Abstract: In the coding device and method, m-bit information words are converted into n-bit code words such that the coding rate m/n is greater than ?. The n-bit code words are divided into a first type and a second type, and into coding states of a first kind and a second kind such that an m-bit information word is converted into an n-bit code word of the first or second kind if the previous m-bit information word was converted into an n-bit code word of the first type and is converted into an n-bit code word of the first kind if the previous m-bit information word was converted into an n-bit code word of the second type. In one embodiment, n-bit code words of the first type end in zero, n-bit code words of the second type end in one, n-bit code words of the first kind start with zero, and n-bit code words of the second kind start with zero or one.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus of converting a series of data words into modulated signals. This method divides a data word, which a sync signal is to be added in front or rear of when it is written in a recording medium, into two or more word segments, generates for each word segment a number of intermediate sequences by combining mutually different digital words with that word segment, scrambles these intermediate sequences to form alternative sequences, translates each alternative sequence into a (d,k) constrained sequence, checks how many undesired sub-sequences are contained in each (d,k) constrained sequence, and selects one (d,k) constrained sequence for recording on an optical or magneto-optical recording medium among the (d,k) constrained sequences not having the undesired sub-sequence. Applying this method to a modulating device, DSV control can be conducted by much simpler hardware.