Abstract: An optical information storage medium according to the present invention has at least one information storage layer. The optical information storage medium has a management area that stores at least one unit containing control information about the optical information storage medium. The control information includes a format number, which provides information about at least a write strategy type and a write pre-compensation type, and a write strategy parameter, which provides information about the magnitude of shift in an edge position, or variation in the pulse width, of a write pulse train to form a recording mark. And the value of the format number changes according to a combination of the write strategy type and the write pre-compensation type.

Abstract: In an optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) for reproducing an optical information storage medium including a plurality of information recording layers each including a recording mark having a length shorter than an optical system resolution limit, reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer closest to a reproduction-laser-incident surface of the optical information storage medium is set to be lower than reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer farthest from the reproduction-laser-incident surface but not lower than minimum reproduction laser power that satisfies a reproduction signal characteristic that the optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) requires.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for peak signal detection. As one example, a method for peak signal detection that includes receiving a signal is disclosed. The received signal includes a signal region where the signal is increasing in amplitude, another signal region where the signal is decreasing in amplitude, and a transitional signal region coupling the first two signal regions. In some cases, the transitional region is of zero duration and the signal transitions directly from the increasing region to the decreasing region. The method further include calculating a distance between the signal region of increasing amplitude and the signal region of decreasing amplitude, and determining a peak of the received signal that is one half the distance from the signal region of increasing amplitude.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a wave plate on an optical path to be followed by every light beam emitted from three light sources (with wavelengths ?1, ?2 and ?3, respectively) both on their way toward an optical disc and back from the disc toward a photodetector. The wave plate has two layers with different retardations and different optic axis directions. The sum of the retardations of the first and second layers is defined to be approximately 5/4?1, ¾?2 and ½?3 to the light beams with the wavelengths ?1, ?2 and ?3.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus is provided with a recording controller for recording data on an information recording medium, a verification controller for verifying whether or not the recorded data can be correctly reproduced, a continuous recording controller for providing a gap region of a specified interval between a verification region and a recording region and successively performing a verify processing and a record processing with rotation waiting in between, an error region discriminator for discriminating an error region in the event of an error in the process of performing the verify processing and the record processing, and an error processor for performing an error processing according to the error region. The error processor performs an error processing different from the one performed when an error occurred in either one of the verification region and the recording region if an error is discriminated to have occurred in the gap region.

Abstract: A reading devices suppresses deterioration of the recording marks caused by increasing the output laser power to compensate for a drop in the S/N ratio when reading at a high speed information recorded to a high density recording medium. To read information recorded to an optical data recording medium that is written and read using a laser beam output from a semiconductor laser, the reading method modulates a high frequency current on the drive current of the semiconductor laser to output the laser beam, and changes the light modulation rate according to the selected linear velocity used for reading. The light modulation rate is the ratio Pp/Pave between the peak power Pp and the average read power Pave of the light intensity of the high frequency modulated laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selecting a range of gain values (2000) of a gain-bandwidth limited photo-detector circuit (45) for reading data from a record carrier (104). The method comprises: a) finding a first read power by setting a maximum allowable gain value (gma?), the first read power being a minimum read power value at which data is readable from the rotating record carrier at a first speed; and b) finding a second read power and a second gain value, by increasing the first read power value and decreasing the maximum allowable gain value. The second read power being the minimum read power value at which data is readable from the rotating record carrier at a second speed. The method is useful for all kinds of photo-detector circuits in optimizing gain values and achieving optimum performance with the optimum number of gain values.

Abstract: The writing in of the reproduced data from the optical disc 101 or the reproduced data from the external USB device 103 into the memory 106 is carried out in such a manner that the data storage formats on the memory 106 of the both writing in are the same storage formats with each other, and the writing in control into the memory 106 and reading out control from the memory 106 are carried out by the similar methods with each other. Thereby, in a data reproduction method having a function of reproducing data which is recorded in the optical disc 101 and a function of reproducing data from an external USB device, a reproduction device which provides no complicated control method as well as gives no large load to the system and is of a high efficiency can be provided.

Abstract: User data is recorded onto a DVD by the incremental recording method and by using padding when closing a recording zone, read error data is recorded onto the DVD. The read error data is generated by making a sector error detection code or a PI/PO error correction code in the ECC block different from a correct value.

Abstract: A super-resolution medium (1) has a medium identification information for specifying a type of medium recorded in a medium information area (3) by use of pre-pits having a length not shorter than a length of a resolution limit of an optical system in a reproducing device (10).

