Abstract: Multicolor characters or pictures are written in an optical disk in a visible manner. The optical disk comprises a figure writing layer for writing a visible figure in addition to a data recording layer for recording data. Recording of user data in the data recording layer and the writing of a visible figure in the figure writing layer are performed using the same optical disk drive. In one example, the figure writing layer comprises phase change layers that are formed via protection layers in a region sandwiched between a pair of reflective layers. By writing figure data separated into individual basic colors in the phase change layers individually, a multicolor figure can be made visible.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a plurality of layers for recording or reproduction of information by irradiation, wherein each of the layers includes an emboss portion and wobble portion including wobbles of a first frequency and a second frequency that is different from the first frequency. The first frequency is constant in each of the plurality of layers, and a different signal is obtained from the wobbles of the first and second frequencies in each of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: Recording information is disclosed in which an information recording medium is irradiated with a recording energy beam that is power-modulated into at least a record power level and a record-ready power level lower than the record power level. The information is recorded on the recording medium in the form of length and interval of a mark portion. When forming a mark portion of a predetermined length, the radiation energy of the energy beam is increased as compared with when forming a mark portion of a different length before or after the first pulse of an energy beam pulse train including at least a pulse for forming the mark portion.

Abstract: Recording information is disclosed in which an information recording medium is irradiated with a recording energy beam that is power-modulated into at least a record power level and a record-ready power level lower than the record power level. The information is recorded on the recording medium in the form of length and interval of a mark portion. When forming a mark portion of a predetermined length, the radiation energy of the energy beam is increased as compared with when forming a mark portion of a different length before or after the first pulse of an energy beam pulse train including at least a pulse for forming the mark portion.

Abstract: Recording information is disclosed in which an information recording medium is irradiated with a recording energy beam that is power-modulated into at least a record power level and a record-ready power level lower than the record power level. The information is recorded on the recording medium in the form of length and interval of a mark portion. When forming a mark portion of a predetermined length, the radiation energy of the energy beam is increased as compared with when forming a mark portion of a different length before or after the first pulse of an energy beam pulse train including at least a pulse for forming the mark portion.

Abstract: In a phase-change memory, an interface layer is inserted between a chalcogenide material layer and a plug. The interface layer is arranged so as not to cover the entire interface of a plug-like electrode. When the plug is formed at an upper part than the chalcogenide layer, the degree of integration is increased. The interface layer is formed by carrying out sputtering using an oxide target, or, by forming a metal film by carrying out sputtering using a metal target followed by oxidizing the metal film in an oxidation atmosphere such as oxygen radical, oxygen plasma, etc.

Abstract: An optical disk medium in which high density recording/reproducing is possible, an information recording method and an information reproducing method using it are provided. A pit composed of a phase change material and a recording film different from it are provided on an optical disk. The phase change pit has a pattern of a single frequency. A mark having a size on the same level as the phase change pit can be formed by melting a single phase change pit while recording and controlling the optical absorbance and the temperature of the recording film at the region. A single phase change pit is molten while reproducing. Since the optical characteristics of the molten region are different from the optical characteristics of other regions, only data at the molten region can be reproduced by a super-resolution effect.

Abstract: Recording information is disclosed in which an information recording medium is irradiated with a recording energy beam that is power-modulated into at least a record power level and a record-ready power level lower than the record power level. The information is recorded on the recording medium in the form of length and interval of a mark portion. When forming a mark portion of a predetermined length, the radiation energy of the energy beam is increased as compared with when forming a mark portion of a different length before or after the first pulse of an energy beam pulse train including at least a pulse for forming the mark portion.

Abstract: An information recording medium capable of displaying multiple labels and a storing case for the information recording medium are provided. The multiple labels are displayed by changing the labels to be displayed while selectively selecting information layers in a multi information recording medium. The medium has a function to receive either voltage or current, and the information layers selectively receive either voltage or current for changing the labels.

Abstract: Provided is a recording and retrieval apparatus for a multi-layer optical disk. A multi-layer optical disk in which a plurality of recording layers and a single servo layer are combined to form a set is used. A spot for the servo layer and a spot for the recording layers are turned on in a time-sharing manner. Servo signal detection areas are formed discretely in the servo layer. The servo signal detection areas and data recording areas are provided so as not to overlap each other when viewed from the spot incident side. Thus, separation of data from each of the layers can be done by even a single photodetector without interference.

