Buffering Patents (Class 369/30.23)
  • Publication number: 20040165486
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Publication number: 20040160872
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Publication number: 20040160871
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Publication number: 20040160862
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6772282
    Abstract: A continuous burn process of a storage medium, performed when the buffer is buffer under run, is disclosed. Whether the data buffer is buffer under run is firstly detected. If buffer under run is to occur to the data buffer, the currently written data block is an incomplete data block. The incomplete data block includes at least a synchronous frame and an incomplete data frame, which is the last data to be burned. The write operation is paused then. When the data in the data buffer reaches a predetermined amount, a new data is written into a superimposed data region of the incomplete data frame. The data in the data buffer is then continuously burned into the subsequent data frame adjacent to the incomplete data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuan-Yuan Hsiao, Wen-Jeng Chang
  • Patent number: 6766415
    Abstract: When a computer issues a reading request for data stored in a storage medium, it is judged whether or not the respective data for which the reading request is issued are in cache hit with data that are stored in a read buffer. Only data which are not in cache hit among the data for which the reading request is issued are read out from the storage medium, so as to be buffered in the read buffer. The data for which the reading request is issued are transferred from the read buffer to the computer, and data at addresses which are subsequent to the data for which the reading request is issued are pre-read from the storage medium and buffered in the read buffer so as to be continuous with the buffered read data. Thereby, it is possible to utilize cache data efficiently and effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyotoshi Uemura, Tatsuya Sakanashi, Fumitoshi Saito, Hiromi Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6751170
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6751168
    Abstract: A changer device includes a playback drive for playing back tracks recorded on a disk. The changer device also includes: a memory for storing playback signals of each of the tracks recorded on the disk; a recording-history information management memory for storing recording-history information of the tracks related to the playback signals stored in the memory; and a memory control unit for allowing the memory to store in order the playback signals of the tracks played back by the playback drive, and for allowing the recording-history information management memory to store the recording-history information of the tracks related to the playback signals stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040105351
    Abstract: A recording medium includes a plurality of signal recording layers. A head reproduces two information signals from respective places in the recording medium on a time sharing basis. The reproduced signals are stored in a buffer memory before being outputted therefrom at first and second transfer rates respectively. The reproduced signals are transmitted from the head to the buffer memory on a time sharing basis and at a third transfer rate higher than the first and second transfer rates. Information amounts of the respective reproduced signals continuously transmitted from the head to the buffer memory are decided on the basis of a given relation among parameters including intra-layer seek times and inter-layer seek times related to the head, and the first, second, and third transfer rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6741531
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6728170
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6718427
    Abstract: A method and system utilizing data fragments for efficiently importing/exporting a removable storage volume having a number of data files from a first virtual storage system to a second virtual storage system. The method includes writing data fragments to the end of the removable storage volume in the first virtual storage system. In an advantageous embodiment, the data fragments are written to the end of the removable storage volume when the removable storage volume is closed. The data fragments contain information, such as data file headers, that uniquely identifies the data files residing in the removable storage volume. Next, the removable storage volume is transferred to the second virtual storage system. Upon receipt of the removable storage volume, the second virtual storage system updates a tape volume cache in the second virtual storage system utilizing the information contained in the data fragments without having to read each of the data files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Charles Carlson, Gregory Tad Kishi, Jonathan Wayne Peake
  • Patent number: 6693857
    Abstract: A method for managing buffers in an apparatus adapted for writing program portions onto and reading the program portions from a digital program disk comprises the steps of: filling a first buffer with encoded program portions at a first bit rate; filling a second buffer with the encoded program portions; supplying the encoded program portions from the second buffer for decoding; and, establishing an initial complementary fullness of the first and second buffers using an excess bit rate capability of the apparatus related to the first bit rate. The first bit rate is a constant bit rate slower than one-half of a maximum bit rate of the apparatus. An apparatus for implementing the method comprises a controller for recording the program portions onto alternate segments of the track, for initiating complementary operation of record and track buffers and for maintaining the complementary operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 6691203
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated controller to process both optical reads and optical writes of multiple optical media. The integrated controller includes a host interface; a buffer manager coupled to the host interface; an embedded memory coupled to the buffer manager; an integrated encoding/decoding engine coupled to the buffer manager; a data channel interface coupled to the integrated encoding/decoding engine; and an integrated servo/recording processor coupled to the integrated encoding/decoding engine and the data channel interface, where the integrated servo/recording processor includes a set of write strategies. The present invention provides a controller which integrates the functionality of the conventional controllers into an integrated processor. With the controller in accordance with the present invention, a single drive may be provided which can read CD-based and DVD-based formats, read and write to Write Once Media, and read and write to Rewritable Media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Chen, Li-Chun Robert Chen, Lam Dang, Paul Phuc Tran, Tom Vu
