Abstract: This invention relates to optical discs that preferably include multiple data layers and are configured to receive analytes which can be detected by an optical disc reader. The optical disc reader may be a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc may include (1) a first layer including optically readable structures which have encoded tracking information, and speed information enabling an optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc at a speed that is determinable from the speed information; (2) a second layer including optically readable structures; and (3) an analyte section capable of receiving an analyte which can be read by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: The present invention includes capacitive film thickness measurement devices and measurement systems. The invention also includes machines or instruments using those aspects of the invention. The present invention additionally includes methods and procedures using those devices of the present invention. The present invention discloses a capacitance measurement device and technique useful in determining lubricant film thickness on substrates such as magnetic thin-film rigid disks. Using the present invention, variations in lubricant thickness on the Angstrom scale or less may be measured quickly and nondestructively.

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: Prior to actual reproduction of an optical disk, test reproduction is performed with respect to a plurality of testing radial locations of the optical disk. In the test reproduction, waveform-equalization-characteristic parameters of the waveform equalization section are adjusted to optimal settings so as to optimize jitter of a reproduced RF signal detected at each of the testing radial locations of the optical disk. In the actual reproduction of the optical disk, the waveform-equalization-characteristic parameters of the waveform equalization section are adjusted to optimal settings that are predicted, from the optimal settings determined by the test reproduction, in accordance with a radial position or address, on the optical disk, of each location to be reproduced.

Abstract: A method for setting a rotational speed for rotational readout of useful data stored on a disc-shaped storage medium in a playback device, permitting utilization of a maximum possible data transfer rate at a constant rotational speed. The useful data is stored approximately in data tracks arranged concentrically with an axis of rotation of the disc-shaped storage medium. An outermost data track which is opposite the axis of rotation and has been written with useful data on the disc-shaped storage medium is determined. A value is determined for the amount of data stored in the outermost data track. The rotational speed is set as a function of the amount of data thus determined and a data transfer rate, where the data transfer rate indicates a maximum amount of data that can be read out by the playback device per unit of time, so that the useful data stored in the outermost data track can be read out at the data transfer rate in playback of the disc-shaped storage medium.

Abstract: A system and method for providing telemedical direct perimetry and ophthalmoscopy to support optometric providers in the screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of glaucoma patients. The system includes an internet accessible software program inclusive of a data submission and collection module that is a menu-driven series of medical examination menus to guide clinicians through an examination procedure and data entry therefrom. In addition, a data interpretation module is provided in the form of a menu-driven series of guided menu-driven medical diagnostic menus to guide clinicians to a correct diagnosis based on a comparative analysis with visual fields and disk images. A data interpretation module is also provided and this includes an on-line library of authoritative references. A results reporting module is used for generating patient reports for glaucoma diagnosis, treatment and analysis. In addition, a unique disease management module prescribes a prioritized program of glaucoma care.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a disk information area; a user area including a plurality of sectors; and a spare area including at least one sector which, when at least one of the plurality of sectors included in the user area is a defective sector, is usable instead of the at least one defective sector. The spare area is located radially inward from the user area. A physical sector number of a sector to which a logical sector number “0” is assigned, among the plurality of sectors included in the user area and the at least one sector included in the spare area, is recorded in the disk information area.

Abstract: A data recording method is disclosed that is capable of correctly reading data from a rewritable recording medium including both recorded regions and unrecorded regions. In response to a request of recording data on the recording disk, a run-in block is recorded by recording one ECC block of dummy data in the region preceding the recording destination region, if the region preceding the recording destination region is an unrecorded region, and the flag bit in the bitmap corresponding to the run-in block is registered to be “unrecorded”. Then, data are recorded in the recording destination region, and subsequently, the flag bit in the bitmap corresponding to the recording destination region is registered to be “recorded”. Then, the operation of data recording is completed.

Abstract: In a spherical-aberration correcting mechanism which electrically drives and changes the lens group gap of two groups of lenses so as to correct spherical aberration, in order to reduce the power consumption thereof, the optical recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that, upon recording or reproducing a recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, supposing that the gap of the lens groups at the time of forming a converged light spot on the first recording layer is DIS(1), the applied current to the spherical-aberration correcting mechanism is i1, the gap of the lens groups at the time of forming a converged light spot on the N-th layer (the farthest layer from the surface of the recording medium) is DIS(N) and the applied current to the spherical-aberration correction mechanism is i2, |i1|=|i2| is satisfied, and the neutral point of the spherical-aberration correcting mechanism is set at a position satisfying the following expre

Abstract: A boundary crossing detector in a tracking and focus servo system of an optical disk drive is presented. A tracking error signal can be monitored as an optical pick-up unit of the optical disk drive is allowed to move across an optical media in the optical disk drive. If a peak-to-peak value of the tracking error signal changes by a threshold value, than the boundary crossing can be indicated.

