Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information storage medium in which layer 0 and layer 1 are arranged from a read surface, a system lead-in area, data lead-in area, data area, and middle area are arranged from an inner circumference of the layer 0, and a system lead-out area, data lead-out area, data area, and middle area are arranged from an inner circumference of the layer 1. A guard track zone is arranged on a side of the data area in the data lead-out area, and a reference code zone, R physical format information zone, recording management zone, and drive test zone are arranged in the data lead-in area of the layer 0 and padding of the guard track zone of the data lead-out area is performed after padding of the drive test zone of data lead-in area and recording of the recording management zone.

Abstract: The present invention achieves an optical recording and regenerating apparatus focusing two opposed beams of light at a same place in an optical recording medium to record a standing wave generated by interference of the two beams of light. In the apparatus, phase information is recorded in the optical recording medium by a phase modulating means for modulating phase of one of the two beams of light. The generation reference light generated from a light source is allowed to interfere with regenerated light generated by projecting one of the two beams of light onto the optical recording medium to generate three or more beams of interfering light having different interference phases are simultaneously generated. The three or more beams of interfering light are then detected, and the phase modulated by the phase modulating means is demodulated from an output of the detector.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup including: a light source; an objective lens for converging a light flux emitted from the light source and forming an optical spot on an information recording plane of an optical disc; and an optical modulation unit divided into a plurality of areas for modulating an area containing a main beam of the light flux to change a shape of the optical spot, wherein data is reproduced by converting a reproduction signal read from the optical disc with the optical pickup into an NRZI signal of a predetermined modulation rule by a PRML method. An optical spot shape, laser power setting and PRML setting are changed with each optical disc and each drive operation state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data modulation method applicable to make data streams tend to have desired properties, useful for clock recovery, making signals more distinguishable, or enforcing run-length conditions. A stream of input data and a corresponding stream of output data are grouped into elements of a finite field. Input elements of said input data are modified by a transform generating output elements of the output data, such that a current output element is a linear combination of a current input element and at least one previous output element. A multiplier applied to at least one previous output element is a non-zero and non-unity element of the finite field. A set of initial conditions inherent to the transform, is selected such that the output elements resulting from the transform tend to have the desired property.

Abstract: An optical recording method for recording information by irradiating an optical disc medium with a modulated write pulse train of laser light variable over a plurality of power levels such that a plurality of marks are formed on the optical disc medium, edge positions of each of the marks and a space between adjacent two of the marks being utilized for recording of the information.

Abstract: Where a clock frequency based on which encoding is performed has deviated over time, problems such as that an appropriate digital signal can not be outputted occur. To solve the problems, it is arranged such that when a decoder decodes video data and audio data, a control variable for controlling a frequency of a clock recovered by a clock generating portion is recorded as needed in a recording portion, and when the decoder decodes data recorded in the recording portion, the clock generating portion is controlled by using the control variable so that system time information generated by the counter synchronizes with time information extracted upon reception of a digital broadcasting program.

Abstract: Four ECC blocks are recorded in a burst cutting area of an optical disc. Each ECC block is constituted by a BCA content code of 1 byte, content data length of 1 byte, and content data of 14 bytes. Of the BCA content data, the leading 6 bits are used for application ID and the remaining 2 bits are used for block number. Disc ID is stored in the content data. Since the four ECC blocks exist, the optical disc can be managed individually by four applications at the maximum. Thus it becomes possible to manage the same optical disc by a plurality of applications.

Abstract: An optical writing device and methods and computer programs for writing data on an optically recordable medium are provided. One embodiment is a method for writing data on an optically recordable medium. One such method comprises: pre-heating a writing location on a recordable medium using a heat source to a temperature below a writing threshold temperature of the recordable medium; and writing on the writing location using a laser source by raising the temperature of the recording location above the writing threshold temperature.

