ES2359914T3 - OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIA AND INFORMATION RECORDING PROCEDURE. - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical recording medium (1), comprising: a plurality of recording layers having tracks for guiding recording light that are arranged in a multilayer structure, the recording layers being adapted to record user data; wherein the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information for the recording layers are provided in the recording layers as track information signals; and in which the information that directly designates the recording conditions is recorded as the recording conditions in a first recording layer (3) of the recording layers in which a recording is to be carried out first, characterized in that Indirect information that designates a condition for obtaining the recording conditions based on the recording conditions for the first recording layer is recorded as the recording conditions on a second remaining recording layer (4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium and an information recording method. The present invention relates in particular to an optical recording medium having a multilayer structure recording layer part that includes a plurality of recording layers, each layer having a track for guiding a recording light and being adapted to record data. of user.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

DVDs (digital versatile disc, Digital Versatile Disk) of recordable type include DVD + R (DVD recordable, DVD Recordable) and DVD + RW (DVD rewritable, DVD Rewritable), for example. Such recordable DVDs have high playback compatibility with a single-layer single-sided read-only DVD. Therefore, great research and development is being carried out to increase the speed and recording capacity of such recordable disk media.

In an optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers arranged in a multilayer structure, a recording / playback light directed towards a recording layer that is remote with respect to the incident surface of the recording / playback light passes through the recording layers closest to the incident surface. Therefore, in an optical recording medium in which the recording is performed by changing the optical characteristics of a recording layer through the modification of the intensity of the recording light, the waveform condition and the condition of Recording light intensity differ depending on each recording layer. In addition, in case of successively recording on a plurality of recording layers, the waveform condition and the intensity condition for the recording light change with respect to the initial conditions set at the beginning of the recording due to the heat generated during the recording of the recording information, for example. Therefore, a waveform condition and an intensity condition that differ from those of an optical recording medium with a single recording layer have to be set for a multi-layer optical recording medium.

In response to the foregoing considerations, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Open for Public Inspection No. 2002-50053 discloses the provision of unique information of a data layer such as data layer identification information and recording conditions for the data layer in a region of low reflectance and in a region of high reflectance that are arranged alternately with respect to an extension direction of the recording tracks to generate a bar code arrangement.

However, the procedure disclosed in the Japanese patent publication open for public inspection number 2002-50053 is implemented under the premise that the unique information of a data layer can be read without carrying out servo monitoring and, therefore, An optical head cannot read the unique data layer information through normal operations. Therefore, the information region for the single data layer information, specifically the part corresponding to the bar code information region, cannot be used to record information and, therefore, the density of recording information is significantly reduced.

The invention is a recording method and means as defined in claims 1 and 18. The present invention can provide an optical recording medium having a multilayer structure with a plurality of recording layers in which a condition of Proper recording for each recording layer can be recognized through normal optical head operations to perform a proper recording operation. The present invention also provides a method of recording information for recording information on such optical recording medium.

The present invention allows the reading of recording conditions without receiving the influence of a recording signal from a data region.

The present invention allows the reading of recording conditions while reducing excessive movement of the optical head.

In the optical recording medium of the present invention (first optical recording medium), providing information relating to the recording conditions of the respective recording layers and layer information to identify the respective recording layers as information signals on the tracks respectively, the appropriate recording conditions for each recording layer can be recognized by normal operations of the track tracking optical head and suitable recording operations can be carried out.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an optical recording medium comprising:

a plurality of recording layers having tracks to guide recording light that are arranged in a multilayer structure, the recording layers being adapted to record user data; in which the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information for the Recording layers are provided in the recording layers as track information signals.

The recording condition information and the recording layer identification information for the recording layers are provided as information signals on the tracks (such as guide grooves or guiding grooves) so that a recording condition suitable for each layer Recording can be recognized through normal optical head operations of track tracking and desired recording operations can be performed.

The recording condition information and the recording layer identification information can be pre-formatted in the tracks as track information signals. Although the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information can be recorded as normal grooves or recording marks, by previously formatting the information on the tracks as track information signals, the information can be embedded without reducing a region of data.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the multilayer structure recording layers may alternatively include a valley and a crest as recording positions depending on whether the recording layers are oddly numbered or evenly numbered with respect to a Layer arrangement order. The information can be recorded as tracks in the valleys, in the ridges, or in the valleys as well as in the ridges of the multilayer structure recording layers as is the case of conventional arrangements; however, the present invention can also be applied to a case in which the recording positions are alternately arranged to correspond to a valley and a crest depending on whether the recording layers are oddly numbered or evenly numbered. .

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information can be previously formatted as grooves or notches forming the tracks. By previously formatting the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information as grooves or notches formed on transparent substrates as tracks, the optical recording medium can be easily manufactured at a low cost.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information can be previously formatted in the tracks as track information signals through phase modulation. The recording condition information and the recording layer identification information can be recorded on the tracks through various procedures such as periodic modulation and amplitude modulation, for example; however, in the case of a recording medium according to the DVD + R / RW standard that has a synchronization signal with a high frequency of 100 kHz, it is preferable to use phase modulation.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording condition information may include information related to at least one of a intensity condition for the recording light and a light emission waveform condition for the recording light. The recording condition information may include various conditions such as the recording light intensity condition, the wavelength condition, the phase condition, the wave surface condition and the light emission waveform condition . However, using at least one of the recording light intensity condition and the light emission waveform condition, the recording condition can be easily adjusted by a single light emitting element.

According to the present invention, the recording condition information includes information that directly designates a recording condition. With this arrangement, the recording condition can be set easily and accurately by simply reading the recording condition information.

