Abstract: Method for changing access speed of an optical disk drive, which is used to switch the optical disk drive with different access speeds, to provide the optimal mode for data access. The method places an RC circuit between the electrical circuits and one of the buttons of the disk drive. Pressing the control button varies the input voltage of the control circuit and the control circuit changes the work speed of the optical disk drive motor.

Abstract: A position-error-signal calculation circuit (105) calculates a relative position error between a laser-focused-beam spot (103) and an information recording layer (102), and generates a focus error signal (106). A filter (108) amplifies and passes therethrough a signal component in the vicinity of the natural resonance frequency of at least one mode among the natural vibration modes of the optical disc medium (101). A drive amplifier receives through a stabilizing compensator (109) and a D/A converter (110) the focus error signal (106) passed by the filter (108), to drive an objective lens (113), thereby allowing the laser-focused-beam spot (103) to track the information recording layer (102).

Abstract: A control circuit and a control method of controlling a rotation frequency of a spindle in an optical disc drive, the control circuit comprising: a spindle controller, electrically coupled to the spindle, for driving the spindle to rotate an optical disc according to a rotation control signal; a detector, electrically coupled to the spindle controller, for detecting the rotation frequency and for generating detecting signals; a frequency-adjusting module, electrically coupled to the detector, for adjusting at least one of the detecting signals to reduce a rotation frequency difference between detecting signals; a signal selector, electrically coupled to the frequency-adjusting module, for receiving output signals generated from the frequency-adjusting module and then outputting the rotation control signal.

Abstract: A disk apparatus that includes: a first determining unit that determines whether the maximum value of an amplitude of an RF signal is a first reference level or more and the minimum value of the detected amplitude of the RF signal is a second reference level or less; a counting unit that counts the number of detected times of CAPA areas according to the determining results of the first determining unit; a second determining unit that determines whether the optical disk has been rotated a given amount or not; a third determining unit, when the optical disk has been rotated a given amount, determines whether the number of detected times of CAPA areas is at least equal to or larger than a given number of times or not; and a fourth determining unit that distinguishes the kind of the optical disk according to the determining results of the third determining unit.

Abstract: There is provided a disk apparatus adapted to allow the rotational frequency of an optical disk to reach a predetermined rotational frequency soon for shifting to a reproducing operation, when setting up the rotation of the optical disk, even if the optical disk may have a large weight. The change in the rotational frequency of an optical disk is detected at a predetermined time interval; the rotational acceleration of the optical disk is calculated based on the detected change in the rotational frequency of the optical disk at the predetermined time interval; it is determined whether or not the weight of the optical disk is greater than that of a reference optical disk based on the difference between the calculated rotational acceleration of the optical disk and the rotational acceleration of the reference optical disk; and the driving voltage of a spindle motor is increased if it is determined that the weight of the optical disk is greater than that of the reference optical disk.

Abstract: A data recording/reproducing method and apparatus which are capable of accurately and stably controlling a gap between a recording medium and a head of the data recording/reproducing apparatus are disclosed. The data recording/reproducing method includes: outputting at least one signal based on a light beam reflected from a recording medium; detecting a minimum value and a maximum value of the output signal; and adjusting a gap between a head of a data recording/reproducing apparatus and the recording medium according to the minimum value and the maximum value.

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: According to the invention, an optical disc reproducing apparatus includes a housing for: a reading section which reads data recorded on an optical disc, a data storing section and a reproducing section which reproduces the stored data. A reference discal unit outside the housing rotates at a pre-determined reference rotational speed and direction. An operation discal unit mounted on the reference discal unit, may rotate at a desired speed and direction. A detection discal unit is coupled with the operation discal unit, to rotate in sync with the operation discal unit. First and second detecting sections detect a rotational speed and direction of the detection discal unit and the reference discal unit, respectively. A control section determines the rotational speed and direction of the detection discal unit based on detected results and controls the reading section, the storing section and the reproducing section, thereby performing a desired data reproduction.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes a pickup head, a thread motor, and a drive controller, and a thread drive IC. The drive controller supplies directed voltage to the thread drive IC. The thread drive IC in response supplies drive voltage to the thread motor, which moves the pickup based on the drive voltage from the thread drive IC. The drive controller directs to the thread drive IC supply of first directed voltage. The thread drive IC supplies first supplied voltage to the thread motor in response to the directive from the drive controller to supply the first directed voltage. The drive controller detects the first supplied voltage and calculates a correction value based on the detected first supplied voltage. The drive controller corrects the directed voltage with the correction value and then directs to the thread drive IC supply of a corrected drive voltage.