Abstract: An optical disk reproducing apparatus has a circuit for detecting a difference in modulation scheme between two types of optical disks in a reproduction signal and a circuit for determining the modulation schemes of the disks on the basis of the difference. Thus the apparatus can reproduce the two optical disks with use of the circuit which determines the modulation schemes of the disks to be reproduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system with read protecting function that comprises a record medium, having a data substrate with a control data zone and a data zone thereon, wherein the control data zone has a plurality of blocks, and every block has a plurality of sectors, and every sector has a plurality of bytes, and the data zone has encoded data, as well as a control code is disposed in the one of the sectors in control data zone; an optical storage device, for loading the record medium and reading and identifying the control code, then decoding the control code and outputs the decoded data if the control code is identifiable; or directly output the encoded data if the control code is not identifiable. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for protecting a record medium.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing system 1 reads a recorded signal written to a recording track of a recording medium 3 by light. The light is modulated by a drive signal on which a frequency signal is superimposed. The light is scanned along the recording track at a predetermined scan velocity. The optical recording/reproducing system 1 includes a computer 13 and an LD driver 17 that control, based on the scan velocity, a superimposed magnitude of the frequency signal on the drive signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for demodulating an input signal modulated from a reference signal and a data signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a determining unit, a first calculating unit, and a comparing unit. The determining unit is utilized for determining a plurality of first calculating timings of changing different calculating modes according to the input signal. The first calculating unit is coupled to the determining unit and utilized for generating a first calculating result of the input signal according to the first calculating timings and the calculating modes thereof. The comparing unit is coupled to the first calculating unit and utilized for generating a comparing result according to the first calculating result of the input signal and a threshold setting, and for outputting a demodulated data of the input signal according to the comparing result.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information reproducing apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of erroneous detection as if a recording pit longer than the longest pit in the standard exists on an optical disk even in the case where the difference between frequency of a reproduction signal and frequency of a reproduction clock signal becomes large. When the difference between frequency of a detection signal Sp detected from an optical disk DK and frequency of a reproduction clock signal Scl becomes large, for example, the gain of a high frequency band corresponding to a recording pit length in the range of 2T to 4T is emphasized more than normal one by an equalizer 2, and the resultant is used for detecting a longest-pit-length error.

Abstract: An address information modulation method includes using a first characteristic of a first modulation method and a second characteristic of a second modulation method to modulate address information and/or additional information. Accordingly, a data amount of information, to access a disc, in a predetermined space of the disc is increased, and the modulated information is formed in a form of a wobble signal in a track. Here, the first characteristic of the first modulation method can be physical location information of an MSK-modulated signal, and the second characteristic of the second modulation method can be sign information of a second harmonic wave obtained by an HMW modulation, which synthesizes a cosine function of a basic frequency of a wobble signal with a sine function having a frequency that is a multiple of the basic frequency of the wobble signal.

Abstract: A waveform equalization control device includes a waveform equalizer that has a filter provided with a plurality of taps, updates the tap coefficient of each of the plurality of taps in accordance with a tap coefficient signal inputted thereto, causes the plurality of taps to respectively receive a plurality of values sampled at different time points from an input signal, performs waveform equalization with respect to the input signal, and outputs the signal after the waveform equalization, an equalization target value generation unit for determining an equalization target value, an error estimation unit for obtaining the error between the equalization target value and the signal after the waveform equalization, and a coefficient update unit for determining an amount of updating the coefficient of each of the taps of the filter of the waveform equalizer based on the error signal and on the input value to each of the taps and outputting the amount of updating the tap coefficient as the tap coefficient signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanner for optical storage media with an improved signal-to-noise ratio. In the case of an optical scanner according to the invention having a light source for generating a light beam for reading out data stored on an optical storage medium, the light source being modulated by a radio-frequency modulator, and having an analog-to-digital converter, which converts an analog data signal generated by a photodetector into a digital data signal), the radio-frequency modulator and the analog-to-digital converter are synchronized.

