Abstract: With a CD laser, a focusing search is carried out to detect a value CD-FE(pp) which is a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a focusing error signal, and to detect a value CD-AS which is a maximum value of a full-added signal. With a DVD laser, the focusing search is carried out to detect a value DVD-FE(pp) which is a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the focusing error signal, and to detect a value DVD-AS which is the maximum value of a full-added signal. The value that DVD-FE(pp) is divided by DVD-AS(max), is divided by the value that CD-FE(pp) is divided by CD-AS(max). According to whether the computed result by division is larger or not than a threshold value, it is determined whether the disk 100 is of a CD standard or of a DVD standard.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording content information on an information recording medium includes a main information recording area on which main information to be reproduced is recorded, and a plurality of content information recording areas on which content information to be reproduced to indicate contents of the main information is recorded. The apparatus includes a recording device, a confirming device and a control device. The recording device records the content information on a part of the plurality of content information recording areas. The confirming device confirms a recording result of the content information thus recorded. The control device controls the recording device, only when the recording result is confirmed to be successful, so that content information that is identical with the content information recorded on the part of the content information recording areas can be recorded on the other part of the content information recording areas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reading and writing data from and to a data storage device is provided. One method of practicing the present invention comprises placing, or leaving an unused track, row or column adjacent to a medium track containing apparatus information. Another method of practicing the present invention comprises placing, or leaving an unused track, row or column adjacent to both sides of the medium track containing the apparatus information.

Abstract: This invention relates to the emulation processing method of a storage device and the storage device for accessing storage medium from a host that has a different sector size, and where alternate processing is performed in the sector unit of storage medium even when there is a writing error when updating the disk. In a system where a second sector size of a host is smaller than a first sector size of the storage medium, data that are staged in a buffer according to a request from the host is rewritten using write data, and then staged sector data or the rewritten sector data are saved in an alternate area and the storage medium is updated with the rewritten sector data. Since the sector data before updating is saved beforehand, it is possible to perform alternate processing using the sector unit of the storage medium.

Abstract: Storage system performance metric comparison methods, storage system performance monitoring systems, data storage systems, articles of manufacture, and data signals are described. According to one aspect, a storage system performance metric comparison method includes accessing first performance metric data comprising a plurality of data values with respect to a first storage system configured to store digital data, accessing second performance metric data comprising a plurality of data values with respect to a second storage system configured to store digital data, establishing a common representation format for the first performance metric data and the second performance metric data, arranging at least some of the data values of the first performance metric data according to the common representation format, and arranging at least some of the data values of the second performance metric data according to the common representation format.

Abstract: A light source drive which modulates a light source so as to cause the same to emit a light, includes: a superposition current generation part which generates a superposition current approximately corresponding to a charging/discharging current needed for a capacitance occurring in parallel to the light source for a predetermined time period near at least one of a rising-up part and a decaying-down part of a waveform of a drive current for the light source; and an addition/subtraction part which adds to or subtracts from the drive current the superposition current generated by the superposition current generation part.

Abstract: An information recording method of recording information, in which laser light is applied to a recording medium while depending on predetermined information said laser light is modulated and the intensity of said light is controlled to form recording mark areas at which reflectivity of said recording medium changes, depending on the intensity of said applied light, wherein before starting data recording, said light is applied to said recording medium at predetermined light intensity, reflection light from said recording mark areas of said recording medium is received, the amount of said reflection light is detected, and a light intensity controlling reference value is calculated on the basis of the amount of said detected light, and during data recording, reflection light from said recording mark areas of said recording medium is received, the amount of said reflection light is detected, and a light intensity controlling detection value is calculated on the basis of the amount of said detected light, correcte

Abstract: A calibration of input signal offset in an optical disk drive is presented. The input signal offsets the input signals received from an optical pick-up unit before digitization. In some embodiments, the input signal offset is set such that the digitized input signals are zero when laser power is off. Further, a thermal drift correction is presented.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical recording medium comprising: a transparent resin substrate on which a groove and a land between the grooves disposed adjacent to each other are formed beforehand, wherein recording position information indicating a recording position with respect to an information signal is recorded beforehand on at least one of the groove and land, and a metal reflective film and protective film are successively formed on the groove and land.

