Abstract: The position of a light blocking object is detected not only within a display screen, but also outside the display screen. With the use of the function of detecting the position in a region outside the display screen, it becomes possible to provide virtual buttons in this region and detect dust around a light retro-reflector. Dirt on the light retro-reflector is detected based on the levels of light receiving signals of optical units.

Abstract: An input data recording apparatus is provided with a data inputting section 7 for inputting image data, moving data image and music/sound data; a data edit section 8 for editing to display a slide show using the inputted data; a data conversion section 9 for converting the slide show data into the data of Video-CD format or DVD-Video format that can be reproduced by the image reproducing equipment 21 such as a DVD player and a game console; and a data transfer section 10/data recording section 11 for recording the aforementioned data and application on such a recording medium as a CD-R and DVD-R, with consideration given to the order of seeking data in the equipment, in such a way that they can be reproduced by computer equipment and image reproducing equipment.

Abstract: A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in either n.xy or n.x. form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

Abstract: A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in either n.xy or n.x. form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

Abstract: A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in either n.xy or n.x. form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

Abstract: Conventionally, as in the case of switching between a DVD-R and a DVD-RAM, when the method of record mark arrangement in a track is changed, the physical format of the disk is also changed. This makes it difficult to ensure compatibility between pieces of data recorded by a plurality of different methods of record mark arrangement. According to the present invention, sector address data and block address data are recorded in each sector by using wobbling or deformation of a recording groove. Then, depending on which address is used, sector data structure is modified, thereby making it possible to select an address data detection and a data structure on a disk in a single physical format depending on the purpose.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing fine search in a sled movement mechanism employing a stepping motor by controlling the speed with which the head jumps in succession to next neighboring tracts on a disc and by causing pickup movement accurately for a distance corresponding to the distance of movement of the objective lens to realize the fine search in the sled movement mechanism employing the stepping motor. Also, the distance of head movement in the radial direction of the disc can be prescribed and, upon interruption of the head jumping operation, the head can be subsequently transported a distance corresponding to the target number of track jumps.

Abstract: The message recording unit and method identify an article or specify a predetermined position in a content recording medium, input related information corresponding to the article or the predetermined position and record as message information the article and the related information or position information indicating the predetermined position and the related information or an access destination of the related information in correspondence to each other into a storage. The message reproducing unit and method identify the article or reference the content recording medium, search the storage for the message information corresponding to the article or the predetermined position, and read and output the detected message information. The message recording/reproducing method includes the message recording method and the message reproducing method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing optical recording media is provided that detects the intensity of a reflective light off of an optical recording media and analyzes the initializing condition based on the detected intensity during an initializing process. The light is radiated on a rotating phase-change optical recording medium. The light may be moved in a radial direction of the optical recording medium. The detected intensity of the reflected light may be used to identify crystallized portions and amorphous portions of the optical media. The initialization process can be adaptively controlled to ensure proper initialization. If desired, re-initialization can be limited to those areas detected to be outside of the predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A turntable comprises a guide portion concentric with a rotary shaft for rotary driving an information recording disk and a ring-like centering member for centering the information recording disk by employing a central hole is provided in the information recording disk the centering member being provided so that it can move up and down so that the outer peripheral surface of the guide portion and the inner peripheral surface of the centering member face each other, wherein the centering member applies pressure to the inner periphery of the central hole of the information recording disk during rotation, thereby pressing it against the guide portion. As a result, the guide portion is elastically deformed and the centering accuracy of a disk carried on a turntable is maintained.

Abstract: A DVD-RMA4 on which contents, digital copyrighted works, wherein one or more first contents and a first list information (music list) showing a list of said one or more first contents (for example, CPRM and CPS2) are recorded by a first recording method, one or more second contents and a second list information (music list) showing a list of said one or more second contents are recorded by a second recording method (for example, non-CP), and a common list information (master music list) showing a list of contents including the contents indicated in the first list information and the contents indicated in the second list information are recorded.

