Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a cartridge body and a lid. The cartridge body includes: first and second principal surfaces opposed to each other; a storage space to store a disklike data storage medium; windows cut through the first and second principal surfaces to partially expose the data storage medium in the storage space; an opening for removing the data storage medium from the storage space; and write-protect indicator holes cut through the first and second principal surfaces to prohibit writing on the data storage medium stored. The lid is provided to cover and uncover the opening of the cartridge body. The cartridge body is shaped such that both of the first and second principal surfaces can be opposed to a pickup of an optical disk drive when the cartridge is loaded into the drive.

Abstract: In an optical information recording medium having at least two information layer, guide grooves for tracking or sample pits or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a first substrate. A first information layer formed by a thin film for reflecting a portion of a light beam made incident on the first substrate and permitting penetration of a portion of the light beam is formed on a surface of the first substrate. Guide grooves for tracking or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a second substrate. A second information layer having a reflectance higher than that of the first information layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate. Between the first information layer and the second information layer, there is formed a transparent separation layer for positioning the first information layer and the second information layer to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

Abstract: A plurality of optical heads each of which comprises an independent light source and optical system are provided on the same side with respect to a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. Alternatively, with respect to at least one light source in an optical head having a single objective lens and a plurality of light sources, an optical path correction system is provided on an optical path unique to the light source, and while light emitted from one light source is focused on a specific recording layer by shifting of the objective lens, light irradiated from another light source is focused on another recording layer by the optical path correction system. Thus, information can be reproduced from or recorded in a plurality of recording layers simultaneously and an error in focusing of light onto the plurality of recording layers can be suppressed.

Abstract: In an optical information recording medium having at least two information layer, guide grooves for tracking or sample pits or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a first substrate. A first information layer formed by a thin film for reflecting a portion of a light beam made incident on the first substrate and permitting penetration of a portion of the light beam is formed on a surface of the first substrate. Guide grooves for tracking or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a second substrate. A second information layer having a reflectance higher than that of the first information layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate. Between the first information layer and the second information layer, there is formed a transparent separation layer for positioning the first information layer and the second information layer to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal on/from both concave portions and convex portions of guide grooves formed on a recording medium is disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of optical heads each of which comprises an independent light source and optical system are provided on the same side with respect to a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. Alternatively, with respect to at least one light source in an optical head having a single objective lens and a plurality of light sources, an optical path correction system is provided on an optical path unique to the light source, and while light emitted from one light source is focused on a specific recording layer by shifting of the objective lens, light irradiated from another light source is focused on another recording layer by the optical path correction system. Thus, information can be reproduced from or recorded in a plurality of recording layers simultaneously and an error in focusing of light onto the plurality of recording layers can be suppressed.

Abstract: In an optical information recording medium having at least two information layer, guide grooves for tracking or sample pits or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a first substrate. A first information layer formed by a thin film for reflecting a portion of a light beam made incident on the first substrate and permitting penetration of a portion of the light beam is formed on a surface of the first substrate. Guide grooves for tracking or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a second substrate. A second information layer having a reflectance higher than that of the first information layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate. Between the first information layer and the second information layer, there is formed a transparent separation layer for positioning the first information layer and the second information layer to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

Abstract: In an optical information recording medium having at least two information layer, guide grooves for tracking or sample pits or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a first substrate. A first information layer formed by a thin film for reflecting a portion of a light beam made incident on the first substrate and permitting penetration of a portion of the light beam is formed on a surface of the first substrate. Guide grooves for tracking or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a second substrate. A second information layer having a reflectance higher than that of the first information layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate. Between the first information layer and the second information layer, there is formed a transparent separation layer for positioning the first information layer and the second information layer to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal on/from both concave portions and convex portions of guide grooves formed on a recording medium is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal on/from both concave portions and convex portions of guide grooves formed on a recording medium is disclosed.

Abstract: A recording medium is one on which recording information can be recorded at one or several types of recording speeds. The recording medium comprises a recording area on which the recording information is recorded, and a recording speed range information recording area which can be necessarily used when recording the recording information on the recording medium and contains at least a basic recording speed preset for each type of the recording medium, and on which recording speed range information indicating a range of the recording speed preset for each type of the recording medium is recorded.

