Abstract: An information reproducing device reproduces information in an information recording medium provided with, in addition to a first recording layer readable by a first laser beam, at least one of a second recording layer readable by a second laser beam, and a third recording layer readable by a third laser beam. The information reproducing device includes an optical pickup element applying a laser beam and receiving its reflection; a first judging element first determining whether the first recording layer exists, based on an output from the optical pickup element; a second judging element secondly determining on either of the recording layers is set by a user as a prioritized reproducing layer to be reproduced first; a reproducing element reproducing recorded information; and a control element controlling the reproducing element to reproduce the recorded information, based on outputs from the first judgment element, second judgment, and optical pickup elements.

Abstract: Semiconductor lasers emit lights having wavelengths of about 400 nm, 650 nm, and 780 nm, respectively. A transmittance adjustment element is provided in an optical path of the light reflected from a disk. The transmittance adjustment element includes a first optical thin film that changes transmittance of a 650-nm-wavelength light relatively to transmittance of 400-nm- and 780-nm-wavelength lights, and a second optical thin film that changes transmittance of a 780-nm-wavelength light relatively to transmittance of 400-nm- and 650-nm-wavelength lights. The transmittance adjustment element has the function of maintaining constant the intensity of light incident onto a photodetector irrespective of the type of medium.

Abstract: A disk has a plurality of recording layers in a laminated direction. When a defect occurs in any one of recording layers during disk manufacture, information about the defect is recorded in a read-only region in the recording layer. An optical disk apparatus determines which of the recording layers is usable based on the information about the defect read from the disk, and executes a recording/reproducing operation according to a determination result. Therefore, even when a disk with a defect in the recording layer is used, that disk may be offered to a user as an appropriately usable disk.

Abstract: A program execution unit for executing a reproduction control program for controlling reproduction of a content, a reproduction control unit for controlling reproduction of the obtained content based on a control instruction from the program execution unit based on a content reproduction control instruction from a user, and a notification unit for giving notification based on a result of determination as to whether content reproduction control by the reproduction control unit is control corresponding to the reproduction control instruction or not are included.

Abstract: The present invention solves the problems that, in a detection circuit which is mostly configured by analog circuits, the chip size cannot be reduced even using a highly-precise processing, there are many external capacitors and terminals thereof, a plurality of high-speed and large-scale AD converters are required for digitization, the detection precision of a small amplitude signal superimposed on an RF signal is deteriorated, and high-speed sample/hold is required. A significant deletion of analog circuits can be realized by generating a digital detection signal directly from an analog RF signal using a simple analog circuit configuration of a detection control means including a comparator, a threshold DAC for setting a threshold value, and an integrator.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus can highly accurately record a hologram representing information on or reproduce such a hologram from an optical disc. When recording information on an optical disc 100, the optical disc apparatus controls the position of an objective lens OL1 according to the outcome of detection of a red reflected light beam Lr2 so as to make the focus Fr thereof follow a target track and it also makes the focus Fb1 of a blue light beam Lb1 agree with a target mark position by the objective lens OL1 and also the focus Fb2 agree with the target mark position by controlling the position of another objective lens OL2 according to the outcome of detection of the blue light beam Lb1 by way of the objective lenses OL1 and OL2 so as to make the focus Fb1 of the blue light beam Lb1 and the focus Fb2 of the blue light beam Lb2 agree with the target mark position and the blue light beam Lb1 and the blue light beam Lb2 interfere with each other.

Abstract: An optical drive device generates a fist push-pull signal and a first sum signal based on a light receiving amount in two light receiving areas of which each width in a signal light tangent direction is smaller than a diameter of a spot of signal light, generates a first normalized push-pull signal by normalizing the first push-pull signal by using the first suits signal, and generates a tracking error signal based on the first normalized push-pull signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording method, a program, and a recording medium whereby data is reproduced from a two-layer optical disk that has yet to be formatted completely. A control section 51 divides a recording area of a layer L0 of the optical disk 33 into a plurality of recording regions and a recording area of a layer L1 of the same disk 33 into a plurality of recording regions at substantially the same physical positions as the recording regions of the layer L0. A control section 51 records the region where user-designated data was last written. The control section 51 controls a signal processing section 56 to write dummy data to the recording area of the layer L0 or L1 different from the layer that includes the region to which the user-designated data was last written.

