JP2002288836A - Information recording medium and information recording method, information recording apparatus, and information reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical disk, which can record on an optical disk a letter or a pattern of figure having the size capable of being recognized by eyes, and in which the letter or the pattern of figure can be confirmed by eyes. SOLUTION: It is constituted so that the letter or the pattern of figure can be confirmed by eyes, which is formed by recording a pit pattern on a plurality of tracks on a recording surface using a data modulation recording method used at the time of recording data on an information recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording medium and an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical disc has a CD having a diameter of 12 cm.
(Compact Disc) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)
There are CD-R (CD Recordable) and DVD-R (DV
D-Recordable), CD-RW (CD ReWritabl)
e), DVD-RAM (DVD Random Access Memory),
DVD-RW (DVD ReWritable).

The CD-R has a multi-session recording system.

[0004] An optical disc recorded by the multi-session recording method has one session in three areas in which the arrangement order of a lead-in area, a program area, and a lead-out area is physically determined from the inner side. And there are a plurality of such sessions.

[0005] Of course, a disc composed of only one session (single session disc) is also a category of a multi-session disc.

The DVD-R has a multi-border recording method.

[0007] An optical disc recorded by the multi-border recording method has one border in three areas in which the arrangement order of a border-in area, a user data area, and a border-out area is physically determined from the inner side. And there are a plurality of such borders.

[0008] Of course, a disc composed of only one border (single border disc) is also a category of a multi-border disc.

These optical disks can be recorded and reproduced by a recording and reproducing device. However, the recording state of the optical disk could not be determined only by visual inspection. In other words, how the information is recorded on the optical disc, the current session, how many borders are there,
It has been difficult to determine whether the optical disk has already been finalized or the like simply by looking at the surface of the disk.

Therefore, it is conceivable to record some mark or pattern on the surface of the optical disc as to whether or not the optical disc has already been finalized.

As a reference example for realizing a visual pattern by a method other than the data modulation recording method used when recording data on an optical disk, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-20884 discloses a reference example.
It is disclosed that a visible pattern is formed on the surface of a signal recording layer of an optical disc. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-179994
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-17764 discloses that a visually recognizable pattern or the like is formed by changing a pit shape of a signal surface of an optical disc.

[0012]

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 2-20884 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-17941, which are the above-mentioned reference techniques, characters, figures, and the like are formed on an optical disk in order to form them. A special recording method different from the data modulation recording method used when recording data is separately provided and recorded.

In other words, the process of forming a visible character or graphic pattern on an optical disk is not performed by the above-described reference technology using a data modulation recording method used when recording data on an optical disk. Did not.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical disk capable of recording a character or graphic pattern by using a data modulation recording method used when recording data on an optical disk, or to provide the disk. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method and a recording device capable of performing the recording and further provide a reproducing device for reproducing the disc.

As a result, by visually observing the character or graphic pattern recorded on the optical disk, for example,
The recording state of the optical disk can be known by visually observing the optical disk, and an optical disk excellent in usability can be provided.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an information recording medium such as an optical disk for recording information, which records a character or graphic pattern which can be visually confirmed by a user on the information recording medium. If it is desired to do so, a character or graphic pattern is formed on a recording surface using a data modulation recording method used when recording data on an optical disk, and the character or graphic pattern can be visually recognized. For example, by forming a character or graphic pattern indicating the recording state of the information medium on a recording surface and visually confirming the character or graphic pattern, the recording state of the information recording medium can be known. did.

Further, in a recording method for recording on the information recording medium or a recording apparatus in which the recording method is performed, the character or graphic pattern is formed on the recording surface by a difference in light reflectance. The specific pit pattern corresponding to the specific data or the data pattern has an area provided on at least one pre-recording surface formed in a concentrated manner, and the average of the specific pit pattern is formed. Can be recorded so as to be visually perceptible differently from the average optical reflectance of the area around the character or graphic pattern area.

For recording the character or graphic pattern, a data modulation method used for recording data on an information recording medium is used. Further, by using a data modulation method used for recording data on the information recording medium, a character or graphic pattern formed on the information recording medium can be apparently erased. For example, the recorded state of the information recording medium can be known by erasing a character or a graphic pattern that could be visually confirmed.

The character or graphic pattern on the recording surface is formed by recording a pit pattern on a track on the recording surface.

In the pit pattern, a specific pit pattern is recorded on a plurality of tracks on a recording surface so as to form a boundary of a character or graphic pattern or a frame.

Alternatively, an area for forming a character or graphic pattern is provided on the recording surface (hereinafter, this area is referred to as a pattern display area).

First, a first pit pattern is recorded in the pattern display area so as to form a character or graphic pattern. Next, the entire pattern display area other than the character or graphic pattern is recorded in a second pit pattern. As a result, a character or figure pattern can be visually confirmed by a difference in light reflectance between the first pit pattern and the second pit pattern. If there is a difference in light reflectance between the portion where the pit pattern is not recorded and the portion where the pit pattern is recorded, the second pit pattern need not be recorded in the pattern display area. good. In this case, the first recorded character or graphic pattern is formed.
Due to the difference in light reflectance between the pit pattern and the portion where no pit pattern is recorded, a character or figure pattern can be visually confirmed.

In the present invention, since the data modulation recording method used when recording data on the optical disk is used, the pit pattern for forming the character and graphic patterns is used when recording data on the optical disk. It is desirable to select a pit pattern or data that can be processed by the data modulation recording method used.

Further, the pattern display area in which the character and graphic patterns are formed is provided on the outer peripheral side of the optical disk. Although it may be provided on the inner peripheral side, it is preferably provided on the outer peripheral side in consideration of compatibility of the reproducing apparatus.

In particular, when a write-once type information recording medium is used, a pattern display area is formed so that a large area for character and graphic patterns can be formed while securing a larger information recording area. To increase the size, it is preferable to provide a pattern display area on the outer peripheral side.

In a rewritable information recording medium, the pattern display area can be moved toward the outer peripheral side along with writing of information, but the pattern display area which is a character and graphic pattern is also required. In order to enlarge the pattern display area so that a large one can be formed, it is preferable to provide the pattern display area on the outer peripheral side similarly to the write-once type. However, in a rewritable information recording medium, because of its rewritable characteristics,
The degree of freedom in providing the pattern display area is
It will be big.

