Abstract: An optical disc apparatus comprises: rotating means for rotating an information recording medium; a light source for irradiating a light beam onto a data side of the information recording medium; converging means for converging said light beam; focus error detecting means for detecting a difference between said data side and the focus of the light beam converged by said converging means; focus direction transferring means for transferring said converging means in a direction perpendicular to said data side; focus controlling means for driving said focus direction transferring means based on the output of said focus error detecting means in such a way that said light beam converges on said data side in a predetermined state; tracking direction transferring means for transferring said light source in the radius direction of said information recording medium; and tilt calculating means for calculating average values of the outputs of said focus controlling means obtained for a period of time, which is an integer

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of generating an optical recording pulse having multi-pulse patterns suitable for a high-density and high-speed optical medium are provided. The apparatus for generating the optical recording pulse having a multi-pulse chain includes a recording pulse generator generating the optical recording pulse and a controller connected to the recording pulse generator controlling the recording pulse generator so that according to the type of an optical medium or a recording speed of the optical medium, there can exist at least two different widths in respective pulses of the multi-pulse to form a mark on the optical medium.

Abstract: An optical information recording method and a device which can record information with a laser light irradiating direction kept constant even if an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium is inclined and, a recording medium having a program therefor recorded thereon are provided. When performing OPC, a relational expression between a recording power and asymmetry (a standard expression), a relational expression between a differential light intensity value and a recording power (a first detection expression), a relational expression between a recording power and a difference between a differential light intensity value and a reflected light amount ratio (a second detection expression), a relational expression between a reflected light amount ratio and a recording power (a third detection expression), a differential light intensity value with which optimum asymmetry can be obtained, a recording power, a reflected light amount ratio and the like are determined and stored.

Abstract: A lightweight, highly reliable optical pickup including a singlet objective lens is offered by correcting coma aberrations which adversely affect properties of the objective lens having an increased NA. A convergent optical system is composed of a singlet objective lens with a NA of 0.75 or more and includes an aberration-correcting optical system which corrects coma aberrations due to an inclination or shift of central axes of both surfaces of the objective lens or an inclination of the objective lens or the optical storage medium to an optical axis of the optical pickup.

Abstract: Battery information is transmitted from a recording and playback apparatus to a host computer. In the host computer, based on the time for which operation can be continued, corresponding to the current operating status and the remaining battery level that is included in stored battery information, a warning is output, the data of a cache memory is written, data writing prohibition is set, and a forced closing process is performed. With this construction, in a system formed of a portable recording and playback apparatus and a personal computer, a proper system operation corresponding to the remaining battery level of the recording and playback apparatus is obtained, and the data recorded in the recording medium is prevented from being destroyed as a result of operation stopping due to, for example, the remaining battery level becoming zero while recording.

Abstract: A recording method for recording, on a write once type information recording medium, management information representing a recording state of the write once type information recording medium is provided. The information recording medium includes data including a first synchronization signal. The information recording medium has a second synchronization signal pre-recorded by cutting. The recording method includes the steps of (a) performing a recording operation for recording the management information at a predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the first synchronization signal; (b) determining whether the recording operation in step (a) is normally terminated or not; and (c) when the recording operation in step (a) is not normally terminated, performing a recording operation for recording the management information at the predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the second synchronization signal.

Abstract: An information recording technique which, even when an interruption of recording operation takes place for some reasons, can make the most of the features of a recording medium and can record data on the medium with a good reliability. This can be realized by changing abnormality judging conditions according to the type of the recording medium and changing record resuming conditions after the interruption of the recording operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided through which the current to a spindle motor of the recording medium of a mass storage device is modulated to avoid anomalies in the operation of mass storage device and reduce power consumption. In the example of a disc drive, the current is modulated to prevent expected or predicted disturbances in the air bearing between a read/write head and the recording medium, and to reduce the power consumption when no disturbances are predicted or expected.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus includes: an information recording part performing information recording on a recording medium divided into a plurality of sectors each including a plurality of information units; a prediction part detecting or predicting an occurrence of a recording failure during the information recording; a suspension control part suspending the information recording at the present one of the information units of the recording medium and storing suspension information indicating a suspension position where the information recording is suspended; a determination part determining whether the recording failure is over after the suspension of the information recording; and a resumption control part causing the information recording part to resume the information recording at a position determined based on the suspension information so that information is continuously recorded on the recording medium over the suspension position.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus capable of stably obtaining a detection signal of spherical aberration even with a high density optical disk. A spherical aberration error signal is obtained by: dividing the returning light from the optical disk into a transmitted light and a diffracted light; reproducing information with the transmitted light having a larger amount of light while dividing the diffracted light having a small amount of light into two regions, i.e., region near the optical axis and a region distant from the optical axis; determining amounts of focus deviation in respective regions as focus error signals; and taking the difference signal therebetween. Thus, it is possible to detect the amount of spherical aberration with the SN ratio of the information reproducing signal kept at high level.

