Abstract: Formatting is applied only to a local area which is a part of the entire recordable area of a rewritable disk and which does not include portions where a lead-in area and a lead-out area are to be formed. In other words, only the required minimum area is formatted. The formatted area is extended afterwards as required. Thus, disk formatting is shortened.

Abstract: A method and device are described for writing an optical record carrier, in which a mark representing recorded data is written in a phase change layer of a record carrier by a sequence of radiation pulses. A trailing power level (t) having a value higher than the erase power level (e) is introduced after a last write pulse 3 in a sequence. Additionally, the power level of the last write pulse 3 in a sequence may be raised. This results in a reduced jitter of the marks written, especially when writing at high recording speeds.

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 disc having a power calibration area for calibrating the power of a data recording laser beam. The power calibration area is provided at an inner peripheral part of the disc and has test areas and count areas. The test areas are provided to accomplish trial writing of data, and the count areas are provided to record data representing the use condition of the test areas. Data is recorded on the optical disc, while calibrating the data recording laser beam. The number of the test areas is increased in accordance with an increase in the recording density of the optical disc. The optical disc may be a double-density CD. In this case, the disc has 800 to 1200 test areas. The test areas have the smallest possible size, and the count areas are provided in the smallest possible number. Therefore, the disc can have sufficiently large data regions. Thus, the power of the data recording laser beam can be therefore adjusted many times.

Abstract: An optical pickup has a light source for generating a laser light, an objective lens for condensing the laser light to form a light spot so as to irradiate an optical disk formed of a substrate and having a pair of major surfaces spaced from each other by a thickness of the substrate and a recording face interposed between the major surfaces, and an actuator for moving the objective lens in a direction of the thickness of the optical disk within a total movable range so as to focus the light spot on either one of the recording face and the major surface. The total movable range of the objective lens is set to be equal to or more than a sum of an allowance range and an additional range. The allowance range is set to allow the objective lens to keep a constant distance between the objective lens and the recording face even when a level of the optical disk varies in the direction of the thickness.

Abstract: A method of detecting a type of optical disc according to the rotation speed of a spindle motor loading the optical disc. First, the spindle motor is driven with a signal having a predetermined waveform. Next, the rotation speed of the spindle motor is detected by a Hall sensor and compared with a first predetermined rotation speed and a second predetermined rotation speed. When the detected rotation speed is faster than the first predetermined rotation speed, it is determined that there is no optical disc on the spindle motor, and it is determined that there is a mini-type optical disc on the spindle motor when the detected rotation speed is between the first predetermined rotation speed and the second predetermined rotation speed, and a normal-type optical disc is determined when the detected rotation speed is slower than the second predetermined rotation speed.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether a disk is positioned upside down inside an optical disk player. According to this method, a disk is loaded into an optical disk player, and then a laser beam is emitted that travels via a focusing device in the optical disk player to the loaded disk. Then, the focusing device is moved from a first position to a second position. While the focusing device is being moved from the first position to the second position, the variation in the intensity of the laser beam that is reflected by the disk is continuously recorded to produce a distribution curve of the intensity of the reflected laser beam. Thereafter, the method determines whether the disk is upside down based on the obtained distribution curve.

Abstract: An optical disc drive which is capable of easily and reliably recording information onto and/or playing back information recorded on various types of optical discs having different reflectances is disclosed. The optical disc drive has a rotational drive mechanism for rotating the optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive; an optical pick-up which includes an objective lens, an actuator, a laser diode and a split photodiode; an optical pick-up moving mechanism; a control means; an RF amplifier IC; a servo processor; a decoder; a memory; and a casing for housing all these elements. After moving a disc tray to the loaded position, the optical disc forces the objective lens to move in the optical axis direction to generate a focus error signal. Then, after calculating an amplitude of the generated focus error signal, the optical disc drive discriminates the presence or absence of an optical disc and the disc type of the optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive.