The characters and graphic patterns recorded on the information recording medium can be freely set by a user's input operation. In particular, in the case of a graphic pattern, a graphic or mark desired by the user is input based on the input operation. Etc. may be freely created.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a block configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the information recording apparatus and the information reproducing apparatus for implementing the information recording method of the present invention are integrated.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus 100 includes a motor 101
A recording operation on the optical disk 102 mounted on the optical disk 102 and a reproducing operation on the optical disk 102 mounted on the optical disk 102 are performed. The data flow of the recording operation is as follows. The system control unit 104 receives a file designation and a recording start instruction from the operation unit 103, and under the control of the system control unit 104, the designated file (data) stored in the file storage unit 105. ) Is read and stored in a system memory 106 including a buffer memory, and a file (data) stored in the system memory 106 is subjected to data processing by a digital signal processing unit 107 including data modulation.
F amplifier 108, a laser pickup (P.F.
U. ) 109, the data is recorded on the optical disk 102 mounted on the motor 101. The data flow of the reproducing operation is as follows. Data of the optical disk 102 mounted on the motor 101 is read by a laser pickup (PU) 107,
A high-frequency amplifier (RF amplifier) 108 is output as digital data from a digital signal processing unit 107 including data demodulation, and is stored in a system memory 106 including a buffer memory under the control of the system control unit 104. The data is transferred to the storage unit 105 and stored.

Under the control of the drive mechanism control unit 111, the servo signal processing unit 110 generates a servo signal based on a signal from the high frequency amplifier 108 and controls the motor 101. The drive mechanism control unit 111 controls the servo signal processing unit 110 and the digital signal processing unit 107, and performs drive control in the optical disc recording / reproducing device 100.

The display unit 112 displays the information recording / reproducing device 10
0 operation state (recording state, reproduction state, transfer state) and image data are displayed.

At the time of data transfer, the data can be directly transferred without passing through the system memory 106.

The flash memory 113 stores an operation algorithm (system firmware) of the system control unit 104.
Is a non-volatile memory for storing. The flash memory 113 is a non-volatile memory,
System setup information, user data to be stored, and the like are also stored, and read and stored as necessary.

Hereinafter, an information recording medium according to the present invention and a reproducing apparatus for reproducing the information recording medium according to the present invention will be described by taking, as an example, a case where the information recording medium is a CD-R which is a kind of an optical disk.

First, how the character and figure patterns are formed and recorded on the signal surface of the CD-R will be described.

For example, in the case of a CD-R, an EFM (right to focus on a music CD) is used.
data is modulated by a modulation method (8/14 modulation method) and recorded on a signal surface by a CLV method. That is, each 8-bit data shown in the left column of Table 1 is converted into a 14-bit EFM channel bit pattern shown in the right column of the table.

[0038]

[Table 1]

Then, a 17-channel bit pattern is generated by adding 3 margin bits to this, and this is used as a unit to be recorded on a CD-R.

Next, a pit having a predetermined width and length is
A pit pattern is formed on a track to be created by using a laser while rotating the CD-R with a disk motor (spindle motor) in order to create a pattern determined according to the value of the channel bit pattern on the signal surface of the CD-R. Create by going.

At this time, the data "1" of the channel bit pattern corresponds to the edge of each pit. For example, the 8-bit data “168” shown in Table 1 is replaced with “01”.
Since it is converted into an EFM channel bit pattern of "001001001001", the data "
1 ". Therefore, the 8-bit data" 16 "
The pit pattern corresponding to 8 ″ includes two pits having a length of 3T arranged at an interval of 3T, where T is the pit length corresponding to one channel bit.

On the other hand, similarly, the pit pattern corresponding to the data "89" includes a pit having a length of 11T. In addition,
In the EFM modulation method shown in Table 1, the shortest pit length is 3
T, the longest is 11T.

In the CD-R thus created,
Since the light reflectance differs between the pit portion and the non-pit portion, at the time of reproduction, channel bits are reproduced and data is reproduced based on the change in the light reflectance.

In this embodiment, the difference in reflectance caused by having a pit portion and a non-pit portion causes
An average light reflectance differs between a certain pit pattern and a different pit pattern. Therefore,
A certain pit pattern is collected into a desired character or graphic pattern shape, and a different pit pattern is arranged outside the character or graphic pattern.

In this embodiment, the pit pattern corresponding to the above-mentioned 8-bit data "168" and the data "8"
A pit pattern corresponding to 9 ″ is used.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a part of a character / graphic pattern on a signal surface of a CD-R according to the present invention. Here, the data constitutes a frame together with a synchronization pattern, information for error correction, and the like, and a pit pattern is created for this frame. Therefore, in practice, a bit pattern corresponding to a synchronization pattern or a channel bit of information for error correction appears between bit patterns corresponding to data. However, the ratio is small for the bit pattern corresponding to the data. Therefore, in FIG. 1, for simplicity of description, it is assumed that a frame is composed of only pit patterns corresponding to data. Also, pit patterns corresponding to the above-mentioned margin bits are omitted.

The illustrated display pattern 1 includes a pit 3 having a length of 3T on one of the inside and the outside of a character or graphic pattern.
It is composed of a pit pattern corresponding to data "168",
The other was configured with a pit pattern corresponding to data "89" including pit 2 having a length of 11T. As previously mentioned,
In the EFM modulation system, the shortest pit length is 3T and the longest is 1T.
Because it is 1T, the difference in reflectance between the two pit patterns is the largest.

In addition, two types of pit patterns corresponding to combinations of other data for realizing another pit pattern having a visually acceptable difference in reflectance may be used. In addition, only one of the character and the graphic pattern inside or outside is configured with a specific data, preferably, a pit pattern corresponding to data in which the reflectance of the corresponding pit pattern is higher or lower than the average, and the other is, It may be constituted by a set of pit patterns corresponding to a set of random data. This is because pits are visually extremely small, and a set of pit patterns corresponding to a set of random data is considered to exhibit an average reflectance as a set. Further, one of the inside and the outside of the character or graphic pattern may be configured by a pit pattern corresponding to a combination of a plurality of specific data. Further, both the inside and the outside of the character or graphic pattern may be configured by pit patterns corresponding to different combinations of a plurality of specific data.

Furthermore, since an average difference in reflectance occurs between a recorded area and an unrecorded area, characters that can be visually confirmed using this average difference in reflectance can be used. It may record a graphic pattern.

As described above, in this embodiment, the character and graphic patterns are formed by using the pit patterns corresponding to the data by the data modulation recording method used when recording data on the CD-R. Conversely, formation of a character or figure pattern can be performed in the same manner as data recording by a data modulation recording method used when recording data on a CD-R.
However, it is necessary to create a pit pattern constituting a character or graphic pattern with high positional accuracy. Therefore,
For example, when forming a pit pattern by using a laser while rotating a CD-R by a disk motor, the pit formation position must be strictly determined using an encoder attached to the disk motor of the disk or other measuring means. Is controlled to a desired position.

