Abstract: An optical disc writing condition determining method according to the present invention includes the steps of: performing a first test write operation at a low speed on an inner test track; setting condition A for performing a write operation at the low speed on the inner test track based on a result of the first test write operation; performing a second test write operation at the low speed on an outer test track; setting condition B for performing a write operation at the low speed on the outer test track based on a result of the second test write operation; performing a third test write operation at a high speed on the outer test track; setting condition C for performing a write operation at the high speed on the outer test track based on a result of the third test write operation; and calculating either a difference between the conditions A and B or a ratio of the condition B to the condition A and modifying the condition C based on the difference or the ratio, thereby determining writing condition D for

Abstract: A detection signal is asserted when a surface of an optical disc or an information recording layer is detected. An asserting (masking) time interval of the detection signal is set such that the number of times of asserting the detection signal becomes at most two times when a focal position of the objective lens passes at least the surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: On an information recording medium, an entire stream including a plurality of portion streams, each of which is provided with content information including still picture information, is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet. The information recording medium is provided with a file for storing object data, which is provided with a plurality of packets, each of which stores therein a piece of the content information. The information recording medium is further provided with a file for storing information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data. The object data includes packets, each packet storing therein a piece of respective one of still picture information sets, the still picture information set including still picture information and control information thereof. A display control to the still picture information included in one still picture information set is described by the control information included in another still picture information set.

Abstract: A write-once read-many information recording medium is provided, which is capable of easily searching for a latest DDS and a latest defect list. At least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in a predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium of the present invention. The latest defect list and the latest DDS are provided in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc management working area, where the latest defect list precedes the latest DDS in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An optical disc recording system includes a host apparatus configured to issue commands; and an optical disc recording apparatus configured to carry out a process corresponding to each of the commands, and to reply a response data to the command to the host apparatus. The host apparatus issues a record command as one of the commands to record a record data in an optical disc medium, and an optical disc recording apparatus records the record data in a data area in a predetermined format in response to the record command, wherein the optical disc comprises the data area and a first control data recording area. The optical disc recording apparatus additionally sets each of second control data recording areas in the data area in association with a command from the host apparatus as one of the commands, and a record status control data is recorded in the first or second control data recording area to indicate record status of the record data.

Abstract: An optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data in and from an optical disc by the use of the optical disc as a recording medium, comprises analog processing means including a binarization unit for subjecting a signal read from the optical disc to binarization and a servo unit for controlling recording and reproducing a signal in and from the optical disc; synchronous clock generating means for generating a synchronous clock signal which is synchronized with the signal read from the optical disc; address detecting means for detecting address information indicating a physical position on the optical disc based on the signal read from the optical disc, and outputting a signal indicating the address information and a signal indicating that the address has been detected when the address information has been detected; a sector counter for holding a sector count value of a sector as a recording unit on the optical disc, and updating the sector count value according to the sync

Abstract: On an information recording medium, a recording area is divided in a plurality of data areas, and data is recorded on each of the data areas. In response to a request for obtaining data management information concerning a recording of the data recorded on each of the data areas, a plurality of predetermined data areas among the foregoing data areas are regarded as a predetermined pseudo area, and the data management information including information concerning the predetermined pseudo area is obtained.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided an optical storage media recording/reproducing apparatus for calibrating an amount of light energy output by the recording/reproducing apparatus during a recording operation, the recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit to read unique property information from a writable optical disc inserted into the apparatus, which was pre-recorded on the disc during its manufacture; a controller to access stored data concerning optimum test writing parameters relevant to the recording/reproducing apparatus using the unique property information; and a recording unit to write test data on the disc in accordance with the accessed stored data concerning the optimum test writing parameters.

Abstract: An aberration correction apparatus includes an optical pickup having a liquid crystal panel for correcting an aberration of a light beam emitted from a light source and irradiated on a recording medium and a control unit which applies, to the liquid crystal panel, a bias voltage in order to correct the aberration. The bias voltage is a voltage at which a diffraction generated in the light beam passing through an electrode gap portion between electrode portions of the liquid crystal panel is minimum. For instance, the bias voltage is the voltage at which a phase difference between the light beam passing through the electrode portions of the liquid crystal panel and the light beam passing through the electrode gap portion is an integral multiple of a wavelength of the light beam. It is thereby possible to prevent unnecessary diffracted light from being generated by the liquid crystal panel for correcting the aberrations.