Abstract: An optical disk device which flexibly and efficiently executes verification of recorded data is provided. A drive controller sets an area to be verified and a mode of verification according to a command which is supplied from a host device. For the area to be verified, the user selects one or a plurality of lead-in, inner, middle, and outer areas. For the verification mode, the user selects one of an immediate execution mode and an in-close-command execution mode. In a duplicator or the like in which same data is recorded on a plurality of optical disks, the user can designate an important data portion and selectively execute verification.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes n optical pickups, n control units, each controlling a corresponding one of the n optical pickups, and a communication unit that allows the n control units to communicate with one another.

Abstract: An optical disc driving device includes a control circuit 4 for performing a gain adjustment for each of two recording surfaces of a multilayered optical disc 1 on the basis of an FE signal in such a way as to maintain a state in which light is focused onto either of the recording surfaces, to generate a focus servo loop signal, and for generating a focus jump signal for causing either a transition from a state in which the light is focused onto one recording surface to a state in which the light is focused onto the other recording surface, or a transition in the opposite direction from a threshold set up on the basis of an amount of gain adjustment, and a focus actuator driving circuit 5 for performing either a focus jump or an operation of maintaining the state in which the light is focused.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus according to the present invention includes a spindle motor that rotates an optical disk on whose information recording surface a plurality of addresses is recorded, an optical pickup that records/reproduces an information signal on/from the information recording surface of the optical disk rotated by the spindle motor, an strobe light-emitting unit that irradiates a label surface of the optical disk with light, and a control unit that causes the strobe light-emitting unit to emit light based on an address selected from the plurality of addresses as a reference address and a reference signal readable from the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing system 1 reads, based on a predetermined reproduction clock, information associated with a recording track of a recording medium by irradiating frequency light. The frequency light is scanned at a predetermined scan velocity. The optical recording/reproducing system includes a computer 13, a DSP 49, and a LD driver that modulate light by a drive signal on which a frequency signal is superimposed to thereby output the frequency light, and synchronizes a frequency of the frequency signal with a frequency of the reproduction clock according to the scan velocity.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which can carry out tilt control using a signal of a focus control system so as to improve the recording/reproducing performance of an optical disk. The optical disk apparatus includes a motor which rotates the optical disk, an optical pickup which reads at least information from the optical disk being rotated by the motor, a first memory which uses information of a rotation angle of the optical disk from the optical pickup as an address, a second memory which stores an offset by which information stored in the first memory should be shifted and then read, and a control portion which reads the information stored in the first memory after shifting the information by the offset stored in the second memory and which carries out tilt control using the read information.

Abstract: A driving device includes an optical pickup unit that irradiates a disc having a plurality of recording surfaces with a laser beam used for recording or reproducing information, and a generating unit that generates a focus control signal used for controlling a focus state of the laser beam emitted from the optical pickup unit on the basis of a focus error signal. The generating unit includes level detector that detects a level of the focus error signal, an offset generator that generates an offset signal used for performing focus jumping from one of the plurality of recording surfaces to another one of the plurality of recording surfaces in accordance with the focus error signal, and a switcher that switches a polarity of the focus control signal by comparing the level of the focus error signal of the level detector with a threshold value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes one or more devices, a device control module which performs drive control of the one or more devices, and a nonvolatile memory. Each of the one or more devices includes a command reception module which receives from the device control module a command to cause the nonvolatile memory to store operation setting information, a setting module which performs, when the operation setting information has been stored in the nonvolatile memory at the time of power-on or resetting, operation setting based on the information, and an erasing module which erases the information stored in the nonvolatile memory after the setting means has completed the operation setting. The device control module includes a command issuing module which issues to the one or more devices a command to cause the nonvolatile memory to store operation setting information before power-off or resetting.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for data recording of an optical disk drive. First, raw data is encoded to obtain a plurality of recording units of encoded data to be stored in a memory. The encoded data stored in the memory is then recorded to an optical disk. A predetermined number of recording units of the encoded data is then reserved in the memory as reserved data without being recorded onto the optical disk. The recorded data read from the optical disk is then compared to the corresponding encoded data stored in the memory to verify correctness of the recorded data. The reserved data is then recorded to the optical disk after correctness verification of the recorded data is completed. Finally, the aforementioned steps are repeated until there is no more raw data left as a source for encoding.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a light source that emits first light; an objective lens that condenses the first light and allows it to irradiate a track having formed therein a recording mark for intercepting the first light in a uniform recording layer of an optical information recording medium; and a light receiving section that receives transmitted light which has transmitted through the track.

