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: An optical disk drive is provided wherein data is recorded in high-density recording mode onto a recordable disk based on a common first standard with the data to be recorded generated by a second recording signal processor (13). When the data to be recorded is audio data based on the first standard, the audio data is recorded with an addition of an error detection code and an error correction code according to the second standard, and is recorded while the audio data is reassigned to sectors corresponding to the amount of user data of the second standard. Although an empty capacity for user data in a final sector of a unit of recording occurs because of the reassignment, this area is filled with specific data.

Abstract: An optical disk 11 (sample) is laid on a sample moving unit 21 within a vacuum chamber 20. An electron beam radiating mechanism 30 radiates an electron beam to the optical disk 11 while moving the optical disk 11 at a constant speed. Electron detecting means 27 detects an electron from the optical disk 11. Thus, the track pitch is measured on the basis of a detected electron signal and a measured movement amount of the optical disk 11. Also, the electron beam radiating mechanism 30 is provided with a fast deflector 33 for averaging within a deflection area to measure the track pitch.

Abstract: The present invention measures first and second detection signals respectively obtained at two focuses during a focus search by means of an optical head 2. Then, a type of a disk-shaped optical record medium is determined by a microcomputer in a system controller 7, from a comparison between characteristics of the first and second measured detection signals. Moreover, the present invention can measure an amplitude and a frequency of the detection signal obtained at the focus during the focus search to thereby determine the type of the disk by using the measured result. After the parameters are set in accordance with the determined result, the focus servo control is turned on.

Abstract: The application relates to a method of and an apparatus for writing information onto a multi-layer optical information carrier (1). In an optical recording system information can be written onto a selected layer (41) of a multi-layer carrier (1) by focusing the laser beam (2) onto the selected layer. Intermediate layers (42) interact with the laser beam (2). An important property in writing information onto a multi-layer carrier (1) is the transmission coefficient of these intermediate layers (42). The transmission coefficient depends on the physical properties of the intermediate layer (42) and on whether or not information has been recorded. The apparatus includes a circuit (55) which derives information (711) about the changes of the transmission coefficients of the layers (41 through 43) when information is written onto these layers. On the basis of this information (711) a circuit determines the sequence in which the layers (41 through 43) are to be recorded.

Abstract: A disk apparatus is for a disk, and a DVD−RW or a DVD+RW can be mounted as the disk. For example, a wobble signal is detected on the basis of a laser beam reflected by a recording surface of the disk. A CPU determines whether a cycle of the wobble signal (wobble cycle) is 32 times or 186 times as long as a data cycle on the basis of a detection result of a detecting circuit. Then, when the wobble cycle is 186 times as long as the data cycle, the disk kind is identified as the DVD−RW, and when the wobble cycle is 32 times as long as the data cycle, the disk kind is identified as the DVD+RW.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to facilitate to identify whether or not the optical disc is a optical disc of which recording capacity is enlarged. A synchronization pattern of ATIP information embedded into guide grooves irradiated with a light spot is made to be different between a high density optical disc and a standard density optical disc of which recording capacity is not enlarged. Specifically, while the synchronization pattern of the standard density optical disc is made into “3T+1T+1T+3T” (where “T” represents a minimum channel bit of a signal obtained by reading a positional information), the synchronization pattern of the high density optical disc is made into “3T+3T+1T+1T” for example. By reading the ATIP information and recognizing the synchronization pattern thereof, it can be easily and quickly identified whether the optical disc has a standard density or a high density.

Abstract: An optical disc having a protection layer for protecting a recording layer located farther from a substrate and having a first recording layer and a second recording layer stacked on one side of the substrate, wherein the reflectance of one of the first and second recording layers is made higher than the reflectance of the other recording layer, and a reproducing device which uses this optical disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a single information recording and reproducing apparatus that is used to record data to multiple disks that are to be recorded on using different wavelengths. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus that accurately discriminates disk types while preventing disk damage and accidental recording of data during the disk type discrimination operation. The disk type is determined using the intensity of light reflected from the disk. Information is encoded using an encoder corresponding to the disk type. The resulting signal is used to drive a laser corresponding to the disk type, and information is recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical head, a photodetector, an optical recording and reproducing apparatus and a focus error detecting method, which can be adapted to a plurality of kinds of recording media and a land/groove recording system. A photoreceiving part for the main spot in a photodetector in an optical head is divided into a plurality of parts. An intermediate photoreceiving part consisting of four small photoreceiving parts is provided in a central area surrounded by four peripheral photoreceiving parts. Without using an output signal from the intermediate photoreceiving part positioning in an area where the intensity distribution is unstable in a converged light spot, a focus error signal is obtained only from output signals from the peripheral photoreceiving parts and a focusing control is performed by using the focus error signal.