With the invention, the recording condition information may include indirect information that designates a condition for obtaining a recording condition. In this case, the recording condition cannot be set immediately by simply reading the recording condition information; however, the recording condition can be obtained from the derivation condition, and the amount of information required can be reduced compared to the direct recording condition information.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information may be remote from a region of track data. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signals recorded on the tracks changes when the information is recorded on a recording layer, so the recording position for recording the recording condition information is preferably located far from the region of data, and in the case of a spiral or concentric track, the data region is normally located in the central diameter part and, therefore, the recording condition information is preferably recorded in at least one of a internal diameter part and an external diameter part.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, each of the tracks is arranged in a spiral configuration on the recording layers, the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information are provided in a part of internal diameter of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from an internal diameter side to an external diameter side, and the recording condition information and identification information of Recording layers are provided on an external diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from the external diameter side to the internal diameter side. The tracks of an optical recording medium frequently have spiral configurations, and when recording the recording condition information in the internal diameter part or in the external diameter part depending on whether the spiral direction of the track extends from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side or vice versa, the position of the recording condition information may be arranged so that the optical head can access the recording condition first after starting a recording operation with respect to to a recording layer. Therefore, the optical head can read the recording condition information and then proceed directly with its recording operation without requiring excessive movement.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, each of the tracks may be arranged in a spiral configuration on the recording layers; A test writing region for determining a recording condition is provided in an internal diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from a side of diameter internal to one side of external diameter; and a test writing region is provided on an external diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from the external diameter side to the side of internal diameter. Although test writing is generally carried out to determine a recording condition, by providing a test writing region in each of the recording layers and by arranging the test region in the inner diameter part or in the part external diameter according to the spiral direction of the tracks, the optical head can carry out the test writing and then proceed directly with the recording operation without requiring excessive movement.

According to the present invention, the recording condition information and the respective recording layer identification information for the recording layers are arranged to be recorded on the corresponding recording layers. By providing the recording condition information in each individual recording layer, the recording condition of each recording layer can be set accurately and the recording condition can be set for each recording layer. Therefore, even when a recording layer is added, the recording condition format does not need to be changed and, instead, can be extended so that compatibility can be easily carried out with a single layer optical recording medium.

According to the present invention, the information directly designating a recording condition is recorded as recording condition information in a first recording layer of the recording layers in which a recording is to be carried out first; and the indirect information designating a condition for obtaining a recording condition based on the recording condition of the first recording layer is recorded as recording condition information on a second remaining recording layer of the recording layers. In this case, the amount of information required for the recording information can be reduced from the second recording layer in front compared to the case of recording the recording condition information for each individual recording layer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording condition information for all the recording layers can be recorded on a first recording layer of the recording layers in which a recording is to be carried out first. In this case, the recording condition information for all the recording layers can be recorded in the first recording layer in which the recording will be carried out first, so that from the second recording layer onwards only the recording layer identification information has to be read and it is not necessary to read the recording condition.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording condition information may include information related to a fluctuation of recording condition with respect to a temperature or a wavelength of recording light. In a multilayer optical recording medium, the amount of heat accumulated within a recording apparatus varies depending on whether the recording is carried out individually on each recording layer or if the recording is performed successively on all layers of recording and, in turn, environmental conditions such as temperature can vary significantly. In particular, in case of using a light emitting element such as a laser diode as a light source, there is likely to be a large fluctuation in the wavelength depending on the temperature. In this regard, by including information related to the fluctuation of the recording condition with respect to the temperature or the wavelength of the recording light, an appropriate recording condition can be set according to the temperature or the wavelength variation .

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According to another embodiment of the present invention, a first recording layer of the recording layers on which a recording is to be performed first may correspond to the recording layer of the recording layers closest to an incident side. of recording light. By arranging the first recording layer to correspond to the recording layer closest to the incidence side of recording light that receives the least influence from other recording layers, the recording condition can be read appropriately.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first recording layer of the recording layers on which a recording is to be carried out first corresponds to the recording layer of the recording layers furthest from an incident side. of recording light. By arranging the first recording layer to correspond to the furthest recording layer with respect to the recording light incident side, the recording can be carried out in the nearest recording layer (s) without receiving influence from the previous recording layer (s) including the first recording layer and, therefore, stable recording can be carried out.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recording layers are adapted to be transmissive with respect to a wavelength of recording light and are arranged on substrates having the tracks of the recording layers formed thereon. In this case, the optical recording medium of the present invention can be easily provided at a low cost.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the optical recording medium of the present invention may conform to a DVD + R standard, and the recording layers may be arranged in a double-sided, single-sided configuration. Accordingly, the present invention can be suitably applied to a recordable type optical recording medium that conforms to the DVD + R standard and has a double-sided one-sided structure.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the optical recording medium of the present invention may conform to a DVD + RW standard, and the recording layers may be arranged in a double-sided, single-sided configuration. Accordingly, the present invention can be suitably applied to a recordable type optical recording medium that conforms to the DVD + R standard and has a double-sided one-sided structure.

According to the information recording method of the present invention, even in a multilayer optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, the recording condition information and the recording layer identification information for a recording layer can be read recording provided as track information and the recording condition for the recording layer can be set before executing a recording operation so that an appropriate recording can be carried out according to a recording condition suitable for each recording layer.

In addition, other objects and features of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram showing an optical recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first signal format of a guide groove; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second signal format of a guide groove; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a third signal format of a guide groove; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fourth signal format of a guide groove; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of comparing a signal format of a groove of guided; FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of recording information according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a modified example of a recording medium optical that implements a different track layout scheme; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an oscillating signal in a valley of the optical recording medium of FIG. 8; Y FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an oscillating signal on a crest of the optical recording medium of FIG.

