JP2000293857A - Optical recording medium, and method and device for recording and reproducing the medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To activate a device in a short time by shortening the time required for learning operation at the time of recording and reproducing information to and from an optical recording medium. SOLUTION: This optical recording medium 1 is irradiated with a laser pulse to form marks where lengths of marks and those of spaces bear information are formed, thus recording or reproducing information. The optical recording medium 1 has an information recording area 6, where information is recorded, and a recording/reproducing condition recording area 4 where recording/reproducing conditions indicating various set values in recording and reproducing devices at the time of recording or reproducing information are recorded. Recording/reproducing conditions recorded in the recording/ reproducing condition recording area 4 and recording and reproducing device information which specifies recording and reproducing device are read out before recording or reproducing of information, and information is recording or reproduced on the basis of the recording/reproducing condition accompanied with recording and reproducing device information which coincides with a recording and reproducing device for recording or reproducing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical recording medium for recording / reproducing information by irradiating a laser beam or the like, a recording / reproducing method thereof, and a recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical recording medium has attracted attention as a large-capacity, high-density memory. At present, a rewritable optical recording medium called an erasable type is being developed.
As one of such erasable optical recording media, there is a type that uses a thin film that changes phase between an amorphous state and a crystalline state as a recording layer, and performs recording and erasing of information by thermal energy by laser light irradiation.

As a phase change material for this recording layer, G
An alloy film containing e, Sb, Te, In, or the like as a main component, for example, a GeSbTe alloy is known. Information is recorded by forming a mark by partially amorphizing the recording layer, and erasing is often performed by crystallization of the amorphous mark. Amorphization is performed by irradiating an intense laser beam in a pulse shape to heat the recording layer to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point, and then cooling the recording layer at a speed equal to or higher than a certain value. on the other hand,
Crystallization is performed by irradiating a relatively weak laser beam to heat the recording layer to a temperature higher than the crystallization temperature and lower than the melting point.

[0004] As a method of recording information on a medium,
A PWM recording system in which marks of different lengths are formed with various spaces provided so that the lengths of the marks and the lengths of the spaces (that is, the edge positions of the front end and the rear end of the mark) carry information is known. is there.

In this PWM recording method, when a long mark is formed, simply irradiating a laser pulse having a long mark length, heat generated at the front portion of the mark promotes temperature rise at the rear portion. The shape becomes a distorted mark shape with a thin part and a thick rear part, and the signal quality deteriorates. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, one mark is formed by irradiating a plurality of laser pulses divided into a first pulse corresponding to the front end of the mark, an intermediate pulse corresponding to the middle part of the mark, and a final pulse corresponding to the rear end of the mark. Is advantageous. Here, a, c, and e are the generation timing, length, and intensity of the first pulse, respectively, and b, d, and f are the generation timing, length, and intensity of the last pulse, respectively.
In addition, g is the intensity of the laser between the pulses, and h is the intensity of the laser in the space. Hereinafter, the conditions for forming a laser pulse including the items a to h are referred to as pulse conditions.

However, even in this method, if the interval between marks is reduced due to the increase in recording density, the heat generated at the time of forming a mark affects the formation of an adjacent mark, and the edge position of the mark is reduced. There is a problem that the signal quality is degraded due to the fluctuation.
The amount of change in the edge position due to the thermal interference between the marks differs depending on the length of the mark to be recorded and the length of the front and rear spaces. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, for example, in the signal pattern adaptive type recording compensation system proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-129959, the generation timing a of the first pulse and the generation timing of the last pulse in FIG. b is recorded by being changed as needed in accordance with the length of the mark to be recorded and the length of the space before and after the mark.

[0007]

However, the optimum pulse condition largely depends on the characteristics of the medium and the recording / reproducing apparatus. Similarly, servo conditions for determining the operation of various servos during recording and reproduction, such as focus and tracking positions and gains, and optimum conditions for reproduction signal processing conditions such as equalization characteristics and binarized slice levels are also determined by the medium and recording / reproduction. It largely depends on the characteristics of the device.

Accordingly, at the time of recording, a medium is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus, and each time the medium is started, test recording is performed while changing recording / reproducing conditions such as pulse conditions, servo conditions, and reproduction signal processing conditions. Then, by comparing the results of measuring the quality of signals reproduced from these, optimum recording and reproduction conditions are obtained, and information is recorded based on these conditions. For this reason, at the time of startup, this learning operation is always required, and there has been a problem that the standby time becomes long.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical recording medium capable of shortening the time required for the learning operation and realizing activation in a short time, and a recording and reproducing method and a recording and reproducing apparatus for the optical recording medium.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An optical recording medium according to the present invention is an optical recording medium for recording information by forming a mark by irradiating a laser pulse, the information being used for recording information. It has a recording area and a recording / reproducing condition recording area that can be recorded by the recording / reproducing apparatus for recording recording / reproducing conditions indicating various set values in the recording / reproducing apparatus when recording or reproducing information. Preferably, in the optical recording medium, the recording / reproducing condition recording area has a sufficient capacity for recording a plurality of the recording / reproducing conditions. Preferably, in the optical recording medium, the recording / reproducing condition recording area is further divided into a plurality of areas. Also, preferably, in the optical recording medium,
Optimal recording / reproducing conditions are recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area. Preferably, in the optical recording medium, in the recording / reproducing condition recording area, in addition to the recording / reproducing condition, further, recording / reproducing device information for specifying a recording / reproducing device using the recording / reproducing condition is recorded. I have.
Here, preferably, the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information are recorded in a plurality of locations in the recording / reproducing condition recording area with the same contents. Preferably, the recording / reproducing condition is set values of various circuits in the recording / reproducing apparatus or code information indicating the set values.

Preferably, the optical recording medium further has a test recording area for recording a specific signal on a trial basis and measuring the signal quality. Preferably, the optical recording medium further includes a lead-in area in which read-only data (eg, medium identification information) is recorded, and the recording / reproducing condition recording area and the test recording area include a lead-in area. Are provided between information recording areas for recording information to be actually used. The lead-in area is first accessed when a medium is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus and activated. Preferably, the lead-in area is an area where information is recorded by emboss pits. The recording / reproducing conditions include, for example, at least one of a pulse condition for determining the shape of a laser pulse during recording, a servo condition for determining the operation of various servos during recording and reproduction, and a reproduction signal processing condition. Consists of For example, the pulse condition includes a timing of generation of a first pulse corresponding to a front end of the mark of a laser pulse divided into a plurality of portions from a front end to a rear end of a mark to be recorded, a length of the first pulse, a laser of the first pulse. The intensity of light, the timing of generation of the last pulse hitting the rear end of the mark, the length of the last pulse, the intensity of laser light of the last pulse,
It includes at least one of the intensity of the laser light between the pulses and the intensity of the laser light in the space portion, and is determined according to the length of the mark to be recorded and the length of the space before and after the mark.

In a first recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to the present invention, a laser pulse is applied to the optical recording medium to thereby change the length of the mark and the length of the space. A method of forming and recording or reproducing information, wherein the mark is formed by irradiating a plurality of divided laser pulses from a front end to a rear end of the mark to form the mark, and the information is recorded or recorded. Prior to reproduction, a recording / reproducing condition previously recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium that can be recorded by a recording / reproducing device is read, and information is recorded or reproduced based on the read recording / reproducing condition. Preferably,
The recording / reproducing condition recording area is further divided, and recording / reproducing conditions having the same contents are recorded in a plurality of areas. At the time of reading recorded recording / reproducing conditions, the first area of the plurality of areas where the same recording / reproducing conditions are recorded is reproduced first, and if the recording / reproducing conditions cannot be read, the plurality of areas are read. Play another area of. The recording and reproduction conditions are as follows:
For example, it comprises at least one of a pulse condition for determining the shape of a laser pulse during recording, a servo condition for determining the operation of various servos during recording and reproduction, and a reproduction signal processing condition. The pulse condition is, for example, the generation timing of a first pulse corresponding to the front end of the mark,
The length of the first pulse, the intensity of the laser light of the first pulse, the generation timing of the last pulse hitting the trailing end of the mark, the length of the last pulse, the intensity of the laser light of the last pulse, the laser between the pulses Intensity of light, including at least one of the intensity of laser light in the space,
It is determined according to the length of the mark to be recorded and the length of the space before and after the mark.

