Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an optical recording medium including a disk-like substrate, a plurality of tracks extending in a circumferential direction on the substrate and associated with a plurality of grooves, with a plurality of zones provided on the disk-like substrate and extending between a first position and a second position in a radial direction of the substrate. Each zone includes at least two tracks with each track being divided into a plurality of recording units of circular arc shape extending in the circumferential direction. The apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, an optical detector for detecting a reflected light from the medium, and a reproducer for reproducing information by using a signal from the detector.

Abstract: An information recording method for a recording medium including a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on a disk-like substrate, wherein each of the tracks is divided into a plurality of recording units. Each of the recording units includes a blank portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure, the blank portion being a non-groove portion, the groove structure being formed with a wobble in a fixed cycle in a radial direction, the fixed cycle of the wobble continuing in the circumferential direction along the track, and each length of the recording units is an integer multiple of the cycle of the wobble. The method includes irradiating a light beam to the recording medium, and recording information to the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method using an optical medium having a disk-like substrate with plural levels associated with grooves, and a plurality of zones. Each track is divided into a plurality of recording and radially adjacent recording units of a respective zone are delimited by a pair of radial lines joined to form a central angle at an apex proximate to a center of the disk-like substrate. The grooves are wobbled in the radial direction of the disk-like substrate with a length of each recording unit being an integer multiple of a cycle of the wobble, and the integer multiple being the same for the different zones. An optical spot is irradiated on the optical medium, a reflected beam from the optical medium is detected, and information on the optical medium is reproduced by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium, including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shape groove structure along a track formed on the disk-like substrate, the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the optical medium, the track being divided into a plurality of units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line and at least two adjacent units in the radial direction of the medium comprise one zone. The optical medium includes a plurality of zones, and the groove structure included in the adjacent units within any zone have substantially a same number of wobbling. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method using an optical medium having a disk-like substrate with plural levels associated with grooves, and a plurality of zones. Each track is divided into a plurality of recording and radially adjacent recording units of a respective zone are delimited by a pair of radial lines joined to form a central angle at an apex proximate to a center of the disk-like substrate. The grooves are wobbled in the radial direction of the disk-like substrate with a length of each recording unit being an integer multiple of a cycle of the wobble, and the integer multiple being the same for the different zones. An optical spot is irradiated on the optical medium, a reflected beam from the optical medium is detected, and information on the optical medium is reproduced by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium including, a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate, the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the optical recording medium, the track being divided into a plurality of recording units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line, at least two adjacent recording units in the radius direction of the optical recording medium comprise one zone, the optical recording medium including a plurality of zones, and the groove structure included in the adjacent recording units within any zone having substantially the same number of wobbling. The information recording apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, and a controller for controlling an irradiation position of an optical spot from the irradiation source.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on the disk-like substrate, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of recording units, each of the recording units including a dropout portion of the groove structure along the track in a circumferential direction of the track, the dropout portion being a non-groove portion and the groove structure being wobbled in a fixed cycle in a radial direction, the fixed cycle of the wobble continuing in the circumferential direction along the track. The information recording apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, and a controller for controlling an irradiation position of an optical spot from the irradiation source.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate having a groove structure along tracks divided into a plurality of units. Each of the units includes a dropout portion of the groove structure along the track which is a non-groove portion. The groove structure is wobbled in a fixed cycle in a radial direction. When the wobble is formed in the circumferential direction of the track, the dropout portion is formed so that a phase of the wobble is continued with a phase of the wobble of the groove structure within another unit adjacent to the dropout portion. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium including, a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate, the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the medium, the track being divided into a plurality of recording units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line, at least two adjacent recording units in the radial direction of the medium comprise one zone, and the groove structure included in the respective recording units within one zone having substantially same number of wobbling. The information recording apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, and a controller for controlling an irradiation position of an optical spot from the irradiation source.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for reproducing information on an optical medium, including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on the disk-like substrate with each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of units including a dropout portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure. The dropout portion is a non-groove portion. The groove structure is formed with a wobble in a fixed cycled in a radial direction with the fixed cycle of the wobble continuing in the circumferential direction along the track. Each length of the units is an integer multiple of the cycle of the wobble. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on the disk-like substrate, the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the optical medium, the track being divided into a plurality of units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line, at least two adjacent units in the radial direction of the optical medium comprise one zone, and the groove structure included in the respective units within one zone having substantially a same number of wobbling. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by sing a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: An information recording medium including a disk-like substrate with a plurality of tracks extending in a circumferential direction on the disk-like substrate and associated with a plurality of grooves. The grooves are wobbled in a radial direction of the disk-like substrate and each track is divided into a plurality of recording units of circular arc shape extending in the circumferential direction. A zone is provided which includes at least two recording units which are adjacent each other in the radial direction, and radially adjacent recording units of a respective zone are delimited by a pair of radial lines, and central angles formed by the recording units are constant within one zone.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium, including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along tracks formed on the disk-like substrate, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of recording units, each of the recording units including a dropout portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure, the dropout portion being a non-groove portion, the groove structure is formed with a wobble in a fixed cycle in a radial direction, the fixed cycle of the wobble continuing in the circumferential direction along the track; and each length of the recording units is an integer multiple of the cycle of the wobble. The information recording apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, and a controller for controlling an irradiation position of an optical spot from the irradiation source.

