JP2001052337A - Method and device for determining optimum recording power value - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust laser output in the recording to a data area of an information write layer to such an optimum recording power value, that no influence is exerted on other layers where information is recorded when information is recorded to an information recording medium, such as optical disk media having multi-layered structures. SOLUTION: An operation control unit 9 records in odvance information to a test write area other than a layer where test writing is performed on an optical disk, which has its recording surface in multi-layered structure and has a data area where information is recorded in respective layers and the test write area, decides whether the optimum recording power obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information, and determines an optical recording power value again according to the decision result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium such as an optical disk having a multilayer structure in which a recording surface is composed of several layers. Even when information is already recorded in the other recording layer, an optimum recording power value determination method for determining an optimal laser power adjustment for recording information by finding an optimal recording power value that does not deteriorate the already recorded information, The present invention relates to an optimum recording power value determining device such as an optical disk recording / reproducing device that executes the optimum recording power value determining method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, test writing is performed for each information track at each radial position on each recording layer of a multi-layer recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, and a reproduction signal thereof is inspected. A condition of a light beam power suitable for recording, erasing or reproducing operation of information is obtained, and recording, erasing or reproducing conditions for a plurality of information tracks having different radial positions on a reference recording layer and recording conditions different from the recording conditions An information recording / reproducing apparatus (e.g., an information recording / reproducing apparatus) that calculates conditions for information tracks at different radial positions on different recording layers based on sensitivity factors between the recording, erasing, and reproducing conditions for information tracks at the same radial position on the layer And JP-A-11-3550).

[0003]

As the information recording medium, for example, in the case of an optical disk medium, a read-only optical disk medium, a write-once optical disk medium on which information cannot be rewritten but information can be additionally written, There are rewritable optical disc media that can be rewritten or erased.

[0004] In addition, the write-once type and rewritable type optical disk media include types of media that have different compositions (such as a pigment change and a phase change) constituting the optical disk media. In addition, there are optical disc media having different recording layer structures.

The optical disk medium having a single recording layer has become a two-layer optical disk medium, and the recording layer has been developed to have a multi-layer structure. Because of the feature that the recording capacity of the optical disk medium can be improved by the multilayering, it is considered that the usefulness will be increased in the future.

When information is additionally recorded or rewritten on an optical disk medium having a multi-layered structure, it is necessary to set various optimum conditions for recording which have been performed on a single-layer optical disk medium.

For example, in a single-layer optical disk medium,
The laser output power during recording must be set to an optimum value. Here, if information is recorded without setting the output power of the laser to the optimum value, jitter may be deteriorated at the time of reproduction, and data may not be reproduced correctly.

If the laser output power is not determined to be the optimum recording power value when performing the overwrite recording, the already recorded information in the data area to be overwritten cannot be erased, and the overwrite recording may not be performed. There is.

The control for correcting the laser output at the time of recording to the optimum recording power value is the optimum recording power control (Optimum).
Power Control (OPC). This O
By correcting the laser output with the optimum recording power value obtained by the PC and recording the information, the jitter can be suppressed to within the reference value at the time of reproduction, and accurate reproduction can be performed.

In addition, even at the time of overwriting, if the data is recorded with an appropriate recording power, the data can be erased and the information can be overwritten and recorded accurately.

On the other hand, in an optical disk medium having a multilayer structure, since the number of recording layers is large, the reflectivity of a higher recording surface (closer to the laser irradiation surface) can be suppressed low, and The recording surface of this layer is set to have a high transmittance to allow the laser beam to reach.

From the above, it is considered that the characteristics of each recording layer are greatly different. In addition, since the recording marks (pits) are large, the recording mark density for each recording layer is reduced.

Conventional OPC is a method corresponding to an optical disk medium having a single-layer structure. In an optical disk medium having a multi-layer structure including a two-layer structure, an optimum recording power value cannot be determined. Was not performed correctly.

When information is already recorded on another recording layer, it is necessary to determine an optimum recording power value by setting a laser recording power value so as not to affect the already recorded information.