Preferably, in recording or reproducing information, test recording for experimentally recording specific data based on the recording and reproducing conditions is performed in a test recording area on the medium, and the data of the test recording is reproduced. If the result of measuring the signal quality satisfies a predetermined condition, information is recorded based on the recording / reproducing condition. When the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording / reproducing condition, and the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the data of the test recording is measured and compared with the predetermined condition. Find optimal recording and playback conditions,
Information is recorded or reproduced based on the obtained optimum recording / reproducing conditions, and the optimum recording / reproducing conditions are recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on the medium. Preferably, in the recording of the recording / reproducing condition, the recording / reproducing condition is recorded with the same content in a plurality of areas further divided within a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on a medium.

Preferably, time information indicating the date and time when the recording / reproducing condition is recorded on the medium is recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium along with the recording / reproducing condition. At the time of reading the condition, an elapsed time from when the recording / reproducing condition is recorded on the medium is calculated using the time information, and the test recording is omitted when the elapsed time is shorter than a predetermined length. . Preferably, in recording or reproducing information, when the recording / reproducing condition is not recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium, a test for recording specific data on a trial basis while changing the recording / reproducing condition. Recording is repeated, and the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured and compared with a predetermined condition to determine an optimum recording / reproducing condition. Then, information is recorded or reproduced based on the obtained optimum recording / reproducing condition, and the optimum recording / reproducing condition is recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium.

According to a second method of recording / reproducing an optical recording medium according to the present invention, a laser pulse is irradiated onto the optical recording medium to thereby change the length of the mark and the length of the space. A method of forming and recording or reproducing information, wherein the mark is formed by irradiating a plurality of divided laser pulses from a front end to a rear end of the mark, and the information is recorded. Recording / reproducing device information for specifying the recording / reproducing device that uses the recording / reproducing condition is recorded on the medium along with the recording / reproducing condition.
Prior to recording or reproducing information, a recording / reproducing condition pre-recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on a medium and recordable by the recording / reproducing device, and a recording / reproducing device using the recording / reproducing condition. The recording / reproducing device information to be specified is read out, and then the information is recorded or reproduced based on the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information that matches the recording / reproducing device to be recorded or reproduced. Preferably, the recording / reproducing condition recording area is further divided, and recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing apparatus information having the same contents are recorded in a plurality of areas. When reading the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information, the first area of the plurality of regions where the same recording / reproducing condition is recorded is reproduced first, and the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information are read. If the information cannot be output, the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing apparatus information are read by reproducing another area of the plurality of areas. Also, preferably, the recording and reproducing conditions are as follows:
It is set information of various circuits in the recording / reproducing apparatus or code information indicating the set value.

The recording / reproducing condition is at least one of a pulse condition for determining a laser pulse shape at the time of recording, a servo condition for determining various servo operations at the time of recording / reproducing, and a reproducing signal processing condition. Consists of Further, the pulse condition includes a generation timing of a first pulse hitting a front end of the mark, a length of the first pulse, an intensity of laser light of the first pulse, a generation timing of a last pulse hitting a rear end of the mark, and a timing of the last pulse. The length of the pulse, the intensity of the laser light of the last pulse, the intensity of the laser light between the pulses, including at least one of the intensity of the laser light in the space portion, the length of the mark to be recorded and the space before and after it The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the method is determined according to the length.

Preferably, in the recording or reproduction of information, in the test recording area provided on the medium, the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded or reproduced. Perform test recording to test-record specific data based on the test data, and if the result of measuring the quality of the signal reproduced from the test-recorded data satisfies a predetermined condition, information is recorded based on the recording / reproducing condition. Record. On the other hand, when the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording and reproduction conditions, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the data on which the test recording is performed is measured. The optimum recording / reproducing conditions are obtained by comparison. Then, while recording or reproducing information based on the obtained optimum recording / reproducing condition, the optimum recording / reproducing condition is provided on the medium together with the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device. Recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area. Preferably, in the recording of the optimum recording / reproducing conditions and the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device, the optimal recording is performed in a plurality of areas further divided within a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on a medium. The reproduction condition and the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device are recorded with the same contents. Further, preferably, in the recording or reproduction of information, in the recording and reproduction condition recording area on the medium,
Along with the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information for specifying the recording / reproducing device that uses the recording / reproducing condition, time information indicating the date and time when the recording / reproducing condition was recorded on the medium is recorded. When reading the recording / reproducing condition, the time information is used to record or reproduce the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information that matches the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced on the medium. A time is calculated, and if the elapsed time is equal to or less than a predetermined length, the test record is omitted.

Preferably, in recording or reproducing information, the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded or reproduced is recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium. If not, specific data is experimentally recorded in the test recording area provided on the medium, based on the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded or reproduced. Make a test record. If the result of measuring the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data satisfies a predetermined condition, information is recorded based on the recording / reproducing condition. On the other hand, when the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording and reproduction conditions, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the data on which the test recording is performed is measured. The optimum recording / reproducing conditions are obtained by comparison, information is recorded or reproduced based on the obtained optimum recording / reproducing conditions, and the optimum recording / reproducing conditions are changed to the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device. Accompanying
Recording is performed in the recording / reproduction condition recording area on the medium. Preferably, in recording or reproducing information, the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by recording / reproducing device information that matches the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced is not recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium. In the case, in the test recording area provided on the medium, based on the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced, a specific The test recording for recording the data on a trial basis is repeated, and the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured and compared with a predetermined condition to determine the optimum recording / reproducing condition. Then, while recording or reproducing information based on the obtained optimum recording / reproducing condition, the optimum recording / reproducing condition is changed along with the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device, and the recording / reproducing condition on the medium is changed. Record in the recording area.

Preferably, in recording or reproducing information, a recording / reproducing condition accompanied by recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced is not recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium. In the case where recording / reproducing conditions without recording / reproducing device information or recording / reproducing conditions with recording / reproducing device information different from the recording / reproducing device are recorded, the recorded recording / reproducing condition is set as an initial condition. Perform test recording to record specific data on a trial basis. If the result of measuring the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data satisfies a predetermined condition, information is recorded based on the recording / reproducing condition. On the other hand, when the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording and reproduction conditions, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the data on which the test recording is performed is measured. The optimum recording / reproducing conditions are obtained by comparison. The information is recorded or reproduced based on the obtained recording / reproducing condition, and the optimum recording / reproducing condition is recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium together with the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device. . Preferably, the recording / reproducing apparatus information has a configuration divided into a plurality of layers. Also, for example, the recording / reproducing device information includes manufacturer information for specifying the manufacturer of the recording / reproducing device, type information for specifying the type of the recording / reproducing device, and device number for identifying each recording / reproducing device. Including at least one. Further, for example, a plurality of recording / reproducing conditions, and
Along with the recording / reproducing condition, recording / reproducing device information for specifying a recording / reproducing device that uses the recording / reproducing condition is recorded.