Abstract: In one embodiment the method includes reading speed information from a specific area of the recording medium. The speed information includes one or more speed flags to indicate whether a corresponding speed is applicable to the recording medium. A first speed flag for a first recording speed lower than a second recording speed is set to be dependent on a second speed flag for the second recording speed. Data is recorded on a main data area of the optical recording medium based on the read speed information.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for use with a reproduction-only optical information storage medium, including: a recording unit which records data on the reproduction-only optical information storage medium; and a controller which controls the recording unit to form, on the reproduction-only optical storage medium, a plurality of areas and at least one transition area. Each transition area is located between two adjacent areas. The transition area allows data to be smoothly reproduced from the reproduction-only optical information storage medium at a low error generation rate. Also, since the optical information storage medium provides standards for the transition area, it is compatible with existing optical information storage media.

Abstract: A data managing method for an optical disc drive writing user data into an optical disc having defects. The data managing method includes: determining whether to suspend a first buffering space from receiving the user data according to an amount of data stored in a second buffering space; when the first buffering space receives data corresponding to a defect of the optical disc, not suspending the first buffering space from reading the user data, and transferring the data corresponding to the defect in the first buffering space to a second buffering space; and when an amount of data stored in the second buffering space reaches a predetermined value, suspending the optical disc drive from writing data stored in the first buffering space into a user data area, and driving the optical disc drive to write data stored in the second buffering space into the spare area.

Abstract: At least a first recording layer (L0 layer) and a second recording layer (l,1 layer) are provided. In the first recording layer, a first recording track path (a groove: a guiding groove) is formed for recording recording information. The second recording layer is arranged on the first recording layer and has a second recording track path (a groove: a guiding groove) formed in an opposite direction to the first recording track path for recording recording information. On an edge part on one side of the second recording layer, a first buffer area (103-1) is previously formed as a pre-recording area by an embossed pit (in the case of DVD-RW) or by a pit formed by recording laser irradiation (in the case of DVD-R).

Abstract: A recordable optical information recording medium having an address t for each sector, comprises: an area A1 starting from an address t1 to which access is made only when a recording apparatus performs recording operation; an area A2 starting from an address t2 to which access is made either when the recording apparatus performs the recording operation or when the recording apparatus performs reproducing operation; and an area A3 starting from an address t3 to which access is made either when either the recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatus performs recording or when either the recording apparatus or the reproducing apparatus performs reproducing. The addresses t are set consecutively with respect to a physical arrangement of the sectors in each of the areas A2 and A3, and the area A1 has at least one inconsecutive part at which the addresses t are not consecutive with respect to the physical arrangement of the sectors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording and reproducing data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for recording management information on a writable recording medium, the recording medium including one or more temporary management areas being used in a designated order for storing therein temporary management information until the recording medium is closed and a final management area for storing therein final management information when the recording medium is to be closed, the apparatus comprising a pickup adapted for recording data on the recording medium and a microcomputer configured to control the pickup to record data onto a first indicator when closing the recording medium so as to indicate that the recording medium is closed, the first indicator located at the most front position of a first temporary management area being used first among the one or more temporary management areas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting a location of an optical pick-up head on an optical disk, and the optical disk comprises a plurality of sectors and the optical pick-up head emitting light to the optical disk and detected the reflected light from the optical disk. The system comprises: a signal generator, a counter, and a processing unit. The signal generator is coupled to the optical pick-up head for receiving a detecting signal from the optical pick-up head to generate a sector determined signal. The counter is coupled to the signal generator for receiving the sector determined signal and a period determined signal for counting a number according to the sector determined signal and the period determined signal; and a processing unit for receiving the number and calculating the location of the optical pick-up head accordingly.

Abstract: A method for determining optimal operating parameters for reading or writing a storage medium, with the consideration of failed experiment. In an embodiment of the invention, if one of a set of experiments, executed within pre-defined ranges with respect to two parameters, leads to an invalid characteristic measurement value, and the corresponding values of the two parameters occur substantially at ends of the respective ranges, at least one search operation is determined according to the failed experiment(s) and a new set of experiments is generated according to the previous set of experiments and the search operation to avoid the failed experiment(s). The new set of experiments can result in more reliable optimal operating parameters.

Abstract: A method for discriminating the operation type of a disk device uses an optical head carrying an objective lens. The gravity doesn't affect the control force of the optical head in the horizontal operation type, reduces the control force in a vertical operation type, and increases the control force in inverse operation type. Control forces based on various operation types forms different motion features of the optical head to discriminate the operation type. Damping characteristic parameters of each operation type of the optical head are previously determined by test first. The Control force is transported to the optical head, and the timer is reset. The displacement of the optical head is continuously detected till reaching a predetermined situation. The time of timer is read to compare with the threshold of each operation type for distinguishing the operation type.