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an optical information recording/reproducing device and the like that can suppress a decrease in a recording speed even where an optical information recording medium including multiple layers has eccentricity. The optical information recording/reproducing device records information, by treating a predefined area in a second layer corresponding to a position of a first layer at which a defect is detected, as a defect area. The optical information recording/reproducing device reproduces information, by treating a predefined area in the second layer corresponding to a position of the first layer at which a defect is registered, as a defect area. The radial distance of the defect area is preferably greater than a bonding error between the first and second layers.

Abstract: The drive apparatus of the present invention includes a recording/reproduction section and a drive control section. The drive control section determines a physical address indicating a location at which data can be recorded next in the determined track of a write-once recording medium as a next writable address, based on the last recorded address in the track; compares the physical address corresponding to the logical address included in the recording instruction with the next writable address; when the physical address corresponding to the logical address is smaller than the next writable address, controls the recording/reproduction section to record the data at a specific location in the user data area other than the location indicated by the physical address corresponding to the logical address in the recording instruction; generates new disc management information; and controls the recording/reproduction section to record the new disc management information in the disc management information area.

Abstract: An optical head 12 reproduces information recorded on an optical disc 11, a BCA detector 21 and a medium discriminating circuit 22 acquire waveform distortion information for specifying a waveform distortion of a reproduction signal reproduced by the optical head 12, and a variable waveform equalizer 16 changes a parameter used in a distortion reduction processing for reducing the waveform distortion of the reproduction signal based on the waveform distortion information.

Abstract: The present invention discloses read and write power control methods and system for an optical recording device that records information on an optical disk having read-only areas. The read and write power control methods respectively introduce the steps of determining a specific level of a former power control signal output based on a former power control, and then according to the specific level, setting a predetermined level of a power control signal to induce a present power control for rapidly outputting a proper power of the pick-up head. Accordingly, the level transition of the read/write power control signal can be shortened and even eliminated. An unstable read/write power output for the pick-up head can be avoided.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording or reproducing on or from an optical disc, comprising a laser light source for emitting a laser beam; a drive portion for driving the laser light source; a detection portion for detecting the emission power of the laser beam; and means for focusing the laser beam onto the optical disc, wherein information is reproduced by a reproducing power varied according to a recording power to obtain reproducing signals having necessary quality while suppressing deterioration of the recording quality due to the reproducing power.

Abstract: An information recording medium, comprising N number (N is an integer fulfilling N?3) of information layers on which information is recordable, and allowing information to be recorded on each of the information layers and allowing information recorded on each of the information layers to be reproduced by being irradiated with laser light. The N number of information layers include an N?th information layer, an (N?1)th information layer, an (N?2)th information layer, . . . a second information layer and a first information layer sequentially located from a laser light incidence side. A reflectance of the N?th information layer is RN, and a reflectance of an M?th information layer (M refers to every integer fulfilling N>M?1) is RM.

Abstract: A method of recording information to a read-only optical information storage medium comprising a plurality of areas, including: recording data in at least one of the plurality of areas in the form of pits in a first pit pattern; and recording data in others of the plurality of areas in the form of pits in a second pit pattern different from the first.

Abstract: A recording apparatus and the like for creating an optical disc which is recognizable as a finalized disc even when an accidental power interruption or a serious write error occurs before finalize processing is completed is provided. The recording apparatus records information on a write once recording medium sequentially including a user data area, a first management information area, an indicator area and a second management information area on a recording layer thereof. The recording apparatus includes an optical head; and a control section for instructing the optical head to record information. The control section instructs to record management information in the first management information area; instructs to record indicator information indicating whether or not the management information has been recorded, in the indicator area; and instructs to record the same management information as recorded in the first management information area, in the second management information area.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide data processing circuits that include a multiplexer, a memory buffer, a data processing circuit, and a channel setting modification circuit. A first input of the multiplexer receives an input data set and a second input of the multiplexer receives a buffered data set. The multiplexer provides either the input data set or the buffered data set as a multiplexer output based upon a select signal. The memory buffer receives the multiplexer output and provides the buffered data set. Operation of the data processing circuit is at least in part governed by channel settings. The data processing circuit receives the multiplexer output and performs a data detection process. The select signal is asserted to select the buffered data set when the data detection process fails, and is asserted to select the input data set when the data detection process succeeds.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of storage units, a mirroring control unit configured to execute mirroring processing, which includes writing processing for writing same data on each of the plurality of storage units and reading processing for reading data from either one of the plurality of storage units, and a power control unit configured to independently control supply of power to the plurality of storage units. If the supply of power to the plurality of storage units is reduced, if the mirroring control unit starts the writing processing, the information processing apparatus resumes the power supply to the plurality of storage units, and if the mirroring control unit starts the reading processing, the information processing apparatus resumes the power supply to a specific storage unit from which the data is read, and configured to execute control not to resume the power supply to the other storage unit(s).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for providing a corrected dibit signal. As an example, various embodiments of the present invention provide dibit correction circuits. Such dibit correction circuits include a dibit sample buffer, a maximum sample detector circuit, a side sample detector circuit, and a dibit correction circuit. The dibit sample buffer includes a plurality of samples of an uncorrected dibit signal. The maximum sample detector circuit identifies a maximum sample of the plurality of samples of the uncorrected dibit signal, and the side sample detector circuit identifies a first side sample prior to the maximum sample on the uncorrected dibit signal and a second side sample following the maximum sample on the uncorrected dibit signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for performing data equalization. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide data equalization circuits that include an equalization circuit and a transition adjustment circuit. The equalization circuit receives a series of at least two original data bits and replaces at least one of the two original data bits with an equalization pattern including two or more equalization bits. The original data bits correspond to an original data clock, and the two or more equalization bits correspond to an equalization data clock. The transition adjustment circuit is operable to modify an occurrence of a transition from one logic state to another logic state within the equalization pattern on a sub-equalization data clock basis.

