Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure can provide a method to optimize optical recording. The method can include recording a pre-defined pattern on an optical medium according to a first write strategy, measuring edge timings corresponding to the pre-defined pattern recorded on the optical medium, determining a second write strategy including at least timing modifications to the first write strategy, and recording data on the optical medium according to the second write strategy. The timing modifications can be determined based on the measured edge timings, edge timing targets for desired edge timings and edge timing sensitivities to the timing modifications.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to reproduce reproduction images without a break without having to use any additional identification information even when real-time recorded data is not completely continuous. A control circuit references a data identification flag (“Recording Type”) which is attached to each sector of reproduction data to indicate the type of recorded data, and counts the number of sectors to which the data identification flag representing real-time recorded data is attached. When the count is not smaller than a threshold value, the control circuit reproduces all the sectors of the target reproduction block in a real-time reproduction mode. In the real-time reproduction mode, the control circuit masks a portion of reproduction data that is found to be defective, changes the value of the defective data to 0 (zero), and transfers the resulting reproduction data to a host device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for operating log likelihood ratios in a disk apparatus is disclosed. Iterative decoding is applied to the disk apparatus. The method can set windows for a sequence of the log likelihood ratios output by a soft-decision most-likelihood decoder based on the sequence of the log likelihood ratios or an amplitude of a read signal acquired in response to read of data from a data sector on a disk carried out by a head. The method can multiply the log likelihood ratios contained in each of the windows, by a multiplier specific to each window. In addition, the method can transmit the sequence of the log likelihood ratios multiplied by the multiplier for each of the windows to a parity check decoder.

Abstract: When the picture drops out in a part of video image data transmitted by a video transmitting apparatus, the video transmitting apparatus outputs a command indicating that the scene drops out, together with the video image data, to a video receiving apparatus. In accordance with this command, the video receiving apparatus displayed a predetermined indication that the scene drops out, or controls the re-recording of video image data.

Abstract: A dropout detection device, a disk reproduction apparatus, and a dropout detection method for detecting the occurrence of a dropout are provided. A low-pass filter outputs, as a signal LFENV, a low-frequency component of an envelope signal ENV generated by an envelope generation circuit, which represents an upper envelope of a first RF signal RF1 input from an RF amplifier unit. An adder adds a shift amount SH to the envelope signal ENV, and outputs a resultant signal as a shifted envelope signal SENV. A comparator outputs a dropout detection signal DET during a time period PT in which the signal LFENV is larger than the shifted envelope signal SENV. A detection control unit detects an amplitude ARF1 of the first RF signal RF1, and changes a frequency gain characteristic of the low-pass filter and the shift amount SH according to the magnitude of the detected amplitude AR1.

Abstract: A method for performing blank detection on an optical storage disc includes receiving information read by an optical storage device from the optical storage disc, and checking corresponding data of the information to operate blank detection.

Abstract: A technique to detect defects when reading a defect scan pattern stored on a disk in which the detected defects are processed differently depending on which region of a sector the defect is resident. In one implementation, a mask is used to identify the defects of different regions. By differentiating different regions within the sector for defect scan, sync mark and preamble fields may be treated as critical regions so that different defect scan properties may be attributed when performing the defect scan.

Abstract: Methods and structures for performing field flawscan to reduce manufacturing costs of a dynamic mapped storage device. In a dynamic mapped storage device in which all user supplied logical blocks are dynamically mapped by the storage device controller to physical disk blocks, features and aspects hereof permit flawscan testing of a storage device to be completed substantially concurrently with processing write requests for its intended application. A fraction of the storage device may be certified by an initial flawscan performed during manufacturing testing. Statistical sampling sufficient to assure a high probability of achieving specified capacity may be performed to reduce manufacturing time and costs in testing. Final flawscan of the remainder of the storage locations may be performed substantially concurrently with processing of write requests after the device is installed for its intended application.

Abstract: The dropout detection circuit of the invention includes: a high-speed envelope detection circuit for detecting an envelope of a reflection signal of a light beam with a first time constant; a low-speed envelope detection circuit for detecting an envelope of the reflection signal with a second time constant larger than the first time constant; a differential circuit for generating a difference signal indicating the difference between the envelopes detected by the envelope detection circuits; and a comparator for converting the difference signal to a binary value according to a predetermined binary criterion. The high-speed envelope detection circuit makes the first time constant larger during recording than during reproduction, to enable stable dropout detection irrespective of during reproduction or during recording.