Abstract: A recording medium, and a method and apparatus for manage the recording medium are disclosed. A method for managing a recording medium including a plurality of recording layers, according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises detecting a defect on a first area of a first recording layer of the recording medium; recording first defect management information for the first area in a management area of the recording medium; and recording, in the management area, second defect management information for a second area of a second recording layer, wherein the second area is in a location physically corresponding to that of the first area.

Abstract: A write once optical recording medium and a method and apparatus for storing and recovering defect management information to and from the write once optical recording medium are provided. The recording medium includes at least one recording layer, and a data area on the recording layer. The data area includes at least one spare area and a user data area. The spare area contains at least one replacement cluster, each of the replacement clusters storing therein address information of a corresponding defective cluster.

Abstract: Second digital information serving as copyright protection information can be stably and reliably read without any effect of a defect or pit missing on a disk-shaped recording medium. Second digital information is recorded onto a disk-shaped recording medium by wobbling a pit sequence recorded as a first signal. The second digital information is recorded so that a plurality of bits constituting the second digital information are allocated in a unit period of an identical sync signal contained in the first signal. During playback, the plurality of bits constituting the recorded second digital information are read a plurality of times every unit period of the sync signal, and information of the read bits is then integrated. Thus, information from a large number of wobbled pits across unit periods of a plurality of sync signals can be integrated to determine the bit values.

Abstract: An information recording medium (10) is provided with: a first area in which first data is recorded, first data region information being assigned to the first data; a second area in which second data is recorded, second data region information being assigned to the second data; and a control area in which control data including setting command data (72) is recorded, the setting command data setting the first data region information as reference region information, which is referred to by an information reproducing apparatus, if the first data is reproduced.

Abstract: A tilt can be detected highly accurately by minimizing the tilt detection error. An optical head includes: an objective lens for converging a light beam from a light source onto an optical disc; a photodetector section receiving the beam, reflected from the disc, at divided areas on its photodetection plane and outputting light detection signals from those areas; and a tilt detecting section for detecting a relative tilt between the lens and disc based on the detection signals.

Abstract: A recording device including: a medium drive section configured to rotation-drive a disk recording medium, and write data to the disk recording medium through a head section; a determining section configured to determine whether the recording device is in a falling state when the medium drive section is in an idle state in which state the disk recording medium is rotation-driven and the head section is off a track; and a controlling section configured to make determination as to the falling state by the determining section when the determining section determines that the recording device is in the falling state, and when the determining section determines that the recording device is not in the falling state, controlling the medium drive section so as to set the medium drive section in an active state in which state the disk recording medium is rotation-driven to be in an accessible state and the head section is on track.

