Abstract: In an optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) for reproducing an optical information storage medium including a plurality of information recording layers each including a recording mark having a length shorter than an optical system resolution limit, reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer closest to a reproduction-laser-incident surface of the optical information storage medium is set to be lower than reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer farthest from the reproduction-laser-incident surface but not lower than minimum reproduction laser power that satisfies a reproduction signal characteristic that the optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) requires.

Abstract: In an optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) for reproducing an optical information storage medium including a plurality of information recording layers each including a recording mark having a length shorter than an optical system resolution limit, reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer closest to a reproduction-laser-incident surface of the optical information storage medium is set to be lower than reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer farthest from the reproduction-laser-incident surface but not lower than minimum reproduction laser power that satisfies a reproduction signal characteristic that the optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) requires.

Abstract: An invention disclosed includes a layer number obtaining section (222) for determining which information storage layer (L1) has been accessed and a layer type identifying section (223) for identifying a type of the information storage layer (L1) determined by the layer number obtaining section (222). With the configuration, even in a case where an information recording and reproducing apparatus accesses an information storage layer different from an intended information storage layer by false operation or the like, it is still possible to dissolve mismatching between a recording or reproduction control scheme being set up and a recording or reproduction control scheme suitable for the information storage layer thus accessed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information recording medium which, when inserted into a recording/reproducing device, can be run in an updated state intended by a disc supplier since a recordable layer can be specified as a layer to be run first. For example, in an optical disc including an L1 layer which is a read-only recording layer and an L0 layer which is a recordable layer, layer specifying information for specifying the L0 layer in priority to the L1 layer is recorded as an information recording layer to be run first when the optical disc is inserted into the optical disc device which carriers out recording or reproduction of information with respect to the optical disc.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 100 includes: a magnetic head 1; a magnetic recording medium 2; a spindle 3 and a spindle motor 4; a suspension arm 5; a voice coil motor 6; and a control unit 7. The control unit 7 has: a motor driver 8; a head amplifier 9; a read/write channel 10; a laser driver 11; and a controller 12. The controller 12 has: a preliminary recording unit 13; a judgment unit 14; an extraction unit 15; a drive condition determining unit 16; and a preliminary recording terminating unit 17. Based on a reproduction signal evaluation value obtained using these units and a predetermined reference value, a drive condition is determined which is suitable for recording onto the magnetic recording medium 2.

Abstract: Recording mark forming method utilizing a device including a laser and a laser drive carried by a pickup having a movement drive wherein a control controls the drives to irradiate a recording medium with laser pulse sequences to form recording marks having recording mark lengths between a predetermined and maximum lengths, a top section, a last section including a cooling period, and an intermediate period. Heat of mark front edges is controlled by top section recording parameters classified according to recording mark lengths and recording parameters of first through maximum recording mark lengths are classified into a same group. Heat of mark rear edges is controlled by cooling start positions for cooling periods classified according to recording mark lengths. Cooling start positions for a second predetermined mark length through the maximum mark length are classified into a same group. The second mark length is longer than the first mark length.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device setting parameters of pulse sequences forming recording marks on recording media. The device includes a storage section storing first and second look-up tables, and a recording parameter setting section for obtaining from the tables and setting parameters corresponding to recording information. The pulse sequences form at least marks equal to or longer than a first predetermined length but not longer than a maximum mark length, and include top and last sections. Also, the first lookup table stores parameters for top sections that control heat of front edges of marks classified into a same group. The second lookup table stores parameters for last sections for controlling heat of rear edges that are equal to or longer than a second predetermined recording mark length, that is longer than the first predetermined recording mark length, through the maximum recording mark length and classified into a same group.

