Abstract: An adaptive equalization circuit (105) operates for PR-equalization of the reproduced signal that is subjected to an A/D conversion by an A/D converter (103) and shaped by a waveform shaping circuit (104). An ideal-waveform generation circuit (110) generates an ideal waveform that corresponds to the reproduced signal that is binarized by a Viterbi-decoding circuit (108). A mark-length/space-length calculation circuit (112) calculates the actual mark length/space length relative to the mark length/space length to be formed, based on the equalization error that arises when the ideal waveform assumes a central reference level as calculated by an equalization-error calculation circuit (111) and the intervals of polarity inversions of binarized data detected by a 0-cross detection circuit (109). A system controller (114) adjusts the edge shift quantity of the recording waveform when forming a mark based on the calculated mark length/space length.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup for outputting an output signal according to reflected light from an optical disc medium, measures a level of a reflected signal corresponding to reflected light from a medium surface prior to reading of information recorded on the medium, predicts, based on the measured level of the reflected signal, whether or not the reflected signal from the medium surface will satisfy a predetermined detection condition when a focus state is to be detected, and uses a result of the predicting to detect a state where the output signal satisfies the predetermined detection condition as a state where a focus of an objective lens included in the optical pickup is on a signal surface of the medium while relatively moving the objective lens with respect to the medium surface when the information recorded on the medium is to be read therefrom.

Abstract: A pre-pit signal generating device includes: a first slicer for generating a sliced signal corresponding to a push-pull signal based on a first reference level; a duty ratio controller coupled to the first slicer for adjusting the first reference level or the push-pull signal to control a duty ratio of the sliced signal to a predetermined ratio; a reference level generator coupled to the duty ratio controller for generating a second reference level corresponding to the first reference level; and a second slicer coupled to the reference level generator for generating a first pre-pit signal corresponding to the push-pull signal based on the second reference level.

Abstract: A recording apparatus and control method for recording additional data in a space block are provided. The recording operation is terminated if a corresponding space block is full when the additional recording is performed. A space area management method according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of generating space area information, updating the generated space area information for every recording/erasing, and storing the updated space area information in a disc according to a prescribed command.

Abstract: The invention relates to video player devices intended to play a video content DSC including audio tracks forming a disc audio languages list DAL and/or subtitles forming a disc subtitle languages list DSL, in a given number of languages. According to the invention, said device comprises a user interface UIA enabling the user to define a list of interesting languages UPL and a memory MEM to store the list of interesting languages UPL. Said device can then generate a dynamic menu ATL, STL intended to be displayed by filtering of the languages list DAL, DSL of the audio tracks present on the disc in accordance with the list of interesting languages UPL. Said dynamic menu ATL, STL is such that languages of the list of interesting languages UPL have priority in the dynamic menu ATL, STL. The invention enables the user to make an easier choice of a language for video content including audio tracks and/or subtitles in many different languages.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes a pickup head configured to record and read data on and from an optical disk, and a recording/reproducing circuit such as a RF amplifier. The optical disk device also includes a control section configured to determine whether or not recording of data by the pickup head is normal and exercises control for predetermined instructions to be given to the pickup head based on the result of determination. If it is determined that the recording by the pickup head is erroneous, the control section carries out a control process such as to stop recording and then resume recording at a position moved a predetermined amount from an error position at which the pickup head has stopped recording.

Abstract: A controller calculates a modulation degree of an RF signal provided from a signal processor, and supplies a record power that exhibits the calculated modulation degree matching with a target modulation degree as an optimum record power to a laser driver. More specifically, a modulation degree measuring portion measures the modulation degree of a signal of a predetermined frequency among the RF signals, e.g., a signal of 11T among signals of 3T-11T. The modulation degree measuring portion measures the modulation degree for each record power in OPC. The power determining portion determines a target record power such that the modulation degree measured by the modulation degree measuring portion attains the target modulation degree set by an OPC executing portion.

Abstract: In the data structure for managing reproduction of graphic information, first graphic information is stored multiplexed with main data in a first clip file and second graphic information is stored in a second clip file separate from the first clip file.

Abstract: A recording medium having a data structure for managing additional content data of main data recorded thereon in accordance with the present invention comprises a data area storing at least one clip file including main data and/or additional content data of the main data; and a navigation area storing a clip information file including information to indicate whether the clip file includes additional content data.

