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.

Abstract: When during the operation of recording a signal onto a disk the amount of signal data stored in a buffer RAM for temporarily storing a recording signal falls below an interruption set value, the recording operation on the disk is interrupted. Subsequently, when the amount of signal data stored in the buffer RAM increases to a resumption set value, a signal recorded on the disk before the interruption is reproduced. On the basis of the reproduced signal, the recording operation is resumed from a position where the recording is interrupted. The operation of resuming recording that is interrupted due to a shock is permitted. The operation of resuming recording after the interruption of the recording is started from a position that is before the position where the recording is interrupted.

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.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc drive that can resume to record data consecutively from the position just after the data recording operation was suspended without overwriting when recording data onto an optical disc. The optical disc drive includes a rotational driving mechanism for rotating the loaded optical disc, an optical pick-up having emitting means that emits laser beam for recording data onto the optical disc; a drive circuit for driving the emitting means, the drive circuit having a section for determining an output of the laser beam; and voltage hold means for holding a voltage value at which an output of the laser beam becomes an optimum laser output for recording The voltage hold means holds the voltage at the section of the drive circuit to the voltage value at which the output of the laser beam becomes the optimum level for recording.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing compressed audio compact discs in a CD player is provided in which compressed audio data is cached in the local memory of the CD player. If a sufficient amount of compressed audio data is cached in the local memory of the CD player, the CD player can be placed in a reduced power state, reducing the consumption of power by the loader of the CD player. The determination of whether a sufficient amount of compressed audio data is present in the local memory of the CD player is made on the basis of a comparison of the playback time of the unaccessed cached audio and the restart time of the CD player.

Abstract: This invention comprises additional recording means for recording the data in a predetermined position on an optical disk, then reproducing the data recorded in the predetermined position, and not only detecting the end of the predetermined position but also recording the data again from an unrecorded area following the end and power control means for controlling the recording power in recording the recording data, on the basis of the result of the reproduction in the additional recording.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus, which decreases probability of impossibility of correcting an error in reading, is provided, where the error results from deviation of a writing-resuming position in resumption of writing. When an amount of data in a buffer becomes not more than a given amount of data, a buffer-underrun-detecting-circuit judges that the data are in a buffer-underrun-condition. According to the judgement, a writing-interrupting-and-resuming-circuit detects an end position of the last pit for writing, and the position is stored in a time-information-memory, and the optical disk apparatus becomes in a pause condition of writing. When the buffer-underrun-condition is avoided, the optical disk apparatus releases the pause condition of writing, and reads the position of interruption of writing from the time-information-memory, and then synchronizes data written on an optical disk and the data for writing.

Abstract: A power saving system of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus is provided. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes a temporal memory which stores reproduced data or recording data in a cyclic data storage stage and from which the stored data is read out for reproduction or recording in a cyclic data readout stage following the data storage stage. The power saving system saves part of power consumed in the apparatus in the data storage stage in a record mode of operation and in the data readout stage in a reproduce mode of operation.

Abstract: A buffer underrun is generated intentionally, and the apparent recording speed is changed by alternately repeating start and stop of recording by using the buffer underrun free recording function to obtain a desired recording speed.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a pause circuit for pausing data encoders upon receiving a pause signal so that a write operation may be paused without writing dummy data, thereby maintaining data succession. The optical disc apparatus also includes a circuit for accurately determining a write start location by referring to previously written data. A processor generates a pause signal when the amount of data in the optical drive apparatus data buffer is low, and removes the pause signal when additional data from a host is received. The processor may also automatically reduce the write speed of the optical disc apparatus upon a pause condition, thereby preventing the necessity for excessive pausing.

Abstract: Method and device to update a data count in a data transfer operation in which a data counter generates an intermediate count value in accordance with a first amount of data to be transferred to a storage media; and an augmenter augments the intermediate count value by a specified count value in accordance with data to be transferred to the storage media in addition to the first amount of data, wherein the updated count value is loaded into the data counter such that the intermediate count value becomes equal to the updated count value during the data transfer operation.

