Abstract: In an information recording, a first data processor divides input data into a plurality of frames so as to arrange the plurality of frames for each unit block. The unit block is a unit of error-correction with respect to the input data and the frames include first identification information, respectively. A second data processor inserts a linking block on a boundary portion between unit blocks in the record data. The unit blocks are adjacent to each other. The linking block includes a second identification information and the second identification information is different from each of the first identification information. A controller controls to record the unit block and the linking block on the information recording medium.

Abstract: An optical disk device which drives HD-DVD or the like. In an HD-DVD type optical disk, address information is embedded in four wobble waves having the same phase. A wobble signal is detected by an optical pickup and demodulated by an address decoding circuit. The address decoding circuit detects an amount of phase difference of the wobble signal. The system controller sets an error flag in a bit in which the detected amount of phase difference exceeds a predetermined range. When a reading error is determined by means of CRC or the like, bit data replacement is performed with regard to the bit in which an error flag has been set, thereby correcting the error.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimized tracking of an optical scanner along a track of an optical recording medium, the track having information markings arranged in dense succession, and also having fundamental changes in properties in significantly lower density. The method has the following steps: formation of a track error signal, detection of the occurrence of fundamental changes in properties of the track, formation of an offset value from the comparison of the value of the track error signal that occurs shortly before and shortly after the fundamental change in properties, formation of the track error signal, taking account of the offset value and repetition of the aforementioned steps.

Abstract: A digital video recorder writes data on a selected one of a first storage medium and a second storage medium. The recorder includes an abnormal state detector for detecting any abnormal event that possibly occurs while the recorder is writing the data on the first storage medium. If the abnormal state detector senses the abnormal event while the recorder is writing the data on the first storage medium, then the recorder stops writing the data on the first storage medium and starts writing the data, which should have been written on the first storage medium only, on the second storage medium instead.

Abstract: A method and optical disc drive for accessing data on optical storage medium are provided. The optical disc drive includes a sled motor and an optical pickup head. When the sled motor performs a track positioning, the optical pickup head uses a differential astigmatic detection (DAD) method to generate a focus error signal. When the track positioning is finished, the optical pickup head is switched to an astigmatic detection (AD) method to generate the focus error signal to assist to access data on an optical storage medium. Therefore, it can greatly reduce reading and writing errors of the optical disc drive.

Abstract: Reproduction signals include patterns for which recognition errors are likely. With respect to such patterns, probable error patterns are prepared. Tables showing correct patterns and error patterns are prepared, and evaluation values accurately representing signal quality are calculated. In an apparatus using a PRML method, discrimination data and a plurality of predetermined bit sequence pairs are examined to detect matching. A bit sequence and corresponding two ideal responses are calculated. Euclidean distances between the two ideal responses and equalization signals are obtained, and the difference between the Euclidean distances is further obtained. A quality evaluation value of a reproduction signal is calculated based on a mean value, a standard deviation, an appearance probability of the predetermined bit sequence, and a Hamming distance between the predetermined bit sequence pairs.

Abstract: A data recording/reproducing method with robust error handling capability and a data recording/reproducing apparatus therefore, are provided. The data recording method includes: dividing data to be recorded on a recording medium into blocks having a predetermined size; repeatedly recording each block at a predetermined number of times on the recording medium, and recording the predetermined block size and the predetermined number of block recordings on the recording medium. According to the data recording method, it is possible to recover damaged data using a predetermined different block instead of a defective block by dividing data into blocks having a predetermined size and repeatedly recording the blocks on a recording medium a predetermined number of times, so that the recorded data has a robust defect resistance.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing area and a reproduction-only area are formed by wobbling a groove formed in a spiral fashion to form a track to be tracked on a disk. The recording and reproducing area has address information recorded by wobbling of the groove and information recorded and reproduced by phase change marks on the track formed by the groove where the address information is recorded. The reproduction-only area has prerecorded information recorded by wobbling of the groove.

Abstract: A method for reproducing contents of an information recording medium, having at least one data zone, is disclosed, wherein a determination is made as to whether the entirety of a requested reproduction zone included in the data zone of the information recording medium contains data, or at least a part thereof belongs to a non-recorded zone at a predetermined timing on or after a point in time when the reproduction request is made. Then, when a reproduction request is made for a reproduction zone including such non-recorded zone, it is subsequently determined at the predetermined timing that the non-recorded zone is present in the reproduction zone, and an error process starts.