However, in the OPC performed on an optical disk medium having a single-layer structure, there has been a problem that an accurate recording power cannot be set for an optical disk medium having a multilayer structure. Therefore, the conventional information recording / reproducing apparatus as described above cannot solve the above problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when information is recorded on an information recording medium such as an optical disk medium having a multi-layer structure, when information is recorded on a data area of a layer for writing information. The purpose is to adjust the laser output to an optimum recording power value so as not to affect other layers on which information is recorded.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information recording apparatus having a multi-layered recording surface having a data area for recording information on each layer and a test writing area for performing test writing. On the medium, information is recorded in advance in a test writing area other than the layer where test writing is performed, and it is determined whether or not the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information, An optimum recording power value determining method for determining an optimum recording power value again based on a determination result is provided.

In the above-described method for determining the optimum recording power value, when it is determined that the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the information of the other layers, the optimum recording power value of the information recording medium is determined. The information recorded in the test writing area of the recording layer is reproduced, the recording power value that does not affect other recording layers is detected based on the reproduction result, and the detected recording power value is re-optimized to the optimum recording power value. It is good to decide.

Further, in the above-described method for determining the optimum recording power value, after the information recorded with the newly determined optimum recording power value is reproduced, if the jitter exceeds a certain value range, the jitter is obtained by the test writing. The optimum recording power value may be set anew within the range between the optimum recording power value and the recording power value.

When test writing is performed in a data area on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface, if there is recorded information at the same radial position on another recording layer, the recording power range at the time of test writing is determined. , A test writing is performed by narrowing in advance, and an optimum recording power value determining method for determining an optimum recording power value based on the test writing is provided.

Further, in the above-described method for determining the optimum recording power value, the optimum recording power value obtained by the above-described test writing is compared with a reference value. It is advisable to perform test writing by expanding the recording power range at the time.

A test writing area other than the test writing layer is formed on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface and a data area for recording information in each layer and a test writing area for performing test writing. Information is recorded in advance, and it is determined whether or not the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information, and the optimum recording power value is determined again based on the determination result. Provided is an optimum recording power value determining device including a power value determining means.

Further, in the above-described optimum recording power value determining apparatus, the optimum recording power value determining means determines that the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects information of another layer. In this case, the information recorded in the test recording area of the other recording layer of the information recording medium is reproduced, and a recording power value that does not affect the other recording layer is detected based on the reproduction result. It is preferable to provide a means for determining the recording power value again as the optimum recording power value.

Further, in the above-described optimum recording power value determining apparatus, after reproducing the information recorded at the optimum recording power value newly determined by the above-mentioned optimum recording power value determining means, the jitter is within a predetermined range. If
It is preferable to provide means for newly determining the optimum recording power value within a range between the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing and the recording power value.

When test writing is performed in a data area on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface, if there is recorded information at the same radial position on another recording layer, the recording power range at the time of test writing is determined. To perform an optimum recording power value determination means for performing an optimum recording power value based on the test writing.

Further, in the above-mentioned optimum recording power value determining apparatus, the optimum recording power value determining means compares the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing with the reference value, and the ratio of the comparison is constant. If the value exceeds the range, it is preferable to provide a means for performing the test writing by expanding the recording power range at the time of the test writing.

In the method for determining an optimum recording power value according to the first aspect of the present invention, after the optimum recording power value is obtained by using an information recording medium having a multilayer structure, the optimum recording power value is present in another recording layer. To determine not only the optimum recording power value of the recording layer on which information is recorded by determining whether or not the recorded information is degraded, but also the optimum recording power value in consideration of the influence on other recording layers. Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining an optimum recording power value, wherein it is determined that the optimum recording power value obtained by the above-described test writing deteriorates recorded information of another recording layer. The information recorded in the test writing area of the other recording layer by the method described above is reproduced again, and a recording mark which has not been deteriorated by the recording power at the time of the test writing is detected from the reproduced information. Is determined again as the optimum recording power value, so that even if information is additionally recorded or rewritten, it is possible to prevent information in other recording layers from becoming an error during reproduction.

