Abstract: The present invention has as an object to accomplish reliable data reproduction in a data reproducing apparatus in which servo operation easily becomes unstable in an unrecorded disc area, and provides a data storage medium whereby the highest address of the reproducible data area is obtained by the optical disc drive, and reproduction is possible using only a normal READ command, without providing a physical area in the volume space. Address information (181) for an integrity information area (111) allocated in the first overrun extent in the volume space is recorded to a lead-in area (101) reproducible by an optical disc drive.

Abstract: A method for recording data in a rewritable recording medium comprising the steps: of comparing the size of the sectioned interval unit of the recording medium with an input unit data to be recorded; and recording the unit data in the sectioned interval unit. A data track of the program area of the rewritable recording medium is sectioned into interval units of a predetermined size and data inputted by the user is recorded by the section interval unit, so that editing such as data rewriting in the sectioned interval unit is possible, which facilitates using of the rewritable recording medium. Also, since the data can be re-recorded partially, the durability of the recording medium can be extended.

Abstract: An optical disk has a plurality of information recording layers including a first recording layer and a second recording layer disposed at a farther position from a light source than the first recording layer. When recording data to the second recording layer of the optical disk, a radius of the outermost circumference of a data recordable range in the second recording layer is defined to be equal to or less than a radius of the outermost circumference of an area in which data is recorded in the first recording layer.

Abstract: An optical disc drive that can carry out recording data to an optical disc such as a format procedure of the optical disc in a relatively short time is provided. An optical disc drive 1 has a rotation driving mechanism for rotating a loaded optical disc 2 at any one of multiple rotational speed (rotation number) levels, an optical pick-up 3 capable of moving in a radial direction of the loaded optical disc 2 to overwrite information (data) onto the optical disc 2 by emitting a laser beam thereto, and an optical pick-up moving mechanism including a sled motor 7 for moving the optical pick-up 3 in the radial direction of the optical disc 2. In a case that the optical disc 2 is a blank disc having no recording history, i.e., in a case of a first recording procedure of the optical disc 2, the optical disc drive 1 carries out recording at a recording speed higher than the highest recording speed for overwriting.

Abstract: An optical disc that has a recognition mark area behind a recorded area and in which the last data in the recorded area is stably accessed, the recognition mark area can be accessed without bringing about an abnormal state, and the first data in a succeeding recorded area, if it exists, is stably accessed. An unrecorded area (5) is provided outside the recorded area (4) of the optical disc (1). A mark area (6) is provided between the recorded area (4) and unrecorded area (5). A recognition mark area (6d) is provided in the mark area (6) in order to recognize the boundary between the recorded area (4) and the unrecorded area (5). In the mark area (6), first and second buffer areas (6b and 6c) are provided respectively in front of and behind the recognition mark area (6d).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting non-recording regions of an optical recording medium for recording data or reproducing the recorded data by detecting header regions of the optical recording medium.

Abstract: When an error has occurred during the recording of an optical disk, the track recording system is changed from a variable-length packet write system to a fixed-length packet write system employing an arbitrary length (step S2). A check is performed to determine whether before the error occurred the number of blocks used for recording was equal to or greater than 300, which is the minimum block length for one track (step S4). When at least 300 blocks have not been used for recording, by using as a recording unit a fixed-length packet having the arbitrary length, the dummy data are continuously recorded until the used block count reaches 300 (steps S5 to S7). Thus, when an error occurs during the recording of dummy data (Yes at step S6), one fixed-length packet is added (step S8) and the recording of dummy data is continued.

Abstract: The rewriting counts in respective areas of a rewritable medium are uniformized. If empty areas are present on the rewritable medium rearward of a recording start position in terms of addresses, then data is recorded in those empty areas. When no empty areas become available rearward of the recording start position, data is then recorded in empty areas forward of the recording start position. The numbers of times that data is recorded in recording areas of the recording medium are thus averaged.

