JP2001297439A - Information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recording/reproducing device capable of appropriately setting the recording power without necessitating the trial writing again at the time of write once by utilizing the result of OPC at most, which is performed at the beginning and stored in a nonvolatile memory. SOLUTION: When the write once is executed on an information recording/ reproducing medium, the arrangement is made so as to allow the appropriate setting of the recording power without necessitating the trial writing again at the time of write once, in such a manner that the parameter m for managing the evaluation of the quality is measured (S3) by reproducing the previously recorded data part area, the large/small relation of the parameter m with respect to a target value m is evaluated (S4) and the value added/subtracted by the specified amount dP with respect to a value Pi corresponded to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile memory in accordance with the evaluation result is set (S5-S7) as a value Pw corresponded to the recording power of a light source at the time of write once.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical information recording / reproducing apparatus, in order to record data on an optical information recording / reproducing medium, it is necessary to perform recording with a laser power capable of obtaining an optimum recording quality. For this reason, usually, for example, CD-R (Compactact)
Disc Discordable) and CD-RW (Compact Disc R)
rewritable or other write-once or rewritable optical information recording / reproducing media includes PCA (Power Calibration Area = PCA).
There is a laser power adjustment area called a power calibration area, and the recording device uses an OPC
The recording laser power, called (Optimum Power Control), is adjusted, and recording is performed with the resulting laser power.

In some recording devices, the OPC result at that time is stored in a non-volatile memory of the device itself, and when additional recording is performed on an optical information recording / reproducing medium on which recording has been completed, PCA saving (PCA saving) is performed. Is a trial writing
In order to save time, there is a method in which the OPC is not performed at the time of additional recording and the previous OPC result stored in the non-volatile memory is recorded at the recording power = the previous OPC result. See the conventional example in JP-A-11-250481.

However, if the recording power stored in the nonvolatile memory is used as it is, various factors such as non-uniformity of the characteristics of the recording medium surface and changes in the recording surface temperature, in addition to the aging of the optical pickup, will cause Recording may be performed with a laser power that deviates from the true optimum recording power.

[0005] In view of the above, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-2
In Japanese Patent No. 50481, in order to avoid the influence of a change over time or the like, prior to the additional recording operation, it is evaluated whether or not the recording power stored in the non-volatile memory is appropriate by examining the reproduction data of the portion recorded with the recording power. Then, if there is a problem beyond the proper range, test writing is performed again and the optimum recording power is set again.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
In the case of the countermeasure disclosed in JP-A-250481, when the recording power stored in the non-volatile memory exceeds a proper range and there is a problem, it is necessary to perform test writing again, This is not always desirable from the initial purpose of saving money and shortening the time until the start of additional recording.

Therefore, the present invention provides an information recording / reproducing method that can set the recording power appropriately without performing trial writing again at the time of additional recording by making the most of the OPC result initially stored in the nonvolatile memory. It is intended to provide a device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information recording / reproducing apparatus capable of improving the appropriateness of the recording power set without performing test writing again.

It is another object of the present invention to effectively apply the present invention to an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function for preventing a recording error due to a buffer underrun.

It is another object of the present invention to effectively apply the present invention to an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing for performing recording in packet units.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A light source that emits light for irradiating the information recording / reproducing medium; a test writing unit that obtains a value related to the optimum recording power of the light source for the information recording / reproducing medium by performing a test writing on a power calibration area of the information recording / reproducing medium; A non-volatile storage unit for storing a value relating to the optimum recording power of the light source obtained by the trial writing unit in association with the information recording / reproducing medium; and a data unit previously recorded at the time of additional recording on the information recording / reproducing medium. A reproduction quality evaluation means for reproducing the area and evaluating its quality;
Power calibration setting means for calibrating a value relating to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means according to the evaluation result by the reproduction quality evaluating means and setting a value relating to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording. Prepare.

