Abstract: A writable optical record carrier comprising a plurality of recording layers L0, . . . , Ln?1 separated by a spacer material, each recording layer comprising an optimum power calibration area having a first portion with an average reflection value representative of a recorded layer and a second portion with an average reflection value representative of an unrecorded layer, a method, and an apparatus for forming optimum power calibration areas on such a writable optical record carrier are presented. The optimum power calibration areas partially overlap such that the optimum power calibration areas of each pair of consecutive recording layers form a step, and the first portions of said plurality of recording layers have the form of a staircase. Each step formed by a pair of consecutive recording layers k, k+1 has a preferred minimum step size.

Abstract: An optical element (200; 300) for providing a variable refractive surface. The element comprises a chamber (215) defined by at least one side wall (270), with an optical axis (90) extending through the chamber (215). The chamber (215) contains a first fluid (220) and a second fluid (230) in contact over a meniscus (225) extending transverse the optical axis (90). The perimeter of the meniscus (225) is constrained by said side wall (270). The fluids (220, 230) are substantially immiscible and have different indices of refraction. A first electrowetting electrode (242; 243) is arranged to act on at least a portion of the meniscus perimeter constrained by said side wall (270). A second electrowetting electrode (280) extends through the meniscus (225).

Abstract: To obtain a higher recording density, and thus higher data capacity, it is proposed according to the present invention to reduce the numerical aperture of the optical means (3, 4) in the direction orthogonal to the information recording direction, which is the radial direction for an optical disc, during recording of information to obtain a light beam having a substantially oval spot profile having a shorter axis in the information recording direction, i.e. the tangential direction for an optical disc, compared to the direction orthogonal that to, i.e. the radial direction. Recording marks having a corresponding oval profile arec achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of copy-protection of information stored on an information carrying medium. The method allows a reading device (e.g. a DVD drive) and an application device (e.g. an MPEG decoder) to exchange copy-protection information regarding the information carrying medium (e.g. an optical record carrier like a CD or DVD) and the content on that medium. The method is cryptographically secure, taking into account the situation where reading device and application device are connected to an open bus in a personal computer. In view of the high-volume nature of the drive, the method can be implemented cheaply. The inventive method is robust against a so-called man-in-the-middle attack. The invention relates also to a method of exchanging copy-protection information, to a copy-protection system and to devices for carrying out these methods, in particular a reading device, an application device and a device for playback and/or recording of information.

Abstract: A disk drive unit having a disk loading mechanism, for use in a mobile device. The loading mechanism is arranged for receiving a disk (A) through an opening in a housing of the device and bringing it into engagement with the disk drive, and vice versa. It comprises a tray (8) which is movable with respect to the housing and the disk drive between a first position for receiving a disk and a second position covering the opening and allowing the disk drive to engage the disk. The tray is rotatable about an axis (10) which substantially coincides with the drive axis (11) when in its driving position. This arrangement results in a slot loader having a tray which will hardly project outside the housing, resulting in a robust loading mechanism.

Abstract: There are two different methods of embedding supplemental data, e.g. for watermarking into an encoded signal. I. For an encoder, which needs auxiliary information for encoding (=probability information in this special case), the auxiliary information to encode the supplemental data is derived from data used otherwise in the encoding process. The advantage is that the derived auxiliary data does not have to be stored, so that embedding the supplemental data is economical with respect to the total amount of bits used. II. In the encoding process used for super Audio CD, a set of parameters (e.g. filter coefficients) is used by the encoder, whereby these parameters have to be stored, as they are needed for decoding. To embed supplemental data, at least one of the chosen parameters (e.g. the LSB of the first coefficient) is set to a dedicated value in response to the value of the supplemental data to be embedded. The advantage is that the bit rate will not be affected at all.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading or writing user data stored block-wise in encrypted form on a storage medium. The apparatus includes a command interface for receiving and interpreting a read (or write) command. The read command includes a user data information specifying which user data are to be read. A reader reads the user data and a related encryption indicator from a block of the storage medium. The encryption indicator indicates if said user data is encrypted or not. The reader further reads a related key data identifier specifying which key data to use for decrypting the user data if said encryption indicator indicates that said user data are encrypted. A decryptor decrypts the user data using the key data.

Abstract: A method for transferring real time information on a record carrier, typically bitstream audio on an optical disc, which method comprises encoding consecutive segments of the real time information to compressed real time data in frames, and determining a buffer occupancy for at least one frame, which buffer occupancy is indicative of an amount of compressed real time data to be present in the playback buffer at the start of decoding said frame. A signal is transmitted carrying the compressed real time data and the buffer occupancy, which data are received, stored in a playback buffer and finally decoded. The retrieving and/or the decoding is controlled in dependence on said transferred buffer occupancy. A playback buffer can be used effectively without risk for underflow or overflow. Also a method for recording audio information on a record carrier, a recording device, a record carrier and a playback device are described.

Abstract: An electrowetting module (20) comprises a fluid chamber (8) which contains a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), which are separated by an interface (14), and means to (16,17) exert a force on at least one of the fluids to change the position and/or shape of the interface. By providing at least one of the fluids with a compound having at least one aromatic, non-fused, residue, the performance of the module can be enhanced. For example the optical power of an electrowetting lens (30) can be increased.