Abstract: A recording medium apparatus capable of loading a plurality of types of recording media is disclosed. The recording medium apparatus is operable for loading a recording medium having a terminal at a front edge side thereof with respect to an insertion direction and a common dimension part configured to have a predefined dimension at a side opposite to the insertion direction. The recording medium apparatus mechanically and electrically loads and unloads the recording medium based on the common dimension part regardless of different insertion directional lengths of the various recording media.

Abstract: In order to permit a disc to be laid easily on a disc tray in a disc device movable along guide rails fitted into the disc device and having a circular recess made on its upper surface even though the tray is not fully pulled out from the cabinet, the circular recess has a disc-bearing surface on which a disc is to be laid, and the disc-bearing surface has a recess on its rear side, thereby permitting a disc to be inclined and inserted deep into the space between the front overhung of the cabinet and the unexposed area of the disc-bearing surface while holding the disc in the most stable way with the first finger inserted in the center hole and with the thumb applied to the circumference of the disc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a card-type terminal such as a PC card with a memory card such as a USIM card. It allows a memory card to be secured easily on a tray and inserted easily into a card-type terminal. A card-type terminal includes a tray slidable in and out freely with a memory card mounted, and a guide which helps the tray slide in and houses the inserted tray; in which the memory card is placed on the tray, which is slid into the guide, thereby installing the memory card in the card-type terminal. The tray has a holder which secures, to the tray, the forward-end center section of the memory card mounted along the insertion direction of the tray and an elastic restraining piece which secures, to the tray, the backward-end center section of the memory card mounted along the insertion direction of the tray.

Abstract: A media picker assembly includes a frame, a plunge assembly operable to travel along a predetermined axis of the frame to engage and disengage a media cartridge, and first and second cables coupled to the frame for transmitting first and second predetermined sets of signals, respectively.

Abstract: A tray drive mechanism has a simple structure, and yet both an optical disc clamping operation and a tray opening and closing operation can be driven by one feed motor.

Abstract: According to this invention, general addresses are given to a multi-layer information storage medium to facilitate handing of information. That is, it is possible to set generalized addresses for multiple information layers, and information indicating a condition for setting the general addresses, e.g., the contents of a disk ID zone in a rewritable zone of a lead-in area, is recorded on an information reproducing layer.

Abstract: A control system for a compact disc jukebox detects skips in the compact disc by reading an apparent elapsed time signal from the compact disc that is encoded on the compact disc. A timer is simultaneously started and outputs a real elapsed time signal. A comparison is made between the real elapsed time signal and the apparent elapsed time signal. If the difference between these two signals exceeds a predetermined amount of time, a skip is recorded. The detection of a skip may be recorded as to a particular selection on a particular CD, along with the time of the skip. Appropriate action may be taken in response to the recording of a skip, such as cancelling the selection or stopping the CD.

Abstract: A CD player for use with a CD having prerecorded thereon a series of tunes or tracks together with track numbers, and with a TOC which lists the prerecorded tunes with their starting addresses but, conventionally, with no ending addresses. The CD player comprises a RAM for storing the TOC read on the CD, a CPU for permitting the user to edit the TOC, and a preprogrammed RAM. After being stored on the RAM, the TOC from the disk is modified to include the ending addresses of the prerecorded tunes in addition to their starting addresses. The thus modified TOC is editable by the user for playback of any desired tune or tunes, either in part or in whole and in any desired order, permitting the customization of disk playback in a far more diversified way than heretofore.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preserving a region code for an optical disk drive in an internal flash memory contained in a microcomputer. This region code preserving method receives a region code to be written, copies a part of the firmware for the optical disk drive stored in memory means to an external memory, and writes the received region code in the memory means separately from the firmware by the execution of the copied firmware.

Abstract: There provided an audio device that includes, in its housing, an audio section outputting an identification signal, receiving an input signal, amplifying the input signal and output an output signal, and an optical disc device which, only when receiving an identification signal from the audio section, playing back the optical disc in response to an instruction signal, and, when not receiving the identification signal, does not play back the optical disc even if it receives the instruction signal. Thus, even if only the optical disc device is removed from the housing, connected to a PC and receives a read instruction signal, information in the optical disc cannot be illegally read.