8.

BETTER WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the optical recording medium and the information recording method of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

[Basic structure of the optical recording medium] According to one aspect, the present invention can be applied to an optical recording medium having a multilayer structure in which a plurality of recording layers are arranged with respect to the direction of incidence of a light Recording / playback FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram showing an optical recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a single layer double layer optical recording medium 1 in which the recording / playback light is radiated on a recording side. The optical recording medium 1 includes a transparent substrate 2, a first recording layer 3, a second recording layer 4 and a transparent substrate 5 which are arranged one above the other in the previous order. The first recording layer 3 has a layer structure that includes a recording film 6 that is formed on the transparent substrate 2 and a reflection film 7 that is formed on the recording film 6. The second recording layer 4 has a layer structure that includes a reflection film 8 that is formed on the transparent substrate 5 and a recording film 9 that is formed on the reflection film 8. The first recording layer 3 and the second recording layer 4 presenting the layer structures are joined by an adherent film 10.

Each layer of the optical recording medium 1 is described in greater detail below.

First of all, for the recording films 6 and 9, a material that changes its physical form or its optical characteristics is preferably used due to the thermal or optical influences of the irradiation of recording light. For example, if the optical recording medium 1 corresponds to a double-layer optical recording medium of a recordable type face according to the DVD + R standard and an organic dye material is used, complex metallic dyes such as azo dyes, dye dyes cyanine, phthalocyanine dyes, pyrilium dyes, blue dyes, squid dyes, Ni, and Cr, or naphthoquinones, anthraquinone dyes, indophenol dyes, indoaniline dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, triarylmethane dyes, amines, dyes diimony and metal chelates of formazan. Particularly, azo dyes, squar dyes, formazan metal chelates that exhibit good optical resistance characteristics are preferred organic dye materials. In addition, the organic coloring material may include a third component such as a binder or a stabilizer. With regard to the process of forming the organic dye material, the organic dye can be developed in a solvent and applied using the rotational coating process or a vacuum sputtering can be carried out to form the film layer. The film thickness of the recording films 6 and 9 are preferably within a range between 300 and 5000 Å and more preferably within the range between 700 and 2000 Å. In case the rotation coating process is used, annealing is preferably carried out at elevated temperature to remove residual solvent. The annealing temperature is preferably within a range between 80 and 110 ° C and, more preferably, around 100 ° C. The annealing time period is preferably within a range between 15 and 30 minutes.

It should be noted that in case the optical recording medium 1 corresponds to a double-layer optical recording medium of a rewritable type face according to the DVD + RW standard in which the information is recorded by changing the atomic arrangement of the layers of recording, a phase change material may be used instead of an organic coloring material. In this case, the recording films 6 and 9 include a film made of the phase change material and a heat insulating film to maintain the heat of the phase change material. As a specific example, recording films 6 and 9 can be manufactured with a metal alloy represented as XA-XB-XC-Ge-Te; where XA can correspond to at least one of the following elements: Cu, Ag, Au, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Hf , Ta, W, Ir, Pt, Hg, B, C, N, P, O, S, Se, lanthanide, actinide and alkaline earth metal and inactive gas elements; XB may correspond to at least one of the following elements: halogen elements such as Cl and I, and an alkali metal such as Na; and XC may correspond to at least one of the following elements: Sb, SN, As, Pb, Bi, Zn, Cd, Si, Al, Ga and In. In addition, it should be noted that metallic materials such as metallic elements of Tb, Fe and Co that are used as magnetic-optical materials can be used in the recording films 6 and 9. The protective films of the recording films 6 and 9 can be manufactured with the same material or can be manufactured with different materials. Specifically, each of the protective films can be manufactured with an oxide such as SiO, SiO2, ZnO, SNO2, Al2O3, TiO2, In2O3, MgO and ZrO2; a nitride such as Si3N4, AlN, TiN, BN and ZrN; a sulfide such as ZnS, In2S3 and TaS4; a carbide such as SiC, TaC, B4C, Wc, TiC and ZrC; and diamond-shaped carbon; or a combination of two or more of the above materials. With regard to the process of forming the protective films, for example, sputtering, ion plating, vacuum deposition or plasma-assisted CVD can be used.

Reflection films 7 and 8 correspond to silver films formed through sputtering, for example. As the material of the reflection films 7 and 8, metals such as aluminum, silver, copper or metal alloys containing the above materials as their main component can be used. In particular, metals

or metal alloys containing gold as its main component can preferably be used as the material of the reflection films 7 and 8. When mainly silver is used, the atomic concentration of silver is preferably within a range between 80% and 100 % and, more preferably, within a range between 90% and 100%. Aluminum can also be used as the material of reflection films 7 and 8 since aluminum is economical and its use is known in compact discs. In the case of using a metal or a metal alloy as the metal film material, the film can be formed using a vacuum film deposition process such as sputtering or vacuum vapor deposition. In this case, a technique of varying the degree of vacuum can be applied within the vacuum chamber (for example, approximately 10-5 torr) during the sputtering process to form a film that varies its density or its crystallization states. so that the reflectance of the film can be increased. In case at least one recording layer is placed under the reflection film 7 and 8 with respect to the direction of incidence of the recording / playback light, the reflection films 7 and 8 need to be semi-transparent to allow the Reflection light pass through them. Therefore, the film thickness of the reflection films 7 and 8 is preferably between 300 Å and 1000 Å.

