Patents Examined by Van Pham
  • Patent number: 7110339
    Abstract: The present invention provides an information recording/reproducing device capable of ejecting an information recording medium during a process of formatting the medium or continuously writing data on the medium, characterized in that the device records a variable length of a lead-out in a lead-out area on the information recording medium; and the device allows the information recording medium to be ejected after the recording of the lead-out is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7102973
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for authenticating a data storage medium (such as an optical disc including a compact disc, CD or a digital versatile disc, DVD) in which data are nominally stored in a plurality of sectors have a defined sector size containing a first total number of bits. A number of altered sectors are formed on the medium each having a second total number of bits different from the first total number of bits. The altered sectors will provide readback data at a different rate than a nominal rate determined by the defined sector size. The altered sectors are used to verify the medium as being an authorized copy and prevent unauthorized copying efforts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DC IP, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas M. Carson
  • Patent number: 7095691
    Abstract: The present invention provides a data-recordable optical disk device. Test data is recorded in a predetermined area of an optical disk while varying recording power level, and an optimum recording power level is selected based on reproduced signal quality of the test data. When the optimum recording power level does not exceed an allowable recording power level of the laser diode, data is recorded at that optimum recording power level. When the optimum recording power level exceeds the allowable recording power level of the laser diode, the recording strategy is changed to a low-power strategy. A low-power strategy is, for example, a strategy having an increased recording pulse width compared to that of a standard strategy. An optimum recording power level is selected for the low-power strategy, and data is subsequently recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 7072257
    Abstract: A controller for recording data on a CD with a DVD recorder. The controller includes an LPP decoder, an ATIP decoder for decoding address information of a CD, and an address converter for converting an ATIP address into an LPP address. When recording DVD format data on a CD, a write timing generation circuit is driven in response to the LPP address, which is converted from the ATIP address. The write data is modulated for use in the CD, and the intensity of the write data is adjusted for use in the CD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shiraishi, Shin-ichiro Tomisawa
  • Patent number: 7057986
    Abstract: In a recording stop processing method according to an aspect of this invention, when a recording stop instruction is input and the data size of stream data, which is stored in a storage destination, is smaller than the predetermined data size, dummy data is added to the stream data stored in the storage destination, and the stream data with the dummy data, whose data size becomes equal to the predetermined data size, is DMA-transferred to terminate DMA transfer, thus stopping recording of stream data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Katsumi Fukuchi
  • Patent number: 7056389
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to measure temperature using pyrometers, in a simple and economic way, enabling precise temperature measurement, even for low temperatures. The invention presents a device and method for thermally treating substrates, wherein the substrate is exposed to at least a first and at least a second radiation; the predetermined wavelengths of the first radiation are absorbed between the first radiation source and the substrate; a radiation from the substrate is measured in the predetermined wavelength using a radiation detector arranged on the same side as a second radiation source; the second radiation from the second radiation source is modulated and determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Mattson Thermal Products
    Inventors: Markus Hauf, Christoph Striebel
  • Patent number: 7057991
    Abstract: An apparatus and method detecting whether a signal read from an optical disc has a defect. The apparatus generates a defect signal of an optical disc and includes an average maximum value detecting unit, an average minimum value detecting unit, an instantaneous maximum value detecting unit, an instantaneous minimum value detecting unit, and a defect signal generating unit. The average maximum value detecting unit receives a predetermined RF signal for a predetermined period of time and calculates an average maximum value of maximum values of the RF signal. The average minimum value detecting unit receives the predetermined RF signal for a predetermined period of time and calculates an average minimum value of minimum values of the RF signal. The instantaneous maximum value detecting unit receives the RF signal and calculates an instantaneous maximum value that is a maximum value of the RF signal at an instant of time when the RF signal is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-soo Park, Jao-seong Shim
  • Patent number: 7052965