  • Patent number: 6683825
    Abstract: An optical disk drive unit comprises, a target register for storing positional data on an optical disk for target data recorded in the optical disk, a comparator for comparing positional data on the optical disk for the read out data with the positional data stored in the target register, a delay circuit for delaying the data reproduced, and a buffer access circuit for carrying out control for starting transfer of data to a buffer RAM from output data of the delay circuit when it is detected that both positional data are coincident with each other by the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20030210617
    Abstract: A media player permits multiple compressed media files to be concurrently stored in memory interval to the media player. By concurrently buffering more than one compressed media file at a time, any mechanical disturbance that occurs during the playing of a file or between files will not cause a cessation of audio. Further, skipping ahead or in reverse is advantageously expedited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas N. Millikan, Sreenivas Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 6646966
    Abstract: A data reproducing unit reproduces data read by a first reading unit from a storage medium. A storage unit stores added information corresponding to data stored on the storage medium. The added information is read by the second reading unit and reproduced by an added information reproducing unit. A control unit controls such that the data is reproduced by the data reproducing unit in synchronism with the reproduction of the added information by the added information reproducing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Kajiyama, Seiji Tsutsui, Hitoshi Sakazume, Yukikazu Emori
  • Patent number: 6636463
    Abstract: A data compensating method and apparatus for compensating a block from which data cannot be read due to the presence of a scratch or dust when reproducing an optical disk are provided. The data compensating method includes the steps of: (a) setting a first block region for storing a block of data currently being reproduced and a second block region for storing the previous block of data, and reproducing the disk according to a read command; (b) determining the type of data block from a header in a sought block when the number of seek operations is greater than a predetermined value in reproducing the disk in step (a); (c) substituting an address of a block of data in the second block region, corresponding to a data block determined in step (b), for an address requested by a host; and (d) transmitting to the host the block of data in the second block region substituted in step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-sig Kwon, Hyck-jin Lee
  • Publication number: 20030193847
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6603719
    Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of a spindle motor of an optical information reproducing apparatus is provided. The method determines whether a data quantity of a buffer memory is sequentially larger than a first predetermined quantity during a period of read operation. If yes, the spindle motor is decelerated to a predetermined speed. The method also determines whether the data quantity of the buffer memory is sequentially less than a second predetermined quantity during a period of read operation. If so, the spindle motor is accelerated to a predetermined speed. The method according to the invention can automatically tune the speed of the spindle motor to a suitable speed to eliminate the noise that normally accompanies faster operation without lowering the information reproducing efficiency of the optical information reproducing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Tung-Ke Wu
  • Patent number: 6597641
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6594203
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 6590840
    Abstract: A recording medium reproduction apparatus is provided, which apparatus includes: a reproduction instruction unit which inputs instructions on a direction and a rate of a scratch reproduction of a recording medium; a data storage unit which stores data read out from the recording medium, the data being separated by a reference position at which the scratch reproduction is started into first and second halves each having a predetermined time length; and a scratch reproduction system which reads and reproduces the data stored in the data storage unit in accordance with the instructions input by the reproduction instruction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: TEAC Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Inoue, Saiji Tutiya, Yasunobu Shimizu, Kenji Oniki
  • Publication number: 20030123338
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing continuous uninterrupted playback of a dual sided optical disk during side-to-side changing of the optical disk. The point at which a dual-sided optical disk will be switched between sides is determined. At some point prior to the switching of sides of the disk, a portion of the data at the end of the first side of the disk is transferred to a memory. During the switching of the disk to the second side, the stored data is read out from the memory to provide uninterrupted continuous playback of the optical disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Paul A. Revis
  • Publication number: 20030123356
    Abstract: When a microcomputer 24 recognizes a CD-ROM, path data of MP3 files of a minimum required amount are recorded from a path table into a memory 23, and corresponding MP3 files are read out from the CD-ROM to be reproduced. When the recorded amount of a buffer memory 27 reaches a predetermined amount, writing into the buffer memory 27 is stopped, and remaining path data which is not yet recorded are recorded into the memory 23. The time period required for starting reproduction of MP3 data can be shortened, and the seek velocity of a pickup 16 can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiya Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20030107959
