Abstract: A system control unit writes image data received from a host apparatus into a first storage regions. Next, the system control unit produces duplication data from the image data written in the first storage region, and then, writes these produced duplication data into a second storage regions. Furthermore, the system control unit furthermore produces duplication data from the image data written in the second storage region, and writes these produced duplication data into a third storage region. As a result, 1 piece of the image data and 2 pieces of the duplication data can be prepared on a buffer memory. The optical disk drawing apparatus draws an image on a drawing layer of an optical disk by employing these image data and duplication data.

Abstract: In the optical disk drawing apparatus of the present invention, an automatic adjusting area where the drawing operation is not carried out is provided in the optical disk, laser light is irradiated onto the formed automatic adjusting area so as to control the focus servo gain, so that a stable focus servo control can be carried out.

Abstract: An optical disk image drawing method includes: rotating the optical disk by a spindle motor; reading a predetermined information recorded on a track of a data recording layer; detecting a predetermined position on the track based on the read predetermined information; measuring a position of the spindle motor in a rotating direction using the detected predetermined position as a reference position; changing a focus position of the laser beam to the image drawing layer; starting forming the visible image on the image drawing layer from a predetermined position of the spindle motor in the rotating direction relative to the reference position based on the measured position of the spindle motor in the rotating direction; and sequentially moving an optical pick-up in the radial direction synchronously with the rotation of the spindle motor to proceed to form the visible image.

Abstract: A data recording layer and an image drawing layer are disposed in an optical disk. Optical pickups are disposed on opposite sides of this optical disk, respectively. One of the optical pickups records data on the data recording layer. The other optical pickup forms a visible image on the image drawing layer. The one of the optical pickups detects a predetermined rotation reference position from the optical disk before an image drawing operation on the image drawing layer by the other optical pickup. An orientation of the visible image is set on the basis of the detected rotation reference position to form the visible image on the image drawing layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device (liquid crystal lens) is located along the optical axis of one of two laser beams emitted by an optical pickup. The two laser beams, which are respectively modulated using a recording pulse and a drawing pulse, are coaxially emitted through the objective lens of the optical pickup, while the focal points are shifted in the light axial direction. A drawing layer and a data recording layer are laminated on an optical disk, and by controlling voltages applied to the liquid crystal optical device, the distance between the focal positions of the two beams is adjusted so that the distance equals the distance between the two layers. While this adjusted state is maintained, one of the laser beams is focused on one of the layers by a focusing actuator, and data recording and drawing are simultaneously performed.

Abstract: A pertinent amount of Image data of an image to be drawn on a surface of an optical disc is intermittently transmitted from a computer to an optical disc image drawing apparatus. The optical disc image drawing apparatus stores the transmitted image in a buffer memory and successively reads the stored image data in a constant speed to performing the drawing operation on the surface of the optical disc. The computer counts the total amount of image data of transmission is completed and calculates a drawing radial position, which corresponds to the counted total amount with a currently drawing radial position. The computer displays a picture of the drawing image on a display so that the currently drawing radial position calculated above can be visually recognized.

Abstract: An optical disk image forming apparatus that forms an image on an optical disk, comprises: an optical disk drive that includes a rotating unit for rotating an optical disk and a laser light irradiating unit being movable in a radial direction of the optical disk; and a control unit that sets a plurality of pixel areas on the optical disk, allocates predetermined writing densities to the plurality of pixel areas, respectively, and controls the optical disk drive to irradiate the laser light onto each pixel area according to the allocated writing densities. When the allocated writing density is a halftone writing density, the control unit corrects the halftone writing density so as to be lighter than the allocated writing density.

Abstract: Before a host computer transmits image forming data to a CD-R drive, the CD-R drive transmits information of an image forming condition preset in the CD-R drive to the computer. The host computer generates, based on stored original image data, image forming data adapted to the image forming condition on the basis of the information of the image forming condition and transmits the generated image forming data to the CD-R drive. The CD-R drive forms a visual image according to the preset image forming condition on the basis of the transmitted image forming data.

Abstract: When “buffer under run” (BUR) occurs during recording of a visible image on an optical disk, recording operation is interrupted. As in the case of type A, when BUR1 occurs after data have been transferred through an integral multiple of one revolution, data are recorded continuously from a reference angle position without host device discarding data. As in the case of type B, when BUR2 occurs after data have been transferred in a value which is other than the integral multiple of one revolution, data corresponding to a duration from the position where BUR occurs to the start of the next revolution are discarded, data are continuously recorded from the reference angle position. Thereby, rendering can be spliced in a visually-smooth manner.