Abstract: In an optical disk apparatus, when the write-in process to the optical disk is interrupted, a data processing part and an encoder part are set to be in the waiting state after an access to a data storing part is completed, so as to stop accessing the data storing part and also to stop storing data that is to be written. Thus, the interleave can be managed and the DSV calculation can be properly conducted without any irregular calculation. Even in a case in which the write-in process to the optical disk is restarted after temporarily interrupted, it is possible to read data similar to a case in which data to be written is successively written without an interruption.

Abstract: A write-once optical recording medium and a method and apparatus for recording management information on the recording medium, are provided. The recording medium includes at least one recording layer and SRR information on the recording layer. The SRR information pertains to at least one SRR and includes a header, an SRR entry list, and a terminator. The SRR entry list includes a plurality of SRR entries, each of the SRR entries pertaining to an SRR and including at least one status area for storing therein session start information.

Abstract: A digital data demodulator which can reduce a loss of decodable digital data, and increase capability of reproducing digital data inputted through a transmission line even when an error occurs in the transmission line. In the digital data demodulator, a specific pattern detector (113) detects a specific pattern to be included in a modulation code, from a bit string inputted through a transmission line (104). A modulation code identifying unit (117) generates a demodulation data strobe signal (119) according to a phase of the modulation code including the specific pattern. An error corrector (121) samples demodulation data (109) in response to the demodulation data strobe signal (119) and reproduces the data to the original digital data.

Abstract: A reproducing device includes a detection circuit and an integration circuit. The detection circuit detects a push-pull signal PP. The integration circuit carries out integration processing with respect to one or greater frames of the push-pull signal, and carries out binarization processing with respect to integration results thus obtained, thereby detecting sub data. In the integration circuit, the more the frames to be used for detecting sub data is, the higher the accuracy of the detected sub data is. The reproducing device further includes a control circuit for controlling the total number of the frames to be used for generating valid sub data in the integration circuit. The control circuit controls the total number of the frames in accordance with a result of an error correction made by an error correction circuit.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus is capable of recording a signal on an optical disk by directing an optical beam thereon at a plurality of recording speeds. A condition measuring position storing part stores one or more condition measuring positions at which a condition of the signal is measured for each of the recording speeds. A signal condition measuring part measures the condition of the signal by suspending recording operations at the condition measuring positions stored in the condition measuring position storing part. In the condition measuring position storing part, a condition measuring position for a recording speed whose level is one level lower than the level of a predetermined recording speed are set to positions shifted for a predetermined time interval from respective condition measuring positions for the predetermined recording speed.

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: An optical disk includes a first area on which user information is recorded, and a second area in which a plurality of marks radially extending are arranged in a track direction in the optical disk. Information about the reflectance of the optical disk is recorded in the second area. It is intended to optimize the amplification factor of the reproduced signal on the basis of the information about the reflectance of the optical disk in the second area. Control data and user data can be reproduced quickly and highly reliably without depending on the relationship between the reflectances of a recording area and a non-recorded area of the optical disk.

Abstract: A recording medium, and a method and apparatus for recording management information on the recording medium, are provided. According to an embodiment, there is provided a method for recording management information on a recording medium, the method comprising: determining whether recording of padding data in a recordable area of a recordable recording-range of the recording medium is performed, when the recordable recording-range is changed to be a non-recordable recording range; and recording padding indicator information indicating whether the recording of padding data is performed.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus in which a ? method using a ? value showing asymmetry of an amplitude of a reproduction signal or a ? method using a modulation degree of the reproduction signal is executed as an evaluation method of evaluating recording quality of data in an optical disc, wherein: the data recorded by a recording power of a different intensity is reproduced; a ? value and a jitter value are obtained on the basis of the reproduced data, respectively; the ? method is selected as an evaluation method of evaluating the recording quality of the data in the optical disc under such a condition that the obtained ? value satisfies a predetermined requirement for the recording power of the different intensity; and a target ? value is set on the basis of the obtained jitter value when the ? method has been selected.

