Abstract: The present invention relates to a hollow-fibre membrane having a novel structure and to a production method therefor. The hollow-fibre separation membrane of the present invention has an outermost shell surface pore size of between 0.001 and 0.05 ?m and a mean pore size of between 0.01 and 0.1 ?m while having, in sequence from the outermost shell surface, a dense sponge structure, a finger-like sponge structure and a mixed sponge-bead structure; and, because of this specific triple structure, the invention has outstanding mechanical strength, porosity and water permeability alike while also having a high performance whereby it is possible to eliminate even viruses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state disk including a storage unit configured to store data, and a control part configured to control enciphering and writing operation for the data using a key value and an initialization vector. The initialization vector is generated by processing an address corresponding to the data.

Abstract: A focus servo system for an optical disk drive includes an optical pick-up unit comprising at least one photodetector. At least one analog to digital converter is configured to digitize signals received from the at least one photodetector. At least one processor is configured to execute a digital servo algorithm to process the versions of the digitized signals to calculate a focus error signal (FES) from the versions of the digitized signals and to indicate a focus open condition based on the FES and the versions of the digitized signals.

Abstract: A servo processor for an optical disk drive is provided that includes: an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.

Abstract: A servo processor for an optical disk drive is provided that includes: an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.

Abstract: An optical disc reader comprising a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on an optical disc and a counter that counts the number of zero crossings in a tracking error signal. Between the completion of focusing operation and the start of tracking operation, the controller determines whether or not the light beam is properly focused on a data recording layer in the optical disc based on the number of zero crossings in the tracking error signal counted by the counter. If it is determined that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing operation to be performed again. Otherwise, if it is determined that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking operation to be performed and then starts the read operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording data on an information storage medium including a plurality of recording layers, each having a user data area, on which data is recordable by a pickup. Data is recorded in the order of recording layers from closest to farthest from the pickup, and a recordable region in a user data area of a recording layer on which data is to be recorded is smaller than that in a recording layer between the pickup and the recording layer on which data is to be recorded. Each recording layer contains a recordable region in a user data area and a optimum power control (OPC) area in order to maintain the same recording/reproducing characteristics between the plurality of recording layers.

Abstract: Provided is a drive signal generating apparatus including: an arithmetic section that calculates an approximate expression to approximate variations of multiple detected values each representing one of a position of an optical pickup section and an amount of positional deviation of the optical pickup section with respect to a current target position, the position of the optical pickup section being sequentially detected when the optical pickup section moves stepwise toward multiple target positions set in advance on a drawing surface of a drawing target; and a drive signal generation section that generates a second drive signal synchronized with a first drive signal for causing the optical pickup section to move stepwise, the second drive signal having a signal value corresponding to an approximate value calculated by substituting a value associated with each of the multiple target positions into the approximate expression so as to move an optical component provided in the optical pickup section.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a first judging device (191) for judging whether or not a tracking error signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; a detecting device (192) for detecting, as a detection angle, a rotation angle of an information recording medium (100) when it is judged that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; and a second judging device (193) for judging whether or not the judgment that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value is performed at the same detection angle.

Abstract: A recording device including: a recorder recording data onto a recording medium on which tracks as units of audio data are grouped and managed by management information; and a controller generating an image file in which image data associated with one of each track recorded on the recording medium and each group managed by the management information is collected, and recording the image file onto the recording medium by the recording means.

Abstract: An optical disc drive according to the present invention writes information on an optical disc, which includes a substrate on which a number of pre-pits have been formed on its tracks and a recording film that is supported on the substrate. The optical disc drive includes a writing control section for instructing an optical pickup to record marks on the tracks by irradiating the recording film with a writing light beam. In accordance with information that defines, on the tracks, recordable areas Aa1 through Aa4 where the marks are recordable and pre-pit reading areas Ab1 through Ab4 where no marks are recordable, the writing control section controls the optical pickup so that the marks are recorded on at least some of the recordable areas. On the tracks on which the marks are recorded, each recordable area is shorter than any of the pre-pit reading areas.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a first judging device (191) for judging whether or not a tracking error signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; a detecting device (192) for detecting, as a detection angle, a rotation angle of an information recording medium (100) when it is judged that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; and a second judging device (193) for judging whether or not the judgment that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value is performed in synchronization with rotation of the information recording medium and at the same detection angle in a row.

