Abstract: In a DVD-R on which information is to be recorded by an information recording apparatus, prior to the recording of the information therein, there are recorded in advance at least identification information for identifying the information recording apparatus for recording the information onto the DVD-R, and recording parameter information containing optimization information for optimizing a recording state in the record processing executed by the information recording apparatus specified by the identification information. Furthermore, the information recording apparatus reads the recording parameter information at the execution of record processing to use it for the record processing.

Abstract: In the optical disc apparatus according to the present invention, the CPU 113 is operated to execute a control program stored in the ROM 112 to calculate a reproduction time at the time point when the power supply was turned off based on parameters after reading out from the DRAM 111 the parameters at the time point when the power supply was turned off. The CPU 113 is then operated to execute the control program stored in the ROM 112 to produce a control signal to have a display unit, not shown, display the reproduction time thus calculated, and calculate a reproduction position at the time point when the power supply was turned off based on parameters indicative of the address number and produce a control signal to have the reproduction of the reproduction information such as, for example, audio data and image data resumed.

Abstract: An optical disk according to the present invention is the optical disk on which secret information on unique information given to a specific optical disk manufacturer or a specific optical disk and information recorded on an infringement disk list of identifying an illegitimate optical disk manufacturer or an illegitimate optical disk are recorded in advance, and the optical disk has an area in which reproduction-only encrypted data encrypted based on the secret information and the information on the infringement disk list is recorded in advance or an area capable of recording the encrypted data to be encrypted based on the secret information and the information on the infringement disk list.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rotation speed of an optical storage device. In the first mode, a first signal is produced, and in the second mode, a second signal is produced. In one mode, a first pulse of a first voltage and a second pulse of a second voltage are sent to the motor, which causes the motor to produce a first armature current and a second armature current. In another mode, a DC signal of a third voltage is produced, which causes the motor to produce a third armature current. The armature currents are detected, and test voltages are outputted. The first and second voltages, and the first and second test voltages are used to find a motor coefficient. The third voltage, the motor coefficient, and the third test voltage are used to calculate a motor rotation speed. The calculated speed is used to control the real motor speed.

Abstract: Optical pick-up units and laser drivers are disclosed, which can be used in various types of information recording/reproducing apparatuses, such as, but not limited to, DVD and CD drives, DVD camcorders, and DVD video recorders. A laser driver integrated circuit (LDIC) includes an automatic power controller, a running optical power controller, and a write strategy generator. The LDIC can be part of a chip-set, to be located on an optical pick-up unit (OPU). The chip-set can also include a power monitor integrated circuit (PMIC) to monitor the laser diode, and a photo-detector integrated circuit (PDIC) to detect light produced by the laser diode. The PMIC and the PDIC each include their own offset, gain and sample-and-hold circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the data storage medium enabling subsequent alteration by a user or user's data rendering system in order to enforce the restrictive covenants of the data usage agreement. The present invention also discloses the data rendering system designed to work with said data storage medium. The present invention also discloses the piracy-resistant method to deliver data stored on a removable data storage medium.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the time a host computer requires to recognize a recordable disc such as CD-R/CD-RW. The method includes the steps of determining whether or not an optical disc loaded in the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus is an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written (S46), and if the preceding step S46 determines the loaded disc as an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written, acquisition of disc information required for recording on the optical disc is performed by the host computer inter-relatedly with a spinup in the same step (S47). Thus, the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus returns the disc information to the host computer in step (S4E) without performing the step (S4D) for acquiring the disc information after the completion of the spinup (S4A) for the optical disc onto which data is likely to be written. Thus, the time required for recognizing a recordable disc can be reduced when the disc is loaded.