Abstract: A defect detecting method for an optical disc accessed by an optical pickup head, including: (a) detecting if any defect exists in a detected region of the optical disc after data is written to the detected region; (b) while writing data to the optical disc, detecting if any defect exists on the optical disc according to reflection from the optical pickup head to thereby generate a first defect detecting result; and (c) switching from one of the steps (a) and (b) to the other of the steps (a) and (b).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data equalization. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide methods for generating equalization data. The method includes inputting N bits of an equalization data pattern into respective stages of a shift register, wherein inputting the N bits occurs synchronous to a system data clock having a system data rate, and shifting the N bits of equalization data to next adjacent next stages of the shift register synchronous to an equalization data clock having an equalization data rate N times the system data rate.

Abstract: There are provided a multi-layered optical disk and an optical disk device capable of swiftly reproducing control information recorded into a predetermined recording layer in advance. The object can be accomplished by employing the following configuration: When the optical disk device performs a focus lead-in operation into the multi-layered optical disk, the device positions its optical pickup at a BCA radius position, and takes advantage of a signal which is generated such that an influence exerted on the signal by BCA is avoided. Also, the object can be accomplished by employing the following configuration: An angle index unit for indicating a rotation reference position is provided in the multi-layered optical disk, and a partial area of the BCA is selected as an unrecording area. The optical disk device starts the focus lead-in operation in synchronization with rotation angle information created from the rotation reference position.

Abstract: In an optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers on which information can be recorded by irradiating a laser beam from one side thereof, an optimum recording power to each of the recording layers can be determined. The optical recording medium has a plurality of recording layers on which information can be recorded by irradiating a laser beam from one side thereof, and each of the recording layers has a power calibration area (PCA) for optimizing the intensity of the laser beam.

Abstract: A system of sampling interface for an optical pick-up head comprises an optical pick-up head, a PMOS, a boost circuit, and a sample and hold circuit. The optical pick-up head outputs one of a reading voltage and a writing voltage. The PMOS gate receives the gate voltage and then the PMOS is turned on to pass the reading voltage to the sample and hold circuit. Moreover, the substrate of the PMOS receives a control voltage. The boost circuit is used to boost the gate voltage higher than the control voltage for turning off the PMOS and isolating the writing voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for checking the quality of a recording on a disk intended to be read with a first wavelength and intended to be recorded with a second wavelength, directly with the second wavelength used by the recording system. According to the invention, the method uses a modified jitter definition when a jitter value of recorded information is measured using light of the first wavelength. A special equalizer takes account of a required asymmetry.

Abstract: A media player is utilized to determine presence of defects in storage devices, and to retrieve replacement data from media management servers. The retrieval of the replacement data is performed during playback and/or use of the storage devices. The replacement data is only utilized during real time playback of the storage devices. The replacement data can also be stored within the data storage player, into the storage devices, and/or into external storage devices accessible during playback operations. Addressing information is created and/or modified to enable use of stored replacement data. A new copy of the data can be created in the same or in new storage device. The media management server performs access authentication operations during replacement data retrieval. The media management server is accessed via user-based webpage-like interfaces and/or dedicated APIs.