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: 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: A method is disclosed for adjusting the rotational speed of a disk player based on a calculated variable. The method increases the rotational speed of the disk player when the calculated variable is greater than a first threshold and decreases the rotational speed of the disk player when the calculated variable is less than a second threshold.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for adjusting the rotational speed of a disk drive. According to the method, the proportion of time which the disc drive is reading data from the disc during a unit time T is calculated. Then, the increase of the rotational speed of the motor is avoided if the error rate Ek that a disc drive reads data during each of r consecutive units of time periods T is not less than a criterion Q. Otherwise, the rotational speed of the motor of the disc drive is increased if the proportion of time Pk that the disc drive spends reading data from the disc is greater than a threshold H during each of m consecutive units of time period T, and the rotational speed of the motor of the disc drive is decreased if the Pk is less than a threshold L during each of n consecutive units of time periods T.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reducing a lead-in time of a disc, on which data is always recorded, and detecting exactly a tilt of the disc. The apparatus includes a pickup, and a system controller. Even if the disc is a blank disc which is devoid of user data, control data is recorded on the disc. The pickup can record data on the disc or reproduce data from the disc. If a seek command is received, the system controller detects the tilt of the disc once in each of a plurality of zones while the pickup is moving.

Abstract: A driving power is applied to a light source to control emission of a light beam to a recording layer of an optical storage medium, the driving power including a sequence of mark and space portions, each mark portion having a pulse width that corresponds to a multiple of a period T of a write clock. A multi-pulse waveform of each mark portion of the driving power includes a front-end portion having a first pulse width t1 with a high-power write level Pw and starting from a middle-power erase level Pe, a multi-pulse portion including write pulses each having a second pulse width t2 with the write level Pw and a third pulse width t3 with a low-power base level Pb, the multi-pulse portion having a duty ratio z=t2/(t2+t3), and a tail-end portion having a fourth pulse width t4 with the base level Pb and ending at the erase level Pe. The waveform is controlled, when a linear velocity of rotation of the medium is set in a range from 5 m/s to 28 m/s, such that the first pulse width t1 ranges 0.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to record data on an optical recording medium include generating a recording waveform having an erase pattern comprising a predetermined pulse having a high level which is higher than an erase power level and having a low level which is lower than the erase power level.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus is provided that has a signal processing circuit for equalizing a signal so as to achieve predetermined equalization, in which interference between codes is permitted, by means of an adaptive equalization circuit or the like, and for performing binarization by means of a maximum likelihood decoding circuit in which interference is performed as a rule, and thereby achieves stabilized signal reproduction in a narrow-band transmission. When evaluating the quality of the recorded signal through the use of the recording parameter learning and the reproduction system such as recorded signal verification, the optical disk recording apparatus is capable of highly precisely evaluating the quality of the recorded signal by fixing a circuit characteristic after suspending the optimization operation of the adaptive equalization circuit or the like for optimizing the characteristic by the reproduced signal. An optical disk recording method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for adjusting a tracking error signal of an optical disk drive. First, a pickup head control signal is applied to an actuator to move a pickup head. The tracking error signal is then generated while the pickup head moves. The tracking error signal is then sampled and a characteristic value of the tracking error signal is determined. An adjustment signal is then generated according to the characteristic value and a target value. Finally, the tracking error signal is adjusted according to the adjustment signal.

