Abstract: A storage apparatus manages collectively, as a group, a predetermined number of contiguous units of storage in the storage medium, selects a group, the number of the units of storage in a free state in the group satisfying an access performance set condition, when securing a storage region for storing write data, and sets a group in which the units of storage in a free state are distributed non-contiguously as a group to be selected, associates an address specified by a write access request and an address of the unit of storage in a free state in the selected group, and sequentially write the write data to the unit of storage in a free state included in the group.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for increasing spectral efficiency over data channels in a storage or communication system. In some embodiments, data may be encoded and transmitted over multiple channels. The transmitted data from the multiple channels may be considered together as a channel bundle, thereby increasing the edge transitions of the group of signals to improve clock recovery and reduce coding constraints. In some embodiments, the channel bit size is reduced to maximize data rates based on the reduced coding constraints. Furthermore, the channel bundle has only one channel with timing markers, so that a receiver may receive information from the channel bundle and recover clocking based on the timing markers in the one channel.

Abstract: Digital optical tape archival storage systems and methods are disclosed. A digital optical tape recorder may simultaneously write data and two or more guide tracks onto a digital optical tape recording medium. A digital optical taper reader may include a camera to capture a two-dimensional image of the digital optical tape recording medium, and an image processor to extract the data from the two-dimensional image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the optical read/write apparatus includes a plurality of optical pickups arranged to cross tracks of an optical storage medium and a control section. On finding the data that has been written by any of those optical pickups inaccurate or on detecting any defect at a location where data is going to be written by any of the optical pickups, the control section instructs another one of the optical pickups to write that data on a different track from a track on which the data should have been written.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a recorder having at least two optical pickup heads for simultaneously recording at least two bit streams on respective layers of recordable media in one of an opposite track path and a parallel track path.

Abstract: A write analysis system is described for an optical drive, where the optical drive includes an optical storage medium. The write analysis system includes a filter that receives a reflected signal that is based on a reflection of a diffracted laser beam. The reflection of the diffracted laser beam includes a reflection of a first write signal. The filter generates a filtered signal by filtering the first write signal from the diffracted laser beam. The system also includes a read-back module that receives the filtered signal and that compares the filtered signal to a second write signal that was written to the optical storage medium prior to the first write signal.

Abstract: The present invention uses a stationary medium and a stationary optical pickup unit. The stationary optical pickup unit has a laser, which sends a beam of light through an objective lens, which focuses the beam on a point on the track of the stationary medium. The beam is then reflected toward a re-directing surface (e.g., prism) which diverts it to a photodiode array. Instead of the entire optical pickup moving to follow the track as in conventional systems, only the objective lens inside of the optical pickup moves. The position of the objective lens determines where on the information track the laser will reach. Depending upon where the laser beam reaches, the reflected light beam received by the photodetector array changes. This, in turn, affects the amount of light sensed by each photodetector in the array, thereby causing the output of each of the four photodetectors to change each time the objective lens moves.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus is provided. The optical information processing apparatus includes: an optical system which irradiates a reference beam on an optical information recording medium having a plurality of recording regions adjacent to each other so that the reference beam is wider than each of the recording regions; a filter which filters readout beams reproduced from the optical information recording medium to pass a selected readout beam reproduced from a selected recording region and separates neighborhood readout beams reproduced from neighborhood of the selected recording regions; a readout beam detector which detects the selected readout beam passing through the filter; a neighborhood readout beam detector which detects the neighborhood readout beams separated by the filter; and a controller which compares the neighborhood readout beams detected by the neighborhood readout beam detector to control a reproduction condition of the selected readout beam.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a diffracting element having a plurality of regions for dividing the laser light emitted from the light-emitting element into a main beam and pairs of first, second, third, and fourth sub-beams. When the first to fourth sub-beams form first to fourth sub-spots, respectively, in that order along a radial direction on a recording surface of an arbitrary kind of disc-shaped recording medium which does not have the largest track pitch, n is a natural number, and the track pitch is Pa, the distance Da12 between the first and second sub-spots is approximately (2n12?1)×Pa/2, the distance Da34 between the third and fourth sub-spots is approximately (2n34?1)×Pa/2, the distance Da13 between the first and third sub-spots is approximately (2n13?1)×Pa, and the distance Da24 between the second and fourth sub-spots is approximately (2n24?1)×Pa.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a data reproducer in which the quality of a reproduction signal is improved. A data reproducer of the present invention includes a phase-difference detecting section which obtains the cross correlation value between the head pattern in a track to be reproduced and a reproduction signal, synchronous detectors which respectively obtain the cross correlation value between the head pattern of a track adjacent to the track to be reproduced and the reproduction signal, and crosstalk value detector which obtains the direction and ratio of crosstalk in accordance with these cross correlation values. The data reproducer has a correcting function which corrects the offset and gain of a reproduction signal in accordance with a phase difference and cross correlation value obtained by the phase-difference detecting section.