Abstract: A sync finder module for an optical medium playback device that generates a bit stream including sync patterns and data blocks comprises a pulse jitter detect module that receives the sync pattern, which includes a plurality of transitions each having a desired position in the sync pattern, that selects actual N-bit segments of the sync pattern at the desired positions and that compares the actual N-bit segments to at least one expected N-bit segment. A pulse verifying module communicates with the pulse jitter detect module and generates a verified signal if the expected N-bit segments match the actual N-bit segments.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for extracting digital data from a medium. Digital audio extraction techniques are implemented with additional features that improve the quality of the resulting audio playback files. In one embodiment of the invention, a user can extract digital audio data from a source medium and store the data as a file or, alternatively, stream the data into a memory. The file/stream can then be analyzed to determine the precise locations, in time, at which the sound levels represented by the data cross a specified threshold, particularly at locations near and between track edges. This information can be stored for reference. Subsequently, the file/stream can be accurately divided into smaller files wherein each file contains one or more complete and distinct tracks, and the data representing sound levels below the specified threshold can be excluded from the resulting files. The files may then be encoded and/or further divided into standard playback files.

Abstract: A method for generating a feedback signal in optical disc drives is disclosed. Firstly RF signal is generated by a pickup head and coupled to a converter to generate a digital signal. Then a detector generates a plurality of pseudo-jitter according to the digital signal. Thereafter a calculator receives the said pseudo-jitter and calculates for outputting a feedback signal to the pickup head.

Abstract: A dropout detection device, a disk reproduction apparatus, and a dropout detection method for detecting the occurrence of a dropout are provided. A low-pass filter outputs, as a signal LFENV, a low-frequency component of an envelope signal ENV generated by an envelope generation circuit, which represents an upper envelope of a first RF signal RF1 input from an RF amplifier unit. An adder adds a shift amount SH to the envelope signal ENV, and outputs a resultant signal as a shifted envelope signal SENV. A comparator outputs a dropout detection signal DET during a time period PT in which the signal LFENV is larger than the shifted envelope signal SENV. A detection control unit detects an amplitude ARF1 of the first RF signal RF1, and changes a frequency gain characteristic of the low-pass filter and the shift amount SH according to the magnitude of the detected amplitude AR1.

Abstract: With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.

Abstract: An optical disk reproducing device has a defect-signal generating circuit including a peak-holding-signal generating circuit for generating a peak-hold signal based on an RF signal read from a recording medium, an intermediate-signal generating circuit for generating an intermediate signal based on the peak-hold signal, a signal-level adjusting circuit for generating a threshold signal based on the intermediate signal, a threshold-signal adjusting circuit for adjusting the level of the threshold signal, and a comparator for generating a defect signal based on the peak-hold signal and threshold signal. The threshold-signal adjusting circuit includes at least one of: a first adjusting circuit for raising the threshold signal in the event the peak-hold signal falls below the threshold signal due to the peak-hold signal and the threshold signal being reversed; and a second adjusting circuit for lowering the threshold signal in the event the peak-hold signal exceeds the threshold signal, due to the reversal.

Abstract: An offset adjusting circuit for an optical disc comprises an offset-adjustment differential operational amplifier having an input terminal to which an output signal of an optical pickup is input and the other input terminal to which a control voltage is applied, an A/D converter that outputs a digital signal based on an output signal of the offset-adjustment differential operational amplifier, and a control voltage adjuster that varies the control voltage applied to the offset-adjustment differential operational amplifier based on the digital signal so as to remove an offset.

Abstract: A feedback loop structure including an operational amplifier unit (1) for amplifying a reproduction signal of recorded information and a gain/offset control unit (6) for controlling an amplitude and an offset of an output of the operational amplifier unit (1) so that each of the amplitude and the offset becomes a predetermined value is adopted, and accurate information for an asymmetry amount is obtained by a binarization unit (7) for receiving the output of the operational amplifier unit (1) and performing binarization while adjusting a slice level by feedback control so that a duty ratio after the binarization substantially becomes a predetermined value. Based on the asymmetry amount information, a judgment level of a Viterbi decoding unit (15) is changed, thereby reducing a reproduction error rate.