Abstract: An optical disk has inner and outer information areas respectively in inner and outer portions thereof in each of which a groove is formed at a predetermined width, A planar mirror surface is provided without forming a groove, in an area lying between the areas. When a laser beam is applied to the area to form a visible image, visible-image information, capable of representing the position, shape and size of an area occupied by the visible image, is formed and recorded in the area. When additionally forming a visible image, the image area information is read from the area to display on an edit screen an optical disk and an area of a visible image already formed on the surface of the disk.

Abstract: An optical disk is equipped with a predetermined mark. A frequency generator outputs an FG pulse of frequency corresponding to the rotational speed of a spindle motor used for rotationally driving the optical disk. The edge of the FG pulse detected by an edge detection section is counted by an FG counter. An angle counter measures the duration of a time from appearance of an edge of the FG pulse until a point in time when the mark affixed to the optical disk 1 is detected. A count value of the FG counter, which has been acquired at the point in time when the mark is detected, and a count value of the angle counter are saved. In a case where a visible image is rendered, encoding of a visible image to be rendered is started when the count value of the FG counter and the count value of the angle counter have become equal to the respective saved values.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiples or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiplies or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiples or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus operates on an optical disk having circular tracks which are provisionally written with an index signal used for securing a constant linear velocity of the optical disk from an innermost circular track to an outermost circular track, and records data along the circular tracks at different linear densities on different annular zones of the optical disk. In the apparatus, a disk drive section rotates the optical disk while synchronizing the index signal successively read from the rotated optical disk with a predetermined reference clock signal to thereby maintain the constant linear velocity of the circular tracks. A clock generating section multiples or divides the reference clock signal by different rates to generate different writing clock signals in correspondence to the different annular zones of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical disc playback device for playing back video data employs a rotation signal generation circuit for generating a signal at a period of a rotation angle provided by dividing one rotation of a disc motor to detect a record position on a disc of picture data stored in a picture memory. A laser beam spot is caused to jump a predetermined number of tracks each time a position on the disc has a specific relation to the record position in response to a signal generated by the rotation signal generation circuit whereby a still picture playback and a still picture shifting can be made frame by frame.

Abstract: The digital-to-analog converter utilizes a modulator for effecting sigma-delta modulation of multi-bit input data to form a pattern of quantized output data so as to produce a pulse signal corresponding to the input data. The converter is provided with a zero detecting circuit for detecting a silent condition when the input data is continuously held at a zero level. An injecting circuit operates when the silent condition is detected for effecting continuous injection of a fractional reset signal into the modulator to gradually change an internal state of the modulator. A control circuit is provided to detect when the modulator reaches an optimum internal state effective to stabilize a varying idling pattern of the quantized output data for stopping the injection of the fractional reset signal so as to effect convergence of the varying idling pattern into a fixed idling pattern which is substantially free of an audible frequency component under the silent condition.

Abstract: An optical disc playback device capable of detecting a state of a disc which is not set in a normal position on a turntable includes a system control circuit for clamping an optical disc set on a turntable and rotating the optical disc with an optical head being at a standstill in radial direction of the optical disc in a focus-on state, a track crossing detection circuit for detecting a track crossing state of a laser beam spot from a detection signal of the optical head, a track crossing occurrence frequency detection circuit for detecting frequency of occurrence of track crossing detected by the track crossing detection circuit, an abnormal-state-of-mounting judging circuit for judging existence of an abnormal state of mounting of the disc on the turntable if the frequency of occurrence of track crossing is higher than a value set as indicating the abnormal state of mounting, and an abnormal-state-of-mounting elimination control circuit for performing, when the abnormal state of mounting has been detected,

Abstract: A focus search device in an optical type disc playback device comprises an optical system for reading a signal of an optical type disc such as a video disc and a digital audio disc, an optical system moving device for moving the optical system compulsorily in a focusing direction to a focus servo range and a vibration imparting device for imparting vibration to a sliding portion of the optical system such as an object lens while the optical system is being compulsorily moved. Vibration applied to the sliding portion of the optical system puts a shaft and a bearing supporting the optical system in a vibrating state thereby facilitating the movement of the optical system and preventing occurrence of a stick slip.

Abstract: A device for generating a variable and adjustable control signal is provided. The device is of the type in which the control signal is generated in response to the manipulation of the device by an operator and is applied to suitable controlled amplifiers such as voltage controlled amplifiers or filters. The device comprises variable voltage generating member and a holding circuit coupled thereto. The voltage generating member is capable of delivering a voltage corresponding to the location where the operator touches or presses and when the voltage generating member is not touched the voltage generating member is inhibited from delivering a voltage. The holding circuit delivers a first signal corresponding to the voltage delivered under the manipulation of the voltage generating member, and holds a voltage corresponding to the previously manipulated location and delivers a second signal corresponding to the held voltage during the time the voltage generating member is not manipulated.