Abstract: In a write once type optical disc, when ejecting the disc and turning power OFF, it is necessary to update record management data on the disc so that the record management data on the disc coincide with the record management data on the memory. Here, the update of the record management data on the disc requires a certain time. The present invention provides a user-friendly recording/reproduction apparatus including a unit for judging whether the disc record management information can be updated according to the ratio of the recorded capacity with respect to the recording-enabled capacity. Upon completion of the user data recording, the disc record management information is recorded so that the record management data is not updated when power is turned OFF or the disc is ejected, thereby reducing the time required for the power turning OFF and the disc ejection.

Abstract: An optical information medium includes a light-transmitting supporting substrate, an information recording layer on one surface of the supporting substrate, a protective layer on the information recording layer, and a light-transmitting hard coat layer on an other surface of the supporting substrate. The medium is configured to have a recording/reproducing beam incident into the information recording layer through the hard coat later and the supporting substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a type judgment device capable of rapidly and safely identifying the type of an optical disc while preventing unexpected information recording or information erase. An optical beam as parallel light is applied in a circular polarized state to an optical disc having recording tracks and the polarization characteristic in the reflected light is detected. According to the detected polarization characteristic, the type of the disc is judged in accordance with the interval of the adjacent recording tracks.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for detecting land pre-pits. The method can adaptively adjust a threshold for detecting the land pre-pits in order to improve the correctness of detecting. The method for detecting land pre-pits can include extracting a land pre-pit data stream from a reading signal based on a land pre-pit threshold, the reading signal corresponding to land pre-pits of an optical medium, comparing the land pre-pit data stream with format information of the optical medium to obtain an error signal, and adjusting the land pre-pit threshold based on the error signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling the record and reproduction of optical record medium in which plural non-record regions having different phase are arranged between recordable data regions for the distinction in the shape of the data region. The method and apparatus performs the servo using focus error signal and tracking error signal averaged by the low pass filter at the header region of the optical disc. Especially, the tracking servo is performed by holding a fixed DC off-set value at the header region existing on the L/G switching or holding the tracking error value of the previous same track region. As a result, the exact header region is detected, the track sliding phenomenon is removed, and the tracking servo is stabilized, resulting in preventing the degeneration of the record and reproduction characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording/reproducing data onto/from an information recording medium (101) is provided. The apparatus (1) comprises a section for reading first data from a first predetermined position in a data recording area of the medium, a section for determining whether or not the first data matches first type information indicating a type of a first predetermined file system, a section for executing a recording or reproduction process using the first predetermined file system when matching is positive, a section for reading second data from a second predetermined position of the data recording area when matching is negative, a section for determining whether or not the second data matches second type information indicating a type of a second predetermined file system different from that of the first predetermined file system, and a section for executing a recording or reproduction process using the second predetermined file system when matching is positive.

Abstract: This optical disk device includes an examination means which examines a first physical characteristic of an optical disk, and a servo means which starts servo control based upon that first physical characteristic. This optical disk device includes a read means which incorporates the examination means, and which reads type information from the optical disk under that servo control based upon the first physical characteristic. This optical disk device includes a control means which decides whether or not a second physical characteristic of the optical disk, which is determined as a standard for the type of type information read, and the first physical characteristic, agree with one another. And, if the control means has decided that these two physical characteristics do not agree with one another, it commands the read means to read replay data from the optical disk, under that servo control based upon the first physical characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of configuring and recording control information on an optical disc, thereby enabling to facilitate to utilize the specified control information and to efficiently cope with the recording/reproducing of the optical discs. In configuring a control information within a disc management area of a read-only or recordable disc, the present invention includes configuring the control information with a common field recording an information commonly applied to both of the read-only and recordable discs and a specific field recording an information failing to be commonly applied to at least one disc type.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method of providing a WORM storage system, the method including a sector-append capability. The method includes receiving data to be written to a WORM storage system. In addition, the method includes identifying a target sector at which the data is to be written. Also, the method includes determining if the received data can be added to the target sector. Moreover, the method includes adding the received data to the target sector if it is determined that the received data can be added to the target sector.

