Abstract: An optical information processing method and apparatus performs a light irradiating and receiving step, a signal processing step, and an adjusting step of a spherical aberration and a focus offset on the basis of shift amount of first and second control devices and a performance evaluation value. The performance evaluation values for first, second, third and fourth points in an x and y coordinate system are detected, in which an x-coordinate is one of the shift amount of the first control device and the shift amount of the second control device and a y-coordinate is the other, the first point, second and third points having the same y-coordinate and different x-coordinates with each other, the fourth point being provided on a first straight line passing through the first point and being different from the first point.

Abstract: A recorded area is reproduced during a suspension of a recording operation; when degradation of the recorded signal is detected (S4, S5) by the signal quality detection means (16), a tilt adjustment is performed in the recorded area, the signal quality of the recorded signal is detected after the tilt adjustment (S6), and if it is still degraded, a recording parameter is altered (step S7). The need to obtain tilt adjustment values for tilt corrections at a plurality of radial positions in advance is eliminated, resulting in reduced apparatus overhead and better recording quality.

Abstract: An optical disc device compatible with optical discs of different types having different track pitches, having a light detecting means (104) disposed in the path of diffracted light from the recording tracks on the optical disc (101), on which a light beam from a light emitting section (103) is incident. During the loading of the optical disc, the optical disc device discriminates the type of optical disc from the detection output of the light detecting means (104) and the positional relation between the optical disc (101) and the light detecting means (104). A simple structure thus enables the optical disc type to be discriminated.

Abstract: According to a method for setting the laser beam power applied to reproduce information recorded on an optical disc, information recorded in a region on the optical disc is reproduced using three or more test reproduction powers (S22B), the number of reproductions until the degradation of the quality of the reproduced signal reaches a prescribed value is determined as the degradation number of reproductions (S22F), the relation between the test reproduction power and the degradation number of reproductions is approximated by a curve, and a reproduction power restricting the degradation of the reproduced signal quality to a predetermined amount or less over a certain guaranteed number of reproductions is determined (S25F). In optical reproduction from an optical disc on which information is recorded, the optimum power of irradiation for reproduction can be set, and degradation of the information due to the reproducing light can be prevented.

Abstract: In a medium of the phase change type, a power ratio and modulation degree for use in recording are determined from a recommended pulse width value in the recommended write strategy parameters recorded in the optical disk, the recommended power ratio value, the recommended recording power value, and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk according to the power ratio value and modulation degree value thus determined. Optimal recording can be carried out even on an optical disk for which the optimal write strategy information has not been determined in advance, without the need to store write strategy information suitable for each and every optical disk.

Abstract: By avoiding the problem that in a hybrid optical disc, an optical pickup suitable for a standard-density recording area cannot operate as desired in a high-density recording area, damage to the disc drive or optical disc is prevented and optimal control is enabled. Access operation identification information such as reproducing identification information indicating whether or not information recorded in the user data area of the optical disc can be reproduced under the reproducing conditions of the optical disc driving apparatus is recorded in the lead-in area. The optical disc driving apparatus reads this type of access operation identification information, compares it with access operation identification information possessed by the optical disc driving apparatus, and if they do not correspond, does not carry out access operations by the optical head to the user data area, because reproducing or recording compatibility with the optical disc is lacking.

Abstract: According to a method for setting the laser beam power applied to reproduce information recorded on an optical disc, information recorded in a region on the optical disc is reproduced using three or more test reproduction powers (S22B), the number of reproductions until the degradation of the quality of the reproduced signal reaches a prescribed value is determined as the degradation number of reproductions (S22F), the relation between the test reproduction power and the degradation number of reproductions is approximated by a curve, and a reproduction power restricting the degradation of the reproduced signal quality to a predetermined amount or less over a certain guaranteed number of reproductions is determined (S25F). In optical reproduction from an optical disc on which information is recorded, the optimum power of irradiation for reproduction can be set, and degradation of the information due to the reproducing light can be prevented.

Abstract: An optical disc device compatible with optical discs of different types having different track pitches, having a light detecting means (104) disposed in the path of diffracted light from the recording tracks on the optical disc (101), on which a light beam from a light emitting section (103) is incident. During the loading of the optical disc, the optical disc device discriminates the type of optical disc from the detection output of the light detecting means (104) and the positional relation between the optical disc (101) and the light detecting means (104). A simple structure thus enables the optical disc type to be discriminated.

Abstract: An optical information processing method and apparatus performs a light irradiating and receiving step, a signal processing step, and an adjusting step of a spherical aberration and a focus offset on the basis of shift amount of first and second control devices and a performance evaluation value. The performance evaluation values for first, second, third and fourth points in an x and y coordinate system are detected, in which an x-coordinate is one of the shift amount of the first control device and the shift amount of the second control device and a y-coordinate is the other, the first point, second and third points having the same y-coordinate and different x-coordinates with each other, the fourth point being provided on a first straight line passing through the first point and being different from the first point.

Abstract: In a dye-type optical recording medium, a write strategy for use in recording is determined based on recommended write strategy parameters recorded on an optical disk (160) and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk (160) according to the determined write strategy. In a medium of the phase change type, a power ratio and modulation degree for use in recording are determined from a recommended pulse width value in the recommended write strategy parameters recorded in the optical disk (160), the recommended power ratio value, the recommended recording power value, and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk (160) according to the power ratio value and modulation degree value thus determined.