Abstract: An optical disc drive for processing multiple types of optical discs, of which information storage layers have different depths, includes: a light source; a lens for forming a beam spot; a photodetector for outputting a reflected light signal; a spherical aberration generator for generating a minimum spherical aberration when the beam spot is at a reference depth; a focus drive signal generator for moving the beam spot perpendicularly to the information storage layer of a loaded disc by controlling a position of the lens; a light quantity detector for generating a light quantity signal on receiving a reflected light signal every time the beam spot is moved; and a type recognizer for recognizing the type of the loaded disc by estimating the depth of the information storage layer according to a degree of symmetry of the waveform of the light quantity signal.

Abstract: An optical disk physical has a recording region divided into zones, each zone including physical tracks adjacent to each other. An integer number of sectors, are provided in each physical track. The angular recording density is higher in the more outward zones such that the linear recording density is substantially constant throughout the recording region, and logical tracks are formed of a predetermined number of sectors, independent of the physical tracks. The conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from a host device is easy. The addresses written in headers of the sectors in the logical track in which data are actually recorded, including substitute sectors used in place of defect sectors, are preferably consecutive to further facilitate the conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from the host device.

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

Abstract: An optical disk physical has a recording region divided into zones, each zone including physical tracks adjacent to each other. An integer number of sectors are provided in each physical track. The angular recording density is higher in the more outward zones such that the linear recording density is substantially constant throughout the recording region, and logical tracks are formed of a predetermined number of sectors, independent of the physical tracks. The conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from a host device is easy. The addresses written in headers of the sectors in the logical track in which data are actually recorded, including substitute sectors used in place of defect sectors, are preferably consecutive to further facilitate the conversion between the logical track and sector addresses read from the disk and the linear logical addresses supplied from the host device.

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 and apparatus for optimally recording data on an optical recording medium by controlling recording beam power depending upon the state of the recording layer of the recording medium. To compensate for variant reflection ratio at inner and outer radius caused by the uneven recording layer thickness, the power of recording beam is adjusted and as a result the asymmetric ratio is maintained constant over the recording medium without regard to the radius. A signal associated with the recording layer thickness variation is detected and the recording beam power is adjusted to compensate for the variation of the characteristic of recorded marks, based upon the signal. The adjusted recording beam power is not readjusted by the running optimal power control (ROPC). The method in accordance with the present invention provides a constant asymmetric ratio over the recording medium, thereby reducing the likelihood of reproduced data error.

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

Abstract: In an information storage medium, information about a user data area where user data is recorded is recorded in at least one of an area right before and an area right after a basic recording unit of the user data area. In a method of recording and/or reproducing data with respect to an information storage medium, information about a user data area where user data is recorded is read from at least one of two areas right before and after the user data area, and the user data area is recognized using the read information.

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

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus including a waiting position determining circuit which detects physical properties of each region in an optical disk after recording or reproducing processing is finished and decides a waiting position of an optical head according to the detection, and various kinds of control mechanisms which controls a position of the optical head according to the decided waiting position in order to move the optical head, is provided. By making the optical head wait at a position before two or more tracks in an unrecorded region, the recording processing can be resumed stably and surely and the recording processing can be preferentially performed in the remaining unrecorded region.

Abstract: A storage medium initializing method includes the steps of detecting a mode corresponding to a recording format to be loaded on a storage medium; and initializing the storage medium according to the mode detected in the detecting step. A recording and reproducing method and apparatus are configured to detect a type of storage medium loaded onto the apparatus and adjust the recording and reproducing processes accordingly.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus is capable of recording data and management information of an information recording medium in a plurality of data recording formats. Typically, a DVD+RW is considered to be a DVD+R disk, when data and management information of the DVD+R are recorded on the DVD+RW disk in the data recording format for the DVD+R disk, such as the sequential writing method and the multi-session writing method.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a pre-stamped region formed by pre-stamping a region from the start of the data region of the information recording medium. The pre-stamped region records information indicating that the information recording medium is a hybrid recording medium formed of a recorded region and an unrecorded region and information indicating that a sector in the pre-stamped region is pre-stamped. The information recording medium is formed based on a recordable recording medium.