Abstract: A digital signal processing device is provided for disc rotation control in an optical storage system, which is capable of generating a focusing error signal from light that was reflected by an optical disc loaded in the optical storage system. The digital signal processing device includes a low pass filter for removing a high-frequency component of the focusing error signal to obtain a filtered signal, a direct current level remover for removing a direct current component of the filtered signal to obtain a warp-indicating signal, and a controller for comparing the warp-indicating signal with a predetermined threshold value to determine extent of warping of the optical disc. The controller functions to control the optical storage system so as to limit maximum rotation speed of the optical disc according to result of the comparison made by the controller.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rotation speed of an optical storage device. In the first mode, a first signal is produced, and in the second mode, a second signal is produced. In one mode, a first pulse of a first voltage and a second pulse of a second voltage are sent to the motor, which causes the motor to produce a first armature current and a second armature current. In another mode, a DC signal of a third voltage is produced, which causes the motor to produce a third armature current. The armature currents are detected, and test voltages are outputted. The first and second voltages, and the first and second test voltages are used to find a motor coefficient. The third voltage, the motor coefficient, and the third test voltage are used to calculate a motor rotation speed. The calculated speed is used to control the real motor speed.

Abstract: A motor control system comprises a motor controller and a clamp apparatus and is used for controlling a motor apparatus. The motor controller is used for generating a motor control output according to a reference signal and a feedback signal from the motor apparatus. The clamp apparatus is used for receiving the motor control output and has a clamp function for clamping the motor control output. The clamp apparatus determines whether the clamp function should be activated to clamp the motor control output within an acceptable clamp range according to at least one motor stability signal. When the motor stability signal indicates that the motor apparatus has been in a stable state, the clamp apparatus clamps the motor control output from the motor controller in the acceptable clamp range, so as to avoid an abnormal motor control output resulting from external sudden change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording speed determining method of a disk device. The present method, when data record is requested from a host through an interface, a disk device can receive size information about data to be recorded and/or the present time from the host, and determine a recording speed of a disk to be suitable for the received size information and/or for a time zone where the device is located. The disk device can determine such data size and time zone information internally. Thus, it is possible to reduce a noise that is caused from disk rotation if the size of data to be recorded is small or when a noise is felt relatively big. Further, it is possible to determine a data recording speed in accordance with a data size.

Abstract: A method for recording audio data to optical media is provided. The method includes obtaining a number of audio tracks on a source optical media and setting a source optical media device to a maximum read speed for the source optical media device. Also included is reading a first audio track on the source optical media and determining a digital audio extraction (DAX) speed for the first audio track. Further, a mid-point audio track on the source optical media is read and determining of the DAX speed for the mid-point audio track on the source optical media is processed. The method further includes calculating a record speed for the number of audio tracks on the source optical media to a destination optical media.

Abstract: A temperature sensor (131) detects a temperature of a spindle motor (121) of a rotary drive unit (120) for rotating a disk-shaped recording medium (1), and a temperature information acquiring unit (134A) acquires the temperatures as temperature information. An eccentricity detector (132) detects a drive voltage level, and an eccentricity information acquiring unit (134B) acquires the drive voltage level as eccentricity information. When a determining unit (134C) determines that the temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature or that the drive voltage level is higher than a predetermined voltage, a servo controller (133) switches a rotation mode from constant liner velocity to constant angular velocity. That enables stable information processing over a long time with a simple strucure for constant linear velocity.

Abstract: A method for moving a sledge disposed thereon an optical pickup head of an optical disc drive is provided for controlling the motion of the sledge relative to an optical disc loaded. The optical disc drive further includes a sledge motor. At first, the sledge motor drives the sledge to move toward the center of the optical disc. At the same time, the tracks crossed by the optical pickup head are detected and counted according to a tracking error signal generated by the optical pickup head. When the count or an increment in the count within a specific period is not larger than a predetermined value or the tracking error signal is undetectable, the optical disc drive immediately stops the sledge motor from driving the sledge. The monitoring mechanism can avoid undesired impact and noises of the sledge.

Abstract: With respect to the disk drives provided power from a single power source in a disk drive system, start up power is first supplied to a first start-up group of the disks, preferably comprising all of the master disks, with the size of the group being selected so that the required current does not exceed the capacity of the power source. When the disk drives of the first group have substantially reached steady state, start-up is conducted with respect to a second start-up group of the disk drives so that the current required during start-up for the second group and the current required for steady state drive of the first start-up group does not exceed the capacity of the power source. With respect to each start-up group, the number of disk drives is the maximum integer value and decreases or remains the same with respect to subsequent start-up groups.