Preferably, a plurality of recording / reproducing conditions are recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium. In recording or reproducing information, the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced and all the information of the plurality of layers constituting the recording / reproducing device information are included in the plurality of recording / reproducing conditions. When the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the matching recording / reproducing device information is not recorded, the information that matches the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device in the most hierarchy out of a plurality of layers constituting the recording / reproducing device information. Is selected, and test recording is performed to record specific data on a trial basis with the recording / reproduction conditions as an initial state. If the result of measuring the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data satisfies a predetermined condition, information is recorded based on the recording / reproducing condition. On the other hand, when the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording and reproduction conditions, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the data on which the test recording is performed is measured. The optimum recording / reproducing conditions are obtained by comparison. Then, while recording or reproducing information based on the obtained recording / reproducing condition, the optimum recording / reproducing condition is added to the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium together with the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device. Record. Preferably, when recording the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium, if the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by other recording / reproducing device information is already recorded, these existing While maintaining the recording / reproducing condition and recording / reproducing device information, new recording / reproducing condition and recording / reproducing device information are additionally recorded. Further, preferably, when the number of recording / reproduction conditions accompanied by other recording / reproduction device information already recorded in the recording / reproduction condition recording area on the medium has reached a specified number, these existing recording / reproduction conditions and The oldest recording / reproducing device information is discarded, and new recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing device information are additionally recorded.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium according to the present invention, a laser pulse is applied to the optical recording medium to form the mark whose length and length of the mark carry information. An optical recording and reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing information, a driving device for rotating an optical recording medium, an optical head for irradiating a laser pulse on the medium by a semiconductor laser, and a servo circuit for driving the optical head, A laser drive circuit for driving a semiconductor laser of an optical head with a pulse signal for recording information, and a pulse signal for driving the laser drive circuit, from the front end to the rear end of a mark for recording information, for forming a mark. Pulse controller that generates multiple divided pulses and an equalizer that corrects the frequency characteristics of the reproduced signal from the optical head A binarization circuit for converting the reproduction signal corrected by the equalizer into a binarized signal; and a recording / reproduction condition read from a recording / reproduction condition recording area provided on the medium and recordable by the recording / reproduction device. Storage means for performing the operation. A pulse condition setting unit for setting a pulse condition at the time of recording / reproducing of the laser drive circuit according to the recording / reproducing condition; a first setting unit for setting a servo condition for the servo circuit; At least one of a second setting unit for setting an equalizing condition and a third setting unit for setting a binarized slice level of a reproduction signal for the binarizing circuit.

Preferably, the pulse condition setting means includes:
In forming a mark, when a laser pulse divided into a plurality of portions from the front end to the rear end of the mark is irradiated onto the medium, the generation timing and length of the first pulse corresponding to the front end of the mark and the final pulse corresponding to the rear end of the mark At least one of the intensity and the intensity, the intensity of the laser light between the pulses, and the intensity of the laser light in the space portion is set according to the mark length to be recorded and the space length before and after the mark. Preferably, the storage unit stores recording device information using the recording / reproducing condition read out from a medium along with the recording / reproducing condition. Preferably, the storage unit stores, along with the recording / reproducing condition, time information indicating the date and time when the recording / reproducing condition read from the medium was recorded on the medium.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the optical recording medium of the present invention,
An embodiment of a recording / reproducing method and a recording / reproducing apparatus therefor will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an optical recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical recording medium 1 has a structure in which a recording layer is provided on a 0.6 mm-thick transparent substrate made of polycarbonate having a center hole 2 for mounting the recording medium in the center. Although not shown, the substrate is provided with guide grooves for tracking laser light during recording and reproduction, and embossed pits on which address information and reproduction-only information are recorded. The recording layer is made of GeS which is a phase change recording material.
The recording layer is made of a bTe alloy and is irradiated with a laser beam to partially amorphize the recording layer to form a recording mark. Further, the mark is a mark of the PWM recording system in which the length of the mark and the length of the space bear information as described above. P, which is one of the methods of recording information on a medium
In the WM recording method, by forming marks of different lengths with various spaces provided, the length of the marks and the length of the spaces (that is, the edge positions of the front end and the rear end of the mark) carry information.

The recording medium 1 records recording / reproduction conditions such as a lead-in area 3 in which identification information of the medium is recorded by emboss pits, pulse conditions for recording / reproducing information, servo conditions, and reproduction signal processing conditions. It has a recording / reproducing condition recording area 4, a test recording area 5 for recording specific data on a trial basis and measuring the signal quality thereof, and an information recording area 6 for recording information actually used. The recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 is different from the lead-in area 3 and, like the test recording area 5 and the information recording area 6, is an area where recording can be performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus. Here, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 and the test recording area 5 are preferably provided between the lead-in area 3 and the information recording area 6. When recording information on the recording medium of the present invention, first, the lead-in area 3 is accessed, then the recording / reproducing conditions recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 are read, and the pulse conditions are read based on the recording / reproducing conditions. , Servo conditions, reproduction signal processing conditions, and other recording and reproduction conditions are set. Then, if necessary, specific data is experimentally recorded in the test recording area 5, and after confirming the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the data recorded experimentally, information is recorded in the information recording area 6. Therefore, by arranging each region as described above,
The moving distance of the optical head that records information is the shortest,
Access time can be reduced. Either the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 or the test recording area 5 may be arranged on the inner peripheral side.

With the above arrangement, when the recording medium is used for the first time, test recording is performed while changing the recording / reproducing conditions in the recording / reproducing apparatus, and the results obtained by measuring the quality of signals reproduced from these are compared. The obtained optimum recording / reproduction conditions are recorded in the recording / reproduction condition recording area 4. When the recording medium is used again, by reading and using the recording / reproducing conditions recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4, it is possible to omit or shorten the learning operation for finding the optimum recording / reproducing conditions each time. it can.
Therefore, it is possible to shorten the standby time when the recording / reproducing apparatus is mounted and started. In a simpler method, in the learning operation, test recording is performed while changing the recording and reproducing conditions, and the result of measuring the quality of the signal reproduced from the recording at any time is compared with a predetermined condition. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the recording / reproducing condition at that time is set as the optimal recording / reproducing condition.

In the optical recording medium, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 is preferably composed of a plurality of areas for recording the same information. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of this preferred optical recording medium. In this example, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 is composed of two areas, a first recording / reproducing condition recording area 4a and a second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b. The second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b is an area for recording the same recording / reproducing condition redundantly. In this case, when reading the recording / reproducing condition, first, the first recording / reproducing condition recording area 4a is reproduced. If the recording / reproducing condition cannot be read out here, the second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b is reproduced. I do.
As a result, the first recording / reproducing condition recording area 4a or the second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b
Even if it becomes difficult to reproduce information recorded on one of the media, information can be obtained from the other, so that the reliability of the recording / reproducing conditions recorded on the medium is improved.

Next, an example will be described in which the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 is used as an area for recording the recording / reproducing apparatus information for specifying the recording / reproducing apparatus which uses the recording / reproducing condition, together with the recording / reproducing condition. In this case, a sufficient capacity for recording a plurality of recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing device information is allocated to the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4. According to this configuration, a plurality of recording / reproducing conditions are recorded on the medium, and at the time of recording, the recording / reproducing condition suitable for the recording / reproducing apparatus to be recorded is selected from the plurality of recording / reproducing conditions read from the medium. It becomes possible to select and use. Therefore, when one medium is used by a plurality of recording / reproducing devices, it is possible to compensate for a difference in recording / reproducing characteristics among the plurality of devices.

Preferably, the recording / reproducing apparatus information is divided into a plurality of hierarchies, and includes manufacturer information for specifying the manufacturer of the recording / reproducing apparatus, type information for specifying the type of the recording / reproducing apparatus, and individual recording / reproducing apparatus. It consists of a device number for identifying the device. According to such a configuration, even if the recording / reproducing condition obtained by the recording / reproducing apparatus itself to be recorded / reproduced is not recorded on the medium, for example, a recording / reproducing apparatus of the same type or a recording / reproducing apparatus of the same manufacturer is used. By using the recording and reproducing conditions obtained by a recording and reproducing apparatus having recording and reproducing characteristics close to the recording and reproducing apparatus, a learning operation for finding an optimum recording and reproducing condition can be omitted or shortened,
It is possible to shorten the waiting time when the recording / reproducing apparatus is mounted and started.