By doing so, CLV (Cons
tant Line Velocity, CAV (Constant Angular)
Velocity) method, visible characters,
A CD-R on which a graphic pattern is recorded can be created.

When manufacturing a CD-R by the CLV method, the rotation speed of a disk motor for rotating the CD-R is controlled as follows.

That is, the rotational speed specified by the predetermined reference frequency is set in the disk motor,
The rotation speed is controlled so as to increase at a predetermined rate toward the outer diameter direction so that the linear velocity for tracing on the DR becomes constant. Then, the channel bits are read out one by one at a predetermined clock cycle, and a write signal for controlling the output of the laser is generated based on the value to create pits.

When reproducing a CD-R, the rotation speed is controlled so that the period of the signal reproduced by the optical pickup is constant. Then, the channel bits and data are restored based on the value of the reproduction signal read by the optical pickup. As a result, the rotation speed increases at a predetermined rate in the radial direction.

When a CD-R is manufactured by the CAV method, the rotation speed of a disk motor for rotating the CD-R is controlled as follows.

That is, the rotational speed specified by the predetermined reference frequency is set in the disk motor,
Control is performed so that the rotational speed for tracing on the DR is constant. Then, the channel bits are read out one by one at a predetermined clock cycle, and a write signal for controlling the output of the laser is generated based on the value to create pits.

When reproducing a CD-R, the rotation speed is controlled so that the period of the signal reproduced by the optical pickup becomes constant. Then, the channel bits and data are restored based on the value of the reproduction signal read by the optical pickup. As a result, the rotation speed becomes constant.

It should be noted that the CLV type CD including the CD-R
According to the standard, the tracking linear velocity is 1.2 to 1.4 m /
sec, it is specified within a relatively loose range.
A CAV region can be constructed within this linear velocity range. Display of a larger character graphic pattern is realized by deviating from this linear velocity range.

In the case of a CD-RW, recording and reproduction are performed by the same data modulation method as that of a CD-R except that the CD-RW is rewritable.

In the case of a DVD-R, the data modulation method is different from that of a CD-R. Data is modulated by an 8/16 modulation method and recorded on a signal surface by a CLV method. That is, the 8-bit data shown in the left column of Table 2 is replaced with the 16-bit data shown in the right column of Table 2.
Convert to bit channel bit pattern.

[0061]

[Table 2]

The 8-bit data "98" shown in Table 2
Is converted into a channel bit pattern of “0010010010010010”, so data “1” appears every three bits. Therefore, the 8-bit data “9”
The pit pattern corresponding to 8 ″ includes two pits having a length of 3T arranged at an interval of 3T, where T is the pit length corresponding to one channel bit.

On the other hand, similarly, the pit pattern corresponding to data "21" includes a pit having a length of 10T. In addition,
In the 8/16 modulation method shown in Table 2, the shortest pit length is 3T and the longest is 10T.

The other processing is almost the same as that of the CD-R, and the description is omitted.

A DVD-RW is the same as a DVD-R except that it is rewritable.
Is basically the same as DVD-R except that it is rewritable and that it uses the Zone CLV method, and a description thereof will be omitted.

CLV (Constant Line Velocity) method,
In any of the CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) methods, an optical disk on which visible characters and graphic patterns are recorded can be created.
ine Velocity method, CAV (Constant Ang)
In the case of recording a character or a graphic pattern that can be viewed, the control is easier in the case of the (ular velocity) method.

Therefore, CAV (Constant Angular Veloc)
It is more desirable to record visible characters and graphic patterns in the ity) method.

CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-
Since the recording method of the RW optical disk is the CLV method,
Both a recording area of the LV system and a recording area of the CAV system are provided, and visible character and graphic patterns are recorded in the recording area of the CAV system. At this time, the existing CLV type recording area is provided on the inner circumference side of the optical disc and the CA
It is better to arrange V-type recording areas.

This arrangement will be described with reference to the arrangement diagram of the pattern display area shown in FIG. The optical disc 361 has an opening 362 for chucking, and is a recordable area except for a part of the innermost circumference and a part of the outermost circumference. The pattern display area 363 used in the present invention is configured by a CAV area, is arranged on the outer periphery side, and an area 364 (an area for recording user data, file management information, and the like) for recording data other than the pattern display area is provided. , On the inner peripheral side.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart (1) showing the flow of processing at the time of recording.

When character data is used as the visual data (step 331), when character data to be viewed is specified (step 332), the character data is converted into bitmap data (step 333), The data is converted into data (step 334) and recorded on the disk as visual pattern data (step 335).

When a graphic pattern is used as the visual data (step 336), a graphic pattern to be viewed is designated (step 337), and the graphic pattern is converted into bitmap data (step 338). Converted to data (step 334),
Recorded on the disk as visual pattern data (step 3
35).

FIG. 34 is a flowchart (2) showing a flow of processing at the time of recording, in which a new process is added to the flowchart of FIG.

When the designated character data is stored in the disk (step 341), the character data to be viewed as a visual pattern is read without reading the visual pattern data. This has the effect that the visual character data can be easily determined.

When the designated graphic pattern is stored in the disk (step 342), the figure pattern to be viewed as a visual pattern is read without reading the visual pattern data. This has an effect that the visual figure pattern can be easily determined.

The character data or graphic pattern to be stored can be stored in a system memory or a flash memory (non-volatile memory) of the recording / reproducing apparatus, in addition to the disk.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing at the time of reproduction.

If the visual pattern is character data, the process is started (step 350), and then it is determined whether or not the visual character data or the visual figure pattern is stored (step 351). If the figure pattern is not stored, the visual pattern data is read (step 352), and the visual pattern data is converted into bitmap data (step 353).

In the case of a visual figure pattern, similarly to the case of character data, the processing is started (step 350),
It is determined whether or not the visual character data or the visual graphic pattern is stored (step 351). If the visual character data or the visual graphic pattern is not stored, the visual pattern data is read (step 35).
2) Convert the visual pattern data into bitmap data (step 353).

If the visual pattern is a character, the bitmap data is converted into character data (step 354), and the character data is displayed on the display unit (step 355).

Of course, if the character data is stored in step 341 in FIG. 34 (character data is present in step 351), the stored character data is read out without reading the visual pattern data (step 358). 352, 353, and 3
Step 54 can be omitted and step 355 can be reached.

