Abstract: An optical disk discriminating method and an optical disk device which can detect reflected rays for making discrimination among kinds of optical disks with high accuracies. By switching a plurality of lasers and moving a spherical aberration corrector while moving an objective lens to cause it to approach or keep away from an optical disk, rays reflected light from the optical disk can be detected with high accuracies. Discrimination among the kinds of a plurality of optical disks can be made on the basis of signals generated from the detected reflected rays. This ensures that the kind of an optical disk can be determined through one operation of sweeping.

Abstract: A method for discriminating a type of disc. The method includes receiving a signal having at least first and second peak points generated by an optical beam reflected from a record layer of the disc, comparing amplitudes of the first and second peak points, and determining the type of the disc based on a result of the comparing step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preventing a problem of collision between an optical system and a media by suggesting a method for confirming the kind of the medium prior to its operation in a drive having a compatibility with respect to a method for storing a near field optical information using SIL and a method for storing a remote field optical information below the existing blu-ray disk. The present invention can distinguish from an inserted optical disk if a compatible drive/pickup is in a near-field method, and confirm if the inserted optical disk is operable in a near-field method drive/pickup in advance, also.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus which reads a barcode recorded on a predetermined area of an optical disc, includes a reading unit which reads the barcode from a plurality of tracks on the predetermined area of the optical disc, and a barcode data decoding unit which decodes barcode output data from a cumulative value of the barcode data of the plurality of tracks, which is read by the reading unit.

Abstract: An optical disc reproducing device that composes a composite reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes an optical disc detecting portion which detects inserting and ejecting of an optical disc. The optical disc reproducing device also includes an identification information obtaining portion which obtains identification information to uniquely identify the optical disc from a management information recorded area of the optical disc. The identification information obtaining portion reads out the identification information and outputs it to a display device when inserting of the optical disc is detected by the optical disc detecting portion. An identification information recording portion which is included in the display device stores the identification information in a memory portion when the identification information is output from the optical disc reproducing device.

Abstract: An information storage medium includes an area in which updated disc-related information and recording-related information updated with a change in at least one of a disc version number and a recording speed is recorded along with existing disc-related information and recording-related information. The existing disc-related information and recording-related information are recorded, and the updated disc-related information and recording-related information is recorded in an area in which the existing disc-related information and recording-related information is recorded. Accordingly, data can be recorded/reproduced on/from a new version of information storage medium even using an existing drive.

Abstract: An optical disc machine initially identifies a disc positioned in it by moving the focal point of its optical pick-up unit between an outer surface and an interior reflective data carrying surface. The time required for the focal point to travel between the two reflective layers, proportional to the distance between the layers, is compared with one or more thresholds to identify the type of disc present. Example types are CDs and DVDs that can be distinguished from each other because of different distances between their two layers. Variations in the velocity of a motive source that drive the focal point to traverse the disc are compensated in order to avoid erroneous measurements of the distance between reflective layers, and thus to avoid misidentifying the disc types. Different types of DVDs or CDs may also be identified by measurement of reflected light intensity with respect to a threshold that is updateable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a record media, and more particularly, to a method of recording disc identification information within a management area of a recordable optical disc and an optical disc recording/reproducing method using the same. In recording optical disc identification information within a disc management area, the present invention includes recording a media type identification information identifying a type of a record media of an optical disc and a disc manufacturer identification information identifying a manufacturer of the optical disc, respectively. Accordingly, the present invention provides various specified methods of recording disc identification information within a management area in a high-density optical disc, thereby enabling to efficiently cope with the recording/reproducing of the optical disc using the recorded identification information.

Abstract: An optical disc identification apparatus is disclosed. The optical disc identification apparatus includes an optic pickup unit and a control unit. The optic pickup unit has a plurality of laser sources. The optic pickup unit emits any of lasers to the optical disc and detects the reflected laser from the optical disc to transduce the reflected laser to a detection signal. The control unit controls the optic pickup unit to activate any of the laser sources and moves an object lens of the optic pickup unit. When the object lens moves, the control unit obtains a sectional width value of an S-curve of a focus FE signal according to the detection signal. The control unit repeats above steps to obtain the sectional width values of the S-curves of all the laser sources and identifies the optical disc according to all the sectional width values.