Abstract: In a method for optically recording information in a system including a recording and reading device that includes a strategy part for conducting a strategy when optically recording information and an information processing apparatus that includes a strategy information storing part storing the strategy information for operating the strategy part, the strategy information for operating the strategy part of the recording and reading device is read from the strategy information storing part of the information processing apparatus and the strategy information is transmitted to the recording and reading device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a startup procedure of optical drive after recording or erasing on an optical disc. After disc writing, startup procedure begins, a chipset reads the recorded data on the disc directly using the track information and focus servo parameter in the memory. Thus, the invention reduces time spent in the reading procedure.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data area for recording data; and a drive information area for recording at least one piece of drive information. The data area is divided into a plurality of segmented areas in a radial direction of the information recording medium. Each at least one piece of drive information includes a recording and reproduction condition corresponding to at least one of the plurality of segmented areas.

Abstract: A controller (30) is capable of operating in two possible operative modes, each mode having a corresponding characteristic (11; 12). Said characteristics have an overlap in a range of error signal values [TLL–TN]. The controller is capable of switching from one mode to another, based on the value of the time-derivative (( ) of the input error signal (e), so that, for a certain input error signal within said range [TLL–TN], the controller can be in any of its modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information recording method to write a digital information file onto an information recording medium. The digital information file comprises a plurality of digital data and the information recording medium comprises a plurality of predetermined recording units which are arranged sequentially on said information recording medium from an inner area to an outer area in order to write the plurality of digital data on the digital information file. The inner area of the information recording medium has a data recording start area, and the data recording start area comprises a first start recording unit, where recording the plurality of digital data of digital information file supposed to start. This information recording method is starting from said first start recording unit to derive a second start recording unit through a predetermined counting procedure.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention includes a substrate (202), a protection plate (205), and a plurality of information layers (203) sandwiched between the substrate and the protection plate. An information signal is recorded as a length of a mark and a length of a space between two marks. The mark is formed when the information layer is irradiated by light received through the substrate. The information layers have a management region (206) recording a leading edge recording condition and a trailing edge recording condition. The leading edge recording condition is used to change a recording start position for forming a leading edge of the mark. The trailing edge recording condition is used to change a recording end position for forming a trailing edge of the mark. Each of the leading and trailing edge recording condition is depending on which information layer is recorded.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for detecting a reproduction stop date when reproduction of image data is stopped in the past, and for determining a reproduction start position in the image data on a basis of the reproduction stop date, and further for starting the reproduction of the image data from the determined reproduction start position in response to an instruction of starting reproduction.

Abstract: In order to compensate for so-called clipping effects, it is proposed, in an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium in which the light power of a laser diode (1) is to be set to a plurality of light power levels,to perform a calibration to a specific light power level (LP2) before the actual regulation of the light power. On account of the calibration, the instantaneous gradient of the characteristic curve which describes the dependence of the laser light power on the laser diode current can be inferred in order, on the basis of this information, to take account f a change—caused, for example, by ageing r clipping effects—in the characteristic curve gradient in the course of the subsequent regulation of the light power of the scanning beam generated by the laser diode (1).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided, which enable a user's standby time to be shortened or utilized effectively in the course of recording/reproduction of information with respect to an optical disk. Information recorded on a disk is reproduced preferentially, and after counting for a predetermined period of time, recording learning is conducted. Alternatively, management information is reproduced preferentially over recording learning, and recording learning is conducted while a user is confirming this information. Alternatively, the possibility of recording on a disk is identified, and reproduction preference or recording learning preference processing is conducted based the possibility. Alternatively, a rotation speed of a disk is controlled to be variable or constant, based on the possibility of recording.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimal recording method for optical recording media which is capable of recording information about optimum recording conditions on an optical recording medium in order to allow a subsequent recording of data at an optimum recording power, based on the recorded optimum recording condition information. In this method, test data is recorded to allow derivation of an optimum power value based on reproduction characteristics of the test data. An intrinsic recorder ID information of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus, used to record data on the optical recording medium, and information about the record speed of the apparatus are recorded, along with the derived optimum power value, onto the count area of the optical recording medium or respective lead-in areas of sessions. The apparatus reads out the recorded optimum recording condition information when data is subsequently recorded onto the optical recording medium.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rotation speed of an optical storage device. In the first mode, a first signal is produced, and in the second mode, a second signal is produced. In one mode, a first pulse of a first voltage and a second pulse of a second voltage are sent to the motor, which causes the motor to produce a first armature current and a second armature current. In another mode, a DC signal of a third voltage is produced, which causes the motor to produce a third armature current. The armature currents are detected, and test voltages are outputted. The first and second voltages, and the first and second test voltages are used to find a motor coefficient. The third voltage, the motor coefficient, and the third test voltage are used to calculate a motor rotation speed. The calculated speed is used to control the real motor speed.