Abstract: In a disc processing apparatus capable of automatically carrying out processing work such as recording information on a plurality of optical discs and printing label surfaces on those optical discs, this disc processing apparatus is able to suppress by separating a conveyed optical disc from an optical disc located just under the conveyed optical disc the occurrence of a phenomenon in which a plurality of optical discs is simultaneously conveyed in the state in which they stuck together when a plurality of optical discs accommodated within a stacker in the stacked state stuck together. After a disc contact portion 17c of a disc holding mechanism C1 was brought in contact with an optical disc D, the disc holding mechanism C1 is lowered by a predetermined amount to urge the disc contact portion 17c to downwardly press the optical disc D to thereby apply force directed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the disc surface to the optical disc D.

Abstract: An optical disk drive is provided that includes: a plurality of photodetectors for receiving reflected light from an optical disk, each photodetector providing a photodetector output signal; an analog-to-digital converter for converting versions of the photodetector output signals into digital signals; and a digital signal processor configured to receive the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to determine a focus error signal (FES) and a tracking error signal (TES) from the digital signals, the digital signal processor being further configured to process TES and FES through servo algorithms to produce tracking and focus control signals.

Abstract: An optical disc device includes an optical pickup for irradiating optical discs with laser and detecting light reflected by the disc to generate received light signals, optical pickup driving means for driving the pickup radially, traverse signal generation means for generating traverse signals forming a pulse at the pickup's crossing a track by binarizing the received light signal based on binary threshold, movement control means for recognizing moving amount and speed of the pickup based on the traverse signal and controlling the optical pickup driving means based on the recognition result for the pickup's seeking to the target, and abnormality monitoring means for sending abnormality notices to the movement control means when pulse interval of the traverse signal exceeds the threshold, the movement control means, after temporarily stopping seek according to the abnormality notice, recognizes the temporary stop position for the optical pickup's seeking from the position to the target.

Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, enhancements have been developed to further extend the performance of a generic DVD navigator. The methods and arrangements herein provide a mechanism that allows a player application to precisely ‘bookmark’ locations during playback, and later resume playback at the selected bookmarked locations.

Abstract: A data recording method is disclosed which includes the steps of: firstly recording audio data onto a temporary storage medium following retrieval of the audio data from an external storage medium in response to an audio data import request; detecting whether a leading frame of the audio data held on the temporary storage medium references a preceding frame; and secondly recording the audio data held on the temporary storage medium to a storage medium in accordance with an outcome of the detecting step.

Abstract: Current BD specification prescribes that in an ADIP an address is expressed with 21 bits, 19 to indicate the corresponding RUB number, and 2 to be set to 00, 01 and 10 consecutively in the 3 successive ADIP corresponding to one RUB, the smallest addressable portion of data on a disc. From this it derives that at most 32.2 GB of storage space can be addressed. Due to recent developments however, a storage capacity of 35 GB per layer could be achieved. According to the invention, one or more bits are added to the 21 bits currently allocated to express an address. This additional bits however are not stored in the ADIP but left implicit, exempting from a heavy deviation from the current BD encoding rules. The additional bits are reconstructed by an apparatus on the basis of the position on the information carrier where the corresponding RUB is present.

Abstract: A portable data storage assembly, comprising a holographic data storage layer, and an optical tracking layer comprising addressing information for the holographic data storage layer, wherein that addressing information defines a first storage band comprising a first plurality of storage addresses and a second storage band comprising a second plurality of storage addresses, wherein said second plurality of storage address is greater than said first plurality of storage addresses.