Abstract: In a dye-type optical recording medium, a write strategy for use in recording is determined based on recommended write strategy parameters recorded on an optical disk (160) and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk (160) according to the determined write strategy. In a medium of the phase change type, a power ratio and modulation degree for use in recording are determined from a recommended pulse width value in the recommended write strategy parameters recorded in the optical disk (160), the recommended power ratio value, the recommended recording power value, and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk (160) according to the power ratio value and modulation degree value thus determined.

Abstract: A recorded area is reproduced during a suspension of a recording operation; when degradation of the recorded signal is detected (S4, S5) by the signal quality detection means (16), a tilt adjustment is performed in the recorded area, the signal quality of the recorded signal is detected after the tilt adjustment (S6), and if it is still degraded, a recording parameter is altered (step S7). The need to obtain tilt adjustment values for tilt corrections at a plurality of radial positions in advance is eliminated, resulting in reduced apparatus overhead and better recording quality.

Abstract: An optical recording method and optical recording device using a multi-pulse write strategy to record on an optical disc by recording a signal (S152), reading the peak level of signals corresponding to spaces in the recorded signal (S153), comparing the peak levels of the signals corresponding to the spaces separately according to the length of the pattern corresponding to the immediately preceding mark (S156), and modifying the pulse width of the multi-pulses in the write strategy accordingly (S157-S159). An optical recording method and optical recording device can thereby be obtained that can adjust the pulse width of the multi-pulses in the write strategy to the optimum value and perform optimal recording on the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical recording method and optical recording device using a multi-pulse write strategy to record on an optical disc by recording a signal (S152), reading the peak level of signals corresponding to spaces in the recorded signal (S153), comparing the peak levels of the signals corresponding to the spaces separately according to the length of the pattern corresponding to the immediately preceding mark (S156), and modifying the pulse width of the multi-pulses in the write strategy accordingly (S157-S159). An optical recording method and optical recording device can thereby be obtained that can adjust the pulse width of the multi-pulses in the write strategy to the optimum value and perform optimal recording on the optical disc.

Abstract: By avoiding the problem that in a hybrid optical disc with a standard-density recording area and a high-density recording area, an optical pickup designed to be suitable for the standard-density recording area cannot operate as desired in the high-density recording area and may cause a malfunction, damage to the disc drive or optical disc is prevented and optimal control is enabled. Access operation identification information such as reproducing identification information 225 indicating whether or not information recorded in the user data area 222 of the optical disc can be reproduced under the reproducing conditions of the optical disc driving apparatus is recorded in the lead-in area 222.

Abstract: An optical disc on which information can be recorded by recording light has a first recording layer (102) and a second recording layer (103) disposed behind the first recording layer as viewed by the recording light; the first recording layer and the second recording layer have respective power adjustment areas (P1, P2) that are used to adjust the power of the recording light to the optimal recording power at the time of recording of information on each recording layer; a prewrite area (PW) is provided in correspondence to the power adjustment area (P2) used for optimal power adjustment in the second recording layer and restricted areas (A1, A2) on both sides of that power adjustment area (P2). The restricted areas (A1, A2) allow for the diameter of the recording light beam and for lamination misalignment. This configuration enables stable test recording to be carried out in a short time on an optical disc having multiple recording layers.

Abstract: In a video disk recording/playback device for converting a digital video signal or the like into high-efficiency coded data and recording the coded data on a video disk, or for restoring high-efficiency coded data recorded on the video disk and reproducing an output image, wherein said digital video signal is composed of a succession of video signals of a plurality of frames and including an I picture encoded within a frame, a P picture interframe coded by forward motion compensation with reference to said I picture and/or another P picture, and a B picture interframe coded by motion compensation in both directions with reference to said I and/or P pictures temporally preceding and succeeding the B picture, there are further provided a means for recording in an image information table set up on said video disk all of the start addresses of coded data representing selected images such as images to be retrieved and the start addresses of data containing information required for reproducing the coded data.

Abstract: In a dye-type optical recording medium, a write strategy for use in recording is determined based on recommended write strategy parameters recorded on an optical disk (160) and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk (160) according to the determined write strategy. In a medium of the phase change type, a power ratio and modulation degree for use in recording are determined from a recommended pulse width value in the recommended write strategy parameters recorded in the optical disk (160), the recommended power ratio value, the recommended recording power value, and the characteristics of the optical recording device, and recording is carried out on the optical disk (160) according to the power ratio value and modulation degree value thus determined.

Abstract: In a video disk recording/playback device for converting a digital video signal or the like into high-efficiency coded data and recording the coded data on a video disk, or for restoring high-efficiency coded data recorded on the video disk and reproducing an output image, wherein said digital video signal is composed of a succession of video signals of a plurality of frames and including an I picture encoded within a frame, a P picture interframe coded by forward motion compensation with reference to said I picture and/or another P picture, and a B picture interframe coded by motion compensation in both directions with reference to said I and/or P pictures temporally preceding and succeeding the B picture, there are further provided a means for recording in an image information table set up on said video disk all of the start addresses of coded data representing selected images such as images to be retrieved and the start addresses of data containing information required for reproducing the coded data.

Abstract: An optical disc on which information can be recorded by recording light has a first recording layer (102) and a second recording layer (103) disposed behind the first recording layer as viewed by the recording light; the first recording layer and the second recording layer have respective power adjustment areas (P1, P2) that are used to adjust the power of the recording light to the optimal recording power at the time of recording of information on each recording layer; a prewrite area (PW) is provided in correspondence to the power adjustment area (P2) used for optimal power adjustment in the second recording layer and restricted areas (A1, A2) on both sides of that power adjustment area (P2). The restricted areas (A1, A2) allow for the diameter of the recording light beam and for lamination misalignment. This configuration enables stable test recording to be carried out in a short time on an optical disc having multiple recording layers.