If the visual pattern is a graphic pattern, the bitmap data is converted into a graphic pattern (step 35).
6) and display the graphic pattern on the display unit (step 35).
7) Yes.

Of course, if the graphic pattern is stored in step 342 in FIG. 34 (if there is a graphic pattern in step 351), the stored graphic pattern is read out without reading the visual pattern data (step 359).
Thus, step 352, step 353, and step 356 are omitted, and it is possible to reach step 357.

By displaying the pattern on the display unit, the visual pattern can be made clearer.

As an embodiment, a case will be described below in which the presence or absence of a pattern of a character or a figure of a visible size or the content of a pattern of a character or a figure of a visible size is used to identify the presence or absence of finalization.

For CDs and DVDs, the arrangement order of the lead-in area, the program area, and the lead-out area is physically determined from the inner side.

On the disc, additional files are sequentially recorded in the program area, and finally (after finalization is completed), the lead-in area, the program area,
It is recorded in the arrangement order of the lead-out area.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before finalization. Physically, first unrecorded area 21, program area 22, second unrecorded area 2
3.

When a file (data) is recorded, the file (data) is sequentially recorded in the second unrecorded area 23, and the program area 22 is increased to realize the physical arrangement shown in FIG. In this state, the recorded area 24
Is only the program area 22.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the recording state of the disc after finalization. Physically, the lead-in area 31, the program area 32, and the lead-out area 3
3. It is arranged in the second unrecorded area 34.

The file (data) is stored in the program area 3
2 are recorded, realizing the physical arrangement shown in FIG.
In this state, the recorded area 35 is the lead-in area 3
1, a program area 32 and a lead-out area 33.

[0092] In the lead-in area 31, management information for managing the recording state of the disk is recorded, and in the lead-out area 33, dummy data for overrun at the time of seek is recorded.

File (data) to be recorded on disk
Are recorded, the lead-in area 31 and the lead-out area 33 are recorded, thereby completing the finalization. Before the finalization is completed (recording state in FIG. 2), additional files (data) can be sequentially recorded. However, after the finalization is completed (recording state in FIG. 3), a new file (data) is added. It cannot be recorded.

In a rewritable optical disk, it is possible to additionally record a file (data) even in the recording state after the finalization. However, the file lead-in area 31 and the lead-out area 33 are stored in the following complicated procedure. ,
You need to re-record.

That is, (1) the lead-out area 33 is erased. (2) File (data) is additionally recorded in the program area 32. (As a result, the program area 32
Increase in size. (3) Based on the recording state of the new disk, the contents of the lead-in area 31 are changed and recorded again. (4) The lead-out area 33 is recorded after the program area 32.

Therefore, it is not common to add a file (data) to the finalized optical disk. The recording state before the finalization and the recording state after the finalization cannot be discriminated by visual observation of the optical disc.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of the disc before finalization (Example 1). In the disk 41,
There is an opening 42 for chucking, which is a recordable area except for a part of the innermost circumference and a part of the outermost circumference. In the disc 41 before finalization, only the program area 43 is a recorded area in the recorded area, and the unrecorded area is a first unrecorded area 44, a second recorded area 45, which is used in the present invention. This is a pattern display area 50.

In the first embodiment, the disc state before finalization is confirmed by the absence of a visual pattern in the pattern display area 50 of the disc 41.
to decide.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of the disk after finalization (Example 2). (The same parts as in FIG. 4 are assigned the same numbers.) After finalization, the lead-in area 46 and the lead-out area 47 are recorded areas. In the pattern display area 50, a visible character pattern "END" 51 is recorded. Therefore,
As the recorded area, four areas of a lead-in area 46, a program area 43, a lead-out area 47, and a pattern display area 50 are recorded areas. It should be noted that the pattern display area 50 includes a visually recognizable character pattern “END” 51.
And only its vicinity are recorded areas, and the other pattern display areas are unrecorded areas.

In the second embodiment, the disc state after finalization is determined by the presence of the visual character pattern "END" 51 in the pattern display area 50 of the disc 41.

By combining the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, it can be easily visually determined whether or not the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the disc before finalization (Example 3). (The same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) The disk 41 has an opening 42 for chucking, and is a recordable area except for a part of the innermost circumference and a part of the outermost circumference. is there. Pattern display area 5
In 0, a visible character pattern “START” 52 is recorded. Therefore, two recorded areas, the program area 43 and the pattern display area 50, are recorded areas. The unrecorded area is a first unrecorded area 44,
This is the second recording area 45.

In the pattern display area 50, only the visible character pattern "START" 52 and its vicinity can be recorded areas, and the other pattern display areas can be unrecorded areas.

In the third embodiment, the state of the disc before finalization is indicated by the character pattern “START” 52 that can be visually recognized in the pattern display area 50 of the disc 41.
Is determined by the existence of

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state of the disk after finalization (Example 4). (The same parts as in FIG. 5 are assigned the same numbers.) After finalization, the lead-in area 46 and the lead-out area 47 are recorded areas. In the pattern display area 50, a visible character pattern "END" 53 is additionally recorded. Accordingly, the recorded area is the recorded area including the lead-in area 46, the program area 43, the lead-out area 47, and the pattern display area 50. The pattern display area 50 includes a visible character pattern “STAR”.
Only the "T" 52, the "END" 53 and the vicinity thereof may be recorded areas, and the other pattern display areas may be unrecorded areas.

In the fourth embodiment, the disc state after finalization is determined by the presence of the visual character pattern "END" 53 in the pattern display area 50 of the disc 41.

The combination of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 makes it possible to easily visually determine whether or not the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 8 shows the pattern display area 50 in the optical disk of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state (Example 5) of the disk from which the visible character pattern “START” 52 of FIG. (The same parts as those in FIG. 5 are assigned the same numbers.) Rewritable optical disks (CD-RW, DVD-RW, D
The VD-RAM) can easily erase the visible character pattern “START” 52 in the pattern display area 50 by recording random data. However, in a write-once optical disc (CD-R, DVD-R), Since rewriting cannot be performed at the same location, a process specific to a write-once disc is required. Here, by overwriting (overwriting)
The visible character pattern “START” 52 in the apparent pattern display area 50 is easily erased.

In the fifth embodiment, the disc state after finalization is determined by the fact that the visual character pattern "START" 52 does not exist in the pattern display area 50 of the disc 41.