Abstract: This invention allows super-resolution reproduction with which a better bER value is attainable, when information is recorded by a random pattern including a mark length not longer than a resolution limit, by use of a highly versatile signal decoding method. Information is recorded as marks and spaces coded by RLL(1,7) modulation, which each of the marks and spaces have one of a plurality of lengths, and 2T marks and 2T spaces of the marks and spaces being formed are shorter than 0.12 ?m. An information recording layer (20) includes a reproduction film (21) and a reflective film (22) which are provided in this order from a side from which reproducing light is incident, which reproduction film is made of (i) zinc oxide, (ii) strontium titanate, (iii) titanium oxide, (iv)cerium oxide, or (v) a material including at least one of the (i) through (iv), and which reflective film is made of tantalum or titanium.

Abstract: A display control device (2) disclosed includes (i) a display/non-display video image determining section (70) that determines, on the basis of (i) video image information about a video image displayed by a display device (400) and (ii) viewing mode information indicative of a viewer's desired mode of viewing a video image, whether the video image displayed by the display device (400) is a display video image or a non-display video image and (ii) a shutter operation control section (80) that closes a right-eye shutter and a left-eye shutter of a liquid crystal shutter (500) when a video image determined as a non-display video image, which is unnecessary for the viewing mode and which is thus not to be displayed to the viewer, is displayed by the display device (400). The display control device (2) thus closes the right-eye shutter and the left-eye shutter of the liquid crystal shutter (500) when a non-display video image is displayed by the display device (400).

Abstract: Where 3D conversion complementary information for 3D conversion of a TV program is pre-recorded on a first information recording area of an optical disc, a content recording area is set to an area on which the TV program relating to the 3D conversion complementary information is recordable. Where the 2D video content is pre-recorded on the first information recording area, download information, etc for recording the 3D conversion complementary information on a 3D conversion complementary information recording space is pre-recorded on a third information recording area so that 2D video content can be reproduced as 3D video. This allows recording and viewing 3D video by easily converting 2D video content, without changing standards and communication formats of generally available 2D video contents and while suppressing an increase in distributed information amount caused by conversion to 3D video.

Abstract: There are provided at least a first information storage area 20A and a second information storage area 40A. The first information storage area 20A contains, in advance, an OS or mpeg data. The second information storage area 40A is either write-once or rewriteable and available for writing OS update information or movie correction information. The configuration enables easy backup and restoration of software, content, and various information including update information for use by the software and content with reduced user time and workload.

Abstract: This invention allows super-resolution reproduction with which a better bER value is attainable, when information is recorded by a random pattern including a mark length not longer than a resolution limit, by use of a highly versatile signal decoding method. Information is recorded as marks and spaces coded by RLL(1, 7) modulation, which each of the marks and spaces have one of a plurality of lengths, and 2T marks and 2T spaces of the marks and spaces being formed are shorter than 0.12 ?m. An information recording layer (20) includes a reproduction film (21) and a reflective film (22) which are provided in this order from a side from which reproducing light is incident, which reproduction film is made of (i) zinc oxide, (ii) strontium titanate, (iii) titanium oxide, (iv) cerium oxide, or (v) a material including at least one of the (i) through (iv), and which reflective film is made of tantalum or titanium.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device includes a trial recording parameter setting section and a reproduced signal quality judging section. The trial recording parameter setting section sets a trial recording parameter capable of controlling a heat level at least rear edges of recording marks, classified in accordance with recording mark lengths, and grouping a predetermined recording mark length or longer into a same group. The reproduced signal quality judging section judges whether a trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality. If the signal quality is unsatisfactory, the trial recording parameters of the predetermined recording mark length or longer are regrouped and trial recording is carried out again until the reproduced signal satisfies the predetermined signal quality. Then, the reproduced signal quality judging section sets the trial recording parameter as the recording parameter.

Abstract: In an optical disc (100) having a plurality of recording layers, layer specifying information is recorded for specifying a recording layer to be run first when the optical disc (100) is inserted into an optical disc device (1) which carries out recording or reproduction of information with respect to the optical disc (100). Therefore, a recording layer intended by at least a disc supplier can be run first. In the optical disc (100) including an L1 layer which is a read-only recording layer and an L0 layer which is a recordable layer, layer specifying information for specifying the L0 layer in priority to the L1 layer is recorded as the information recording layer to be run first when the optical disc (100) is inserted into the optical disc device (1) which carries out recording or reproduction of information with respect to the optical disc (100).