Abstract: A multilayer optical disc which has three or more recording layers and enables easy positioning of a focused beam spot onto a particular recording layer in which a BCA is disposed. An inter-layer distance between a particular recording layer and a recording layer adjacent to the particular recording layer is larger than the other inter-layer distances in which, at the focused beam spot positioning, the focused beam spot traverses the said adjacent recording layer earlier than the other recording layer adjacent to the particular recording layer.

Abstract: Recording information is disclosed in which an information recording medium is irradiated with a recording energy beam that is power-modulated into at least a record power level and a record-ready power level lower than the record power level. The information is recorded on the recording medium in the form of length and interval of a mark portion. When forming a mark portion of a predetermined length, the radiation energy of the energy beam is increased as compared with when forming a mark portion of a different length before or after the first pulse of an energy beam pulse train including at least a pulse for forming the mark portion.

Abstract: An information recording medium and an optical recording system allow target information (such as an ad) to be displayed without requiring changes in hardware or physical specifications. The recording medium comprises a recording-limited area in which recording is made possible by canceling the limit after an instruction is issued for displaying the target information.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a plurality of layers for recording or reproduction of information by irradiation, wherein each of the layers includes an emboss portion and wobble portion including wobbles of a first frequency and a second frequency that is different from the first frequency. The first frequency is constant in each of the plurality of layers, and a different signal is obtained from the wobbles of the first and second frequencies in each of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: In a multilayer optical recording medium having at least three recording layers, an influence of interlayer crosstalk due to an unnecessary light is removed. Each of the recording layers includes an information recording area, and the recording layers other than the nearest recording layer and the farthest recording layer when viewed from a light incident side include a first annular area having uneven patterns formed thereon, and a second annular area having uneven patterns formed thereon, the first annular area being adjacent to an inner side of the information recording area, the second annular area being adjacent to an outer side of the information recording area.

Abstract: A method for mass-producing a recording mark capable of being reproduced even below the diffraction limit in the information recording medium. A medium comprising: a substrate including a first material on the surface, and a second material formed on a first area on the substrate, and a third material at least whose surface energy or surface curvature are different from the second material, and the second material and third material possess at least different chemical or physical characteristics, and at least the surface energy or surface curvature of the third material are greater than the second material, moreover a region formed of the third material contains less than 20 percent of the second material, and the second or the third material can be melted for performing recording or reproduction, so that a recording mark can be produced that is capable of being read even below the diffraction limit in the information recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording medium and an optical recording system allow target information (such as an ad) to be displayed without requiring changes in hardware or physical specifications. The recording medium comprises a recording-limited area in which recording is made possible by canceling the limit after an instruction is issued for displaying the target information.

Abstract: An information recording medium including a plurality of layers for recording or reproduction of information by irradiation of light and information for identifying a tracking error signal for determining a layer number being recorded in each of the plurality of layers. A modulation of the tracking error signal is different in each of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An information memory device using an electromagnetic-wave resonance phenomenon is provided to achieve both high density and long-period storage of stored data. Memory cells are three-dimensionally arranged in the inside of a solid-like medium which is not contacted with a surface of the medium, and the memory cell has resonance characteristics to electromagnetic waves depending on the space coordinates of the memory cell. For the medium, a material is selected so that an electromagnetic wave having the resonance frequency of the memory cell. By observing absorption spectra of the irradiated electromagnetic wave or emission spectra after the absorption, three-dimensional space coordinates of the memory cell are calculated.

Abstract: In an information memory apparatus having minute areas for storing information arranged in x, y and z directions three-dimensionally, parallel rays are irradiated to a memory area MA in a direction perpendicular to a z-axis to take projection images of the memory area MA while rotating the memory area MA around the z-axis little by little. The light rays irradiated at this time have a size which covers at least a direction of an x-y plane of the memory area. A computation unit PU finds data and addresses of minute areas distributed three-dimensionally by performing computation based upon the principle of computer tomography on the projection images. As for data writing, a change is given to optical transmissivity or light emission characteristics by irradiating laser light focused by a lens OL placed outside the memory area to a desired minute area and causing heat denaturation within the pertinent minute area.