Abstract: Reading a partly written writable record carrier having a track structure for positioning the write head above unwritten areas of the track pattern by means of a reading device which positions the read head on the basis of written marks, yields problems when an isolated information block after an unwritten area must be read. A system is disclosed for writing and reading information blocks on a record carrier of a writable type such as a CD-RW or a DVD-RAM. The writing device is provided with status means for generating status information which is indicative of the fact that at least one area of the record carrier has been written, while the status information comprises initial-area information which is indicative of an uninterrupted written initial area which extends from the start of a track pattern area intended for writing information blocks. The status information can be fixed on the record carrier. A reading device is also described, in which the positioning is dependent on the status information.

Abstract: A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit 11 inserts DSV control bits for execution of DSV control into an input data string and outputs the data string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit 12. The modulation unit 12 converts the data string with a basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with a basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit 13. The conversion table used by the modulation unit 12 includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run to a predetermined value and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit.

Abstract: How to record and play back data at a high line density. A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit 11 inserts DSV control bits for execution of DSV control into an input data string and outputs the data string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit 12. The modulation unit 12 converts the data string with a basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with a basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit 13. The conversion table used by the modulation unit 12 includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run to a predetermined value and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit.

Abstract: A method for reproducing video frames coded in accordance with an MPEG format, in which a carrier provided with recordings is played with a speed which differs from the nominal playback speed, and in which the number of frames to be transferred to a display apparatus and generated by reading out is compensated in such a manner that the average number per unit of time is equal to a predetermined nominal number by repeating or by skipping B frames.

Abstract: A device and method of string a disc-ID on a record carrier. The record carriercomprises tracks. Information is stored on the record carrier. A disc-ID that comprises I groups of disc-ID bits is stored on the record carrier in a scattered way. I comprises at least 1 group. At least one of the I groups of disc-ID bits comprises a plurality of disc-ID bits.

Abstract: A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit inserts DSV control bits for execution of DSV control into an input data string and outputs the data string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit. The modulation unit converts the data string with a basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with a basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit. The conversion table used by the modulation unit includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run to a predetermined value and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit.

Abstract: An optical disc is described for recording data, which disc has a recording area subdivided in coaxial annular zones comprising circular or spiral tracks. Each track within one of the zones is arranged for storing a same predetermined amount of data, and the first track of each zone stores an amount of data proportional to the radial position, resulting on average in a substantially constant density, the so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) density. The tracks comprise periodic characteristics, e.g. a wobble, which are radially aligned within each one of the zones, the periodicity being indicative of the track recording density for the track concerned. Hence the data recording and reading speed can be synchronised to the periodic characteristics, whereas any cross-talk of the periodic characteristics of neighbouring tracks is avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical disc for recording data at a constant density, so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) or at zoned CLV. The disc has headers distributed along the disc on regular angular positions, a so called CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) pattern subdividing the track in track portions for recording an amount of data proportional to the radial position of the track portion concerned. Address information included in the headers is provided at the data density, which is CLV. The apparatus comprises header detection means for detecting the headers at the CAV locations, and for recovering position information from the headers at CLV density. Data sectors do not start at headers and are not fitted regularly between the headers, but start and stop at arbitrary positions which are calculated from the known amounts of data recordable in the track portions.

Abstract: Information is represented on the track or tracks of a record carrier by marks organised into bit cells having a constant bit length Bl. For indicating the track, the record carrier has a servopattern in which a winding number is coded in each winding of the track. The ratio between the track pitch and the bit length is determined in such a way that the increase of the length of the windings corresponds between consecutive windings to an integral number of bits. Thus, the position of an information block somewhere in the track is determined from the ratio and the winding number in a simple manner and with great accuracy, because no rounding errors are produced when a computation using integers is performed.

Abstract: How to record and play back data at a high line density. A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit 11 inserts DSV control bits for execution of DSV control into an input data string and outputs the data string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit 12. The modulation unit 12 converts the data string with a basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with a basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit 13. The conversion table used by the modulation unit 12 includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run to a predetermined value and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit.

Abstract: An optical disc is described for recording data, which disc has a recording area subdivided in coaxial annular zones comprising circular or spiral tracks. Each track within one of the zones is arranged for storing a same predetermined amount of data, and the first track of each zone stores an amount of data proportional to the radial position, resulting on average in a substantially constant density, the so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) density. The tracks comprise periodic characteristics, e.g. a wobble, which are radially aligned within each one of the zones, the periodicity being indicative of the track recording density for the track concerned. Hence the data recording and reading speed can be synchronised to the periodic characteristics, whereas any cross-talk of the periodic characteristics of neighbouring tracks is avoided.