Further, in the method for determining an optimum recording power value according to a third aspect of the present invention, after recording information with the optimum recording power value newly determined as described above, the information is reproduced to reduce jitter. When the measured jitter value greatly exceeds a certain value, the measured value falls within a range between the optimum recording power value obtained as described above and the optimum recording power value newly determined as described above. Since a certain recording power value is determined again as the optimum recording power value, it is possible to suppress an error when reproducing newly recorded information without deteriorating the already recorded information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining an optimum recording power value, wherein an information recording medium having a multilayer structure is used, and recorded information is recorded in another recording layer at the same radial position as a data area for performing test writing. In some cases, test recording is performed by narrowing the recording power range in which test writing is performed in advance, and the optimum recording power is determined. Therefore, when test writing is performed in the data area, deterioration of recorded information can be suppressed.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining an optimum recording power value obtained by trial writing performed in a narrow range as described above and an optimum recording power value obtained in advance. If the compared value exceeds a certain value, the test writing range is expanded and the test writing is performed again to determine the optimum recording power, so that new information can be accurately recorded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining an optimum recording power value, wherein a recording surface has a multilayer structure, and each layer has a data area for recording information and a trial writing area for trial writing. On the recording medium, information is previously recorded in a test writing area other than the layer on which the test writing is performed, and it is determined whether or not the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information. The optimum recording power value is determined again based on the determination result.

Further, the optimum recording power value determining apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that it is determined that the optimum recording power value obtained by the above-described test writing has an effect on the information of other layers. Reproducing the information recorded in the test writing area of the other recording layer of the information recording medium, detecting a recording power value that does not affect the other recording layer based on the reproduction result, and detecting the detected recording power value Is determined again as the optimum recording power value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optimum recording power value determining apparatus which reproduces information recorded at the optimum recording power value newly determined as described above, and thereafter, when the jitter exceeds a predetermined value range. Then, the optimum recording power value is determined again within the range between the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing and the above-described recording power value.

Further, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the test recording is performed in a data area on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface, the optimum recording power value determination apparatus of the other recording layers has the same structure. If there is recorded information at the radius position, narrow the recording power range at the time of trial writing in advance and perform trial writing,
The optimum recording power value is determined based on the test writing.

The optimum recording power value determining apparatus according to the tenth aspect of the present invention compares the optimum recording power value obtained by the above-described test writing with a reference value, and the comparison ratio is a constant value. If it exceeds the range, the test writing is performed by expanding the recording power range at the time of the test writing.

Therefore, it is possible to determine the optimum recording power for minimizing the deterioration of the recorded information in the information recording medium having a multilayer structure, and to automatically record new information, thus requiring a complicated operation. It is possible to easily add or rewrite information without using.

[0038]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus which is an embodiment of the optimum recording power value determining apparatus of the present invention.

This information recording / reproducing apparatus has a CPU, a RO
An optical disk drive incorporating a microcomputer including an M, a RAM, and the like; an optical disk rotating mechanism 2, a laser beam light source 3, an optical head 4, a signal processing unit 5, a test writing reproduction signal processing unit 6, a reproduction processing unit 7; , Servo control unit 8, operation control unit 9, laser beam control unit 1
0, test writing recording control unit 11, and discrimination / detection circuit 12
Etc.

This information recording / reproducing apparatus fixes an optical disk 1 to an optical disk rotating mechanism 2 and freely rotates the optical disk 1 with respect to an optical disk 1 having a two-layer structure shown in FIGS. I can do it.

Then, a laser beam L is irradiated from the laser beam light source 3 to the optical disk 1 to obtain a control initial condition depending on the optical disk 1, and then the servo control unit 8 performs control to irradiate the laser beam again. The signal of the optical disk 1 is read from the head unit 4, and the signal processing unit 5, the reproduction processing unit 7, and the operation control unit 9 process the reproduction signal.

On the other hand, in the recording of information, after the control initial condition is obtained, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 6 of the present invention, which will be described later, in the determination / detection circuit 12. Executing the determination and the optimum recording power value determination processing relating to the function described in any one of the above-described items 10 to 10,
In the test writing area determined by the discrimination and determination processing, test writing is performed by sequentially changing the recording power in order to obtain the optimum recording power value of the laser beam at the time of recording.

Thereafter, the recorded information on which the test writing has been performed is reproduced, and the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 of the present invention. The optimum recording power value is obtained again by the processing relating to the function (1), the obtained recording power value is determined again as the optimum recording power value, and the optimum recording power value is set to record information on the optical disk 1.