Abstract: When an audio signal and music piece name information are recorded onto a CD-R, timing for inputting the music piece name information is not restricted to timing just before “finalize”. An ID is allocated to the CD-R inserted into a recorder and written into a PMA and a memory. The audio signal is recorded into a PGA on the CD-R. The music piece name information and the like are inputted by text data and stored into the memory in correspondence to the ID. Upon “finalize”, the text data is read out from the memory and written as TOC information into a lead-in on the CD-R. In case of ejecting the CD-R without finalizing, a track number, start time, and end time are recorded into the PMA. The ID and the text data are held in the memory. When this CD-R is subsequently inserted, they can be read out from the memory on the basis of the ID. Before “finalize”, the text data which is recorded as TOC information can be inputted anytime.

Abstract: An optical recording power controlling apparatus and method, in which the determination conditions for received Non Return to Zero Inverted (NRZI) data and the varying range of the optical recording power level are set depending on the multiple-speed of recording and the type of an optical medium, and the varying range of the optical recording power level is controlled so that optical recording power provided to a light emitting device is optimal for the multiple-speed of recording and the type of an optical medium. In the optical recording power controlling apparatus, a system control unit sets the discrimination conditions of received data to be recorded and the varying range of the optical recording power level, depending on the multiple-speed of recording and the type of an optical medium.

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 method of recording and/or reproducing information onto/from an information storage medium includes the step of detecting a time interval between a received command and a subsequent command. The method further includes the step of controlling recording and/or reproducing-speed of information on the basis of the detected time interval between the received command and the subsequent command.

Abstract: For an optical disk for which a record strategy is not prepared in a memory and an optical disk which cannot obtain a good signal quality by using the record strategy prepared in the memory, test recording is performed by using all record strategies prepared in the memory or properly adopted record strategies by changing the record power. A record strategy providing a relatively high signal quality is selected to record data in the optical disk. The record strategies for such optical disks can be easily set.

Abstract: A calibration for a tracking error signal gain in a tracking servo system of an optical disk drive is presented. The calibration determines the peak-to-peak tracking error signal when the tracking servo system is open, calculates a gain factor in response to the peak-to-peak tracking error signal, and calculates a new tracking error signal gain based on the tracking error signal gain and the gain factor. New tracking error signal gains are calculated until the gain factor is approximately one.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and apparatus of recording data onto a disk recording medium in zoned-CLV mode while adjusting recording speed and recording condition adequately at every speed change point between zones. The present invention detects a current recording position while recording data along a track of the disk recording medium, adjusts a recording speed and resets both a write strategy and a base B-level used for running OPC to be suitable for the adjusted recording speed. The present invention can record input data onto a writable disk with the most suitable writing condition at the highest allowable speed.

Abstract: A calibration of a loop gain in a digital servo system is presented. The loop gain can be calibrated measuring the response in a control signal generated by the digital servo system when the control signal is replaced by a sum of the control signal and a sinusoidal disturbance. The loop gain can be set to provide a desired gain, for example unity, between the control signal and the sinusoidal disturbance at a cross-over frequency.

Abstract: Defects of a hard disk drive servo pattern stamper are detected by comparing a scattered light beam pattern against the known servo pattern. A magnetic field is applied to stamper and the beam is linearly polarized. Variations in the physical offset of the beam, its scatter, are indicative of physical defects. Variations in the Kerr rotation of scattered beam are indicative of magnetic defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording data wherein the amount of light reflected from a disk is detected, and it is determined according to the amount of reflected light whether the disk is a recordable disk or a rewritable disk. The disk is controlled according to the result of determination such that it is rotated at a constant angular velocity (CAV) or at a constant linear velocity (CLV) and recording is executed. Further, rotation driving control of the disk is selected according to factors other than the type of the disk, such as according to whether random recording is allowed or not, according to a recording state in the disk, according to whether an alternative area is provided or not, according to a recording start position, or according to whether initialization is required or not. CLV control or CAV control is appropriately selected for a disk at recording to suppress a reduction in accessibility and a reduction in data transmission rate.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus that records data on an optical disk whose linear velocity is not constant. The optical disk apparatus includes an optical pickup that irradiates a laser beam of a recording power on the optical disk, converts light reflected from the optical disk into an electric signal; a detector that detects a level of the reflected light signal; and a controller that controls a recording power such that the reflected light signal level matches a target value set according to the linear velocity. When adjusting the recording power such that the reflected light level matches the target value, the target value is not set to a constant level, but set in accordance with the linear velocity. Target values at different linear velocities differ and, with this configuration, an appropriate target value is set and an appropriate recording power corresponding to the linear velocity is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for dynamically varying a linear velocity of an optical drive during a write operation to an optical disc to reduce the likelihood of a buffer under-run event. By reducing a linear velocity and writing speed while the optical drive writes on the disc, an embodiment of the invention preserves the buffer and reduces a minimum data transfer rate required to sustain writing to the disc for a sustained period of time. The basic components of one embodiment of a CD-RW drive (100) in which the present invention may be implemented include a controller (110), a microcontroller (112), a nonvolatile memory (114), which stores firmware (116) executed by the microcontroller (112), a buffer (118), a spindle motor (120) and an optical pick-up (122).