Abstract: An electron beam recording apparatus provided with control means for forming a latent image in a resist layer on a disk substrate corresponding to a predetermined pattern by controlling the irradiation position of an electron beam irradiation unit on the surface of the resist layer in accordance with the rotation angle of the disk substrate by a rotational drive unit, the shift position by a shift drive unit and the recording data that represent the predetermined pattern, and beam-adjusting means for irradiating an electron beam so as to spread over a plurality of tracks in the direction of traversing the tracks in response to the irradiation position control due to the control means, and an electron beam recording method using the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical pickup for an optical recording medium, an electrically controlled diffraction grating suitable for use in such a pickup, and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media using such an optical pickup or diffraction grating. According to the invention, an optical pickup for optical recording media having two or more data tracks, with a light source for emitting a light beam for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium, includes an electrically controlled diffraction grating, which is switchable between at least two states for generating one or more light beams from the light beam emitted by the light source for reading from and/or writing to one or more of the data tracks.

Abstract: A multitrack optical disc reader (1) is disclosed comprising a multitrack optical pick up (11) for reading data from multiple tracks of an optical disc (10) and outputting the data from each track in respective data streams, and multiple first-in-first-out (FIFO) memories (21) for temporarily storing the data streams. In accordance with the present invention, wherein the pickup may selectively output data streams from less than the maximum number of tracks that can be read by the pickup, the multiple FIFO memories are provided in a common memory bank, and when less than the maximum number of tracks are being read by the pickup, the size of at least one FIFO memory in use is greater than the total available FIFO memory in the common memory bank divided by the maximum number of tracks that can be read by the pickup.

Abstract: A multi-channel optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup including a plurality of light sources, the optical pickup being adapted to emit a plurality of light beams to a corresponding plurality of tracks of an information storage medium and to detect a plurality of light beams reflected by the corresponding plurality of tracks of the information storage medium; and a control signal generating unit to generate a control signal which equalizes and controls aberrations occurring due to a wavelength difference between the plurality of light sources, a displacement difference on an optical axis between the light sources, or a distance between the light sources, based on detection signals generated according to the plurality of reflected light beams.

Abstract: A mark representing information of a multivalued level is recorded in each of cells arranged in a recording medium. Upon reproducing the multivalued level from a reproduction signal of the recording medium, the multivalued level of a present cell is judged by referring to a judged multivalued level of a preceding cell preceding the present cell or an ensuing cell ensuing the present cell, or by referring to the judged multivalued levels of both the preceding cell and the ensuing cell.

Abstract: This invention achieves high-density recording while preventing recording units from overlapping. Recording is done to form a gap between predetermined recording units. Since this gap is formed, even when a rotation driving mechanism of a medium suffers rotation nonuniformity, two neighboring recording units never overlap each other, and destruction of recording data can be prevented.

Abstract: This invention achieves high-density recording while preventing recording units from overlapping. Recording is done to form a gap between predetermined recording units. Since this gap is formed, even when a rotation driving mechanism of a medium suffers rotation nonuniformity, two neighboring recording units never overlap each other, and destruction of recording data can be prevented.