    Abstract: Recordable compact disc player and media. Improved power consumption, aerodynamics and use of data compression allow large quantities of music to be stored and played back. Storage space is increased by recording information on the land and grooves of 8 cm recordable media. Aerodynamic guide vanes are provided on the disc enclosure interior and the discs are textured for improved aerodynamic performance. A play list and play list is browser is further provided and media can also be visibly labeled whilst written, providing a storage device with a visible fingerprint or identifier characteristic of the owner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Hamilton Norton, Anthony Combe
  • Patent number: 6577563
    Abstract: When overwrite inhibiting is directed, flags (oblique lines in FIG. 4) for indicating the overwrite inhibiting are set in all the sectors between a sector 51 in which the overwrite inhibiting is directed in a buffer area and a certain preceding sector 52 and also, decoding is continued from the next sector 53 of the overwrite inhibiting area. At this time, when buffering is completed to the one preceding sector 50 of the overwrite inhibiting area, the buffering jumps the overwrite inhibiting area and is continued from the next sector 53 of the overwrite inhibiting area. Also, in decoding, when a special reproducing mode is directed, a decoding position (a position of a sector 54) at that point in time is stored as the present position and thereafter, the decoding of the overwrite inhibiting area is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20030103422
    Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided, which provides a more convenient operation when a piece of music or the like is switched to another to be played continuously and to play a sound which sounds natural during the switching manipulation. When a loop-in button key is manipulated to be ON, the number of beats (beat density) BPMreal per unit time of music or the like being played is measured, and a time (60/BPMreal)×Kbpm in proportion to a ratio of the beat density BPMreal to a certain beat density Kbpm pre-set by the user or the like is computed. Then, audio data, such as music, corresponding to a range from a point at which the loop-in button key is manipulated to be ON to a point at which the computed time has passed, is stored into a loop data memory. Consequently, repetitive playback is performed based on audio data stored in the loop data memory at a tempo (the number of beats per unit time) adjusted to the certain beat density Kbpm until a loop-off button key is manipulated to be ON.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Miyashita, Kensuke Chiba, Gen Inoshita, Koji Ogura, Harui Koizumi, Hiroyasu Eguchi, Tetsuhiro Hase, Katsuhiko Goda, Chihaya Oga, Nobuo Ohyama
  • Patent number: 6567350
    Abstract: A control adjustment method for adjusting a control of a recording/reproduction apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium is provided, wherein the control is adjusted in response to an environmental change inside the recording/reproduction apparatus, such as a temperature change, the control adjustment method comprising the steps of: requesting an execution of the control adjustment; determining whether to inhibit or approve the execution of the control adjustment; and executing the control adjustment in the case where the execution of the control adjustment is approved in the step of determining the execution of adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Takagi, Keiichi Kawashima, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hirofumi Ide, Kenzo Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 6567364
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yorio Takahashi, Tadahiko Ichikawa, Hitoshi Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20030072223
    Abstract: An information playback apparatus which can perform random access playback, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. quickly and seamlessly. A signal processing unit stores audio data read out from a disc into a buffer memory, and performs information processing for audio playback based on the audio data in the buffer memory. Audio data of certain time durations respectively corresponding to a past and a future with respect to the audio data currently being subjected to audio playback is replenished and stored into the buffer memory. When a jog dial is manipulated, reverse playback, shuttle playback, etc. are performed quickly and seamlessly based on the audio data in the buffer memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Miyashita, Koji Ogura, Harui Koizumi, Hiroyasu Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20030067847
    Abstract: Excessive power may be consumed by portable processor-based systems that include rotating disk storage devices that are spun continuously. The data on the rotating disk may be read and stored in a randomly accessible memory. Thereafter, the rotation of the disk may be terminated to reduce the amount of rotation time, thereby conserving power. Playback can then proceed from the memory that may be a semiconductor memory in some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventor: Kelan C. Silvester
  • Patent number: 6538962
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of recording source data on an optical disk in the event of a buffer-underrun in an optical disk drive which buffers the source data received from a host computer and writes the source data on the optical disk. In the method, it is determined whether the optical disk is a CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable) or a CD-RW (CD-ReWritable). If the optical disk is a CD-R, an address next to the recording end of data is detected upon occurrence of a buffer-underrun, the detected address is designated as a program start address of the optical disk, a signal indicative of buffer-underrun generation is transmitted to the host computer, the host computer re-transmits the source data to the optical disk drive, and then the source data is re-written on the optical disk, beginning from the program start address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hun Hyun
  • Publication number: 20030043701