Abstract: The occurrence frequency of read error occurring when the data on one disk is read by a read unit is compared with that when the data on another disk is read by the read unit and the evaluation result of relatively evaluating the disks is displayed on a display section as the ranking of the disks. Therefore, the user can easily and precisely determine the disk having a good affinity for the apparatus main unit.

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: Recording power is optimized in an optical disk apparatus by recording a test signal on an optical disk while varying the recording power, and then determining a ? value from a reproduced signal. A controller calculates a change in ? value with respect to the recording power. A target ? value is selected from those within the range wherein the ? value varies linearly. The recording power by which the target ? value is produced is selected as an optimum recording power for recording data on the optical disk. A modulation factor or parameters other than the ? value may also be used as an indication of quality of reproduced signals.

Abstract: A memory control circuit is connected between a CPU and a memory. The memory control circuit comprises an access control circuit for controlling reading/writing access speed between the CPU and the memory. The memory control circuit further comprises a speed measurement circuit for writing predetermined data into a given address of the memory at a first speed when a speed measurement mode is specified. Thereafter the speed measurement circuit reads out the data from the given address of the memory at a second speed hat is different from the first speed. Finally, the speed measurement circuit measures an optimum speed ensuring a normal reading operation.

Abstract: A method for recording data to optical media is provided. Embodiments include receiving a selection of data files to record from a source to a destination optical media, and generating an enumeration of the data files. The enumeration identifies each source file by a source file path node. A location on the destination optical media to record each source file is identified by destination file path node for each data file. Only one occurrence of any source file in the enumeration of data files will be recorded to the destination optical media, and a data tree of files on the destination optical media includes multiple pointers to the same data file.

Abstract: A method for using an optical disc apparatus to record data onto an optical disc in multiple write sessions. The optical disc apparatus includes a delay detection circuit for detecting gaps between data written to the optical disc in successive write sessions. The method includes writing a set of first data to the optical disc, searching for an ending location of the first data, writing a set of test data to the optical disc such that a beginning location of the test data is near the ending location of the first data, using the delay detection circuit to detect a gap between the first data and the test data, and writing a set of second data to the optical disc such that a beginning location of the second data is equal to the beginning location of the test data minus a value contained in the gap.

Abstract: A calibration method for a control device of an optical storage medium drive includes generating a calibration-driving signal by a signal generator and then generating a sensing signal by a sensor according to the calibration-driving signal, determining whether each period of the sensing signal is suitable, and comparing suitable periods of the sensing signal with corresponding periods of the calibration-driving signal to determine a phase difference between the sensing signal and the calibration-driving signal so as to adjust gain of a control device of the optical storage medium drive according to the phase difference. The calibration method is capable of preventing the influence of unstable sensing signals and promoting the performance of the optical storage medium drive.

Abstract: An optimal power calibration (OPC) method calibrates writing power for an optical disc. The optical disc includes a power calibration area, with a plurality of counting units and test blocks. The OPC method includes generating a plurality of first power levels by using an indicated power, selecting a plurality of second power levels from the first power levels, recording test data onto test blocks with the second power levels, reading the test blocks, and generating data signals and first beta values. The method further includes generating estimated optimal power by a calculating algorithm, generating a plurality of third power levels by using the estimated optimal power, recording test data onto test blocks with the third power levels, reading the test blocks, and generating data signals and second beta values. Optimal power is calculated by using the estimated optimal power, the first beta values, and the second beta values.

Abstract: An optical disk (10) includes several tracks (21-23, 121-125) that each include a series of optical data elements (29, 39). Each optical data element includes several reflective surfaces (31-34, 41-44) with respective different orientations that represent stored information. A detection system (210) directs a beam from a laser (217) onto successive optical data elements. The multiple reflective surfaces of each optical data element produce multiple reflected sub-beams that are imaged onto respective portions of a detector (219, 501, 541). The position of each sub-beam on the corresponding portion of the detector is determined, to thereby identify the orientation of the corresponding reflective surface and thus the stored information represented by that surface.

