Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing method and apparatus for an optical disk of the phase transition type that can be overwritten. According to this invention, the capacity of repeated rewriting of the optical disk is expanded by recording either non-inverted write data or inverted write data at random. The deterioration due to the repeated rewriting at a start point and an end point of the recording is suppressed by recording a synchronizing signal before the write data and/or dummy data after the write data in the way such that thermal stress is less likely to occur. A record end position can be determined precisely by detecting a stop pulse to stop recording.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing method and apparatus for an optical disk of the phase transition type that can be overwritten. According to this invention, the capacity of repeated rewriting of the optical disk is expanded by recording either non-inverted write data or inverted write data at random. The deterioration due to the repeated rewriting at a start point and an end point of the recording is suppressed by recording a synchronizing signal before the write data and/or dummy data after the write data in the way such that thermal stress is less likely to occur. A record end position can be determined precisely by detecting a stop pulse to stop recording.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing method and apparatus for an optical disk of the phase transition type that can be overwritten. According to this invention, the capacity of repeated rewriting of the optical disk is expanded by recording either non-inverted write data or inverted write data at random. The deterioration due to the repeated rewriting at a start point and an end point of the recording is suppressed by recording a synchronizing signal before the write data and/or dummy data after the write data in the way such that thermal stress is less likely to occur. A record end position can be determined precisely by detecting a stop pulse to stop recording.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention includes a substrate (202), a protection plate (205), and a plurality of information layers (203) sandwiched between the substrate and the protection plate. An information signal is recorded as a length of a mark and a length of a space between two marks. The mark is formed when the information layer is irradiated by light received through the substrate. The information layers have a management region (206) recording a leading edge recording condition and a trailing edge recording condition. The leading edge recording condition is used to change a recording start position for forming a leading edge of the mark. The trailing edge recording condition is used to change a recording end position for forming a trailing edge of the mark. Each of the leading and trailing edge recording condition is depending on which information layer is recorded.

Abstract: A rewriteable type optical recording medium for recording information has an information recording area for recording information and a recording/reproduction condition recording area for recording at least one recording/reproduction condition to be used in a recording/reproduction apparatus and at least one set of apparatus information for identifying a recording/reproduction apparatus which uses the at least one recording/reproduction condition. A plurality of recording/reproduction conditions and a plurality of sets of apparatus information, each one the plurality of sets of apparatus information corresponding to one of the plurality of recording/reproduction conditions, can be recorded on the rewriteable type optical recording medium and overwritten on the rewriteable type optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus, an optical information recording method, and an optical information recording medium that enable information signals to be recorded precisely by determining recording conditions such as recording power, edge positions of recording pulses, and the like suitably before recording information signals. An edge test signal generation circuit supplies a test signal for optimizing edge positions of recording pulses. In order to suppress the variation in intervals between edges due to mark distortion caused by overwriting, test recording is carried out using this test signal in a plurality of sectors on the optical information recording medium with a test recording start point being shifted at random in each sector by a recording start point shifting circuit.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus, an optical information recording method, and an optical information recording medium that enable information signals to be recorded precisely by determining recording conditions such as recording power, edge positions of recording pulses, and the like suitably before recording information signals. An edge test signal generation circuit supplies a test signal for optimizing edge positions of recording pulses. In order to suppress the variation in intervals between edges due to mark distortion caused by overwriting, test recording is carried out using this test signal in a plurality of sectors on the optical information recording medium with a test recording start point being shifted at random in each sector by a recording start point shifting circuit.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus, an optical information recording method, and an optical information recording medium that enable information signals to be recorded precisely by determining recording conditions such as recording power, edge positions of recording pulses, and the like suitably before recording information signals. An edge test signal generation circuit supplies a test signal for optimizing edge positions of recording pulses. In order to suppress the variation in intervals between edges due to mark distortion caused by overwriting, test recording is carried out using this test signal in a plurality of sectors on the optical information recording medium with a test recording start point being shifted at random in each sector by a recording start point shifting circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing on and reading an overwritable optical disk comprises an identifier detector that identifies a recording condition in the sector to be overwritten, and a delay time controller circuit that sets a variation range of the start point for writing according to the recording condition. The record timing of the modulated data signal is changed at random within the set variation range when overwriting the sector of the optical disk.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing method and apparatus for an optical disk of the phase transition type is provided. This method comprises the steps of deciding at random to invert or not to invert write data that has a predetermined block length; inverting the write data if the decision is to invert the write data; and recording either the non-inverted write data or the inverted write data into the photo-sensitive record layer. A synchronizing signal is recorded before the write data and/or dummy data after the write data in the way such that thermal stress is less likely to occur. A record end position can be determined precisely by detecting a stop pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing on and reading an overwritable optical disk comprises an identifier detector that identifies a recording condition in the sector to be overwritten, and a delay time controller circuit that sets a variation range of the start point for writing according to the recording condition. The record timing of the modulated data signal is changed at random within the set variation range when overwriting the sector of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus, an optical information recording method, and an optical information recording medium that enable information signals to be recorded precisely by determining recording conditions such as recording power, edge positions of recording pulses, and the like suitably before recording information signals. An edge test signal generation circuit supplies a test signal for optimizing edge positions of recording pulses. In order to suppress the variation in intervals between edges due to mark distortion caused by overwriting, test recording is carried out using this test signal in a plurality of sectors on the optical information recording medium with a test recording start point being shifted at random in each sector by a recording start point shifting circuit.