With the combination of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it can be easily visually determined whether or not the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 9 shows the pattern display area 50 after the finalization is completed on the optical disk of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a state (Example 6) of the disk in which the visible character pattern “START” 52 is deleted and the visible character pattern “END” 53 is additionally recorded. In the sixth embodiment, a visual character pattern “END” 53 is present in the pattern display area 50 of the disk 41 to indicate that the disk has been finalized. Judgment by having.

With the combination of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, it can be easily visually determined whether or not the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a recording state of a disc before finalization in the present invention, and a pattern display area 26 is newly provided. (The same parts as in FIG. 2 are assigned the same numbers.) The recorded areas are a first recorded area 25 composed of a program area 22 and a second recorded area 27 composed of a pattern display area 26. Area.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the recording state of the disc after finalization in the present invention. The recorded area is a first recorded area including a lead-in area 31, a program area 32, and a lead-out area 33. Region 36
And a second recorded area 38 composed of a pattern display area 37. (The same parts as in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a disk recording state before finalization when the present invention is applied to the multi-session recording method. (The same parts as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) A CD-R which is a write-once optical disc may be recorded by a multisession recording method.

The multi-session recording method is a recording method in which one session is constituted by three areas of a lead-in area, a program area, and a lead-out area, and a plurality of sessions are provided.

An optical disc having only one session is
It is called a single-session optical disk and is included in the multi-session recording method.

A first recorded area 204 including a first lead-in area 201, a first program area 202, and a first lead-out area 203 is called in a first session and is completed as a session. No file (data) can be added to this completed session. File
To add (data), build the following session and add the file (data).

The second program area 205 in which the file (data) is additionally written becomes the second recorded area 206, and waits for the next file (data) to be additionally written in a state where the session is not completed. .

In FIG. 13, the pattern display area 26 is
This is the third recorded area 207.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a disk recording state before finalization when the present invention is applied to the multi-border recording method. (The same parts as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) In a write-once optical disc, DVD-R, recording by the multi-border recording method may be performed.

The multi-border recording method is a recording method in which one border is composed of three areas, a border-in area, a user data area, and a border-out area, and a plurality of the borders are provided.

An optical disk having only one border is called a single-border optical disk, and is included in the multi-border recording method.

A first recorded area 304 including a lead-in area 301, a first user data area 302, and a first border-out area 303 is called a first border and is completed as a border. No file (data) can be added to this complete border. To add a file (data), build the following border and add a file (data).

The second user data area 305 in which the file (data) is additionally recorded becomes the second recorded area 306, and the next file (data) is additionally recorded in a state where the border is not completed. wait.

In FIG. 15, the pattern display area 26 is
This is the third recorded area 307. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a disc recording state after finalization when the present invention is applied to the multi-session recording method.
(The same parts as those in FIGS. 12 and 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) The recorded area includes a first lead-in area 201, a first program area 202, and a first lead-out area 203. A second recorded area 21 including a recorded area 204, a second lead-in area 208, a second program area 209, and a second lead-out area 210.
1 and a third recorded area 212 composed of the pattern display area 37.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a disk recording state after finalization when the present invention is applied to the multi-border recording method. (The same parts as in FIGS. 12 and 15
Assign the same number. The recorded area includes a first recorded area 304 including a lead-in area 301, a first user data area 302, and a first border-out area 303, a first border-in area 308, and a second user data. A second recorded area 3 including an area 309 and a second border-out area 310
11, a third recorded area 313 including a lead-out area 312, and a fourth recorded area 313 including a pattern display area 37.
There are four recorded areas 314.

Also in the multi-border recording method, the lead-out area is recorded and finalization is completed.

Also in the multi-border recording method, additional recording of a file (data) cannot be performed after completion of finalization (after recording in the lead-out area).

In the state before finalization of FIG. 6 (Embodiment 3), the character pattern “START” has been recorded in the pattern display area 26 of FIGS. 11, 13 and 15, but the finalization of FIG. Previous state (Example 1)
11, the pattern display area 26 in FIGS. 11, 13 and 15 is an unrecorded area.

In order to change the recording state after the finalization to the state after the finalization in FIG. 7 (Embodiment 5) or the state after the finalization in FIG. 9 (Embodiment 6), the state before the finalization in FIG. In Example 3), the pattern display area 26 in FIGS. 11, 13 and 15 is not all recorded, and only the character pattern "START" and its vicinity need to be recorded.

In the recording state after finalization of FIG. 5 (Embodiment 2), the character pattern “END” is recorded in the pattern display area 37 of FIGS. 12, 14 and 16 in the recording state after finalization of FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the character pattern “START” and the character pattern “END” are recorded, and in the recording state after finalization in FIG. 9 (the sixth embodiment), the character pattern “END” is recorded. Rewritable optical disks (CD-RW, DVD-RW,
In the DVD-RAM), in the recording state after the finalization shown in FIG. 8 (Embodiment 5), FIGS.
In the pattern display area 37, the display pattern data has been erased, but the write-once optical discs (CD-R,
In (VD-R), overwriting (overwriting) is performed and the visual pattern is apparently erased. In the recording state after the finalization in FIG. 9, the same processing is applied to the character pattern “START” existing before the finalization. In the above embodiment, the character pattern is used. For example, the character pattern “START” is replaced by the graphic pattern “■”, and the character pattern “END” is replaced by the graphic pattern “■”.
It can be changed to "■" respectively. In short, any character pattern or figure pattern may be used as long as it can be visually identified whether or not the finalization has been completed.

The optical disk having the pattern display area according to the present invention can read the pattern display area by the data demodulation method used when reproducing data from the optical disk.

Therefore, by reading out the pattern display area according to the present invention, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of the pattern display area and its contents, and it is possible to determine whether the finalization is completed besides visual observation. .
Of course, both can be used together.

As an example, the identification of session close or border close in the multi-session recording method or the multi-border recording method is based on the presence or absence of a pattern of a character or a figure of a size that can be viewed, or of a character or a figure of the size that can be viewed. The case where the contents of the pattern are used will be described below.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing the recording state of the disc before the session close is completed. Physically, a first unrecorded area 61, a first program area 62, and a second unrecorded area 63 are arranged in this order.

When recording a file (data), the file (data) is sequentially recorded in the second unrecorded area 63 and the program area 62 is increased to realize the physical arrangement shown in FIG. In this state, the recorded area 64
Is only the first program area 62.

FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing the recording state of the disc after the session close is completed. Physically, a first lead-in area 71, a first program area 72,
The first lead-out area 73 and the second unrecorded area 74 are arranged in this order.

The file (data) is recorded in the first program area 72, and realizes the physical arrangement shown in FIG. In this state, the recorded area 75 is a first lead-in area 71, a first program area 72, and a first lead-out area 73.