Abstract: A method for recognizing type (CD; DVD) of an optical disc, wherein: a light beam (32) is caused to reflect from the optical disc (2); wherein an optical lens (34) is caused to move axially with respect to said optical disc (2); a detector output signal (SR) is analyzed to detect when (P1; ts) a focus point of said light beam (32) substantially coincides with a disc surface and to detect when (P2; tL) said focus point substantially coincides with an information layer wherein a thickness time At is calculated in accordance with the formula: ?t=tL?ts and wherein the measured thickness time ?t is compared with a reference value (?tREF) which is calculated from an experience-based average value (?tAV(CD)) of the thickness time 66 t of CD discs, or from an experience-based average value (?tAV(DVD)) of the thickness time ?t of DVD discs, or from both.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generating optimum write power, a control unit controls a write voltage generating unit to generate sequentially write voltages of different levels to drive an optical read/write head to generate different write powers so as to write data on a plurality of write intervals of an optical recording medium in sequence. Simultaneously, a detecting and computing circuit detects a peak value, a first level and a second level of a write reflected signal generated by each write interval for computation so as to obtain a first control parameter of each write interval, and detects a peak value, a bottom value and a direct current level of a read reflected signal generated during reading of each write interval for computation so as to obtain a second control parameter of each write interval, thereby generating an optimum write power based on optimal first and second control parameters.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of permitting recording setup information required to perform a test recording on an optical disk to be obtained from an external device as the need arises. The method comprises the steps of: measuring an evaluation index associated with recording characteristics with which data was recorded on the optical disk by an optical disk drive; making a decision as to whether the measured evaluation index indicates a state in which recording setup information used in data recording by the optical disk drive should be updated; acquiring recording setup information corresponding to at least the machine ID of the optical disk drive and the medium ID of the optical disk when the evaluation index is judged to indicate the state in which the recording setup information should be updated; and setting the acquired recording setup information in the optical disk drive.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes: a kind discrimination unit for discriminating the kind of a loaded disk; a designation unit by which the user designates the prior order for discriminating the kind of the disk; and a frequency of use of storage unit for counting and storing a frequency of use of each kind of disks used in the past, wherein the kind discriminating unit is adapted to discriminate when the frequency of use of each kind of disk stored in the frequency of use storage unit exceeds a preset reference level indicating the predetermined tendency of use the kind of the disk in accordance with a priority order according to the tendency of use thereof, and discriminate when the tendency of use is not higher than the mentioned reference level the kind of the disk in the priority order designated by the designation unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring, from an optical disc, disc-state information including at least information of an optical disc type, information of a recording format, and information indicating whether the optical disc has already been finalized, a first determining unit for determining, based on the information of the optical disc type and the information of the recording format in the acquired information whether the optical disc type and the recording format correspond to one of predetermined combinations, a second determining unit for determining, based on the result of determination by the first determining unit and the acquired information, whether the optical disc needs to be finalized, and a display control unit for controlling, when the second determining unit determines that the optical disc needs to be finalized, display of a message representing the need of the finalization.

Abstract: An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus according to the present invention is an optical disk apparatus for performing at least one of: recording data to a plurality of types of optical disks including a recordable optical disk and a read-only optical disk which are produced according to the BD specifications; and reproducing data from the optical disks. This apparatus includes: a means (506, 507) for irradiating a management area 502 of an optical disk 501 with a light beam while not performing tracking control, and generating a track position signal (push-pull TE or phase difference TE) from light which is reflected by the management area 502; and a disk determination means for determining, based on the track position signal obtained from the management area 502, whether the optical disk 501 mounted in the optical disk apparatus is a recordable optical disk or a read-only optical disk.

Abstract: A disc identification device, a disc insertion-ejection device and a disc device which can positively prevent two discs from being inserted into the apparatus. There is provided a disc thickness detection unit for electrically detecting a thickness of the discs inserted into an apparatus of the disc device, and there is provided a construction for judging whether the number of the discs inserted into the apparatus is one or plural, and it is electrically identified whether the number of the discs inserted into the apparatus is one or plural, and by controlling mechanisms on the basis of this identification result, the stable disc insertion and ejection can be achieved, and also damage to the mechanisms and the discs can be reduced.