Abstract: A method of unbalanced disc detection in a slim type optical drive. In the method of the present invention, the slim type optical drive obtains a first tracking count per round of the disc at a first rotation speed to obtain a first runout. Then, the optical drive obtains a second tracking count per round of the disc at a second rotation speed to obtain a second runout. Finally, deviation of the disc is assessed according to the first runout and the second runout, so that the disc can be determined to be a gravitationally eccentric disc or not.

Abstract: A control system for an optical disc for optical media with a premastered area that cannot be overwritten and a user-writeable area that can be overwritten, comprises a first processor operable to communicate with a second processor via a status register. The first processor sequences and monitors functions performed in the second processor and the second processor issues an interrupt when an error condition is detected in the second processor. The first processor detects the interrupt, and disables detecting further interrupts until the interrupt is serviced. Servicing the interrupt includes recording the error state and changing focus and tracking parameters based on the error condition detected.

Abstract: A system and method for handling events issued as a result of error conditions in the operation of an optical disc drive include suspending processing of commanded operations in the disc drive while attempting to recover from the error condition. The recovery attempt can include increasing levels of recovery effort, such as dynamically recalibrating various components in the disc drive. The system can also determine whether a previous notice was received for the same error condition. If so, the system can determine whether excessive recovery attempts have been initiated based criteria such as the time between the notices, and/or the number of notices, for the same error condition. The recovery attempts are aborted when they become excessive. If the recovery attempt is successful, the interrupted operation is resumed at the point where the processing was suspended, such as during a write or read command.

Abstract: A sample integrity test is disclosed. The sample integrity test receives an error signal and a defect signal. If the defect signal indicates the presence of a defect, a low-pass filtered error signal is substituted for the error signal. The low-pass filtered error signal is the error signal filtered with a low-pass filter. The error signal can be derived from optical signals from an optical pick-up unit. A control signal generated from the output signal from the sample integrity test controls the position of the optical pick-up unit. The defect signal can also be derived from the optical signals.

Abstract: In an optical disk drive, in order to cancel a lens offset which may occur when performing a seek followed by a read, a seek position must be set several sectors before a target position for the read, resulting in a delay in access time. A lens offset amount is measured when a seek followed by read is started, and how many sectors before a read target position a seek position must be set is determined on the basis of two parameters, namely, the lens offset amount and a number of seek tracks. Thereby, an optimum seek position at which the lens offset is canceled can be set with no waste, resulting in an improvement in access time.

Abstract: A system and method for detection and analysis of video recording is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a video recording, calculating complexity values of video recording received, comparing the calculated complexity values with reference complexity values, and displaying analysis of video recording on a user interface is disclosed. The system comprises an input device for receiving video recording, a computing device for calculating complex values of received video recording, a comparator device for comparing complex values of video recording, and a storage device for storing internal data.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the write speed of a data recording device and apparatus thereof. First, the recording media is written to at a write speed, during which the number of buffer underrun events is counted. Then, the write speed is adjusted according to the number of buffer underrun events until writing is finished.

Abstract: A buffer underrun is generated intentionally, and the apparent recording speed is changed by alternately repeating start and stop of recording by using the buffer underrun free recording function to obtain a desired recording speed.

Abstract: A method of detecting a reproducing signal, and a circuit therefor. This circuit includes a detector, a control unit and a compensator. The detector detects the outputs of an optical detection device corresponding to a combination of signals corresponding to sections of the optical detection device arranged in the tangential direction, the outputs corresponding to a combination of signals corresponding to sections of the optical detection device arranged in the radial direction, and/or the outputs corresponding to a combination of signals corresponding to sections of the optical detection device arranged diagonally. The control unit provides a selection control signal and a compensation signal on the basis of the results of detection of the data conditions recorded on the optical recording medium, the interference between optical signals reflected/diffracted from pits in close proximity to each other and from adjacent tracks on a recording medium, and/or various system states.

Abstract: A disc player includes a reproducing parameter setting/extracting unit, a reproducing state monitor, a reproducing parameter storage unit for storing a reproducing position, a number-of-loadings counter, and a controller for controlling them. The controller, during reproducing, saves information related to a reproducing position into the storage unit, and initializes the counter. In turning on the power, the controller refers to the counter, interprets that contents in the storage unit are ineffective when the value of the counter is 0, and performs resume play when the value is not 0. Thus, a disc player for avoiding repeating of lock is provided. A similar effect can be obtained even when an effective flag for indicating whether contents of the reproducing parameter are effective or a just-after-loading flag for indicating whether it is just after reading the reproducing parameter is used instead of the counter.