Further, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 is recorded on the medium in accordance with the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information for specifying the recording / reproducing device which uses the recording / reproducing condition. It may be an area for recording time information indicating the date and time. In this case, it is possible to calculate the elapsed time from when the recording / reproducing condition is obtained when recording is attempted, based on the time information. Therefore, when the elapsed time from the determination of the recording / reproducing condition is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, the optimal recording / reproducing condition is determined again, so that the change of the recording / reproducing characteristics of the recording / reproducing apparatus with the passage of time can be reduced. Can compensate.

In the above-mentioned optical recording medium, a GeSbTe alloy which is a phase change material is used as a recording layer.
Other materials such as a magneto-optical recording material and an organic dye may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to a rewritable erasing type, and may be a write-once type that can be recorded only once. When updating or adding the recording / reproducing condition of the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4, in the case of the erasing type, the old information is rewritten and this is performed. Therefore, in the case of the write-once type, it is necessary to secure a relatively large capacity of the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4.

Further, in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4, optimal recording / reproducing conditions may be recorded in advance at the time of shipment. In this case, the difference in the recording characteristics of each medium is compensated at the time of shipment, and the learning operation for finding the optimum recording / reproduction conditions at the time of user use is omitted or shortened.
The waiting time when starting up can be shortened.

Next, a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording / reproducing method using the optical recording medium will be described. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a state where the optical recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted.

In this recording / reproducing apparatus, the spindle motor 24 rotates the loaded recording medium 1. The controller 7 controls the entire recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing condition storage unit 16 including a storage element includes recording / reproducing conditions including pulse conditions, servo conditions, and reproduction signal processing conditions, recording / reproducing device information for specifying a recording / reproducing device using the recording / reproducing conditions, and recording / reproducing. Stores time information and the like representing the date and time when the condition was obtained. The modulator 19 converts data to be recorded into a recording signal. The pulse condition setting unit 8 sets pulse conditions for recording information. The pulse control unit 9
The laser pulse is controlled according to the pulse condition. The laser drive circuit 10 drives the semiconductor laser according to a signal from the pulse control unit. The optical head 11 has the semiconductor laser, focuses laser light on a medium, records information, and obtains a reproduction signal from reflected light. The preamplifier 12 amplifies the reproduced signal. The equalizer 13 corrects the frequency characteristics of the reproduction signal. The equalizing condition setting unit 22 sets an equalizing condition of the equalizer 13. The binarization circuit 14 converts the signal corrected by the equalizer 13 into a binarized signal. The binarization condition setting unit 23 sets a binarization slice level of the binarization circuit 14. The recording / reproducing condition demodulator 15 specifies a recording / reproducing condition recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area of the medium 1 and a recording / reproducing device which uses the recording / reproducing condition from a signal obtained from the binarization circuit 14. It demodulates device information and data such as time information indicating the date and time when the recording / reproducing conditions were obtained. The data demodulator 18 is a binarizing circuit 1
The other data is demodulated from the signal obtained from the signal No. 4.
The signal quality determiner 17 determines the quality of a signal obtained by experimentally recording and reproducing specific data in a test recording area of the medium from the signal obtained from the binarization circuit 14.

Recording of information is performed by the aforementioned PWM recording method. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of laser pulses divided into a first pulse corresponding to the front end of the mark, an intermediate pulse corresponding to the middle part of the mark, and a final pulse corresponding to the rear end of the mark are generated by generating the first pulse and the final pulse. One mark is formed by irradiating the timings a and b while changing them according to the mark length for recording and the space length before and after the timing a and b as needed.

According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, it is possible to form a mark in which the front and rear edges of each recording mark are at predetermined positions, and it is also possible to reproduce good information from the recording marks. It becomes possible.

Next, a recording / reproducing method using the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording medium shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, in step 401, the apparatus is started for the recording medium 1. Specifically, after the recording medium 1 is mounted on the spindle motor 24 and rotated, the medium 1 is irradiated with a laser beam for information reproduction by the optical head 11 to access the lead-in area 3 on the medium 1. Then, the identification information and the like of the medium recorded in the lead-in area 3 are read. In the reading of the identification information and the like, the reproduction signal obtained from the light reflected from the medium 1 by the optical head 11 is amplified by the preamplifier 12, and the equalizer 13 set to a predetermined equalization condition by the equalization condition setting unit 22. After correcting the frequency characteristics, the signal is binarized by the binarization circuit 14 set to a predetermined binarization slice level by the binarization condition setting unit 23, and the binarized signal is demodulated by the data demodulator 18. And takes it into the controller 7. At this time, the servo circuit 20 is set to a predetermined servo condition by the servo condition setting unit 21 and controls focus and tracking in the optical head 11 based on the signal output from the preamplifier 12 according to the servo condition. .

Next, in step 402, recording / reproducing conditions are read. Here, the recording / reproduction condition recording area 4 on the medium 1 is accessed, and the servo condition setting unit 21
Servo conditions of the servo circuit 20 are set according to predetermined conditions or conditions specified by the identification information of the medium, and the servo circuit 20 controls focus and tracking in the optical head 11. The reproduction signal obtained from the light reflected from the medium 1 by the optical head 11 is amplified by the preamplifier 12 and set to an equalization condition predetermined by the equalization condition setting unit 22 or an equalization condition specified by the identification information of the medium. After the frequency characteristic is corrected by the equalizer 13, the binarization set to a binarization slice level predetermined by the binarization condition setting unit 23 or a binarization slice level specified by the identification information of the medium. The signal is binarized by the circuit 14. 2 above
The digitized signal is demodulated by the recording / reproducing condition demodulator 15 and taken into the controller 7.

Next, in step 403, the controller 7 determines whether or not the recording / reproducing conditions have been recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the recording medium. If the recording / reproducing conditions have been recorded (step 403: YES), Step 404
Then, the recording / reproducing condition is stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage section 16, and in step 405, information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium based on the recording / reproducing condition.

Recording of information in step 405 is performed in the following procedure. The pulse condition setting unit 8, the servo condition setting unit 21, the equalizing condition setting unit 22, and the binarization condition setting unit 23 are configured to control the pulse of the pulse control unit 9 in accordance with the contents stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage unit 16 through the controller 7. Condition, the servo condition of the servo circuit 20, the equalization condition of the equalizer 13, and the
Set the value slice level. Here, the pulse conditions are the generation timings a and b, the lengths c and d, the intensities e and f of the first pulse and the last pulse described in FIG. The laser intensity h and the like are determined according to the length of the mark to be recorded and the length of the space before and after the mark. Controller 7
The data fetched in is converted by the modulator 19 into a recording signal. The recording signal is converted by the pulse control unit 9 into a laser drive signal that satisfies the pulse conditions set by the pulse condition setting unit 8. The laser drive circuit 10 drives a semiconductor laser provided on the optical head 11 according to the laser drive signal. Optical head 1 in which focus and tracking are controlled by servo circuit 20
By 1, light emitted from the semiconductor laser is focused on the medium 1, and information is recorded by forming a mark on the recording layer of the medium 1.

If it is determined in step 403 that the recording / reproduction conditions are not recorded in the recording / reproduction condition recording area 4 on the recording medium (step 403: NO), step 40
At 6, the learning operation for finding the optimum recording / reproducing condition is performed. The learning operation is performed in the following procedure. First, the controller 7 includes a pulse condition setting unit 8, a servo condition setting unit 21,
Equalizing condition setting unit 22 and binarizing condition setting unit 23
Then, the pulse condition of the pulse control unit 9, the servo condition of the servo circuit 20, the equalization condition of the equalizer 13, and the binarization slice level of the binarization circuit 14 are determined by a predetermined specific condition or the identification information of the medium. Set to the specified condition. Next, the specific data output from the controller 7 is converted into a recording signal by the modulator 19, and thereafter, the test recording area 5 of the medium 1 is processed in the same procedure as in step 405 described above.
Make a test record at In this way, the reproduction signal of the data test-recorded on the medium 1 is amplified by the preamplifier 12,
After the frequency characteristic is corrected by the equalizer 13, the jitter value of the signal binarized by the binarization circuit 14 (the fluctuation amount of the reproduced signal position with respect to the reference clock) is measured by the signal quality judgment unit 17, and The signal quality is determined by comparing it with a predetermined determination criterion. If the jitter value satisfies the criterion, the learning operation ends. If the jitter value does not satisfy the criterion, the pulse condition, the servo condition, the equalizing condition, and the binarized slice level are sequentially changed to perform test recording of the specific data and signal quality of the test-recorded data. Is determined. This operation is repeated until the jitter value satisfies the criterion, thereby obtaining the optimum recording and reproducing conditions.