Abstract: An optical disk medium in which a learning area can be expanded, an optical disk information recording method and an optical disk apparatus are provided. A first lead-in area and second lead-in area are provided on the inner side and outer side of a data area. The first lead-in area includes a first learning area, management information recording area and data connection area and the second lead-in area includes a protection area which protects the user data in the inner portion thereof and a second learning area which is provided on the outer side of the protection area and sets an optimum condition for an operation of recording data into the data area. An area in which information indicating the utilization state of the protection area is recorded is prepared in one of the management information recording area and data connection area.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention determines the state of recording of an optical disc on the basis of the detection period of longest pits recorded on the optical disc wherein the period is changed with the acceleration of the rotation of the optical disc until a predetermined rotation speed is achieved. This enables rapidly determining whether the optical disc is unrecorded disc or a recorded disc.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed an optical disc drive determining apparatus. The optical disc drive determining apparatus includes an optical pick-up head, a signal processing module, and a discriminator. The optical pick-up head is for receiving a reflected signal from an optical disc. The signal processing module, coupled to the optical pick-up head, is for processing the reflected signal into a derived signal having a plurality of pulses. The discriminator, coupled to the signal processing module, is for analyzing widths of the pulses to determine a disc type of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical data processing apparatus reads and/or writes data from/on a data storage medium, in which first and second data storage layer are stacked, by radiating light from the second layer. The processor includes: a light detector including at least one photodetector for generating a light quantity signal; a detecting optical system for guiding first and second reflected light beams from the first and second layers to the light detector; and a signal processor for generating a layer sensing signal from the light quantity signal and determining, by the layer sensing signal, whether the focal spot is now located near the first layer or the second layer. The detecting optical system includes an optical element that produces astigmatism to the first and second reflected beams.

Abstract: A read-only information storage medium having one or more recording layers and a method and apparatus reading/reproducing data, the read-only information storage medium having one or more recording layers, each layer containing a lead-in area, a user data area, and a lead-out area. The locations of the lead-in and lead-out areas may be fixed, and when an amount of user data recorded on the storage medium is less than a full capacity of the storage medium, data other than the user data is recorded on a space remaining after the user data has been recorded.

Abstract: A position detection device, a position detection method, a position detection control device, a position detection control method, a position detection control program, an access authentication device, an access authentication method, an access authentication control device, an access authentication control method, an access authentication control program, an information storage device, and an optical disk are provided, all of which make it possible to prevent illegal copying of the information recorded in a recording medium. An information recording/playback device detects the position on an optical disk of an RFID tag provided to the optical disk, and writes the detected position on the optical disk of the RFID tag into the RFID tag as the position information.

Abstract: This optical disc drive has an optical pickup head that emits a light beam to an optical storage medium, detects the light beam reflected from the optical storage medium, and outputs a signal based on the received reflected light; a jitter measuring unit for measuring jitter in signals output from the optical pickup head; and an evaluation unit for determining from the measured jitter if the optical storage medium is good or defective. The jitter measuring unit measures jitter in a train of 3T or longer marks or spaces from an optical storage medium to which digital information is recorded as a train of marks or spaces of length kT based on a period T and an integer k of two or more.

Abstract: A BCA (Burst Cutting Area) code including a unique disk code indicating the type of a disk is written in a BCA code area of the disk. If the disk is mounted into the optical disk player, the optical disk player reads data written in the BCA code area, extracts the disk code contained in the read data, and confirms the type of the disk corresponding to the extracted disk code by retrieving a disk code table in which disk codes corresponding to the types of disks are mapped.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light is emitted by a light source at different emission intensities, and sensor output values are compared with threshold values at the individual emission intensities, so that the types of recording media having various reflection characteristics can be correctly determined.

Abstract: As shown in FIG. 1, a position detector (10) includes: an object to be detected having a pattern (2) formed for generating a position signal; and a sensor (3) for detecting the position signal according to the pattern (2) by receiving an electromagnetic wave generated on the object (1) by light irradiation. The pattern (2) is formed in a gradation shape visibly or invisibly so that an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength continuously different depending on the position on the object (1) can be sent to the sensor (3). This enables detection of an absolute angle of a rotary object and an absolute position on an XY plane with a simpler configuration, simplifies the device assembly, and reduces the device size.

Abstract: In the present invention, an optical pick-up (4) applies an optical beam to an optical disc (2) on which one or more information recording layers (20A) and (20B) are laminated in the direction of thickness through an objective lens (34) and detects a reflected light from one of the information recording layers laminated on the optical disc. A first photodetecting part (81) for detecting the reflected light from the one information recording layer and a second photodetecting part (82) composed of one or more light receiving surfaces for detecting a stray light from other information recording layers are mounted on a light receiving element (52). The number of the information recording layers laminated on the optical disc (2) is discriminated on the basis of the intensity of the stray light detected by the second photodetecting part (82). The optical pick-up (4) is controlled in accordance with the discriminated number of the information recording layers before a focus is controlled.

Abstract: Reproduction signals include patterns for which recognition errors are likely. With respect to such patterns, probable error patterns are prepared. Tables showing correct patterns and error patterns are prepared, and evaluation values accurately representing signal quality are calculated. In an apparatus using a PRML method, discrimination data and a plurality of predetermined bit sequence pairs are examined to detect matching. A bit sequence and corresponding two ideal responses are calculated. Euclidean distances between the two ideal responses and equalization signals are obtained, and the difference between the Euclidean distances is further obtained. A quality evaluation value of a reproduction signal is calculated based on a mean value, a standard deviation, an appearance probability of the predetermined bit sequence, and a Hamming distance between the predetermined bit sequence pairs.