Abstract: A plurality of optical heads each of which comprises an independent light source and optical system are provided on the same side with respect to a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. Alternatively, with respect to at least one light source in an optical head having a single objective lens and a plurality of light sources, an optical path correction system is provided on an optical path unique to the light source, and while light emitted from one light source is focused on a specific recording layer by shifting of the objective lens, light irradiated from another light source is focused on another recording layer by the optical path correction system. Thus, information can be reproduced from or recorded in a plurality of recording layers simultaneously and an error in focusing of light onto the plurality of recording layers can be suppressed.

Abstract: A plurality of optical heads each of which comprises an independent light source and optical system are provided on the same side with respect to a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. Alternatively, with respect to at least one light source in an optical head having a single objective lens and a plurality of light sources, an optical path correction system is provided on an optical path unique to the light source, and while light emitted from one light source is focused on a specific recording layer by shifting of the objective lens, light irradiated from another light source is focused on another recording layer by the optical path correction system. Thus, information can be reproduced from or recorded in a plurality of recording layers simultaneously and an error in focusing of light onto the plurality of recording layers can be suppressed.

Abstract: In an optical information recording medium having at least two information layer, guide grooves for tracking or sample pits or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a first substrate. A first information layer formed by a thin film for reflecting a portion of a light beam made incident on the first substrate and permitting penetration of a portion of the light beam is formed on a surface of the first substrate. Guide grooves for tracking or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a second substrate. A second information layer having a reflectance higher than that of the first information layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate. Between the first information layer and the second information layer, there is formed a transparent separation layer for positioning the first information layer and the second information layer to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

Abstract: In an optical information recording medium having at least two information layer, guide grooves for tracking or sample pits or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a first substrate. A first information layer formed by a thin film for reflecting a portion of a light beam made incident on the first substrate and permitting penetration of a portion of the light beam is formed on a surface of the first substrate. Guide grooves for tracking or information pits corresponding to information signals are formed on a surface of a second substrate. A second information layer having a reflectance higher than that of the first information layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate. Between the first information layer and the second information layer, there is formed a transparent separation layer for positioning the first information layer and the second information layer to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other.

Abstract: Tracking control is carried out by a push-pull method or by mechanical feed at the time of recording signals, and tracking control is carried out by a phase difference tracking method at the time of reproduction. Thus, a phase change type optical disk which enables phase difference reproduction and is erasable may be realized. In a phase change type optical disk having a phase difference reproduction structure, servo mechanism at the time of reproducing signals may be stably controlled by causing the reflectance of a blank portion to be higher than the reflectance of a recording mark portion.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal on/from both concave portions and convex portions of guide grooves formed on a recording medium is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing method and apparatus for an optical disk of the phase transition type that can be overwritten. According to this invention, the capacity of repeated rewriting of the optical disk is expanded by recording either non-inverted write data or inverted write data at random. The deterioration due to the repeated rewriting at a start point and an end point of the recording is suppressed by recording a synchronizing signal before the write data and/or dummy data after the write data in the way such that thermal stress is less likely to occur. A record end position can be determined precisely by detecting a stop pulse to stop recording.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing method and apparatus for an optical disk of the phase transition type that can be overwritten. According to this invention, the capacity of repeated rewriting of the optical disk is expanded by recording either non-inverted write data or inverted write data at random. The deterioration due to the repeated rewriting at a start point and an end point of the recording is suppressed by recording a synchronizing signal before the write data and/or dummy data after the write data in the way such that thermal stress is less likely to occur. A record end position can be determined precisely by detecting a stop pulse to stop recording.

Abstract: A code conversion method and apparatus is provided for scrambling and modulating data. The method and apparatus includes scrambling an input main data unit based on any of plural types of pseudo-random number sequences, and modulating the scrambled main data unit based on any of plural types of modulation data. An output main data unit is produced from the modulated main data unit, and a calculated value representing a difference between a number of 0 bits and a number of 1 bits included in the output main data unit is obtained. Any of the modulation data is then selected dependent upon the calculated value.