Abstract: An optical disc recording method to record data on a disc using multiple speeds by dividing a disc region into an inner circumference region and an outer circumference region depending on radii of the disc, setting a multiple recording speed for each region; setting optical recording power in a lead-in region of the inner circumference region and a lead-out region of the outer circumference region, by performing optimum power controls therein; determining in which one of the divided regions data is to be recorded using an address detected from the disc, rotating the disc at the multiple recording speed set for the one region in which the data is to be recorded, and recording the data in the one region using the set optical recording power for the one region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a layer jump control apparatus of a multilayer disk and a method thereof, when a layer jump request between record layers of the multilayer disk is inputted from outside, a sled, a tracking, and a focusing servo are converted into inactive state, a microcomputer sets an operation voltage of an inner focus lens of an optical pickup to allotted ports in order to transfer the focus lens vertically to the layer jump request direction. The present invention is capable of jumping accurately and rapidly on a request layer of the multilayer disk by jumping on a target layer of the multilayer disk accurately by converting the focusing servo into active state at the jump position of the focus lens on the basis of a FOK signal and a FZC signal detected in accordance with transferring operation, and adjusting vertical transferring speed of an optical pickup by considering minus offset of the optical pickup.

Abstract: In an apparatus for reproducing recorded data, a crosstalk signal is generated by converting adjacent data recorded on an adjacent track into a waveform of said reproduction signal and the crostalk signal is deducted from the reproduction signal. Then, the reproduction signal in which the crosstalk signal is eliminated is decoded in accordance with the predetermined algorithm and reproduced.

Abstract: An optical disk unit for recording information on and reproducing information from a disk recording medium by projecting a light beam thereonto includes a signal level detection part detecting a level of a track error signal generated based on reflected light of the light beam from the disk recording medium, a scattered light detection part detecting scattering of the reflected light, and an off-track detection part which detects an off-track of the light beam using detection signals supplied from the signal level detection part and scattered light detection part.

Abstract: A drive device having an improved capability of reproducing data is disclosed. If an error occurs during a reproducing operation, reproduction is retried after changing amplitude reference values depending on whether the recording laser power is adequate. This makes it possible for the retrying operation to successfully read data that the previous reproducing operation failed to correctly read owing to an inadequate recording laser power. The determination as to whether the recording laser power is adequate is performed on the basis of the degree of asymmetry of the waveform of a data signal read by head means.

Abstract: A turntable stylus device 2 comprises recording medium motion detection means 8 operable to detect motion of the recording medium 10, and audio/visual output means operable to produce audio/visual effects in addition to, or instead of, those from the recording medium 10, said audio/visual effects being produced in response to an output of the recording medium motion detection means 8.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing on and reading an overwritable optical disk comprises an identifier detector that identifies a recording condition in the sector to be overwritten, and a delay time controller circuit that sets a variation range of the start point for writing according to the recording condition. The record timing of the modulated data signal is changed at random within the set variation range when overwriting the sector of the optical disk.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed wherein if a write command is aborted, the write command is re-executed according to a rotational position optimization (RPO) algorithm rather than immediately re-executing the write command to better optimize drive performance relative to mechanical latencies. An aborted write command is replaced into an input/output queue together with other pending commands. The aborted write command is eventually re-selected for execution by the RPO algorithm when executing the write command minimizes mechanical latencies relative to the other pending commands.

Abstract: An information reproducing method includes the steps o of reading information from an information medium that is rotated, and determining a rotation velocity of the information medium on the basis of a data transfer rate based on a specification of a read request.

Abstract: A calibration processing unit executes a calibration when calibration operative conditions are satisfied. Irrespective of satisfaction of the calibration operative conditions during the processing of sequential data, a calibration invalidation unit temporarily invalidates the execution of the calibration and permits the execution thereof after termination of the sequential data processing. Upon the occurrence of an error, an error recovery unit makes a recovery for canceling the error and then a retry, allowing the execution of the calibration when the error recovery is normally terminated. If the sequential data processing is in process at that time, then the execution of the calibration is temporarily invalidated.