The transparent substrates 2 and 5 correspond to the bases of the recording films 6 and 9 and are preferably made of a material that is transmissive with respect to the wavelength of the recording / playback light. For example, plastic such as polycarbonate, acrylic resin, methyl polymethacrylate, polystyrene resin, vinyl chloride resin or epoxy resin can be used; glass can also be used. However, it should be noted that other materials may also be used. After considering factors such as information capacity, cost and weight differences of the material, polycarbonate or acrylic resin can preferably be used. With respect to each pair formed by the recording film 6 and the reflection film 7, and the recording film 9 and the reflection film 8, the recording films 6 and 9 must be placed in the direction of incidence of the light of recording / playback Thus, the order of the recording films and the reflection films with respect to the transparent substrates 2 and 5 is such that if the incident light passes through the transparent substrate to reach the recording layer, the transparent substrate 2, the recording film 6 and the reflection film 7 are preferably arranged in this order. If the incident light does not pass through the transparent substrate to reach the recording layer, the transparent substrate 5, the reflection film 8 and the recording film 9 are preferably arranged in this order.

In the reflection films 7 and 8, guide grooves (or guide grooves = pressures) 11 and 12 corresponding to tracks to guide the recording light are formed. With regard to their preferred formation procedure in relation to production capacity and costs, the guide grooves (or guide grooves) 11 and 12 can be formed in the transparent substrates 2 and 5 and the reflection films 7 and 8 can train on them. If the detection is carried out based on the interference caused by the difference in the path of the recording / playback light in the region of the guide grooves (or guide grooves) 11 and 12 and other regions, the depth of the guide grooves (or guide grooves) 11 and 12 is preferably equal to λ / 8n, where n represents the refractive index of transparent substrates 2 and 5, and λ represents the wavelength of the recording light.

The guide grooves (or guide grooves) 11 and 12 for guiding the recording light are arranged to guide the recording light to precisely explore the recording region of the optical recording medium 1 and are generally provided with synchronization signals to allow that the recording light explore the optical recording medium at a designated linear speed. In that case, the guide grooves 11 and 12 generally oscillate at predetermined intervals. To record information such as recording condition information in the guide grooves (guide grooves) 11 and 12, the synchronization signals generated from the guide grooves (guide grooves) 11 and 12 are preferably modulated through periodic modulation, amplitude modulation or phase modulation, for example. In the case of the optical recording medium 1 of the present embodiment, since there may be a great variation in the intensity of the reflection light depending on the state of the optical recording medium 1, periodic modulation and phase modulation are preferred in amplitude modulation place. In addition, in the DVD + R / RW standard where the synchronization signal has a high frequency of 100 kHz, phase modulation is preferred.

According to a preferred method of manufacturing the multilayer structure of the recording films 6 and 9, the recording films 6 and 9 and the reflection films 7 and 8 are formed in the transparent substrate 2 and 5, after which the substrates 2 and 5 join together. In that case, an adhesive sheet, a thermosetting adhesive, an ultraviolet light curing adhesive or an ultraviolet cationic curing adhesive can preferably be used as the adherent film 10. In particular, to make the adherent film 10 smooth and uniform, an adhesive sheet is preferably used as the adherent film 10.

In the optical recording medium 1 having a multilayer structure with a plurality of recording layers 3 and 4 that are formed according to the procedures described above, the recording layers 3 and 4 each have different environmental conditions, such as optical conditions and conditions. thermal of the incident recording light, and therefore, high quality recording cannot be performed on these recording layers using the same recording condition. It should be noted that the "optical conditions" may correspond to the change in intensity of the recording light that occurs when the recording light passes through the recording layer that is located towards the recording light incident surface (first recording layer 3) and reaches the recording layer furthest from the incidence surface of the recording light (second recording layer 4), with a difference in the optical path length that passes through several transparent substrates, and with a phase change caused by the birefringence of the transparent substrate 2. In addition, the "thermal conditions" may correspond to the heat accumulation and the heat emission conditions of the recording layers 3 and 4 depending on the differences in placement and of thickness of the recording films 6 and 9, of the reflection films 7 and 8, of the transparent substrates 2 and 5 and of the adherent film 10.

By selecting suitable recording conditions for each of the recording layers 3 and 4 according to the differences in the environmental conditions of the recording layers 3 and 4, high quality recording can be carried out in the plurality of recording layers 3 and 4. The recording conditions may include the intensity, wavelength, phase, wave surface and light emission waveform of the recording light, for example. It should be noted that the intensity condition and the light emission waveform condition are preferably used because such conditions can be easily adjusted using a single light emitting element.

The content of recording condition information may correspond to a direct condition such as a numerical value that designates the intensity or waveform of the recording light, or an indirect condition such as a condition to obtain a recording condition to by means of a test write on the recording medium 1 or based on the reflectance fluctuation of the optical recording medium 1. As an exemplary procedure to obtain a recording condition, the procedure β can be used using on a CD- R

or on a DVD ± R, or the γ procedure used on a CD-RW or on a DVD ± RW to obtain an intensity condition for the recording light. In this case, β or γ, which correspond to a target recording intensity and an approximate recording intensity that are used in the condition derivation process, are included as the content of recording condition information. In another example, test writing can be carried out satisfactorily while changing the waveform condition to obtain a suitable waveform condition. In another additional example, the thickness of the recording film and the transmittance of the transparent substrate can be estimated from a change in reflectance and, accordingly, an appropriate recording condition can be obtained. Using the above procedures as an example to obtain a recording condition, the physical differences of the recording layers in the optical recording medium 1 are taken into account and the amount of information to be recorded as recording condition information can be reduced in the guide grooves (or guide grooves) 11 and 12 corresponding to the tracks.