    Abstract: MOSFETs with pocket regions are fabricated. A gate electrode layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate; and lightly doped drain regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent the gate electrode layer. A blocking pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate where the gate electrode layer is formed. The blocking pattern is adjacent and spaced apart from the gate electrode layer a predetermined distance and exposes portions of the semiconductor substrate adjacent sidewalls of the gate electrode layer. Pocket regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate by implanting impurity ions using the gate electrode layer and the blocking pattern as an ion implantation mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-hyun Park, Young-gun Ko, Chang-bong Oh, Hee-sung Kang, Sang-jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7050364
    Abstract: An optical pickup unit for scanning an optical disk includes a first optical branch including a first radiation source for emitting a first radiation beam of a first wavelength, and a dichroic mirror (8) located in the path of the first radiation beam for reflecting the first beam towards the disk, and a second optical branch including a second radiation source for emitting a second radiation beam of a second wavelength, different to said first wavelength, and a folding mirror (28) located in the path of the second radiation beam for reflecting the second beam towards the disk. The first and second branches are stacked in the axial direction of the disk, and are arranged substantially perpendicularly when viewed along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Rene Verbecque, Petrus Theodorus Jutte
  • Patent number: 7045406
    Abstract: A method forms a gate stack for a semiconductor device with a desired work function of the gate electrode. The work function is adjusted by changing the overall electronegativity of the gate electrode material in the region that determines the work function of the gate electrode during the gate electrode deposition. The gate stack is deposited by an atomic layer deposition type process and the overall electronegativity of the gate electrode is tuned by introducing at least one pulse of an additional precursor to selected deposition cycles of the gate electrode. The tuning of the work function of the gate electrode can be done not only by introducing additional material into the gate electrode, but also by utilizing the effects of a graded mode deposition and thickness variations of the lower gate part of the gate electrode in combination with the effects that the incorporation of the additional material pulses offers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: ASM International, N.V.
    Inventors: Hannu Huotari, Suvi Haukka, Marko Tuominen
  • Patent number: 7046591
    Abstract: An apparatus detects the number of tracks traversed on an optical disk. The apparatus includes a differentiation part for differentiating an output signal of a bandpass filter provided on an adjacent stage which eliminates a low DC component, a high frequency component and noise of an inputted modulation signal. A sample trigger generating circuit generates top and bottom signals in response to a data signal outputted through the differentiation part and a signal outputted through a comparator. A top hold part and a bottom hold part holds the data signal at top and bottom. A subtraction part performs a subtraction to obtain a difference between the top and bottom signals outputted from the top and bottom hold parts, thereby resulting in counting the number of the tracks traversed, while increasing a jumping speed required for a detection of the number of the tracks traversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: CNS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-San Ko
  • Patent number: 7041541
    Abstract: A method for producing a gate head which can be precisely scaled and for reducing parasitic capacities, for a semiconductor component comprising an at least approximately T-shaped electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: United Monolithic Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Dag Behammer
  • Patent number: 7041574
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite intermetal dielectric structure is provided. An initial intermetal dielectric structure is provided, which includes a first dielectric layer and two conducting lines. The two conducting lines are located in the first dielectric layer. A portion of the first dielectric layer is removed between the conducting lines to form a trench. The trench is filled with a second dielectric material. The second dielectric material is a low-k dielectric having a dielectric constant less than that of the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Sun-Oo Kim, Markus Naujok, Andy Cowley
  • Patent number: 7035180
    Abstract: An attempt is made to prevent an adequate recording power detection lag from being generated according to data from a defective area at trial writing, by detecting a defective area portion based on a fluctuation of return light when a trial write recording mark is formed, recording it in another portion under the same conditions as the detected portion, and using the information on the recorded area instead of the area in which the defective area was detected at reproduction of the trial writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Tooru Kawashima, Yasuhisa Koide, Toshio Satou
  • Patent number: 7035175