That is to say, test writing is performed on an optical disc (information recording medium) 1 having a multi-layered recording surface and a data area for recording information on each layer and a test writing area for performing test writing by each of the above sections. Information is recorded in advance in a test writing area other than the layer for performing the test writing, and it is determined whether or not the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information. It functions as an optimum recording power value determining means for determining a recording power value.

When it is determined that the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the information of the other layers, the information recorded in the test writing area of the other recording layer of the optical disc 1 is reproduced. Then, it also functions as a means for detecting a recording power value which does not affect other recording layers based on the reproduction result, and determining the detected recording power value again as an optimum recording power value.

Further, after reproducing the information recorded with the newly determined optimum recording power value, if the jitter exceeds a certain value range, the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing and the recording power value are compared. It also functions as means for determining the optimum recording power value again within the range.

When test writing is performed in the data area on the optical disk (information recording medium) 1 having a multi-layered recording surface, if there is already recorded information at the same radial position on another recording layer, the test writing is performed. Performs the test writing by narrowing the recording power range in advance and performs the function of the optimum recording power value determining means for determining the optimum recording power value based on the test writing.

Further, the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing is compared with a reference value, and if the compared ratio exceeds a predetermined value range, the test writing is performed by expanding the recording power range at the time of the test writing. It also serves as a means.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the layer structure of the recording surface of the optical disc 1 shown in FIG. Here, a layer structure of an optical disc medium having a two-layer structure is shown as an example of an information recording medium having a multi-layer recording surface.

This optical disc 1 has a first layer (arrow A) on the information recording surface near the side irradiated with the laser beam and a second layer (arrow B) on the information recording surface near the label surface. ) Indicates that the recording layer has a multilayer structure.

The distance between the first and second layers is 40 μm.
中間 60 μm, and the intermediate distance is 0.6 mm from the surface of the optical disk medium. Also, the optical disk 1
Is 1.2 mm thick.

Further, regarding the reflectance, the first recording layer is a translucent recording layer, and the reflectance is set to 18 to 30%. Therefore, the reflectance of the second layer can be considered to be almost total reflection.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a data area for recording information and a trial writing area for trial writing in each recording layer of the optical disk shown in FIG.
On the inner peripheral side of the optical disc 1, a first-layer test writing area T
A first and second layer test writing area T2 is provided, and a first layer data area D1 and a second layer data area D2 for recording information are provided outside the test writing area, respectively. I have.

The test writing area and data area of each layer are divided into several zones. T1- in the figure
a, T1-b, D1-a, D1-b, T2-a, T2-
b, D2-a, and D2-b indicate “−” in each region.
“a” is a symbol indicating zone a, and “−b” is a symbol indicating zone b.

Next, a description will be given of a process for determining the optimum recording power at the time of recording information in the information recording / reproducing apparatus.

(1) An example of the optimum recording power determination processing relating to the functions described in claims 1 and 6 of the present invention FIG. 4 shows the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an optimum recording power determination process related to the described function. FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a recording procedure in each area of the format shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the processing of chart 1 detects a test writing area T2-a in which test writing is to be performed in step (indicated by "S" in the figure) 1 and proceeds to step 2 to execute a test. The known data A is recorded in the corresponding test writing area T1-a other than the recording layer on which writing and recording are performed, and
Then, the test writing is performed in the test writing area T2-a.

Proceeding to step 4, test write area T2-a
The test recording data is reproduced, and the optimum recording power value is obtained based on the reproduced data.
1-a, the test writing area T2-
The data A corresponding to the location where the optimum recording power value was written to a is reproduced, its jitter is measured, and the process proceeds to step 6 where the optimum recording power value affects the test writing area T1-a based on the jitter. Is determined, and the optimum recording power value is determined based on the result of the determination, and this process ends.

Further, this processing is described in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. When the test recording is performed on the optical disc 1 having the layer structure shown in FIG. 2 in the test writing area T2-a of the second layer shown in FIG. 3 to obtain the optimum recording power value of the second layer. In S1, the test writing area T2-a is detected, and in S2, known data A is written in the first layer T1-a (shown by hatching in FIG. 5A).

After recording the data A, test writing is performed in step S3 in the test writing area T2-a using the recording power value that is changed stepwise continuously (the hatched area in FIG. 5B is shaded). Shown). Then, the recording information on which the test writing has been performed in S4 is reproduced to determine the optimum recording power value in the second layer.