Abstract: To correct the rotational balance of a spindle motor for rotating a disc on a base, a position and an amount of offset for correcting dynamic balance are determined from a position deviation signal, which is obtained from vibration transmitted to a rotary type position control unit located on the base similarly by lowering the servo gain thereof, and an index signal from the spindle motor. With this arrangement the dynamic balance of the spindle motor of an information recording/reproducing apparatus can be simply and accurately corrected without adding an accelerator sensor and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying a data area D,E or D,G, reserved in accordance with a first specification, as useful data area G in accordance with a second specification.

Abstract: An information storage medium has a plurality of reference data recording areas that record reference data which is used in at least one of circuit constant adjustment of an information reproduction apparatus and characteristic evaluation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sub-1× recording is described. The method of writing a mark on a compact disk (CD-R) medium spinning at a slow rate comprises varying the laser power between a write power and a read power while writing the mark, such that when read, the mark is read as a single mark.

Abstract: A recording medium includes first information selected from a plurality of information patterns and second information selected from another plurality of information patterns for the true-false judgement. A true-false judging device performs a statistic analysis when any coincidence is found between the readout combination of the first and second information and registered combination patterns, to identify an inspected recording medium as a forged product based on the result of the statistic analysis.

Abstract: Tilt of an optical storage medium is stably detected even when then the guide groove pitch is reduced and recording capacity is increased. On a disk with continuous grooves of a pitch Gp, part of tracks Gn−1 and Gn+1 adjacent to opposite sides of an n-th track Gn is eliminated, forming an area where the groove pitch is equivalent to 2·Gp. A push-pull signal from the area of groove pitch Gp and a push-pull signal from the area of groove pitch 2·Gp are differentiated to obtain a tilt error signal. Tilt can therefore be detected even when groove pitch Gp is reduced and storage capacity is increased, and a highly reliable data recording and reproducing apparatus can be provided at low cost.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a recording unit for recording information regarding copyright by irradiating an optical disk with laser beams; and a controlling unit for controlling the recording unit so that, after the information regarding copyright has been recorded in a predetermined area on the optical disk, the level of recording of the information regarding copyright is deteriorated by irradiating the predetermined area with the laser beams, for example, by recording predetermined information overlapping the recording of the information regarding copyright.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus establish manufacturer-specific test writing parameters for writing of a writable optical storage media in accordance with the media manufacturers, which are experimentally determined and stored into a certain storing unit; determine an optimum writing light power based on the determined optimum writing parameters; and write an input signal into the user's data region of the optical disk.

Abstract: A disk type discrimination method for optical disks is designed to function also with a DVD-RW of version 1.0, in which, with avoiding access to an unreadable zone, the compatibility with disks in the conventional versions including a DVD-R can be maintained, and a reproducing apparatus thereof. When a medium loaded in a reproducing apparatus is judged as a DVD, by detecting the presence or absence of wobble, searching a control data zone if the wobble is not present, if present, searching an RW physical format information zone to confirm type information, if the type information is the DVD-RW, searching again the data area to perform reproduction, if the DVD-R, searching a control data zone to confirm the DVD-R, and then reproducing, with avoiding access to an unreadable zone, the compatibility with disks in the conventional versions including the DVD-R is maintained.

Abstract: An optical disc 1 has spiral grooves GR formed on a data recording surface thereof and in which information is written to, and read from, both a land between the grooves and the grooves as tracks. Each track has a plurality of address areas AR1 and user areas AR2 formed thereon, and each of the address areas AR1 has embossed pits for a groove header GRH and embossed pits for a land header LH. Each of the address areas AR1 has provided in a leading part thereof a header mark area HM formed from a mirror finished surface. That is, this optical disc is of an on-land/in-groove recording type. An offset taking place in a tracking error signal and focus error signal is removed to accurately control the tracking and focus of an optical head.

Abstract: When optical disk defects are managed by using non-defective areas in place of defective areas, different criteria are used for detecting the defects, depending on the type of data recorded on the disk. For example, to avoid interruptions of real-time recording, less strict criteria are used when audio or video data is recorded than when computer data is recorded. The criteria themselves may also be recorded on the disk.

Abstract: An optical reproduction apparatus includes a light source which irradiates irradiation light onto a recording medium, the irradiation light being reflected by the recording medium to produce reflection light, a modulator which repetitively pulse modulates the irradiation light to produce irradiation light pulses, a photodetector which detects reflection light from the recording medium at more than two timings during each of the irradiation light pulses, and outputs detection signals respectively representative of the reflection light detected at the more than two timings during each of the irradiation light pulses, and an operation circuit which performs an operation between the detection signals outputted from the photodetector during each of the irradiation light pulses.