Abstract: An operation for recording a recording signal onto a disk (1) is interrupted, when an amount of signal data stored in a buffer RAM (11) for temporarily storing the recording signal is less than an interruption setting value during performing of the recording operation. Moreover, when the amount of signal data stored in the buffer RAM (11) increases and indicates a resumption setting value, the signal recorded on the disk (1) before interruption is reproduced, and the recording operation is resumed based on the reproduced signal. Moreover, recording properties are detected by the signal reproduced before resumption of recording.

Abstract: To resume data writing onto a disk, a recording start position detection means (19) detects a recording start position, and a synchronous setting means (20) synchronizes recording data with recorded data on a disk so that recording data successive to the recorded data on the disk can be additionally written onto the disk without a break. Data writing onto a disk is suspended until an amount of data equivalent to data writing capacity has been stored in the buffer memory (13). Data writing is resumed upon detection of the fact that an amount of data equivalent to data writing capacity has been stored in the buffer memory (13). With the above, power consumption can be reduced during a period when recording capability of a disk recording device exceeds the data transfer speed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus in which a recording operation is interrupted and resumed based on an amount of a signal stored in a buffer RAM for temporarily storing a recording signal. The operation is controlled by a host apparatus connected to an external peripheral apparatus via a data bus. Furthermore, when reset processing is performed by attachment/detachment of the optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus during the recording operation of the signal onto the disk, the host apparatus outputs a command signal for identifying the optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording a continuous synchronous information stream in intermediate portions of a recording track on a record carrier, which portions are intermediate between pre-recorded track portions which are to be retained. The track is searched for an intermediate track portion which is released for recording, and such track portion is scanned by a write head. The received information stream is formatted and supplied to an input buffer, from which it is supplied to the write head. The apparatus includes means which, during scanning of an intermediate track portion, detects when a position proximate the end thereof is reached. Read-out from the buffer and recording is then interrupted, and a search is made to position the wite head at a succeeding released intermediate track portion. Read-out from the buffer and recording is then resumed. The rate of read-out and recording is adjusted to maintain a predetermined degree of filling of the buffer.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus in which the compressed information read from a disc is written to the memory, the written compressed information is read out in the order of writing and is supplied to an expansion device to obtain reproduced information. Writing of the compressed information to the memory is stopped when the amount of compressed information written to the memory increases to a first predetermined amount and writing of the compressed information to the memory is restarted when the amount of compressed information written decreases to a second predetermined amount which is smaller than the first predetermined amount and which is an amount corresponding to the compression ratio of the compressed information. The rotation speed of a spindle motor during a writing interruption period is lower than that during a writing period.

Abstract: Read data is given reproduction processing, including data correction, in synchronism with a bit clock. A disk with signals recorded thereon according to a constant linear velocity method is able to be rotated under control according to a constant angular velocity method. The rotation controller is set free from the control by the operation suspend controller. With this arrangement, the disk continues to rotate even when data writing to the buffer memory is suspended, and, upon resumption of a signal reading from the desk, signal processing is promptly carried out to a signal read from the disk, irrespective of the radial dimension of the point from which the signal was read on the disk.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a pause circuit for pausing data encoders upon receiving a pause signal so that a write operation may be paused without writing dummy data, thereby maintaining data succession. The optical disc apparatus also includes a circuit for accurately determining a write start location by referring to previously written data. A processor generates a pause signal when the amount of data in the optical drive apparatus data buffer is low, and removes the pause signal when additional data from a host is received. The processor may also automatically reduce the write speed of the optical disc apparatus upon a pause condition, thereby preventing the necessity for excessive pausing.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing system comprises a host device, and an information recording and reproducing device connected with the host device via a host interface. The host device includes a control-command issuing unit issuing a control command to the information recording and reproducing device. The control command causes a data-recording interrupting-resuming unit of the information recording and reproducing device either or not to perform the interruption and resumption of the recording. The information recording and reproducing device includes a data-recording interruption-resumption control unit controlling the data-recording interrupting-resuming unit either or not to perform the interruption and resumption of the recording, according to the control command received from the host device.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus includes a data writing part that writes data transferred from a host computer onto a data-recordable recording medium, a data writing pause part that pauses writing of the data by the data writing part, a data writing rate change part that changes a writing rate at which the data writing part writes the data, a data writing restart part that restarts the writing of the data, and a data writing control part that controls the data writing pause part, the data writing rate change part, and the data writing restart part.