Abstract: A motor driver circuit according to the present invention comprises an edge signal generation means for generating an edge signal indicating the timing of phase-switching according to the values of a plurality voltages induced when driving the motor and a drive voltage control means for controlling the highest value of the drive voltage for driving the motor according to the edge signal. The drive voltage control means includes a first drive voltage control means for controlling the highest value of the drive voltage before the timing of phase-switching and a second drive voltage control means for controlling the highest value of the drive voltage after the timing of phase-switching. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize soft switching control while the motor is driven to rotate at high speed and reduce the noise due to the motor being driven to rotate.

Abstract: In an optical recording method and apparatus of the present invention, a driving power is applied to a light source to control emission of a light beam to a recording layer of an optical storage medium, the driving power including a sequence of mark and space portions, each mark portion having a pulse width that corresponds to a multiple of a period T of a write clock. A multi-pulse waveform of each mark portion of the driving power includes a front-end portion, a multi-pulse portion and a tail-end portion, the front-end portion having a first pulse width t1 with a high-power write level Pw and starting from a middle-power erase level Pe, the multi-pulse portion including write pulses each having a second pulse width t2 with the write level Pw and a third pulse width t3 with a low-power base level Pb, the multi-pulse portion having a duty ratio z=t2/(t2+t3), and the tail-end portion having a fourth pulse width t4 with the base level Pb and ending at the erase level Pe.

Abstract: In an optical recording method and apparatus of the present invention, a driving power is applied to a light source to control emission of a light beam to a recording layer of an optical storage medium, the driving power including a sequence of mark and space portions, each mark portion having a pulse width that corresponds to a multiple of a period T of a write clock. A multi-pulse waveform of each mark portion of the driving power includes a front-end portion, a multi-pulse portion and a tail-end portion, the front-end portion having a first pulse width t1 with a high-power write level Pw and starting from a middle-power erase level Pe, the multi-pulse portion including write pulses each having a second pulse width t2 with the write level Pw and a third pulse width t3 with a low-power base level Pb, the multi-pulse portion having a duty ratio z=t2/(t2+t3), and the tail-end portion having a fourth pulse width t4 with the base level Pb and ending at the erase level Pe.

Abstract: In a process of braking an spindle motor, a frequency of a read clock signal synchronized with an RF signal output from an RF amplifier is measured as a first frequency by a braking control circuit. A brake is then applied to the spindle motor for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the frequency of the read clock signal is measured as a second frequency. Next, the braking time is calculated on the basis of: a frequency difference obtained by subtracting the second frequency from the first frequency; the first frequency; and a measuring time from the timing when the first frequency is measured to the timing when the second frequency is measured.

Abstract: A method of estimation parameter adaptability adjustment of an optical storage device. The method determines an estimation parameter according to a current data recording location of the optical storage device to estimate a channel bit rate. The method includes providing a two-dimensional estimation parameter table. The two-dimensional estimation parameter table includes a plurality of estimation parameters corresponding to linear velocities and data recording locations. The method further includes determining a linear velocity estimation value; and determining the estimation parameter according to the linear velocity estimation value, the current data recording location, and the two-dimensional estimation parameter table to estimate the channel bit rate.

Abstract: A method of rotation speed control for optical storage device is proposed. The method adjusts the rotation speed of an optical storage device to increase access probability and also enhance performance of the optical storage device. The method includes providing weighted values corresponding to a plurality of events that may happen during reading or writing processes of the optical storage device, providing an evaluation function, and determining a speed-up threshold and a speed-down threshold, which correspond to each rotation speed value, within a range of evaluation function values. Further included are when an event of the plurality of events happens, changing the evaluation function value according to the weighted value of the event, and when the evaluation function value is not within an domain between the thresholds, selectively changing the rotation speed of the optical storage device. The method further includes adaptively adjusting the thresholds and the weighted values.

