Abstract: A CD which cannot practically be copied. A recording method, wherein, when a certain portion of main data is recorded by being encoded by a first encoding method and the other portions of the main data is recorded by being encoded by a second encoding method, an encoding process is performed by the first encoding method so that, when data which is recorded in such a manner that the data encoded by the first encoding method is decoded by a decoding method corresponding to the first encoding method, and thereafter, is further encoded by the second encoding method, is decoded by a decoding method corresponding to the second encoding method, the sum value of DC components per unit time increases.

Abstract: Output data of a multiplexer 11 is EFM-modulated by an EFM modulator 12. In the EFM modulation, merging bits that satisfy run length limit conditions Tmin=3 and Tmax=11 are selected. Among them, merging bits that converge DSV are selected. A run length controlling portion 13 detects a particular data pattern that causes DSV to increase as large as a data read error takes place and controls the EFM modulator 12 so that the run length limit conditions of the EFM are loosened. As a result, an increase of DSV is suppressed. Data is reproduced from a data recording medium on which the data has been recorded in such a manner and the reproduced data is decoded. The decoded data is re-encoded so as to record it to another recoding medium. When the data pattern is re-encoded, DSV increases. As a result, data cannot be correctly reproduced from the other recording medium. Consequently, a copying operation can be prevented.

Abstract: A recording method includes the steps of generating recording data in such a manner that, when m-bit data is converted into a data symbol of n bits (m<n), and connection bits such that the summed value of DC components per unit time decreases are selected from among a plurality of connection bits and are added after the m-bit data symbol, the connection bits differing from connection bits which are added when the n-bit data symbol is a data symbol other than the special data symbol are added to generate recording data; and recording the generated recording data on a recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention related to a signal shaping circuit which is capable of shaping a returning light signal of a modulated signal whose signal level and signal length are arbitrarily varied such that it can be demodulated. The shaped signal pattern generation circuit 15 has, in advance, variation pattern information with regard to a predetermined variation pattern to be applied on a returning light signal recorded therein. The counter 13 inputs a returning light signal, counts a signal length thereof and sends a count value to the shaped signal pattern generation circuit 15. An A/D conversion 14 detects a signal level of the returning light signal and sends the detected signal level to the shaped signal pattern generation circuit 15, in the similar way. The shaped signal pattern generation circuit 15 refers to the variation pattern information and calculates an optimum signal pattern corresponding to a signal length and a signal level of the inputted returning light signal.

Abstract: An image processor containing an EPROM (38) stored with coefficient data for image enlargement and reduction, coefficient read controllers (40-44) for reading out coefficient data from the EPROM (38) according to an enlargement/reduction selection signal, a variable horizontal characteristic filter (16) for executing either image enlargement or image reduction according to the coefficient data, a variable vertical characteristic filter (18) also for executing either image enlargement or image reduction according to the coefficient data, a frame memory (20), a contour correcting circuit (14), and selectors (22-30). When image enlargement is selected by selectors (22-30), input video signals are processed by the contour correcting circuit (14), the frame memory (20), and the filters (16,18) in this order while, when image reduction is selected, input video signals are processed by the same in the reverse order.

Abstract: An additional information read/write system has an ID/additional information distributing apparatus, an ID postscribing apparatus, and a drive system. The ID/additional information distributing apparatus includes a managing unit for managing IDs postscribed to optical discs and additional information for updating content read from each of the optical discs and a distributing unit for distributing the IDs and the additional information corresponding to the IDs. The ID postscribing apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving unit and a writing unit. The drive system includes a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting the IDs to the ID/additional information distributing apparatus and receiving the additional information, a writing unit for writing the additional information on a storage medium, and a playback unit for playing back the content updated based on the additional information from the storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modulated signal generator capable of carrying out signal processing at a higher speed or capable of supporting a special format and a new format with ease. A modulation processing storing unit 130 has a modulation processing program required for producing an optical disc master 320 stored therein in advance. Information data recorded in an master optical disc 310 is reproduced by an information reproducing unit 110 and is outputted to a modulation controller 120. The modulation controller 120 carries out the signal modulation processing onto the reproduced information data in accordance with the signal modulation processing program so as to generate a data stream and stores the data stream in a modulated information storing unit 140 as necessary.

Abstract: A contour emphasizing circuit in which VE detected by a vertical contour component detecting unit and HE detected by a horizontal contour component detecting unit are added by a first adder and then multiplied by a coefficient, and the product is added to an input video signal by a second adder to output an emphasized-contour video signal. The circuit contains a comparing/judging unit for comparing VE with HE and judging whether or not the absolute value of the difference between them is smaller than a present value S, and a coefficient change-over multiplier unit for changing the coefficient by which the sum (VE+HE) is multiplied over to K/2 or K according to the judging signal. For a pixel from which both HE and VE are detected, the coefficient change-over multiplier is changed from K or K/2 by a judgment signal of the comparing/judging unit to decrease the contour emphasizing component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relocating the data in defect sectors having occurred in the storage medium of an information recording and reproducing apparatus is described. If a defect occurs in a sector of a user area, the data of it is relocated to a temporary storage area. The logical block addresses (LBA's) for a group of sectors including an alternate sector are sequentially reassigned by skipping the defective sector and including the alternate sector. Data in the group of sectors are read out from the rear part of the user area according to current LBAs, and written according to new LBAs. Since the addresses of new LBAs are smaller than those of current LBAs by the number of defect sectors, the original data is not destroyed in the writing.

Abstract: In a display device in which each group of plural drive elements takes charge of the drive of plural picture elements (pixels) and the display luminance changes as the number of sustaining pulses changes that are supplied to a plasma display panel, a constant emission luminance characteristic is maintained by increasing the number of sustaining pulses for a larger load when the display load factor is large, and decreasing the number of sustaining pulses for a smaller load when the display load factor is small. When displaying a multi-tone image by a subfield drive method, a display area detect circuit allows the display of an image with constant luminance characteristic despite the variation of the display load factor, and prevents the deterioration of tone characteristic due to the subfield drive method, and further, a half tone display circuit allows the decrease of the bit number thereby simplifying the configuration of the display area detect circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an optical disc which optically records desired information on an optical disc master provided with a signal generating unit for generating information which is to be recorded on the optical disc master; a light emitting unit for modulating the light emitted from the light emitting unit to the optical disc master; a head moving unit for moving relative to the optical disc master a head mounting an optical system; a position detecting unit for detecting the position of the head moving unit with respect to the optical disc master; a recording unit, and a controlling unit for reading a series of the set operating information, comparing the radial information of the optical disc master and the reading from the position detecting unit, and performing the control for irradiating the modulated light in accordance with the signal output from the signal generating unit to the optical disc master.