In the first lead-in area 71, management information for managing the recording state of the first session is recorded.
In the first lead-out area 73, dummy data is recorded for overrun at the time of seeking.

After all files (data) to be recorded in the session are recorded, the first lead-in area 71
Then, the session close is completed by recording the first lead-out area 73. Before session close is completed (recorded state in FIG. 17)
In this case, additional files (data) can be sequentially recorded. However, after the session close is completed (recording state in FIG. 18), a new file (data) is added to this session.
No additional records can be made.

In this case, a file (data) can be additionally written by constructing a new session. Even with the multi-border recording method in DVD-R,
Since it is almost the same, the description is omitted here.

The recording state before the completion of the session closing or the border closing and the recording state after the completion of the session closing or the border closing cannot be discriminated by visual observation of the optical disk.

When the multi-border recording system is applied to the DVD-RW, the DVD-RW is rewritable except that it is rewritable.
-R is the same as DVD-RAM, and when the multi-border recording method is applied to DVD-RAM, rewritable and Zone CLV
Except for the method, it is basically the same as DVD-R, and the description is omitted.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the state of the disc (Example 7) before the session close is completed. The disc 81 has an opening 82 for chucking, and is a recordable area except for a part of the innermost circumference and a part of the outermost circumference.
In the disc 81 before finalization, only the program area 83 is a recorded area in the recorded area, and the unrecorded area is a first unrecorded area 84, a second recorded area 85, which is used in the present invention. This is a pattern display area 90.

In the seventh embodiment, the disc state before the session close is completed is determined by the absence of a visual pattern in the pattern display area 90 of the disc 81.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the state of the disc after the session close is completed (Eighth Embodiment). (FIG. 19
The same parts as those in FIG. After the session close is completed, the lead-in area 86 and the lead-out area 87 become recorded areas. In the pattern display area 90, a visually recognizable character pattern "1" 91 is recorded. Therefore, the four recorded areas, the lead-in area 86, the program area 83, the lead-out area 87, and the pattern display area 90 are recorded areas. The pattern display area 90
Indicates that only the visible character pattern "1" 91 and its vicinity are recorded areas, and the other pattern display areas are unrecorded areas.

In the eighth embodiment, the disc state after completion of the session closing is determined by the presence of the visual character pattern "1" 91 in the pattern display area 90 of the disc 81.

This visible character pattern "1" 91
Means that the closing of the first session has been completed.

According to the combination of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 19 and the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 20, it can be easily visually determined whether or not the disc is one whose session has been closed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the state of the disc (Example 9) before the session close is completed. (FIG. 19
The same parts as those in FIG. The disc 81 has an opening 82 for chucking, and is a recordable area except for a part of the innermost circumference and a part of the outermost circumference. In the pattern display area 90, the visible character pattern "1" is displayed.
92 are recorded. Therefore, the recorded area includes the program area 83 and the pattern display area 90 as the recorded area. The unrecorded areas are a first unrecorded area 84 and a second recorded area 85.

In the pattern display area 90, only the visible character pattern "1" 92 and its vicinity are recorded areas, and the other pattern display areas are unrecorded areas.

In the ninth embodiment, the state of the disk before the session close is completed is indicated by the character pattern “1” 92 visible in the pattern display area 90 of the disk 41.
Is determined by the existence of

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the state of the disc (Example 10) after the session close is completed. (Figure 2
Parts that are the same as 0 are given the same numbers. After the session close is completed, the lead-in area 86 and the lead-out area 87 become recorded areas. In the pattern display area 90, a visually recognizable character pattern “.” 93 is additionally recorded. Therefore, the four recorded areas, the lead-in area 86, the program area 83, the lead-out area 87, and the pattern display area 90 are recorded areas. In the pattern display area 90, only the visible character patterns “1” 92, “.” 93 and the vicinity thereof are recorded areas, and the other pattern display areas are unrecorded areas.

In the tenth embodiment, the disc state after the session close is determined by the presence of the visual character pattern “.” 93 in the pattern display area 90 of the disc 81.

The character pattern "1" 9 that can be viewed
2. "." 93 means that the closing of the first session is completed. With the combination of the ninth embodiment in FIG. 21 and the tenth embodiment in FIG. 22, it is possible to easily visually determine whether or not the disc is one whose session has been closed.

FIG. 23 shows the optical disk of the ninth embodiment shown in FIG. 21 in which the visible character pattern “1” 92 in the pattern display area 90 is deleted after the session close, and the visible character pattern “2” 94 FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a state of the disk (Example 11) to which "" is added. (FIG. 20
The same parts as those in FIG. ) Rewritable optical disks (CD-RW, DVD-RW, D
The VD-RAM) can easily erase the visible character pattern “1” 92 in the pattern display area 90 by recording random data. However, in a write-once optical disc (CD-R, DVD-R), Since rewriting cannot be performed at the same location, a process specific to a write-once disc is required. Here, the apparently visible character pattern “1” 92 in the pattern display area 90 is easily erased by overwriting (overwriting).

In the eleventh embodiment, the disc state after the session close is completed is determined by the absence of the visual character pattern “1” 92 in the pattern display area 90 of the disc 81, thereby closing the first session. Is completed. It is also determined that the presence of the visual character pattern “2” 94 in the pattern display area 90 of the disc 81 causes the second session to be started next and the second session not to be closed. it can.

Embodiment 9 of FIG. 21 and Embodiment 11 of FIG.
By the combination of the above, it can be easily determined visually whether or not the disc is one in which the session close of the first session has been completed.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are diagrams showing the recording state before and after closing the first session in the multi-session recording method.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the recording state of the disc before the closing of the first session in the present invention is completed, and a pattern display area 66 is newly provided. (The same parts as those in FIG. 17 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) The recorded area is a first recorded area 65 including a first program area 62 and a second recorded area including a pattern display area 66. 67 are two areas.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the recording state of the disc after the closing of the first session in the present invention has been completed. The recorded area is the first lead-in area 71.
, First program area 72 and first lead-out area 7
3 and a second recorded area 78 composed of a pattern display area 77. (The same parts as those in FIG. 18 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) FIGS. 26 and 27 show the first multi-border recording method.
It is a figure showing a recording state before and after a border is closed.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the recording state of the disc before the closing of the first border in the present invention is completed, and a pattern display area 66 is newly provided. (The same parts as those in FIG. 24 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) The recorded area includes a first recorded area 702 including a first user data area 701 and a pattern display area 6.
6 is a second recorded area 67 composed of six.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the recording state of the disc after the closing of the first border in the present invention has been completed. The recorded area includes the lead-in area 703, the first user data area 704, and the 1 border-out area 70
5 and a second recorded area 78 including a pattern display area 77. (The same parts as in FIG. 25 are assigned the same numbers.) In the recording state before the session close in FIG. 21 (Example 9), the character pattern “1” is recorded in the pattern display area 66 in FIG. In the recording state before the session close is completed in FIG. 19 (Embodiment 7), FIG.
The pattern display area 66 is an unrecorded area.