Abstract: A simultaneous recording and reproduction method for recording a first real time data in an information recording medium while reproducing a second real time data recorded in the information recording medium, including the steps of: searching for unallocated areas on the information recording medium and allocating at least one unallocated area, each having a size which is greater than or equal to a minimum size Y, as an area in which the first real time data is to be recorded: selecting at least one area in which each area includes a non-used area having a size which is less than or equal to K from among the allocated at least one area, wherein K denotes the size of non-used area which is allowed within a window having the same size as the minimum size Y: recording the first real time data in the selected at least one area; and reading the second real time data from at least one area in which the second real time data has been recorded, whereby each of the at least one area has a size which is greater than eq

Abstract: A track jump method for an optical recording/reproducing medium is provided. In the track jump method, once a track jump command is input, a track jump operation is held until a falling edge of a header mask signal is detected. The track jump starts at the falling edge of the header mask signal and ends before a rising edge of the header mask signal so that a TZC signal is not influenced by a header during the track jump. Therefore, the track jump can be exactly and stably performed. In particular, when the track jump command is input, a PLL of a wobble signal is inhibited, and a PLL-wobble signal is held to a previous value obtained before the track jump is performed, during the track jump, or a header mask signal is generated using a read channel signal which is not influenced by a wobble period, until a wobble signal becomes stable after a trackjump. During a normal servo, a header mask signal is generated using a PLL-wobble signal to mask a header area.

Abstract: A method of searching a new writable address (NWA) for an optical recordable medium includes providing an optical pickup head and setting a first search starting point thereof; determining if NWA is located at the latest track and setting a search finishing point of the optical pickup head; setting a second search starting point as the distance between the search finishing point and the first search starting point is less than a first predetermined block time duration; decoding the stored digital information and lasting the step of decoding for a third predetermined block time from the first search starting point; and detecting whether a run-out block has been decoded during an N block time duration, wherein said N block time duration is less than said third predetermined block time duration, and determining said new writable address.

Abstract: An optical disk device has a recording information management portion which detects a distribution of a recorded region R and an unrecorded region M based on reflection light received by an optical head and an access target setting circuit which determines an access target of an optical head so as to make access to a target position of a recording layer of an optical disk while avoiding the unrecorded region M based on the detected distribution of the regions. Since an access is made while passing through only the recorded region R, a servo operation can be stabilized.

Abstract: A method for preventing a TOC reading error in a multi-session disc includes determining a range of absolute time of a specific session, when a plurality of Q codes, each of which has a value in a “POINT” item not equal to B0, are read, determining whether each of the plurality of Q codes is located in the range of absolute time according to an absolute time of each Q code, and when a first Q code having a value in the “POINT” item equal to B0 is read, reading a second Q code that has a value in the “POINT” item not equal to B0 again, and determining whether the absolute time of the second Q code is within the range of absolute time.

Abstract: A distribution content provided with conditions that are only effective to part of a content body is created. On a time axis, a section of a content body is specified. Management data is then created which indicates use conditions that are only effective to the specified section, and the created management data is provided to the content body for distribution.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for jumping tracks on a double-layer optical disk from a first address A on a first data layer to a target address D on a second data layer. According to the method, the first address A where the optical head is currently positioned is read. Then, after jumping to the second data layer, a relative second address B on the second data layer that corresponds to the first address A on the first data layer is read. If the second address B on the second data layer is smaller than the first address A on the first data layer, then the address of the second address B on the second data layer is shifted and a new target address is obtained on the second data layer based on this address shift. A calculation function is performed based on the first address A and the new target address, and then the optical head is moved to the new target address on the second data layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for a write-once and/or re-recordable optical recording medium includes a discriminator for discriminating a recording position information from the optical recording medium; a detector for detecting a deviation between the address information recorded in the recording medium and the recording position information; and a controller for controlling the recording position of a data signal including address information based on the deviation while recording the data signal.