When the optimum recording power value: Popc is obtained by calculation, the test writing area T1-a in which the test writing has been performed with the value closest to that value is set to "x"("x" in FIG. 5C). ”And shown with diagonal lines).

Further, the recording mark "y" of the test writing area T2-a affected at the time of "x" in S5 ("y" is added in (c) of FIG. 5 and shown by oblique lines). Is reproduced and its jitter is measured.

In step S6, the obtained jitter is compared with a fixed value (for example, 8%). If the jitter does not exceed the fixed value, the optimum recording power value determined as described above is determined as the optimum recording power. To record information. When the value of the jitter exceeds a certain value, control is performed so as not to record information at the obtained optimum recording power value in order to prevent the deterioration of the recorded information of the other recording layers.

As described above, after the optimum recording power value is obtained by trial writing using the information recording medium having a multilayer structure, the influence of the optimum recording power value on the already recorded information in another recording layer is determined. The optimum recording power value is determined in this manner, so that it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the recorded information in another recording layer due to additional recording or rewriting beforehand.

(2) An example of the optimum recording power determination processing relating to the functions described in claims 2 and 7 of the present invention FIG. 6 shows the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an optimum recording power determination process related to the described function.

In the processing of the chart 2, based on the optimum recording power value obtained by the processing of the chart 1 shown in FIG. If it is determined that the data is to be deteriorated, the process proceeds to step 12 to reproduce the data A in the test writing area T1-a, the jitter is measured, and the process proceeds to step 13 to detect a jitter that is equal to or less than a predetermined value (8%).

Proceeding to step 14, the recording power value when the jitter is equal to or less than the fixed value and the value closest to the fixed value is detected, and proceeding to step 15, the detected recording power value is re-optimized. The power value is determined, the optimum recording power value is set, information is recorded, and this process ends.

Further, this processing will be described. FIG.
If it is determined in S11 that the optimum recording power value obtained in the processing of Chart 1 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 affects other recording layers, test writing is performed in S12 to determine the optimum recording power value. The data A previously written in the test writing area T1-a is reproduced again, and its jitter is measured.

After that, in step S14, the data A is reproduced, and a jitter having a value equal to or less than a certain value (8%) is first detected. Then, a jitter having a value closest to the certain value is detected. The recording power value at the time of test writing corresponding to the recording mark detected as having a value close to the constant value is detected, and in S15, the recording power value is determined again as the optimum recording power value. To record information.

When it is determined that the optimum recording power value obtained first affects the already recorded information on the other recording layer and deteriorates the information, the information recorded on the test writing area of the other layer is determined. Is read, a recording mark that has not been degraded by the recording power at the time of test writing is detected, and the recording power value at that time is determined as the optimum recording power. The information of the layer can be reproduced without error.

(3) An example of the optimum recording power determination processing relating to the functions described in claims 3 and 8 of the present invention FIG. 7 shows the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an optimum recording power determination process related to the described function.

In the processing of the chart 3, the known data B is recorded in the test writing area T2-b with the optimum recording power value obtained in the processing of the chart 2 shown in FIG. To reproduce the data B recorded in the test writing area T2-b, and measure its jitter.

In step 23, if the measured jitter value greatly exceeds a certain value, the jitter value falls within the range between the optimum recording power value obtained in the processing of chart 1 described above and the recording power value obtained in the processing of chart 2 described above. Is selected, the value is determined again as the optimum recording power value, and the process proceeds to step 24 to record information with the selected value, that is, the newly determined optimum recording power value, and this processing ends.

Further, this processing will be described. S2
At step 1, the known data B is recorded in the test writing area T2-b with the recording power value obtained by the processing of the chart 2 shown in the flowchart of FIG. In S22, the information in the test writing area T2-b is reproduced, and the jitter is measured.

If the value of the jitter measured in S23 exceeds a certain value, the optimum recording power value obtained in the processing of Chart 1 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the processing of Chart 2 shown in the flowchart of FIG. A value within the range of the detected recording power value is selected. In S24, the selected recording power value is determined again as the optimum recording power for newly recording information, and the information is recorded.