Next, the recording / reproducing conditions obtained by the learning operation in step 406 are stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage section 16 in step 407, and the recording / reproducing conditions are stored in step 408 in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium 1. And information is recorded on the medium in step 405.

With the above arrangement, the optimum pulse forming conditions obtained by the recording / reproducing apparatus when a certain recording medium is used for the first time are recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the recording medium. Thus, when the recording medium is used again, the recording / reproducing conditions recorded on the recording medium are read out and stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage unit 16 for use. The learning operation can be omitted or shortened. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the standby time when the recording medium is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus and activated.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another recording / reproducing method of the present invention. This method is performed in the same procedure as the recording / reproducing method described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the differences between FIG. 6 and the recording / reproducing method described with reference to FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

If it is determined in step 503 that the recording / reproducing condition is recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the recording medium 1 (step 503: YES), step 504 is performed.
The recording / reproducing conditions are stored in step S 505, and test recording is performed to test-record specific data in the test recording area 5 on the medium 1 in step 505. This test recording is performed in the same procedure as the information recording described in step 405 in FIG. 5, except for the data to be recorded and the recording area on the medium.

Next, in step 506, step 505
The reproduction signal of the data test-recorded in the test recording area 5 on the medium 1 is amplified by the preamplifier 12, the frequency characteristic is corrected by the equalizer 13, and the jitter value of the signal binarized by the binarization circuit 14 ( The signal quality determiner 17 measures the amount of change in the reproduced signal position with respect to the reference clock, and compares it with a predetermined determination reference to determine the signal quality. When the jitter value satisfies the determination criterion (step 506: YES), information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium 1 in step 507 in the same procedure as step 405 in FIG. If the jitter value does not satisfy the criterion (step 506: N
O) In step 508, the learning operation is performed in the same procedure as step 406 in FIG. Steps 501, 502,
Steps 509 and 510 correspond to steps 401 and 40 in FIG.
2, 407 and 408.

With the above arrangement, it is possible to compensate for a change in the recording / reproducing characteristics of the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording medium with the lapse of time from when the recording / reproducing conditions are recorded on the medium to be used when recording information. Further, when information is recorded by a recording / reproducing device different from the recording / reproducing device that records the recording / reproducing conditions on the medium to be used, a difference in recording / reproducing characteristics between the devices can be compensated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing still another recording / reproducing method according to the present invention. This method is performed in the same procedure as the recording and reproducing method described with reference to FIG.
Therefore, the difference between FIG. 7 and the recording / reproducing method shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this recording / reproducing method, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium is an area for recording, along with the recording / reproducing conditions, time information indicating the date and time when the recording / reproducing conditions were recorded on the medium. Use a recording medium.

First, steps 601 and 602 correspond to steps 501 and 502 in FIG. 6, respectively.

In step 603, the controller 7 determines whether there is a recording / reproducing condition recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium 1, and stores the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing condition in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4. When time information indicating the date and time when the condition was recorded on the medium is recorded (step 603: YES), the recording / reproducing condition and time information read out in step 602 are stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage unit 16 in step 604. . Next, step 6
In step 05, the controller 7 compares the time information with the time of the clock of the controller 7, and if the difference is longer than a predetermined reference (step 605: YES), in step 606, FIG. Step 5
Test recording is performed in the same procedure as in step 05, and if it is short (step 605: NO), information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium 1 in step 608 in the same procedure as 405 in FIG. I do.

Step 607 corresponds to step 5 in FIG.
06. If the determination result of step 603 is negative (NO), or if the determination result of step 607 is NO, steps 609, 610, 6
Proceed with 11. At this time, in step 609, the recording / reproducing condition is obtained by the same learning operation as in step 406 in FIG. 5, and stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage unit 16 in step 610 together with the time (time information) when the recording / reproducing condition was obtained. In step 611, the obtained recording / reproducing condition is recorded together with time information in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium 1.
Proceed to step 608.

With the above arrangement, it is possible to compensate for a change in the recording / reproducing characteristics of the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording medium with the lapse of time from when the recording / reproducing conditions are recorded on the medium to be used when recording information. When the recording medium is frequently exchanged and used by one recording / reproducing apparatus, the standby time at the time of startup can be shortened by omitting the test recording.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing still another recording / reproducing method according to the present invention. This method is performed in the same procedure as the recording / reproducing method described with reference to FIG.
Therefore, the points in FIG. 8 different from the recording / reproducing method described in FIG. 5 will be described together with FIG. 1 and FIG.

In this recording / reproducing method, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium is an area for recording the recording / reproducing apparatus information for specifying the recording / reproducing apparatus which uses the recording / reproducing condition together with the plurality of recording / reproducing conditions. A certain recording medium is used.
The recording / reproducing device information is divided into a plurality of layers, and includes manufacturer information for specifying the manufacturer of the recording / reproducing device, type information for specifying the type of the recording / reproducing device, and device numbers for identifying the individual recording / reproducing devices. It is configured.

First, in step 701, the same startup processing as in step 401 of FIG. 5 is performed. Then step 7
02, from the recording / reproduction condition recording area 4 on the recording medium 1,
The recording / reproducing device information for specifying the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device using the recording / reproducing condition is read. Next, when it is determined in step 703 that the recording / reproducing condition is recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the recording medium 1 (step 703: YES), the recording on the recording medium 1 is performed by the controller 7 in step 704. Reproduction condition recording area 4
It is checked whether or not the recording / reproducing device information read out from the device matches the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device. As a result, when there is recording apparatus information in which the recording / reproducing apparatus information of the recording / reproducing apparatus matches all of the manufacturer information, model information, and apparatus number (step 704: YE
S) stores in the recording / reproducing condition storage unit 16 the recording / reproducing condition that specifies the recording / reproducing device to be used by the recording / reproducing device information that matches the recording / reproducing device in step 705, and in step 706, stores the recording / reproducing condition. The information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium 1 in the same procedure as 405 in FIG.

Next, in the recording / reproducing apparatus information read from the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the recording medium 1, all of the manufacturer information, model information, and apparatus number match the recording / reproducing apparatus information of the recording / reproducing apparatus. If there is nothing to do (Step 7
04: NO), in step 710, the manufacturer information and the model information of the recording / reproducing apparatus information for specifying the recording / reproducing apparatus using the recording / reproducing condition from the recording / reproducing conditions read out from the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4. One recording / reproducing condition is selected according to the priority order of those that match, those that match only the manufacturer information, those that do not all match, or those that do not accompany the recording / reproducing device information. Next, the recording / reproducing condition selected in step 710 is stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage section 16 in step 711, and the recording / reproducing condition is set as an initial condition in step 707.
To perform the learning operation. The recording / reproducing conditions obtained by the learning operation are stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage section 16 in step 708, and the recording / reproducing conditions and the recording / reproducing apparatus information of the recording / reproducing apparatus are recorded on the medium 1 in step 709. The information is recorded in the area 4, and in step 706, the information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium 1 based on the recording and reproducing conditions. If the determination in step 703 is negative (NO), the flow proceeds to step 707. In step 709, if the number of recording / reproducing conditions with other recording / reproducing device information already recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium 1 does not reach the specified number, a new one is retained while maintaining these. Recording / reproduction conditions and recording / reproduction device information are additionally recorded. If the number has reached the specified number, the oldest one of the existing recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing device information is discarded, and new recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing device information are additionally recorded.