Abstract: This invention achieves high-density recording while preventing recording units from overlapping. Recording is done to form a gap between predetermined recording units. Since this gap is formed, even when a rotation driving mechanism of a medium suffers rotation nonuniformity, two neighboring recording units never overlap each other, and destruction of recording data can be prevented.

Abstract: A mark representing information of a multivalued level is recorded in each of cells arranged in a recording medium. Upon reproducing the multivalued level from a reproduction signal of the recording medium, the multivalued level of a present cell is judged by referring to a judged multivalued level of a preceding cell preceding the present cell or an ensuing cell ensuing the present cell, or by referring to the judged multivalued levels of both the preceding cell and the ensuing cell.

Abstract: A plurality of optical heads each of which comprises an independent light source and optical system are provided on the same side with respect to a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. Alternatively, with respect to at least one light source in an optical head having a single objective lens and a plurality of light sources, an optical path correction system is provided on an optical path unique to the light source, and while light emitted from one light source is focused on a specific recording layer by shifting of the objective lens, light irradiated from another light source is focused on another recording layer by the optical path correction system. Thus, information can be reproduced from or recorded in a plurality of recording layers simultaneously and an error in focusing of light onto the plurality of recording layers can be suppressed.

Abstract: An optical multi-level recording medium, having a recording layer on which a recording mark is formed by irradiating a laser beam, plural virtual recording cells being continuosly formed in a relative moving direction to the laser beam on the recording layer with an arbitrary unit length and a unit width, five stages or more irradiation times being set so that the irradiation time becomes long successively from the first to final stages, a power average value of laser beam in a specific irradiation time of the plural-stage irradiation times being set so as to become larger than a power average value of another irradiation time longer than the specific irradiation time, and recording marks being formed in the virtual recording cell and giving five stages or more different optical reflectance when the laser beam is irradiated to the virtual recording cell.

Abstract: A light beam encoded with data simultaneously reads out data stored in tracks on an optical disk and produces a reflected beam directed to a detector array. The data stored on the optical disk and the encoded data may be components of vector arrays. As the light beam illuminates the rotating optical disk, the data stored on the disk is multiplied by the encoded data. The products of the multiplication are encoded in the reflected beam. A multiplicity of data is read out in parallel from the optical disk and simultaneously correlated with the encoded data. This comparison or correlation operation is performed on digitally encoded data utilizing convolution, or with analog encoding. The present invention can be utilized in pattern matching.

Abstract: An audio signal processor performs a signal processing on the first audio signal and the second audio signal in correspondence with an operation to produce an output. The processor comprises and operation device, a signal processing device and a control device. The operation device is operatively movable between one end and the other end. The one end is associated with the first audio signal and the other end is associated with the second audio signal. The signal processing device performs a signal processing on any one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal to provide at least one kind of predetermined effect. The control device controls the signal processing device so that the effect is provided for any one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal at a predetermined timing based on a position of the operation device and a moving direction thereof.

Abstract: In a method of recording or reproducing data out of an optical disk of the present invention, the optical disk is includes a substrate formed with a spiral groove track and a land track formed between nearby portions of the groove track. Header information is periodically recorded in each of the groove track and land track. Beam spots are formed on the land track and groove at the same time. Data are recorded in or reproduced out of the land track and groove track at the same time on the basis of a timing determined by the header information read out of the land track and groove track. When one beam spot formed on either one of the land track and groove track is reading the header information, the other beam spot is inhibited from recording or reproducing data.

Abstract: A first signal is read from a first track of a recording medium. A second signal is read from a second track of the recording medium which neighbors the first track. A filter processes the second signal into a filtering-resultant signal according to a controllable filtering characteristic. A first subtracter operates for subtracting the filtering-resultant signal from the first signal to generate a subtraction-resultant signal. A peak detector generates peak-point information representing a timing at which the level represented by the first signal peaks. A temporary decision circuit implements a temporary decision about the subtraction-resultant signal. A second subtracter generates an error signal indicative of a difference between the subtraction-resultant signal and a signal representative of the result of the temporary decision at a timing equal to the timing represented by the peak-point information. The filtering characteristic of the filter is controlled in response to the error signal.