In this way, the previously determined recording power value is compared with the optimum recording power value obtained by the above-described processing, and if the compared value exceeds a certain value, the optimum recording power value and the optimum recording power value are compared. Since a value within the value range is determined as a new optimum recording power value, when reproducing newly recorded information and already recorded information, it is possible to perform reproduction with a minimum error.

(4) An example of the optimum recording power determination processing relating to the functions described in claims 4 and 9 of the present invention FIG. 8 shows the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an optimum recording power determination process related to the described function.

In the processing of the chart 4, the data area D2-a for recording information of the optical disc 1 is detected in step 31 and the process proceeds to step 32 to record another data at the same radial position as the detected data area D2-a. It is detected whether or not there is recorded information in the layer. When the process proceeds to step 33 and the recorded information is detected, the range of the recording power value for performing the test writing is narrowed in advance and the test writing is performed, and the process proceeds to step 34. The test-written information is reproduced, an optimum recording power value is obtained based on the reproduction result, and the information is recorded with the optimum recording power value.

Further, this processing will be described. In S31, a data area D2-a for recording information on the optical disk is detected. In S32, the data area of the detected data area D2-a, on which the information is to be recorded, is compared with the above-mentioned area in the data area of another recording layer. It is determined whether or not information has already been recorded at the same radial position.

If it is determined that information has already been recorded, test writing recording is performed in S33 by narrowing the range of the recording power for performing test writing. As described above, by narrowing the range of the recording power value at the time of test writing, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the recorded information in the other recording layers. Then, in S34, the information subjected to the test writing is reproduced, an optimum recording power value is obtained based on the reproduction result, and the optimum recording power value is determined.

As described above, when the information recording medium having the multilayer structure is used, and there is already recorded information in another recording layer at the same radial position as the data area where the test writing is performed, the recording power range for performing the test writing is narrowed in advance. In this case, the test recording is performed to determine the optimum recording power value, so that the information can be additionally written or rewritten without deteriorating the recorded information.

(5) One example of the optimum recording power determination processing relating to the functions described in claims 5 and 10 of the present invention FIG. 9 shows the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an optimum recording power determination process related to the described function.

In the processing of the chart 5, in step 41, the optimum recording power value detected in the processing of the chart 4 shown in FIG. 8 is compared with a preset reference value Pw. It is determined whether or not the ratio exceeds a certain range. If the ratio does not exceed a certain range, the process proceeds to step 45, where the recording power value obtained by the test writing is determined as the optimum recording power value. To record information.

If it is determined in step 42 that the ratio exceeds the predetermined range, the flow advances to step 43 to widen the range of the recording power value at the time of test writing, and the flow advances to step 44 to test-write the data area D2-b again. To determine the optimum recording power value.

Then, returning to step 41, the optimum recording power value is compared with the reference value Pw. If the ratio obtained by comparison in step 42 does not exceed a certain range, the process proceeds to step 45, where the recording obtained by the re-test writing is performed. The power value is determined again as the optimum recording power value, and the optimum recording power value is set to record information.

Further, this processing will be described. In S41, the optimum recording power value detected in the processing of the chart 4 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is compared with a previously obtained optimum recording power value (reference value: Pw) for each recording layer.

A comparison is made with the reference value Pw, and it is determined in S42 whether the ratio exceeds a certain range. If the ratio exceeds a certain range, the ratio changes stepwise continuously during trial writing in S43-44. The test writing is performed with the range of the recording power value to be expanded, and the optimum recording power value is obtained.

Further, returning to S41, the above-mentioned optimum recording power value is compared again with the reference value Pw, and it is determined whether or not the ratio exceeds a certain range. In S45, the recording power value obtained in S44 is newly determined as the optimum recording power value, and information is recorded with the optimum recording power value.

As described above, the optimum recording power value obtained by the trial writing performed in the limited recording power range is compared with the optimum recording power value obtained in advance. Since the recording power range of test writing is expanded and test writing is performed again to determine the optimum recording power, recording of new information is prioritized and recording with few errors can be performed.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment can execute any combination of the processes related to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 of the present invention. The optimum recording power value is determined for the optical disc 1 having the structure so as to minimize the deterioration of the already recorded information, and the new information is automatically recorded, so that the information can be added or written without complicated operation. Rewriting can be performed.