Abstract: Processing to confirm management information during starting processing of a disk device is completely executed in a short period of time without scanning a data area to thereby minimize the period of time for the starting processing. The management information confirming processing can be executed after the disk device notifies the condition to the host or the user. Therefore, the response characteristic of the disk device is improved. Authentication information to certify that management information recorded on a disk is valid and invalidating information to invalidate the authentication information are provided. When the invalidating information to invalidate the authentication information is present, it is possible to determine that the management information is invalid or is possibly invalid. When the invalidating information to invalidate the authentication information is absent, it is possible to determine that the management information is valid according to the authentication information.

Abstract: The apparatus of detecting defects of the present invention includes: a photodetector, detecting a intensity of reflective laser beam and generating a reflective signal; a sample/hold circuit, coupling to the photodetector circuit, sampling and holding the reflective signal; a comparator, coupling to the sample/hold circuit, comparing the sampling and holding result with a default range; and a defect flag generating circuit, coupling to the comparator, generating a defect flag signal. The method of detecting defects of the present invention includes: monitoring a reflective signal (WRF signal) when recording an optical disk; determining if the static region of WRF signal is within a predetermined range; if no, the region is regarded as a defect region, and a defect flag is set.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for extracting digital data from a medium. Digital audio extraction techniques are implemented with additional features that improve the quality of the resulting audio playback files. In one embodiment of the invention, a user can extract digital audio data from a source medium and store the data as a file or, alternatively, stream the data into a memory. The file/stream can then be analyzed to determine the precise locations, in time, at which the sound levels represented by the data cross a specified threshold, particularly at locations near and between track edges. This information can be stored for reference. Subsequently, the file/stream can be accurately divided into smaller segments wherein each segment contains one or more complete and distinct tracks, and the data representing sound levels below the specified threshold can be excluded from the resulting segments. The segments may then be encoded and/or further divided into standard playback files.

Abstract: A subtraction results value arrived at by subtracting a required subtraction value from a detection maximum value is taken as a maximum value in cases where a detection maximum value obtained from an RF signal is in a reducing direction, and an addition results value arrived at by adding a required value to a detection minimum value is taken as a minimum value in cases where a detection minimum value obtained from an RF signal is in an increasing direction. An RF amplitude value indicating an amplitude level of an RF signal is then obtained by subtracting the minimum value from the maximum value. Also, the subtraction value or the addition value is variably set according to the center value for the amplitude of the RF signal increasing or decreasing in excess of a prescribed level. As a result, accuracy of defect detection can be improved in cases where the amplitude level of the RF signal is biased on the maximum value side or the minimum value side.

Abstract: Drop-outs in a data read channel having one or more controllable elements are managed. A data read channel derives a signal having at least one drop-out characterising parameter from which data are to be recovered. The signal from the data read channel is tapped and compared with at least one drop-out characterising parameter of the tapped signal with two or more thresholds to categorise the drop-out. One or more elements of the data read channel is controlled in response to the category of the drop-out.

Abstract: The dropout detection circuit of the invention includes: a high-speed envelope detection circuit for detecting an envelope of a reflection signal of a light beam with a first time constant; a low-speed envelope detection circuit for detecting an envelope of the reflection signal with a second time constant larger than the first time constant; a differential circuit for generating a difference signal indicating the difference between the envelopes detected by the envelope detection circuits; and a comparator for converting the difference signal to a binary value according to a predetermined binary criterion. The high-speed envelope detection circuit makes the first time constant larger during recording than during reproduction, to enable stable dropout detection irrespective of during reproduction or during recording.

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: A recording disk and a recording apparatus prevent illegal copying. In a reproduction control data area, pits of a pit train on a plurality of adjacent tracks are aligned in the directions which cross the tracks perpendicularly, wherein the pit train represents reproduction control data indicative of a reproduction control method to be used for reproducing information data. The length of a unit interval on the track corresponding to one bit of the reproduction control data is made shorter than a length that is twice as long as a length of rotation jitter which is generated when a spindle motor is rotated under a rotation control method using a frequency generator.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus capable of suppressing displacement of a servo system from a track even when a track defect is caused on an optical disk and achieving appropriate data recording and reproduction. In the case where any track defect is detected on an optical disk, a pulse width modulation signal, rather than a tracking servo signal created based on a tracking error signal, is used as a servo signal to drive an optical pick-up. The pulse width modulation signal is modulated such that its DC level becomes identical to a DC level of a tracking servo signal obtained immediately before detection of the track defect.

Abstract: A dynamic compensation device for radio frequency ripple signals of an optical storage system is disclosed. The device is composed of a radio frequency ripple signal process circuit, a radio frequency signal process circuit, a radio frequency signal peak detector, a first analog to digital converter, a second analog to digital converter, a defect detector, and a fingerprint detector. The drop-out of the central level of the radio frequency ripple signal is eliminated, and the track cross waveform is prevented from being damaged.

