstract: A data readout method is disclosed that is able to read data from an optical disk capable of super resolution readout with high accuracy. The data readout method allows reading data recorded in an optical disk by irradiating a laser beam onto the optical disk. The method includes the steps of varying a light emission power level of the laser beam while the laser beam is irradiated onto the optical disk, and acquiring a reflectivity of the optical disk corresponding to each light emission power level; calculating a second derivative of a curve representing correlation between the reflectivity and the light emission power with respect to the light emission power; calculating an extreme value of the second derivative; and calculating an optimum readout power level for super resolution readout based on the extreme value.

Abstract: A recording device including: an optical head section for irradiating a recording medium with laser to record and reproduce information; a laser driving section for driving the optical head section to output laser; and a control section for, in a process of adjusting recording laser power output from the optical head section, obtaining an evaluation value of a recorded area after a predetermined period of time elapsed since data was recorded as an evaluation value about a reproduction signal during reproduction of the recorded data, and adjusting recording laser power on the basis of the evaluation value after the predetermined period of time elapsed since data was recorded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information recording apparatus and method capable of effectively determining appropriate recording parameters in a short time with favorable efficiency, when recording information onto an optical disk having different information recording conditions and information recording characteristics. An information recording condition or an information recording characteristic of an optical disk 1 is identified, and a recording pulse position is corrected at a correction accuracy according to the identifies information recording condition or information recording characteristic, such that a recording mark is formed in a predetermined position.

Abstract: Correction of recording power is appropriately performed to an optical disk. The recording power correction method includes a step of temporarily stopping data recording into an optical disk, reproducing a result of the relevant data recording, and specifying a detection pattern including a predetermined code in a reproduction signal; a step of detecting a signal state in the reproduction signal corresponding to the detection pattern; and a determination step of determining at least a correction direction of recording power in the data recording based on the detected signal state and a reference state specified from the detection pattern. Processing is performed on the basis of the detection pattern in this way, thereby the method can cope with even a recording and reproduction system for optical disk employing the PRML signal processing method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an optimal writing power for recording data on a recording medium such as an optical disk, are discussed. The method according to an aspect of the present invention includes (a) performing a plurality of OPC operations on a plurality of areas of the recording medium, the plurality of OPC operations being performed in mutually different manners, the plurality of areas being areas within a power calibration area (PCA) allocated in the recording medium; and (b) determining an optimal writing power for recording data on the recording medium based on writing powers detected via the plurality of OPC operations.

Abstract: In the present invention, in order to permit recording operation of data by optimum recording power even at any recording position of inner circumference and outer circumference of an optical disc (1), PCAs (Power Calibration Areas) serving as a trial write area for adjusting recording power of laser beams are respectively provided at the inner circumferential side and the outer circumferential side of the optical disc (1) in the state where program area is put therebetween. In recording data into the program area of the optical disc (1), one PCA near from the recording position of data is selected to perform trial write operation to set write power of laser beams on the basis of trial write data to thereby permit recording operation of data at optimum laser power.

Abstract: In cases where forthcoming recording of information on a multi-layer optical disc is first time one, test signals are recorded on trial write areas in first and second recording layers before being reproduced. First-time optimum recording powers of the laser beam for the respective first and second recording layers are decided in response to the reproduced test signals. In cases where forthcoming recording is not first time one, the test signals are recorded on only the trial write area in the first recording layer before being reproduced. A new optimum recording power for the first recording layer is described in response to the reproduced test signals. Thereafter, a new optimum recording power for the second recording layer is calculated from (1) the new optimum recording power for the first recording layer and (2) the ratio between the first-time optimum recording powers for the first and second recording layers.