Abstract: A multitasking information processing method comprises the steps of (a) providing a plurality of turntables each for detachably storing an optical disc thereon; (b) affording a plurality of optical units each comprising a driving means and an optical read head; (c) simultaneously controlling the driving means so as to move the optical read heads in radial directions of the optical disc to a plurality of predetermined disc positions for simultaneously retrieving information stored thereon; (d) multitaskingly or simultaneously processing a plurality of information sets retrieved; and (e) rendering data transmitting means capable of multitaskingly transmitting the processed information sets processed.

Abstract: An intrusion monitor for a media storage system. One embodiment of the intrusion monitor comprises a flag operatively associated with at least one storage compartment in the media storage system, the flag moving between a first position and a second position to indicate the state of at least one storage compartment. A sensor provided in the media storage system, the sensor detecting the position of the flag to determine the state of the at least one storage compartment.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus (100) is provided with a reading device (4) for reading reproduction data and reproduction control data to control a reproduction of the reproduction data from a record disc (1), on which the reproduction data and the reproduction control data are recorded, a record medium (7, 10) having a plurality of memory areas, a data managing device (9) for storing one reproduction control data read by the reading device into one of the memory areas, and a reproducing device (8) for reproducing the reproduction data in accordance with the reproduction control data stored in the memory areas.

Abstract: In a multimedia system for a vehicle, a plurality of multimedia units are connected to one another by an optical bus laid as a ring line. An interface unit, situated at an arbitrary point in the ring line or integrated into one of the multimedia units establishes a radio connection between the multimedia system and an external unit, which for example transmits traffic information to the multimedia system.

Abstract: An information storage medium includes: a plurality of unit audio information to be reproduced independently of each other; aggregate audio information each including one or more of the unit audio information; unit attribute information indicating attributes of the unit audio information included in the aggregate audio information; and aggregate attribute information including the unit attribute information corresponding to the aggregate audio information recorded on the storage medium. By referring to the aggregate attribute information, the attributes of all the unit audio information may be readily and quickly obtained.

Abstract: An optical disk physical has a recording region divided into zones, each zone including physical tracks adjacent to each other. An integer number of sectors are provided in each physical track. The angular recording density is higher in the more outward zones such that the linear recording density is substantially constant throughout the recording region, and logical tracks are formed of a predetermined number of sectors, independent of the physical tracks. The conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from a host device is easy. The addresses written in headers of the sectors in the logical track in which data are actually recorded, including substitute sectors used in place of defect sectors, are preferably consecutive to further facilitate the conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from the host device.

Abstract: Audiovisual reproduction system triggered by payment from a user, developed around a microprocessor device, including memory containing audio and visual information to be used, a display and digital audio reproduction unit providing a multimedia environment, wherein the display comprises a video monitor and an interactive interface with the user by an interface program which reacts to external events and translates the external events for a multitasking operating system as events which trigger, via a graphical module of a library of integrated tools and services, a display of windows or frames providing a modification of physical operating parameters of the audiovisual reproduction system, the external events including at least a down event interpreting coincidence of a placement of pointing device with the position of at least a representation displayed by the graphic module, and an event which triggers modification of the physical operating parameters by storing these parameters in the memory.

Abstract: According to this invention, general addresses are given to a multi-layer information storage medium to facilitate handing of information. That is, it is possible to set generalized addresses for multiple information layers, and information indicating a condition for setting the general addresses, e.g., the contents of a disk ID zone in a rewritable zone of a lead-in area, is recorded on an information reproducing layer.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus using an information recording medium, having: a unit for identifying and detecting a WO type information recording medium and a rewritable type information recording medium; a control unit for each of the WO type information recording medium and the rewritable type information recording medium; and a display apparatus for displaying a detection result of the detecting unit. In the video signal recording apparatus using the information recording medium, file management information to form a directory is recorded as intermediate information onto the information recording medium.