Abstract: A motor controlling device includes an acceleration detector for detecting an acceleration of a motor; a motor driver for supplying a driving current to the motor; a heat quantity calculator for calculating a heat quantity generated in the motor at least based on an output from the acceleration detector; and a motor controller for controlling the motor driver based on the heat quantity.

Abstract: An information storing device and an information processing device having a memory for registering a plurality of working modes at recording/reproduction and a switching circuit for selecting one of the plurality of working modes, which select the optimum working mode automatically or by an instruction of an operator according to power supply capacity of a device of higher rank to effect recording/reproduction.

Abstract: A combined storage system is provided. The combined storage system comprises a fixed data storage device. The fixed data storage device has a spindle shaft for rotating at least one disk and a top plate cover for covering the disk with the spindle shaft extending through the top plate cover. A removable data storage device is attached to the fixed data storage device with the removable data storage device receiving a disc and the spindle shaft rotating the disc.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed wherein a write command is verified according to a rotational position optimization (RPO) algorithm rather than immediately after the write command to better optimize drive performance relative to mechanical latencies.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed which links disk commands that access near sequential data sectors. The linked and non-linked disk commands are inserted into an input/output queue and selected for execution according to a rotational position optimization (RPO) algorithm. If an error occurs while executing a linked disk command, the disk commands are unlinked and at least one of the unlinked disk commands is executed. The residual unlinked disk commands are inserted back into the input/output queue for later execution in an order determined by the RPO algorithm.

Abstract: A method of verifying the defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc. The method verifies that DMA information is properly generated or updated after a recording and reproducing apparatus, which records or reproduces information on or from an optical disc with DMA information, performs a process in a test mode for testing the generation or update of DMA information. The method includes reading the generated or updated DMA information and verifying the generated or updated DMA information using reference DMA information which is predetermined for the test mode and providing the verified result. Accordingly, it is easily verified that the recording and reproducing apparatus exactly generates or updates defect information by performing various test modes using different test discs having predetermined defect information, which has no relation with actual defects, instead of using a disc having the actual defects.

Abstract: The information recording unit has a memory for firstly storing data, a record medium for intermittently recording the stored data in the memory, a record means for recording the data on the record medium, and a valid-data decision means for determining whether the recorded data is valid. The record means records the data in at least two different areas on the record medium, and the decision determines one valid data among the recorded data in the different areas. The unit includes a record control means for controlling the record means. The record control means provides a control command for the record means to record a predetermined quantity of data stored in the memory at a first recording location on the record medium and also provides a control command for the record means to read the predetermined quantity of the data at least one recording location different from the first recording location after the predetermined quantity of the data is recorded at the first recording location.

Abstract: A piece of media, apparatus and method are provided wherein the piece of media may store the audio data as well as equalizer settings that permit the audio data to be equalized. In one embodiment, the piece of media stores equalized audio data and the equalizer settings. In accordance with the invention, in one embodiment, the equalizer-effect piece of media permits the audio data on the piece of media to be equalized even when the audio data player does not include an equalizer. In another embodiment, the equalizer-effect piece of media includes raw audio data and equalizer settings and permits an external equalizer to play equalized audio data without needing to set the equalizer. In a preferred embodiment, the piece of media may be compact disk.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disk with pits and/or bumps which each contain a plurality of facets. Each facet of each pit and/or bump is intended for separate read back as an individual ‘side’ of the optical disk (much as vinyl records had two ‘sides’ for separate playback). The separate ‘sides’ of the optical disk formed by separate facets of each pit and/or bump can be read back either simultaneously or serially, either by a corresponding plurality of laser beams, or by a common laser beam which is positioned to a first orientation with respect to a rotating track to focus on a first set of facets of each pit and/or bump, and then repositioned to focus on a second set of facets of the same set of pits and/or bumps and thus to read a second ‘side’ of the optical disk.

Abstract: Method and apparatus accomplishing an OPC (optimal power calibration) at a test area secured in data recording area of a writable optical recording medium and detecting an optimal writing power appropriate to the test area. The optimal writing power detecting method searches for a marginal area adjacent to a data section recorded on an optical recording medium, records test data on the marginal area discovered in the searching step while changing a writing power; and reproduces the test data recorded on the marginal area and determines an optimal writing power based upon the characteristics of the reproduction signal. The method and apparatus can reduce time required to move an optical pickup inward and outward to accomplish the OPC operation, from a recording request to practical data recording, while enhancing writing characteristics, since an optimal writing power is obtained from a test area close to the area for recording input data.