Similarly, in the multi-border recording method, if the recording state before the completion of the border closing is the same as in FIG. 21, the character pattern "1" has been recorded in the pattern display area 66 in FIG. However, if the recording state before the border close is completed is the same as that in FIG. 19, the pattern display area 66 in FIG. 26 is an unrecorded area.

In the pattern display area 77 in FIG. 25, in the recording state after the session close is completed in FIG. 20 (Embodiment 8), the character pattern “1” is recorded in the recording state after the session close in FIG. In Example 10), the character pattern “1” and the character pattern “.” Are recorded, and in the recording state after the session close is completed in FIG. 23 (Example 11), the character pattern “2” is recorded. Similarly, in the multi-border recording method, if the recording state after the border close is completed is the same as that in FIG. 20 in the pattern display area 37 in FIG.
However, if it is the same as FIG. 22, the character pattern “1” and the character pattern “.” Are recorded, and if it is the same as FIG. 23, the character pattern “2” is recorded. Rewritable optical disks (CD-RW, DVD-RW,
In the DVD-RAM), in the recording state after the session close in FIG. 23 (Example 11), the pattern display area 37 in FIG. 25 stores the data of the display pattern relating to the character pattern “1” existing before the session close completion. A write-once optical disk (CD-R, D
In (VD-R), overwriting (overwriting) is performed and the visual pattern is apparently erased.

FIG. 28 shows the state of the disk when the session close completion disk of the first session in FIG. 20 has been finalized in the third session (Example 1).
It is the figure which showed 2). (The same parts as in FIG. 20 are given the same numbers.) The first session 871, the second session 872, and the third
This is the disc whose session 873 has been closed and whose finalization has been completed by closing the third session 873.

In the pattern display area 90, a visible character string "123" 95 indicating that the three sessions have been closed, and a visible character string "END" 96 indicating that the finalization has been completed are recorded. Have been.
From the visible character string, it can be determined by visually observing the disc that the total number of sessions of the disc is three and that the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 29 shows the state of the disk when the session close completion disk of the first session of FIG. 22 has been finalized in the third session (Example 1).
It is the figure which showed 3). (The same parts as those in FIG. 26 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) The first session 871, the second session 872, and the third
This is the disc whose session 873 has been closed and whose finalization has been completed by closing the third session 873.

In the pattern display area 90, a visible character string "1.2.3." 97 indicating that the three sessions have been closed, and a visible character string "." Meaning that the finalization has been completed. "98 is recorded.
From the visible character string “1.2.3 ..”, it can be determined by visually observing the disc that the total number of sessions of the disc is three and that the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 30 shows the state of the disk when the session close completed disk of the first session in FIG. 23 has been finalized in the third session (Example 1).
It is the figure which showed 4). (The same parts as those in FIG. 26 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) The first session 871, the second session 872, and the third
This is the disc whose session 873 has been closed and whose finalization has been completed by closing the third session 873.

In the pattern display area 90, a visible character string “3” 99 indicating that the three sessions have been closed, and a visible character string “END” 96 indicating that the finalization has been completed are recorded. Have been. From the visible character string, it can be determined by visually observing the disc that the total number of sessions of the disc is three and that the disc has been finalized.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the recording state of the disk after the finalization according to the present invention is completed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of sessions is three.

The recorded area includes a first recorded area 76 including a lead-in area 71, a program area 72, and a lead-out area 73, and a first area including a lead-in area 601, a program area 602, and a lead-out area 603. 4, a third recorded area 608 including a lead-in area 605, a program area 606, and a lead-out area 607, and a fourth recorded area 609 including a pattern display area 77. is there.
(The same parts as in FIG. 25 are denoted by the same reference numerals.) FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a disk recording state after completion of finalization when the present invention is applied to the multi-border recording method. (The same parts as in FIG. 27 are assigned the same numbers.) The recorded area is a first recorded area 706 including a lead-in area 703, a first user data area 704, and a first border-out area 705. And a second recorded area 7 including a first border-in area 707, a second user data area 708, and a second border-out area 709.
10, a third recorded area 714 including a second border-in area 711, a third user data area 712, and a third border-out area 713, and a lead-out area 7
15 and a fifth recorded area 717 including a pattern display area 77.

In the pattern display area 77 of FIGS. 31 and 32, the character pattern "123" and the character pattern "END" in the recording state after the finalization of FIG. In the recording state after completion (Example 13), the character pattern “1.2.
In the recording state (Example 14) after the completion of the finalization in FIG. 30, the character pattern “3” and the character pattern “END” are recorded, respectively. Rewritable optical disks (CD-RW, DVD-RW,
In the DVD-RAM), in the recording state after the completion of the finalization in FIG. 30 (Example 14), the pattern display area 37 in FIG. 31 stores the character pattern “1” (or the character pattern “2”) existing before the completion of the finalization. Regarding ()), the data of the display pattern has been erased, but in the write-once optical discs (CD-R, DVD-R), overwriting (overwriting) is performed, and the visual pattern is apparently erased.

In the above embodiment, the character pattern is used. For example, the character pattern “1” is replaced by the graphic pattern “■”, and the character pattern “2” is replaced by the graphic pattern “■■”.
Can be changed respectively. In short, any character pattern or graphic pattern may be used as long as it can be visually identified whether the session close or the border close has been completed.

The optical disk having the pattern display area according to the present invention can read the pattern display area by the data demodulation method used when reproducing data from the optical disk.

Therefore, by reading the pattern display area according to the present invention, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of the pattern display area and the contents thereof, and to determine whether the session close or the border close has been completed in addition to the visual check. can do. Of course, both can be used together.

Here, to be repeated, a pit pattern used for forming a character or graphic pattern and a pattern display area will be described below.