Abstract: An offset corrector of an information readout apparatus receives a digital signal DRF output from an A/D converter, and performs offset correction. The offset corrector is capable of switching between a level-correction operation that corrects the offset so that the DC level of the shortest period signal included in the readout signal assumes a zero amplitude reference and a HPF operation that matches the level of the readout signal with the zero amplitude reference. The offset corrector corrects the offset in the level correction operation during a normal reproduction, and switches to the HPF operation for offset correction when a defect judgment unit detects a defective area. The information readout apparatus is stable and has a superior performance without a symmetry deviation if there occurs a waveform fluctuation caused by a defect etc.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a storage medium having a plurality of data sectors and a head that communicates with the data storage medium. The head produces a readback signal when reading information from the data storage medium. A computation unit extracts a distortion component of the readback signal and generates a position error signal from the distortion component.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); an amplitude limiting device (182) for limiting an amplitude level of the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected, by a predetermined amplitude limit value (L, ?L), thereby obtaining an amplitude limit signal; and a filtering device (183) for performing a high-frequency emphasis filtering process on the amplitude limit signal, thereby obtaining an equalization-corrected signal.

Abstract: An information readout device includes an equalizer and a maximum likelihood detector. The equalizer includes a second-order Volterra filter, and equalizes a readout signal read out from an information recording medium to a predetermined characteristic to output the equalization signal. The maximum likelihood detector outputs a binary signal through maximum likelihood detection based on the equalization signal. By limiting the number of second-order terms of the second-order Volterra filter to three terms or four terms, a nonlinear component can be effectively corrected.

Abstract: A method and device for managing a recording medium including a non data area having a final defect management area and a data area having a user data area and a spare area. The method includes: (a) recording a defect list onto one or more recording-units of a temporary defect management area allocated to one of the non data area and the spare area, and recording position information of the defect list onto the temporary defect management area, the position information containing one or more defect list pointers which indicate position of the one or more recording-units containing the defect list; and (b) if a recoding-unit is defective, re-recording defect list data onto another recording-unit, and recording updated position information containing a defect list pointer indicating a position of the another recording-unit instead of a defect list pointer indicating a position of the defective recording-unit.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: an offset adding device (19-1, 19-2) for adding a first offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, to a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of the read signal to which the first offset value is added; an offset subtracting device (19-2, 19-3) for subtracting a second offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, from the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the second offset value is subtracted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for magnetic tape recording where the magnetic tape has data and servo tracks, and address or other positioning information is encoded on the servo track. A servo track burst pattern is provided whereby certain of the bursts define a gap between the stripes of the first and second half of the burst, each burst including a certain number of the stripes. The presence of the gap in a burst indicates a first binary state, which may be defined as a digital one, and the absence of the gap defines the second binary state, which may be defined as digital value 0. Hence by defining a set of 1s and 0s, longitudinal positioning or address information is encoded on the servo track, thereby improving servo track following of a tape drive.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reading disk management data of an optical disk. In one embodiment, the disk management data comprises data layout information of the optical disk, and a plurality of disk management data copies of the disk management data is stored on the optical disk. First, a first disk management data copy selected from the plurality of disk management data copies is read from the optical disk. An accuracy measure of the first disk management data copy is then calculated to determine whether the accuracy measure of the first disk management data copy is acceptable. When the accuracy measure of the first disk management data copy is acceptable, the optical disk is accessed according to the first disk management data copy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage medium having a first area and a second area. According to the invention, the first area is recorded in a predefined first physical format and contains a parity check matrix information about an error correction code of a second physical format. The second area is recorded in the second physical format. Methods according to the invention relate to reading data and to recording data.

Abstract: A recording power determination method for determining a recording power of an optical beam for recording data on an information storage medium includes the steps of recording test data on the information storage medium at a plurality of test recording powers; reading the test data recorded at each test recording power, generating a signal, and measuring a modulation factor of the signal corresponding to each test recording power; calculating a product of an n'th power of each test recording power and the corresponding modulation factor, thereby obtaining a plurality of products corresponding to the plurality of test recording powers, where n is a value of exponent and is a real number other than 1; calculating a first recording power based on the correlation between the plurality of test recording powers and the plurality of products; and calculating the recording power based on the first recording power.