Abstract: A processing scheme for digital storage media using multi-user detection to separate tracks of data or remove interference from neighboring tracks. In one embodiment, data is written on a plurality of tracks positioned sufficiently close together so that multiple tracks are detected simultaneously by the read access sensor. Upon scanning the surface for data, the read element simultaneously receives the data signals from a plurality of tracks. Joint detection signal processing resolves the interference and data bits from the multiple sensed tracks, enabling closer packing of data with minimal guard space.

Abstract: A light beam encoded with data simultaneously reads out data stored in tracks on an optical disk and produces a reflected beam directed to a detector array. The data stored on the optical disk and the encoded data may be components of vector arrays. As the light beam illuminates the rotating optical disk, the data stored on the disk is multiplied by the encoded data. The products of the multiplication are encoded in the reflected beam. A multiplicity of data is read out in parallel from the optical disk and simultaneously correlated with the encoded data. This comparison or correlation operation is performed on digitally encoded data utilizing convolution, or with analog encoding. The present invention can be utilized in pattern matching.

Abstract: A light beam encoded with data simultaneously reads out data stored in tracks on an optical disk and produces a reflected beam directed to a detector array. The data stored on the optical disk and the encoded data may be components of vector arrays. As the light beam illuminates the rotating optical disk, the data stored on the disk is multiplied by the encoded data. The products of the multiplication are encoded in the reflected beam. A multiplicity of data is read out in parallel from the optical disk and simultaneously correlated with the encoded data. This comparison or correlation operation is performed on digitally encoded data utilizing convolution, or with analog encoding. The present invention can be utilized in pattern matching.

Abstract: A method for optical data recording and readout includes scanning a blank region of an optical recording medium while recording a data band including a plurality of adjacent data tracks; synchronizing the recording on all tracks to a common data clock; and simultaneously recording control tracks with the band of data tracks, each control track having a well-defined track center and a repetitive pattern of marks that is synchronized to the data clock. The method further includes optically sensing the cross-scan positions and clock offsets of at least one control track on either side of the data band; interpolating between the control track cross-scan positions to predict the cross-scan positions of each data track and compensate for magnification errors; interpolating between the control track clock offsets to predict the clock offset of each data track and compensate for skew errors; and simultaneously reading and decoding information recorded on all tracks of the data band.

Abstract: A high recording-density and highly reliable optical disc according to the two-dimensional PRML system is provided in which periodic signal fluctuations in the readout signal caused by an overall positional displacement of pits between adjacent tracks can be detected at each sampling clock timing and can be tracked and compensated. Two-dimensional inter-symbol interference is compensated during the production and recording of the pattern of the medium. The readout signal is compensated by a process of multi-value tracking before symbols are extracted from the signal.

Abstract: An optical disk (10) includes several tracks (21-23, 121-125) that each include a series of optical data elements (29, 39). Each optical data element includes several reflective surfaces (31-34, 41-44) with respective different orientations that represent stored information. A detection system (210) directs a beam from a laser (217) onto successive optical data elements. The multiple reflective surfaces of each optical data element produce multiple reflected sub-beams that are imaged onto respective portions of a detector (219, 501, 541). The position of each sub-beam on the corresponding portion of the detector is determined, to thereby identify the orientation of the corresponding reflective surface and thus the stored information represented by that surface.