Abstract: A recording medium and an apparatus for recording/reproducing data on the recording medium, which are capable of controlling access to the recording medium by recording control information for controlling access for reading the data, are disclosed. When a function included in the recording medium cannot be performed, Unknown Rules are applied, and, when the function included in the recording medium can be performed, Known Rules are applied. Even in the Known Rules, a password may be used such that data reading is controlled. Accordingly, it is possible to compatibly reproduce the data from different versions of recording media. It is difficult for a user to access to the recording medium such that content protection can be improved.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (200) is provided with: a reproducing device (202, 205, 206) for reproducing record information recorded on an information recording medium (100) which is provided with a first recording layer (L0) to which first medium region information (110) is assigned and a second recording layer (L1) to which second medium region information (120) is assigned; a storing device (209) for storing apparatus region information (230); a judging device (207) for judging whether or not the second medium region information matches the apparatus region information if the first medium region information does not match the apparatus region information; and a controlling device (207) for controlling the reproducing device to reproduce the record information recorded in the second recording layer if it is judged that the second medium region information matches the apparatus region information.

Abstract: An optical storage medium can be provided by which illegal usage of the optical storage medium involving an infringement on the copyright can be prevented effectively without impairment of the functions for reproducing physical format information and optical storage medium manufacturing information. The optical storage medium includes a main information region in which encrypted data information is recorded as a pit row that is capable of being read out by means of light and a control data region. In the control data region, key information for decoding the encryption of the data information, the physical format information and the optical storage medium manufacturing information are recorded by wobbling a groove.

Abstract: A device for controlling access to an optical disc includes a control word calculator and a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO). The control word calculator is arranged to calculate a control word corresponding to a radius where the optical disc is accessed. In addition, the NCO is arranged to generate an output frequency according to the control word, wherein the output frequency is utilized for accessing the optical disc. An associated method for controlling access to an optical disc includes: calculating a control word corresponding to a radius where the optical disc is accessed; and generating an output frequency according to the control word, wherein the output frequency is utilized for accessing the optical disc.

Abstract: Method for demodulating a sampling signal from a storage medium, which dispenses with the use of a PLL, and to a device for reading from and/or writing to storage media which uses such a method. Method for demodulating a sampling signal from a storage medium, the information in the sampling signal being coded in pulse lengths of an integer multiple of the period of the modulation frequency, has the steps of: determining the current pulse length and/or the current total length of two successive pulses; determining the maximum pulse length which occurs in the sampling signal and/or the maximum total length of two successive pulses, and comparing at least two of the values determined in order to determine the type of sampling signal or to establish a synchronization bit sequence.

Abstract: An optical disc drive apparatus which is mounted on a mobile apparatus, which at least reads information from a disc surface of an optical disc disposed in a predetermined position by using a pickup, which is robust against vibration, and which is capable of preventing collision between the disc surface of the optical disc and the pickup judges a road surface condition associated with location information on the basis of the location information concerning a location on a road on which the mobile apparatus is traveling acquired from external and road surface condition information depending upon a road surface condition of a road on which the mobile apparatus travels, and controls servo characteristics of the optical drive apparatus according to control information associated with the judged road surface condition.

Abstract: A recording device records contents in a plurality of recording media. While the recording device records a content in a recording medium, if a free space of the recording medium runs out, an unrecorded part of the content needs to be recorded in another recording medium. In order to play back all parts of the content, all recording media in which all the parts of the content have been separately recorded are necessary. Particularly, if an internal recording medium included in the recording device has a small space and accordingly a sufficient space is secured by connecting an external removable recording medium to the recording device after the recording has started, parts of the content are separately recorded in the internal recording medium and the external recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of encoding a set of data on an information carrier comprising data areas each intended to store a data, each data area being characterized by a transmission coefficient and a phase-shift coefficient, said method comprising a step of calculating the transmission coefficient and phase-shift coefficient of said data areas so that an output light pattern corresponding to the intensity pattern of said set of data is generated at a given distance from the information carrier, via interference between light outputted by said data areas in response of an array of light spots periodically applied to non-adjacent data areas.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus, for conducting edition works, such as, addition, movement, and deletion, etc.