Abstract: In a multi-session disc including both audio session and data session, the data session is correctly recognized and accessed. The reproducing apparatus is a reproducing apparatus of a multi-session disc mixing a session of first type recording first data and a session of second type recording second data different from the first data, comprising an optical pickup for accessing the session of first type and the session of second type, a judging unit for judging a type of the session accessed by the optical pickup, and a limiting unit for limiting the session of first type to a reproducible session when the session of second type judged by the judging unit is present at an access position after the session of first type.

Abstract: When recording and reproduction are performed at the same time, if a system controller detects that an amount of data accumulated in a buffer memory exceeds a predetermined value, the system controller stops data reading from an optical disk temporarily and records data accumulated in the buffer memory continuously to the optical disk. Then, an image is prevented from becoming abnormal when a reproduction position catches up to a recording position. Further, a system controller monitors a zone in an optical disk, to which recording is performed and controls a motor at an appropriate revolution number for the recording to the zone. Further, reproduction is performed by maintaining the revolution number. Then, even if the recording position and the reproduction position belong to different zones in a recording medium, a transition time from recording to reproduction is prevented from becoming long.

Abstract: In a spin-up process in a disk drive, the values of a PMA counter and a TOC counter are compared with each other with respect to a write-once disk. The PM counter is a adapted to count the number of disks in which information is written in a PMA region, among the disks from which information is theretofore read in the disk drive. The TOC counter is adapted to count the number of disks in which information is not written in the PMA region.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing the data to be reproduced correctly by judging the lead-in region of first session on a multi-session disc. The reproducing apparatus reproduces a multi-session disc composed of a plurality of sessions, each comprising a lead-in region recording index information including the information of reproduction start time measured from the disc innermost peripheral position, program region recording program tracks storing contents to be reproduced, and lead-out region, corresponding to the start position of each program track stored in the multi-session disc. This reproducing apparatus comprises an optical pickup for reading out the index information of specified session, and a session judging unit for judging if the lead-in region of the specified session is the lead-in region of the first session of the multi-session disc or not, on the basis of the information of the reproduction time included in the index information being read out by the optical pickup.

Abstract: A disc discrimination method and apparatus include calculating a first time difference between a time when a first focusing signal is detected from a first recording area of a first disc and a time when a first reflection signal is detected from a first surface area of the first disc, and calculating a second time difference between a time when a second focusing signal is detected from a second recording area of a second disc and a time when a second reflection signal is detected from a second surface area of the second disc. An average value of the first and the second time differences is calculated and the average value obtained as a reference time is determined and a disc type of the first disc or the second disc loaded into the optical disc system is identified using the average value.

Abstract: A recording method for recording, on a write once type information recording medium, management information representing a recording state of the write once type information recording medium is provided. The information recording medium includes data including a first synchronization signal. The information recording medium has a second synchronization signal pre-recorded by cutting. The recording method includes the steps of (a) performing a recording operation for recording the management information at a predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the first synchronization signal; (b) determining whether the recording operation in step (a) is normally terminated or not; and (c) when the recording operation in step (a) is not normally terminated, performing a recording operation for recording the management information at the predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the second synchronization signal.