Abstract: Drive information is updated to always include the recording/playback conditions determined from the most recent learning process on a data recording medium. The data recording medium has a data recording area for recording data, and a drive information area for recording drive information. The drive information includes a plurality of drive-specific information records. Each of the plural drive-specific information records defines the operating conditions of the data recording and playback apparatus when a data recording and playback apparatus that can load and access the data recording medium reads or writes data. The plural drive-specific information records are arranged chronologically according to when the information was recorded to the data recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus for recording information on an information recording medium that is recordable is disclosed. The information recording apparatus includes determining means for determining whether specific recording conditions for the information recording medium are recorded at a predetermined area of the information recording apparatus, or externally thereof; recording condition reading means for reading the specific recording conditions when such recording conditions are recorded; first recording means for recording the information based on the specific recording conditions; and evaluating means for performing trial writing test data on a trial writing area of the information recording medium based on predetermined default recording conditions when specific recording conditions are not recorded, and for evaluating a signal obtained by reproducing the test data.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a track including plural pits formed based on first data and has plural lands defined between neighboring pits. These pits are deformed as they are recorded based on second data. The first and second data are synthesized and reproduced to realize audio reproduction with a broad frequency range. The first data are adapted to be reproducible by a customary disc reproduction device. The reproduction of the first data is controlled by the second data to protect recorded data.

Abstract: A signal-processing device (301) for controlling a focus actuator (309) in an optical disc system (30), wherein the signal processing device (309) generates a focus actuator control signal (CS) to be supplied to the focus actuator (309). The focus actuator control signal (CS) is based on a focus error signal (FE) and a central aperture signal (CA). If the central aperture signal (CA) is equal to or above a certain threshold value the focus actuator control signal will correspond to the focus error signal (FE). However, when the central aperture signal is below the threshold value the focus actuator control signal will have a predefined level. By providing a focus actuator control signal (CS) in accordance herewith it is possible to extend the regions of the focus error signal (FE) in which the relative distance between the focus point and the data layer of the record medium (304) is not correctly represented.

Abstract: Signal quality evaluation is performed using a predetermined reproduction signal, a first pattern corresponding to a signal waveform pattern of the reproduction signal, and a given pattern corresponding to the signal waveform pattern of the reproduction signal and being different from the first pattern.

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: A method and apparatus in an optical disk system employing a look-ahead data detection technique is described where an optimum detection is achieved with a minimum hardware complexity. In one embodiment, the boundary functions and the corresponding boundary decisions are derived for next state determination using only the minimum distance event pair for each state over the look-ahead samples, thereby reducing the detector hardware significantly relative to the Viterbi counterpart where the most likely occurring path is searched at every state. Depending on the sample quality, the limits for the boundary decisions can be programmable to combat the channel impairments like misequalzation, signal asymmetry, etc.

Abstract: In an optical disc device that records information on a recordable optical disc having a power calibration area (PCA), recording operation is started with an input of a recording command. If an operating environment changes largely along with the recording operation, in order to perform an optimum recording power control, an optical pickup is shifted to the PCA, and the amount of an unused area in the PCA is determined. If an unused area in an amount to perform an optimum power control five times is not left, the optimum recording power control is stopped, and the recording operation is stopped. If left, the optimum recording power control is executed. Then, if a finalizing process is instructed, the finalizing process is performed. This avoids that, when performing a finalizing process of an optical disc after being subjected to recording, the finalizing process cannot be completed because the amount of an unused area remaining in the PCA is small.

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: A method and an apparatus for detecting BCA on the surface of an optical disc are disclosed. The method includes utilizing an internal free running clock to detect a sync pattern, starting demodulation of data on detection of sync ID 1 by utilizing the internal free running clock, and utilizing the transition between row boundaries to determine which sync ID 1 was used for initializing demodulation.

Abstract: The invention aims at enabling degradation of quality of a regenerative signal due to repetitive overwrite in a high temperature environment to be evaluated based on an inspection under a room temperature environment for a repetitively rewritable phase-change type optical recording medium. Overwrite is repetitively performed to the same track with a laser power which is a given value larger than a laser power with which jitter in a regenerative signal becomes minimum at a room temperature for a phase-change type optical recording medium in which a recording layer made of a material in which a phase change between a crystalline state and an amorphous state is caused due to a difference in applied laser power is provided.

