1186results about "Optical recording/reproducing/erasing methods" patented technology

A multimedia optical disk is provided. The multimedia optical disk includes a data area for storing objects which include moving picture data and at least one of audio data and sub-picture data. The multimedia optical disk also includes an index area for storing reproduction orders of the objects. Route information in the index area includes a sequence of addresses of objects whose alignment represents a reproduction order. Chain control information in the index area corresponds to the route information. The chain control information, being effective in reproducing objects specified by the alignment of the sequence of addresses (objects specified by the alignment of the sequence of addresses are called a chain), instructs the reproduction apparatus to have a navigation control of the chain. A piece of moving picture data having a certain time period is reproduced at the same timing as a piece of audio data and a piece of sub-picture data. A piece of sub-control information, being effective in reproducing moving picture data, sub-picture data, and audio data stored in a small unit instructs the reproduction apparatus to have a navigation control of the data stored in the same small unit.

A multi-layered information recording medium comprising a plurality of recording layers, a user data area for recording user data, provided in at least two of the plurality of recording layers, and a defect list storing area for storing a defect list. When at least one defective area is detected in the user data area, the defect list is used to manage the at least one defective area.

A memory device includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The nonvolatile memory includes a storage area having a plurality of memory blocks each including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, and a buffer including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and configured to temporarily store data, and in which data is erased for each block. If a size of write data related to one write command is not more than a predetermined size, the controller writes the write data to the buffer.

The present invention provides an optical disk identification device for use in an optical disk reproduction apparatus for reproducing a plurality of types of optical disks based on information recorded on the optical disks. Recorded information is reproduced from an optical disk 1 while an optical pickup 3 is fixed at a focal position Pf. A focal position detector 32 generates a focal position detection signal Sg that is either at a high level or at a low level at the focal position Pf based on reproduced signals Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd. An RF signal detector 20 detects an RF signal Srf from the reproduced signal based on the focal position detection signal Sg. A recording density identifier 31, S14, S20 identifies the recording density of the optical disk based on the RF signal. A format identifier S16 to S24 identifies the type of the optical disk based on the detected recording density.

A method and apparatus for controlling access to a storage medium, such as an optically readable medium. Light sensitive or other materials that are adapted to change state and affect reading of a storage medium are used to control access to data that may be stored on optical medium and/or to control use of the medium.

An information record medium is provided with a first recording layer on which a data group is recorded, and a second recording layer on which a data group is recorded. On the first recording layer, a lead-in area, management information for the whole of recording information, and the data group are recorded. On the second recording layer, a lead-out area and a data group are recorded. The lead-in area is recorded at the inner radius side of the information record medium. The lead-out area is recorded at the inner radius side of the information record medium. The medium is further provided with a mid area at the outer radius side of the first recording layer, and the other mid area at the outer radius side of the second recording layer.

In a three-dimensional recording and reproducing apparatus having a recording medium including a plurality of recording layers stacked on a substrate and an optical system for converging a light irradiated from the substrate side on each of the plurality of recording layers to three-dimensionally record and reproduce information, the following equation is satisfied:

λ/4≦(1/8NB)(1/NB²−1)NAF⁴Δd

where

• • λ: Wavelength of the light;
  • NB: Refractivity of the substrate 3;
  • NAF: Numerical aperture of a focus lens 8 for converging a light;
  • Δd: Positional range in the optical axis direction in which exists a recording layer on which the light is to be converged.

A light spot is focused on each layer of the multi-layer structured disc to record and reproduce highly reliable data in a high density.

An optical disc device includes a laser light source for radiating a laser light beam illuminated via an objective lens on a signal surface of an optical disc, a return light detection unit for detecting the reflected light radiated from the laser light source and reflected from the signal surface of the optical disc, a disc discriminating unit for discriminating the type of the optical disc based on a detection output of the return light detection unit, a unit for detecting tracking error signals of plural different types of different detection systems based on the detection output of the return light detection unit, a tracking unit for displacing the objective lens along the radius of the optical disc responsive to the tracking error signals for tracking-controlling a laser spot of the laser light focussed on the signal surface of the optical disc and a controlling unit for switching the detection system based on a discriminating output by the disc discriminating unit for selecting one of the plural types of the tracking error signals responsive to the types of the optical discs.

In a write-once media, by using a selected area such as an area starting from a postscript-recording point in the main data area as an alternate area, by determining whether or not an address specified in a request such as a write request is an address at which data has been recorded on the basis of information on a sequential recording range and by recording pieces of alternate-address management information for replacing defective locations on the media and for renewing data recorded on the media in a table by letting the pieces of information coexist in the table, defective locations on the media can be replaced with other locations and data already recorded on the media can thus be renewed even without providing pre-allocated alternate area on the media. In addition, if the media is provided with an alternate area and the alternate area becomes insufficient for alternate-address processing, a selected region in the main data area can be used as a region supplementary to the insufficient alternate area. An example of the region is an area starting from a postscript-recording point mentioned above.

A method for rating an information recording medium according to the present invention includes the steps of: receiving a digital read signal, which has been generated based on an analog read signal representing information that has been read from the information recording medium, and shaping the waveform of the digital read signal; subjecting the shaped digital read signal to maximum likelihood decoding, thereby generating a binarized signal showing a result of the maximum likelihood decoding; and calculating the quality of the digital read signal based on the shaped digital read signal and the binarized signal. If the quality of the read signal is calculated by a PRML method in which a number of zero-cross portions are included in a merging path of a minimum difference metric, the quality is calculated by using only a state transition pattern in which only one zero-cross portion is included in a merging path of a non-minimum difference metric.

By avoiding the problem that in a hybrid optical disc with a standard-density recording area and a high-density recording area, an optical pickup designed to be suitable for the standard-density recording area cannot operate as desired in the high-density recording area and may cause a malfunction, damage to the disc drive or optical disc is prevented and optimal control is enabled. Access operation identification information such as reproducing identification information 225 indicating whether or not information recorded in the user data area 222 of the optical disc can be reproduced under the reproducing conditions of the optical disc driving apparatus is recorded in the lead-in area 222. The optical disc driving apparatus reads this type of access operation identification information, compares it with access operation identification information possessed by the optical disc driving apparatus, and if they do not correspond, does not carry out access operations by the optical head to the user data area 222, because reproducing or recording compatibility with the optical disc 201 is lacking.

Within a sub-code to be recorded in a recording medium, the physical characteristics of the recording medium are recorded. This enables a recording apparatus or a reading apparatus to easily and correctly determine the physical characteristics of the recording medium by reading the sub-code. The physical characteristic information includes information concerning the material, the disc type, the linear velocity, the track pitch, the moment of inertia, and the size/configuration of the recording medium. It is thus possible to easily and correctly determine the physical characteristics of the disc (or unit area) while maintaining the compatibility with known recording media.

A method of copy protecting optical discs uses the differences in capability between the encoder associated with a laser beam recorder and that in currently available CD writers. Digital sum value (DSV) is a property of the encoded data on CODs and an encoder, which controls a laser beam recorder may be able to choose a pattern of merge bits which result in the overall DSV having optimal properties. During mastering of a CD, data patterns are added to the disc to provide an authenticating signature. These data patterns are chosen to cause DSV problems. Currently available CD writers have been found to have difficulty writing an authenticating signature of the type described without producing a resulting CD which has severe readability problems. Thus, the copy disc written by the CD writer will result in a CD reader returning corrupted data or information signalling a read error.