Therefore, when data is additionally recorded on the information recording / reproducing medium, the previously recorded data area is reproduced by the reproduction quality evaluation means to evaluate the reproduction quality, and the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means is evaluated. By calibrating the value by the power calibration setting means based on the evaluation result and setting a value relating to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording, the recording power can be appropriately set without having to perform trial writing again at the time of additional recording. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the nonvolatile storage means stores a value Pi corresponding to an optimum recording power, and the reproduction quality evaluation means additionally writes. The data section area before the address is reproduced to measure the parameter m which governs the quality evaluation, and evaluates the magnitude relation of the parameter m with respect to the target value mt,
The power calibration setting means sets a value obtained by adding or subtracting a fixed amount dP to or from the value Pi according to the evaluation result by the reproduction quality evaluation means as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording. did.

Therefore, in order to realize the first aspect of the present invention, more specifically, when data is additionally recorded on the information recording / reproducing medium, the previously recorded data portion area is reproduced by the reproduction quality evaluation means, and the quality is evaluated. Is measured and the magnitude relation of the parameter m with respect to the target value mt is evaluated, and the value Pi corresponding to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means is changed to the value Pi according to the evaluation result. On the other hand, the value obtained by adding or subtracting the fixed amount dP is set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording by the power calibration setting means, so that the recording power is appropriately set without having to perform trial writing again at the time of additional recording. be able to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second aspect, the power calibration setting means comprises:
When the target value is mtl <mt <mth, m> mth
, Pw = Pi−dP and mtl <m <mt
In the case of h, Pw = Pi, and in the case of m <mtl, the processing of Pw = Pi + dP is performed.

Accordingly, a specific method for realizing the invention described in claim 2 is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the nonvolatile storage means stores a value Pi corresponding to an optimum recording power, and the reproduction quality evaluation means additionally writes. The data portion area before the address is reproduced, a parameter m for evaluating the quality is measured, and a difference mt-m between the parameter m and a target value mt is calculated. The light source at the time of appending a value obtained by adding an amount dP obtained by multiplying the difference mt-m between the parameter m calculated by the means and the target value mt by α (α is an arbitrary constant set by design) to the value Pi. Is set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of

Therefore, in realizing the first aspect of the present invention, more specifically, when data is additionally recorded on the information recording / reproducing medium, the previously recorded data portion area is reproduced by the reproduction quality evaluation means and the quality thereof is improved. Is measured, a difference mt-m between the parameter m and the target value mt is calculated, and the calculated difference mt is set to a value Pi corresponding to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means. The amount dP obtained by multiplying -m by α
Is set by the power calibration setting means as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording, so that the recording power can be appropriately set without having to perform trial writing again at the time of additional recording. In particular, instead of adding a fixed amount to the value Pi corresponding to the stored optimum recording power, an amount dP obtained by multiplying the calculated difference mt-m by α is added to obtain a deviation from the optimum value. And a more reliable optimum recording power can be set.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the pause / pause is performed during recording on the information recording / reproducing medium, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, data writing is restarted from the pause position. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a restart function, wherein the reproduction quality evaluation means reproduces a previously recorded data portion area and evaluates its quality during pause by the pause / restart function. .

In general, an information recording / reproducing apparatus does not pause during data writing. If data is not sent from the host at a transfer rate higher than the writing speed of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the writing is interrupted. Next, data cannot be added, and writing fails. Such a phenomenon is generally called "buffer underrun". In order to prevent such a buffer underrun, when data transfer from the host cannot be made in time while data is being written to the information recording / reproducing medium, the data writing is temporarily stopped (pause), and the data from the host is sufficiently transmitted. There is an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function for resuming (restarting) data writing when it is received. Therefore, in an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function to prevent a recording error due to such a buffer underrun, a time during a pause is used to realize the invention according to the first aspect. By calibrating the recording power by causing the reproduction quality evaluation means to function, recording can be performed with the optimum recording power at the time of restart.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, a pause / pause is performed during recording on the information recording / reproducing medium, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, data writing is restarted from the paused position. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a restart function, wherein the reproduction quality evaluation means forcibly pauses during recording by the pause / restart function at predetermined intervals, and at the time of the restart, the previously recorded information is recorded. The data area was reproduced to evaluate its quality. In the present invention, “every predetermined cycle” means a periodic time, such as every certain time or every certain rotation of the medium.