Abstract: A record carrier has a track pattern of substantially parallel tracks. Control data packs are stored repetitively in several control locations (32) for protection against damage and contamination. The control locations (32) are separated at spacer positions (33) by one or more spacers (34,35). The length of the spacers (34,35) is selected for preventing overlap of the position of the first block of the control data packs in the parallel tracks.

Abstract: A shuffle device for players with different types of storage medium such as CD, DVD, hard disk drive or random access memory. The shuffle device is provided in a particular central control device such as a remote control, a hand-held computer, a personal digital assistant or palmtop that is valuable for all the players of the (home) system. As the shuffle device includes hardware and software, thus such hardware and software are needed only once and can be used for different players using a single shuffle device, for example. This alleviates the need for each player to have its own shuffle device thus reducing the cost of each player. Meta data that are downloaded from the Internet, derived from a smart card, added by means of a voice-to-text-converter, or typed in by the user may be displayed on the central control system.

Abstract: A storage unit for a portable radio-communication device includes a main data carrier and a contactless chip associated with the main data carrier. Device data descriptive of the storage unit is transmitted to the portable radio-communication. Further, a warning is transmitted to the portable radio-communication device in response to a storage unit wanted notice. A powering signal is transmitted to the contactless chip. The powering signal provides power to the contactless chip and is modulated with data. Specific data sent by the portable radio-communication device is stored on the contactless chip and, on request, data is returned.

Abstract: A variable focus lens for an eye comprising a transparent rear wall, a transparent front wall, a cavity formed between the transparent front wall and the transparent rear wall, first and second immiscible fluids of differing refractive index contained within said cavity, and electrodes to which a voltage is able to be applied to change the curvature of a fluid meniscus between the two fluids. At least the rear wall of the lens includes a biocompatible material, which material provides for biocompatibility of the lens with the eye.

Abstract: A method is described for setting an optimum recording power level for recording information on an optical record carrier. First a series of test patterns is written on the record carrier with a different recording power. On reading the test patterns, the jitter values of each read signal is determined. The jitter as a function of recording power is approximated with two linear functions. The optimum recording power level for the record carrier is derived from intersection of the functions. The invention relates also to a device arranged to perform the method. The invention further relates to an optical record carrier comprising the optimum recording power as determined by the method according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for reading data stored on an information carrier. The system comprises a waveguide (1203) which allows displacing laterally the different components in exploiting the reflection of the light beams between a first surface (1207) and a second surface (1208) of said wave guide (1203). Use: Optical storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inserting and extracting device for rotatable data carrier plates which mechanically moves the data carrier plate (1) from an inserting position into a playing position before playing and back into the inserting position again after playing, with parallel guide rails (2) which extend over the full range of movement for insertion and extraction and which guide the data carrier plate (1) in grooves (5) at diagonally mutually opposed edge regions, wherein at least one of the guide rails (2) transmits to the data carrier plate (1) motion pulses in one of its directions of movement, by means of which pulses the data carrier plate (1) is moved in the insertion or extraction direction.

Abstract: A variable lens includes a chamber defined by at least one side wall and has an optical axis extending longitudinally through the chamber. The chamber contains a first fluid and a second fluid contact over a meniscus extending transverse the optical axis. The perimeter of the meniscus is constrained by the side walls. The fluids are substantially immiscible, and have different indices of refraction. At least one pump is arranged to controllably alter the position of the meniscus along the optical axis by altering the relative volume of each of the fluids contained within the chamber.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning of a first, second and third type of optical record carrier with radiation of a first wavelength ?1, a second wavelength ?2 and a third wavelength ?3, respectively, where the three wavelengths are substantially different. The device comprises: a radiation source for emitting a beam of said radiation, an objective system for converging the beam on a selected one of the optical record carriers, and a phase structure arranged in the path of the beam, the phase structure comprising a plurality of phase elements of different heights, forming a non-periodic stepped profile of optical paths in the beam, and is characterised in that the stepped profile substantially approximates a flat wavefront at the first wavelength ?1, a spherical aberration wavefront at the second wavelength ?2, and a flat or spherical aberration wavefront at the third wavelength ?3.

Abstract: An optical information storage system has a multi-recording-layer record carrier and a scanner device for the carrier. The scanner produces a radiation beam which is compensated for spherical aberration for a single height of the scanning spot with the stack of layers. The height of the stack is determined by the maximum spherical aberration permissible for the system. The number of layers in the stack is determined by the minimum distance between layers, which depends on the crosstalk in the error signals due to currently unscanned layers.

Abstract: A beam-shaping optical element employing an aspherical profileis presented to minimize aberration. A beam-shaping optical element according to the present invention includes an entrance surface and the exit surface, both having a non-circular cross-section in any plane comprising the optical axis. A beam-shaping optical element according to one embodiment of the present invention, has the optical axis coinciding with the Z-axis of a three-axis rectangular XYZ system of coordinates, and the entrance surface and/or the exit surface represented by a mathematical equation comprising a term representing a non-rotationally symmetric aspherical profile, at least one correction term comprising a function of variable X alone and at least one correction term comprising a function of variable Y alone.