Abstract: A method of eliminating home-in noise of an optical disc drive without a home limit switch and using a variable step counter, includes: resetting the variable step counter, which counts steps of a stepping motor of an optical pickup, to zero regardless of a position of the optical pickup, when power is applied to the optical disc drive; driving a servomechanism at the position of the optical pickup and then reading a sub-code value of the optical disc to confirm a current position of the optical pickup; calculating a number of tracks from the current position of the optical pickup to a home position and converting the number of tracks into a step counter value to obtain a step counter value of the home position; and moving the optical pickup to the home position through an access operation. The step counter value of the home position is an integer varying depending on the position of the optical pickup when power is applied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a type of a disc in a disc drive system includes measuring an elapsed time between when a disc tray is in an open state and when it completely closes, comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined reference value, and determining whether the disc is a cartridge-type or a general-type based on the comparison result.

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: A code judging apparatus is provided with: a detecting device (11) for optically detecting an information code including at least identification information to individually identify a writable record medium (DK), in which record information can be written, from the writable record medium to thereby output an output signal; a moving device (19) for moving the detecting device onto a set area, which is an area on the writable record medium where the information code is supposed to be recorded; and a judging device (19) for judging whether or not the information code is recorded on the writable record medium, in accordance with the output signal outputted from the detecting device moved on the set area.

Abstract: A laser diode drive circuit for an optical disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a plurality of laser diodes to output laser beams having different wavelengths, a switch circuit for selectively connecting a required laser diode from a plurality of laser diodes, a laser diode drive power supply circuit for driving the laser diode selectively connected by the switch circuit, a photodiode for detecting at least part of laser beams emitted from the laser diode to convert a detected part of laser beams into an electrical signal, a plurality of current-to-voltage conversion amplifiers connected to an output of the photodiode and whose conversion resistance values can be adjusted and having differently designed center conversion resistance values and an automatic power control circuit connected to outputs of the current-to-voltage conversion amplifiers to output a feedback signal to the laser diode drive power supply circuit.

Abstract: A guide flap is a member shaped like substantially a plate, and a pair of disk guide parts are formed on both sides of the guide flap. The respective inside portions of the disk guide parts form disk contact portions that abut against the outer peripheral surface of a disk and support the disk. The disk contact portion is formed in an uneven shape having a plurality of grooves extending in the direction of thickness of the disk.

Abstract: An optical detector for detecting at least three optical beams reflected by an optical information recording medium and outputting an electric signal, the optical detector having three light receiving areas each of which receives a respective one of the three optical beams and each of which has four light receiving surfaces, twelve signal lines to transmit an electric signal obtained on respective ones of the four light receiving surfaces of the three light receiving areas, selected ones of the twelve signal lines connected to the four light receiving surfaces of different ones of the three light receiving areas being joined together within the optical detector, and less than nine signal output lines formed by joining the selected ones of the twelve signal lines extend from the optical detector to a signal processing circuit.

Abstract: This invention provides an information recording medium, and a method and apparatus for writing to/reading from a recording medium in which a starting point of a spare area is variable relative to a starting point of a data area. Information concerning a variable boundary between the data area and the spare area is stored on the recording medium. A method and apparatus for writing/reproducing data to/from the recording medium is also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the recording medium is an optical disc.

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 disc conveying apparatus includes a first conveyor unit having a plurality of rollers which are arranged along a conveying path of a disc-shaped recording medium with gaps therebetween, which move in a direction away from the conveying path and rotate individually, and which convey the disc-shaped recording medium by successively rolling on a peripheral surface of the disc-shaped recording medium to pass the disc-shaped recording medium from one to another, a second conveyor unit which faces the first conveyor unit across the disc-shaped recording medium being conveyed, which is oriented along the conveying path, and which retains the disc-shaped recording medium between the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit, and a control unit which detects the position of the disc-shaped recording medium and controls the rotation of the rollers on the basis of the movement of the rollers in the direction away from the conveying path.

Abstract: On an information record medium (10, 11), record information can be recorded one time or a plurality of times by a predetermined record format. An apparatus for manufacturing the information record medium by using a stamper (27, 28) is provided with an embossed pit array forming device (20 to 26, 50) for forming on the stamper as an embossed pit array, pre-record data (SFi) which is a predetermined data row to disable overwriting on the record information in a pre-record area, which is set in advance in a range including an area (13c) assigned to information required to control a reproduction of the record information, which is recorded by the predetermined record format.