Abstract: An adjustment method for optical pick-up including a light source for emitting light beams, an object lens for irradiating light beams onto an optical disc for adjustment and a drive portion for driving the object lens in a direction in parallel to the optical axis of the object lens and in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis thereof, wherein in the state where the light source is movably held with respect to the object lens and the drive portion is movably held with respect to the light source, light beams are irradiated onto an optical disc for adjustment concentrically having recording tracks from the optical pick-up to adjust relative position of the object lens with respect to the light source and inclination of the optical axis of the object lens, and an optical disc for adjustment used in such an adjustment method.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a data storage disk, a transducer, a micro actuator, a coarse actuator, and a controller. The micro actuator is configured to position the transducer relative to the disk over a first range of movement. The coarse actuator is configured to position the micro actuator relative to the disk over a second range of movement that is larger than the first range of movement. The controller is configured to control positioning of the transducer by the coarse actuator and the micro actuator in a track following operation, and in a seek operation responsive to a seek command. The controller is also configured to calibrate its positioning of the transducer by the micro actuator responsive to receipt of the seek command and prior to seeking the transducer from an initial track to a target track.

Abstract: An adjustment method for optical pick-up including a light source for emitting light beams, an object lens for irradiating light beams onto an optical disc for adjustment and a drive portion for driving the object lens in a direction in parallel to the optical axis of the object lens and in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis thereof, wherein in the state where the light source is movably held with respect to the object lens and the drive portion is movably held with respect to the light source, light beams are irradiated onto an optical disc for adjustment concentrically having recording tracks from the optical pick-up to adjust relative position of the object lens with respect to the light source and inclination of the optical axis of the object lens, and an optical disc for adjustment used in such an adjustment method.

Abstract: An optical pickup unit includes a light source emitting a light beam, an objective lens focusing the light beam onto an information recording medium, a light detection part receiving the light beam reflected from the information recording medium, and a light blocking part selectively blocking a part of the light beam with respect to a radial direction. The light blocking part is provided in an optical path of the light beam centered on an optical axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing optical recording media is provided that detects the intensity of a reflective light off of an optical recording media and analyzes the initializing condition based on the detected intensity during an initializing process. The light is radiated on a rotating phase-change optical recording medium. The light may be moved in a radial direction of the optical recording medium. The detected intensity of the reflected light may be used to identify crystallized portions and amorphous portions of the optical media. The initialization process can be adaptively controlled to ensure proper initialization. If desired, re-initialization can be limited to those areas detected to be outside of the predetermined parameters.

Abstract: An optical system of an optical disk recording apparatus irradiates a disk with a main beam for use in writing a data signal onto a disk and a sub-beam succeeding the main beam. When writing a data signal onto the disk, a site on the disk at which a data signal is written by the main beam is subsequently irradiated with the succeeding sub-beam. Light of the succeeding sub-beam reflected from the disk is received by a succeeding light receiving sub-region. A sampling circuit samples a signal at periods when the emission power of the main beam is at the recording level, among output signals from the succeeding light receiving sub-region. Based on the sampled signal at the recording level, a ? value detection circuit and a jitter amount detection circuit obtain a ? value and a jitter amount indicative of the recording state of the data signal recorded on the disk, respectively.

Abstract: A disc speed control device for use in a disc player and/or recorder having a pick-up for reading/recording data. The device comprises an inner loop which regulates a determined disc rotation speed value received at its input and an outer loop which delivers this speed value depending on a frequency at which data is read by the pick-up. The present invention is particularly useful in multistandard disc drives which need to adjust to different disc speed modes, for example, constant angular velocity, or constant linear velocity.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a data recording area for recording data; and a parameter calibration area for recording recording condition information. The parameter calibration area includes a used area having the recording condition information recorded therein, an unused area having no recording condition information, and a border area for recording distinguishing information for distinguishing a border between the used area and the unused area. The border area is between the used area and the unused area.