Abstract: A method for determining the format of an optical recording medium (1) comprising one or more data or audio tracks or both types of tracks is proposed, the method being robust against partially corrupted data on the recording medium. The method comprises the steps of: reading (101) the table of contents (TOC); storing information from the table of contents; checking (102, 103, 105) whether all tracks are indicated as audio tracks or as data tracks or whether both audio tracks and data tracks are present; if one or more data tracks are present, checking (104, 106, 107) whether the first indicated data track contains any audio information; and determining the format according to the results of the checking steps (102-107).

Abstract: In an optical pickup apparatus which includes at least a laser light source and an object lens and can apply a laser beam to different types of optical discs, an aberration correction liquid crystal device is placed on the optical axis of the laser beam emitted from the laser light source. The aberration correction liquid crystal device includes a first electrode section being placed on the side of the laser light source and having a first electrode pattern for correcting aberration concerning a first optical disc, a second electrode section being placed on the side of the optical disc and having a second electrode pattern for correcting aberration concerning a second optical disc different from the first optical disc in type, and liquid crystal being sandwiched between the first and second electrode sections.

Abstract: The present invention allows the usability of a write-once recording medium to be enhanced. The write-once recording medium is provided with an ordinary recording/reproduction area, an alternate area, a first alternate-address management information area (DMA) and a second alternate-address management information area (TDMA). In addition, written/unwritten state indication information (a space bitmap) is also recorded. The second alternate-address management information area is an area allowing alternate-address management information recorded therein to be renewed by adding alternate-address management information thereto. In addition, the written/unwritten state indication information indicates whether or not data has been recorded in each data unit (cluster) on the recording medium. Thus, it is possible to correctly execute management of defects and properly implement renewal of data in the write-once recording medium.

Abstract: A method for determining a disk type is provided. In the invention, a pickup head of a DVD optical drive is moved to a blank area of the disk where no data is stored. After rotation of the disk is stopped, the blank area is irradiated with a laser beam, and reflective signals reflected from a surface layer and a reflective layer of the disk are measured respectively. According to a time difference between the two reflective signals, the type of the disk placed in the DVD optical drive is determined. Therefore misjudgment because of effects of pits in a data area of the disk on the reflective signals can be avoided, so that the disk type can be accurately determined.

Abstract: A BCA (Burst Cutting Area) code including a unique disk code indicating the type of a disk is written in a BCA code area of the disk. If the disk is mounted into the optical disk player, the optical disk player reads data written in the BCA code area, extracts the disk code contained in the read data, and confirms the type of the disk corresponding to the extracted disk code by retrieving a disk code table in which disk codes corresponding to the types of disks are mapped.

Abstract: A method for identifying an optical disc's type includes: detecting at least one header's appearance according to a reproduced signal in an optical storage device accessing the optical disc; after the appearance of a first header of the at least one header is detected, detecting whether there is another header's appearance in a window that lags behind the first header's appearance; and determining whether the optical disc is a DVD-RAM disc according to the number of times that there is a header's appearance in a corresponding window.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light is emitted by a light source at different emission intensities, and sensor output values are compared with threshold values at the individual emission intensities, so that the types of recording media having various reflection characteristics can be correctly determined.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for controlling a beginning point of an optical pick-up unit. The optical pick-up unit moves to a beginning point of an optical disc such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) to execute a servo-tuning function at the beginning point. The method includes a) performing a focus search operation on an optical disc and at the same time determining whether there is a reflection signal from the optical disc; b) after performing the focus search operation, moving the optical pick-up unit toward a predetermined beginning point of the optical disc based on the result of the determining step; and c) based on the reflection signal from the optical disc, determining whether or not the optical pick-up unit has moved to the beginning point of the optical disc while the optical pick-up unit is in motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus identifying a type of a recordable disc using the reflectivity and RPM (Rotation Per Minute) of the disc. The method includes the operations of detecting an RPM (Rotation Per Minute) of the disc, identifying a first disc type by comparing the RPM with a first reference value, measuring the reflectivity of the disc, and identifying a second disc type between a one-time recordable disc type and a re-recordable disc type by comparing the reflectivity of the disc with a second reference value. Accordingly, the lead-in time of the disc can be reduced.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an optical disk drive that performs at least one of a read process and a write process for a plurality of kinds of optical disk, and a designation unit that designates at least one kind of an optical disk as a designated optical disk for which the at least one of the read process and the write process is performed, wherein the optical disk drive performs the at least one of the read process and the write process only for the designated optical disk.