Abstract: A recording medium having a spare area for defect management, and a method and apparatus for allocating and assigning the spare area. A plurality of zones are formed as one group without prescribing the relationship between a zone and a group. Spare areas include a spare area for slipping replacement and a spare area for linear replacement. The spare are for slipping replacement is first allocated, and the spare area for linear replacement is allocated according to the size of an area remaining after the spare area for slipping replacement is used and the purpose for which a disc is used. When the spare area for linear replacement becomes deficient during use of the disc, a supplementary spare area for linear replacement is allocated in sequence from the rearmost of a logical file area, such that the spare area can be more flexibly and effectively allocated.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is adapted to read information signals from optical recording media of two different types such as a “DVD” and a “CD” for which two light beams with different wavelengths are used and comprises a photodetector having a single light receiving section that can be shared by optical recording media of two different types. Both the light beam reflected from the signal recording surface of the “DVD” 106a and the light beam reflected from the signal recording surface of the “CD” 106b are diffracted by the diffraction element 6 and focussed to a same spot on the light receiving surface of the photodiode of a photodetector 7.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes: a light source for emitting a first light beam having a predetermined light power Ppre; a determination section for determining the number of recording layers included in the information recording medium; a light beam transmission adjustment section for adjusting the quantity of the first light beam transmitted therethrough; and a light condensing section for condensing the first light beam on the information recording medium. When the information recording medium has one recording layer, the adjustment section adjusts the predetermined light power Ppre so as to be a first light power P1. When the information recording medium has two recording layers, the adjustment section adjusts the predetermined light power Ppre so as to be a second light power P2. The predetermined light power Ppre, the first light power P1, and the second light power P2 satisfy the relationship of P1<P2≦Ppre.

Abstract: An optical disk recording apparatus for recording information onto a write-once or erasable optical disk has a memory component including a table of prerecorded correction curves consisting of recording power correction values corresponding to radial positions for each type of a variety of different optical disks, a correction component for correcting the recording power in an optimum power control operation (OPC) operation using the appropriate correction value, and a recording component for recording information onto the optical disk using the corrected recording power.

Abstract: A read retry of an MSR medium is executed while changing a setting of a reproducing magnetic field. Parameter set values of a successful read retry are stored as statistic information. When changes of the set values for defaults increase, the defaults are updated. The parameter set information of a retry success is stored as statistic information. In a new read retry, the parameter set information of a high success ratio is selected from the statistic information and the retry is executed.

Abstract: A disc drive apparatus using a disc-like recording medium includes a casing, a substrate, two LED, a light guiding member, a white print portion, and a motor. The light guiding member is arranged adjacent to the two LED on the substrate for guiding light emitted from LED. The white print portion is positioned in a light emitting direction of LED, and formed on a surface of the substrate positioned below the light guiding member. The motor is arranged adjacent to the light guiding member and the white print portion on the substrate. The light guiding member is provided with a satin finish at a surface of a portion facing to the LED. The front panel includes a protrusion protruding below a portion that is farthest from the LED in a portion adjacent to a light emitting indication portion of the light guiding member.

Abstract: An information recording method has; a history determination step for determining whether or not a medium being cased and capable of being used for information recording and reproduction has previously been taken out from the case by using an identification section having historical information as to whether the medium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and a verification step for verifying correctness of information recorded always or on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied when a result of the determination shows that the medium has previously been taken out from the case.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of reducing a program selection time in an optical disc multi-changer by determining whether a disc is mounted on a disc mounting unit before it is determined whether the disc is chucked and a type of the disc is discriminated. The method of operating the optical disc multi-changer having a tray with disc mounting units, includes receiving a signal to determine whether a disc is mounted on a current disc mounting unit of the disc mounting units, outputting a command signal to move to a next disc mounting unit of the disc mounting units where the received signal indicates that no disc is mounted on the current disc mounting unit, and receiving a program selection signal where the received signal is received from all disc mounting units. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a program selection time by determining whether the disc is mounted on the disc mounting unit before the disc chucking and discrimination of the type of the disc are performed.

Abstract: The invention provides a data recording medium and a data recording apparatus which are large in recording capacity and comparatively low in cost and secures protection of recorded information. The data recording medium has a data recording area, in which quantitative limitation information of a number of pieces of information grasped based on an information identification code regarding information to be recorded is recorded in advance.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes an inorganic film which changes an intensity or an intensity distribution of light formed on an upper surface of a board, and a recording film, a protecting film, and a reflecting film formed on an upper portion of the inorganic film. The inorganic film is constructed by N (N is an integer of 2 or more) kinds of phases, the phases of the kinds within a range from at least one or more kinds to (N−1) kinds among the N kinds of phases are continuous phases, and the other phases are discontinuous phases. Information, consequently, may be written in high density.