Abstract: A wave-shaping apparatus includes a first detection circuit for detecting a reproduction signal reproduced from an optical disk by an optical pickup circuit using a first detection time constant to detect an upper envelope of the reproduction signal; a second detection circuit for detecting the reproduction signal using a second detection time constant to detect a lower envelope of the reproduction signal; an averaging circuit for putting a weight represented by a weighting coefficient to each of the upper envelope and the lower envelope to calculate an average value of each of the upper envelope and the lower envelope; and a subtraction circuit for subtracting a signal corresponding to the average value from the reproduction signal to output a wave-shaped signal.

Abstract: An optical disc drive according to an embodiment of this invention includes a light-receiving section for receiving light, a conversion section for converting the light received by the light-receiving section into an electrical signal, a generation section for generating a slewing rate control signal, and a signal processing section for processing the electrical signal using the slewing rate control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus comprising: an audio level detecting unit, for detecting an audio level L indicating the level of sounds collected by a microphone unit and for notifying a control unit of the detected audio level L; and a control unit for changing the rotational speed of a spindle motor in accordance with the audio level L. With this configuration, noise generated during recording can be reduced and the high-quality recording of sounds can be performed.

Abstract: An amplitude variation detection circuit that can reliably detect the mirror portion independently of the type of optical recording medium, as well as a type of information regenerating apparatus that contains said amplitude variation detecting circuit. Voltage division of top envelope signal Ste and bottom-hold signal Sbh of RF signal Srf is performed by voltage divider (16); then, after amplification by gain control amplifier (19) with a gain that corresponds to the type of optical disc (1), a prescribed offset is added by offset circuit (22) to the signal, and the resulting signal is input as mirror detection threshold signal Smt to comparator (24). The high-frequency noise component of bottom envelope signal Sbe of RF signal Srf is removed by low-pass filter (21); after amplification by gain control amplifier (20) with a gain that corresponds to the type of optical disc (1), the signal is input to comparator (24).

Abstract: An optical disk reproducing device, comprises a judgement circuit which, under an operating condition in which demodulated data amounting for one frame are being stored in a memory in synchronism with internally supplemented synchronous signals, and when an external first synchronous signal is detected from read-out signals, judges whether the external first synchronous signal appears in the first half or in the second half in the period of the internally supplemented synchronous signal, and when the judgement circuit judges that the external first synchronous signal appeared in the first half of the period of the internally supplemented synchronous signal, the demodulated data amounting for one frame are stored in the memory at a memory position for the immediately previous frame.

Abstract: The dropout detection circuit of the invention includes: a high-speed envelope detection circuit for detecting an envelope of a reflection signal of a light beam with a first time constant; a low-speed envelope detection circuit for detecting an envelope of the reflection signal with a second time constant larger than the first time constant; a differential circuit for generating a difference signal indicating the difference between the envelopes detected by the envelope detection circuits; and a comparator for converting the difference signal to a binary value according to a predetermined binary criterion. The high-speed envelope detection circuit makes the first time constant larger during recording than during reproduction, to enable stable dropout detection irrespective of during reproduction or during recording.

Abstract: Data recording/reproduction is carried out in a disc format such that error correction codes interleaved with respect to the direction of data on a disc are collectively blocked into an error correction unit and that the input/output order of user data in an ECC block as an error correction unit is made coincident with the direction of processing of the error correction codes. Thus, coding can be started at the time when necessary data for generating one code is transmitted, without waiting for transmission of data for one ECC block. Also, transmission of user data can be started at the time when correction of one code is completed, without waiting for completion of correction operation for one ECC block. Also, since the direction of correction codes is the same as the direction of user data, no memory for rearrangement of data is required and the hardware structure can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus of recording an audio signal composed of several tracks on a recording medium in a manner that the tracks can be distinguished each other in a recorded audio signal. The present track-synchronous recording method detects a no-sound interval longer than a predetermined time that is included in an input audio signal during recording the input audio signal, and records an audio signal following the detected no-sound interval with a different track number from that of recorded audio signal preceding the detected no-sound interval. Therefore, it is possible to individually distinguish tracks on a copy medium even though those not having any track information are copied thereto from an original at a time.