Abstract: A normal resolution component included in a readout signal of a super resolution optical disc is canceled to improve quality of the readout signal. The normal resolution component is separated from the readout signal of the super resolution optical disc by using a normal resolution selection filter such as a low pass filter, a mark length determination circuit, and then the normal resolution component is subtracted from an original readout signal while gain and a phase are appropriately controlled. Thereby, an influence of crosstalk due to the normal resolution component is reduced.

Abstract: A reproduction signal evaluation method of this invention includes the step of obtaining a reproduction signal from an information recording medium on which digital information is recorded with record marks having different sizes, the step of obtaining the amplitude of a first reproduction signal, of the signals contained in the reproduction signal, which reflects digital information recorded with a record mark having the maximum size, the step of obtaining the amplitude of a second reproduction signal, of the signals contained in the reproduction signal, which reflects digital information recorded with a record mark having the second smallest size, the step of obtaining an evaluation value from the ratio of the amplitudes of the first and second reproduction signals, and the step of evaluating a characteristic of the reproduction signal on the basis of the evaluation value.

Abstract: Identifying optical disc properties from information read from the label side of an optical disc is disclosed. The information from the label side of an optical disc is first read. From this information read from the label side of the optical disc, one or more properties of the optical disc are then identified.

Abstract: A system controller is provided so as to record the second disk type information having the same content as that of the first disk type information, which is recorded in a DVD-R in advance, in a DVD-R in which the first disk type information is recorded as well as to record the record information in the DVD-R and reproduce the record information only if the first disk type information and the second disk type information have the same contents each other upon reproducing the record information.

Abstract: A disk apparatus includes a light emitter that emits a light beam to be reflected on the optical disk, a light detector that detects a reflected light beam that is reflected from the optical disk, the light detector also outputting detection signals based on the amount of the reflected light beam detected, and a controller determines whether the optical disk is a recordable optical disk or not based on the detection signals. The controller also shifts a spot on the light detector at which the reflected light beam is incident by adjusting the focus point of the light beam on the optical disk in the radial direction when the controller determines that the optical disk is not a recordable optical disk. A wobble signal can be detected with high precision at low cost even when the position of the light detector is not balanced in the radial direction.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a recording and/or reproducing method, and an information storage medium, wherein the recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes: a writing and/or reading unit writing data to or reading data from an information storage medium having one or more information recording layers; and a control unit controlling the writing and/or reading unit to write the data to the information storage medium by referring to one or more disk information structures including recording related parameter information corresponding to recording characteristics of the information storage medium, and recording characteristic information to which the recording related parameters are applied. According to the apparatus and method, parameters of recording characteristics appropriate to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus and compatibility between different specifications can be achieved.

Abstract: An optical data recording/reproducing system comprises a data slicer and a data extractor, wherein the data slicer receives the analog RF signal from the identification area and generates a digital mask signal and a digital pulse signal, and the reference clock generator comprises a phase-locked loop for receiving the digital pulse signal and the digital mask signal and generates the reference clock signal to the data extractor by performing phase-locked loop control, so that the data extractor extracts an identification area data signal and an identification area clock signal from the digital mask signal according to the reference clock signal.

Abstract: This specification disclosed a method of determining the disc type for a disc burner to determine the type of an unfinalized disc. By checking the special bit data in the first and second tracks, the discs can be classified into different types. This avoids the trouble of manually keeping track of the type of each disc.

Abstract: A plurality of types of writable discs on which wobbles having a predetermined frequency containing absolute addresses and/or various pieces of information on the writable discs can be discriminated by controlling only focusing and using an amplitude of a wobble signal or a wobble PLL lock signal that has passed through a phase locked loop. Accordingly, a discrimination time can be reduced and a disc in an unrecorded state can also be discriminated.

Abstract: A recording medium and a method for recording are provided. The recording medium according to an embodiment includes a control information used to represent a recording capacity of the recording medium, wherein the control information includes first information associated with a pre-defined recording capacity of the recording medium, and second information associated with a varied recording capacity of the recording medium, the second information being recorded at a position different from the first information.

Abstract: An information storage medium includes an area in which updated disc-related information and recording-related information updated with a change in at least one of a disc version number and a recording speed is recorded along with existing disc-related information and recording-related information. The existing disc-related information and recording-related information are recorded, and the updated disc-related information and recording-related information is recorded in an area in which the existing disc-related information and recording-related information is recorded. Accordingly, data can be recorded/reproduced on/from a new version of information storage medium even using an existing drive.