Abstract: HMW demodulation is effected more reliably with a simple configuration. A reproduced wobble signal is caused to pass through a BPF previously set to a center frequency 2fwob, to thus enhance a second harmonic component. The wobble signal having passed through a BPF is multiplied by a second harmonic signal. Subsequently, a peak envelope signal and a bottom envelope signal of the multiplied wobble signal are extracted. The peak envelope signal is discriminated from the first preset threshold value. A result of this discrimination becomes a signal used for detecting an HMW[1] wobble waveform. Similarly, a bottom envelope signal is discriminated from a preset second threshold value. The result of discrimination becomes a signal used for detecting an HMW[0] wobble waveform.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus and a method using a semiconductor probe are provided. The information reproducing apparatus includes a semiconductor probe including a semiconductor tip including a channel varying with an electric field generated by an information recording medium; a modulator applying a high frequency modulation signal to the semiconductor probe to form a modulation electric field so as to modulate an information signal induced by the electric field; a signal detector detecting a signal generated by the semiconductor probe; and a demodulator extracting the information signal modulated by the modulation electric field from the signal detected by the signal detector.

Abstract: Plural grooves or lands formed in an information recording carrier include at least a wobbling region and data is recorded wobblingly in this wobbling region by phase shift modulation while recorded digitally with a single or multiple waves as a channel bit.

Abstract: Provided are a recording medium, a recording medium playing device and method, which has an EFM demodulation unit for adaptively realigning an EFM demodulation point. The recording medium demodulates first data into second data in response to a channel clock signal recovered from the first data, compares a demodulation point indicating demodulation of the first data into the second data with an alignment point set in response to the first data, and jumps the demodulation point forward or backward by a difference between the demodulation point and the alignment point.

Abstract: A physical structure suitable for a recording medium such as a BD, and a method and apparatus for recording data in the recording medium using the physical structure are disclosed. The recording medium includes an inner area, a data area, and an outer area. The recording medium includes a test area contained in at least one of the inner area and the outer area, and a management area for storing a position information indicating a position available for testing in the test area, wherein the position information includes a start position of first data unit available for testing and a position of second data unit available for testing, wherein one or more second data units comprise first data unit. Therefore, the recording medium can be applied to a method for manufacturing a BD, and a disc test process and data recording/reproducing operations can be effectively performed.

Abstract: In an information recording medium, positions of pits are modulated in a direction intersecting a direction of reading of pits, so that a predetermined information is recorded. In this information recording medium, the whole of the predetermined information or a part of the predetermined information is randomized through the used of spread spectrum.

Abstract: A demodulator for demodulating an input signal including a predetermined modulated signal includes a multiplication fundamental wave generator for outputting a multiplication fundamental wave for the predetermined modulated signal, a calculator for multiplying the multiplication fundamental wave by the input signal and for integrating the multiplication result, a demodulated signal generator for generating a demodulated signal of the modulated signal using the output from the calculator, a phase determiner for determining a cross-phase state of the input signal and the multiplication fundamental wave on the basis of a balance of levels of a plurality of integrated values, obtained as the integration result, for an interval containing the modulated signal in the input signal, and a phase adjuster for adjusting a phase of the multiplication fundamental wave to be supplied to the calculator on the basis of the determination result of the phase determiner.

