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 blank portion of the groove structure along the track in a circumferential direction of the track, the blank 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, 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 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 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 blank 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 on the blank portion and the blank portion is formed so that a phase of the wobble is formed on the groove structure, a phase of the wobble on the blank portion is continued with a phase of the wobble of the groove structure within another unit adjacent to the blank 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 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 blank portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure, the blank 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: 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 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 joined to form a central angle at an apex proximate to a center of the disk-like substrate. Each recording unit of a respective zone is delimited by the same central angle and the recording units of different zones are delimited by different central angles.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium, including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along the tracks formed on the disk-like substrate with each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of units including a blank portion in a circumferential direction of the groove structure. The blank 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 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: An information recording medium having a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate. The medium has the groove structure wobbled in a radius direction of the medium and the track is 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 medium comprise one zone, and the groove structure included in the respective recording units within one zone has at least one of substantially the same number of wobbling and the wobbling cycle.

Abstract: An information recording medium having spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate. The medium has the groove structure wobbled in a radius direction of the medium and the track is divided into a plurality of recording units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary. At least two adjacent recording units in the track direction of the medium comprise one zone and the medium includes a plurality of the zones. The groove structure included in the adjacent recording units within any zone has substantially the same number of wobbling.

Abstract: An information recording medium having recording, reproducing, and rewriting characteristics better than those of prior art media. The media has a recording layer made of a material represented by the following formula: Gex−wSbyTezMw, wherein 0.13≦x≦0.22, 0.20≦y≦0.32, 0.53≦z≦0.60, 0≦w≦0.06, x+y+z=1, and M is any one of Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, L, Ca, Sc, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ru, Rh, Cd, In, Sn, I, Cs, Ba, La, Hf, Ta, Re, Os, Ir, Hg, Tl, Pb, Th, U, Ag, Cr, W, Mo, Pt, Co, Ni, Pd, Si, Au, Cu, V, Mn, Fe, Ti and Bi.

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 medium which includes at least a recording layer, and first and second metallic layers disposed on an opposite side of an energy beam incident side of the recording layer and having different compositions, and in which the first one of the first and second metallic layers located closer to the recording layer contains Al, Ag, Au, Pt and Pd as its main components and a sum of contents of these atoms is 60% or more. Thereby recording and reproducing of information can be realized with a high reliability.

Abstract: An information recording medium which includes at least a recording layer, and first and second metallic layers disposed on an opposite side of an energy beam incident side of the recording layer and having different compositions, and in which the first one of the first and second metallic layers located closer to the recording layer contains Al, Ag, Au, Pt and Pd as its main components and a sum of contents of these atoms is 60% or more. Thereby recording and reproducing of information can be realized with a high reliability.

Abstract: An information recording medium having spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate. The medium has the groove structure wobbled in a radius direction of the medium and the track is divided into a plurality of recording units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary. At least two adjacent recording units in the track direction of the medium comprise one zone and the medium includes a plurality of the zones. The groove structure included in the adjacent recording units within any zone has substantially the same number of wobbling.

Abstract: An information recording medium having a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on a disk-like substrate. The medium has the groove structure wobbled in a radius direction of the medium and the track is 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 medium comprise one zone, and the groove structure included in the respective recording units within one zone has at least one of substantially the same number of wobbling and the wobbling cycle.

Abstract: An information recording medium having spiral or concentric tracks with a plurality of grooves and lands formed on a disk-like substrate. Each of the tracks is divided into a plurality of recording units and each of the recording units includes a blank portion in a circumferential direction of the track. The track is formed with a wobble in a radial direction and each of the recording units has a length which is an integer multiple of a cycle of the wobble.

Abstract: An information recording medium which includes at least a recording layer, and first and second metallic layers disposed on an opposite side of an energy beam incident side of the recording layer and having different compositions, and in which the first one of the first and second metallic layers located closer to the recording layer contains Al, Ag, Au, Pt and Pd as its main components and a sum of contents of these atoms is 60% or more. Thereby recording and reproducing of information can be realized with a high reliability.

Abstract: A disk-like information recording medium includes recording areas provided in both of a groove portion and a land portion. The information recording medium is divided into groups of a plurality of areas, each track is divided into circular arc-shaped sectors having the same central angle arranged to be radial in the radius direction, identification information is provided at every sector, each track is divided into groups in such a manner that lengths of the circular arc-shaped sectors become almost constant among the groups, and the groove portion and the land portion are wobbled in the radius direction of the information recording medium. When the groove portion information track and the land portion information track which are the recording portions are wobbled in the radius direction, position information can be reliably obtained from the recording portions, and hence recorded information can be accessed reliably.