Abstract: To enable a plurality of types of optical discs different in recording density from each other and quickly getting “ready” for writing and/or reading data to and/or from each of such optical discs, various controlling conditions requisite for the data writing and reading operations are stored in a memory for both optical discs having first and second recording densities, respectively. For a shorter time up to a “ready” state for data write or read, a controller makes an instant discrimination, based on the pattern of a sync signal “SYNC” included in an ATIP wobble signal supplied from an ATIP decoder, between the optical disc having the first recording density and that having the second recording density, reads, from the memory, controlling conditions corresponding to the result of the disc type discrimination, and sets operating parameters for each component of the optical disc drive.

Abstract: A controller for a scanning head images light from the scanning head onto a target surface for reading and writing data. Light returned from the target surface is received by the same aperture. Light may be conducted from the aperture, for example, by a light waveguide leading to a detector. The focus control of the imaging optics is controlled responsively to the light returned through the aperture. When this returned light is at a maximum, the focusing optics are in focus. A focus controller may be programmed to dither (intentionally vary) the configuration of the optics to determine the focus optimization direction (gradient). In an embodiment with multiple apertures, each employed to scan a respective area of the target surface (in parallel), the light from adjacent apertures is effectively rejected each other aperture thereby eliminating crosstalk.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for an erasable optical disk includes: a first determination part which determines a maximum of modulation degrees of signals reproduced from a test recording area of the optical disk, the signals being recorded in the test recording area with corresponding write power levels different from one another; and a second determination part which determines an optimum write power level corresponding to a target modulation degree obtained from the maximum of the modulation degrees based on a relation between the modulation degrees and the write power levels, wherein the recording apparatus records data on the optical disk with the optimum write power level.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus of the present invention measures a surface deflection component (shape of surface deflection) from a low-pass component of a compensating filter in a surface deflection measuring part provided in a DSP. Furthermore, the optical disk apparatus calculates timing at which a positional change in a surface deflection component in time required for focus jumping is a predetermined value or less in a timing calculating part, and starts focus jumping at the timing. Because of this, stable focus jumping is made possible.

Abstract: An optical disk unit presets a value &thgr;1 which prescribes an optimum recording pulse width of a light source for a case where the optical disk is rotated at a predetermined linear velocity on a track located at a predetermined radial position on the optical disk, and an optimum power ratio &Dgr;P of an extra pulse at a leading portion of the recording pulse where power is increased. Information is recorded on the optical disk while controlling a light emission waveform of the light source based on a value &thgr;1 (v) which prescribes the recording pulse width, a power ratio &Dgr;P(v) and an optimum recording power Pwo(v) which are successively calculated.

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: The method and apparatus of the invention utilize the fact that CDs manufactured from the same master will have distinctive physical characteristics attributable to the physical manufacturing process of the master to distinguish counterfeit CDs from genuine discs. For a genuine disc (4), the relative angular orientation of specified sections (1, 2, 3) of the recorded data are determined and recorded. The relative angular orientation of the same sections (1, 2, 3) of data on a test disc (5) are also determined. Where the relative angular orientations are the same it is concluded that the test disc derives from the same source as the genuine disc and is therefore bona fide. Where there is no correlation, the test disc may be identified as counterfeit. The relative angular orientations, or other physical characteristics of the discs, may be physically measured, or may be calculated from information gained by reading the data on the disc.

Abstract: Write on the fly certification of magnetic media includes detecting the start of a defect. A sequence of defect matrices is written over the defect with a write element in a read-after-write head. Each defect matrix in the sequence is read with a read element in the read-after-write head. A check is made to determine if an error exists in the data read from each defect matrix. The defect is determined to extend through each defect matrix if an error exists in the read data.

Abstract: A method and device that prevents CD-Writers from writing-failure through a real-time monitor of CD-Writer temperature is provided. The writing-failure preventing device for CD-Writers comprises: a thermo-sensor, a thermo-fetching unit and a writing-setting module. The thermo-sensor installed inside the CD-Writer is used to measure its temperature, whereas the thermo-fetching unit fetches the temperature and has it displayed on a user interface. The writing-setting module has a number of adjustable writing-settings. The user can promptly adjust writing-settings according to the CD-Writer's temperatures to reduce writing speed or correct output Laser amplitude via the user interface. The CD-Writer will perform CD writing within an appropriate range of temperature according to the adjusted settings of writing.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of setting power for a reproducing beam applied to a rotating magneto-optical disc to reproduce data signals therefrom in the magnetically induced super resolution (MSR) mode, thereby to heat the signal-recording layer of the disc sufficiently even if the disc warps and to attain an adequate MSR effect. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of reproducing data from such a magneto-optical disc. To set power for the reproducing laser beam, calibration is carried out for at least two points on the radius of the magneto-optical disc, and optimal powers for these points are calculated. From the optimal powers, the power for the reproducing beam is calculated by curvilinear approximation and set for a given position on the magneto-optical disc. The margin of power for the reproducing beam can be thereby increased.