Abstract: This invention describes a method and apparatus to determine a safe rotational speed for a CD/DVD drive by detecting the amount of vibration of the disk by measuring the operating conditions of the spindle motor. A disk drive includes a motor for rotating the disk and an apparatus for monitoring the current or back emf in the windings of the motor. When the current or the back emf varies from a normal level, the disk is vibrating and a signal indicating a vibration condition is sent to the spindle motor driver. The maximum speed that the disk rotated is slowed until a vibrating condition is no longer detected and the rotational speed associated with a particular disk is based dynamically on the amount of vibration detected. Disks may also be identified that cannot spin a minimum rate of speed.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rotation speed of an optical storage device. In the first mode, a first signal is produced, and in the second mode, a second signal is produced. In one mode, a first pulse of a first voltage and a second pulse of a second voltage are sent to the motor, which causes the motor to produce a first armature current and a second armature current. In another mode, a DC signal of a third voltage is produced, which causes the motor to produce a third armature current. The armature currents are detected, and test voltages are outputted. The first and second voltages, and the first and second test voltages are used to find a motor coefficient. The third voltage, the motor coefficient, and the third test voltage are used to calculate a motor rotation speed. The calculated speed is used to control the real motor speed.

Abstract: An optical information storage medium includes information on recording layers having the same reproduction channel characteristics or different reproduction channel characteristics. Nominal recording speed information is recorded in a read-only zone, and maximum and minimum recordable speed information is recorded in a recordable zone of an area other than a user data area. The nominal recording speed information is reproduced using a differential signal channel or a sum channel, and the maximum and the minimum recordable speed information is reproduced using the sum channel. The optical information storage medium addresses a situation where the nominal recording speed is not satisfied due to errors occurring during the manufacture of the storage medium. Thus, the defective disc proportion can be reduced, and loss of user data due to application of inaccurate recording layer information can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of controlling a laser power of a zone Constant Linear Velocity (CLV) type optical disk player, in which a linear velocity of writing data is accelerated, by stages, toward an outer edge of an optical disk. The method includes changing a laser power for writing data onto the optical disk when the linear velocity is changed.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling the power of a laser beam in an optical recording system that includes a laser light source, an optical detector detects a reflected write pulse that is a reflection of an incident recording light signal from the optical recording medium, and a signal generating device generates a mark formation effectiveness (MFE) signal according to the reflected write pulse. A laser power compensation circuit includes a filter for filtering the MFE signal so as to result in a first component, and a combiner for combining the first component and the MFE signal so as to result in a second component. The laser power compensation circuit controls laser beam power of the laser light source according to the first and second components for optimum information recording.

Abstract: Information indicative of disk-applicable recording speeds is incorporated in lead-out start time information within ATIP information that is recorded in pre-grooves located in a lead-in area of an optical disk. Once the optical disk is inserted in an optical disk recording device, the lead-out start time information is read out, so that recording is performed on the optical disk after a recording speed is automatically set to a highest settable speed value within a range specified by the read-out lead-out start time information. This arrangement can reliably prevent recording at speeds beyond predetermined limit values unique to the optical disk.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a motor system that addresses the design challenges for the small form factor optical disk system. The control system can be operable to read a physical sector address (PSA) from an optical medium, calculate a table index based on the PSA, enter a lookup table module to acquire reference data, and maintain a constant data rate transfer from the optical medium for a range of PSAs.

Abstract: A process for computing an eccentric amount of a disk upon rotating is provided. The process includes steps of starting a servo control system of a disk drive to rotate the disk at a specified angular velocity, measuring a track crossing speed of the servo control system at a focusing point on the disk, and computing the eccentric amount of the disk according to the specified angular velocity and the track crossing speed. A process for controlling rotation of a disk loaded in a disk drive is also provided. The process includes steps of realizing an eccentric amount of the disk, and rotating the disk at an operating speed corresponding to the eccentric amount.

Abstract: Methods for determining recording speeds to optical media are provided. In one example, a method includes an algorithm in which a digital audio extraction (DAX) speed is determined for a first part of an audio track is measured, a DAX speed for an end part of an audio track is measured, and the DAX speeds are compared. The slower of the two speeds is selected as the DAX speed for the audio track. Subsequent audio tracks are sampled by first measuring the DAX speed for an end part of the audio track. If the DAX speed for the end part of the audio track is faster than the DAX speed for the end part of the previous audio track, the first part of the audio track is sampled, and the slower DAX speed of the first and end parts of the audio track is selected as the DAX speed for the audio track.

