Abstract: An ECC block is constituted by RS(248,216,33). Of a data length of 216 bytes (symbols), only 16 bytes are allocated to BCA data and the remaining 200 bytes are used for fixed data having a predetermined value. Using the fixed data of 200 bytes and the BCA data of 16 bytes, parities of 32 bytes (symbols) are caculated. Only the BCA data of 16 bytes and the parities of the former 16 bytes of the 32-byte parities, that is, a total of 32 bytes only, are recorded in a burst cutting area of an optical disc. In decoding, error correction processing is carried out by using the fixed data of 200 bytes. The unrecorded parities of 16 bytes are processed as having been erased. Thus the error correction capability in a burst cutting area of an optical disc can be improved.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus is provided for reproducing information stored on an optical medium. The apparatus includes a light source for illuminating the optical medium, the optical medium having at least one surface containing information stored thereon; a focusing arrangement operable to focus the light source on the at least one surface containing information thereon; and a detection arrangement operable to detect the information stored on the optical medium. The optical medium includes a first substrate having a first information surface; a semitransparent reflection film formed on the first information surface of the first substrate; a second substrate having a second information surface; a reflection film formed on the second information surface of the second substrate; and an adhesive layer for adhering the first substrate and the second substrate so that the first information surface and the second information surface face each other, wherein the thickness of the first substrate is at least 0.

Abstract: An optical disc that has a recognition mark area behind a recorded area and in which the last data in the recorded area is stably accessed, the recognition mark area can be accessed without bringing about an abnormal state, and the first data in a succeeding recorded area, if it exists, is stably accessed. An unrecorded area (5) is provided outside the recorded area (4) of the optical disc (1). A mark area (6) is provided between the recorded area (4) and unrecorded area (5). A recognition mark area (6d) is provided in the mark area (6) in order to recognize the boundary between the recorded area (4) and the unrecorded area (5). In the mark area (6), first and second buffer areas (6b and 6c) are provided respectively in front of and behind the recognition mark area (6d).

Abstract: The optical recording medium of this invention includes: a first substrate having a first information surface; a semitransparent reflection film formed on the first information surface of the first substrate; a second substrate having a second information surface; a reflection film formed on the second information surface of the second substrate; and an adhesive layer for adhering the first substrate and the second substrate so that the first information surface and the second information surface face each other, wherein the thickness of the first substrate is 0.56 mm or more, the thickness of the adhesive layer is 30 &mgr;m or more, and the total thickness of the first substrate and the adhesive layer is 0.68 mm or less.

Abstract: An optical storage medium can be provided by which illegal usage of the optical storage medium involving an infringement on the copyright can be prevented effectively without impairment of the functions for reproducing physical format information and optical storage medium manufacturing information. The optical storage medium includes a main information region in which encrypted data information is recorded as a pit row that is capable of being read out by means of light and a control data region. In the control data region, key information for decoding the encryption of the data information, the physical format information and the optical storage medium manufacturing information are recorded by wobbling a groove.

Abstract: An optical disk recordable by a recording device and having first and second recording areas, the second recording area having recorded therein disk identification information unique to the disk, and multiple cipher keys, the first recording area being capable of having recorded therein information that is encrypted by using the disk identification information and one of the multiple cipher keys during recording.

Abstract: The operating and other procedures of an optical disk application system of the type for which a network is used are simplified. Optical disks have auxiliary data recording areas, where different IDs for individual disks, and/or cipher keys and/or decoding keys for ciphers are recorded in advance in a factory. By using the IDs to release the soft ciphers, using the cipher keys when sending the ciphers, and using the decoding keys when receiving the ciphers, user authorization procedures are simplified.

Abstract: A device for recording information on an optical disk having first and second recording areas, which device can record information into the first recording area, using a first modulation method; read disk identification information recorded by a second modulation method in the second recording area; detect auxiliary information indicating the presence of disk identification information; encrypt information using both a cipher key and the disk identification information unique to the optical disk; and permit recording of encrypted information after confirming the presence of the disk identification information.

Abstract: The operating and other procedures of a disk or recording medium application system of the type for which a network is used are simplified. Disks or recording media have auxiliary data recording areas, where different IDs for individual disks, and/or cipher keys and/or decoding keys for ciphers are recorded in advance in a factory. By using the IDs to release the soft ciphers, using the cipher keys when sending the ciphers, and using the decoding keys when receiving the ciphers, user authorization procedures are simplified.

Abstract: An optical disk storing write-once information usable for protecting the copyright of the software by preventing the duplication, unauthorized use, etc., of the software. In the optical disk, a recording layer (213) is formed on a disk substrate (211) with a dielectric layer (212) inbetween. Then, an intermediate dielectric layer (214) and a reflecting layer (215) are successively laminated upon the recording layer (213), and an overcoat layer (216) is formed on the surface of the reflecting layer (215). A plurality of BCA (one of write-once identification information systems) sections (220a and 220b) are recorded by lowering the vertical magnetic anisotropy of the recording layer (213). At the time of reproduction, the write-once information is detected from differential signals.

