Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data recording area for recording data; a first drive information area for recording first drive information: and a second drive information area for recording second drive information. The first drive information and the second drive information each include a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions, and the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions each define an operation condition of an information recording and reproduction apparatus, which can have the information recording medium mounted thereon, for recording and reproducing the data. The plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are arranged in the order of time at which the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are recorded.

Abstract: An optical power level-controlling device controls optical power level of a laser beam irradiated on an optical disk. The optical power level takes an ERASE (reference) level, a lower BIAS level and a higher WRITE level. Recording is performed by alternating the optical power level between BIAS and WRITE levels. In a controlling part, test signals are recorded while varying the optical power level and in an OPC for setting an optimum WRITE level by reproducing the test signals. A combined control, i.e., combination of a feedback control and a fixed value control at a predetermined ratio, is performed on BIAS level during a recording operation of the test signals. Fixed value control is performed on the difference between ERASE level and BIAS level during a recording operation.

Abstract: A laser drive circuit includes a first current supply unit which supplies a first drive current to a first laser diode based on a drive waveform signal generated by a drive waveform generating unit, a second current supply unit which supplies a second drive current to a second laser diode based on the drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit, and a switching unit which selectively supplies the drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit to one of the first current supply unit and the second current supply unit. The drive waveform generating unit may be part of the laser drive circuit, or may be separate from the laser drive circuit, and may include a drive waveform information storage unit which stores a recording strategy according to a type of disk.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in an optical disk apparatus constructed to supply signals for controlling a semiconductor laser drive circuit provided to an optical pickup from a signal processing circuit through a flexible cable, the semiconductor laser drive circuit is so constructed as to generate a drive current signal for the semiconductor laser on the basis of a binary signal and a clock signal which are supplied from the signal processing circuit through the flexible cable and the signal processing circuit is so constructed as to supply the clock signal during recording of data and stop the supply of the block signal during reproduction of data.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data recording area for recording data; a first drive information area for recording first drive information; and a second drive information area for recording second drive information. The first drive information and the second drive information each include a plurality of recording and reproduction conditions, and the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions each define an operation condition of an information recording and reproduction apparatus, which can have the information recording medium mounted thereon, for recording and reproducing the data. The plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are arranged in the order of time at which the plurality of recording and reproduction conditions are recorded.

Abstract: A rewriteable type optical recording medium for recording information has an information recording area for recording information and a recording/reproduction condition recording area for recording at least one recording/reproduction condition to be used in a recording/reproduction apparatus and at least one set of apparatus information for identifying a recording/reproduction apparatus which uses the at least one recording/reproduction condition. A plurality of recording/reproduction conditions and a plurality of sets of apparatus information, each one the plurality of sets of apparatus information corresponding to one of the plurality of recording/reproduction conditions, can be recorded on the rewriteable type optical recording medium and overwritten on the rewriteable type optical recording medium.

Abstract: A wedge data writer writes wedge data, including track identification information, that are spatially-aligned along the radial direction of an optical disk. The wedge data are written at the beginning of a wedge when at least one radial groove or pit molded into the disk is detected.

Abstract: In an optical disc apparatus, since verify and a parameter change or retry operation are not performed for real time recording, how the reliability of recorded information is secured comes into question. Accordingly, the reliability of the recorded information is secured by increasing the recording power for the real time recording compared with that for recording with verify and increasing the stability of forming a recording mark.

Abstract: A write and/or erase method is adapted to a storage apparatus having a function of changing a write and/or erase power of a light beam with respect to a recording medium. The write and/or erase method sets a write and/or erase slice level for detecting an off-track of the light beam with respect to a track on the recording medium depending on the write and/or erase power.

Abstract: An optical disk recording method performs recording of data at a variable linear velocity multiplication factor in accordance with a radial position of a irradiation optical beam on an optical disk. The method is carried out by the steps of performing an actual recording with a variable writing power y=ax+b of the irradiation optical beam in accordance with a linear velocity multiplication factor x where the constant a is determined to a fixed value according to a type of the optical disk, performing a test recording before starting the actual recording such that the test recording is carried out with a test linear velocity multiplication factor to obtain an appropriate writing power of the irradiation optical beam, and setting the constant b by solving the function y=ax+b with using the results of the test recording, whereby the actual recording can be performed with an appropriate writing power y calculated based on the function y=ax+b having the set constants a and b.

Abstract: A rewriteable type optical recording medium for recording information has an information recording area for recording information and a recording/reproduction condition recording area for recording at least one recording/reproduction condition to be used in a recording/reproduction apparatus and time information representing a date on which the at least one recording/reproduction condition was recorded. A plurality of recording/reproduction conditions and a plurality of time information, each one the plurality of time information corresponding to one of the plurality of recording/reproduction conditions, can be recorded on the rewriteable type optical recording medium and overwritten on the rewriteable type optical recording medium.

Abstract: A writing method for an optical disc to optimize a writing speed, wherein a spiral track on the optical disc is divided into a plurality of zones, and different CLV writing speeds are used for performing a ZCLV writing to the zones respectively. The writing method comprises steps of: setting a plurality of writing modes; storing a plurality of zone parameter sets for the writing modes respectively in a memory, wherein each of the zone parameter sets comprises dividing times for dividing the zones, and the different CLV writing speeds for the zone respectively; determining a disc type of the optical disc by a disc type determining device before the ZCLV writing is performed; selecting one of the zone parameter sets that is suitable to the disc type of the optical disc; and performing the ZCLV writing with the writing mode corresponding to the selected zone parameter set.