Abstract: A signal recording/playback apparatus includes a recording data converter. The recording data converter converts on a data pattern having a large influence on adjacent tracks on an optical disk, and outputs the converted data to an optical pickup. Specifically, by performing a data converting process in which, for a data pattern having a predetermined length of at least consecutive bits having identical values, part of the bits is inverted based on a conversion table, the recording data converter compensates a recording operation. Alternatively, instead of inverting the bits, by controlling the output power and pulse width of a laser, the recording operation is compensated. The signal recording/playback apparatus includes a played-back data converter. In the data playback mode of the signal recording/playback apparatus, the data converted by the recording data converter is identified and decoded into the original data by the played-back data converter. The played-back data converter outputs the original data.

Abstract: Essentially all of the processing parameters which control processing of a source audio signal to produce an encoded audio signal are stored in an audio processing profile. Multiple audio processing profiles are stored in a processing profile database such that specific combinations of processing parameters can be retrieved and used at a later time. Audio processing profiles are organized according to specific delivery bandwidths such that a sound engineer can quickly and efficiently encode audio signals for each of a number of distinct delivery media. Synchronized A/B switching during playback of various encoded audio signals allows the sound engineer to detect nuances in the sound characteristics of the various encoded audio signals.

Abstract: A method for performing a track skip and a playback device for optical storage disks enable an accelerated track skip in the case of a non-moving storage disk in which a time is determined for the track skip of a read device between a current track and a selected track of a storage disk inserted in the playback device, as a function of the tracks to be skipped in this instance, and the read device is moved in the direction of the selected track for the determined time. In response to a track skip request, the read device is moved in the direction of a lead-in area of the optical storage disk until a starting position is detected. The time necessary for the track skip from starting position to the selected track is determined from this track.

Abstract: A track jump method for an optical recording/reproducing medium is provided. In the track jump method, once a track jump command is input, a track jump operation is held until a falling edge of a header mask signal is detected. The track jump starts at the falling edge of the header mask signal and ends before a rising edge of the header mask signal so that a TZC signal is not influenced by a header during the track jump. Therefore, the track jump can be exactly and stably performed. In particular, when the track jump command is input, a PLL of a wobble signal is inhibited, and a PLL-wobble signal is held to a previous value obtained before the track jump is performed, during the track jump, or a header mask signal is generated using a read channel signal which is not influenced by a wobble period, until a wobble signal becomes stable after a track jump. During a normal servo, a header mask signal is generated using a PLL-wobble signal to mask a header area.

Abstract: The invention is an offset setting system for an optical reading/writing apparatus having an optical pickup head reading/writing digital data under a predetermined velocity on an optical storage media. The apparatus sets the offset including a plurality of buffer blocks when the pickup head crosses storage tracks each time on the media and stop on a target storage track. The offset is to steady the pickup head to read/write data on a target block of the target storage track. A buffer time estimating module estimates an average time for the pickup head crossing a buffer block under a predetermined velocity, defining as a buffer time. The buffer blocks setting module records a steady time for the pickup head steadying to read/write data on the target block, and sets the number of the buffer blocks by a predetermined setting process in the offset based on the buffer time and the steady time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending the operation of a rotating optical media player that uses simplified and efficient logic circuitry is described. When an operator initiates a pause operation, for example, by pressing a pause key, the current location of an optical pickup (e.g., a value of the current track ID) is stored. Then, a tracking servo loop is opened and a near zero offset is provided to the input of the tracking actuator. The condition of the optical disk system is then maintained in a “wait” state until the operator decides to end the pause process by selecting an alternate operation, such as “Play”, “Search”, or some other functions. When an alternate operation is received, the tracking servo loop is closed. The system then enters a search mode to reposition the optical head to the position indicated by the track ID, which was previously saved. Finally, the selected function command is activated.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reading and/or writing data on a disk (1) storing data in a continuous spiral form (2). The data is simultaneously read from or written to N tracks (4-8, 12-20) by N spots, N being an integer larger than or equal to 2. The reading and/or writing is performed by alternating between reading/writing and actuator jumps. In order to increase the efficiency of such multi track disk drives a next jump decision is calculated dynamically on the basis of a real-time analysis determining a next position of a unit (23) for reading/writing data relative to the disk (1).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: A method and device for searching a recording medium are provided. The recording medium has a management information area of which location information is overlapped with that of a program area. The method for determining an area on a recording medium having an overlapped time range between two areas reads a time address from a current position on the recording medium, obtains additional information from the recording medium or from a recording medium driving unit, if the read time address belongs to the overlapped range, and determines, based on the obtained additional information, to which one the areas the current position belongs. Therefore, the present invention prevents wrong track jumps that are caused from time-overlapped areas on a capacity-expanded recording medium.