Abstract: High audibility output is realized when audio output is provided in special playback. In special playback with audio output, skip/repeat control is done so that decoding and outputting of the audio data is periodically repeated/skipped during part of one frame. The output level may be corrected so as to emphasize appropriate frequency components. This realizes good audio output. In addition, the skip/repeat control and output level correcting methods are changed according to characteristics of the audio data to be reproduced. Also, this realizes good audio output.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing system is broken down into a recording unit for producing a digital audio data signal from MIDI music data words asynchronously produced at irregular intervals and a playback unit for reproducing the MIDI music data codes from the digital audio data signal, wherein synchronous data nibbles are supplemented in the irregular intervals among the MIDI music data words for producing a data stream, and the digital audio data signal is produced from the data stream through a differential phase shift keying and a phase code modulation so as to record the MIDI messages in a digital versatile disk at high dense.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing system 1 reads, based on a predetermined reproduction clock, information associated with a recording track of a recording medium by irradiating frequency light. The frequency light is scanned at a predetermined scan velocity. The optical recording/reproducing system includes a computer 13, a DSP 49, and a LD driver that modulate light by a drive signal on which a frequency signal is superimposed to thereby output the frequency light, and synchronizes a frequency of the frequency signal with a frequency of the reproduction clock according to the scan velocity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for demodulating an input signal modulated from a reference signal and a data signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a determining unit, a first calculating unit, and a comparing unit. The determining unit is utilized for determining a plurality of first calculating timings of changing different calculating modes according to the input signal. The first calculating unit is coupled to the determining unit and utilized for generating a first calculating result of the input signal according to the first calculating timings and the calculating modes thereof. The comparing unit is coupled to the first calculating unit and utilized for generating a comparing result according to the first calculating result of the input signal and a threshold setting, and for outputting a demodulated data of the input signal according to the comparing result.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for executing a process of recording data on a multilayer optical disk. The information processing apparatus includes: an encoding unit for encoding data to be written; a modulation unit for modulating the encoded data to generate a plurality of modulated data blocks corresponding to different recording formats; a pickup for sequentially writing the modulated data blocks in the different recording formats to different layers of the optical disk; and a control unit for controlling the writing of the modulated data blocks in the different recording formats so that writing processing per unit of modulated data is completed within processing time per unit of data encoded by the encoding unit.

Abstract: Method for demodulating a sampling signal from a storage medium, which dispenses with the use of a PLL, and to a device for reading from and/or writing to storage media which uses such a method. Method for demodulating a sampling signal from a storage medium, the information in the sampling signal being coded in pulse lengths of an integer multiple of the period of the modulation frequency, has the steps of: determining the current pulse length and/or the current total length of two successive pulses; determining the maximum pulse length which occurs in the sampling signal and/or the maximum total length of two successive pulses, and comparing at least two of the values determined in order to determine the type of sampling signal or to establish a synchronization bit sequence.

Abstract: To detect an MSK modulation mark from an MSK-modulated wobble signal without fail. A wobble signal of an optical disk is supplied to an address decoding circuit. The address decoding circuit performs exclusive-OR operation of a binarized wobble signal and a reference clock signal generated from the wobble signal by an PLL circuit, to thus compute a proportion of the exclusive-OR result assuming a value of one every half period of a reference clock signal. When there are continuously present a predetermined number of sections or more where a proportion becomes a predetermined threshold proportion or more, the sections are detected as an MSK modulation mark. A system controller changes the threshold proportion in accordance with crosstalk from an adjacent track.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical recording method. The optical recording method includes emitting laser light from a mode-locked laser light source, modulating a pulse of the laser light during a time period when a recording mark is formed in a medium, and irradiating the medium with the laser light modulated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of encoding a set of data on an information carrier comprising data areas each intended to store a data, each data area being characterized by a transmission coefficient and a phase-shift coefficient, said method comprising a step of calculating the transmission coefficient and phase-shift coefficient of said data areas so that an output light pattern corresponding to the intensity pattern of said set of data is generated at a given distance from the information carrier, via interference between light outputted by said data areas in response of an array of light spots periodically applied to non-adjacent data areas.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium is provided with a substrate having a pregroove formed on one main plane; a reflecting layer arranged on the one main plane of the substrate and reflecting an access controlling laser beam; a selective reflecting layer arranged on the reflecting layer, transmitting the access controlling laser beam and reflecting a recording laser beam; a recording layer arranged on the selective reflecting layer for having information recorded thereon by the recording laser beam; and a reflection preventing layer arranged on the recoding layer. On the substrate, a dummy groove having a shape similar to that of the pregroove is formed on forming regions adjacent to an effective access region on the one main plane.