Abstract: A tracking servo system with a at least one second order digital filter is presented. The servo system calculates an error signal and offsets, amplifies, and filters the error signal before a control signal is calculated. The control signal is then utilized to position an optical pick-up unit which provides signals from which the error signal is calculated. Filters in the servo system can include a low-pass integrator, a phase lead filter, notch filters, or other filters. At least one of the filters is a second order digital filter.

Abstract: A method of verifying defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc upon initialization with certification, and a test apparatus for performing the same. The method includes generating, as test information, defect management information, which is generated after performing initialization with certification on a test disc, which is obtained by making known physical defects on a blank disc, and verifying the test information using reference test information for initialization with certification to provide the test result. Accordingly, it can be easily verified that a recording and reproducing apparatus properly translates and processes DMA information which is generated after initialization with certification, using a test disc with known physical defects.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for recovering from performance errors in an optical disc drive is provided for optical media with a pitted premastered area that cannot be overwritten and a grooved user-writeable area that can be overwritten. The system includes instructions operable to detect a problem with at least one of: focus control, tracking control, or spin control when accessing the optical media; instructions operable to save the current state of the disc drive; instructions operable to attempt to recover from the problem; and instructions operable to restore the current state of the disc drive after recovering from the problem.

Abstract: A tracking servo system with a tracking skate detection algorithm is presented. The tracking skate detection algorithm receives a tracking error signal and, takes the absolute value of the tracking error signal and filters the absolute value with a low pass filter. If the filtered signal exceeds a threshold value for a number of cycles exceeding a maximum number, then a tracking skate condition is indicated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tilt control device and method for an optical disc player, wherein an output offset of a tilt detecting means (3) is calibrated by using an output of a focus controller (7). Since the offset is calibrated based on the focus controlling output, the calibration can be performed for all written and non-written discs. As an alternative, a tilt control with high accuracy can be performed by adjusting a tilt frame based on at least two measurements of the controlling output of said focus control means at different radial positions. Thereby, the disc can be positioned in a radial tilt zero position with the aid of the focus controlling output. Now, the tilt detecting means is no longer required for tilt adjustment.

Abstract: A method of verifying the defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc. The method verifies that DMA information is properly generated or updated after a recording and reproducing apparatus, which records or reproduces information on or from an optical disc with DMA information, performs a process in a test mode for testing the generation or update of DMA information. The method includes reading the generated or updated DMA information and verifying the generated or updated DMA information using reference DMA information which is predetermined for the test mode and providing the verified result. Accordingly, it is easily verified that the recording and reproducing apparatus exactly generates or updates defect information by performing various test modes using different test discs having predetermined defect information, which has no relation with actual defects, instead of using a disc having the actual defects.

Abstract: The invention relates to an information recording apparatus including a head that is disposed so as to face a recording medium, and records information in the recording medium and/or reproduces information therefrom, and a head actuator for moving the head toward and away from the recording medium. The apparatus further comprises a capacitor electrically charged by a power source; and a driving processor for driving the head actuator with electric charge accumulated in the capacitor in accordance with a voltage of the power source, and for retracting the head to a position away from the recording medium.

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

Abstract: A data storage device performs a re-read of data prior to a read inhibit for data recovery and validation. When misregistration of read/write heads occurs, as indicated by a sampled servo position, data read from a track of the data storage device is withheld from a host until a subsequent sampled servo position is verified to be within a read limit width of the track. Data blocks preceding the servo position that caused the posting of the read inhibit are re-read, once the read inhibit is cleared. If the read inhibit is not present following the re-read of the data, this re-read data can be released to the host.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and medium for processing data in a Read Only Memory (ROM) drive. The data processing method includes: a ROM drive detecting, buffering, and decoding data at a target location on an optical recording medium; if one of data detection, data buffering, and data decoding fails, checking a CLV speed of the optical recording medium, adjusting a CAV speed of the optical recoding medium, and retrying data detection, data buffering, and data decoding; and if data detection, data buffering, and data decoding are performed successfully, transmitting the decoded data to the host computer. Therefore, it is possible to improve the quality of a ROM drive, by preventing the deterioration of data readability and error generation caused by speed deterioration of the ROM drive, from defects of an optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which varies a rotational speed of an optical disk through use of a sound volume controller. A controller of the optical disk apparatus causes a sound volume controller to act as a rotational speed controller upon receipt of a READ command from a host apparatus. The controller detects a set position of the sound volume controller on the basis of a signal output from the same and controls a spindle motor in accordance with a detected position, thereby changing a rotational speed of said optical disk. When wind sound or the like, of the optical disk is obtrusive for the user, the user can diminish noise by means of decreasing the rotational speed through actuation of the sound volume controller.