Abstract: A rewriteable type optical recording medium for recording information has an information recording area for recording information and a recording/reproduction condition recording area for recording at least one recording/reproduction condition to be used in a recording/reproduction apparatus and time information representing a date on which the at least one recording/reproduction condition was recorded. A plurality of recording/reproduction conditions and a plurality of time information, each one the plurality of time information corresponding to one of the plurality of recording/reproduction conditions, can be recorded on the rewriteable type optical recording medium and overwritten on the rewriteable type optical recording medium.

Abstract: A rewriteable type optical recording medium for recording information has an information recording area for recording information and a recording/reproduction condition recording area for recording at least one recording/reproduction condition to be used in a recording/reproduction apparatus and at least one set of manufacturer information for identifying a manufacturer of a recording/reproduction apparatus which uses the at least one recording/reproduction condition. A plurality of recording/reproduction conditions and a plurality of sets of manufacturer information, each one the plurality of sets of manufacturer information corresponding to one of the plurality of recording/reproduction conditions, can be recorded on the rewriteable type optical recording medium and overwritten on the rewriteable type optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a recording/reproduction conditions recording area for recording recording/reproduction conditions and recording/reproduction apparatus information identifying the recording/reproduction apparatus using the recording/reproduction conditions. When the optical recording medium is accessed in a recording/reproduction apparatus, the recording/reproduction conditions for the recording/reproduction apparatus are used. Therefore, recording or reproduction can be performed with use of optimum recording/reproduction apparatus information appropriate for the optical recording medium and for the recording/reproduction apparatus. When the optical recording medium is used for the first time, test recording is performed by using a test recording region provided in the optical recording medium, and the obtained recording/reproduction conditions are recorded.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a recording/reproduction conditions recording area for recording recording/reproduction conditions and recording/reproduction apparatus information identifying the recording/reproduction apparatus using the recording/reproduction conditions. When the optical recording medium is accessed in a recording/reproduction apparatus, the recording/reproduction conditions for the recording/reproduction apparatus are used. Therefore, recording or reproduction can be performed with use of optimum recording/reproduction apparatus appropriate for the optical recording medium and for the recording/reproduction apparatus. When the optical recording medium is used for the first time, test recording is performed by using a test recording region provided in the optical recording medium, and the obtained recording/reproduction conditions are recorded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium including a disk-shaped transparent substrate and a recording layer for recording, reproducing or erasing information by irradiation of laser light, the recording layer being formed over the substrate. The recording layer of the present invention includes information tracks including groove tracks and land tracks that are formed alternately in a radial direction of the disk. The information tracks comprise information recording regions and address regions interposed between the information recording regions, the information recording regions and the address regions being arranged along the tracking direction of the laser light.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing on and reading an overwritable optical disk comprises an identifier detector that identifies a recording condition in the sector to be overwritten, and a delay time controller circuit that sets a variation range of the start point for writing according to the recording condition. The record timing of the modulated data signal is changed at random within the set variation range when overwriting the sector of the optical disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing on and reading an overwritable optical disk comprises an identifier detector that identifies a recording condition in the sector to be overwritten, and a delay time controller circuit that sets a variation range of the start point for writing according to the recording condition. The record timing of the modulated data signal is changed at random within the set variation range when overwriting the sector of the optical disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing on and reading an overwritable optical disk comprises an identifier detector that identifies a recording condition in the sector to be overwritten, and a delay time controller circuit that sets a variation range of the start point for writing according to the recording condition. The record timing of the modulated data signal is changed at random within the set variation range when overwriting the sector of the optical disk.