Abstract: A method for determining optimal operating parameters for reading or writing a storage medium, with the consideration of failed experiment. In an embodiment of the invention, if one of a set of experiments, executed within pre-defined ranges with respect to two parameters, leads to an invalid characteristic measurement value, and the corresponding values of the two parameters occur substantially at ends of the respective ranges, at least one search operation is determined according to the failed experiment(s) and a new set of experiments is generated according to the previous set of experiments and the search operation to avoid the failed experiment(s). The new set of experiments can result in more reliable optimal operating parameters.

Abstract: A system is described comprising an optical record carrier and an apparatus for recording the optical record carrier. The apparatus comprises a facility (20) for generating a visually detectable pattern at a physical location on the record carrier (40), and a facility (20) for storing pattern information. The pattern information comprises at least first information indicative for the physical location.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for recording a visually detectable pattern on a record carrier (40), comprising a first (10) and a second module (20). The first module (10) is arranged for: receiving information that specifies the visually detectable pattern, issuing a request to the second module to provide indications, indicative for capabilities of recording the visually detectable pattern at the record carrier, issuing instructions for applying the visually detectable pattern at the record carrier using the received information, depending on the indicated capabilities of recording, and wherein the second module (20) is arranged for providing the requested indications, and generating the visually detectable pattern at the record carrier (40) using the issued instructions.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for recording an optical record carrier (40). The apparatus is arranged for recording a visually detectable pattern (LBL) at the record carrier in a ring shaped zone (RP). The apparatus is further arranged to record data (Data1, Data2) and a primary data organizing system (FS) wherein the data is organized. The primary data organizing system (FS) does not refer to a physical address within the ring shaped zone. The apparatus is further arranged for recording at least part of the data (Data2) or the primary data organizing system on the record carrier at an area peripherally arranged with respect to the ring shaped zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining write strategy parameter values for writing data on an optical disk from a group of optical disks of different types using an optical disk drive, in particular to different types of BD disks. The method includes identifying the type of optical disk, the type of optical disk being associated with a standard write strategy with standard write strategy parameters; determining a cluster write strategy with cluster write strategy parameters, the number of cluster write strategy parameters being smaller than the number of standard write strategy parameters; initializing the cluster write strategy parameters with initial cluster write strategy parameter values; and optimizing cluster write strategy parameter values for at least a subset of the cluster write strategy parameters. The optimizing is preferably performed on optimization sets of cluster write strategy parameters in a pre-determined optimization order.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical disk drive. The optical disk drive has an objective lens to be driven by a focus actuator with a focus offset for focusing an incident beam onto an optical disk into a spot with a spherical aberration, and a processor to derive a first and a second characteristic from a sensor output signal and obtain a spherical aberration correction value (SA) from a pre-determined function, the pre-determined function defining a spherical aberration correction value in dependence on a focus offset difference value (?FO). The focus offset difference value (?FO) is determined from a difference between a second optimal focus offset at which the second characteristic is optimal and a first optimal focus offset at which the first characteristic is optimal. The spherical aberration correction value (SA) can be used to achieve a correction to the spherical aberration of the spot.

Abstract: An optical reading/writing apparatus has an optical head that includes a collimator and a lens. For efficient and reliable focusing control for writing an empty optical disk, calibration of focus offset and spherical aberration is executed by setting a boundary and performing data-reading in an OPC area only with combinations of focus offset and spherical aberration within the boundary. Accordingly, an optimum combination of focus offset and spherical aberration is determined for focusing compensation in subsequent writing operation of the empty disk.

Abstract: The invention concerns an objective lens for use with a dual layer optical information carrier. Such a carrier as used in Blu-ray Disks (BD) has a first information layer at a depth D1 below a top surface of the carrier and a second information layer at a depth D2, greater than depth D1. In accordance with the invention the objective lens is designed to produce substantially equal amounts of higher order spherical wavefront aberration when scanning the first and second information layers by providing minimum spherical aberration for scanning at a depth Dopt which is located between an average layer depth Dav=((D1+D2)/2) and a depth (D1+Dav)/2. More specifically, the optimum depth Dopt is typically smaller than 0.995 Dav and most preferably less than 0.99 Dav.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting an optimum value of a write parameter for use in an optical recording apparatus for writing information on an optical recording medium by means of a radiation beam. The optimum value of a write parameter is found by curve-fitting a function and obtaining a characteristic write power level (PChar) from the curve-fitting function. It is then assessed if the characteristic write power level (PChar) qualify as an optimum value of a write parameter. If the characteristic write power level (Pchar) does not qualify as an optimum value of a write parameter then an iteration procedure is started, where the subsequent initial values of write power level (Pini, n), are given by Pini, n+1=A Pini, n+(1?A)Pchar, n, where A is a constant, and n is an integer. The invention also relates to an optical recording apparatus and an optical recording medium according to the invention.

Abstract: An optical reading/writing apparatus has an optical head that includes a collimator and a lens. For focusing control, a startup procedure is executed to generate a first startup S-curve. A boundary is then set according to the startup S-curve. After executing focusing on and tracking on, a plurality of position combinations of the collimator and the lens are selected for focusing calibration, thereby obtaining respective focusing error signals. By comparing the focusing error signals with the boundary, whether the position combinations of the selected collimator and the lens are valid can be determined. One of the valid position combinations with the greatest image-quality value is then selected to read/write the optical disc in the subsequent reading/writing procedure.