Abstract: An audio/video information recording/reproducing device capable of easily implementing a post-recording function on an optical disk by using even a low-cost disk drive having a comparatively low-speed seek time. When recording a video file, it is recorded on an optical disk continuously for a duration equivalent to more than three times a seek time. When recording dubbing audio, it is recorded continuously only with constant data size at the same time with the reproducing of the recorded video file, thereby enabling concurrent real-time continuous reproducing and recording. Accordingly, concurrent reproductions of a video file and an audio file are ensured when reproducing dubbing audio.

Abstract: A digital demodulating apparatus includes a supplying unit that supplies power to each of circuit elements constituting a receiving unit that receives a signal, and a demodulating unit that demodulates the received signal. The apparatus further includes a correcting unit that corrects errors due to noises generated on a transmission path of the received signal; a calculating unit that calculates a value indicating the quantity of noises contained in the signal when the correcting unit corrects the errors; a judging unit that judges whether or not reception conditions of the received signal are good in a predetermined time period, based on values calculated by the calculating unit; and a reducing unit that reduces the power to be supplied to each circuit element by the supplying unit, when the judging unit decides that the reception conditions are good.

Abstract: In an optical disk of HD-DVD, data is recorded in both grooves and lands. A groove track includes its own data region called a groove (G) track address system formed therein and a land track includes its own data region called a land (L) track address system formed therein. When tracing a groove track, address information X is read from the G track address system, and also address information Y is read from the L track address system. If neither relationship X=Y or X=Y+1 is satisfied, it is determined that the address information X includes an error. Further, a groove track includes its own data region called a groove (G) track address system having a parity bit formed therein and a land track includes its own data region called a land (L) track address system having a parity bit formed therein. When tracing a groove track, address information X is read from the G track address system, and also address information Y is read from the L track address system.

Abstract: In a demodulation process of a first modulated signal and a second modulated signal, phase adjustment is automatically performed by generating, in response to demodulation results, an optimum phase value of a second internal reference wave for demodulating the second modulated signal. A phase of a second internal reference wave for demodulating the first modulated signal is also adjusted using the optimum phase value for the automatic adjustment.

Abstract: A drive current or a drive voltage is controlled corresponding to change of load by sampling the drive current or drive voltage of a motor to move an optical pickup and then detecting change of the sampling signal as change of the optical pickup when it is moved. Moreover, change of the sampling signal is obtained from a difference of the sampling signals by comparing these sampling signals at the first and second points. Comparison of these sampling signals is conducted in unit of drive pulse.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having a track on which data has been previously recorded, comprising on the track a plurality of data block regions each of which includes main data of a block which is divided into a predetermined number of main data pieces, each of which has data for identifying the main data, and linking regions each of which has pseudo data and is inserted between the data block regions. When the linking regions on said track are adjacent, recording patterns of the pseudo data of the adjacent linking regions are different from each other. Further provided is a recording apparatus forming the data block regions and linking regions on a recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: An optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus includes: an error occurrence deciding unit that decides whether or not a record error occurred during recording operation on an optical disc; an error information storing unit that stores record error information in a memory when the record error occurred; and an error information recording unit that reads out the record error information from the memory and records the record error information in a predetermined area on the optical disc when the recording operation is finished if a record error occurred during the recording operation.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus is adapted to record and/or reproduce multilevel information on/or from an optical information recording medium. The multilevel information is recorded in the form of pits in cells virtually formed at regular intervals on a track. The respective levels are represented by varying the length or the area of information pits such that a reproduced signal has a different amplitude level depending on the length or the area of information pits. A reproduced signal correction circuit corrects a reproduced signal obtained by performing sampling at the center of each cell. An error power calculation circuit calculates error power on the basis of the difference between the corrected reproduced signal and an ideal value of each level of the cell. A decoder performs decoding on the basis of the calculated error power values.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a plurality of data sectors, and a head is actuated over the disk. A suspect sector list (SSL) stores a plurality of SSL entries, wherein each SSL entry identifies at least one suspect data sector. The disk drive further comprises a disk controller for executing an access command received from a host computer to access at least one of the data sectors. If an error is detected while executing the access command, the disk controller generates an SSL entry having a priority level selected from at least three priority levels and adds the SSL entry to the SSL. A verification operation is executed for each suspect data sector identified by each SSL entry, wherein the SSL entries are processed relative to the priority level assigned to each SSL entry.