Abstract: In order to keep the continuity in time of a reproducing operation, it is necessary to have contiguous physical recording of the data having over a predetermined quantity. However, there was a problem that the data fragmentation might be generated in copy type recording medium when the copy and that superscription continuity in time was not maintained. When judged whether the reproduction of the data with continuity in time is possible or not, before reproducing the data, and in the case of not, the data which was discontiguous is rearranged to be contiguous. According to this invention, the failure does not occur in the reproducing operation, even though the data fragmentation may be generated by the copy.

Abstract: A digital AV signal processing apparatus includes a buffer for storing digital data input to the digital AV signal processing apparatus, and outputting the digital data as output digital data, a D/A converter for converting the output digital data to analog data, a voltage-controlled oscillator for generating a clock signal to control a conversion rate of the D/A converter, and a voltage-controlled oscillator controller for detecting a data amount of the digital data stored in the buffer, and controlling a frequency of the clock signal based on a deviation in the detected data amount from a first predetermined value and a time integral of the deviation value.

Abstract: A continuity maintaining part restarts recording of data onto the optical disk after pause of recording occurring due to buffer under-run, in such a manner that continuity with information recorded immediately before the occurrence of the pause occurred is maintained. A counting part counts the number of times of operation of the continuity maintaining part during the recording of the information onto the optical disk. A display part displays the number of times of operation of the continuity maintaining part counted by the counting part.

Abstract: An optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus comprise, a buffer circuit which receive and store data and output the stored data, an EFM modulation circuit which receive data output from the buffer circuit, adding a frame synchronous signal and sub-code data, subjecting these items of data to the EFM modulation to create record data, a buffer remaining amount control circuit for detecting the remaining amount of data stored in the buffer circuit, a record control circuit for conducting the control for temporarily suspending the recording operation to the optical disk at an arbitrary position of the main data of the record data excluding the frame synchronous signal and the sub-code data in the case where the detection result of the remaining amount of data in the buffer remaining amount control circuit corresponds to the state in which the buffer underrun is generated.

Abstract: An information recording device includes a buffer memory, a buffer management unit and a phase adjusting unit. The buffer memory temporarily stores data to be written in a recording medium. The buffer management unit starts writing the data in the recording medium if a size of the data stored in the buffer memory exceeds a first predetermined size, and suspends writing the data in the recording medium if the size of the data stored in the buffer memory becomes less than a second predetermined size. Additionally, the phase adjusting unit starts adjusting a phase error between a signal synchronous to the data and a signal synchronous to a location on the recording medium when the buffer management unit starts writing the data in the recording medium, and finishes adjusting the phase error so that the phase error becomes substantially zero before the buffer management unit suspends writing the data in the recording medium.

Abstract: To provide an optical disk recording apparatus capable of signal recording onto a disk using a laser emitted from an optical pick-up. Signals temporarily stored in the buffer RAM (10) are read, and recorded onto a disk (1). When the amount of signal data in the buffer RAM (10) decreases below a predetermined amount as signals are read therefrom while the read signals are recorded onto the disk (1), the signal recording onto the disk (1) is suspended. When the amount of signal data in the buffer RAM (10) increases to the predetermined amount, the signal recording onto the disk (1) is resumed. The number of occurrences of signal recording suspension and resumption due to the shortage of signals in the buffer RAM (10) is counted.

Abstract: An optical disc player system for reproducing optical discs is provided. The system includes a digital signal processor for processing a data signal having a format read from an optical disc and reproducing the optical disc. The system includes a plurality of decoders for decoding data of different formats. The system includes a data output unit which selects the data output from the digital signal processor or the decoded data output from the decoders. The data output unit converts the selected data into an analog signal and outputs the converted signal to a corresponding channel. A controller enables one of the decoders depending on the data format of the optical disc and controls the selection operation of the data output unit, and a buffer memory for storing data output from the plurality of decoders depending to the data format or operation mode of the optical disc.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reading, or a recording apparatus for writing, data from or to a disc having pre-formed thereon a pair of concentrical or spiral tracks adjacent to each other and to which a common address is given, is adapted to control the time at which a read or write head is moved from one to the other of the pair of tracks or vice versa.