In the optical recording medium 1 having a plurality of recording layers 3 and 4, it will be obtained if a suitable recording condition carrying out a test write, it is preferred that a test write region be provided in each of the recording layers 3 and 4. In addition, carrying out the test writing for all the recording layers 3 and 4 at the beginning of a recording operation to obtain a suitable recording condition for each of the recording layers 3 and 4, the test writing time required during recording can be reduced by successive recording on recording layers 3 and 4. However, optical conditions such as the wavelength and the efficiency of the light emitting element may change. due to changes in environmental conditions, such as a change in temperature during recording, and, in turn, the proper recording condition at the time of actual recording can be r different from that determined at the beginning of the recording operation. Therefore, the information related to the sensitivity fluctuation of each of the recording movies 6 and 9 with respect to the wavelength and / or the temperature can be included in the recording condition information, and a condition calculated in depending on the sensitivity fluctuation of the recording movies 6 and 9 caused by a change in an environmental condition, such as temperature, it can complement the recording condition obtained at the beginning of the recording operation so that a condition can be obtained suitable for each recording layer 3 and 4 at the beginning of the recording operation.

It should be noted that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the signal of the guide grooves (guide grooves) 11 and 12 corresponding to the tracks changes after the information has been recorded on the recording tracks 3 and

4. Therefore, the recording positions of the recording condition information for the recording layers 3 and 4 to be recorded in the guide grooves (guide grooves) 11 and 12 of the optical recording medium 1 are preferably away from the regions of data in which a user can record arbitrary information. In case the guide grooves (guide grooves) 11 and 12 are arranged in concentric configurations or in spiral configurations, the data region is normally located in a part of the center diameter of the groove and, therefore, the information of Recording condition is preferably recorded in at least one of an internal diameter part and an external diameter part of the groove.

In addition, if the guide grooves (guide grooves) 11 and 12 are arranged in a spiral configuration, the entire surface of the optical recording medium 1 can be scanned successively when the optical recording medium 1 is rotated for recording / reproduction. In that case, to eliminate excessive movement of the optical head at the beginning of a recording operation, the recording condition information is preferably recorded in the position in which the optical head starts its recording operation for the corresponding recording layer ( that is, the internal diameter part or the external diameter part). Specifically, the recording condition information is preferably recorded in the internal diameter part if the spiral direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the optical recording medium 1 for recording / playback extends from the internal diameter side to the internal diameter. outer diameter side, and condition information of

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Recording is preferably recorded on the outer diameter part if the spiral direction extends from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side.

In addition, by determining the recording conditions through the test writing on the optical recording medium 1, suitable recording conditions can be obtained for the recording layers 3 and 4 that take into account environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. In that case, the test writing region is preferably provided in a position where the optical head starts its recording operation for the corresponding recording layer (i.e., the internal diameter part or the external diameter part) for Get a good recording quality from the beginning of the recording operation. Specifically, the test writing region is preferably located in the internal diameter part if the spiral direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the optical recording medium 1 for recording / reproduction is directed towards the external diameter part, and The test writing region is preferably located in the outer diameter part if the spiral direction is directed towards the inner diameter part. In this way, the excessive movement of the optical head can be reduced and the operating time from the test writing to the recording can be reduced so that the recording is not greatly affected by a fluctuation of the proper recording condition in the course of the weather.

In an example of recording the recording conditions in the recording layers 3 and 4, the recording conditions of the same specification can be recorded in the recording layers 3 and 4. In that case, a recording condition and / or a condition to obtain a recording condition can be set for each of the recording layers 3 and 4. In this example, when the number of recording layers increases, the recording condition format may not need to be modified and, instead, may extend. Therefore, the present embodiment can be applied to optical recording media such as DVD +/- R / RW or CD-R / RW, which have been widely disseminated as optical recording media with a single recording layer. .

In another example of recording the recording conditions in the recording layers 3 and 4, a recording condition can be recorded in a first recording layer in which the recording is to be carried out first (i.e. the layer recording 3), and the information to identify the recording layer 3 can be recorded in the reflection film 7 that is associated with the recording layer 3. On the other hand, the information to obtain a recording condition for the other layer of recording 4 depending on the recording condition for the first recording layer 3 is recorded on the recording layer 4. Using this procedure, according to the invention, the amount of information to be recorded as recording condition information can be reduced from the second recording layer 4 onwards. Therefore, by adding a surplus of signals to improve error correction performance, sufficient reading performance can be maintained even when the SNR decreases compared to that of the recording time in the first recording layer.

In another additional example of recording the recording conditions on the recording layers 3 and 4, the recording conditions for all the recording layers 3 and 4 can also be recorded on the first recording layer 3. In this example, keep the compatibility with an optical recording medium with a single recording layer becomes difficult; however, it is not necessary to read a recording condition from the second recording layer 4 onwards, so that the recording layer 4 may simply require a signal quality that is sufficient to read the identification signal of the recording layer 4. It should be noted that the first recording layer 3 in which the recording is to be performed first corresponds preferably to the recording layer closest to the recording light incident surface, so that it receives little influence of other recording layers such as recording layer 4. Alternatively, the first recording layer 3 in which the recording is performed first may correspond to the recording layer furthest from the incident surface of the recording light When the first recording layer 3 to be recorded first corresponds to the recording layer furthest from the incidence surface of the recording light, the recording on the second recording layer 4 can be carried out without being influenced by the previous recording layers, including the first recording layer 3, so that a stable recording can be carried out.