Abstract: A reproduction signal processing apparatus includes: a reproduction unit, an A/D converter for sampling a reproduction signal to obtain a multi-bit digital signal, a phase-locked loop controller for outputting a reproduction clock that is in phase with clock components included in the reproduction signal from an oscillator, a frequency divider for frequency-dividing the reproduction clock, an operation clock switching unit for selecting an operation clock, a filter for performing digital equalization, a filter coefficient learning unit for adaptively controlling the filter coefficients to minimize an equalization error, and an equalization error correcting unit for performing correction so as not to output an abnormal equalization error, thereby performing the adaptive equalization control with stability not only in the channel rate mode but also in the half rate mode that is introduced to suppress the power consumption.

Abstract: A recording medium having at least a lead-in area, a data recording area to which data is recorded, and a lead-out area, wherein the data recording area comprises a first recording area portion to which data that has been encoded with an error correction code is recorded; and a second recording area portion to which at least data that has been encoded with a plurality of types of generation polynomials as error correction codes.

Abstract: A method of controlling recording of data with respect to each track of a once-writable optical disc, includes: detecting whether a shock error occurs during recording of track information; if the shock error is detected, stopping the recording of the track information and estimating a position where the recording of the track information has stopped; recording dummy data from a backward position behind the estimated position as much as a predetermined period of time, for a predetermined period of time; and defining an error track from a start position of a track to a position where the recording of the dummy data has ended.

Abstract: A method for determining a maximum number of attempted retry operations when a read error occurs in an optical disk device. The method includes the steps of receiving an RF signal from a pickup of the optical disk device, detecting an envelope of the RF signal, asserting a defect signal when a level of the envelope is lower than a predetermined threshold, generating interrupt pulses during the assertion of the defect signal, and determining the maximum number of attempted retry operations using the interrupt pulses.

Abstract: A pre-treating circuit for accessing the disc and a method thereof, which are especially used for treating the signal waveform that violates the encoding rule of the disc information, are provided. The present invention can modulate the signal waveform that violates the encoding rule, so that the waveform is not changed during at least 3 continuous periods of the clock signal. The present invention also replaces any wrong 16-bit data which violate the encoding rule, with approximated 16-bit data before they are decoded, or receives approximated 8-bit data which correspond to the incorrect 16-bit data, by directly referring to a table. Therefore, the subsequent decoding module can acquire more data for continuous processing, so as to improve the data reading reliability and to prevent the “picky disc” or “disc error reading” problem from happening.

Abstract: A storage medium stores information on a plurality of tracks formed thereon, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of sectors. The storage medium includes a physically formed sector beginning identifier provided at a leading portion of each sector, and an information storing portion. The information storing portion, another sector address portion at the trailing end of the information storing portion, includes at least one sector address portion at a leading end of the information storing portion, another sector address portion at the trailing end of the information storing portion, and a data portion provided between the two sector address portions.

Abstract: A focus control process (S2), a spherical aberration correcting process (S4), and a focus offset adjusting process (S7 to S9) are performed in this order. In the focus control process, an output of a focus error signal obtained by detecting focal point displacement that occurs in a direction of an optical axis of a light beam focused through a two-element object lens is controlled so that the output becomes close to zero. In the spherical aberration correcting process, spherical aberration that occurs with respect to the light beam is corrected. In the focus offset adjusting process, offset of the focus error signal is adjusted. In this way, it is possible to provide a focal point adjusting method and an optical pickup device in which focus control can be performed stably by eliminating the offset.

Abstract: When user data fails to be recorded in an address of a user data area, the same data is recorded in an address of a spare area. Information indicating that the data for the address of the user data area is recorded in the address of the spare area is registered in a DL that is loaded in a buffer memory, and the information is recorded in a currently-valid DL area of DMA1. As similar thereto, the information is recorded in a currently-valid DL area of DMA2. If the recording fails, the DL is alternatively recorded in another DL area of the same DMA2. Thereafter, DDSs of DMA2 are deleted, and then, without changing information of the number of times of updating the DDSs, only the staring address of the DL of the DDSs is updated. According to the updating method, it is possible to shorten the time required for updating management information of a medium in an information recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: If data is recorded using a disc with deviating characteristics and a recorder with deviating characteristics, data will not be appropriately recorded, and errors will occur in the read signal. Standard recording pulse parameters specifying recording pulse positions for plural possible mark length and space length combinations are read from a writable optical disc, these standard recording pulse parameters are then used for test writing, the standard recording pulse parameters are changed uniformly or individually, a best recording pulse parameter is thus obtained, and jitter can be reduced.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus, in which a disk having correction data recorded thereon is placed, acquires region information indicative of a region corresponding to the correction data after load processing is performed by a ROM loader. Then, under the control of a CPU, the apparatus determines the correction data to be used for correcting a reproducing program based on the region information, reads the correction data from a lead out area or its outer region on the disk, temporarily retains the read correction data in a first RAM or a second RAM, and then stores the correction data to be resident in a nonvolatile first flash memory or a second flash memory, to correct the reproducing program based on the correction data. The information reproducing apparatus thereafter reproduces user data recorded on the disk according to the corrected reproducing program.