Abstract: Method and related apparatus for generating fixed packets while writing data into CDs. The present invention records a total-block number of a write-in data with a counter, and a waiting-coding number with another counter, so as to generate fixed packets efficiently and correctly, and prevent buffer under run when writing the write-in data to the CD.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a focus level on a light scribe disc includes driving a pick-up head with a predetermined speed in a predetermined direction to calibrate a focus level for a moving stage, detecting light summed signals along the light path of the moving stage, and finding and recording the maximum light summed signal and corresponding position of the pick-up head as the focus level for the moving stage. When a number of the moving stages is greater than a predetermined value, the focus level of the moving stage serves as the optimum focus level of the light scribe disc. When the number of moving stages is fewer, lowering the speed with a stage reduction and change the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and proceeding to a next moving stage to calibrate the focus level.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method with signal quality determining device and a method thereof, with the signal quality determining device including a signal estimator determining a level corresponding to a sample value of the RF signal using binary data obtained from the RF signal and generating a selection signal corresponding to the determined level, a channel identifier classifying the sample value into a plurality of levels according to the selection signal and obtaining an average value of the sample values classified into each level, and a quality calculator outputting a signal quality value representing quality of the RF signal using each sample value output from the channel identifier and the average value of the sample values classified into each level. Accordingly, quality of an RF signal can be determined more exactly, and focus compensation, tilt compensation, detrack compensation, and recording signal optimization can be performed using the determined signal quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reading data from a record carrier, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a readout signal by radiating the record carrier in a first mode and a second mode of operation of a light source, computing a quality factor of the readout signal for the first mode and the second mode of operation of the light source, determining a best mode of operation of the light source based on the computed quality factors and selecting the determined best mode of operation of the light source for reading data from the record carrier. This is useful for high-speed Blu-ray disc applications.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus capable of switching between a laser that emits light having a wavelength suitable for detecting samples and a laser required for reading traced data, while an analysis optical disc is being traced. In an analyzer in which an analysis disc having a sample to be analyzed which is located in a part of its track is irradiated with laser light to read the state of the sample, a selector switch alternately selects a laser having a wavelength for reading data represented by bits or wobble grooves on the disc and a laser having a wavelength suitable for detecting a sample, in response to an instruction from a control unit.

Abstract: A method for displaying a result of measurement of eccentricity in an optical system is provided where an amount of eccentricity for each lens element's surface in a lens system can be displayed and where the amount of eccentricity displayed can be a magnified amount of eccentricity. Additionally a sectional view of the lens system can be displayed using scaling factor.

Abstract: In a recording/reproducing apparatus and a recording method, for enabling a high reliability on reproduction data are conducted the followings: recording a test mark within the test aria with a predetermined write strategy; obtaining signal amplitudes corresponding to a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion of the test mark, by reproducing the test mark; determining on whether the test mark has a desirable configuration or not, upon basis of at least one of ratios, defined between the amplitude of the front portion and the amplitude of the rear portion, and between the amplitude of the middle portion and the amplitude of the rear portion; correcting the write strategy if it is determined that the test mark has not the desirable configuration; and recording the information within the data area with the write strategy after the correction thereof.

Abstract: An optical disk drive capable of reproducing data even when warpage is present in an optical disk. A system controller of the optical disk drive reproduces data by setting a maximum speed in accordance with the type of an optical disk, an amount of side-to-side runout, or the like. In the meantime, when a read error arises as a result of trial reproduction being performed at an outer radius of the disk at startup, warpage is determined to be present in the optical disk, and a limitation on the maximum speed is raised. The rotational speed is set to allowable maximum speed of the optical disk drive, and warpage is corrected by means of centrifugal force. When reproduction becomes impracticable for reasons of meandering of a tack, or the like, during the course of reproduction of data, the rotational speed is decreased, to thus perform a retry.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus records, reproduces and/or erases information with respect to a recording medium. The apparatus includes a servo error generation detector for detecting a generation of a servo error based on at least one of servo signals including a focus error signal and a tracking error signal which are derived from output signals of a light receiving element, and a data recording resuming section for temporarily interrupting a data recording with respect to the recording medium, temporarily turning OFF a servo and then turning ON the servo again, to thereafter synchronize recording data to recorded data already recorded on the recording medium, and resume recording of the recording data continuing without a discontinuity to an end of the recorded data recorded immediately before the interruption of the data recording, when the generation of the servo error is detected while recording data on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus for determining whether an optical disc is copy protected. The method includes measuring the level of radio frequency (RF) sum signals read from an optical disc, and establishing a gain of the RF sum signal; checking RF sum signals from an area of the optical disc in which no data is written; establishing a predetermined threshold level of the RF sum signals by using the RF sum signals read from a data recording area of the optical disc; comparing the level of the RF sum signals measured from the area in which no data is written with the sum of the level of the RF sum signals measured from the data recording area and the threshold level, and according to the comparison result, measuring the size of the area in which no data is written to determine whether the optical disc is a copy protected disc.