Abstract: A land/groove discriminating method and an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing the method are provided. The land/groove discriminating method emits a light beam onto an optical disc having lands and grooves through an optical element capable of causing and varying an effect of thickness variation of the optical disc, detects a light beam reflected/diffracted from the optical disc by dividing the reflected/diffracted light beam into inner and outer light beam portions, and discriminates between a land and a groove of the optical disc by detecting variation in a difference signal between detection signals from the inner and outer light beam portions while varying the degree of the effect of thickness variation of the optical disc by driving the optical element.

Abstract: On a recording medium, the version information indicating a version of the recording standard to which the information recording medium is adapted is recorded. Moreover, the normal recording condition information for recording information at a normal recording speed and the high speed recording condition information for recording the information at a higher recording speed than the normal recording speed are recorded. The recording condition information includes, for example, information about a write strategy for driving a laser light source. At the time of recording, the information recording device compares the version information on the information recording medium with the version information of the information recording device so as to judge whether or not the information can be recorded.

Abstract: An optical reproducing apparatus that uses a hologram laser module and is applicable to a DVD Multi drive, wherein five sub spots of light in total that are most suitable to perform the differential push-pull tracking both for DVD-RAM and for DVD-R/RW are irradiated on the disk, respectively, and influence of several sub spots that are unnecessary in recording and reproducing a disk is canceled out by calculation, to realize an optical head that is compatible with the DVD Multi drive using a hologram laser module, and thereby providing a small-size, high-performance optical reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a multiple detecting unit having n detectors, and a controller which selects one of the n detectors and controls the selected detector to output a binary signal. In the apparatus, a plurality of detectors are used to detect a signal read from an optical storage medium, and the optimum detector is selected in consideration of a quality of the signal and detection conditions, thereby increasing the efficiency of a signal reproduction. The apparatus can selectively compensate for disturbance of a signal where data from the optical storage medium is reproduced. The apparatus may control a run length of the signal to be 3T.

Abstract: A data reproducing unit reproduces data read by a first reading unit from a storage medium. A storage unit stores added information corresponding to data stored on the storage medium. The added information is read by the second reading unit and reproduced by an added information reproducing unit. A control unit controls such that the data is reproduced by the data reproducing unit in synchronism with the reproduction of the added information by the added information reproducing unit.

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 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: A method and an apparatus for identifying the type of an optical recording medium are provided.

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 information recording-reproducing apparatus includes carrier rollers 1a, 2a arranged in a carriage path having a width almost equal to a diameter of a large diameter disc, and a mechanical side switch PSW at one peripheral end of the carriage path. First and second optical detectors P1, P2 are arranged in the carriage path at an interval smaller than a diameter of the small diameter disc. The first optical detector P1 and the side switch PSW are arranged at an interval larger than the diameter of the small diameter disc, while the second optical detector P2 and the side switch PSW are arranged at an interval smaller than the diameter of the small diameter disc. The type of the disc as well as difference between the disc and an object other than the disc are determined based on the detection signals from the optical detectors P1, P2 and the side switch PSW.

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: When an optical disk is loaded, the light source provided with the optical head for the CD and the light source provided with the optical head for the DVD simultaneously irradiate the laser beams of different wavelengths each toward the optical disk D. And, the optical heads for the CD and DVD are simultaneously driven in parallel in the focusing direction. At that moment, the optical head for the CD and the optical head for the DVD simultaneously detect all the signals added and the RF envelopes individually, which are stored in the memory at the same time. All the signals added and the RF envelopes stored in the memory are sent to the control unit, where a specified processing is carried out to identify the specification of the disk.