Abstract: An image information detecting cassette accommodating an image information detecting section capable of reducing its power consumption when not used. When the handle of the cassette is gripped by the operator for carrying, the handle grip signal is outputted from the handle grip detecting section. If the readout signal from the scan/readout section, X-ray ready signal from the external system controller, and release signal from the release switch are not outputted, that is, when the cassette is carried and not used, it is determined to be the out-of-use state by the out-of-use determining means. The low power consumption mode is set by the control section, and the power supply to the image information detecting section, reading light emitting section, detecting section driving section, nonvolatile memory, X-ray buzzer, and matrix indicator is discontinued by the power supply suppressing section.

Abstract: A dual format hybrid storage medium includes a non-recordable section in which data to be reproduced is written and in which data cannot be updated, and a recordable section in which data in the non-recordable section having a high probability of error occurrence may be backed up. The high probability of error is determined based on a range of fluctuation of an RF envelope, an unstable phase locked loop signal, a value of a sum level or sub-beam added level of the reproduced data, an unstable focus lock signal, a range of fluctuation of a track error signal and a range of fluctuation of a focus error signal. A determination is made to test for errors if a freeze-frame is found, audio and video are out of sync, a data seek fails or a picture distortion or a picture mosaic effect occurs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for a replay or recording appliance for optical recording media having an inclination control system for vertical alignment of the scanning beam with respect to optical recording media. In order to exclude other factors which, in addition to the inclination of the scanning beam, influence the radio-frequency signal which is detected by the recording medium, without any additional inclination sensors from the disadvantageous influence of the inclination control, an inclination control system is provided which uses the lower envelope curve signal of a radio-frequency signal which is detected by the optical recording medium and represents the dark value of the detected radio-frequency signal.

Abstract: An information carrier apparatus for accessing an information carrier having at least one track formed therein includes a times crossed detection section for detecting the number of times that a head structured to access the information carrier has crossed the track; an eccentricity direction detection section for detecting an eccentricity direction of the information carrier based on the number of times; an eccentricity distance detection section for detecting an eccentricity distance of the information carrier based on the eccentricity direction and the number of times; and an eccentricity correction section for correcting eccentricity of the information carrier based on the eccentricity direction and the eccentricity distance.

Abstract: A device for and method of reducing intersymbol interference (ISI) and/or crosstalk is disclosed. The ISI and crosstalk reducing device includes an optical detector which divides an optical signal reflected from an optical disk into central and peripheral parts in the tangential direction of the optical disk, and a correcting unit for controlling the gain value of a peripheral detection signal detected by the optical detector and adding the gain-controlled detection signal and a central detection signal to each other to provide an ISI corrected signal. Instead of using the existing waveform equalizer, the device uses a multiple-divided detection signal output from the optical detector to thereby obtain a jitter value of the same level as that obtained when the waveform equalizer is used. Further, in HD-DVD system requiring high density recording, it is possible to reduce crosstalk and ISI at the same time even when the high density recording causes crosstalk or interference between neighboring tracks.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing optical recording media whereby defective discs can be effectively eliminated without greatly reducing yield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adjusting the reproduction speed of an optical disk, and more particularly, to a method for adjusting the reproduction speed of an optical disk which is capable of selectively adjusting the reproduction speed to a lower speed in advance only with respect to an abnormal regional section of the optical disk inserted into a driver, and normally reproducing a recording signal on the optical disk at the original high speed with respect to sections excepting for the abnormal regional section. Thus, there is an effect of reproducing data at a high speed even if the state of the optical disk is bad. In addition, a delayed reproduction time delayed can be removed by gradually reducing the reproduction speed of the optical disk.