    Abstract: A digital audio signal player having a simulated analogue record includes a laser pick-up used for reading the data of an analogue CD, a microprocessor, a digital audio signal processor electrically connected to the microprocessor, a digital/analog converter electrically connected to the audio signal processor, and a turnable control element. The data of the CD is stored in a RAM of the audio signal processor. The control element is made of conductive materials, and electrically connected to both the audio signal processor and the microprocessor, and can send a glitch to the microprocessor when touched by the user's hands. The microprocessor will make the audio signal process and send out the data on detecting that the difference between the glitch and an original signal exceeds a preset amount. The control element has a sensor for sensing the rotating speed and direction thereof so as to make the audio signal processor to process and send out the data according to the movement of the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventor: Han-Chih Liu
  • Publication number: 20030039178
    Abstract: Audio data which are read out from a compact disc drive are written into a hard disk drive (6) at a rate that is higher than an audio playback rate. The written audio data are read out at a rate which is higher than the audio playback rate, and than output to audio output interfaces (buffer memories). The audio output interfaces read out the audio data at the playback rate and output the data. Since the hard disk drive (6) can perform reading/writing at a rate which is sufficiently higher than the playback rate of audio data, monitoring is enabled while performing ripping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6515944
    Abstract: A disk playback device including a memory for temporarily storing data from a pickup and outputting the data as delayed by a predetermined period of time, manual keys, and a system control circuit for detecting the playback end of a disk from the playback data from the pickup. The memory has connected thereto an erase circuit for erasing data remaining in the memory. The system control circuit produces different flag values in a first case wherein the control circuit detects the disk end to terminate playback of the disk and in a second case wherein the user manipulates one of the manual keys to terminate the playback. A memory control circuit is connected to the memory and the system control circuit. In the first case, the memory control circuit inputs to the memory playback data of another disk replacing the disk as continued from the data remaining in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Tecnosound Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Yoshida, Yoshimasa Ono, Katsuyuki Matsumoto, Hitoshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6504798
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing continuous uninterrupted playback of a dual sided optical disk during side-to-side changing of the optical disk. The point at which a dual-sided optical disk will be switched between sides is determined. At some point prior to the switching of sides of the disk, a portion of the data at the end of the first side of the disk is transferred to a memory. During the switching of the disk to the second side, the stored data is read out from the memory to provide uninterrupted continuous playback of the optical disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Revis
  • Publication number: 20030002399
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing a file tree in a compact disc player from the file system of a compressed audio CD is disclosed. After determining the target sector for building the file tree of the CD player, the CD player reads into the memory of the CD player the target sector and a number of contiguous sectors following the target sector. After identifying a target sector, the CD player first determines if the target sector is cached in the memory of the CD player. If the target sector is cached in the memory of the CD player, the sector is retrieved from the CD player. If the target sector is not cached in the memory of the CD player, the target sector is retrieved from the file system of the CD, together with a number of sequential contiguous sectors following the target sector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas N. Millikan, Sreenivas Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 6463017
    Abstract: A disc player is proposed for playing discs with optically stored data on which information is digitally stored in tracks. The disc player has a read/write memory for buffering data blocks that are read into the read/write memory at a first clock rate and are read out of the read/write memory at a second clock rate. To fill the read/write memory, the first clock rate is selected to be greater than the second. The data stored in the read/write memory can be read out throughout the duration of a track jump. Moreover, an operating mode is provided in which excerpts of music pieces stored on a compact disc are played in sequence. At the first clock rate, a sufficiently large quantity of data can be stored in the read/write memory to ensure that the data can be reproduced at the second clock rate throughout the entire duration of the jump times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Baas
  • Publication number: 20020136099
    Abstract: A changer device includes a playback drive for playing back tracks recorded on a disk. The changer device also includes: a memory for storing playback signals of each of the tracks recorded on the disk; a recording-history information management memory for storing recording-history information of the tracks related to the playback signals stored in the memory; and a memory control unit for allowing the memory to store in order the playback signals of the tracks played back by the playback drive, and for allowing the recording-history information management memory to store the recording-history information of the tracks related to the playback signals stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: Ryuichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20020122358
    Abstract: A ring buffer region is divided into a plurality of ring regions. Information is recorded in (or reproduced from) the ring regions from one end of the ring buffer region to the other end of the ring buffer region and from the other end to the one end in the predetermined order. The predetermined order is determined such that the recording (or reproducing) takes place skipping over at least one ring region every time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Kenichiro Tada, Akihiro Tozaki, Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20020118610