With the above arrangement, a plurality of recording / reproducing conditions are recorded on a medium, and at the time of recording, a recording / reproducing condition suitable for a recording / reproducing apparatus to be recorded is selected from the plurality of recording / reproducing conditions read from the medium. It becomes possible to select and use conditions. Therefore, when one medium is used in a plurality of recording / reproducing devices, a difference in recording / reproducing characteristics between the devices can be compensated. Further, even if the medium does not record the recording / reproducing conditions obtained by the recording / reproducing apparatus itself to be recorded, for example, a recording / reproducing apparatus of the same type or a recording / reproducing apparatus of the same manufacturer is close to the recording / reproducing apparatus. By performing the learning operation using the recording / reproducing conditions obtained by the recording / reproducing device having the recording / reproducing characteristics as the initial condition, the learning operation can be shortened, and the standby time for mounting and starting the recording / reproducing device can be shortened. In addition, when recording the newly obtained recording / reproducing conditions on the medium, if the number of already recorded recording / reproducing conditions has reached the specified number, the oldest one is discarded, so that it is always used. Recording / reproducing conditions suitable for the recording / reproducing device with the highest possibility can be held on the medium. The operations in steps 710 and 711 are as follows.
It can be omitted. Further, the recording / reproducing device information is not limited to the three-layer structure, and information other than the manufacturer information, the model information, and the device number may be added, or a part thereof may be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing still another recording / reproducing method according to the present invention. This method is performed in the same procedure as the recording / reproducing method described with reference to FIG.
Therefore, the points in FIG. 9 different from the recording / reproducing method described in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the processing in steps 801, 802, and 803 is performed in steps 701, 702, and 70 in FIG. 8, respectively.
Same as 3. Next, in step 804, the controller 7 controls the recording / reproduction condition recording area 4 on the recording medium 1.
If the recording / reproducing device information read out from the device includes the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device and the manufacturer information, the model information, and the device number, all of which match (step 804: YES), At 805, the recording / reproducing condition that specifies the recording / reproducing device to be used based on the recording / reproducing device information that matches the recording / reproducing device is stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage section 16, and test recording is performed at step 806. This test recording is performed in the same procedure as step 505 in FIG. Next, at step 812, 50 of FIG.
The signal quality is determined in the same procedure as in step 6. If the determination result satisfies the determination criteria (step 812: YES),
In step 813, information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium 1. If the determination result does not satisfy the determination criteria (steps 803, 804, 812: NO), a learning operation is performed in step 807, and steps 808, 809, and 8 are performed.
Proceed to 13. Steps 807, 808, 809
Correspond to steps 707, 708, and 709 in FIG. 8, respectively.

With the above configuration, it is possible to compensate for a change in the recording / reproducing characteristics of the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording medium over time from when the recording / reproducing conditions are recorded on the medium to be used when recording information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing still another recording / reproducing method according to the present invention. This method is performed in the same procedure as the recording / reproducing method described with reference to FIG. 9 except for a part. Therefore, the differences between FIG. 10 and the recording / reproducing method described with reference to FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this recording / reproducing method, the recording / reproducing condition recording area 4 on the medium is accompanied by the recording / reproducing information specifying the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device which uses the recording / reproducing condition. A recording medium that is an area for recording time information indicating the date and time when the condition is recorded on the medium is used.

Steps 901 to 905 are respectively performed in FIG.
Correspond to steps 801 to 805 of FIG.
In 2, in addition to the recording / reproducing conditions and the recording / reproducing device information, the time (time information) when the recording / reproducing conditions are obtained is read out,
In step 905, such information is stored.

At step 912, the controller 7 compares the time information associated with the recording / reproducing conditions stored in the recording / reproducing condition storage section 16 with the clock time of the controller 7, and the difference is determined in advance. If it is longer than the reference (step 912: YES), test recording is performed in step 913; if it is shorter (step 912: NO), step 90 is performed without performing the test recording.
In step 6, information is recorded in the information recording area 6 on the medium 1. Steps 913, 914, and 906 respectively correspond to steps 806, 812, and 813 in FIG. Steps 907, 908, and 909 respectively correspond to steps 807, 808, and 809 in FIG.

With the above arrangement, when recording information, it is possible to perform one recording while compensating for the change in the recording characteristics of the recording / reproducing apparatus with the lapse of time from the time when the recording / reproducing conditions are recorded on the medium to be used. In the case where the recording medium is frequently replaced and used in the reproducing apparatus, the standby time at the time of starting can be shortened by omitting the test recording.

In the above embodiment, the quality of the test-recorded signal is determined by measuring the jitter value of the reproduced signal and comparing it with a reference value. The quality of the test-recorded signal may be determined by measuring the error rate of the signal and comparing it with a reference value.

In the learning operation in the above embodiment, the operation of performing test recording while changing the recording / reproducing conditions and measuring the quality of the signal subjected to the test recording is repeated, and the quality of the signal is determined based on a criterion. This operation was completed when satisfied, and the recording / reproducing conditions at that time were determined as the optimal recording / reproducing conditions. However, while changing the recording / reproducing conditions within a predetermined range, test recording is performed, and the operation of measuring the quality of the signal subjected to the test recording is repeated. The signal having the highest quality of the test-recorded signal may be set as the optimum recording / reproducing condition.

Further, it is not necessary to record all items of the recording / reproducing conditions on the medium, and the learning operation may be performed only for specific items of the recording / reproducing conditions.

When the recording / reproducing apparatus to be used is the specified recording / reproducing information, the information to be recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium is replaced with the recording / reproducing condition instead of the recording / reproducing condition. It may be set conditions or code information. Specifically, for example, in the case of the pulse condition, instead of the laser intensity, a recording / reproduction condition on a medium is set as a recording / reproduction condition using a set value of a laser drive circuit for obtaining the laser intensity or code information indicating the set value. It may be recorded in a recording area.

When the medium shown in FIG. 2 is used, steps 402, 502, 602, 702, 80 in FIGS.
In steps 2 and 902, first, the first recording / reproducing condition recording area 4a in FIG. 2 is reproduced. If the recording / reproducing conditions cannot be read out here, the second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b is reproduced. Steps 408, 510, and 6 in FIGS.
In 11, 709, 809, and 909, the recording / reproducing condition is recorded in both the first recording / reproducing condition recording area 4a and the second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b. Accordingly, even if it becomes difficult to reproduce information recorded in one of the first recording / reproducing condition recording area 4a and the second recording / reproducing condition recording area 4b due to contamination of the medium, information can be obtained from the other. Therefore, the reliability of the recording and reproducing conditions recorded on the medium is improved.

[0073]

As described above, according to the optical recording medium, the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording / reproducing method of the present invention, the optimum recording / reproducing condition once obtained for a certain recording medium is recorded on the medium. By reading and using the recording / reproducing conditions at the time of next use, it is possible to omit or shorten the learning operation for finding the optimum recording / reproducing conditions each time. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the standby time when the recording medium is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus and activated.