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device includes a laser and a laser drive carried by a pickup having a drive for movement. A control controls the drives to irradiate the recording medium with laser pulse sequences forming recording marks having recording mark lengths between a predetermined and maximum lengths, a top section, a last section including a cooling period, and an intermediate period. Heat of mark front edges is controlled by recording parameters for top sections that are classified according to recording mark lengths and recording parameters of the first through the maximum recording mark lengths are classified into a same group. Heat of mark rear edges is controlled by cooling start positions for cooling periods classified according to recording mark lengths. Cooling start positions for a second predetermined mark length through the maximum mark length are classified into a same group. The second mark length is longer than the first mark length.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device setting parameters of pulse sequences forming recording marks on recording media. The device includes a storage section storing first and second look-up tables, and a recording parameter setting section for obtaining from the tables and setting parameters corresponding to recording information. The pulse sequences form at least marks equal to or longer than a first predetermined length but not longer than a maximum mark length, and include top and last sections. Also, the first lookup table stores parameters for top sections that control heat of front edges of marks classified into a same group. The second lookup table stores parameters for last sections for controlling heat of rear edges that are equal to or longer than a second predetermined recording mark length, that is longer than the first predetermined recording mark length, through the maximum recording mark length and classified into a same group.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device including a trial recording parameter setting section and a reproduced signal quality judging section. The reproduced signal quality judging section judges whether or not a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of the trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality. If no, the recording parameters of the predetermined recording mark length or longer are further classified into detailed groups and trial recording is carried out again. If the reproduced signal satisfies the predetermined reproduced signal quality, the reproduced signal quality judging section sets the trial recording parameters as a recording parameter. This makes it possible to form a recording mark capable of surely providing a good reproduced signal quality while the number of recording parameters to be used is reduced.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device setting parameters of pulse sequences forming recording marks on recording media. The device includes a storage section storing first and second look-up tables, and a recording parameter setting section for obtaining from the tables and setting parameters corresponding to recording information. The pulse sequences form at least marks equal to or longer than a first predetermined length but not longer than a maximum mark length, and include top and last sections. Also, the first lookup table stores parameters for top sections that control heat of front edges of marks classified into a same group. The second lookup table stores parameters for last sections for controlling heat of rear edges that are equal to or longer than a second predetermined recording mark length, that is longer than the first predetermined recording mark length, through the maximum recording mark length and classified into a same group.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus 100 includes: a magnetic head 1; a magnetic recording medium 2; a spindle 3 and a spindle motor 4; a suspension arm 5; a voice coil motor 6; and a control unit 7. The control unit 7 has: a motor driver 8; a head amplifier 9; a read/write channel 10; a laser driver 11; and a controller 12. The controller 12 has: a preliminary recording unit 13; a judgment unit 14; an extraction unit 15; a drive condition determining unit 16; and a preliminary recording terminating unit 17. Based on a reproduction signal evaluation value obtained using these units and a predetermined reference value, a drive condition is determined which is suitable for recording onto the magnetic recording medium 2.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device includes a laser and a laser drive carried by a pickup having a drive for movement and an input for recording information. A control controls the drives to retrieve recording parameters from a predetermined portion of the recording medium, creates pulse sequences using the input recording information and retrieved recording parameters, and forms recording marks having recording mark lengths between a predetermined and maximum lengths, a top section, a last section including a cooling period, and an intermediate period. Heat of mark front edges is controlled by recording parameters for top sections that are classified according to recording mark lengths and recording parameters of the first through the maximum recording mark lengths are classified into a same group. Heat of mark rear edges is controlled by cooling start positions for cooling periods classified according to recording mark lengths.