Abstract: The recording medium of this invention is recorded with a plurality of digital data and a plurality of reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of the plurality of digital data, wherein the plurality of reproduction path information includes first reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of all of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium and second reproduction path information defining a reproduction order of at least one of the plurality of digital data recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: A disc detection apparatus for a slot-in optical disc drive. The apparatus includes a body, a light emitting device, a rolling unit, and a light receiving device. The light emitting device is disposed on the body, as is the rolling unit. The light receiving device is disposed on the rolling unit, wherein the light receiving device and the rolling unit are integral, conserving considerable deployment space.

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: Write-once read-many disks have a directory for file management in every session and files existing in other sessions can be managed in this directory. For write-once read-many disks for music use, however, there is no directory for file management and it has been impossible to access a session and reproduce music in other session. The present invention enables music CDs to take full advantage of multisession recording and realizes multisession-formatted music CDs wherein TOCs (Table of Contents) are recorded in the lead-in areas of the multiple sessions, each TOC in which the information for managing pieces of music (tracks) in other sessions has been registered.

Abstract: An information recording-reproducing apparatus includes carrier rollers 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 are arranged in the carriage path at an interval smaller than a diameter of the small diameter disc. The first optical detector and the side switch are arranged at an interval larger than the diameter of the small diameter disc, while the second optical detector and the side switch 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 and the side switch.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for driving an optical recording medium for recording and/or reproducing various information for the optical recording medium, in which the output power ratio of the light source may be reduced for recording and reproduction, for optical recording media of different sorts, or for respective recording surfaces of a multi-layered optical recording medium, so that optimum characteristics may be realized even with use of an easy-to-fabricate light source or a light source with a smaller light output rating.

Abstract: A recorded medium reproducing apparatus that is capable of loading a plurality of various types of recorded media, and is such that it is possible to simultaneously display, in an easy-to-understand form for the user, for each recorded-medium accommodating unit whether or not it contains a recorded medium, and the type of recorded medium accommodated.

Abstract: A CD-ROM drive has a disk tray ejectable from a data transfer position within a casing, where the disk is read, to a load/unload position outside the casing where the disk is loaded on and unloaded from the tray. Being locked in the data transfer position against the bias of an ejector spring, the tray is ejected by being unlocked by brief energization of a solenoid under the direction of a controller. The solenoid might overheat to self-destruction if, upon malfunctioning of the controller, it were left energized after tray ejection. A protection circuit is therefore provided for permitting a solenoid driver circuit to energize the solenoid in response to an ejection command from the controller only when the tray is in the data transfer position.

Abstract: A method for formatting an optic disk by an optic disk drive is disclosed. The optic disk drive includes a control unit having operation keys. The method includes the steps of (a) initiating a formatting operation; (b) setting the optic disk drive to a busy condition; (c) checking if the optic disk is a blank CD-RW disk and going to step (g) if the optic disk is a blank CD-RW disk otherwise going to step (d); (d) checking if the optic disk is a UDF disk and issuing a warning and ending the operation if the optic disk is not a UDF disk otherwise going to step (e); (e) performing a quick formatting operation and writing label in UDF file system of the formatted optic disk; (f) Ending the formatting operation; (g) performing a complete formatting operation and writing label in the UDF file system of the formatted optic disk; and (h) ending the formatting operation. No computer is needed in performing the optic disk formatting operation.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a program data reading-out device, a classification information storage device, a program data storage device and a controlling device. The program data reading-out device reads out program data from a recording medium. The program data and identification information for identifying the program data are recorded on the medium. The classification information storage device previously holds classification information for classifying the program data in association with the identification information. In the program data storage device, the program data can be written in and read out.