Abstract: An RF signal that is a disk reproduction signal is binarized through an equalizer and a slicer, followed by data demodulation, and an error rate of the reproduction signal is detected in an error detection circuit. If the error rate in the error detection circuit is higher than a prescribed value, a slice balance adjustment circuit performs slice balance adjustment for the slicer and a boost adjustment circuit performs boost adjustment for the equalizer.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has an equalizing filter which performs partial response equalization of a detection signal detected by a detecting section and which outputs an equalized signal, a variable gain amplifier which corrects the potential of the equalized signal in accordance with a correction amount determined in accordance with a plurality of reference levels that are used for maximum-likelihood decoding and a plurality of peak levels in a histogram of equalized signals corresponding to the plurality of reference levels, and a maximum-likelihood decoder which performs the maximum-likelihood decoding by referencing the reference levels, in accordance with the equalized signal that has been corrected. The apparatus controls the signal amplitude of the equalized signal to an appropriate value, thereby implementing high-reliable decoding processing.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a detector for detecting a data string corresponding to a waveform pattern having a predetermined time width, an ideal signal generator for generating a data string of an ideal signal having a predetermined time width, which corresponds to a data string having the predetermined time width, a parameter calculator for comparing the detected data string with the data string of the generated ideal signal, and determining a waveform compensation amount on the basis of the comparison result, a recording waveform generator for generating a recording waveform pulse on the basis of externally supplied recording data and the waveform compensation amount, and a pickup for irradiating a storage area of the optical disk with a laser beam in accordance with the recording waveform pulse to record the recording data.

Abstract: A recording medium has a first area in which data encoded with a first error correction code is recorded and a second area in which data encoded with the first error correction code and data decodable with a second error correction code that is different from the first error correction code are mixedly recorded. Data that causes the cumulated value of a DC component per unit period of data reproduced from the second area to deviate is recorded in the second area.

Abstract: A disk is placed into a disk drive device to be held therein. Then, a laser pickup is moved to the inner edge of the disk in step S1, various servos are automatically adjusted in step S2, TOC information of the disk is read in step S3, and a DBAL adjustment is performed in step S4. Here, the DBAL adjustment refers to an adjustment of a balance of a slice value for data. It is then determined whether or not the disk is recorded with information in multisession in step S5. If the disk is recorded in multisession, the DBAL adjustment for the session proceeds to a DBAL adjustment for a subsequent session in step S7. In other words, if the disk is a multisession disk, the DBAL adjustment is performed for each session.

Abstract: A method is designed for writing data originally recorded in a source disk medium with an original reproduction signal quality, into an object disk medium by means of an optical recording apparatus having a machine parameter settable to control a reproduction signal quality of data. The method is carried out by the steps of measuring the original reproduction signal quality of the data originally recorded in the source disk medium, setting a value of the machine parameter of the optical recording apparatus in accordance with the measured original reproduction signal quality, and writing the data into the object disk medium by means of the optical recording apparatus so as to secure the reproduction signal quality of the written data comparable to the original reproduction signal quality.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus that determines the quality of recorded information through a beta value from information on the amplitude of a reproduced signal and if the beta value is outside the permissible range, outputs information on error to a host computer. Immediately after the information is recorded the information is reproduced first and second kinds of information including information on the amplitude of the reproduced signal and performance information or error information obtained from a binarized signal of that reproduced signal, respectively are used to determine the quality of the reproduced signal. Recording power condition is changed based on the first kind of information and a recording pulse width condition or reproduction condition is changed based on the second kind of information to ensure the reliability of the information recorded.