Abstract: A method for reproducing write-once information from an optical disk. The disk includes a disk substrate and a recording layer on the disk substrate, the recording layer including a magnetic film with a magnetic anisotropy in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the magnetic film. Write-once information formed by first recording areas and second recording areas is stored in a pre-determined portion of said recording layer, the first and second recording areas having different magnetic anisotropies in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the magnetic film. The method includes irradiating linearly polarized laser light onto said pre-determined portion, and detecting a rotational change in a polarization orientation of light reflected from the optical disk or light transmitted through the optical disk, the rotational change being caused depending on which of the first recording area and the second recording area is irradiated with the linearly polarized laser light.

Abstract: An optical head includes a semiconductor laser, a diffraction grating, an objective lens and a photodetector. The optical head is configured so that a first sub-beam is converged in a position preceding a position of a main beam along a scanning direction of the optical head with respect to an information medium, and a second sub-beam is converged in a position succeeding the position of the main beam along the scanning direction of the optical head with respect to the information medium. The diffraction grating divides light beams into the main beam, the first sub-beam and the second sub-beam so that the first sub-beam preceding the main beam is converged at a more outer circumferential side of the information medium than the main beam is, and the second-sub beam succeeding the main beam is converged at a more inner circumferential side of the information medium than the main beam is.

Abstract: The optical recording medium of this invention includes: a first substrate having a first information surface; a semitransparent reflection film formed on the first information surface of the first substrate; a second substrate having a second information surface; a reflection film formed on the second information surface of the second substrate; and an adhesive layer for adhering the first substrate and the second substrate so that the first information surface and the second information surface face each other, wherein the thickness of the first substrate is 0.56 mm or more, the thickness of the adhesive layer is 30 &mgr;m or more, and the total thickness of the first substrate and the adhesive layer is 0.68 mm or less.

Abstract: The operating and other procedures of an optical disk application system of the type for which a network is used are simplified. Optical disks have auxiliary data recording areas, where different IDs for individual disks, and/or cipher keys and/or decoding keys for ciphers are recorded in advance in a factory. By using the IDs to release the soft ciphers, using the cipher keys when sending the ciphers, and using the decoding keys when receiving the ciphers, user authorization procedures are simplified.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for reproducing, or recording, information from plural types of information carriers, including: two or more light sources with different wavelengths; converging parts for converging light beams emitted from the light sources on the information carrier; movement parts for moving the converged light beam in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the information carrier; convergence condition detection parts for outputting a signal corresponding to the convergence condition of the light beam on the information carrier; amplitude detection parts for measuring the amplitude of the convergence condition signal; and focus control parts for driving the movement parts in accordance with the convergence condition signal and performing control so that the convergence condition of the light beam on the information carrier becomes substantially constant.

Abstract: The optical recording medium of this invention includes: a first substrate having a first information surface; a semitransparent reflection film formed on the first information surface of the first substrate; a second substrate having a second information surface; a reflection film formed on the second information surface of the second substrate; and an adhesive layer for adhering the first substrate and the second substrate-so that the first information surface and the second information surface face each other, wherein the thickness of the first substrate is 0.56 mm or more, the thickness of the adhesive layer is 30 &mgr;m or more, and the total thickness of the first substrate and the adhesive layer is 0.68 mm or less.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus comprising a device for moving a focal point of a light beam for reproducing information recorded on an information face of a disk, in the direction perpendicular to the information face; a device for detecting a reflected light from the disk; and a device for discriminating whether the disk set in the apparatus is a disk having a thick base substrate or a disk having a thin base substrate. In this apparatus, a maximum value AS1Lmax of an output signal from the reflected light detecting device and a maximum value ENVmax of an amplitude of an information reproducing signal are detected while driving the focal point moving device so that the focal point passes through the information face, and the discriminating device discriminates whether the disk set in the apparatus is a disk having a thick base substrate or a disk having a thin base substrate, on the basis of the ratio of ENVmax to AS1Lmax.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for reproducing information from plural types of information carriers or for recording information to plural types of information carriers, has two or more light sources with different wavelengths, a converging part for converging a light beam emitted from each of the light sources on said information carrier, a movement part for moving the converged spot of the light beam converged by the converging part in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the information carrier, a convergence condition detection part for outputting a signal corresponding to the convergence condition of the light beam on the information carrier, an amplitude detection part for measuring the amplitude of the signal of the convergence condition detection part, and a focus control part for driving the movement part in accordance with the output signal of the convergence condition detection part and for performing control so that the convergence condition of the light beam on the information ca

Abstract: A device for reading encrypted information from an optical disk having first and second recording areas, which device can read encrypted information recorded by a first modulation method in the first recording area, read disk identification information recorded by a second modulation method in the second recording area, and decrypt the encrypted information using both a decipher key and disk identification information unique to the optical disk.

Abstract: The operating and other procedures of an optical disk application system of the type for which a network is used are simplified. Optical disks have auxiliary data recording areas, where different IDs for individual disks, and/or cipher keys and/or decoding keys for ciphers are recorded in advance in a factory. By using the IDs to release the soft ciphers, using the cipher keys when sending the ciphers, and using the decoding keys when receiving the ciphers, user authorization procedures are simplified.