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

Abstract: A digital video recorder writes data on a selected one of a first storage medium and a second storage medium. The recorder includes an abnormal state detector for detecting any abnormal event that possibly occurs while the recorder is writing the data on the first storage medium. If the abnormal state detector senses the abnormal event while the recorder is writing the data on the first storage medium, then the recorder stops writing the data on the first storage medium and starts writing the data, which should have been written on the first storage medium only, on the second storage medium instead.

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

Abstract: An optical analysis disc includes grooves defining corresponding laser-readable tracks and trigger marks that identify respective target regions on the disc. The trigger marks are implemented as a radial interruption of the grooves to thereby produce an increased reflection of a laser beam. There is also provided an optical analysis disc system including a trigger mechanism having a trigger detector adapted to detect interruptions in grooves of an optical analysis disc. A related method for triggering through interrupted grooves of an optical analysis disc includes detecting interruption in the grooves, generating an electrical reflection signal corresponding to the interruptions detected, and elaborating said reflection signal, so that to generate a trigger signal.

Abstract: Novel evaluation indexes are introduced to allow both a total evaluation of data recording and an evaluation of individual detection patterns. A data recording evaluation method includes a step of reproducing a result of data recording performed on an optical disk and identifying a predetermined detection pattern in a reproduction signal, a step of detecting a signal state of the reproduction signal associated with the predetermined detection pattern, and a first calculation step for calculating a first evaluation index value based on the detected signal state and a reference state identified from the predetermined detection pattern. When there is a plurality of predetermined detection patterns as described above, a second calculation step is further provided for calculating a second recording state evaluation index value using the first evaluation index value calculated from each of the predetermined detection patterns.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a type of data processing device and a type of data recording/reproduction device that can restart data write processing correctly from an interruption position after data write processing on a recording medium is interrupted. When write is interrupted, prescribed information that indicates the tail of the data written before said interruption is obtained from the written data. When write is restarted, first, data read processing is started. From the read data, the tail of the write data before said interruption is determined based on said obtained information. Then, data write processing is restarted and connected to said determined tail of the write data. In write clock signal generating part (45), write clock signal CK3 locked to the phase of read clock signal CK2 is generated. Consequently, it is possible to suppress discontinuity in the connection of write in company with switching from read processing to write processing.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a write unit to write information data read from a memory by irradiating a disk medium with a beam in accordance with the information data, and a control unit to, upon the amount of information data stored in the memory reaching a threshold, instruct the write unit to start writing of the information data. In response to the write instruction, the write unit reads the information data stored in the memory and writes the read information data onto the disk medium while it is rotating. Upon the amount of information data in the memory decreasing to a predetermined value, the write unit stops reading and writing of the information data from the memory and onto the disk medium. The control unit sets a value of the threshold in accordance with the number of times the write unit has performed writing of the information data.

Abstract: An optical recording method is designed for recording data on a recordable optical disk by use of a laser beam of a present recording apparatus under a desired recording condition. The method detects identification information which is reserved in the optical disk and which is indicative of a type of a previous recording apparatus. The detected identification information is compared with a plurality of identification information which are previously stored in correspondence to various types of recording apparatuses. As results of the comparison, the method determines whether the detected identification information matches with one of the stored identification information which does not correspond to the type of the present recording apparatus. Upon the determining of matching, the method retrieves a recording condition which is previously stored in association with the matching identification information.

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: A method of controlling an optical writing apparatus and an optical writing apparatus utilizing the method to control its write execution time include a pickup to write write data onto a writing medium, a servo driving portion to control the drive of the pickup, a counter to count a predetermined write execution time to notify an ending time of the write execution time, and a controller to control the servo driving portion until the controller is notified of the ending time of the counter to allow the write data to be written onto the writing medium when a write request signal is applied from the key input portion, to stop the write operation, and to control the count of the counter to change the ending time of the write execution time when the request signal for pausing the write operation is applied from the key input portion.

Abstract: An optical recording medium having a track including plural pits formed based on first data and lands defined between neighboring pits, these pits are deformed as they are recorded based on second data. The first and second data are synthesized and reproduced to realize audio reproduction with a broad frequency range. The first data are adapted to be reproducible by a customary disc reproduction device. The reproduction of the first data is controlled by the second data to protect recorded data.