Abstract: A record carrier is described comprising a zone with a visually detectable pattern composed of pattern elements arranged along at least one track. The pattern elements comprise a marked zone having an optical property deviating from a background, the marked zones having a width Wm transverse to the track direction and a length Lm along the track direction, wherein at least two or more pattern elements have a marked zone with a mutually different width Wm. In this way, an increased visibility of the visual pattern is achieved. Likewise a method and an apparatus for recording an optical record carrier is included.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical recording apparatus that provides improved writing speed. The apparatus has processing means (50) for processing an encoded data signal (NRZ) with a channel clock frequency signal (CLK). A first clock generator (52) derives a sub-sampled clock signal (CLKn) that has a lower frequency than the channel clock frequency signal (CLK). Furthermore, a modulator (MOD) modulates the sub-sampled clock signal (CLKn) with the encoded data signal (NRZ), and outputs a single, combined data and clock signal (NRZ_CLKn). This signal is received by the optical pick-up unit (OPU; 20), where a second clock generator (24) extracts a retrieved clock signal (CLKr) from the combined signal (NRZ_CLKn), and a data demodulator (23) extracts the encoded data signal (NRZ) using the retrieved clock signal (CLKr). Thereby, a fast and reliable bandwidth in the communication between the processing means and the optical pick-up (OPU; 20) is obtained.

Abstract: A recording method includes multiplexing data and continuously recording multiplexed data in a continuous recording region of a recording medium having a random recording region, and recording management information about multiplexing and recording in the random recording region.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided that includes a data area for recording user data and a defect management area for recording a defect list for managing N number of defect areas existing in the data area, where N is an integer satisfying N?0. The defect list includes two or more blocks, and further includes a header located at a fixed position in the defect list and N number of defect entries, located subsequent to the header, including position information on the respective positions of the N number of defect areas. An anchor is located subsequent to the defect entries, and the header includes first update times information representing the number of times that the defect list has been updated. The anchor includes second update times information representing the number of times that the defect list has been updated.

Abstract: The MTD has some problems. Firstly, even if an input bandwidth is widened to obtain a larger SNR gain, an increase in the SNR gain cannot always be obtained due to the clock jitter that increases clock noise. Secondly, noise is sometimes superimposed on the clock supplied to an ADC when a transmission path connecting a clock-signal source to an ADC has a certain distance or when a certain form of mounting these members is employed. The noise lowers the performance. Provided is an optical disc apparatus including: a means for regulating loosely the bandwidth of a pulsed read signal; a means for boosting high-frequency components of a waveform of a driving signal of a laser diode; and a means for synchronizing autonomously a driving clock of the ADC and a DAC with a clock of the pulsed read signal.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus changes a write strategy to reduce a pulse width of a write pulse to write a minimum mark, and records data based on the changed write strategy.

Abstract: When receiving the reproduced data from the optical disc and buffering same, the buffering from the correct position can be started on the basis of the synchronous signal and the address information included in the sub data which was received simultaneously. There is provided a method for controlling the buffering of the main data which is reproduced from the optical disc, in which the main data and the sub data are received with taking word clocks which are partitioning timings having plural bits of the main data as a unit as references, a synchronous signal which is in synchronization with the main data is generated, and the buffering of the main data is started on the basis of the synchronous signal.

Abstract: A control device includes n optical pickups, n being an integer greater than one; a dividing unit configured to divide one block into n pieces of data, the one block being a predetermined amount of data; and a control unit configured to control the n optical pickups to record the n pieces of data obtained by the dividing unit on a predetermined recording medium.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical disc apparatus constructed to discriminate a disc ID of an optical disc on which information is to be recorded, then derive, from a strategy pre-registered in the optical disc apparatus, test-recording repetition count information that matches the discriminated disc ID, and after using the derived test-recording repetition count information to assign the number of test-recordings to be conducted upon one specific address within a test-recording area of the optical disc, implement the assigned number of test-recordings and calculate an optimum recording power level for information recording, based upon a read signal generated after the final test-recording. The above construction improves recording power accuracy of information recording on rewritable optical discs.

Abstract: A write-once optical disc and a method and apparatus for recording management information on the optical disc are provided. The optical disc includes at least one recording layer and a plurality of temporary defect management areas (TDMAs) on the at least one recording layer. At least one of the TDMAs includes an indicator indicating which one of the TDMAs has an in-use status.

Abstract: An information reproducer (1) includes a element (15) for reproducing content data, a first setting element (20) for setting first loop reproduction unit data, a conversion element (20) for generating conversion data by dividing or elongating/contracting a plurality of unit beat data each corresponding to one beat included in first loop reproduction unit data, a second setting element (20) for setting second loop reproduction unit data where (i) the reproduction period is substantially identical to that of the first loop reproduction unit data, and (ii) a beat appears at a timing synchronous with that of a beat appearing in the first loop reproduction unit data by combining the conversion data, and a element (20) for controlling the reproduction element to perform loop reproduction of the first loop reproduction unit data and the second loop reproduction unit data.