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 phase compensation method uses a phase plate to compensate for an optical phase of a reproduced signal in a reproducing optical system which is provided with respect to the reproduced signal from an optical recording medium. The position of the phase plate is controlled within a predetermined variable range depending on a type of the optical recording medium, so that a CNR of a reproduced signal becomes a maximum or, a DC fluctuation of the reproduced signal becomes a minimum or, a crosstalk level from adjacent tracks becomes a minimum.

Abstract: With an object of executing excellent finishing processing when information is recorded to a rewritable type record medium or a write once type record medium, the finishing processing is switched by whether a kind of a medium for recording information is the rewritable type record medium or the write once type record medium and a method of executing the finishing processing is switched based on a state of supplying power.

Abstract: A calibration of input signal offsets for stray light in an optical disk drive is presented. The input signal offsets can be determined by setting a laser power level, receiving digitized input signals, and setting the input signal offsets so that the digitized input signals are zero. The laser power level can be a read power or a write power. In some embodiments, input signal offsets for both read power and write power are determined and stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing an optical recording medium comprising a phase change material using a series of flashes of light. A series of low-power, high duty cycle flashes of light are produced to initialize the media to a crystalline form, onto which data may be recorded. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a spiral flash bulb with centrally located connectors comprises the flash illumination source for initializing the optical recording media.

Abstract: The present invention provides simple finalizing that is quicker to be done. To ensure that the finalized recording medium can be replayed by any type of playback apparatus, the invention includes means for additional finalizing that makes the medium the same as processed by normal finalizing.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus and method for recording and reproducing information to/from an optical disc, including discrimination of the optical disc, reading control information in an un-recordable area formed in an inner periphery of the optical disc, conducting focus control based on a focus error signal in a recordable area formed outside of the un-recordable area, and determining an optimum offset value of the focus error signal in the recordable area. Further, adjustment in amplitude of a reproduced signal from an inner periphery of the recordable area is conducted, test-writing in the inner periphery of the recordable area is conducted, test-writing in an outer periphery of the recordable area is conducted, and adjustment in amplitude of a reproduced signal from the outer periphery of the recordable area is conducted. The respective operations are conducted sequentially so as to make the optical disc in a reproducible and recordable condition.

Abstract: In a recording material, physical characteristic information of the recording medium, and more specifically, material information representing the material of the disc, is recorded. Accordingly, a recording apparatus and a reading apparatus easily and accurately determine the physical characteristics of the disc, thereby making it possible to provide suitable setting for performing an operation.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium includes a lead-in area, a user data zone in which user data is recorded, and a lead-out area. Write protection information is recorded in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area, together with defect management information. Information is recorded and/or reproduced according to the defect management information and the write protection information. The write protection information indicates a size of a write protected area differentiated from a plurality of sizes of write protected areas of the optical information storage medium.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the time a host computer requires to recognize a recordable disc such as CD-R/CD-RW. The method includes the steps of determining whether or not an optical disc loaded in the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus is an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written (S46), and if the preceding step S46 determines the loaded disc as an optical disc onto which data is likely to be written, acquisition of disc information required for recording on the optical disc is performed by the host computer inter-relatedly with a spinup in the same step (S47). Thus, the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus returns the disc information to the host computer in step (S4E) without performing the step (S4D) for acquiring the disc information after the completion of the spinup (S4A) for the optical disc onto which data is likely to be written. Thus, the time required for recognizing a recordable disc can be reduced when the disc is loaded.

Abstract: Optical pick-up units and laser drivers are disclosed, which can be used in various types of information recording/reproducing apparatuses, such as, but not limited to, DVD and CD drives, DVD camcorders, and DVD video recorders. A laser driver integrated circuit (LDIC) includes an automatic power controller, a running optical power controller, and a write strategy generator. The LDIC can be part of a chip-set, to be located on an optical pick-up unit (OPU). The chip-set can also include a power monitor integrated circuit (PMIC) to monitor the laser diode, and a photo-detector integrated circuit (PDIC) to detect light produced by the laser diode. The PMIC and the PDIC each include their own offset, gain and sample-and-hold circuitry.