Abstract: A substrate for an optical recording medium, includes recording tracks formed in guide grooves on a disc; and an address section having an address pit sequence formed between the recording tracks in the guide grooves along an information reading direction of the recording tracks. The recording tracks in the guide grooves are divided into a prescribed number of zones. In each of the zones, the center of the address section corresponding to a recording track in the radially outermost or radially innermost guide groove is disposed so as to shift in a radial direction of the disc in relative relationship to the center of the recording track in the guide groove.

Abstract: An information recording medium has such error detecting codes that the distance between the codes of adjacent tracks of the medium is always 1. The bits E1-Em of the detecting codes, which are included by pre-format information, are generated as data trains of parity check bits constructed by dividing the bits S1-Sm of the sector numbers and the bits T1-T2 of the track numbers. If the generated detecting codes are compared between adjacent, tracks, the distance between the codes is always 1. Consequently, when the detecting codes of a desired track are read out, substantially no cross talk occurs from the detecting codes of the adjacent tracks. Therefore, even if the recording medium has a narrow track pitch, it is possible to reliably and accurately detect the errors of address data of the medium.

Abstract: A method for reproducing information, comprising the steps of: reading compressed audio data from an information recording medium in which the compressed audio data is recorded in a frame unit; and subjecting the compressed audio data thus read to an expansion processing to reproduce same. When an instruction is given to make a special reproduction in which a frame region to be reproduced and an other frame region not to be reproduced are mixed, control is made so that the compressed audio data in respective frames are successively reproduced in the frame region to be reproduced, and a header information for the respective frames is read out in the other frame region not to be reproduced, and determination on a leading position of a subsequent frame is made on a basis of the header information, thereby conducting a successive migration for the respective frames.

Abstract: Pieces of address information are recorded on an optical disc such that they are successively continuous addresses within each zone but discontinuous at a beginning of a zone next to the previous zone, and an address after repeating the addresses of the previous zone for two rounds becomes the forefront address of the zone next to the previous zone. Access to the land tracks is performed by returning to the first address position in a zone after the addresses of the groove tracks become the last address of the zone, and the access is performed by recognizing an address continued from the last address of the groove tracks suppositionally on the pieces of address information recorded on the groove tracks, and then the access is successively performed to move to the next zone after the addresses of the land tracks become the last address of the zone.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has a function of jumping to an arbitrary track on a recording medium in response to a track jump request when making access to the recording medium, where the recording medium is divided into a plurality of zones in a radial direction thereof and employing a ZCAV system. The storage apparatus includes a zone recognizing part recognizing a zone to which a present position on the recording medium belongs, and a jumping part jumping to a first zone to which the arbitrary track belongs or to a second zone which is adjacent to the first zone, based on the zone recognized by the zone recognizing part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending the operation of a rotating optical media player that uses simplified and efficient logic circuitry is described. When an operator initiates a pause operation, for example, by pressing a pause key, the current location of an optical pickup (e.g., a value of the current track ID) is stored. Then, a tracking servo loop is opened and a near zero offset is provided to the input of the tracking actuator. The condition of the optical disk system is then maintained in a “wait” state until the operator decides to end the pause process by selecting an alternate operation, such as “Play”, “Search”, or some other functions. When an alternate operation is received, the tracking servo loop is closed. The system then enters a search mode to reposition the optical head to the position indicated by the track ID, which was previously saved. Finally, the selected function command is activated.