Abstract: An optical disk device has a recording information management portion which detects a distribution of a recorded region R and an unrecorded region M based on reflection light received by an optical head and an access target setting circuit which determines an access target of an optical head so as to make access to a target position of a recording layer of an optical disk while avoiding the unrecorded region M based on the detected distribution of the regions. Since an access is made while passing through only the recorded region R, a servo operation can be stabilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detecting method for effectively detecting blank regions on an optical storage medium. The detecting method is to detect the radio frequency (RF) waveform from the optical storage medium. The RF waveform comprises a plurality of sinewaves with different frequencies. The amplitudes of the sinewaves are selectively boosted with different boost gains depending on the frequencies of the sinewaves to obtain a corresponding gain boost signal. The gain boost signal is judged with a predetermined blank judging interval. When the present amplitudes of the gain boost signal fall within the blank judgment interval, the RF waveform is deemed detected from the blank regions of the optical storage medium.

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

Abstract: A data recording or recording and reproducing apparatus and method for improving recording quality by recording and/or reproducing data which controls the varying of a recording optical power level based on the recording speed when recording data in a disc-type recording medium. The data recording apparatus includes a memory for storing discrimination information for discriminating a disc type as well as corresponding read power level information for each recording speed, a pickup driving unit for receiving information read out from the disc from a pickup or outputting a signal for controlling the pickup, and a system control unit for receiving discrimination information of an inserted disc from the pickup driving unit, determining the read power level based on the power information for each recording speed corresponding to the disc discrimination information, and outputting a signal reflecting the determined read power to the pickup driving unit.

Abstract: A pickup is moved in the radial direction of a partial CD-R, and the end position of a recorded area in the partial CD-R is detected based on a feature signal (on track signal) in the radial direction obtained during the movement. Information recorded in the recorded area is reproduced based on the detected end position, so that an accessing inability can be avoided, and the information in the recorded area can correctly be reproduced. Thus, information recorded in the partial CD-R can correctly be reproduced.

Abstract: A tilt of a light beam to be radiated onto an information recording disk is corrected without using a dedicated tilt sensor. The correction is performed based on the characteristic that an offset amount between a tilt amount maximizing an RF signal amplitude and a further tilt amount maximizing an LPP signal amplitude is constant and independent of positions on the same disk. A pre-pit signal indicative of an existence/nonexistence of a pre-pit formed on the disk is produced from returned light of the light beam, while an RF signal is produced from bits of information recorded on the disk on the basis of the returned light. An optimum tilt-correcting amount is decided by making use of a relationship between the pre-pit signal and the RF signal at a particular tilt amount. The tilt amount is corrected using the optimum tilt-correcting amount.

Abstract: A method and device for recording information signals on a partly recorded writable record carrier (11), e.g. an optical disc. An information signal represents at least one information unit. The record carrier has a recording track which comprises preformed track position information indicative of locations for recording the information units. From the information signal a modulated signal is generated, and the recording track is scanned for recording the modulated signal. If recording is after and adjacent an existing recorded signal, a method for seamless linking of 2 parts of a recording on a CD-R/CD-RW disk is described. Recording the modulated signal is started at a location dependent on the location of an end part of said earlier recorded information signal, while locking said recording clock speed to the track wobble. Interruption of a recording can be done without loss of data or loss of storage capacity.

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

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium, on which (i) a plurality of information groups each comprising one series of the record information and (ii) management information including positional information indicating a recorded area of each of the information groups are recordable, is provided with: a detecting device for detecting the management information, which is recorded in advance on the record medium, from the record medium; a recording device for newly recording the record information onto the record medium; an outputting device for outputting an identification information to identify the information groups, which are recorded in advance on the record medium, on the basis of the detected management information while the recording device is newly recording the record information; a specifying device for specifying an erasable information from among the information groups which are identified by the outputted identification information while the recordin

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: In an initial operation of an optical disc apparatus for reading out information data recorded in the innermost data recording area on the optical disc, a main processor judges whether periods between adjoining two pits are normal or not from signals outputted from an optical pickup. When the periods of the pits are normal, a light beam emitted from the optical pickup is on the present data recording track, and the information data is read out from the optical disc. Alternatively, when the periods of the pits are abnormal, the optical pickup is moved inwardly with sensing the periods of the pits and judges whether the periods are normal or not. When the periods of the pits become normal, the light beam is precisely tracked on the present data recording track, and reproduces the information data from the optical disc.