Abstract: A method for decoding encoded data around a specific area on an optical storage medium, wherein the specific area has discontinued data. The method includes: detecting at least one type of sync patterns within the encoded data; determining an offset value corresponding to the specific area according to the detected sync patterns; and decoding the encoded data according to the offset value for generating decoded data.

Abstract: Record carrier identification information is stored using an asymmetry modulation. This prevents the access to this information through the regular data path of the playback device. The asymmetry information is automatically removed by the playback device because of the inherent data slicing and decoding that takes place in the play back device. A parameter of the asymmetry modulation is used to verify that the record carrier is authentic and not a duplicated record carrier. The parameter is disturbed by duplication processes and thus provides a reliable difficult to circumvent indication of authenticity of the record carrier.

Abstract: A recording medium having a data structure for managing additional content data of main data recorded thereon in accordance with the present invention comprises a data area storing at least one clip file including main data and/or additional content data of the main data; and a navigation area storing a clip information file including information to indicate whether the clip file includes additional content data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical recording apparatus that provides improved writing speed. In the processing means (50) an encoded data signal (NRZ) is processed, and a first clock generator (52) generates a two-level clock signal (CLK). Furthermore, a duty cycle modulator (MOD) modulates the clock signal (CLK) in response to the encoded data signal (NRZ) so as to vary the duty cycle of the clock signal (CLK), possibly with a plurality of phases. The resulting single, combined data and clock signal (NRZ_CLK) is transmitted to the optical pick-up unit (OPU; 20) where a second clock generator (24) extracts a retrieved clock signal (CLKr) from the combined signal (NRZ_CLK), and a data demodulator (DEMOD; 23) extracts the encoded data signal (NRZ) using said retrieved clock signal (CLKr). Thereby, a fast and reliable bandwidth is obtained in the communication between the processing means and the optical pick-up (OPU; 20.

Abstract: A light source driving unit includes a modulating signal generating section generating modulating signals based on driving waveform generating information of a light source, a current source selecting section selecting one or more currents output from current sources based on the modulating signals, a light source driving section generating a current having multi-levels based on the one or more currents selected and supplying the generated current to the light source to drive the light source so that light in multi-levels is generated from the light source, and a cancelling section adding a signal error amount which cancels differences in amounts of signal delays generated between the modulating signal generating section and the light source driving section at a stage prior to the current source selecting section.

Abstract: A digital data demodulator which can reduce a loss of decodable digital data, and increase capability of reproducing digital data inputted through a transmission line even when an error occurs in the transmission line. In the digital data demodulator, a specific pattern detector (113) detects a specific pattern to be included in a modulation code, from a bit string inputted through a transmission line (104). A modulation code identifying unit (117) generates a demodulation data strobe signal (119) according to a phase of the modulation code including the specific pattern. An error corrector (121) samples demodulation data (109) in response to the demodulation data strobe signal (119) and reproduces the data to the original digital data.

Abstract: A reproducing device includes a detection circuit and an integration circuit. The detection circuit detects a push-pull signal PP. The integration circuit carries out integration processing with respect to one or greater frames of the push-pull signal, and carries out binarization processing with respect to integration results thus obtained, thereby detecting sub data. In the integration circuit, the more the frames to be used for detecting sub data is, the higher the accuracy of the detected sub data is. The reproducing device further includes a control circuit for controlling the total number of the frames to be used for generating valid sub data in the integration circuit. The control circuit controls the total number of the frames in accordance with a result of an error correction made by an error correction circuit.

Abstract: Described herewith is an optical disk manufacturing apparatus for reading recorded digital data from an optical disk, comprising an encryption unit for encrypting entered digital data according to a plurality of key information; an optical disk substrate manufacturing unit for manufacturing an optical disk substrate on which the encrypted digital data and key information are recorded in the form of physical form changes; a reflection film forming unit for forming a reflection film on the optical disk substrate; and a key information recording unit for recording key information on the optical disk substrate on which the reflection film is formed. The reflection factor of the optical disk is changed locally, thereby giving a jitter to the position information of each pit edge, and desired data is recorded additionally according to this jitter. Pits, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data modulation method applicable to make data streams tend to have desired properties, useful for clock recovery, making signals more distinguishable, or enforcing run-length conditions. A stream of input data and a corresponding stream of output data are grouped into elements of a finite field. Input elements of said input data are modified by a transform generating output elements of the output data, such that a current output element is a linear combination of a current input element and at least one previous output element. A multiplier applied to at least one previous output element is a non-zero and non-unity element of the finite field. A set of initial conditions inherent to the transform, is selected such that the output elements resulting from the transform tend to have the desired property.