In addition, in the optical recording medium 1 having a plurality of recording layers 3 and 4, the amount of heat accumulated within an optical recording apparatus is different depending on whether the recording is carried out separately in each layer of recording 3 and 4, or if the recording is carried out successively in the recording layers 3 and 4. Consequently, environmental conditions, such as temperature, can vary significantly. In particular, when a laser diode is used as a light source, variations in wavelength with respect to temperature occur. Therefore, in such a case, the recording condition information of the optical recording medium 1 preferably includes information related to fluctuations in the recording conditions with respect to temperature and wavelength, for example. In this way, a suitable recording can be carried out regardless of the position on the optical recording medium 1 in which the recording is started.

[Signal Format]

Specific examples of suitable signal formats in various configurations of the system are described below.

optical recording medium 1 with reference to FIG. 2 to 5

FIG. 2 to 5 respectively represent a signal format, one to four, that is recorded in the slits (grooves) guide 11 and 12 of the optical recording medium 1. FIG. 6 shows a signal format recorded in a guide groove of an optical recording medium having a single layer structure as a comparative example. In FIG. 2 to 5, "standardized information" refers to the corresponding standard of optical recording medium 1. "Disk (or media) configuration" refers to information that may include physical configuration information such as the size of the recording medium optical 1 and the separation between tracks of the guide grooves 11 and 12, the material of the recording layer, information related to the start address and the end address of the data region, and information related to the use of the media optical recording 1, for example. "Recording layer number" refers to the layer information to identify each of the recording layers 3 and 4 by assigning different values to the recording layers 3 and 4. "Seller information" refers to information identification of the seller (manufacturer) of the optical recording medium. "Version information" refers to the manufacturing version information of the optical recording medium 1. "Waveform condition" describes the fluctuation of sensitivity of the recording film with respect to the waveform. It should be noted that the parts of the signal format shown in FIG. 6 corresponding to the parts of the signal format of FIG. 2 to 5 have the same description references.

[First signal format]

The first signal format shown in FIG. 2 is implemented in an optical recording medium 1 that uses the parallel track path (PTP) procedure in which the first recording layer 3 and the second recording layer 4 respectively have spiral guide grooves 11 and 12 which are directed from the internal diameter part to the external diameter part of the medium. In this case, in each of the guide grooves 11 and 12 of the first recording layer 3 and the second recording layer 4, the information related to a recording condition and the layer information are pre-formatted in the part of internal diameter

Therefore, to carry out the recording in the first recording layer 3, the recording condition information previously formatted in the guide groove 11 of the first recording layer 3 is used to carry out a test write in the first recording layer 3 to obtain a suitable recording condition, and the recording is carried out in the first recording layer 3 depending on a direct recording condition. In order to carry out the recording in the second recording layer 4, the optical head moves towards the internal diameter part of the optical recording medium 1, and the recording condition information previously formatted in the guide groove 12 of the second layer Recording 4 is used to perform a test write to obtain an appropriate recording condition and to perform a recording based on a direct recording condition. Using such an optical recording medium 1, the recording can be carried out according to a recording condition suitable for each of the recording layers 3 and 4.

[Second signal format]

The second signal format shown in FIG. 3 is implemented in an optical recording medium 1 that uses the opposite track path (OTP) procedure in which the first recording layer 3 has a spiral guide groove 11 that is directed from the diameter part internal to the external diameter part of the medium, and the second recording layer 4 has a spiral guide groove 12 that is directed from the external diameter part to the internal diameter part of the medium. In this case, the information related to a recording condition and the layer information are pre-formatted in the internal diameter portion of the guide groove 11 of the first recording layer 3, and the information related to a recording condition and the Layer information is pre-formatted in the guide groove 12 of the outer diameter portion of the second recording layer 4.

Accordingly, the recording condition information in the first recording layer 3 is used to carry out a test write in the first recording layer 3 to obtain a suitable recording condition, and a direct recording is carried out in the first recording layer 3 depending on a direct recording condition. Then, to carry out a recording on the second recording layer 4, the optical head that has moved towards the external diameter part of the medium uses the recording condition information of the second recording layer 4 to carry out a Test writing on the outer diameter portion of the second recording layer 4 to obtain a suitable recording condition, and a direct recording is carried out on the second recording layer 4 depending on a direct recording condition.

Using an optical recording medium 1 having such a configuration, the displacement of the optical head from the first recording layer 3 to the second recording layer 4 can be reduced so that in each of the recording layers 3 and 4 a substantially continuous recording can be made and a recording based on a suitable recording condition can be carried out. In addition, the signal format recorded in the guide groove 11 of the first recording layer 3 is substantially identical to the comparative example shown in FIG. 6 for a single layer recording layer and therefore can be obtained

high downward compatibility in optical recording medium 1 according to this configuration.

[Third signal format]

The third signal format shown in FIG. 4 is implemented in an optical recording medium 1 similar to that of the second signal format using the opposite track path (OTP) procedure. However, unlike the second signal format, in the third signal format, indirect recording condition information is obtained to obtain a recording condition for the second recording layer 4 depending on a recording condition for the first recording layer. 3 is recorded in the guide groove 12 of the second recording layer 4 as information related to a recording condition of the second recording layer 4. In this way, the amount of information required as recording condition information can be reduced in comparison With the second signal format.

Therefore, as in the first and second signal format, the recording condition of the first recording layer 3 is used to perform a test write on the first recording layer 3 to obtain a suitable recording condition. , and a direct recording is performed on the first recording layer 3 depending on a direct recording condition. Then, to carry out a recording in the second recording layer 4, the optical head that has moved towards the external diameter part of the medium uses the recording condition recorded in the second recording layer 4 to carry out a write test on the outer diameter portion of the second recording layer 4 to obtain a suitable recording condition, and a recording is made on the second recording layer 4 according to the recording condition of the second recording layer 4 that is obtained of the recording condition of the first recording layer 3 depending on the derivation information.