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

Abstract: A data recording/reproduction apparatus being connected to a data communication system via a data bus conforming to a predetermined communication format enabling execution of data communication between them. In dealing with a mini-disc™ system capable of recording main data accompanied with auxiliary data, in addition to consumed capacity of audio data, consumed capacity of auxiliary data can also be displayed to enable a user to identify the actually available recording capacity to promote user's handling convenience. Concretely, based on a main data control information, such as a user table of contents (UTOC), and an auxiliary data control information, such as an auxiliary table of contents (AUX-TOC), recorded on the recording medium, actually consumed capacity of the main and the auxiliary data can individually be displayed via a proportional display shown against individual total recording capacity.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus detects last position information of already recorded data and information of initial data recordable capacity of an optical disc that is in a state of no further writing by a recording completion process, a calculating device that calculates data recordable capacity of a free space in accordance with the last position information of already recorded data and the information of initial data recordable capacity of the optical disc and records data in the free space after the last position of already recorded data. The optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus scans the area after the last position of the already recorded data, and when the recorded data is found in the area, the data recorded after the last position is read. Data can be recorded to or reproduced from a free space of the optical disc to which the finalizing process has been executed.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a method for determining a maximum storage capacity of an optical information record medium having a pregroove on which predetermined address codes are marked. The method is performed by detecting the last physical predetermined address code of the predetermined address codes. The maximum storage capacity is represented in terms of time by a time value representative of the detected last physical predetermined address code.

Abstract: An accessible count information which is the number of accessible times for recording medium is recorded on an additional recording dedicated area in the recording medium. Each time the recording medium is accessed, the accessible count information is subtracted and the value of remaining accessible count information is recorded in a non-recorded portion of the dedicated area. In this case, the access to the recording medium is controlled based on the minimum value of the accessible count information recorded in the dedicated area.

Abstract: An encoding method for recording gap regions or sectors having repeated data is disclosed. At least one sector is entirely encoded and stored in a memory buffer of the optical recording system. If the currently encoded are gap regions or sector having repeated data embedded in the fields of user data, only those portions affected by the modified header will be encoded to derive associated P code and Q code. The error detection code is firstly generated in the mode 1 standard when a gap region is encoded. P code is then encoded for those regions affected by the sequentially modified header and error detection code, while associated Q code is then derived according the modified header, error detection code, and P code. In the mode 2 form 1 and mode form 2 standards, only those regions affected by the sequentially modified header should be re-encoded again.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium having a lead-in area complying with the PW (Packet Writing) format and such a lead-in area is pre-recorded with a lead-in information prior to any recording. At a second time recording session, the end of recording information is only recorded in an address block for a last packet #2, and the end of recording information in an address block for a packet #1 which becomes the last packet at a first time recording session is made to be non-readable. At a third time recording session, a packet with an address block, wherein the end of recording information is recognized, is determined to be the last packet #2 and the recording starts from the packet #3, so that the information recorded in the medium before finalization can be lead-out by a CD-ROM disc drive.

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: Disclosed is a dubbing apparatus for selectively permitting dubbing of programs at standard or higher speed and inhibiting for a predetermined period of time consecutive higher-speed dubbing of programs that have been recorded each in its entirety at higher speed. A program not accommodated entirely by a destination storage medium is allowed to be dubbed consecutively at higher speed.

Abstract: An optical disk device that performs a stable seek operation even in the movement from a recorded surface to an unrecorded surface. The optical disk device has gain corrector 30. The gain corrector comprises memory section 22 for storing a gain control value of the AS control system before a rough seek, movement determining section 23 for determining if the rough seek has made a movement from a recorded surface to an unrecorded surface, and computing and setting section 24 for correcting a gain control value of the tracking control system. When it is determined that the rough seek is performed from a recorded surface to an unrecorded surface, the gain corrector corrects the gain control value of the tracking control system according to the rate of change in the gains of the AS control system before and after the rough seek. This correction can prevent saturation of gains of the tracking control system and thus provide a stable rough seek.

Abstract: An optical recording medium and a method for assigning a spare area in a rewritable optical recording medium are provided, in which a supplementary spare area is assigned as necessary if an enlargement of the spare area is required. The present method includes (1) determining an allowable size of the supplementary spare area, and (2) assigning the supplementary spare area in variable increments within the allowable size determined in (1).