Abstract: A recorded information reproducing apparatus has a crosstalk canceler to ensure fast convergence of the values of filter coefficients of an adaptive digital filter and stable operation. The recorded information reproducing apparatus comprises a reading unit for reading recorded information from one track on a recording medium to acquire a first read signal, and for reading recorded information from at least one track adjacent to the one track to acquire a second read signal; an operating unit for operating at least one coefficient on the second read signal; a subtracter for subtracting an output of the operating unit from the first read signal; and a coefficient setting unit for setting the at least one coefficient and for restricting the at least one coefficient in such a way that the at least one coefficient becomes greater than a first predetermined value or smaller than a second predetermined value.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having an information recorded at a high density, and an optical reproducing method and apparatus for reproducing the optical recording medium. The optical recording medium is provided with an information recording face having an information recorded as pit trains and including a track having any one of concentric circle and spiral shape, wherein at least two pit trains are arranged adjacently to be reproduced by a single light beam. An information is stored in a dual or triple pit train shape, so that a recording density can be increased at least more than twice. When a total length of the dual pit is recorded as a single pit length, it has a changeability with the existent optical recording medium such as CD and DVD, etc.

Abstract: Spiral tracks are formed on a recording surface of an information disk such as an optical disk, and data is recorded by interleaving technique as well as adding error correction information. A disk driver rotates the information disk at a specified speed. Plural tracks are read simultaneously by a reading device. Analog data of the plural lines are converted into digital data by an A/D converter, and stored in a frame data buffer memory by each line. The data are respectively decoded sequentially in a decoder. When the disk makes one rotation, the data of next track is read in duplicate as much as the portion of the interleaving length of the tail data of each one of the plural tracks being read on the information disk. By data aligning means, according to a command from a controller, the data—corresponding to the number of tracks that can be read simultaneously—being output in parallel from the decoder are aligned sequentially from the head data on the information disk.

Abstract: A light beam encoded with data simultaneously reads out data stored in tracks on an optical disk and produces a reflected beam directed to a detector array. The data stored on the optical disk and the encoded data may be components of vector arrays. As the light beam illuminates the rotating optical disk, the data stored on the disk is multiplied by the encoded data. The products of the multiplication are encoded in the reflected beam. A multiplicity of data is read out in parallel from the optical disk and simultaneously correlated with the encoded data. This comparison or correlation operation is performed on digitally encoded data utilizing convolution, or with analog encoding. The present invention can be utilized in pattern matching.

Abstract: An EET (“eight-to-ten”) method has been proposed for two-dimensional spatial encoding of information stored in two- or three-dimensional, in particular fluorescent optical carriers. The method specifically ensures the same writing density as DVD carriers with EFM (“eight-fourteen modulation”) modulation code but for 0.8×0.4 &mgr; information pit (fluorescent mark), i.e. as in CD data carriers. The larger—as compared to the DVD format—pit size enables a simpler technology for manufacturing fluorescent multilayer carriers, for instance of ROM type, and a stronger fluorescent signal in reading. The high writing density is ensured through virtually 100% filling of the information layer area with fluorescent marks in a gap-free manner. In addition, this allows application of the parallel data reading procedure and a ten-fold higher reading speed than in DVD systems. Increasing the size of the channel bit to 0.4 &mgr;m—which is 1.

Abstract: An optical reproducing method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate having a plurality of tracks associated with a plurality of grooves. A plurality of zones are provided with each zone including at least two tracks. Radially adjacent units of a respective zone are delimited by a pair of radial lines joined to form a central angle at an apex proximate to a center of the disk-like substrate with each unit of a respective zone being delimited by the same central angle and units of different zones being delimited by different central angles. The grooves are wobbled in the radial direction and the length is the same for the different zones. The method includes irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium, detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium, and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously recording and reading information on a medium moveable in forward and reverse directions includes a first record laser and means for establishing a first beam path for recording information on the moveable medium and a second read laser and at least one read-out detector and means for establishing a beam path so that the light from the second laser illuminates the medium and is reflected to the detector which reads recorded information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for synchronously reading data from multiple tracks of an optical disk using multiple illumination beams. Circuitry is provided for use with a photodetector array to read and buffer data in parallel from the multiple adjacent tracks, while asynchronously providing processed data to a host processor. Circuitry is further provided for concurrently processing the signals read from the multiple data tracks to recover the data stored in the tracks.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing method is provided with an information recording method of optically recording digital data onto an information recording medium such as an optical disc etc., by forming a pit having a shape corresponding to the digital data, and an information reproducing method of optically reproducing the recorded digital data from the information recording medium.