Abstract: Each layer includes a data recording area and a test writing area divided into a plurality of small areas, wherein the small areas of the test writing area are recorded in advance so that other each layer can make a combination of recorded and unrecorded states with respect to the small area, where OPC is carried out, in a layer where OPC is carried out. Moreover, OPC is carried out to each small area, where a combination of recorded/unrecorded states of other each layer differs from each other, to thereby calculate, as the optimum power, an average value of the result of each OPC or a central value of the dispersion thereof.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup unit configured to scan an optical disk with an optical signal to record and reproduce data. A power tuning unit is configured to scan a first track with the optical signal to record a first test data to the first track, while changing a power level of the optical signal within a predetermined range in sequence. A scanning time tuning unit is configured to scan a second track with an optical signal to record a second test data to the second track, while changing a scanning time within a predetermined range in sequence. A state detection unit is configured to detect a reproduction state of the first test data and second test data. A controller is configured to check the reproductions state of the first test data and second test data and determine an optimal power level and optimal scanning time. Accordingly, a write strategy is rapidly and optically tuned.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a write strategy (WS) based on an adaptive WS study used in an optical recording apparatus includes recording buffered user data to a rewritable optical disk, performing a WS study when the recording of the buffered user data is completed, and recording additional user data that is buffered afterward according to an WS obtained based on the WS study. Accordingly, since an optimal WS is obtained in real time by performing the WS study during an interval occurring during the UD recording operation, the UD is optimally recorded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling an optical disk apparatus determines a reference recording power at each of a plurality of recording speeds for an inserted optical disk, performs a power control procedure for a prescribed recording speed to determine a recording power at the prescribed recording speed in response to a recording request, and then computes a recording power at each of the recording speeds based on the reference recording power and the recording power determined at the prescribed recording speed. The power control procedure is performed only for an inner circumferential area of the disk, irrespective of whether a requested recording speed is less than or greater than the prescribed recording speed. As a result, the speed of the data recording operation may be substantially improved and/or other improvements may be realized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus of adjusting a focusing servo in an optical disc device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a focusing servo is coarsely adjusted using a tracking error signal for a blank disc, data is recorded in a predetermined area of the disc, and then the focusing servo is finely adjusted using the characteristics of a reproduced signal for the recorded data. In this case, the focusing servo is adjusted to adjust a focusing position of an objective lens, and the predetermined area is a region provided on the disc to detect optimum recording power. The characteristics of the reproduced signal include magnitude and/or jitter value of the reproduced RF signal. Therefore, the present invention can optimally adjust a focusing servo even for a blank disc, and can improve data recording quality.

Abstract: In a recording method for recording information on an optical recording medium (500) according to the parameters of a write strategy by repeatedly recording (S23) a certain amount of information onto the optical disc (500) and entering a standby state (S22) in which recording is suspended and data are stored in a buffer memory (190), during an interval while recording is suspended, the information recorded just before is reproduced, the quality of the reproduced signal is measured (S25A), and the write strategy is altered as necessary (S25C) to obtain consistent recording quality. Only one correction is made per suspension period. Consistent recording quality is thus obtained despite changes in the recording position on the optical disc or changes in recording conditions.

Abstract: A write strategy setting apparatus applied in an optical disc drive includes a storage unit, an error calculator, and a write strategy controller. The storage unit stores an initial write strategy including a plurality of write strategy parameter sets corresponding to a plurality of data set types; the error calculator calculates an error value set for each data set type generated by the optical disc drive utilizing a corresponding write strategy parameter set in the initial write strategy, and stores the calculated error value set into the storage unit to thereby overwrite the write strategy parameter set; and the write strategy controller determines a modified write strategy by referring to a plurality of error value sets stored in the storage unit and the initial write strategy, and then storing the modified write strategy into the storage unit.

Abstract: A method for setting recording power of recording light, capable of an appropriate setting for a multilayer optical recording medium. The recording power of the recording light for an information recording layer of the multilayer optical recording medium to be irradiated with, is set by: evaluating an information recording layer to be evaluated for recording power when all the information recording layer(s) lying closer to a light incident surface than the information recording layer to be evaluated does is/are in a low transmittance state; evaluating the information recording layer to be evaluated for recording power when all the information recording layer(s) lying closer to the light incident surface than the information recording layer to be evaluated does is/are in a high transmittance state; and determining ground information for setting recording power, based on these values of the recording power.

Abstract: It is an optical disk apparatus that comprises: a laser drive device for outputting a test power larger than a prescribed value in a gap section; an optical pickup for forming a beam spot on a disk and detecting reflected light; a focus error detector for detecting position shift between a recording face of the information recording medium and the beam spot; a focus control device for controlling the position shift; and a focus drive device for driving an objective lens in directions far from and close to the disk, wherein, in the gap section, the focus drive device keeps a focus drive output level of right before the laser drive device outputs the test power, and sets a recording power such that the emitted light power becomes the prescribed value.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layers. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: A power determining method is disclosed for determining the light emitting power of a light source upon recording information on an optical disk having plural rewritable recording layers, the method involving obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to an optimum recording power by recording test data on the optical disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting a write strategy to a laser driver, and to a pickup and an apparatus for writing to or reading from and writing to optical recording media using such method. According to the invention, the method has the steps of: transmitting an encrypted write strategy to the laser driver; and decrypting the transmitted write strategy with a decryption key stored in a first memory of the laser driver.

Abstract: A method for determining optimum write power for an optical disc in an optical disc recording apparatus includes, test writing the optical disc as a recording medium at a first position where a write sensitivity is higher than an average write sensitivity of the optical disc and at a second position where the write sensitivity is lower than the average write sensitivity by the same amount of difference as the difference between the write sensitivity at the first position and the average write sensitivity, using the same write power to the both of the first position and the second position, and obtaining an optimum write power for the optical disc from an average of a write characteristics of the test written positions.