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus is configured to record information on a multilayer optical disk having a general information recording area for recording general information and a management information recording area for recording management information which manages general information recorded on this general information recording area. In this optical disk recording apparatus, meaningless information is recorded on an unrecorded area in the management information recording area of the optical disk.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus that stores data in a recording medium, retrieves control information of the recording medium, identifies remaining unrecorded regions in the recording medium based on the control information, stores data only in the unrecorded regions, and updates items of the control information corresponding to the recorded regions so that the information storage apparatus can skip the recorded regions when it stores data in the recording medium next time. The information storage apparatus can reduce time required for certifying the recording medium.

Abstract: With an arrangement having functions of detecting an unrecorded area by comparing a reproduction signal level obtained by conducting reproduction of a disk-shaped recording medium with a threshold, the setting of this threshold is performed by performing reproduction regarding an adjustment area serving as an unrecorded area on the disk-shaped recording medium while varying the adjusting threshold. Then, the threshold to be actually used for detection of unrecorded areas is set based on the comparison results between the adjusting threshold and the reproduction RF signal. Thus, a threshold appropriate for each device is automatically set for example, regardless of conditions such as differences in noise levels superimposed on reproduction signals, from one device to another. Thus, an appropriate threshold for blank checks can be set regardless of irregularities in parts from one device to another (i.e.

Abstract: When data recording is interrupted, a location at which data have been last recorded is accurately detected and a seamless restart of the recording is achieved even if reproducing errors occur due to scratches or the like on an optical disk. A pattern data that indicates a pit pattern of data to be recorded or having been recorded is compared to a pattern data that is reproduced within a predetermined range (window) of clock cycles, and when a match is obtained, a recording restart signal is output to restart the recording operation.

Abstract: In a recording and reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium, and a defect substitution method for a disc-shaped recording medium, whether reproduction of recorded data is good is determined by sector unit and not by product code unit, defective sector discrimination is performed by sector unit, and only sectors determined defective are alternately recorded, when using a recording format in which data that is error detection and correction coded with a product code is segmented and recorded to a plurality of sectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recording data onto an optical disk using a write strategy that corresponds to the recording features of the optical disk. The present method detects a track pitch or storage capacity of a recording medium, adjusts a write strategy according to the detected track pitch or storage capacity wherein the write strategy has been chosen to correspond to the manufacturer of the recording medium, and records input data onto the recording medium using the adjusted write strategy. Accordingly, data quality during later reproduction is improved even though it is recorded onto a non-standard disk that is larger in capacity than the standard.

Abstract: A disc identification method and an apparatus for identifying a type of a disc placed in a disc reproducing system that can reproduced data from 2 or more types of discs by using both a first laser diode for a first optical medium (CD) type and a second laser diode for a second optical medium (DVD) type.

Abstract: An information storage medium has a logical space managed by a first file system, and the logical space has a space for storing a file used to designate a space area of a second file system, which is different from the first file system.

Abstract: There are provided an information recording medium, and a method and system for reading and writing information thereon, which make it possible to facilitate recording by rewriting in use of the rewritable DVD repeatedly by rewriting. When one piece of or a plurality of pieces of program data VRO having already been recorded in a real-time data recording area A3 is reproduced, history management information indicating that the program data has been reproduced is recorded in a predetermined management information recording area A2 of the rewritable DVD, corresponding to the aforementioned one piece of or the aforementioned plurality of pieces of the program information. Moreover, when other program data is recorded, the other program data is adapted to overwrite automatically the program data VRO, having been already recorded, corresponding to the history management information recorded in the management information recording area A2.

Abstract: A method is designed for recording contents information along a track of an optical disk of a writeable type. A volume detection step is carried out for detecting an actual volume of the contents information to be recorded into the optical disk. A capacity detection step is carried out for detecting a nominal capacity of the optical disk, which indicates a rated volume of information to be recorded at maximum. A density determination step is carried out for determining a recording density of the contents information based on the detected actual volume and the detected nominal capacity. A record step is carried out for recording the contents information into the optical disk at the determined recording density such that the actual volume of the contents information can fit into the nominal capacity of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a pickup for obtaining an information signal from reflected light when light is irradiated to and reflected on a successively writing type optical recording medium; an RF signal detector for obtaining an RF signal from a reflected light signal supplied from the pickup; a final recording unit extractor for extracting a final recording unit from RF signal, the final recording unit being contained in RF signal; a timer for measuring a period of time from a head of a data block right after the final recording unit to a point of time at which RF signal is not detected; a last time final recording position specifying section for specifying a last time final recording position; and a recording error judgment section for judging whether or not a recording error occurred last time.

