Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layer. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer that is one of the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layer. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: A high-frequency heating apparatus comprises a heating chamber, a high-frequency generator, a waveguide, an antenna, a motor for rotating the antenna, and a stage (6) provided above and near the antenna to partition the heating chamber and made of dielectric. A rotary base on which an object to be heated is mounted is provided on the stage. A first magnet is provided to the antenna. A second magnet is provided on the rotary base at a place corresponding to the first magnet on the rotary base. By utilizing the magnetic coupling between the first and second magnets, the rotary base is rotated in synchronism with the rotation of the antenna. While maintaining the advantages of conventional antenna high-frequency heating apparatuses, the heating efficiency by grill heating or oven heating is enhanced, and minute heating uniformness is achieved.

Abstract: Information recording media 101 and 102 usable for either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2 each include a user data area 106 in which user data is to be recorded, a first defect management information area 108 in which first defect management information for managing a defect area in the user data area is to be recorded, and a second defect management information area 109 in which second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information is to be recorded. The first and second defect management information areas 108 and 109 are located such that angles ?1 and ?2 made by start blocks thereof fulfill the relationships of 150°??1?210° and 150°??2?210° (?1: in the case of the first recording density, and ?2: in the case of the second recording density).

Abstract: An interface circuit includes an interface communication section for performing communication with an upstream device; a system interface communication section for performing communication with a system controller; and an interface control section for controlling these sections.

Abstract: A debug system and method for facilitating debug of a multi-task system, and a circuit and the like capable of adopting such a debug method are provided. The debug system of the present invention includes: a host computer for executing a debugger program; and a circuit having a complex system constructed thereon including a first multi-task system to be debugged by the debugger program and a second multi-task system which is not a target of debug. The circuit includes a memory having a program stored thereon, and a processor capable of executing the program on the memory. The memory has a first operating system for managing at least one task program in the first multi-task system; and a second operating system for managing the first operating system as a first task program and managing at least one second task program different from the first task program.

Abstract: A lubricant composition having a 40° C. dynamic viscosity of 40 mm2/s or less that has wear resistance equal to or better than a lubricant having a 40° C. dynamic viscosity of 76 mm2/s is achieved by providing a base oil with a zinc dithiophosphate and alkaline earth metal salt in an amount to provide a ratio of elemental zinc to alkaline earth metal in the oil in the range of 0.2 to 1.0.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided, which comprises a plurality of recording layers and a first disc information area for storing parameters relating to access to the plurality of recording layers and formats relating to the plurality of recording layer. The first disc information area is provided in a first recording layer which is one of the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: An information encoding apparatus for encoding N pieces of information, the information encoding apparatus includes a scrambling pattern generation section for generating M scrambling patterns (N>M?1; where M and N are each an integer); a scrambled information generation section for applying, to each of the N pieces of information, one corresponding scrambling pattern among the M scrambling patterns so as to generate N pieces of scrambled information; and an encoded information generation section for supplying the N pieces of scrambled information with N parities, respectively, so as to generate encoded information. Each of at least one of the M scrambling patterns is applied to two or more of the N pieces of information.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for searching for a writable area of a write-once information recording medium, comprising a searching portion and a control portion. The searching portion searches for an unrecorded area using a prescribed address as a reference. The control portion provides a candidate address indicating a candidate for a writable area based on a result of the search, and performs a determination procedure for determining whether or not there is a defective area address indicating an address matching the candidate address in defect management information. When it is determined that there is not the defective area address indicating an address matching the candidate address, the control portion determines an area indicated by the candidate address as the writable area.

Abstract: Data is read from a recording medium and the reproduced data is deinterleaved and stored to a first memory while input/output to/from the first memory is arbitrated. It is determined whether a predetermined number of data units is stored to the first memory. Based on the result data, it is determined whether transfer of the data stored in first memory to a second memory is permitted. If data transfer is permitted, the reproduced data is transferred from the first memory to the second memory, during which time input/output to/from the second memory is arbitrated. The reproduced data stored to the second memory is then error corrected, and user data contained in the error corrected reproduction data is externally output from the second memory.

Abstract: An information encoding apparatus for encoding N pieces of information, the information encoding apparatus includes a scrambling pattern generation section for generating M scrambling patterns (N>M≧1; where M and N are each an integer); a scrambled information generation section for applying, to each of the N pieces of information, one corresponding scrambling pattern among the M scrambling patterns so as to generate N pieces of scrambled information; and an encoded information generation section for supplying the N pieces of scrambled information with N parities, respectively, so as to generate encoded information. Each of at least one of the M scrambling patterns is applied to two or more of the N pieces of information.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes: a signal processor, which receives an input signal and generates a processed signal, representing processing information obtained by subjecting the input signal to predetermined processing, and at least one type of internal signal including internal information obtained during the processing; at least one memory storing the processing information; an interface exchanges signals with an external device; and a controller controlling the signal processor, memory and interface. On receiving a first instruction from the external device through the interface, the controller controls the signal processor and memory such that the processing information is once stored in the memory and then output to the external device via the interface. In response to a second instruction, the controller controls the signal processor and memory such that the internal information is once stored in the memory and then output to the external device via the interface.

Abstract: An interface circuit includes an interface communication section for performing communication with an upstream device; a system interface communication section for performing communication with a system controller; and an interface control section for controlling these sections.

Abstract: A control program to be stored in a program memory of a device includes a protection program with an error correction code added thereto as a portion to be protected from tampering, and a non-protection program containing an instruction for error-correcting the protection program and an instruction for invoking a corrected program obtained as a result of the error correction. A microcomputer allows an error correction circuit to error-correct the protection program read from the program memory, and reads the corrected program from a rewritable memory for execution.

Abstract: A reproduction method includes a step of performing error correction of the first coded data piece and generating error location information which represents an error location of the first coded data; a step of generating erasure locator information which represents an erasure position of the second coded data piece, based on the error location information; and an erasure error correction step of performing erasure error correction of the second coded data piece based on the erasure locator information. The erasure locator information generation step includes the step of, when the error location information indicates that no error is detected in the Nth first symbol and the (N+2)th first symbol and that an error is detected in the (N+1)th first symbol, determining at least one of the plurality of second symbols provided adjacent to the (N+1)th first symbol as representing erasure.

Abstract: Information recording media 101 and 102 usable for either a first recording density D1 or a second recording density D2 each include a user data area 106 in which user data is to be recorded, a first defect management information area 108 in which first defect management information for managing a defect area in the user data area is to be recorded, and a second defect management information area 109 in which second defect management information having an identical content to that of the first defect management information is to be recorded. The first and second defect management information areas 108 and 109 are located such that angles &thgr;1 and &thgr;2 made by start blocks thereof fulfill the relationships of 150°≦&thgr;1≦210° and 150°≦&thgr;2≦210° (&thgr;1: in the case of the first recording density, and &thgr;2: in the case of the second recording density).

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

Abstract: A multi-layered information recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, the multi-layered information recording medium comprising: a user data area for recording user data; and a plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement region, wherein when the user data area includes at least one defect region, the at least one replacement region may be used in place of the at least one defect region, wherein a first spare area of the plurality of spare areas is positioned so as to be contiguous to a first user data area of a first recording layer, a second spare area of the plurality of spare areas is positioned so as to be contiguous to a second user data area of a second recording layer, and the first spare area and the second spare area are positioned approximately at the same radial position on the multi-layered information recording medium.