Abstract: An optical pick-up capable of reproducing information excellently on both CD and DVD, which are significantly different in terms of three kinds of factors, a base material thickness, a wavelength of a light source, and NA, and detecting TE signals by three kinds of methods, that is, the phase difference method, the PP method, and the 3-beam method, which are necessary to record and reproduce information. The optical pick-up is formed by integrating laser light sources having two kinds of wavelengths (?1, ?2) for detecting TE signals; photodetectors, and hologram for generating the diffracted light for detecting signals. The distance d1 between the center of the photo detecting portion PD0 and the light emitting spot of the first semiconductor laser light source and a distance d2 between the center of the photo detecting portion PD0 and the light emitting spot of the second semiconductor laser light source substantially satisfy the following relationship: ?1/?2=d1/d2.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus has a recording control section for multiplex-recording data in one of recording unit regions of a holographic recording medium; a reproducing control section for selectively reproducing the data multiplex-recorded in the recording unit region; a measuring section for causing specific data to be recorded in a recording unit region A to measure a maximum multiplex-recordable number N of the region A; a multiplicity setting section for setting (i) a multiplex-recording number M (M<N) of data to be recorded in the region A and (ii) a multiplex-recording number (N?M) of a buffer region of the region A, by using the maximum multiplex-recordable number N; and a storage section for storing the number N and the number M. When data B is to be recorded in the region A beyond multiplex-recording number M, the recording control section multiplex-records page data B in the buffer region of the region A within the range of the maximum multiplex-recordable number N.

Abstract: A recording method for recording, on a write once type information recording medium, management information representing a recording state of the write once type information recording medium is provided. The information recording medium includes data including a first synchronization signal. The information recording medium has a second synchronization signal pre-recorded by cutting. The recording method includes the steps of (a) performing a recording operation for recording the management information at a predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the first synchronization signal; (b) determining whether the recording operation in step (a) is normally terminated or not; and (c) when the recording operation in step (a) is not normally terminated, performing a recording operation for recording the management information at the predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the second synchronization signal.

Abstract: A recording parameter setting device includes a trial recording parameter setting section (23) and a reproduced signal quality judging section (26). The trial recording parameter setting section (23) inquires, in accordance with the recording information, a storage section (3) containing recording parameters used for controlling heat of recording marks, and sets a trial recording parameter, wherein (a) the recording parameters are used for controlling heat of at least rear edges, (b) the recording parameters are classified in accordance with recording mark lengths, and (c) recording parameters of a predetermined recording mark length or longer are classified into a same group. The reproduced signal quality judging section (26) judges whether or not a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of the trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality.

Abstract: A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or read-only recording medium, such as BD-ROM, capable of preventing unauthorized duplication of data streams, written thereon, onto another medium, such as a BD-RE or BD-R, which includes physical mark information, and to methods and apparatuses for forming, recording, reproducing, and restricting playback of the recording medium to prevent unauthorized duplication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of writing data to a disc (OD). The method comprising a) performing a writing action in which a first data portion is written to the disc; a2) deciding to perform b) or not and b) verifying at least part of the first data portion that is written to the disc and deciding to replace the first data portion that is written to the disc or not. Finally the method comprises c) performing a further writing action in which a second data portion is written to the disc.

Abstract: An aberration correction apparatus includes an optical pickup having a liquid crystal panel which gives a phase difference to a light beam emitted from a light source unit and irradiated onto a recording medium and corrects an aberration occurring to the light beam by a tilt of the recording medium, and a control unit which applies, to the liquid crystal panel, a correction voltage correspondent to an amount of the aberration in reference to a bias voltage. The bias voltage is set for each of the recording mediums so that the correction voltage applied for correcting the aberration of the same amount caused by the disc tilt becomes equal for different kinds of recording mediums. Namely, even when the plural kinds of recording mediums are used, if the disc tilt angles are same, the aberration can be corrected by applying the same correction voltage.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a detecting device (11) for irradiating an information recording medium with laser light (LB) and detecting reflected light as a detection signal, the information recording medium including a first recording layer (L0) and a second recording layer (L1); a high pass filter (14) for performing a filtering process on the detected detection signal; and a reproducing device (15, 16) for performing a reproduction process of the filtered detection signal to reproduce the data, the high pass filter attenuates a fluctuation component of the detection signal, caused by a relative eccentricity between the first recording layer and the second recording layer, by a first attenuation amount (34 dB) or more.

Abstract: Data is recorded on an optical disc using a combination of a user data area where user data is recorded, a control data area for reproduction provided on an inner radius side of the user data area, and an outer guard zone provided on an outer radius side of the user data area as a unit of one recording operation. In this configuration, a track pitch TP of the optical disc is greater than or equal to 0.3 ?m and smaller than or equal to 0.4 ?m, and the width of the outer guard zone along a radius direction of the optical disc is greater than or equal to a value of (100×TP) and smaller than or equal to a value of (125×TP).