Abstract: A fast-acting method of regenerating track crossing signals for track searches across unrecorded areas on read/write optical discs is provided. This is accomplished by comparing the in-phase and quadrature-phase track crossing signals generated by the optical pickup head when a track search is being performed. A blank signal is generated when no quadrature-phase signal transition occurs between two successive in-phase signal transitions. Fake quadrature-phase signals are continuously generated. Upon occurrence of a blank indicating signal, the fake quadrature-phase signals are immediately supplied to the track crossing counter mechanism in place of the missing quadrature-phase signals. As a result, there is no loss of track count.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording control for a recording medium having a data recording region for recording data such as audio data, speech data, and a control data region for recording control data for the data recording region. The method and apparatus includes identifying a non-silent recorded portion and a silent recorded portion of the data recorded in the data recording region based upon the signal level of the data recorded in the data recording region, and recording control data for separating the data recorded in the data recording region into temporally former and temporally latter portions at a boundary portion between the non-silent recorded portion and the silent recorded portion based upon the results of the identification after recording of the data in the data recording region has ended.

Abstract: A method of determining interrupts in data on an optical disc, the data supported in a signal envelope subject to variation by mirror modulation and said interrupts. The method comprises the steps of (A) filtering the signal envelope to generate a first signal; (B) re-biasing the first signal to produce an intermediate signal having voltage swings attributable to the mirror modulation; (C) defining a slice level below a reference level to sample the mirror modulation to produce a mirror signal; (D) slicing the intermediate signal to generate the mirror signal containing a pulse resulting from a level transition through the slice level associated with re-biasing of the positive transition component; and (E) registering the presence of the pulse during the on-track mode of operation to identify the interrupt in data on the optical disc.

Abstract: Data recording/reproduction is carried out in a disc format such that error correction codes interleaved with respect to the direction of data on a disc are collectively blocked into an error correction unit and that the input/output order of user data in an ECC block as an error correction unit is made coincident with the direction of processing of the error correction codes. Thus, coding can be started at the time when necessary data for generating one code is transmitted, without waiting for transmission of data for one ECC block. Also, transmission of user data can be started at the time when correction of one code is completed, without waiting for completion of correction operation for one ECC block. Also, since the direction of correction codes is the same as the direction of user data, no memory for rearrangement of data is required and the hardware structure can be minimized.

Abstract: A servo control apparatus of an optical pickup includes an extractor for extracting an error signal from the read signal; a driver for changing the servo position; an equalizer for equalizing the error signal to generate a drive signal; a calculator for calculating an integral value of the error signal for each predetermined angular section of rotation; a memory for storing each of the integral values for one rotation of the recording medium; a detector to detect an occurrence of a dropout; a calculator for calculating a variation by comparing the integral value for an angular section of rotation where the dropout occurred with a stored integral value for the identical angular section of rotation prior to the occurrence of the dropout; and a controller for changing an equalization characteristics of the equalizer in accordance with the variation.

Abstract: A servo control apparatus of an optical pickup includes an extractor for extracting an error signal from a read signal; an equalizer including a phase compensator for equalizing the error signal to generate a drive signal; a driver for changing the servo position of the optical pickup in response to the drive signal; a dropout detector for extracting an envelope signal from the read signal to detect a dropout of the read signal; and a controller. The controller changes an equalization characteristics of the equalizer in accordance with an amplitude of the envelope signal during the period of time when the dropout occurs or in response to an occurrence of the dropout.

Abstract: A servo control apparatus of an optical pickup is provided for reading recorded information from a recording medium and generates a read signal. The apparatus includes an error signal extracting part for extracting an error signal which indicates a deviation amount of a reading position from a target reading position of the optical pickup; a drive part for driving the optical pickup to change the reading position; an equalizer for equalizing the error signal and supplying a drive signal which indicates a driving amount of the drive part; a detecting part for detecting a dropout portion in the read signal; an identifying part for identifying a form of the dropout portion detected in the detecting part; and a controller. The controller performs control to change a gain of the equalizer in accordance with the identified form of the dropout portion.

Abstract: A frame number correction signal generating circuit generates a control signal for correcting a frame number counter in the unit of two frames based on an out-of-sync. signal output from an out-of-sync. detection circuit and the least significant bit of a frame number output from a frame number detection circuit. The frame number counter corrects the frame number in the unit of two frames according to a control signal supplied from the frame number correction signal generating circuit. Therefore, the continuity of two frames constituting one row of ECC block can be maintained and a lowering in the correction ability of the error correction circuit can be prevented.