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

Abstract: A program product is used by a control computer of an optical disc apparatus. The apparatus accesses plural types of optical discs. The control computer recognizes one type of optical disc out of the plural types of optical discs based on history information including a type of optical disc used in times past according to the program. The control computer then judges whether the type of set optical disc is identified with the recognized type of optical disc.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus which realizes high density disc recording using an existing disc and an existing recording signal processor. When recording data on a recordable disc corresponding to an existing first standard, either one of first and second recording signal processors 9 and 10 can be selectively used, so that data recording in the high density recording mode which allows data generated by the second recording signal processor 10 to be recorded on a recordable disc corresponding to the first standard can be performed. As a result, the existing second standard data format can be used with regard to a disc corresponding to the existing first standard, so that recording can be performed at a higher density than when the first standard data format is used for the same disc, thereby increasing recording capacity.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the presence or absence of a disk and/or a disk size without using FG signals, are provided. The method includes placing a pickup at a first zone on the optical recording medium, the first zone located between an outer radius of a first recording medium type and an outer radius of a second recording medium type, where the outer radius of the second recording medium type is larger than the outer radius of the first recording medium type; detecting a reflected signal based on a returned beam from the first zone of the optical recording medium; and determining at least one of a size and an absence of the optical recording medium based on the detected reflected signal. Therefore, an FG sensor that is provided in a general disk device can be eliminated, thereby reducing the size and cost of a disk device.

Abstract: A data processor compatible for use with a CD and a DVD includes a first modulation circuit for modulating recording data for recording on a CD to generate first modulated data. A second modulation circuit modulates recording data for recording on a DVD to generate second modulated data. A write signal generation circuit generates a first write signal, which is written to the CD, from the first modulated data, and a second write signal, which is written to the DVD, from the second modulated data. The write signal generation circuit is commonly used for the CD and the DVD to reduce the circuit area of the data processor.

Abstract: If, in a recording medium on which a plurality of programs are collected in a plurality of groups and supervised in this grouped state, a command for editing, such as dividing/linking/erasing the predetermined programs or groups, recorded on the recording medium, the management data is to be edited to perform the editing. The present invention contemplates to provide a solution to meet this request by a recording medium, an editing method and an editing apparatus.

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

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

Abstract: In the case where data are recorded in a medium, after a specific type of a medium in which recording is performed is set, if it is detected that information is recorded on an address of specific position at which decoding information is to be located, then data at a section in which the decoding information is located are replaced with predetermined information and recording is performed. Alternatively, when data are to be reproduced from a medium, after it is discriminated that data are reproduced from a medium of a specific type, if it is determined that data are reproduced from an address of specific position at which the decoding information is to be located, then reproduction data of a section in which the decoding information is located is replaced with predetermined information and outputted.

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

Abstract: An amplitude variation detection circuit that can reliably detect the mirror portion independently of the type of optical recording medium, as well as a type of information regenerating apparatus that contains said amplitude variation detecting circuit. Voltage division of top envelope signal Ste and bottom-hold signal Sbh of RF signal Srf is performed by voltage divider (16); then, after amplification by gain control amplifier (19) with a gain that corresponds to the type of optical disc (1), a prescribed offset is added by offset circuit (22) to the signal, and the resulting signal is input as mirror detection threshold signal Smt to comparator (24). The high-frequency noise component of bottom envelope signal Sbe of RF signal Srf is removed by low-pass filter (21); after amplification by gain control amplifier (20) with a gain that corresponds to the type of optical disc (1), the signal is input to comparator (24).

Abstract: In a disk device, when processing is resumed after replacing the disk or cutting off the power supply, in order to acquire disk-related information in a short period of time and reduce the start-up time, the effectiveness of management information recorded on the disk is judged, the finding of the judgment is stored into a memory means capable of storing even when power supply is off, the management information is read out of some of the recording areas of the disk in advance of a recording or reproducing operation if the stored information on the finding of the judgment indicates effectiveness for the inserted disk.

Abstract: The invention provides a disc inspection and rejuvenation/repair system. The inspection system and rejuvenation/repair system may be provided as separate modules or may be combined in an integrated unit. The integrated unit may be manually operated, or may be an automated system comprising a controller and disk handling system Appertaining methods of operating the system and modules are also provided.

Abstract: A gain controlling apparatus includes a pre-amplifier for roughly adjusting a gain of a generation signal, which is generated on the basis of a reception signal from an optical disc; a variable amplifier for finely adjusting the gain on the basis of the roughly adjusted gain by the pre-amplifier; a memory for storing a plurality of values for adjusting the gain generated during a previous occasion of gain adjustment in time series; and a controlling device for controlling the pre-amplifier at a current occasion of gain adjustment on the basis of the respective stored values for adjusting the gain and controlling the variable amplifier, wherein the controlling device comprises a predicting device for predicting a current adjustment value, namely an adjusted value for the gain roughly adjusted at the current occasion by the pre-amplifier, and the controlling device controls the pre-amplifier on the basis of the predicted current adjustment value.