Using an optical recording medium having such a configuration, the displacement of the optical head from the first recording layer 3 to the second recording layer 4 can be reduced, so that in each of the recording layers 3 and 4 a substantially continuous recording can be made and a recording based on a suitable recording condition can be carried out. Furthermore, it should be noted that the signal format recorded in the guide groove 11 of the first recording layer 3 is substantially identical to the signal format shown in the comparative example of FIG. 6 for the single layer recording layer, and high downward compatibility can be achieved in the optical recording medium 1. In addition, since the recording condition of the second recording layer 4 simply includes a condition for modifying the condition of recording of the first recording layer 3, the amount of recording condition information for the second recording layer can be reduced.

[Fourth signal format]

The fourth signal format shown in FIG. 5 can be implemented in an optical recording medium 1 similar to that of the second and third format using the opposite track path (OTP) procedure. However, unlike the second and third format, in the fourth signal format, all the information elements related to the recording conditions for the recording layers 3 and 4 are recorded in the guide groove 11 of the first layer of recording 3, while the layer information is still recorded on each of the recording layers 3 and 4.

Accordingly, the recording in the first recording layer 3 is carried out in a manner similar to that used in the first three formats. That is, the recording condition for the first recording layer 3 that is recorded on the first recording layer 3 is used to perform a test write on the first recording layer 3 to obtain a suitable recording condition, and a direct recording is made on the first recording layer 3 based on a direct recording condition. Then, to carry out a recording on the second recording layer 4, the optical head that has moved towards the external diameter part of the medium recognizes the layer information recorded on the second recording layer 4 and uses the recording condition for the second recording layer 4 that is read from the first recording layer 3 to carry out a test write on the outer diameter portion of the second recording layer 4 to obtain a suitable recording condition, and a recording in the second recording layer 4 based on the recording condition obtained.

Using an optical recording medium 1 having such a configuration, the displacement of the optical head from the first recording layer 3 to the second recording layer 4 can be reduced so that a substantially continuous recording can be carried out and can be performed a recording according to a recording condition suitable for each of the recording layers 3 and 4. Furthermore, since the recording condition for the second recording layer 4 is recorded on the first recording layer 3, the recording on the second Recording layer 4 can be performed by simply recognizing the layer information to identify the second recording layer 4.

[Information recording procedure] A schematic process as illustrated in FIG. 7 can be used as an information recording procedure in a case where any one of the optical recording means 1 that implements the four signal formats described above is loaded into an optical information recording apparatus. FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of recording information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to FIG. 7, first, in step S1, it is determined whether an optical recording medium is loaded. When an optical recording medium 1 is loaded and a positive determination (YES) is made in step S1, the following steps are carried out before performing a recording operation on the optical recording medium 1. In step S2 ( condition reading stage), the information related to a recording condition and the layer information for identifying the 3/4 recording layer are read from the guide groove 11/12 of the optical recording medium 1. Then, in the stage S3 (recording condition setting stage), based on the information related to a recording condition and the layer information to identify the 3/4 recording layer read in step S2, a recording condition is set for the 3/4 recording layer that is subject to a recording operation. Then, in step S4 (recording operation execution stage), a data recording operation is performed to record user data, for example, in the 3/4 recording layer that is subjected to the operation of recording according to the recording condition set in step S3.

According to the present embodiment, even with an optical recording medium 1 having a multilayer structure with a plurality of recording layers 3 and 4, the information related to a recording condition and the layer information can be read to identify each of the recording layers that are recorded in the guide grooves 11 and 12, and recording conditions can be set for the recording layer 3 or 4 to perform a data recording operation. Therefore, a recording can be made under a suitable recording condition on each of the recording layers 3 and 4.

[Modification example]

In the above descriptions of recording information in the multilayer recording layers 3 and 4, the track format has been described by implementing a conventional recording format on the notches (guide slits 11 and 12) of the recording layers 3 and 4 ( identical results can be obtained by means of a recording format in crests or in valleys as well as in crests of the recording layers). However, other formats such as a format for alternately fixing a valley and a crest can be used as recording positions of the multilayer recording layers depending on whether the recording layer corresponds to an odd layer or an even layer. For example, a valley can be set as the recording position with respect to the first recording layer and its oscillation, and a crest can be fixed as the recording position with respect to the second recording layer and its oscillation. Carrying out a recording on the second recording layer of a double layer recording medium using an organic coloring material as its main material, a relatively deep mark must be formed on the second recording layer with respect to a depth direction of cap. However, when a mark with such depth is formed in the second recording layer, it is possible that the heat generated when carrying out the recording will penetrate the crest side due to structural reasons, so that degradation occurs in the recording quality Therefore, the track format described above can be used to avoid such inconvenience.

This track format is described below with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a configuration of an optical recording medium according to an example of modification that implements the track format described above. It should be noted that in FIG. 8 the elements that are identical to those shown in FIG. 1 have the same numerical references and their descriptions are omitted. In addition, in this drawing the recording / playback light is indicated by a dashed line.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the first recording layer 3, a recording film 6 having a slit structure in the direction of light irradiation is formed with respect to the reflection layer 7, and in the second recording layer 4, a film of recording 9 having a slit structure in the direction of light irradiation is formed with respect to the reflection layer 8. In case the optical recording medium 1 corresponds to a disc medium, the slit structure is formed in a spiral path that begins from the center of the disk medium and is directed towards the outer diameter side, and an information recording / reproduction apparatus follows this groove to carry out the reproduction and recording of information. Generally, the slit closest to the incident surface of the recording / playback light is referred to as a valley 11, and the slit that is furthest from the incident surface is referred to as a ridge 13. In the first recording layer 3, the recording film 6 is formed in the valley 11, and in the second recording layer 4, the recording film 9 is formed in the crest 13. In other words, the recording films of the first recording layer 3 and of the second recording layer 4 are formed respectively as tracks having different configurations.

