Abstract: A method for recording information on a rewritable recording medium includes recording first synchronizing signal information in a first synchronizing signal portion on the rewritable recording medium, recording second synchronizing signal information in a second synchronizing signal portion following the first synchronizing signal portion on the rewritable recording medium, recording data information in a data portion of the rewritable recording medium after the second synchronizing signal portion by forming marks in the data portion. The data information corresponds to both ends of each the marks. The marks and spaces between the marks are substantially randomly inverted each time the information is recorded and a length of the first synchronizing signal portion changes and a start position of the first synchronizing signal portion changes. A change of the start position of the first synchronizing signal portion is smaller than a change of the length of the first synchronizing signal portion.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a record medium. One of reproduce modes of reproducing information recorded on a record medium is selected. A reproduce program for selecting pieces of information recorded on the record medium on a random basis without duplication based on the selected reproduce mode and indicating the reproduce order of the selected pieces of information is prepared. The pieces of information recorded on the record medium are reproduced according to the reproduce order of the prepared reproduce program.

Abstract: The width and/or depth of guide grooves on the disc substrate surface are changed in each data recording layer and the guide groove depth of the recording film layer is appropriately shaped in each data recording layer to provide a high density, high recording capacity optical disc. The optical disc has plural substrate layers each having plural guide grooves; plural data recording layers laminated on the substrate layers, each of the plural data recording layers having a recording film for recording data over the guide grooves; and an intermediate layer between the plural data recording layers. The guide groove width is different on each substrate layer. The guide grooves of the data recording layers formed according to the guide grooves of the substrate layer have the same pitch in each data recording layer.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method adds a dummy signal to at least a leading or trailing side of a recording signal recorded on an information recording medium. The duty ratio of the dummy signal is not greater than 50%, and the recording start position of the combined recording signal and dummy signal is shifted at random.

Abstract: A method for performing a track skip and a playback device for optical storage disks enable an accelerated track skip in the case of a non-moving storage disk in which a time is determined for the track skip of a read device between a current track and a selected track of a storage disk inserted in the playback device, as a function of the tracks to be skipped in this instance, and the read device is moved in the direction of the selected track for the determined time. In response to a track skip request, the read device is moved in the direction of a lead-in area of the optical storage disk until a starting position is detected. The time necessary for the track skip from starting position to the selected track is determined from this track.

Abstract: A method and device for recording information blocks on a record carrier is described. The device has control means 20 for recording and retrieving position data indicative of the position of the recorded information blocks. The control means include a mapping unit 31 for determining in which region the information block is recorded and a detection unit 32. The region is one of a number of consecutive regions constituting the recordable area. The mapping unit records a random signal unit in a unit location in a mapping area. The unit location indicates region, and the unit length of the random signal unit is smaller then the length of information block. The detection unit 32 detects the presence of the recorded random signal units in mapping area and so determines if a region contains at least one information block. The highest written address is found by detecting the highest written unit location in the mapping area, and subsequently searching region for the presence of recorded marks.

Abstract: A recording head for decreasing recording noise accompanying malformation of a recorded mark and to form the recorded mark capable of increasing reproduction resolution at the time of magnetic reproduction. The head has a light source and a scatterer for recording information on a recording medium by generating near-field light by application of light from the light source and forming a magnetic domain array on the recording medium, a perimeter of the scatterer defines a plurality of vertices and a distance between a first vertex and a last vertex is shorter than the width of the recording track on the recording medium. The recording head improves recording density and can be used to manufacture a highly reliable information recording and reproducing apparatus having a reduced cost per capacity.

Abstract: A loading motor control device of an optical device, which controls a loading motor to move a tray for loading or unloading a disc, and to raise and lower a pickup deck. The loading motor control device includes an optical sensor that has a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, which are separated by a predetermined space and are face with each other; and a shutter that is provided on a sliding cam to move back and forth in the predetermined space, and that has a plurality of opening holes, through which a light beam emitted from the light-emitting portion passes, wherein the loading motor is controlled in multiple modes corresponding to the respective positions of the plurality of opening holes. The loading motor can be controlled adequately and correctly in multiple modes and with a simple structure.

Abstract: A highlight of a representative track of each album stored in a recording medium and a highlight of each track of a designated album are pre-set. Highlights of representative tracks of albums are successively reproduced from album 1. As a result, albums are searched for a desired track. When the desired album has been found, highlights of tracks of the album are successively reproduced from track 1. As a result, the album is searched for the desired track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for canceling noise from track cross signal includes binarizing the track cross signal with reference to at least two reference values, and removing noise from the binarized track cross signal based on a command speed according to which a tracking actuator moves a pickup. Accordingly, it is possible to remove noise from a track cross signal so as to obtain information regarding precise speed of track searching or position on the track, irrespective of the searching speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of reducing a program selection time in an optical disc multi-changer by determining whether a disc is mounted on a disc mounting unit before it is determined whether the disc is chucked and a type of the disc is discriminated. The method of operating the optical disc multi-changer having a tray with disc mounting units, includes receiving a signal to determine whether a disc is mounted on a current disc mounting unit of the disc mounting units, outputting a command signal to move to a next disc mounting unit of the disc mounting units where the received signal indicates that no disc is mounted on the current disc mounting unit, and receiving a program selection signal where the received signal is received from all disc mounting units. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a program selection time by determining whether the disc is mounted on the disc mounting unit before the disc chucking and discrimination of the type of the disc are performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser heterodyne interferometer based system for audibly producing sounds recorded on a cylinder recording, such as an Edison type wax cylinder, or a 33, 45 or 78 RPM LP (long play) record. The system generally comprises an optical system mounted on an optical platform, and an audio recording medium mounted on a platform operatively positioned relative to the optics platform. The optical system comprises an interferometer type structure that uses laser generated light propagated either through free space or through fiber, a platform on which the optical system is mounted, and a platform on which the recording media (e.g., cylinder or record) is mounted.