    Abstract: The invention relates to 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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gheorghe Sorin Stan, Andre Latenstein Van Voorst
  • Publication number: 20020093887
    Abstract: A data compensating method and apparatus for compensating a block from which data cannot be read due to the presence of a scratch or dust when reproducing an optical disk are provided. The data compensating method includes the steps of: (a) setting a first block region for storing a block of data currently being reproduced and a second block region for storing the previous block of data, and reproducing the disk according to a read command; (b) determining the type of data block from a header in a sought block when the number of seek operations is greater than a predetermined value in reproducing the disk in step (a); (c) substituting an address of a block of data in the second block region, corresponding to a data block determined in step (b), for an address requested by a host; and (d) transmitting to the host the block of data in the second block region substituted in step (c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Young-sig Kwon, Hyck-jin Lee
  • Publication number: 20020089902
    Abstract: A sub-code providing method that provides correct sub-code data when sub-code data is requested from a host when a reproduction mode is performed in an optical disc drive. In a method providing sub-code data to a host computer in an optical disc drive formed so that data from a pick-up is reproduced through a buffer, the method includes the operations of setting sub-code data whenever data of a predetermined unit is output from the buffer, and transmitting the set sub-code data to the host computer when the sub-code data is requested from the host computer during the reproduction mode. Therefore, it is possible to provide more accurate sub-code data to the host computer and to thus prevent the reproduction of unnatural screen during operations such as automatic reproduction or game CD reproduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Young-sig Kwon
  • Publication number: 20020067667
    Abstract: The number of sectors which are NV_PCK in an ECC block is detected by a number-of-sectors detection circuit 12, and a control circuit 14 considers, when the detected number of sectors is larger than a predetermined value, that NV_PCK reference processing is not terminated within a time period during which the subsequent ECC block is buffered, to suspend the buffering of the subsequent ECC block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020064379
    Abstract: A reproduction apparatus for reproducing digital information recorded on an optical disc, comprises an optical pickup for reading said digital information recorded on said optical disc to have said digital information converted into electric signals, said digital information containing errors appearing when said digital information is read by said optical pickup; signal amplifying means for amplifying said electric signals converted from said digital information read by said optical pickup; signal processing means for processing said electric signals in one or more times of retry routines to correct said errors outputted as said electric signals from said signal amplifying means; a buffer memory for storing said electric signals outputted from said signal processing means; signal decoding means for decoding said electric signals stored in said buffer memory and outputted from said buffer memory; pickup driving means for driving said optical pickup to move on said optical disc, said errors being associated wit
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Osamu Kawashima, Osamu Iwabuchi, Koichi Machida
  • Patent number: 6373794
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disc drive system that includes a digital signal processor for processing information sectors read from a CD media. The digital signal processor is configured to parse the information sectors into data frames and subcode frames. A data auto-start unit for triggering a data transfer to a buffer memory when a desired data frame is detected. A subcode auto-start unit for triggering a subcode transfer to the buffer memory when a desired subcode frame is detected. Preferably, the desired data frame and the desired subcode frame have a same MSF. The disc drive system further includes a buffer manager having a plurality of counters that are configured to track the number of data frames and the number of subcode frames being transferred to the buffer memory, and releasing a block including one of the data frames and one of the subcode frames when the counters indicate that the block is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics N.V.
    Inventor: John S. Packer
  • Publication number: 20020034131
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki
  • Publication number: 20020034132
    Abstract: An optical disk drive unit comprises, a target register for storing positional data on an optical disk for target data recorded in the optical disk, a comparator for comparing positional data on the optical disk for the read out data with the positional data stored in the target register, a delay circuit for delaying the data reproduced, and a buffer access circuit for carrying out control for starting transfer of data to a buffer RAM from output data of the delay circuit when it is detected that both positional data are coincident with each other by the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20020027839
    Abstract: A recording medium has first and second areas on which first and second information signals are recorded respectively. The first information signal has a size Ya. The second information signal has a size Yb. A head operates for reproducing the first and second information signals from the first and second areas of the recording medium and transmitting the reproduced first and second information signals on a time sharing basis and at a predetermined constant transfer rate Rp while moving between the first and second areas of the recording medium. A buffer memory operates for receiving the first and second information signals from the head at the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp, for temporarily storing the first and second information signals, and for outputting the first and second information signals at first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb respectively. The first and second transfer rates Ra and Rb are lower than the predetermined constant transfer rate Rp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ueki