Abstract: A laser drive circuit includes a first current supply unit which supplies a first drive current to a first laser diode based on a drive waveform signal generated by a drive waveform generating unit, a second current supply unit which supplies a second drive current to a second laser diode based on the drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit, and a switching unit which selectively supplies the drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit to one of the first current supply unit and the second current supply unit. The drive waveform generating unit may be part of the laser drive circuit, or may be separate from the laser drive circuit, and may include a drive waveform information storage unit which stores a recording strategy according to a type of disk.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning of a first, second and third type of optical record carrier with radiation of a first wavelength &lgr;1, a second wavelength &lgr;2 and a third wavelength &lgr;3, respectively, where the three wavelengths are substantially different.

Abstract: An optical disc for recording data and having a recording area subdivided into coaxial annular zones with circular or spiral tracks. Each track within one of the zones is arranged for storing a same predetermined amount of data, and the first track of each zone stores an amount of data proportional to the radial position, resulting on average in a substantially constant density, the so called CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) density. The tracks include periodic characteristics, e.g. a wobble, which are radially aligned within each one of the zones, the periodicity indicating the track recording density for the track concerned. Hence, the data recording and reading speed can be synchronized to the periodic characteristics, whereas any cross-talk of the periodic characteristics of neighboring tracks is avoided.

Abstract: A plurality type of adjustment data groups are stored in a memory for each of a plurality of adjustment items for adjusting a record signal waveform. The adjustment data group for each adjustment item is selected in accordance with identification information preset in accordance with a disk type and a record velocity magnification factor. The selected adjustment data groups are combined to form a record strategy. The record signal waveform is adjusted in accordance with the formed record strategy to record the record signal in an optical disk. It is possible to reduce the amount of adjustment data for the record signal waveform to be stored in the memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical disk having data duplication prevention function, a method of authenticating such optical disk, and a method of fabricating such optical disk discriminated from a duplicated disk. For the optical disk, a prescribed field of subcode data, which is obtained from data recorded in a program area, is set to a value in such a manner that the value is different from that in the corresponding field of table-of-content data which is recorded in a lead-in area. Or reproduction control information associated with data recorded in a prescribed region in the program area is recorded in the reverse order. Depending on the existence of these unusual data patterns, the optical disk is judged as a legitimate production or an illegal production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for raising the success rate for compact disc (CD) recording. The method includes (1) obtaining a set of parameters of the type of CD, the set of parameters are fed to the CD burner for the recording setting, and (2) adding the set of parameters to the CD burner for future recording. With present invention, the CD burner can be used to record on CDs from different suppliers for quality results.

Abstract: When a microcomputer 24 recognizes a CD-ROM, path data of MP3 files of a minimum required amount are recorded from a path table into a memory 23, and corresponding MP3 files are read out from the CD-ROM to be reproduced. When the recorded amount of a buffer memory 27 reaches a predetermined amount, writing into the buffer memory 27 is stopped, and remaining path data which is not yet recorded are recorded into the memory 23. The time period required for starting reproduction of MP3 data can be shortened, and the seek velocity of a pickup 16 can be improved.

Abstract: This apparatus (1) notably comprises a writing device (3) for writing data available at a terminal (5). As optical discs have write characteristics, the write pulses representing the data to be stored have different forms. Thus these various pulses are put in a read/write memory (30) fed via a database (35). Writing on an optical disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information disc-recording/playback apparatus which includes a track cross detection means (112), a track cross direction detection means (113), a rotation angle detection means (114), and a count means (115), detects the track pitch of a disc, evaluates the vibration amount, or vibration speed, or vibration acceleration considering the track pitch of the disc, and determines a maximum rotation speed that is lower than the allowable vibration amplitude, vibration speed, or vibration acceleration of the information disc recording/playback apparatus; as well as a vibration detection method for the information disc recording/playback apparatus.

Abstract: An information recording method has; a history determination step for determining whether or not a medium being cased and capable of being used for information recording and reproduction has previously been taken out from the case by using an identification section having historical information as to whether the medium has previously been taken out from the case or not; and a verification step for verifying correctness of information recorded always or on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied when a result of the determination shows that the medium has previously been taken out from the case.

Abstract: An objective lens in which a first wavelength is used in reading a first optical disk, a second wavelength is used in recording or reading a second optical disk, and a phase shifter provided with annular step portions having a center coincident with an optical axis is formed in a single surface of the objective lens, the phase shifter producing a phase difference with respect to light having the first wavelength and light having the second wavelength, is presented. The objective lens can read well both a CD and a DVD.