Abstract: A method of verifying that a disc recording and reproducing apparatus normally generates or updates defect management area (DMA) information in a supplementary spare area extension mode, and a test apparatus therefore. The method includes extending the supplementary spare area of a test disc in the recording and reproducing apparatus using the test disc with test reference information and generating test information from the test disc; and comparing reference information expected from the test reference information with the test information and providing the result of verification of the test information. Accordingly, a DMA information generation or updating function of the recording and reproducing apparatus upon the extension of the supplementary spare area can be easily verified.

Abstract: With two consecutive product-coded ECC blocks, EB1 and EB2, as a set, the rth row of first ECB block EB1 is followed by the rth row of second ECC block EB2 in such a way that the first row of first ECC block EB1 is followed by the first row of second ECB block EB2, which is followed by the second row of first ECC block ECB1, which is followed by the second row of second ECC block EB2, and so on, to interleave data on a row basis. That is, data of two ECC blocks, EB1 and EB2, is allocated alternately on a row basis. This allocation method allows an error to be distributed after reproduction even when a serious burst error extending 18 rows occurs in an ECC block.

Abstract: When information is reproduced in an optical disk of high recording density or of low recording density, a main beam and sub-beams are emitted onto adjacent tracks. The main beam has a shape longer in a direction perpendicular to the tracks. When the optical disk of high recording density is reproduced, cross talk components from adjacent tracks included in signals reproduced from reflection light of the main beam is canceled by using signals reproduced from reflection lights of the sub-beams. When the optical disk of low recording density is reproduced, information is reproduced with a beam. Thus, two types of optical disks can be reproduced with a simple structure in a compatible way. In the cross talk canceling, discrimination marks formed along the tracks at constant distances are reproduced, and a time difference between the main beam and the sub-beams is corrected precisely by using track jump and detection of discrimination marks.

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: A playback apparatus includes a data source (1) that provides a data stream signal (d0), and a device (2) responsive to the data stream signal. The device forms a first data stream (d1) in a first data format (F1), wherein the first data stream (d1) includes a data field (D1) that is encoded in a second data format (F2). A code converter (3) is responsive to the first data stream (d1), and converts selected parts of the first data stream (d1) to a second data stream (d2) that has data encoded in a third data format (F3). An output decoder (5) forms playback signals from the second data stream (d2). The playback signal may be audio and/or video signals that are presented to the appropriate audio transducer or display device for presentation to a playback apparatus user(s).

Abstract: A lead-out area is recorded and a session is formed each time a file is recorded with the data structure of a disc recorded with the conventional CD-R multi-session method. The latest file structure recorded in the last session is read with a multi-session disc by reading in series the start address of the next session recorded in the lead-in area of each session. This information read in series is dependent upon the number of file write operations, and as the number of writes increases, the slower the latest file structure retrieval process becomes. In a write-once medium in which the file management information and unrecorded area information are update recorded at each recording session, chaining information is recorded at each file write. Furthermore, an area for recording a plurality of continuously recorded chaining information is reserved, and access in the latest chaining information retrieval process is accelerated.

Abstract: A method of verifying defect management area (DMA) information of an optical disc upon initialization without certification, and a test apparatus for performing the same. The method includes generating as test information, defect management information, which is generated after performing initialization without certification on a blank test disc to which no data is written, and verifying the test information using reference test information for the initialization without certification to provide a test result. Accordingly, it can be easily verified that a recording and reproducing apparatus properly translates and processes DMA information which is generated after initialization without certification, using a blank test disc.

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: An information recording method records information on an optical disk by a recording pulse signal of an optical beam that is emitted from an optical source. A recording channel clock period T is changed depending on a change of a recording linear velocity so that a recording linear density is maintained approximately constant. In addition, a shape of a pulse waveform of a top heating portion of the recording pulse signal which includes a rear heating portion, is changed at predetermined intervals depending on a desired recording linear velocity, so that a width of the top heating portion and a recording power thereof are changed.

Abstract: The present invention provides (with reference to FIG. 1) a monitoring system for monitoring production of optical disks by replication machines (14) at a number of different production facilities (12,13,30,31,32). The system has a central computer (18) which records the production activity of all of the monitored replication machines (14) for central monitoring in order to identify production of unauthorised disks. the invention also teaches how a master stamper can include an identifier code which can be used to identify unauthorised copies. The invention further teaches how local monitoring of replication machines (14) can be conducted in order to determine the number of copies produced by the machines (14). The invention additionally provides a method in which a signature code is recorded on a master stamper and fingerprint information derived from content on the master stamper. The signature code and the fingerprint information are stored together on a .