Abstract: The system and method is used for CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) control format recording, whereas the existing disk data is recorded under CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) control format recording. When the PUH receives a laser driver signal, it generates a feed signal and a wobble signal. The feed signal is received by the automatic power control; thereafter the automatic power control generates a first control signal used for causing the laser driver to adjust the laser driver signal. After the ATIP decoder receives the wobble signal, the ATIP decoder generates and outputs ATIP decoded data to the CLV value detector. The CLV value detector receives ATIP decoded data and generates a CLV decoded data to the laser power control. The laser power control receives the CLV decoded data and generates a second control signal used for causing the automatic power control to adjust the first control signal.

Abstract: A rewriteable type optical recording medium for recording information has an information recording area for recording information and a recording/reproduction condition recording area for recording at least one recording/reproduction condition to be used in a recording/reproduction apparatus and at least one set of manufacturer information for identifying a manufacturer of a recording/reproduction apparatus which uses the at least one recording/reproduction condition. A plurality of recording/reproduction conditions and a plurality of sets of manufacturer information, each one the plurality of sets of manufacturer information corresponding to one of the plurality of recording/reproduction conditions, can be recorded on the rewriteable type optical recording medium and overwritten on the rewriteable type optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a recording/reproduction conditions recording area for recording recording/reproduction conditions and recording/reproduction apparatus information identifying the recording/reproduction apparatus using the recording/reproduction conditions. When the optical recording medium is accessed in a recording/reproduction apparatus, the recording/reproduction conditions for the recording/reproduction apparatus are used. Therefore, recording or reproduction can be performed with use of optimum recording/reproduction apparatus information appropriate for the optical recording medium and for the recording/reproduction apparatus. When the optical recording medium is used for the first time, test recording is performed by using a test recording region provided in the optical recording medium, and the obtained recording/reproduction conditions are recorded.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a recording/reproduction conditions recording area for recording recording/reproduction conditions and recording/reproduction apparatus information identifying the recording/reproduction apparatus using the recording/reproduction conditions. When the optical recording medium is accessed in a recording/reproduction apparatus, the recording/reproduction conditions for the recording/reproduction apparatus are used. Therefore, recording or reproduction can be performed with use of optimum recording/reproduction apparatus appropriate for the optical recording medium and for the recording/reproduction apparatus. When the optical recording medium is used for the first time, test recording is performed by using a test recording region provided in the optical recording medium, and the obtained recording/reproduction conditions are recorded.

Abstract: A table having a plurality of recording densities and a plurality of recording/reproducing conditions corresponding to the recording densities and each necessary for recording/reproducing a signal at a corresponding recording density is recorded in a TOC region of a magneto-optical disk. A recording/reproducing apparatus finds out a recording density at which it can record/reproduce data from the table and records or reproduces a signal at the recording density. The recording/reproducing conditions include the wavelength of a semiconductor laser, whether or not to employ the optical pulse magnetic field modulation recording method, the presence/absence of an optical super resolution pickup, whether or not to employ the optical pulse reproducing method, whether or not to employ the PRML method and the like.

Abstract: Prior to an actual record on an optical disc (10), in an outer peripheral test area (22a) which is on the outer peripheral side with respect to a program area (18) of the optical disc (10), a test record is repeatedly performed a plurality of times while the velocity is controlled to a predetermined linear velocity and the recording power is sequentially changed. An appropriate recording power value at the linear velocity is obtained on the basis of reproduced signals of the plural test records in the outer peripheral test area. In an actual record on the optical disc (10), the record is performed while the recording power is controlled to the appropriate value in accordance with the linear velocity, on the basis of the obtained recording power value.

Abstract: A method of retrieving recorded information from an optical recording medium and writing information in an optical recording medium. The method is applicable to optical recording media having different track pitches. Before reading information or recording information, a laser beam is employed to read from a control track area of an optical recording medium track pitch information including the track pitch of the medium. Then, based upon the track pitch read, the shape of the spot of the laser beam incident on the optical recording medium is adjusted so that it conforms to the track pitch determined by reading the information from the control track area.

Abstract: An optical disk having a plurality of substantially concentric tracks, each of which includes a plurality of segments each comprising a servo area ARs provided with servo pits for giving servo information to a disk drive and a data area ARd. Identification marks SGM, ADM, STM1, STM2 are recorded in the servo area ARs. The identification marks SGM, ADM, STM1, STM2 provide information for identifying the respective segments depending on the recording position in the servo area ARs.

Abstract: A driving method and apparatus for a light source element of an optical pickup for reading and writing data from and to an optical data includes generating an error signal when a tracking error signal is higher than a first level or is lower than a second level and, if the error signal is active, supplying the light source element with a driving signal suitable for data read operations independent of whether the user selects read mode or write mode. As a result, when there is a tracking error the power of the device signal corresponds to that normally presented during a read mode, and this power is insufficient to write data onto the disc. Thus, data is not written over other desired data when an abnormal tracking error occurs.