Abstract: A light beam encoded with data simultaneously reads out data stored in tracks on an optical disk and produces a reflected beam directed to a detector array. The data stored on the optical disk and the encoded data may be components of vector arrays. As the light beam illuminates the rotating optical disk, the data stored on the disk is multiplied by the encoded data. The products of the multiplication are encoded in the reflected beam. A multiplicity of data is read out in parallel from the optical disk and simultaneously correlated with the encoded data. This comparison or correlation operation is performed on digitally encoded data utilizing convolution, or with analog encoding. The present invention can be utilized in pattern matching.

Abstract: A signal delay apparatus is provided with; a FIR filter for detecting a leakage signal, which is mixed in a digital detected signal, which is optically obtained from a main truck to be detected in association with the information recorded on a sub truck adjacent to the main truck to be detected, based n a filter coefficient; a coefficient setting unit for generating the above filter coefficient based on the digital detected signal, of which leakage signal is removed, and a digital detected signal, and outputting the generated filter coefficient to the filter; a CPU for controlling the delay amount in the delay with respect to any filter coefficient based on the change of the filter coefficient, which is generated in a predetermined time period and variable delay circuits and for delaying the digital detected signal and the digital detected signal by the controlled delay amount.

Abstract: In an optical device such as an optical pickup or the like, the number of optical assemblies may be reduced, an alignment required when the optical assemblies are disposed may be simplified, the whole of the device may be simplified and miniaturized, a tracking signal such as a tracking error signal or the like may be stably obtained relative to optical recording media having various pit depths, and the optical device may be manufactured with ease by the semiconductor process.

Abstract: An information data recording/reproducing method correctly reproduces information data from a recording disc on which high density recording is performed through implementation of an increased linear density and a narrower track pitch. Each of recording data recorded at each of (m×n) recording points existing on n adjacent recording track (n is a natural number equal to or larger than two) including a target recording point and existing on m adjacent disc radial lines (m is a natural number equal to or larger than two) including the target recording point is subtracted from information data to derive a subtraction result. A residual operation is performed on the subtraction result to derive a residue value which is recorded at the target recording point. Recorded information is simultaneously read from (m×n) recording points existing on n adjacent recording tracks and existing on m adjacent disc radial lines to produce a read signal.

Abstract: A servo circuit performs tracking control such that the center of scanning is positioned at the center between the track from which data is reproduced and the track immediately before. Then, the beam spot scans the track from which data is to be reproduced and the immediately preceding track at the same time, and a reproduction signal made by inter-code interference between these two tracks is output. A precoding circuit performs a subtractive calculation on first data to be stored on a first track respective to second data stored on a precedent adjacent track to derive actual data to be stored on the first track and to compensate for the second data. In this way, pits or marks are formed such that inter-code interference is canceled during reproduction.

Abstract: A control method for an optical disk drive is disclosed. In the control method, first and second light beams output from an optical head are irradiated to an optical disk. Information is recorded or reproduced using the first light beam, and information is deleted using the second light beam. The control method consists of steps described below. At a step, the moving velocity of the first light beam is calculated, and the moving velocity of the first light beam is controlled so that the moving velocity varies in conformity to a first velocity profile predetermined. Herein, the first velocity profile is pre-set to assist the first light beam in reaching a target track for the shortest time. At the next step, the position of the optical head is controlled so that the optical head follows the first light beam. At the next step, if the first light beam is accelerating or traveling at a constant velocity, the position of the second light beam is controlled so that the second light beam follows the optical head.

Abstract: A servo circuit performs tracking control such that the center of scanning is positioned at the center between the track from which data is reproduced and the track immediately before. Then, the beam spot scans the track from which data is to be reproduced and the immediately preceding track at the same time, and a reproduction signal made by inter-code interference between these two tracks is output. A constant relationship is maintained between data specified only by the pit or mark formed on one track and the data specified only by the pit or mark made on the former adjacent track. In this way, pits or marks are formed such that inter-code interference is canceled during reproduction.