Abstract: A power saving system of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus is provided. The optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes a temporal memory which stores reproduced data or recording data in a cyclic data storage stage and from which the stored data is read out for reproduction or recording in a cyclic data readout stage following the data storage stage. The power saving system saves part of power consumed in the apparatus in the data storage stage in a record mode of operation and in the data readout stage in a reproduce mode of operation.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on an optical disc. A pickup reads the information, and a track buffer memory temporarily accumulates the information therein. A control micro computer start reproducing the information. Then, the computer stops reproducing while accumulating the information in the memory when stop of the reproduction is requested from an external portion during the reproduction. Further, the computer outputs the information accumulated in the memory to resume reproducing it.

Abstract: An apparatus records main information and sub information onto an information recording medium, which has a main recording area and a sub recording area. The apparatus is provided with an receiving device that receives the main information input from the external source; an accumulating device that accumulates the main information received by the receiving device; a recording device that records the main information and the sub information to the main recording area and the sub recording area, respectively; and a controller that determines whether or not an amount of the main information accumulated in the accumulating device is smaller than a predetermined amount, and that controls the recording device.

Abstract: A servo control system for a shock-proof disk player comprising a digital signal processor, a voltage-controlled oscillator, a reference clock generator, a clock mode changeover switch, a phase comparator for controlling a head-rotating spindle motor, and a bulk memory of a large capacity for storage of data, wherein the phase lock of a PLL at the time of a seek is switched on or off under control to thereby shorten the required seek time. The clock signal frequency is selectively changed in such a manner as to lock the PLL in accordance with the rotation rate, whereby the power consumption can be lowered. The bulk memory is used as a data buffer, and the servo system is controlled as the data are read out from the memory while the data quantity stored and left therein is detected, so that a reduction of the power consumption can be achieved with another advantage of enhancing the resistance against shock.

Abstract: A data recorder for recording data on a recording medium such that the occurrence of buffer underrun errors are prevented. Data encoded by an encoder is recorded on the recording medium. A decoder decodes the data recorded on the recording medium. The data recorder interrupts the recording of data when a buffer underrun is likely to occur. The recording of data is restarted when the decoded data and the encoded data are synchronized. When the decoded data is delayed from the encoded data, encoding is stopped until the decoded data catches up with the encoded data.

Abstract: A controller of a data recorder that records data on a recording medium such that the occurrence of buffer underrun errors are prevented. Data encoded by an encoder is recorded on the recording medium. A decoder decodes the data recorded on the recording medium. The data recorder interrupts the recording of data when a buffer underrun is likely to occur. The controller restarts the recording of data when the decoded data and the encoded data are synchronized. When the decoded data is delayed from the encoded data, the controller stops the encoding until the decoded data catches up with the encoded data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data recording method for an optical disc driver comprising the steps of receiving a data recording command, encoding data to be recorded in a corresponding user region block, storing the encoded data in the unit of an error correction code (ECC) block in a buffer, and recording the data of the ECC blocks if the number of the ECC blocks stored in the buffer is larger than the predetermined number of the ECC blocks. In encoding the data to be recorded, if the data to be recorded is the data in the unit of a sector, the data of the ECC block of the user region corresponding to the sector is reproduced, the data to be newly recorded is inserted into the data of the reproduced ECC block, and the processed ECC block is encoded. If the data to be recorded is the data in the unit of an ECC block, the ECC block data of the user region is not reproduced, but the ECC block to be recorded is encoded.

Abstract: A recording method, a recording apparatus, a reproducing method and a reproducing apparatus for a recording medium such as an optical disk or the like are able to simultaneously record and simultaneously reproduce a plurality of independent information or to execute the recording and the reproduction thereof simultaneously with ease. The apparatus includes a plurality of buffer means (7a, 7b) for respectively, individually and temporarily memorizing a plurality of independent recording data or reproducing data and a pickup (2) for recording the recording data memorized in the respective buffer means (7a, 7b) on respective different recording areas in a time-division manner and reproducing data recorded on the respective different recording areas in a time-division manner.