First, a first pit pattern is recorded in the pattern display area so as to form a character or graphic pattern. Next, the entire pattern display area other than the character or graphic pattern is recorded in a second pit pattern. As a result, a character or figure pattern can be visually confirmed by a difference in light reflectance between the first pit pattern and the second pit pattern. If there is a difference in light reflectance between the portion where the pit pattern is not recorded and the portion where the pit pattern is recorded, the second pit pattern need not be recorded in the pattern display area. good. In this case, the first recorded character or graphic pattern is formed.
Due to the difference in light reflectance between the pit pattern and the portion where no pit pattern is recorded, a character or figure pattern can be visually confirmed.

However, the pit pattern to be recorded so as to form a character or graphic pattern may be the second pit pattern. A pit pattern that can be visually recognized may be used.

Similarly, even if a character or graphic pattern is a portion where a pit pattern is not recorded, and a pattern display area other than the character or graphic pattern is recorded with a second pit pattern, the light reflectance is not changed. , The character or the graphic pattern can be visually perceived.

Here, when the process of recording the second pit pattern on a character or graphic pattern portion where no pit pattern is recorded is performed, there is no difference in light reflectance between the character and graphic pattern. Therefore, the character or figure pattern is apparently erased.

The boundaries, outlines,
Alternatively, record the frame portion with the first pit pattern,
If an area other than the first pit pattern is recorded with the second pit pattern, the difference in the light reflectance between the first pit pattern and the second pit pattern causes
Characters or graphic patterns can be visually confirmed.

When a rewritable information recording medium is used, the recorded character or graphic pattern can be erased or rewritten according to the change of the recording state, so that it can be easily recognized on the display. Easy to do. When a write-once type information recording medium is used, the recorded character or graphic pattern cannot be erased or rewritten, so a new character or graphic pattern is additionally recorded as the recording state changes. Will be done. However,
In a write-once information recording medium, by overwriting (overwriting) an already recorded character or graphic pattern, the character or graphic pattern can be apparently erased.

Although the size of the character or graphic pattern is not particularly limited, it is desirable that the character or graphic pattern formed on the disc has at least a visible size.

In the above embodiment, the recording state of the disk was shown using the visually-visible characters and graphic patterns. However, the visually-visible characters and graphic patterns were used for other purposes (eg, address, name, telephone number). , Trademarks, characters, illustrations, etc.)
It can also be used for

The user may create or designate arbitrary character data or a graphic pattern by using the operation unit.

In this case, it goes without saying that it is easier to perform the creation or designation operation by displaying the character data or the graphic pattern displayed in the visual pattern area on the display unit and confirming it.

[0189]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information recording medium on which a character or graphic pattern can be recorded by using a data modulation recording method used for recording data on the information recording medium. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a recording method and a recording device that can provide the information recording medium, and further provide a reproducing device that reproduces the information recording medium.

As a result, by visually observing the character or graphic pattern recorded on the information recording medium, it is possible to confirm the description or suggestion by the character or graphic pattern.

For example, the recording state of an optical disc (for example,
The presence or absence of finalization, the number of sessions, the number of borders, etc.) can be known by visually observing the character or graphic pattern recorded on the optical disc, and an optical disc with excellent usability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged pattern diagram of a part of a character / graphic pattern on a signal surface of a CD-R according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before finalization in a reference example.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after finalization in a reference example.

FIG. 4 shows the state of the disc before finalization (Example)
It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating 1).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of the disk after finalization (Example 2).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of a disc before finalization (Example 3).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of a disc after finalization (Example 4).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of a disc after finalization (Example 5).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of a disc after finalization (Example 6).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a block configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus in which the information recording apparatus and the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention are integrated.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the recording state of the disc before the session close in the reference example.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after a session close in a reference example.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram for describing the state of the disc (Example 7) before the session close is completed.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the disc after the session close is completed (Eighth Embodiment).

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the disc (Example 9) before the session close is completed.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the disk after the session close is completed (Example 10).

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the disk after the session close is completed (Example 11).

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before completion of a session close in the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the recording state of the disc after the session close in the present invention.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc before completion of border closing in the present invention.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after completion of border closing in the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the disc after completion of finalization (Example 12).

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram for describing the state of the disc after completion of finalization (Example 13).

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the disc after completion of finalization (Example 14).

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after completion of finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a recording state of a disc after completion of finalization in the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart at the time of recording.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart at the time of recording when visual character data or a graphic pattern is stored.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart at the time of reproduction.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an arrangement of a pattern display area.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: display pattern, 2: 11T pit, 3: 3T pit, 26: pattern display area, 37: pattern display area, 41: optical disk, 50: pattern display area, 66: pattern display area, 77 : Area for pattern display, 81: optical disk, 90: area for pattern display,
100: signal recording / reproducing device, 102: optical disk, 10
3: operation unit, 104: system control unit, 105: file storage unit, 106: system memory, 107: digital signal processing unit.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuto Shimagami 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture F-term, Digital Media Products Division, Hitachi, Ltd. 5D029 PA01 5D090 AA01 BB03 CC02 CC14 DD03 GG02 GG32 HH07

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information recording method comprising recording a character or graphic pattern on an information recording medium using a data modulation recording method used when recording data on the information recording medium. 2. The information recording method according to claim 1, wherein an optical reflectance of a first pit pattern forming the character or graphic pattern, and a second pit pattern in a peripheral area of the character or graphic pattern. An information recording method characterized in that the first and second pit patterns can be recorded by a data modulation recording method used when recording data. 3. The information recording method according to claim 1, wherein the character or graphic pattern recorded on the information recording medium is written using a data modulation recording method used when recording data on the information recording medium. Alternatively, an information recording method characterized in that it cannot be recognized as a graphic pattern. 4. The information recording method according to claim 1, wherein a character or graphic designated by a user is recorded as a character or graphic pattern on said information recording medium. 5. The information recording method according to claim 1, wherein information indicating a character or a graphic designated by a user is stored and recorded as a character or graphic pattern designated by the user on said information recording medium. Information recording method. 6. An information recording means for recording information on an information recording medium, a control means for controlling the information recording means, and a digital signal processing means for digitally processing data to be recorded on the information recording medium. An information recording apparatus for performing the information recording method according to claim 1. 7. An information recording medium, wherein a pattern display area for forming a character or graphic pattern is provided on the information recording medium. 8. The information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein said pattern display area is a CAV (Constant Angular Veloci
ty) An information recording medium characterized by being an area. 9. The information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein said pattern display area is provided on an outer peripheral side of said information recording medium. 10. An information reproducing means for reproducing information from an information recording medium, a control means for controlling the information reproducing means, and a digital signal processing means for digitally processing data reproduced from the information recording medium. An information reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing data from a character or graphic pattern recorded on the information recording medium.