[0091]

As described above, according to the optimum recording power value determining method and the optimum recording power value determining apparatus of the present invention, information is recorded on an information recording medium such as an optical disk medium having a multilayer structure. In this case, the laser output at the time of recording on the data area of the layer to which information is written can be adjusted to an optimum recording power value which does not affect other layers on which information is recorded, and the reliability of information recording can be improved. Can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information recording / reproducing device which is an embodiment of an optimum recording power value determining device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a layer structure of a recording surface of the optical disc shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a data area for recording information and a trial writing area for trial writing in each recording layer of the optical disc shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an optimum recording power determining process relating to the functions according to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention in the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a recording procedure in each area of the format shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an optimum recording power determination process relating to the functions described in claims 2 and 7 of the present invention in the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an optimum recording power determining process relating to the functions according to the third and eighth aspects of the present invention in the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an optimum recording power determining process relating to the functions according to claims 4 and 9 of the present invention in the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an optimum recording power determining process relating to the functions according to claims 5 and 10 of the present invention in the information recording / reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: optical disk 2: optical disk rotating mechanism 3: laser beam light source 4: optical head unit 5: signal processing unit 6: test writing / reproduction signal processing unit 7: reproduction processing unit 8: servo control unit 9: operation control unit 10: laser Beam control unit 11: Test writing recording control unit 12: Discrimination / detection circuit L: Laser beam

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A test writing area other than a test writing layer on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface and a data area for recording information on each layer and a test writing area for performing test writing. Information is recorded in advance, it is determined whether or not the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information, and the optimum recording power value is determined again based on the determination result. Characteristic optimal recording power value determination method. 2. The optimum recording power value determination method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects information of another layer, the optimum recording power value of the information recording medium is determined. The information recorded in the test writing area of the other recording layer is reproduced, a recording power value that does not affect the other recording layer is detected based on the reproduction result, and the detected recording power value is re-optimized to the optimum recording power. A method for determining an optimum recording power value, characterized in that the value is determined. 3. The method for determining an optimum recording power value according to claim 2, wherein after reproducing the information recorded with the newly determined optimum recording power value, if the jitter exceeds a predetermined value range, the jitter is obtained by the test writing. Determining an optimum recording power value within a range between the obtained optimum recording power value and the recording power value. 4. A recording power range at the time of test writing when test recording is performed in a data area on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface and there is recorded information at the same radial position on another recording layer. And performing a test writing by narrowing in advance, and determining an optimum recording power value based on the test writing. 5. The optimum recording power value determining method according to claim 4, wherein the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing is compared with a reference value, and if the compared ratio exceeds a predetermined value range, the test is performed. A method for determining an optimum recording power value, wherein test writing is performed by extending a recording power range during writing. 6. A test writing area other than a layer for performing test writing on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface and a data area for recording information on each layer and a test writing area for performing test writing. Information is recorded in advance, it is determined whether or not the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects the recorded information, and the optimum recording power value is determined again based on the determination result. An optimum recording power value determining device comprising power value determining means. 7. The optimum recording power value determining device according to claim 6, wherein the optimum recording power value determining means determines that the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing affects information of another layer. In this case, the information recorded in the test writing area of the other recording layer of the information recording medium is reproduced, and a recording power value that does not affect the other recording layer is detected based on the reproduction result. An optimum recording power value determining means for re-determining the optimum recording power value. 8. The optimum recording power value determining apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information recorded in the optimum recording power value determining means is reproduced at the optimum recording power value newly determined, and then the jitter is within a predetermined range. An optimum recording power value determination device, further comprising means for determining an optimum recording power value again within a range between the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing and the recording power value. . 9. A recording power range at the time of trial writing when test recording is performed in a data area on an information recording medium having a multi-layered recording surface and there is recorded information at the same radial position on another recording layer. An optimum recording power value determining means for performing a test writing by narrowing the test recording in advance and determining an optimum recording power value based on the test writing. 10. The optimum recording power value determining apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the optimum recording power value determining means compares the optimum recording power value obtained by the test writing with a reference value, and the compared ratio is An optimum recording power value determining device, characterized in that a means for performing test writing by expanding the recording power range at the time of test writing when the value exceeds a certain value range is provided.