Abstract: Before original information is recorded in areas such as a recording medium management area where the same pattern of information is recorded many times, a dummy pattern that minimizes a recording film flow is recorded. Because the direction of the recording film flow depends on the length of a mark length, the dummy pattern is a pattern including marks with a unique length. Randomly or sequentially selecting and recording a plurality of dummy patterns, each with a recording film flow direction different from others, prevents jitters, which will be caused by the recording film flow, from increasing.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium including a disk-like substrate having a plurality of tracks and associated with a plurality of grooves. A plurality of zones are provided on the disk-like substrate and each zone includes at least two tracks. Each track is divided into a plurality of recording units of substantially the same length. The grooves are wobbled in the radial direction and a length of each recording unit is an integer multiple of a cycle of the wobble which is the same for the different zones. The information recording apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, and a controller for controlling an irradiation position of an optical spot from the irradiation source.

Abstract: In playing back data in an optical disk device, to perform high-speed data playback with a low number of playback retries even if an error occur when data is being read. In reading data composed of ECC blocks, if a data error occurs during a read operation, the data from sectors for which PI error correction can be performed is left alone. Playback retries using different playback conditions are performed just on the sectors for which PI error correction can be performed. Thus, the playback retry count can be reduced.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate having a plurality of tracks associated with a plurality of grooves. A plurality of zones are provided with each zone including at least two tracks. Radially adjacent units of a respective zone are delimited by a pair of radial lines joined to form a central angle at an apex proximate to a center of the disk-like substrate with each unit of a respective zone being delimited by the same central angle and units of different zones being delimited by different central angles. The grooves are wobbled in the radial direction and the length is the same for the different zones. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: Before original information is recorded in areas such as a recording medium management area where the same pattern of information is recorded many times, a dummy pattern that minimizes a recording film flow is recorded. Because the direction of the recording film flow depends on the length of a mark length, the dummy pattern is a pattern including marks with a unique length. Randomly or sequentially selecting and recording a plurality of dummy patterns, each with a recording film flow direction different from others, prevents jitters, which will be caused by the recording film flow, from increasing.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information to an optical recording medium including, a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate, the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the optical recording medium, the track being divided into a plurality of recording units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line, at least two adjacent recording units in the radius direction of the optical recording medium comprise one zone, the optical recording medium including a plurality of zones, and the groove structure included in the adjacent recording units within any zone having substantially same number of wobbling. The information recording apparatus includes an irradiation source for irradiating a light spot on the optical recording medium, and a controller for controlling an irradiation position of an optical spot from the irradiation source.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate having a plurality of tracks associated with a plurality of grooves. A plurality of zones are provided with each zone including at least two tracks. Radially adjacent units of a respective zone are delimited by a pair of radial lines joined to form a central angle at an apex proximate to a center of the disk-like substrate with each unit of a respective zone being delimited by the same central angle and units of different zones being delimited by different central angles. The grooves are wobbled in the radial direction and the length is the same for the different zones. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.