Abstract: An optical disc is described for recording data, which disc has a recording area for recording data encoded in optical marks at a recording density. The recording area has circular or spiral tracks provided with a servopattern comprising headers alternating with track portions. The headers contain position information encoded in preformed marks. The track portions comprise periodic characteristics, e.g. a wobble, to synchronise the data writing and reading operations. For reliably detecting the headers the phase of the periodic characteristics comprises a phase jump at a predetermined distance before each header.

Abstract: An optical disc for recording data and having a recording area subdivided into coaxial annular zones with circular or spiral tracks. Each track within one of the zones is arranged for storing a same predetermined amount of data, and the first track of each zone stores an amount of data proportional to the radial position, resulting on average in a substantially constant density, the so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) density. The tracks include periodic characteristics, e.g. a wobble, which are radially aligned within each one of the zones, the periodicity indicating the track recording density for the track concerned. Hence, the data recording and reading speed can be synchronized to the periodic characteristics, whereas any cross-talk of the periodic characteristics of neighboring tracks is avoided.

Abstract: [Problem] How to record and play back data at a high line density. [Means for Solving the Problem] A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit 11 inserts DSV control bits for execution of DSV control into an input data string and outputs the data string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit 12. The modulation unit 12 converts the data string with a basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with a basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit 13. The conversion table used by the modulation unit 12 includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run to a predetermined value and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical disc for recording data at a constant density, so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) or at zoned CLV. The disc has headers distributed along the disc on regular angular positions, a so called CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) pattern subdividing the track in track portions for recording an amount of data proportional to the radial position of the track portion concerned. Address information included in the headers is provided at the data density, which is CLV. The apparatus comprises header detection means for detecting the headers at the CAV locations, and for recovering position information from the headers at CLV density. Data sectors do not start at headers and are not fitted regularly between the headers, but start and stop at arbitrary positions which are calculated from the known amounts of data recordable in the track portions.

Abstract: An optical disc is described for recording data, which disc has a recording area for recording data encoded in optical marks at a recording density. The recording area has circular or spiral tracks provided with a servopattern comprising headers alternating with track portions. The headers contain position information encoded in preformed marks. The track portions comprise periodic characteristics, e.g. a wobble, to synchronize the data writing and reading operations. For reliably detecting the headers the phase of the periodic characteristics comprises a phase jump at a predetermined distance before each header.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical disc for recording data at a constant density, so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) or at zoned CLV. The disc has headers distributed along the disc on regular angular positions, a so called CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) pattern subdividing the track in track portions for recording an amount of data proportional to the radical position of the track portion concerned. Address information included in the headers is provided at the data density, which is CLV. The apparatus comprises header detection means for detecting the headers at the CAV locations, and for recovering position information from the headers at CLV density. Data sectors do not start at headers and are not fitted regularly between the headers, but start and stop at arbitrary positions which are calculated from the known amounts of data recordable in the track portion.

Abstract: A DSV control bit determining/inserting unit inserts DSV control bits into an input data string and outputs the string including the DSV control bits to a modulation unit which converts the string with basic data length of 2 bits into variable length code with basic code length of 3 bits in accordance with a conversion table and outputs the code resulting from the conversion to a NRZI encoding unit. The conversion table includes substitution codes for limiting the number of consecutive appearances of a minimum run and substitution codes for keeping a run length limit. The conversion table enforces a conversion rule: the remainder of division of the “1” count of an element in a data string by 2 having a value of 0 or 1 equals the remainder of division of the “1” count of an element in the code resulting from conversion of the data string by 2.

Abstract: The life of a rewritable information carrier such a CD-E covered by a phase-change recording layer is extended by varying the manner of representing information of an information block, for subsequent recordings, in the same portion of the record carrier. The manner can be changed, for example, by shifting the initial position at which representing information is written along the track over a distance randomly selected within predefined boundaries; or by writing a varying amount of information representing information from the end of the block before the start of information from the beginning of the information block to rotate the information in the track; or by scrambling the information in a varying manner such as using different keys. The manner of representation can be changed, for example, for each subsequent recording on the same portion of the record carrier. This causes different patterns to be recorded in the same portion, even if the same information is recorded in that portion of the track.

Abstract: Apparatus for reproducing information from a record carrier include a read head for reading marks representing the information, from a track on the disc shaped record carrier so as to provide an analog read signal. An A/D converter converts the analog read signal to a digital read signal with a specific clock frequency, in response to a control signal. A bit recovery unit retrieves a sequence of bits from the digital read signal, with a specific bit frequency. A generator unit derives the control signal, and includes a generator for deriving the specific bit frequency, and a velocity deriving unit for deriving from the digital read signal, the control signal which indicates the relative velocity of the read head with respect to the marks, so as to generate the specific clock frequency such that approximately N samples per bit are supplied by the A/D converter, irrespective of the relative velocity of the read head with respect to the marks.