Abstract: A control method for a rotation speed is used in an optical disc drive. When the angular velocity of the optical disc in rotation is fixed and the rotation direction is the same as the direction of the torque, then a breaking torque, having the same magnitude as the rotational torque but in the opposite direction, is applied to cause the rotation of the optical disc to cease. In other situation, a fixed rotational torque of the same magnitude as that of the angular velocity is first applied to cause the optical disc to have a fixed angular velocity. Then, a breaking torque having the same magnitude as the fixed rotational torque but in the opposite direction is applied to cause the rotation of the optical disc to cease. In this manner, no matter what rotation speed of the optical disc is, the rotation of the optical disc can always be ceased by a fixed period of time.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided with a wobbled track, wherein at least a part of the track is subjected to wobbling based on a wobble signal in which at least a part of recording information is randomized. Each track is wobbled at a randomized frequency, so that a frequency of a wobbling signal obtained from the wobbled track is randomized. As a result, the influence of crosstalk between adjacent track is reduced.

Abstract: A spindle motor inclination angle adjusting mechanism for an optical disk device includes two adjusting mechanisms to provide two rotational freedom for the base dock of the spindle motor to adjust the inclination angle of the spindle motor. The first adjusting mechanism has three support points that are not on the same straight line to support the base dock. Two of the support points are fixed and the third support point is movable relative to the other two support points to change the inclination angle of the base dock of the spindle motor. The second adjusting mechanism is a rotary element for carrying the first adjusting mechanism and driving the first adjusting mechanism to rotate and change the direction of the inclination angle of the base dock to adjust the spindle motor inclination angle.

Abstract: Optical disk device, in which a tracking adjustment system and sled adjustment system are controlled independently, has offset value acquisition capability, which detects the tracking drive signals output from tracking adjustment system for one lap around optical disk and acquires multiple tracking drive offset values. Such device also has offset representative value computation capability, which computes an offset representative value from multiple tracking drive offset values, as well as an offset value comparison capability, which compares the offset center value in the state in which no tracking adjustment control is done, and the offset representative value, as well as a sled drive decision means capability, which decides the drive of sled adjustment system 36 based on the comparison result.

Abstract: Disclosed are an information recording method and an optical disk unit that maintain a good jitter even when a line velocity is variable in a mark edge system. In the case where an erasing power when erasing a record mark at a linear velocity v1 is Pe1(mW), a recording power when forming the record mark at the linear velocity v1 is Pw1(mW), an erasing power when erasing the record mark at a linear velocity v2 faster than v1 is Pe2(mW), and a power when forming the record mark at the linear velocity v2 is Pw2(mW), a relationship of Pw1/Pe1>Pw2/Pe2 is satisfied.

Abstract: A rotation control method controls rotation of a CAV system recording medium which has a plurality of zones divided in a radial direction thereof. The rotation control method detects a state within a memory which temporarily stores write data to be written on the recording medium and/or read data read from the recording medium, and switches and controls a rotational speed of the recording medium based on the detected state of the memory, depending on an area which is accessed of a plurality of areas of the recording medium dividing the recording medium in the radial direction thereof.

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: The optical disk controller of this invention that reduces the frequency of output of status reports to relieve the burden of a system controller includes: a status generator for generating status reports each representing the operation state of the optical disk controller every sector of a disk; and a status sampling section for sampling the status reports at a set sampling interval. When a generated status report matches with “sampling abort” status stored in a sampling category storing portion, status sampling is aborted.

Abstract: In an optical disk reproducing device capable of rotating an optical disk at a selected one of a plurality of preset linear velocities, vibrations or shock of the device is detected during rotation of the disk, and the linear velocity of the disk is determined based on the result of the detection of the vibration or shock to restrain the vibration and shock within a permissible range. A limit rotational velocity above which the vibration or shock is excessive may be determined during a test conducted each time a disk is inserted, and the linear velocity of the disk during reproduction may be determined such that the rotational velocity does not exceed the limit rotational velocity.