Abstract: The information recording apparatus comprises, a vide/audio input block, a video/audio signal processing block, a recording/reproduction block, a system control block, decision means, a user input block, and a display block. The apparatus is connected to a battery and records/reproduces audio/video information onto/from a detachable recording medium. The decision means decides whether to perform finalization, thereby preventing to perform an undesirable finalization.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive apparatus which has a manual search function with improved operability. Upon manual search for information TNO(n+1) recorded on the outer periphery of a information write/read medium to information TNO(n) recorded on the inner periphery, there may be an gap (no sound) portion in the information between the outer and inner peripheries. In this case, the information is searched by the front-end position Pb on the outer periphery. Thereafter, no search is performed on the gap (no sound) portion through skipping from the front-end position Pb to the terminal end position Pc of the information TNO(n). Thus, only necessary information is continuously searched upon the manual search without searching the gap (no sound) portion which is not necessary for the user. Thus, the user is provided with improved operability.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus using an information recording medium, having: a unit for identifying and detecting a WO type information recording medium and a rewritable type information recording medium; a control unit for each of the WO type information recording medium and the rewritable type information recording medium; and a display apparatus for displaying a detection result of the detecting unit. In the video signal recording apparatus using the information recording medium, file management information to form a directory is recorded as intermediate information onto the information recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium, on which (i) a plurality of information groups each comprising one series of the record information and (ii) management information including positional information indicating a recorded area of each of the information groups are recordable, is provided with: a detecting device for detecting the management information, which is recorded in advance on the record medium, from the record medium; a recording device for newly recording the record information onto the record medium; an outputting device for outputting an identification information to identify the information groups, which are recorded in advance on the record medium, on the basis of the detected management information while the recording device is newly recording the record information; a specifying device for specifying an erasable information from among the information groups which are identified by the outputted identification information while the recordin

Abstract: An optical disc reproduction apparatus includes a sector detection section for detecting a sector; a sector reproduction time measuring section for measuring a reproduction time of the sector, and outputting sector reproduction time data which represents the measured reproduction time of the sector; an unrecorded portion detection section for detecting an unrecorded portion which is a portion of the sector in which no data is recorded; an unrecorded portion time measuring section for measuring a reproduction time of the unrecorded portion, and outputting unrecorded portion time data which represents the measured reproduction time of the unrecorded portion; and a sector determination section for determining whether the sector is an unrecorded sector or not, based on a relationship between the sector reproduction time data and the unrecorded portion time data, the unrecorded sector being a sector which is in an unrecorded state.

Abstract: A method is designed for recording data on a recordable area of an optical disk by irradiating thereto an optical beam having a writing power effective to write the data in the recordable area including a non-recorded area which is blank and a recorded area which is recorded with old data. The method is performed by the step of performing either of an initial writing operation or an overwriting operation for recording of new data on the optical disk, the initial writing operation irradiating the optical beam onto the non-recorded area to initially write the new data, the overwriting operation irradiating the optical beam onto the recorded area to write the new data over the old data, and the step of controlling to change the writing power of the optical beam between the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation so as to secure the recording of the new data in both of the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a tracking actuator, and determines when the tracking actuator is positioned off a formatted portion of optical media in the disc drive. The optical media includes a pitted premastered area that cannot be overwritten and a grooved user-writeable area that can be overwritten. Tracking control effort is monitored to determine when the tracking actuator is in the off-format condition and whether tracking good or tracking bad is detected within a predetermined time period. An absolute value of the tracking control effort is generated and the absolute value of the tracking control effort is filtered. An off-format condition is indicated if the filtered value of the tracking control effort is not within a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus using an information recording medium, having: a unit for identifying and detecting a WO type information recording medium and a rewritable type information recording medium; a control unit for each of the WO type information recording medium and the rewritable type information recording medium; and a display apparatus for displaying a detection result of the detecting unit. In the video signal recording apparatus using the information recording medium, file management information to form a directory is recorded as intermediate information onto the information recording medium.