Abstract: When it is intended to realize a lens having a large NA with one lens, an adjustment precision between both surfaces of the lens is very strict. Accordingly an objective lens having an NA of 0.8 or more was usually realized by two lenses. However, a working distance is small, and collision of the objective lens with a disc is apt to occur. A coma corrector for compensating coma caused by decentering of both surfaces in realizing the high NA lens with one lens is added. However, in this case, astigmatism occurs when the objective lens decenters from the coma corrector relatively accompanied with a tracking operation. The objective lens and the coma corrector are fixed to a mirror barrel so as to be unified with each other, and driven by a two-dimensional lens actuator. With such a constitution, decentering of the objective lens and the coma corrector does not occur, and hence astigmatism does not occur.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling eccentricity in a photo-record player and a control method thereof. A relative eccentric quantity is found from a TE signal (or, tracking driving voltage) induced per one revolution of disc ‘on track’and an eccentricity phase to be controlled is found from a periodicity of TE (or, tracking driving voltage) per one revolution of disc. A suitable compensating value for the relation between the found eccentricity quantity and phase is generated by taking FG representing a period of revolution as a reference. Then, the compensating value is used for an eccentricity control ‘on track’, or driving the tracking actuator on ‘seek’. Therefore, the present invention reduces a seek location error due to the eccentricity on ‘seek’, thereby enabling to increase a seek performance.

Abstract: A method of verifying defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc upon initialization without certification, and a test apparatus for performing the same. The method includes generating as test information, defect management information, which is generated after performing initialization without certification on a blank test disc to which no data is written, and verifying the test information using reference test information for the initialization without certification to provide a test result. Accordingly, it can be easily verified that a recording and reproducing apparatus properly translates and processes DMA information which is generated after initialization without certification, using a blank test disc.

Abstract: A method of command entry for an electronic device. First, a single button is pressed to enter the electronic device into a multi-function entry state, indicated by a first light status. The button is pressed again within a first predetermined period after entering the multi-function entry state, corresponding to one command. The light indicator displays a second light status corresponding to the command. Finally, the button is pressed again to confirm the command within a second predetermined period.

Abstract: To provide an optical disk recording apparatus capable of signal recording onto a disk using a laser emitted from an optical pick-up. Signals temporarily stored in the buffer RAM (10) are read, and recorded onto a disk (1). When the amount of signal data in the buffer RAM (10) decreases below a predetermined amount as signals are read therefrom while the read signals are recorded onto the disk (1), the signal recording onto the disk (1) is suspended. When the amount of signal data in the buffer RAM (10) increases to the predetermined amount, the signal recording onto the disk (1) is resumed. The number of occurrences of signal recording suspension and resumption due to the shortage of signals in the buffer RAM (10) is counted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing a malfunction of a disc drive due to an operation error of a correction function for a minimum pit length by selectively performing the correction function based on an operative state of the disc drive. The method includes a first monitoring operation determining whether an operative state of the disc drive is stable when a disc is loaded into the disc drive, controlling a turning on of a correction function for a minimum pit length if the operative state of the disc drive is stable, and a second monitoring operation determining whether the operative state of the disc drive is stable after turning the correction function for the minimum pit length on and turning the correction function off if the operative state of the disc drive is determined to be unstable based on the second monitoring result.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data on or from an optical disc, in which the tracking error signal format for a recordable optical disc differs from that for a replay-only optical disc. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a read-out processing unit for reading out data from the optical disc, a write processing unit for writing data on the optical disc and a system controller for managing control to verify the recordable optical disc having data recorded by the write processing unit by a reproducing system conforming to the standard for the replay-only optical disc. The recordable optical disc is verified by the reproducing system for the replay-only optical disc.

Abstract: The invention provides a reliable write method of data on an optical record carrier without changing the conventional configuration of an information recording apparatus. The invention uses the errors occurred in reading ATIP codes and/or the reflected signal from the surface of the record carrier to decide if the storage unit on the record carrier is eligible to store data. The defective storage units are labeled as unrecordable.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the absence or the presence of the occurrence of the abnormal insertion that a plurality of disc bodies each of which should be inserted separately one by one are inserted consecutively, provided with: a passing detecting device for detecting the passing of the disc body, mounted on the passing route of the disc body, and a determining device for determining the occurrence of the abnormal insertion if the detecting device detects the passing again after the detecting device detected the passing once.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an abnormal condition at the time of recording or reproducing information on information recording medium provided with: a detecting device for detecting control information to be detected every predetermined constant period in the information recording medium at least either at the time of recording or at the time of reproducing, the control information to control at least either the recording or the reproduction of the main information, and a determining device for determining that the abnormal condition occurs in either the recording or the reproduction, if no control information is detected every the predetermined constant period.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rotational speed of a disk player includes first calculating the proportion of time which the disk player is reading data from the disk during a unit time T. Thereafter, the method increases the rotational speed of the disk player if the proportion of time that the disk player spends reading data from the disk is greater than a first threshold during each of m consecutive units of time T, and decreases the rotational speed of the disk player if the proportion of time that the disk player spends reading data from the disk is less than a second threshold during each of n consecutive units of time T.