Abstract: Identification information B is recorded in a specific area for a disk in a pre-recording or emboss manner so that a user cannot be rewrite the information, and a copy of the identification information B cannot be changed on the information recording medium by a recording/reproducing apparatus, thereby making it possible to prevent illegal use of the identification information B. In an additional description type information recording medium or rewritable information recording medium, the identification information B is pre-recorded or emboss recorded in a specific area so that the identification information cannot be changed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for adjusting the difference of the reflective light disturbance for a light source of an optical disk drive when there is and is not an optical disk in the optical disk drive. This method is used to adjust the illumination parameters of the laser diode of an optical disk drive; wherein the no disc is used for rough tuning to obtain a preliminary value for the illumination parameter. After inserting an optical disk into the drive, a quick sample is taken again between the illumination power controller and the high level amplifier. After computing with the preliminary value of the illumination parameter, the influence value of the reflective light of the laser light source as it is to the illumination parameter when there is an optical disk in the drive.

Abstract: A disc player can be used in common for discs having different focus positions of an object lens with respect to a recording surface. The disc player carries out focus servo control with respect to the discs and reads out recorded information. The disc player comprises a judging device, a waveform setting device and a focus searching device. The judging device judges a type of disc set at the disc player. The waveform setting device selectively sets a predetermined waveform information in accordance with results of judgement by the judging device, from a plurality of waveform information which are held in advance for use in focus searching for the types of discs. The focus searching device generates a focus search signal based on the waveform information set by the waveform setting device, and carries out focus searching, at a time of start-up of the disc player, before the focus servo control is carried out.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a disk drive apparatus in which a pickup is prevented from being overheated. The disk drive apparatus includes a motor for rotating a disk-shaped storage medium, a pickup for reading/writing information from/onto the storage medium, a rotation controller for controlling the rotational speed of the storage medium, and an overheat detector for detecting overheating of the pickup. The pickup is cooled by using an airflow entailed by the rotating storage medium. In the disk drive apparatus, when the overheat detector detects overheating of the pickup, the rotation controller increases the rotational speed of the storage medium, thereby increasing the efficiency of cooling the pickup.

Abstract: A structure and method are described that make it possible to store both open-format data and closed-format data on a single storage medium, such as a DVD disc, by organizing the data in an open file data system and a specialized closed file data system. The closed file data system may be encapsulated in the open file data system The storage medium is segmented into open file data spaces, containing data recorded using the open-format techniques, and closed file data spaces, containing data recorded using closed-format techniques, or using a specialized technique. The open-format data can be accessed using both open-format and close-format hardware, whereas the closed-format data can only be accessed using specialized hardware.

Abstract: An information display status indicator is described. The status indicator is typically connected to a user device that uses consumable resources. Icons representing resource usage are shown on the status indicator as the resources are used. The icons could represent memory resources available to the device. The icons, which are patterned around a perimeter of the status indicator, are turned on sequentially to form a complete loop when the memory becomes full. Additionally, each icon may be made of a set of pixels or blocks where each set is individually controllable.

Abstract: An electrical device allows voltage to be supplied with minimal power loss. The electrical device has elements with differing supply voltage demands. The same supply voltage is supplied in each case to the elements. The supply voltage can be switched over. The supply voltage is set as a function of the currently highest voltage demand of the elements. The electrical device can be configured as a playback device for optical memory disks, and can include a device for driving an optical memory disk inserted into the playback device and for positioning a scanning unit.

Abstract: An optical information recording apparatus, an optical information recording method, and an optical information recording medium that enable information signals to be recorded precisely by determining recording conditions such as recording power, edge positions of recording pulses, and the like suitably before recording information signals. An edge test signal generation circuit supplies a test signal for optimizing edge positions of recording pulses. In order to suppress the variation in intervals between edges due to mark distortion caused by overwriting, test recording is carried out using this test signal in a plurality of sectors on the optical information recording medium with a test recording start point being shifted at random in each sector by a recording start point shifting circuit.