Abstract: Tracking system for guiding an optical beam on tracks on an optical disc, said tracking system comprising a photodetector (A1, A2) for detecting optical beams derived from said optical beam, said photodetector generating a first output signal (A) and a second output signal (B), said tracking system comprising first processing means for generating a first differential signal (PP(DC)) corresponding to the low-frequency part of a difference between said first and second output signals. The tracking system comprises second processing means for generating a tracking error signal (PP(AC/DC)) defined by the addition of said first differential signal (PP(DC)) to a second differential signal (PP?(AC)), said second differential signal corresponding to a fraction of the difference in amplitude of the high-frequency components of said first and second output signals. Use: Optical disc player/writer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive for accessing an optical record carrier (2) comprising means (4) for determining the type of record carrier, in particular for distinguishing a read-only record carrier from a recordable or rewritable record carrier having a wobbled groove in the lead-in zone, said means comprising: a DPD measuring unit (41) for measuring the differential phase detection (DPD) signal, a PP measuring unit (42) for measuring the push-pull (PP) signal in case no DPD signal could be measured, a wobble locking unit (43) for locking, in case a PP signal could be measured, to the wobble embedded in said wobbled groove using a first and/or a second polarity setting, and an indication unit (44) for generating a first indication signal indicating that the record carrier is a read-only record carrier if a DPD signal could be measured and that the record carrier is a recordable or rewritable record carrier if no DPD signal but a PP signal could be measured and if locking to the wobble has been suc

Abstract: Described is an optical record carrier recording method, optical record carrier (11) and an apparatus for writing information to an optical record carrier (11). The optical record carrier recording method forms pits and lands by controlling a radiation source to direct a radiation beam onto a recording surface of an optical record carrier (11), the method comprises the steps of: reading a write strategy from the optical record carrier (11) which comprises at least two write strategies, and forming the pits and lands by controlling the radiation source with the read write strategy, wherein the method further comprises a step of determining which of the at least two write strategies is the most optimal one by reading an indication present on the optical record carrier (11), and wherein the method uses the most optimal write strategy to form the pits and the lands.

Abstract: An apparatus generates outgoing data (OD) to be provided on an optical disk (1) in a burst cutting area (2). The burst cutting area (2) further comprises markings (3) which cause a marking frequency spectrum (MFS) when reading out the burst cutting area (2). The apparatus comprises a channel coder (4) which receives processed data (PD) and supplies the outgoing data (OD) having an outgoing data frequency spectrum (DFS) with suppressed DC-content. The apparatus further comprises a data processing device (5) which generates the processed data (PD) to obtain an outgoing frequency spectrum (DFS) wherein a frequency component causing interference with a low frequent component of the markings (3) is suppressed or not present.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method and device for providing data in a layered storage medium, such a storage medium, a signal (19) for provision of layer data in a storage medium as well as to a method and device for indicating correctness of content data on such a layered storage medium. Each layer of the storage medium comprises at least parts of a set of content data and identifying data (26, 28), which identifying data comprises a content identifier (26) that is common for and indicative of the whole set of content data, such that each layer having data belonging to the same set of content data has the same content identifier. In this way wrong combinations of sets of content data can easily be detected.

Abstract: Tracking system for guiding an optical beam on tracks on an optical disc, said tracking system comprising a photodetector (A1, A2) for detecting optical beams derived from said optical beam, said photodetector generating a first output signal (A) and a second output signal (B), said tracking system comprising first processing means for generating a first differential signal (PP(DC)) corresponding to the low-frequency part of a difference between said first and second output signals. The tracking system comprises second processing means for generating a tracking error signal (PP(AC/DC)) defined by the addition of said first differential signal (PP(DC)) to a second differential signal (PP?(AC)), said second differential signal corresponding to a fraction of the difference in amplitude of the high-frequency components of said first and second output signals. Use: Optical disc player/writer.

Abstract: In this optical medium (1), a pre-groove track (5) which generates a tracking signal called PP signal, is embedded between layers (40 and 41) of material. This PP signal varies considerably between written and empty tracks. The reading and/or the writing can be disturbed to a large extent. An optical medium formed by a material which presents a slightly positive weak variation in the phase between written track and unwritten track and an average reflection coefficient of an order of magnitude of 0.5 or greater avoids this disturbance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image projection system (1) comprising an illumination system (3) for supplying an illumination beam, a modulation system (11) for modulating said illumination beam, and an optical system for projecting an image. The modulation system (11) comprises at least one image display panel of the TN type. The liquid crystal layer (13) is enclosed between a first polarizer (12) and a second polarizer (14). A single birefringence-compensating element (27) is present between the liquid crystal layer (13) and one of the polarizers (12; 14). The element (27) has a tilted director profile whose projection in the plane of the polarizers encloses an angle 0°<&phgr;≦15° with the active rubbing direction of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image projection system (1) comprising an illumination system (3) and a modulation system comprising three image display panels (11, 13 and 15) of the relative type. The light beam coming from the illumination system (3) is color-separated and, after modulation by the image display panels, color-recombined by a color-separating and a color-recombining element (17). At least between the element (17) and the display panels (11, 13 and 15) is arranged a polarization-compensating element (31, 33, 35).