Abstract: The method is used for determining the value of a recording parameter for writing user information on an information layer of an optical record carrier using a recording device. The method comprises the steps of: reading control information from the record carrier relating to a selected write strategy for recording at a specified nominal recording speed on the information layer; selecting a set of parameter values from different sets of parameter values provided in the control information for said write strategy, said recording speed and said information layer; and taking a value of the recording parameter provided in the selected set of parameter values for recording user information on the optical record carrier.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium is provided with a substrate having a pregroove formed on one main plane; a reflecting layer arranged on the one main plane of the substrate and reflecting an access controlling laser beam; a selective reflecting layer arranged on the reflecting layer, transmitting the access controlling laser beam and reflecting a recording laser beam; a recording layer arranged on the selective reflecting layer for having information recorded thereon by the recording laser beam; and a reflection preventing layer arranged on the recoding layer. On the substrate, a dummy groove having a shape similar to that of the pregroove is formed on forming regions adjacent to an effective access region on the one main plane.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus provided with identifying information acquisition means to read recording medium identify information recorded on a recording medium and a storage unit to store the recording medium identify information acquired by the identifying information acquisition means so that the recording media which have been played are registered as library information. When a recording medium is to be played, this library information is used to determine whether to allow bonus images to be reproduced.

Abstract: A recording device records marks in a track on a record carrier via a beam of radiation. The record carrier has a preformed track pattern such as a wobbled pregroove having prepits for encoding record carrier information. The device has a head for generating a scanning spot on the track and a front-end unit coupled to the head for generating detector signals based on radiation reflected from the track, the detector signals including a left subdetector signal and a right sub-detector signal. The device has a demodulation unit for retrieving the record carrier information from the detector signals, which includes a radial modulation signal circuit (34). The circuit generates a radial modulation signal (66) based on a difference signal of the sub-detector signals (61,62) normalized by a sum signal of the sub detector signals, and generates the sum signal by adding a correction amount. Thereby overcompensation due to normalization is reduced.

Abstract: Record carrier identification information is stored using an asymmetry modulation. This prevents the access to this information through the regular data path of the playback device. The asymmetry information is automatically removed by the playback device because of the inherent data slicing and decoding that takes place in the play back device. A parameter of the asymmetry modulation is used to verify that the record carrier is authentic and not a duplicated record carrier. The parameter is disturbed by duplication processes and thus provides a reliable difficult to circumvent indication of authenticity of the record carrier.

Abstract: An optical head reduces, upon signal reproducing from a recording layer of an optical disc (14) including two recording layers (15, 16), the influence incurred by the other recording layer, thereby detecting a stable signal light. A phase modulation member (13) that provides an uneven phase change or a phase changes different by 180 degrees from each other is provided in an area of a condensing lens (11) in the vicinity of the center of the section of the reflecting beam. The phase modulation member (13) cancels a cross-talk light from the other recording layer based on the phase difference thereof, thereby attenuating the cross-talk light incident onto a photodetector (12) to suppress an interference with the signal light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical recording apparatus that provides improved writing speed. In the processing means (50) an encoded data signal (NRZ) is processed, and a first clock generator (52) generates a two-level clock signal (CLK). Furthermore, a duty cycle modulator (MOD) modulates the clock signal (CLK) in response to the encoded data signal (NRZ) so as to vary the duty cycle of the clock signal (CLK), possibly with a plurality of phases. The resulting single, combined data and clock signal (NRZ_CLK) is transmitted to the optical pick-up unit (OPU; 20) where a second clock generator (24) extracts a retrieved clock signal (CLKr) from the combined signal (NRZ_CLK), and a data demodulator (DEMOD; 23) extracts the encoded data signal (NRZ) using said retrieved clock signal (CLKr). Thereby, a fast and reliable bandwidth is obtained in the communication between the processing means and the optical pick-up (OPU; 20.