Abstract: A portable optical disc apparatus made into a slim-type apparatus and an optical disc adapted for the portable optical disc apparatus are disclosed. In the portable optical disc apparatus, a pickup is secured onto a base, and a movable member in the pickup is operated to access only an area within a specific radius range that is a partial area of the optical disc.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for accessing data tracks calculate a reproduction speed of a target location based on a current rotation speed, adjust the speed of a data reading clock to the calculated rotation speed during movement of an optical pickup to the target location, and process signals reproduced at the target location with the adjusted data reading clock to restore the signals into data. The above procedures of changing the clock for data reading before an optical pickup is moved to a target location make it possible to reproduce recorded signals on an optical disk immediately after movement of optical pickup to the target location and to achieve quick access and stabilization in a track jump operation.

Abstract: A method for reproducing information, comprising the steps of: reading compressed audio data from an information recording medium in which the compressed audio data is recorded in a frame unit; and subjecting the compressed audio data thus read to an expansion processing to reproduce same. When an instruction is given to make a special reproduction in which a frame region to be reproduced and an other frame region not to be reproduced are mixed, control is made so that the compressed audio data in respective frames are successively reproduced in the frame region to be reproduced, and a header information for the respective frames is read out in the other frame region not to be reproduced, and determination on a leading position of a subsequent frame is made on a basis of the header information, thereby conducting a successive migration for the respective frames.

Abstract: A device according to the invention is suitable for scanning an information carrier with tracks around an axis. The device has means for transferring information to/from a scanning spot on the information carrier. The device has tangential displacement means for moving the scanning spot in a tangential direction and radial displacement means for moving the scanning spot in a radial direction. The device has control means for controlling the radial displacement means and radial position measurement means for generating a radial position signal (cos(9&bgr;r), sin(9&bgr;r)) which is a measure of the instantaneous radial position of the scanning spot. The device has a scanning mode in which the scanning spot follows a track and a displacement mode in which tracks are crossed. The device according to the invention is characterized by tangential position detection means for generating a tangential position signal (S&agr;) which is indicative of the tangential position (&agr;) of the scanning spot.

Abstract: A disk recording medium has reliability of address reading which is maintained equivalently to the conventional disk recording medium by recording a first address and a second address that are identical in a header area. By arranging the first and second addresses to be reversely displaced from the center line of a groove track or a land track to the radial direction of the medium, the distance between the first and second addresses when they are adjacent is increased, which eliminates the influence of crosstalk. This avoids redundancy of the header area and enables high-density recording to the disk recording medium.

Abstract: A storage medium stores information on a plurality of tracks formed thereon, each of the tracks being divided into a plurality of sectors. The storage medium includes a physically formed sector beginning identifier provided at a leading portion of each sector, and an information storing portion. The information storing portion, another sector address portion at the trailing end of the information storing portion, includes at least one sector address portion at a leading end of the information storing portion, another sector address portion at the trailing end of the information storing portion, and a data portion provided between the two sector address portions.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a motor system that addresses the design challenges for the small form factor optical disk system. The control system can include a lookup table module providing a reference period corresponding to each of a physical sector address on an optical medium. The system can further include a drive module configured to sense a BEMF zero crossing occurring in a spin motor. A measurement of two of the BEMF zero crossings can be used to calculate a spin period measurement. The reference period can be compared to the spin period measurement to provide a period error value. The system also includes a controller module for providing a control command to drive the spin motor in response to the period error value.