More specifically, in the slit structure of the first recording layer 3, the valley 11 is formed by the recording film 6. The valley 11 oscillates as shown in FIG. 9, and the oscillating signal provided in the valley 11 may include position information in the middle plane (disk) and recording power and recording pulse form to carry out OPC, for example. FIG. 9 illustrates the oscillating signal in the valley of the optical recording medium shown in FIG. 8.

The second recording layer 4 is formed on the first recording layer 3 with an adherent layer 10 and / or an inorganic protective layer 14 placed between them. Unlike the first recording layer 3, the

5 Recording film 9 of the recording layer 4 is formed on the crest 13, and the oscillating signal is also recorded on the crest 13 as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows an oscillating signal on the crest of the optical recording medium shown in FIG. 8. This oscillating signal may include position information of the second recording layer 4 and the recording power and the form of recording pulse to perform OPC, for example.

10 Even in an optical recording medium that implements a track format as described above, the four signal formats illustrated in FIG. 2 to 5 and a recording can be carried out for each of the recording layers 3 and 4 according to a suitable recording condition.

It should be noted that in FIG. 9 and 10, the waveforms of the tracking error signals (TE) for the valley 11 and the crest 13 are shown respectively in the lower section of the drawings by way of

15 reference.

It should also be noted that the optical recording medium according to the present invention is not limited to a disk medium. In fact, the present invention can also be applied to various other types of optical recording media.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

 RE IV INDICATION S

one.

An optical recording medium (1), comprising:

a plurality of recording layers having tracks for guiding recording light that are arranged in a multilayer structure, the recording layers being adapted to record user data; wherein the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information for the recording layers are provided in the recording layers as track information signals; and in which the information that directly designates the recording conditions is recorded as the recording conditions in a first recording layer (3) of the recording layers in which a recording is to be carried out first, characterized in that Indirect information that designates a condition for obtaining the recording conditions based on the recording conditions for the first recording layer is recorded as the recording conditions on a second remaining recording layer (4).

2.

The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information are pre-formatted in the tracks as track information signals.

3.

The optical recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the multilayer structure recording layers alternately include a valley and a crest as recording positions depending on whether the recording layers are odd or even with respect to an order of Layer arrangement of the recording layers.

Four.

The optical recording medium according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the information related to the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information are previously formatted in grooves

or notches that form the tracks.

5.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the information related to the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information are pre-formatted in the tracks as track information signals by modulation of phase.

6.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information related to the recording conditions includes information related to at least one of an intensity condition for the recording light and a shape condition. light emission wave for recording light.

7.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information related to the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information are far from a region of track data.

8.

The optical information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each track is arranged in a spiral configuration over the recording layers; the information related to the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information are provided in an internal diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from an internal diameter side to an external diameter side; and the information related to the recording conditions and the recording layer identification information are provided in an external diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directs from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side.

9.

The optical information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each track is arranged in a spiral configuration over the recording layers; A test writing region for determining a recording condition is provided in an internal diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from a side of diameter internal to one side of external diameter; and a test writing region is provided on an external diameter part of the spiral configuration of a corresponding track if a spiral direction of a recording operation for the corresponding track is directed from the external diameter side to the side of internal diameter.

10.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the information related to the recording conditions and the respective recording layer identification information are arranged to be recorded on the corresponding recording layers.

eleven.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the information related to the recording conditions includes information relating to a fluctuation of recording condition with respect to a temperature or a wavelength of recording light .

12.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a first recording layer of the recording layers in which a recording is to be performed first corresponds to the recording layer of the layers recording located closest to the incident side of the recording light.

13.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a first recording layer of the recording layers in which a recording is to be performed first corresponds to the recording layer of the layers recording distance farther from the incident side of the recording light.

14.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each recording layer is adapted to be transmissive with respect to a wavelength of recording light and is arranged on substrates having the layered tracks of recording formed on them.

fifteen.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which conforms to a DVD + R standard, wherein the recording layers are arranged in a double-sided, single-sided configuration.

16.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which conforms to a DVD + RW standard, wherein the recording layers are arranged in a double-sided, single-sided configuration.

17.

The optical recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 16, which has a disk configuration, in which the information signals are recorded in a region of internal diameter or in a region of external diameter of the disk configuration .

18.

A procedure for recording information, comprising:

a condition reading stage that is carried out before performing a recording operation on an optical recording medium as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 that is loaded into an optical information recording apparatus, including the condition reading stage, read information related to recording conditions and recording layer identification information that are provided as track information in the optical recording medium, including obtaining the recording conditions for the second layer using said indirect information of the same that designates the condition for obtaining the recording conditions based on the recording conditions of the first layer; a recording condition setting step for setting a recording condition for a recording layer that is subjected to a recording based on the information related to recording conditions and the recording layer identification information of the recording layer that they are read in the condition reading stage; and a recording operation execution stage for carrying out the recording operation in the recording layer subjected to the recording according to the recording condition set in the recording condition setting stage.

19.

The recording method according to claim 18, wherein the step of setting the recording condition includes carrying out a test write on the recording layer under recording using the recording condition information of the information signals recorded in said recording layer to obtain an optimal recording condition for said recording layer.

twenty.

The recording method according to claim 19, wherein the optical recording medium has a disk configuration and the step of setting the recording condition includes carrying out a test write in a region of internal diameter or in a region of outer diameter of the disk configuration.