Patents by Inventor Kunihiko Horikawa

Kunihiko Horikawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160235369
    Abstract: A measuring instrument is provided with: a light emitting device (201) configured to irradiate light; a first light receiving device (211) and a second light receiving device (212) configured to receive return light of the irradiated light, which returns from an object (500) to be measured; and a calculating device (320) configured to calculate information regarding the object to be measured, on the basis of a difference between a sum signal and a difference signal, each of which is calculated from the light received by the first light receiving device and the light received by the second light receiving device. According to the measuring instrument, it is possible to remove unnecessary component, such as a body motion, and to accurately measure information on the object to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Kunihiko HORIKAWA, Eisaku KAWANO, Yutaka MATSUI
  • Patent number: 8194516
    Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a first recording layer (L0 layer) having (I) a first trial write area (101P-1) for trial write of first trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the first track path (TP1) from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference and (II) a first recording area for recording the first recording information along a first track path (TP1), in this order from the inner circumference side. Furthermore, the disc-shaped information recording medium includes a second recording layer (L1 layer) having (I) a second trial write area (101P-2) for trial write of second trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the second track path (TP2) from the outer circumference toward the inner circumference and (II) a second recording area for recording the second recording information along a second track path (TP2), in this order from the inner circumference side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Muramatsu, Shoji Taniguchi, Kunihiko Horikawa, Masahiro Kato, Toshio Suzuki, Kazuo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7859965
    Abstract: A recording device (1T or the like) is provided with (i) recording elements (50, 40) for recording data by irradiating a recording medium with laser beams; (ii) driving members (33T, 33F, 55T, 55F, 54) for performing tracking process or focusing process; (iii) a servo elements (31T, 31F) for automatically controlling the driving members based on an error signal; (iv) specifying elements (21, 22) for specifying an area where a recording medium characteristic (core eccentricity or the like) is not good, based on a high frequency component included in the error signal; and (v) a control unit (10) for (v-i) controlling the servo unit to change the gain in the automatic control, and for (v-ii) controlling the recording elements to change the recording power of the laser beams, in the specified area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Naoharu Yanagawa, Masufumi Asada, Kunihiko Horikawa, Akira Shirota
  • Patent number: 7800999
    Abstract: An information recording medium (100) is provided with: a first recording layer (L0 layer) having a first calibration area (103-1) in which test information for calibrating a power of laser light in recording record information can be recorded; and a second recording layer (L1 layer) having a second calibration area (103-2) in which the test information can be recorded and in which at least one portion of a recording area faces the first calibration area, wherein the first calibration area and the second calibration area including a space area (103U-1, 103U-2) having a predetermined size in positions facing each other, the test information is recorded in a recording area (103R-1) located on one side, centered on the space area, in the first calibration area, and the test information is recorded in a recording area (103R-2) located on other side which is opposite to the one side, centered on the space area, in the second calibration area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Muramatsu, Kunihiko Horikawa, Kazuo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7791998
    Abstract: Based on actual recording power information obtained during test writing, a recording power is efficiently controlled with high accuracy during actual recording. An information recording apparatus irradiates a laser light onto an information recording medium such as an optical disc to record data and reproduce the recorded data. In recording actual data such as data designated by a user, the information recording apparatus temporarily stops recording at the time when predetermined amount of data is recorded, and confirms recording quality. Namely, the apparatus reproduces the recorded data and determines the recording quality based on the reproduced data. When it is determined that the recording quality is within an appropriate range, the recording of the actual data is continued at the recording power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Uchino, Yoshio Sasaki, Kunihiko Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7791997
    Abstract: An information recording medium includes: a first recording layer to for recording first information; and one or a plurality of second recording layers, disposed on the first recording layer, for recording second information. Each recording layer has a predetermined area in which power calibration is performed to detect an optimum recording power of laser light for recording, which is transmitted through the first recording layer and other layers of the second recording layers, the first recording layer, the other layers of the second recording layers, and each of the second recording layers arranged in this order as viewed from an irradiation side of the laser light, and in a facing area, which faces the predetermined area, in the other layers of the second recording layers and the first recording layer, by forming embossed pits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Taniguchi, Eiji Muramatsu, Toshio Suzuki, Masahiro Kato, Kazuo Kuroda, Kunihiko Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7787335
    Abstract: An information recording device, an information recording method, and an information recording program capable of recording information with an appropriate modulation degree, a high asymmetry, and small waveform distortion. The information recording device applies a laser beam to a recording medium such as a DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW and forms a recording mark corresponding to a recording signal, thereby recording information. A recording pulse signal for forming the recording mark corresponding to the recording signal has a mark period for forming the recording mark and a space period not forming the recording mark. In test recording performed prior to actual information recording, a long mark recording power is kept constant while a short mark recording power is changed. Preferably, the short mark recording power in the test write is changed so that the asymmetry and/or the beta value is a value within a desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Sasaki, Hiroyuki Uchino, Kunihiko Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20100188950
    Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a first recording layer (L0 layer) having (I) a first trial write area (101P-1) for trial write of first trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the first track path (TP1) from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference and (II) a first recording area for recording the first recording information along a first track path (TP1), in this order from the inner circumference side. Furthermore, the disc-shaped information recording medium includes a second recording layer (L1 layer) having (I) a second trial write area (101P-2) for trial write of second trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the second track path (TP2) from the outer circumference toward the inner circumference and (II) a second recording area for recording the second recording information along a second track path (TP2), in this order from the inner circumference side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji MURAMATSU, Shoji TANIGUCHI, Kunihiko HORIKAWA, Masahiro KATO, Toshio SUZUKI, Kazuo KURODA
  • Publication number: 20100149951
    Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device includes a light source separately projecting laser light for recording or reproducing, an optical system leading the projected laser light to a recording medium, a diffracting element separating laser light into main- and beam sub-beams, an evanescent light generating element irradiating evanescent light in relation to the separated sub-beam to a track where no recording pit is formed, a sub-light receiving element for receiving return light in relation to the sub-beam, a moving element for moving the evanescent light generating element in relation to the sub-beam to a direction to change a gap with the recording surface, and a control element; for controlling the moving element so as to make the gap become a predetermined target value in accordance with a gap error signal containing a signal indicative of a light amount of the return light in relation to the received sub-beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Horikawa, Eiji Muramatsu, Masahiro Miura, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Kuroda, Kazutoshi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20100135140
    Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device diffracts laser light into main- and sub-beams, irradiates evanescent light in relation to the main beam by an evanescent light generating element to a track where a recording pit provided on a recording surface of a recording medium is formed and evanescent light in relation to the sub-beam to be separated to a track where no recording pit provided on the recording surface of the recording medium is formed. A moving element moves the evanescent light generating element to change a gap with the recording surface. Return light in relation to the sub- and main-beam are received by sub- and main-light receiving elements, respectively. A control element controls the moving element so as to make the gap become a predetermined target value in accordance with a gap error signal containing a signal indicative of an amount of the return light in relation to the received sub-beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Horikawa, Eiji Muramatsu, Masahiro Miuro, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Kuroda, Kazutoshi Kizutoshi
  • Patent number: 7721097
    Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a first recording layer (L0 layer) having (I) a first trial write area (101P-1) for trial write of first trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the first track path (TP1) from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference and (II) a first recording area for recording the first recording information along a first track path (TP1), in this order from the inner circumference side. Furthermore, the disc-shaped information recording medium includes a second recording layer (L1 layer) having (I) a second trial write area (101P-2) for trial write of second trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the second track path (TP2) from the outer circumference toward the inner circumference and (II) a second recording area for recording the second recording information along a second track path (TP2), in this order from the inner circumference side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Muramatsu, Shoji Taniguchi, Kunihiko Horikawa, Masahiro Kato, Toshio Suzuki, Kazuo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7719943
    Abstract: An information recording device and method capable of forming a recording mark by suppressing thermal interference. The device applies a laser beam to a recording medium and forms a recording mark in accordance with a recording signal. The device includes a light source for emitting the laser beam, signal generation elements for generating a recording pulse signal according to the recording signal, and drive elements for driving the light source according to the recording pulse signal. The recording pulse signal has a mark period for forming the recording mark and a space period. The recording pulse signal makes the level in the entire space period equal to or shorter than a predetermined length and a part of the space period longer than the predetermined length to be off level. While the recording pulse signal is off level, the recording medium is cooled down, thereby suppressing the affect of thermal interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Horikawa, Akira Shirota, Hiroyuki Uchino, Shoji Taniguchi, Eiji Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20100118684
    Abstract: An information recording and reproducing device diffracts by a diffracting means (14) to make laser light separated into a main beam and a sub-beam, irradiates evanescent light in relation to the main beam, by an evanescent light generating means (21), to a track where a recording pit provided on a recording surface of a recording medium is formed and also irradiates evanescent light in relation to the sub-beam to be separated to a track where no recording pit provided on the recording surface of the recording medium is formed. A moving means (210) moves the evanescent light generating means to a direction to change a gap with the recording surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Horikawa, Eiji Muramatsu, Kazutoshi Kitano, Atsushi Yamaguchi, Masahiro Miura, Kazuo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7636282
    Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information onto an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, by irradiating the information recording medium with laser light for recording, the information recording apparatus including: a setting device for setting a preferable irradiation condition of the laser light which is preferable to one recording layer in which the information is scheduled to be recorded, out of the plurality of recording layers, for each recording state of another recording layer out of the plurality of recording layers; and an irradiating device for irradiating the one recording layer with the laser light in the set preferable irradiation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Muramatsu, Shoji Taniguchi, Kunihiko Horikawa, Masahiro Kato, Toshio Suzuki, Kazuo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7609601
    Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information with less waveform deformation with an adequate modulation degree and with a high asymmetry, an information recording method, and an information recording program. An information recording apparatus in which a laser beam is applied to a recording medium and a recording mark corresponding to a recording signal is formed includes a light source for emitting a laser beam and signal generating means for generating a recording pulse signal for driving the light source according to the recording signal. The recording pulse signal includes a mark period during which a recording mark is formed and a space period during which no recording mark is formed. During the mark period corresponding to a long mark, the level of the recording pulse signal corresponds to a recording power with which the reproduction compatibility is ensured and the waveform distortion is at or below a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Sasaki, Hiroyuki Uchino, Kunihiko Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7609595
    Abstract: An information recording apparatus (300) is provided with: a recording device (352) for irradiating an information recording medium (100) with laser light and for recording information onto the information recording medium; an obtaining device (354) for obtaining at least one of (i) a special OPC strategy for defining a waveform of the laser light used to calculate an optimum laser power of the laser light for recording the information at a second recording speed different from a first recording speed, at the first recording speed, and (ii) a recording strategy for defining a waveform of the laser light used to record the information at the second recording speed; a power calculating device (354) for calculating the optimum laser power by using the special OPC strategy at the first recording speed; and a controlling device (354) for controlling said recording device to record the information at the second recording speed, by using the calculated optimum laser power and the recording strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Horikawa, Hiroyuki Uchino, Shoji Taniguchi, Akira Shirota, Yoshio Sasaki, Eiji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7603027
    Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a recording device (310) for recording record information onto an information recording medium by irradiating the information recording medium (100) with laser light with a recording power according to a set value; a calculating device (340) for preparing correlation information which represents a correlation between the set value and reproduction quality, and for obtaining a reference set value which gives target reproduction quality as being desired reproduction quality, by reproducing test-record information recorded with changing the set value on the recording device; a measuring device (330) for measuring the reproduction quality, by reproducing the record information recorded by using the reference set value on the recording device; and an adjusting device (400) for obtaining adjustment amount of the reference set value on the basis of the correlation information if the reproduction quality measured by the measuring device is different from the ta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Shoji Taniguchi, Eiji Muramatsu, Kunihiko Horikawa, Toshio Suzuki, Kazuo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7577065
    Abstract: An information recording apparatus is provided with: a recording device for recording information onto an information recording medium; a detrack detecting device for detecting occurrence of detrack during the recording of the information; and a controlling device for controlling the recording device to return to a location where the detrack has occurred and restart the recording if the occurrence of the detrack is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Kuroda, Eiji Muramatsu, Masahiro Kato, Kunihiko Horikawa, Shoji Taniguchi, Toshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7564759
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording pulse generating apparatus capable of forming a recording pit having a proper shape even at the time of ultra-high-speed recording of, for example, 8×recording or higher. A recording controller 10 for generating recording pulse signals having lengths corresponding to ten kinds of lengths of pits formed at the time of recording information has a recording controller 10 for generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 4T changes from a first amplitude to a second amplitude, and generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 5T or longer changes from a third amplitude to a fourth amplitude and further changes to a fifth amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirota, Kunihiko Horikawa, Hiroyuki Uchino, Yoshio Sasaki, Shoji Taniguchi, Eiji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7532557
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recording pulse generating apparatus capable of forming a recording pit having a proper shape even at the time of ultra-high-speed recording of, for example, 8× recording or higher. A recording controller 10 for generating recording pulse signals having lengths corresponding to ten kinds of lengths of pits formed at the time of recording information has a recording controller 10 for generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 4T changes from a first amplitude to a second amplitude, and generating the recording pulse signals so that the amplitude of a recording pulse signal corresponding to a pit having a length of 5T or longer changes from a third amplitude to a fourth amplitude and further changes to a fifth amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirota, Kunihiko Horikawa, Hiroyuki Uchino, Yoshio Sasaki, Shoji Taniguchi, Eiji Muramatsu