Abstract: A method of increasing data extraction compatibility for an optical disc drive is disclosed. The method first provides extraction parameter sets, wherein the extraction parameter sets comprise a first extraction parameter set and a second extraction parameter set. The optical disc drive then uses the first extraction parameter set to extract data from an optical disc. Finally, the optical disc drive uses the second extraction parameter set to extract data from the optical disc if a data extraction error occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and correcting a relative address on an optical storage medium, includes a relative address detector which reads relative addresses recorded on the optical storage medium, a relative address continuity detector which checks whether the number of continuances between the relative addresses output from the relative address detector is at least a predetermined number N, and a relative address corrector which forcibly corrects a current relative address that is not consecutive to a previous relative address and outputs the corrected relative address, after the relative address continuity detector determines that the number of continuances between the relative addresses is at least the predetermined number N.

Abstract: In the CAV recording, it is necessary to vary the recording-system clock frequency in accordance with movement of a recording position, and conventionally a signal generated by multiplying a wobble signal is used as the recording-system clock. However, since the wobble signal is easily susceptible to influences of a disk and a pick-up and its quality is prone to be deteriorated by an influence of a large amount of light at the time of recording etc., it is difficult to maintain jitters of the recording-system clock to a sufficiently low value. To resolve this problem, instead of generating a recording-system clock signal from the wobble signal that is susceptible to noise, a necessary recording-system clock frequency is calculated from the address information that has been modulated into the wobble signal and recorded therein, and a signal of this frequency is generated from a stable reference signal source, such as a quartz oscillator, by a synthesizer method and used as the recording-system clock.

Abstract: An information record and playback apparatus configured to perform record and playback operations of an optical disk which is provided with data recording tracks having a surface wobbled at a predetermined frequency and a plurality of prepits formed with a predetermined phase relation to the position for data recording. The apparatus includes at least a demodulation circuit which operates for a predetermined error flag be indicated at the position of the assumed LPP data bit, when the error pattern is detected to be other than ‘1’ or ‘0’, that may be caused, for example, by noise. Erasure correction with the Reed-Solomon code therefore becomes feasible using the error flag. This achieves error correction of a number of errors even using fewer added data, thereby offering advantages in increasing efficiency in the error correction.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus records and reproduces, over a partial response channel, a recording signal produced by encoding data according to a convolutional code and reproduces the data from a reproduction signal by iterative decoding using likelihood information. A burst error detector detects a burst error part in the reproduction signal. A substituting part substitutes, for a sampling value included in the burst error part, a predetermined value according to a detected result of the burst error detector.

Abstract: Real-time audio video applications require guaranteed request service times from a hard disc drive. This requirement is not always fulfilled due to some unexpected delays in service times. Re-allocated sectors are one of the causes of such delays. A scheme for conversion of re-maps into slips in a hard disc drive is suggested. Converting re-allocated sectors into slipped or skipped sectors can prevent such a delay, since slipped sectors cause much less or even negligible performance loss than re-allocated sectors.

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

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus improved is provided with: an optical pickup (11) for reading record information recorded on an optical disc (100) and outputting a read signal; an error correction circuit (15) for executing an error correction process with respect to the outputted read signal and outputting output data through the error correction process corresponding to the record information; and a buffering memory device (17) for buffering the outputted output data. The apparatus is further provided with a microcomputer (20) for altering the error correction process in the error correction circuit depending on a memory status of the buffering memory device, if in the error correcting device, an error is detected in the read signal or an error ratio of the error becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method for detecting errors in streaming media devices is described. In one embodiment, when a command to write a block of data to a streaming media device is received, integrity metadata associated with the data block is attached to the data block and written to the streaming media device together with the data block. Subsequently, when a read command pertaining to this data block is received, new integrity metadata is determined and compared to the attached metadata. If the new integrity metadata does not match the attached metadata, an error message is generated.

Abstract: When an error requiring a retry operation occurs, information concerning the error is stored every time. The information includes a sector number (or beginning sector number and number of sectors), the content of the command; a write or read designation, and the number of the times of error occurrence in the sector (or number of the times of retry operation), for example. In the case of recording information, like the prior art, information to be written which is stored in a buffer memory is held as is. Since the information concerning an error requiring a retry operation is stored, even though that error occurs repeatedly, a write and/or read operation of the next executable command to another track is executed without immediately switching to the retry operation. Thus, other commands are executed between the occurrence of the error requiring a retry operation and actual execution of the retry operation.

Abstract: In an error counting apparatus and method, there are provided a reproducing section for reproducing the optical disc and a counter for counting the error number of the pre-pit signal based on an output of the reproducing section. When it is detected that the reproducing section come up to the reproduction of the emboss portion, a counting operation of the counter is started in response to this detection. When it is detected that the reproducing section has reproduced the optical disc in the predetermined interval after the counting operation is started, the counting operation of the counter is stopped in response to this detection.