Abstract: Technology for sampling optical disc data are described. A first sync tag signal and a data signal are provided, and the previous first sync tag signal is saved as a second sync tag signal. Then, the value of the first sync tag signal and the second sync tag signal are determined to be true or false so as to divide the data signal. Since the neighboring sync tag signals are detected simultaneously, and the timing for sampling the data in the frame is determined according to whether the two contiguous sync tag signals are true or false, the technology can reproduce optical disk data accurately.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a track including plural pits formed based on first data and has plural lands defined between neighboring pits. These pits are deformed as they are recorded based on second data. The first and second data are synthesized and reproduced to realize audio reproduction with a broad frequency range. The first data are adapted to be reproducible by a customary disc reproduction device. The reproduction of the first data is controlled by the second data to protect recorded data.

Abstract: An optical disk device is provided with a first analog-to-digital converter for converting a push-pull signal detected from an optical disc medium into a digital sampling signal according to a sampling clock in the vicinity of a channel frequency. The optical disk device also includes an address polarity information detection circuit for detecting address polarity information from the digital sampling signal, and an address position information detection circuit for detecting address position information from the digital sampling signal while maintaining continuity.

Abstract: A method of modulating a source data to a code data under condition of a given code rate and run length limited (rll). The method including (a) inputting the source data, and (b) modulating the source data into code data by converting source data of 2 bits into code data of 3 bits under a condition of a given code rate. Further, the modulating step (b) further includes converting source data of 4 bits into code data of 6 bits, source data of 6 bits into code data of 9 bits, and source data of 8 bits into code data of 12 bits, based on a bit sequence of the source data.

Abstract: When generating a sampling clock of an A/D converter for digitizing a playback signal from an optical disc, an over sampling clock generated by a PLL is used. Further, zerocross position information and reference information of a playback digital signal that is obtained by A/D conversion using the over sampling clock are converted into those synchronized with the channel bit clock by an operation cycle conversion unit, and then supplied to a PRML signal processing unit and a level judgement binarization unit.

Abstract: A light source driving unit includes a modulating signal generating section generating modulating signals based on driving waveform generating information of a light source, a current source selecting section selecting one or more currents output from current sources based on the modulating signals, a light source driving section generating a current having multi-levels based on the one or more currents selected and supplying the generated current to the light source to drive the light source so that light in multi-levels is generated from the light source, and a cancelling section adding a signal error amount which cancels differences in amounts of signal delays generated between the modulating signal generating section and the light source driving section at a stage prior to the current source selecting section.

Abstract: In an information recording method and apparatus which is capable of improving a recording density of an optical recording medium, a carrier signal is detected in an optical recording medium preformatted as first unit regions by modulating a synchronous signal dividing a track into first unit regions having a certain volume and address information indicating the first unit regions as time information format, and the address information is restored by the detected carrier signal. The restored address information is converted into a linear code, the converted linear code is counted with a clock signal varied in accordance with a volume of the second unit regions different from a volume of the first unit regions. Logical address information indicating the second unit regions is generated, and a record clock signal varied in accordance with a recording density of the second unit regions is generated, accordingly a recording density of an optical recording medium can improve.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting BCA on the surface of an optical disc are disclosed. The method includes utilizing an internal free running clock to detect a sync pattern, starting demodulation of data on detection of sync ID 1 by utilizing the internal free running clock, and utilizing the transition between row boundaries to determine which sync ID 1 was used for initializing demodulation.