Abstract: An optical pickup actuator includes a base having a holder installed at one side thereof, a moving portion in which an objective lens is installed at the periphery thereof and a guide hole is formed, a bobbin coupled to the guide hole, a magnetic driving portion provided at the base and symmetrically arranged to make the moving portion perform focusing and tracking, and suspensions having one end supported at the holder and the other end fixed to the moving portion to be connected to the bobbin. Thus, since the magnetic driving portion is symmetrically arranged, a pitching mode and a rolling mode generated due to an asymmetrical structure are prevented. Also, the AC sensitivity and DC sensitivity can be improved.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having a wobble desirably arranged in a production process when having wobble at part of interfaces of lands and grooves is provided. An optical recording medium comprising an approximately disk-shaped disk substrate 15, formed in its surface with trenches 15a and having projections and recesses divided for every track region by the trenches 15a, on which are stacked an optical recording layer 16 having relief shapes corresponding with the trenches 15a and a protection film 17 and of a format where both regions of the projections (lands L) and the recesses (grooves G) are used as recording regions etc., wherein wobble W for providing clock information or address information is formed, between a pair of facing side walls forming each trench 15a, in a side wall portion at an inner circumferential side of the disk substrate 15 when seen from the recess (groove G) and at an outer circumferential side of the disk substrate 15 when seen from the projection (land L).

Abstract: HDD boxes 831 to 83n are each incorporated with a secondary battery box 87, a non-isolated DC/DC converter 89, and an HDD 91. Logical circuit boards 851 to 85n are each incorporated with the secondary battery box 87, fast-transient-response-type non-isolated DC/DC converters 931 to 933, and a plurality of loads 951 to 953. Every secondary battery box 87 is provided with a charge/discharge circuit 97, and a plurality of in-line secondary batteries 99. In the HDD box, the output voltage from the secondary battery box 87 goes to an HDD 91 via the DC/DC converter 89. In the logical circuit board, the output voltage from the secondary battery box 87 goes to the corresponding loads 951 to 953 via the DC/DC converters 931 to 933. With such a structure, in a disk array apparatus, realized are higher energy efficiency and less space occupation through reducing power loss and optimizing power capacity setting for a backup power.

Abstract: A method and system for providing copy-protected optical medium using a substrate having information stored thereon in information pits and information lands, wherein the information lands comprise lands in two different planes.

Abstract: There is provided an information storage apparatus including recording medium and a head. The recording medium has an electrode layer, a magnetic layer that is stacked on the electrode layer, and a wear-resistant thin film that is stacked on the magnetic layer. The head has a conductive probe for injecting charge to record information and sensing the charge injected into the recording medium to reproduce information in a state that the conductive probe contacts the recording medium. A magnetic medium, which is coated with a wear-resistant thin film, stores charges to record information and reproduce information using an electrostatic force. Thus, it is possible to stably store highly integrated information. Also, a probe contacts a recording medium to record and reproduce information at a high speed. Thus, sensitivity and resolution can be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving digital information includes a transmitting part for transmitting digital video information and digital audio information and receiving part for receiving digital video information and digital audio information. The transmitting part includes a first compressor for digital video information, a second compressor for digital audio information, a parity signal adder, a modulator, and a transmitter. The receiving part includes a receiver which receives digital information which is digital video information bit-compressed by a first compression system plus digital audio information bit-compressed by a second compression system, and to which has been added a parity signal for error detecting, phase-modulated and transmitted to a transmission path; a demodulator; an error detector, a first expander which bit-expands video information, and a second expander which bit-expands audio information.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium including a substrate, a light absorbing layer which is located overlying the substrate and in which marks are formed to store information and a light reflection layer located overlying the light absorbing layer including a crystal, wherein the optical information recording medium satisfies the relationship, Lt/4?Lc?Lm, wherein Lc represents the average particle diameter of the crystal of the light reflection layer, Lm represents the minimum length of the marks, and Lt represents the thickness of the light reflection layer.

Abstract: A storage medium is provided having a relatively large number of relatively small servo sectors. The storage medium includes a plurality of tracks. Each track includes a plurality of data sectors and a plurality of servo sectors. Each servo sector includes a plurality of servo marks and a synchronization gap. A plurality of first servo sectors includes a synchronization gap having a first length and a plurality of second servo sectors includes a synchronization gap having a second length. The first length is different from the second length, whereby, an unsynchronized reading device may recognize the longer synchronization gap and synchronize to the servo sector and a synchronized reading device may remain synchronized by recognizing the shorter synchronization gap.