Abstract: Methods are provided to monitor and report performance data of a device such as a data storage drive. A plurality of quantitative values are obtained from feedback and measurement mechanisms in a data storage device of a first model during operation of the storage device. The plurality of quantitative values are normalized. Then, one or more qualitative values are generated from one or more normalized quantitative values and evaluated against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.

Abstract: An information reproduction device according to the present invention is a device for accessing a recording medium having first address information and second address information recorded thereon. The first address information is represented by a shape formed on the recording medium in advance; and the second address information is recorded on the recording medium together with data. The information reproduction device includes a head section for accessing the recording medium to generate a reproduction signal; a first detection section for detecting the first address information from the reproduction signal; a second detection section for detecting the second address information from the reproduction signal; and a control section for, based on a detection result of either the first detection section or the second detection section which detected the address information first, controlling an access after the detection to the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical disc of this invention is configured to be capable of dealing with both information in HD DVD and information in DVD.

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

Abstract: An information processing device (225) is a device for processing specific information recorded to a recording medium (100), and has a characteristic identification unit (204) and a processing unit (226). The characteristic identification unit (204) identifies the reflection characteristic of the recording medium (100). The processing unit (226) processes the specific information recorded to the recording medium (100) according to the identified reflection characteristic. The reflection characteristic is either a first characteristic such that the reflectance of light reflected by a recorded region of the recording medium (100) (referred to as first reflectance) is greater than the reflectance of light reflected by an unrecorded region of the recording medium (100) (referred to as second reflectance), or a second characteristic such that the first reflectance is less than the second reflectance.

Abstract: An optical disk drive of recording a re-writable optical disk and the method thereof. First, an optimum power is determined. A gain of a SBAD (Sub Beam Adder) signal is adjusted for generating an calibrated SBAD signal such that the calibrated SBAD signal maintains at the same level during a write power phase and a read power phase substantially. Then, the re-writable optical disk is recorded by using the optimum power. Next, a defect of the re-writable optical disk is detected according to the calibrated SBAD signal. Then, the optical disk drive will jump over the defect and prevent it from being data-recorded so as to avoid system malfunction.

Abstract: A device enabling simple detection of a recording medium placed on a tray includes at least two electrodes arranged on the tray, an electric field sensor connected to the electrodes, and a control circuit connected to the electric field sensor. The electric field sensor detects capacitance in accordance with the distance between the electrodes relative to the recording medium placed on the tray. The control circuit determines the recording media type of the recording medium based on the capacitance detected by the electric field sensor.

Abstract: This invention is a recording medium recording method for an optical disc or the like. Every time one VTS is prepared, padding processing is executed to secure a recording area for new TMP_VMGI following that VTS and for VTSI and VTSM VOBS of the subsequent title. As, every time one VTS is prepared, new TMP_VMGI following that VTS is recorded, TMP_VMGI is recorded at the position that is added to the number of VTSs. Therefore, even when the management information becomes unreadable because of update exceeding the rewriting durability of the medium with respect to the recording area of TMP_VMGI on the innermost side, the management information can be read from TMP_VMGI recorded in the other recording areas and the finalizing processing can be executed.

Abstract: A recording method for recording, on a write once type information recording medium, management information representing a recording state of the write once type information recording medium is provided. The information recording medium includes data including a first synchronization signal. The information recording medium has a second synchronization signal pre-recorded by cutting. The recording method includes the steps of (a) performing a recording operation for recording the management information at a predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the first synchronization signal; (b) determining whether the recording operation in step (a) is normally terminated or not; and (c) when the recording operation in step (a) is not normally terminated, performing a recording operation for recording the management information at the predetermined position of the information recording medium based on the second synchronization signal.

Abstract: One embodiment includes providing control information, wherein the control information includes one or more recording speed flags indicating respectively whether one or more recording speeds are applicable to each of the recording layers. The control information also includes write strategy information depending on each of the applicable recording speeds, and the control information is recorded on a specific area of the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus outputs a loading time of a recording medium through a display to inform a user of the loading time, and a control method thereof. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a calculation unit to calculate loading time of a recording medium when the recording medium is inserted into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and an output unit to output the calculated loading time to a display.

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

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reading apparatus and to a corresponding reading method for reading data from, and detecting cracks in, an optical record carrier (10).

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for retrieving data from rotating media such as an optical disk, and storing that data in an image file or files which contain not only the data but also physical information about the media, including the angular location of each data sector along the rotating media's spiral track. The image file or files can then be copied onto a variety of diverse media, including semiconductor media (RAM, ROM, etc.), a hard disk residing on a computer, optical or magnetic media (CD-ROM, DVD, BD-ROM, HD-DVD, floppies, etc.), and the like.