    Abstract: An offset measuring method is for measuring an offset based on an optical beam reflected by an information medium, in a recording and reproduction apparatus including an optical pickup placed on transportation means so as to be driven along a radial direction of the information medium. The method includes the steps of directing an optical beam toward a first measuring position, thereby measuring a first offset amount based on the optical beam reflected at the first measuring position; moving the transportation means by a first distance in a first direction along the radial direction; driving the optical pickup by a second distance, which is equal to the first distance, in a second direction; and directing an optical beam toward a second measuring position, thereby measuring a second offset amount based on the optical beam reflected at the second measuring position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Machiko Kitayama, Masaya Kuwahara, Yasuhiro Tai
  • Patent number: 7027375
    Abstract: A multi-value data recording and reproducing device is provided that can accurately eliminate interference among codes through waveform equalization when reproducing information from a reproduction signal having levels multi-valued through modulation of the areas of recording marks on an optical information recording medium. This multi-value data recording and reproducing device is embodied by a multi-value data detecting circuit that varies the sizes of the recording marks in accordance with multi-value data (0, 1, 2, . . . , (m?1): m being an integer of 3 or greater) on the optical information recording medium, and detects the multi-value data through predetermined signal processing on signals obtained by scanning the recording marks with an optical spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7023773
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an optimum recording power before recording user data in a recordable optical recording medium is disclosed. According to the method and apparatus, an optimum power calibration (OPC) is performed in the unit of a sector, and the start position of the respective physical sector can be synchronized. Thus, the optimum recording power can be determined even in a DVD-R/RW in which a PCA area exists but no OPC method is prescribed. Also, the degree of OPC can be heightened, and the limitation of the PCA area can be overcome. The method and apparatus also enables an easy and accurate search of the start position even in an odd sector where LPP data is recorded in odd positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang On Park
  • Patent number: 6985413
    Abstract: An optical storage system includes a pickup head for picking up data from a storage medium. Firstly, the maxima of a tracking error signal and runout are obtained in a calibration procedure in a close loop formed by an optical pickup head, a pre-amplifier, a compensator, a band-pass filter and a maximum detector. A calibration factor is then defined and derived by using the obtained maxima and nominal factors of a power amplifier and the optical pickup head of the optical storage system. The path formed by the series-connected band-pass filter and maximum detector is then disabled, while the calculated calibration factor is then stored in the compensator. The optical storage system may operate in a close loop formed by the optical pick head, pre-amplifier, compensator, a power amplifier under a normal operation procedure so that the optical storage system may record or read data onto/from an optical disc under the compensation provided by the calibration factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Meng-Huang Chu
  • Patent number: 6985415
    Abstract: The invention is an offset setting system for an optical reading/writing apparatus having an optical pickup head reading/writing digital data under a predetermined velocity on an optical storage media. The apparatus sets the offset including a plurality of buffer blocks when the pickup head crosses storage tracks each time on the media and stop on a target storage track. The offset is to steady the pickup head to read/write data on a target block of the target storage track. A buffer time estimating module estimates an average time for the pickup head crossing a buffer block under a predetermined velocity, defining as a buffer time. The buffer blocks setting module records a steady time for the pickup head steadying to read/write data on the target block, and sets the number of the buffer blocks by a predetermined setting process in the offset based on the buffer time and the steady time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Wen Jin, Han-Wen Hsu
  • Patent number: 6975569
    Abstract: A digital signal processor (1045) arithmetically determines a comparison level for comparing each signal component by determining a comparison level of comparators (1033 and 1034) for comparing a fine clock mark signal such that a larger weight is assigned to the comparison level of the signal component already compared. The comparators (1033 and 1034) compare the fine clock mark signal with reference to a level set on a peak side and a level set on a bottom side. When digital signal processor (1045) receives the comparison signal from one of the comparators (1033 and 1034) prior to the comparison signal sent from the other, the digital signal processor produces a fine clock mark detection signal FCMT based on the comparison signal sent from a comparator (1047). Thereby, the clock can be accurately produced based on the fine clock mark signal even when a signal component having a larger amplitude than that of the fine clock mark signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Tada, Toshitaka Kuma, Hiroshi Watanabe