Abstract: An optical disk playback device includes a control means (an LSI 5 for system control) for performing a track search according to contents information, comparing a current track start point position at the time after performing the track search with a target track start point position, when the comparison result shows that they differ from each other, setting up a new target track start point position by performing a predetermined arithmetic operation, then performing a track search again, and, when a new current track start point position at the time after performing the track search again matches the set-up new target track start point position, starting a playback from the new current track start point position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk, card or media which comprises: a) a plurality of data structures that are readable by the interrogating beam of light; and b) a composition on or in the optical disk, card or media disposed so that when the optical disk, card or media is used in the optical read-out system, the interrogating beam of light passes through the composition before or after contacting some or all of the data structures. The composition comprises a polymeric matrix with an organometallic complex dissolved therein or with metal, transition metal, metal oxide or transition metal oxide nanoparticles uniformly dispersed therein. The composition is substantially transparent to the interrogating beam and/or is substantially colorless.

Abstract: In a recording disc, a straight groove (31) and a position determining pit (33) are formed in an inner circumference area (21), and a straight groove (34) and an over-run preventing pit (36) are formed in an outer circumference area (22), and only a straight groove (37) is formed over the entire middle area (23).

Abstract: A magnetic recording device includes a patterned media magnetic recording medium where multiple tracks are arranged for radial direction in a concentric manner, the tracks each being formed by arranging multiple recording dots. The recording dots are each made of an isolated magnetic material and arranged in a rotational direction. The magnetic recording device further includes a magnetic head. The magnetic head includes: a main magnetic pole that faces the magnetic recording medium; a magnetic field generation coil that generates magnetic field to be transmitted to the magnetic recording medium through the main magnetic pole; a return yoke that receives the magnetic flux transmitted to the magnetic recording medium from the main magnetic pole and returns the magnetic flux thus received to the magnetic field generation coil; and a search coil that detects a change in magnetic flux passing through the return yoke.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when an apparatus performs reproduction from an optical disc of a format not compatible to the apparatus, the apparatus is prevented from obtaining an incorrect address and thus causing a malfunction. A recording method according to the present invention performs first conversion of bit-inverting m number (1?m<n; m an integer) of symbols at prescribed positions of a code word coded using an error correction code by a Reed-Solomon code and including symbol C(i) [i=C=0, 1, 2, . . . n; n is an integer] to generate conversion information; and records the conversion information on a first recording medium.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for controlling an access means for accessing a recording medium containing at least one area so that the access means accesses the at least one area. The apparatus comprises a means for determining whether or not at least one first recorded area storing data is included in the at least one area, and a means for controlling the access means. When it is determined that the at least one first recorded area is included in the at least one area, the control means controls the access means based on a result of accessing the at least one first recorded area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: An information recording medium is provided with: a recording layer (L0 layer, L1 layer) having one or a plurality of predetermined recording areas (CDZ, 101 and the like) in which record data including buffer data in a finalizing process can be recorded; and a management area (CDZ) in which the management information (50a) can be recorded, the management information including first identification information (51a) for identifying whether or not embossed pits are formed in the predetermined recording area.

Abstract: A device seamlessly records real-time information on a record carrier in a track on a recording layer via a beam of radiation. The device has a real-time information buffer and an interface for transfer of real-time information and commands between a source and the recording means. While recording the real-time information, the device detects (42) an inability to write information on the record carrier for a period exceeding (43) a local realtime information buffering capacity of the real-time information buffer. If so, a stop command is sent (44) to the source for temporarily interrupting the transfer of real-time information. After the device detects that said inability has ended (45), a resume command is sent (46) to the source for resuming the transfer of real-time information. Hence seamless recording is provided without a need for a large buffer, in particular in the event of a layer jump when recording on a multilayer optical disc.

Abstract: A recording medium, and a method and apparatus of controlling an access to the recording medium are disclosed. Physical access control (PAC) information that is pre-recorded on a recording medium is extracted. Then, a PAC identification is extracted from the PAC information. An access to the recording medium is controlled using first control information that is included in the PAC information, when the PAC identification is known. Alternatively, the access to the recording medium is controlled using second control information that is included in the PAC information, when the PAC identification is unknown.