Abstract: A method for formatting an optic disk by an optic disk drive is disclosed. The optic disk drive includes a control unit having operation keys. The method includes the steps of (a) initiating a formatting operation; (b) setting the optic disk drive to a busy condition; (c) checking if the optic disk is a blank CD-RW disk and going to step (g) if the optic disk is a blank CD-RW disk otherwise going to step (d); (d) checking if the optic disk is a UDF disk and issuing a warning and ending the operation if the optic disk is not a UDF disk otherwise going to step (e); (e) performing a quick formatting operation and writing label in UDF file system of the formatted optic disk; (f) Ending the formatting operation; (g) performing a complete formatting operation and writing label in the UDF file system of the formatted optic disk; and (h) ending the formatting operation. No computer is needed in performing the optic disk formatting operation.

Abstract: In an optical disk recording method, a plurality of strategies are stored, which are selectable according to a model of an optical disk, a recording rate and a linear velocity for adjusting a pulse width of a laser drive signal and a power of a laser beam to shape pits. A first strategy and a second strategy are provided for the same model of the optical disk, the same recording rate and the same linear velocity, the first strategy being designed to shorten the pulse width of the laser drive signal and increase the power of the laser beam, thereby decreasing jitters of the recorded information, the second strategy being designed to lengthen the pulse width of the laser drive signal and decrease the power of the laser beam, thereby decreasing crosstalk of the recorded information. The first strategy and the second strategy are alternatively used dependently on conditions of the recording of information.

Abstract: A drive controller is capable of reading information from an optically encoded disk. The drive controller is made to attempt a first read operation from a first area of the optically encoded disk to generate a first data set. If the first read operation is successful, the drive controller then verifies that the first data set conforms to a first data format. A media type descriptor is obtained from the first data set if the first data set conforms to the first data format. A media type descriptor is obtained from a second data set read from a second area of the optically encoded disk if the first data set does not conform to the first data format, or if the first read operation is not successful.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing optical recording media is provided that detects the intensity of a reflective light off of an optical recording media and analyzes the initializing condition based on the detected intensity during an initializing process. The light is radiated on a rotating phase-change optical recording medium. The light may be moved in a radial direction of the optical recording medium. The detected intensity of the reflected light may be used to identify crystallized portions and amorphous portions of the optical media. The initialization process can be adaptively controlled to ensure proper initialization. If desired, re-initialization can be limited to those areas detected to be outside of the predetermined parameters.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus including a system controller that receives a recording control command via an interface. A recording control block that receives a recording method command signal indicative of one of recording with verify and real time recording and recording data from the system controller. An optical head that modulates the power of laser beam using a recording pulse sent from the control block and records the recording data on an information recording medium. The recording data is recorded in the information recording medium according to the recording with verify and the real time recording using different recording power respectively, in which under the recording with verify, the recording power determined by recording compensation learning is used, and under the real time recording, the recording power higher than the recording power obtained by the recording compensation learning is used.

Abstract: A recording medium for storing real time recording/reproduction information, a real time recording and reproducing method and apparatus, and a file operating method using the information. Real time recording/reproduction information for ensuring real time recording/reproduction is stored in a file control information area, in each real time file, or in a separate file, and real time recording/reproduction attributes are assigned to the file. Thus, real time recorded files can be continuously reproduced without interruption. Also, there are methods of creating a file to which real time recording/reproduction attributes are assigned, extending a data area, and recording and reproducing the file to which real time recording/reproduction attributes are assigned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing optical recording media is provided that detects the intensity of a reflective light off of an optical recording media and analyzes the initializing condition based on the detected intensity during an initializing process. The light is radiated on a rotating phase-change optical recording medium. The light may be moved in a radial direction of the optical recording medium. The detected intensity of the reflected light may be used to identify crystallized portions and amorphous portions of the optical media. The initialization process can be adaptively controlled to ensure proper initialization. If desired, re-initialization can be limited to those areas detected to be outside of the predetermined parameters.