In addition, recording / reproducing device information for specifying the recording / reproducing device that uses the recording / reproducing condition is recorded together with the recording / reproducing condition, and the recording / reproducing condition read out from the medium at the time of startup is to be recorded. By selecting and using recording / reproducing conditions suitable for the recording / reproducing device to be used, even when a specific recording medium is used in a plurality of recording / reproducing devices, the operation of finding the optimum recording / reproducing condition each time is omitted or shortened, It is possible to shorten the waiting time when the recording / reproducing apparatus is mounted and started.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an optical recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the optical recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a method of forming a mark.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first recording / reproducing method for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second recording / reproducing method for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a third recording / reproducing method for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth recording / reproducing method for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth recording / reproducing method for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth recording / reproducing method for an optical information recording medium according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 optical recording medium, 3 lead-in area, 4 recording / reproducing condition recording area, 5 test recording area, 6 information recording area, 7 controller, 8 pulse condition setting section, 9 pulse control section, 15 recording / reproducing condition demodulator, 16 Recording / reproduction condition storage unit, 17 signal quality judgment unit, 21 servo condition setting unit, 22 equalization condition setting unit, 23 binarization condition setting unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Furukawa 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Yamaguchi 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (40)

[Claims] 1. An optical recording medium for recording information by forming a mark by irradiating a laser pulse, comprising: an information recording area for recording information; and a recording / reproduction for recording or reproducing information. An optical recording medium having a recording / reproducing condition recording area recordable by a recording / reproducing device for recording recording / reproducing conditions indicating various set values in the device. 2. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said recording / reproducing condition recording area has a capacity sufficient to record a plurality of said recording / reproducing conditions. 3. An optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said recording / reproducing condition recording area is further divided into a plurality of areas. 4. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein an optimum recording / reproducing condition is recorded in said recording / reproducing condition recording area. 5. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording / reproducing condition recording area further records recording / reproducing apparatus information for specifying a recording / reproducing apparatus using said recording / reproducing condition. 4. The optical recording medium according to item 1. 6. The optical recording medium according to claim 5, wherein said recording / reproducing condition and said recording / reproducing device information are recorded in a plurality of locations in said recording / reproducing condition recording area with the same contents. 7. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording / reproducing condition is a set value of various circuits in a recording / reproducing apparatus or code information indicating the set value. 8. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a test recording area for recording a specific signal on a trial basis and measuring the signal quality. 9. A read-in area in which read-only data is recorded, wherein the recording / reproducing condition recording area and the test recording area are provided between the lead-in area and the information recording area. The optical recording medium according to claim 1. 10. The optical recording medium according to claim 9, wherein said lead-in area is an area in which information is recorded by emboss pits. 11. The recording / reproducing condition includes at least one of a pulse condition for determining a laser pulse shape at the time of recording, a servo condition for determining various servo operations at the time of recording / reproducing, and a reproducing signal processing condition. 2. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the optical recording medium comprises a condition. 12. The pulse condition includes: a generation timing of a first pulse corresponding to a front end of the mark of a plurality of laser pulses divided from a front end to a rear end of a mark to be recorded; a length of the first pulse; Intensity of pulse laser light, timing of generation of last pulse hitting the rear end of the mark, length of the last pulse, intensity of laser light of last pulse, intensity of laser light between pulses, laser light in space 12. The recording medium includes at least one of the following intensities, and is determined according to a length of a mark to be recorded and a length of a space before and after the mark.
An optical recording medium as described in the above. 13. A method for recording or reproducing information by irradiating a laser pulse onto an optical recording medium to form the mark in which the length of the mark and the length of the space carry information, and to record or reproduce the information. By irradiating a plurality of divided laser pulses from the front end to the rear end of the mark, the mark is formed and information is recorded.Before recording or reproducing the information, recording on a medium by a recording / reproducing device is possible. A recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium, comprising: reading out recording / reproducing conditions pre-recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area; and recording or reproducing information based on the read-out recording / reproducing conditions. 14. The recording / reproducing condition recording area is further divided, and recording / reproducing conditions having the same contents are recorded in a plurality of areas, and when reading the recorded recording / reproducing conditions, the recording / reproducing conditions having the same contents are recorded. First, the first area of the plurality of areas is reproduced, and if the recording / reproduction conditions cannot be read, the recording / reproduction conditions are read by reproducing another area of the plurality of areas. Claim 1
3. The recording / reproducing method according to 3. 15. The recording / reproducing condition includes at least one of a pulse condition for determining a laser pulse shape at the time of recording, a servo condition for determining various servo operations at the time of recording / reproducing, and a reproducing signal processing condition. 14. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 13, comprising a condition. 16. The pulse condition includes a timing of generating a first pulse hitting a front end of the mark, a length of the first pulse, an intensity of laser light of the first pulse, and a timing of generating a last pulse hitting a rear end of the mark. The length of the last pulse, the intensity of the laser light of the last pulse, the intensity of the laser light between the pulses, including at least one of the intensity of the laser light in the space, the length of the mark to be recorded and 16. The recording / reproducing method according to claim 15, wherein the recording / reproducing method is determined according to a length of a space before and after the space. 17. In recording or reproducing information, in a test recording area on a medium, a test recording for experimentally recording specific data based on the recording and reproducing conditions is performed, and a signal obtained by reproducing the data of the test recording is recorded. If the result of the measurement of the quality satisfies a predetermined condition, information is recorded based on the recording / reproducing condition.If the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the recording / reproducing condition is changed. By repeating the test recording, measuring the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test recording data and comparing it with a predetermined condition, an optimum recording / reproducing condition is obtained, and based on the obtained optimal recording / reproducing condition, the information recording or reproducing is performed. 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the reproduction and the optimum recording and reproduction conditions are recorded in a recording and reproduction condition recording area provided on a medium. Method of recording and reproducing an optical recording medium. 18. The recording of the recording / reproducing condition, wherein the recording / reproducing condition is recorded with the same contents in a plurality of areas further divided within a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on a medium. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 17. 19. A recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium, wherein time information indicating the date and time when the recording / reproducing condition was recorded on the medium is recorded along with the recording / reproducing condition. At the time of reading, calculating the elapsed time since the recording / reproducing condition is recorded on the medium using the time information, and omitting the test recording when the elapsed time is equal to or less than a predetermined length. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 17, wherein: 20. A test for recording specific data on a test basis while changing the recording / reproducing condition when the recording / reproducing condition is not recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium in recording or reproducing information. The recording is repeated, the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured, and the optimum recording / reproducing condition is obtained by comparing with a predetermined condition. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing reproduction and recording the optimum recording and reproduction conditions in a recording and reproduction condition recording area on a medium.
The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to any one of the above items. 21. A method for recording or reproducing information by irradiating a laser pulse onto an optical recording medium to form the mark in which the length of the mark and the length of the space carry the information, and to record or reproduce the information. The mark is formed by irradiating a plurality of divided laser pulses from the front end to the rear end of the mark to record information, and prior to recording or reproduction of the information, a recording / reproducing device provided on a medium. Readable recording / reproducing conditions Read recording / reproducing conditions pre-recorded in the recording area and recording / reproducing device information for specifying the recording / reproducing device that uses the recording / reproducing conditions recorded along with the recording / reproducing conditions. Recording or reproducing information based on the recording / reproducing conditions with recording / reproducing device information that matches the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced; Method of recording and reproducing an optical recording medium, which comprises carrying out. 22. The recording / reproducing condition recording area is further divided, and recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing apparatus information having the same contents are recorded in a plurality of areas, and the recording / reproducing conditions and the recording / reproducing apparatus information are read out. First, a first area among a plurality of areas in which recording / reproducing conditions having the same contents are recorded is reproduced first. If the recording / reproducing conditions and the recording / reproducing apparatus information cannot be read, another area of the plurality of areas is read out. 22. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 21, wherein the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information are read by reproducing the information. 23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the recording / reproducing condition is set values of various circuits in the recording / reproducing apparatus or code information indicating the set values. 24. The recording / reproducing condition is at least one of a pulse condition for determining a laser pulse shape at the time of recording, a servo condition for determining various servo operations at the time of recording / reproducing, and a reproducing signal processing condition. 22. The method for recording / reproducing an optical recording medium according to claim 21, comprising: 25. The pulse condition includes a first pulse generation timing corresponding to a front end of the mark, a length of the first pulse, an intensity of laser light of the first pulse, and a generation timing of a last pulse corresponding to a rear end of the mark. , The length of the last pulse, the intensity of the laser light of the last pulse, the intensity of the laser light between the pulses, the intensity of the laser light in the space portion, including at least one of the length of the mark to be recorded and its before and after 25. The recording and reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 24, wherein the method is determined according to the length of the space. 26. In recording or reproducing information, in a test recording area provided on a medium, the information is specified based on the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced. Perform test recording to test-record the data, and if the result of measuring the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data satisfies a predetermined condition, information recording is performed based on the recording / reproducing conditions. When the measurement result does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording / reproducing condition, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured and compared with a predetermined condition. The optimum recording / reproducing conditions are obtained by performing the above-mentioned operations. The Do recording and reproduction conditions,
26. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 21, wherein recording is performed in a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on the medium together with recording / reproducing apparatus information of the recording / reproducing apparatus. . 27. In the recording of the optimum recording / reproducing conditions and the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device, the optimal recording is performed in a plurality of areas further divided within a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on a medium. 27. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 26, wherein the reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device are recorded with the same contents. 28. In recording or reproducing information, the recording / reproducing condition is recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium together with recording / reproducing device information for specifying a recording / reproducing device which uses the recording / reproducing condition. Time information indicating the date and time when the reproduction condition was recorded on the medium is recorded, and when the recording and reproduction condition is read, the recording that matches the recording / reproducing apparatus to be recorded or reproduced using the time information. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating an elapsed time since the recording / reproducing condition including the reproducing device information is recorded on the medium, and omitting the test recording when the elapsed time is shorter than a predetermined length. Item 29. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to Item 26. 29. In recording or reproducing information, the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced is not recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium. In the case, in the test recording area provided on the medium, based on the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced, the specific recording / reproducing condition is changed while changing the recording / reproducing condition. The test recording for recording the data on a trial basis is repeated, and the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured, and is compared with a predetermined condition to determine the optimum recording / reproducing condition. Recording or reproducing information is performed based on the recording / reproducing condition, and the optimum recording / reproducing condition is determined based on the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device. The so accompanied, recording and reproducing method of an optical recording medium according to any one of claims 21 to 25 for recording the recording and reproduction condition recording area on the medium. 30. When recording or reproducing information, when a recording / reproducing condition accompanied by recording / reproducing device information corresponding to the recording / reproducing device to be recorded / reproduced is not recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium. And
When recording / reproducing conditions without recording / reproducing device information or recording / reproducing conditions with recording / reproducing device information different from the recording / reproducing device are recorded, specific data is set with the recorded recording / reproducing condition as an initial condition. Perform test recording to test recording, if the result of measuring the quality of the signal reproduced from the test recording data meets a predetermined condition, record information based on this recording and reproduction conditions, If the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording / reproducing condition, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured and compared with the predetermined condition. Optimum recording / reproduction conditions are obtained by performing recording or reproduction of information based on the obtained optimum recording / reproduction conditions. By accompanied by the recording and reproducing apparatus information of the recording and reproducing apparatus, recording and reproducing method of an optical recording medium according to claim 29, wherein for recording the recording and reproduction condition recording area on the medium. 31. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recording / reproducing apparatus information has a configuration divided into a plurality of layers.
The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to any one of the above items. 32. The recording / reproducing apparatus information includes: manufacturer information for specifying a manufacturer of the recording / reproducing apparatus; type information for specifying the type of the recording / reproducing apparatus; and apparatus number for identifying each recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to claim 31, comprising at least one of the following. 33. A recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium, comprising: a plurality of recording / reproducing conditions;
22. Recording / reproducing apparatus information for specifying a recording / reproducing apparatus using the recording / reproducing condition is recorded.
33. The recording / reproducing method for an optical recording medium according to any one of items 32 to 32. 34. A plurality of recording / reproducing conditions are recorded in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium, and when recording or reproducing information, the recording / reproducing condition to be recorded or reproduced is included in the plurality of recording / reproducing conditions. If the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device and the recording / reproducing condition accompanied by the recording / reproducing device information in which all the information of the plurality of layers constituting the recording / reproducing device information are not recorded, the recording / reproducing device information is Of the plurality of layers to be configured, a recording / reproducing condition having information matching the recording / reproducing device information of the recording / reproducing device is selected in the most layers, and specific data is experimentally set with the recording / reproducing condition as an initial state. When test recording for recording is performed, and the quality of a signal obtained by reproducing the test-recorded data is measured and the result satisfies a predetermined condition, the recording is performed based on the recording / reproducing condition. If the measurement result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the test recording is repeated while changing the recording / reproducing condition, and the quality of the signal obtained by reproducing the test recorded data is measured. The optimum recording / reproducing condition is obtained by comparing with a predetermined condition, information is recorded or reproduced based on the obtained optimum recording / reproducing condition, and the optimum recording / reproducing condition is recorded by the recording / reproducing apparatus. 33. Recording in a recording / reproduction condition recording area on a medium together with reproduction apparatus information.
The recording / reproducing method of the optical recording medium according to the above. 35. When recording said recording / reproducing condition and said recording / reproducing device information in a recording / reproducing condition recording area on a medium, if recording / reproducing conditions accompanied by other recording / reproducing device information are already recorded, these existing 27. The recording method for an optical recording medium according to claim 26, wherein a new recording / reproducing condition and recording / reproducing device information are additionally recorded while holding the recording / reproducing condition and the recording / reproducing device information. 36. When the number of recording / reproducing conditions with other recording / reproducing device information already recorded in the recording / reproducing condition recording area on the medium has reached a prescribed number, these existing recording / reproducing conditions and 36. The recording method for an optical recording medium according to claim 35, wherein the oldest recording / reproducing device information is discarded, and new recording / reproducing conditions and recording / reproducing device information are additionally recorded. 37. An optical recording / reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing information by irradiating a laser pulse onto an optical recording medium to form the mark whose length and length of the mark bear information. A driving device for rotating an optical recording medium, an optical head for irradiating a laser pulse onto the medium with a semiconductor laser, a servo circuit for driving the optical head, and a pulse signal for recording information. A laser driving circuit for driving a semiconductor laser, and a pulse control for generating a plurality of divided pulses for forming a mark from a front end to a rear end of a mark for recording information as a pulse signal for driving the laser driving circuit. An equalizer for correcting a frequency characteristic of a reproduction signal from an optical head; and a re-corrector corrected by the equalizer. A binarizing circuit for converting a raw signal into a binarized signal; and storage means for storing recording / reproducing conditions read from a recording / reproducing condition recording area provided on a medium and capable of recording by a recording / reproducing device. A pulse condition setting means for setting a pulse condition at the time of recording / reproducing of the laser drive circuit according to the recording / reproducing condition; a first condition for setting a servo condition for the servo circuit;
At least one of a setting unit, a second setting unit for setting a reproduction signal equalization condition for the equalizer, and a third setting unit for setting a binarization slice level of the reproduction signal for the binarization circuit. A recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium, comprising: 38. In forming a mark, when a laser pulse divided into a plurality of portions from a front end to a rear end of the mark is irradiated onto a medium in forming a mark, a first pulse applied to the front end of the mark and At least one of the generation timing, length and intensity of the final pulse hitting the rear end of the mark, the intensity of the laser light between the pulses, and the intensity of the laser light in the space part is the mark length for recording and the space before and after the mark. The recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium according to claim 37, wherein the setting is made according to the length. 39. The storage means according to claim 37, wherein said storage means stores recording / reproducing apparatus information of a recording / reproducing apparatus using said recording / reproducing condition read out from a medium along with said recording / reproducing condition. A recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium according to claim 1. 40. The storage means according to claim 37, wherein said storage means stores time information indicating the date and time when said recording / reproducing condition read out from said medium was recorded on said medium along with said recording / reproducing condition. The recording / reproducing apparatus for an optical recording medium according to any one of the above items.