Therefore, the present invention is basically the same as the invention of the fifth aspect, but uses the pause / restart function and does not wait for the original pause event due to a shortage of data transfer amount or the like. The recording operation is forcibly paused every time, and the recording quality is calibrated periodically by operating the reproduction quality evaluation means at the time of restart, so that stable recording is performed with the optimum recording power at the time of restart. be able to. As a result, even in a situation where running OPC cannot be performed, a write-once operation can be performed with a reliable optimum recording power, and a CAV (Constant Angular Verocit) in which the optimum recording power changes according to the recording position.
(y: constant rotation speed) It is possible to appropriately cope with the case of using the recording method.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the pause / pause is performed during recording on the information recording / reproducing medium, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, data writing is restarted from the pause position. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a restart function, wherein parameters which affect recording quality immediately before pausing during recording are changed stepwise within a range which does not affect the reproducing quality of a data portion area at that time. A pause operation control unit that pauses after recording is provided, and the reproduction quality evaluation unit includes:
During the pause by the pause / restart function, the quality of the data portion area recorded and reproduced stepwise under the control of the pause operation control means is evaluated. In the present invention, the "parameter which affects the recording quality" is a representative example of the recording power. However, the parameter which influences the recording quality such as a ratio ε between the recording power and the erase power in a CD-RW is also used. It means all parameters including the influence that can be exerted, and it means that it is not limited to only recording power.

Therefore, the present invention is basically the same as the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention. In particular, before the pause, the recording power is actually changed by one or several steps in a stepwise manner so that the recording is performed. Since the recording power is calibrated to the optimum recording power based on the evaluation, a more appropriate and reliable recording power can be obtained. Also in this case, it is possible to appropriately cope with the case of the CAV recording method in which the optimum recording power changes according to the recording position.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing is provided. At the time of appending to a certain packet, the data portion area of the previously recorded packet is reproduced to evaluate its quality.

Generally, in this type of information recording / reproducing apparatus,
Some have a recording / reproducing function by packet writing in which a recording unit is a packet unit. In such a packet unit, the data length may be long, and the recording power may deviate from the optimum value due to a change in the medium surface temperature during packet writing, a variation in control of the light source power, and the like. In this regard, when appending to a certain packet,
By reproducing the data part area of the previously recorded packet and evaluating its quality, and calibrating it to the optimum recording power,
Even with such an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing, it is possible to appropriately perform an additional recording operation on a certain packet with an optimum recording power.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing is provided. Packet writing operation control means for recording by changing the parameters affecting the recording stepwise within a range that does not affect the reproduction quality of the data portion area at that time, wherein the reproduction quality evaluation means starts recording the next packet. Previously, the quality of the data portion area recorded in a stepwise manner under the control of the packet write operation control means was evaluated by reproducing it. In the present invention, "parameter affecting recording quality"
Means the recording power as a representative example, but in addition, for example, C
Ratio ε between recording power and erase power in D-RW
, Means all parameters including elements that can affect the recording quality, and not only the recording power. The frequency of “before ending the recording of a certain packet” means that the recording is always or every fixed number of packets before the ending of the recording of a certain packet.

Therefore, the recording power is basically the same as that of the eighth aspect of the present invention. In particular, before the recording of a certain packet is completed, the recording power is actually changed by one or several steps in a stepwise manner. Since the recording power is calibrated to the optimum recording power based on the evaluation of the reproduction quality, it is possible to obtain more appropriate and highly reliable recording power for packet writing.

[0029]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given based on FIG. The present embodiment is directed to a CD-recordable optical disc as an information recording / reproducing medium.
An example of application to an information recording / reproducing apparatus for R / RW (CD-Recordable / Rewritable) 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the information recording / reproducing device (drive device).

The optical disk 1 is driven to rotate by a spindle motor 2. The spindle motor 2 is controlled by the motor driver 3 and the servo means 4 so as to have a constant linear velocity (CLV) or a constant rotation speed (CAV). The optical pickup 5 incorporates a semiconductor laser, an optical system, a focusing actuator, a tracking actuator, a light receiving element, a position sensor, and the like as a light source (not shown), and irradiates the recording surface of the optical disc 1 with laser light.

The optical pickup 5 can be moved in a sledge direction (disc radial direction) by a seek motor. These focusing actuator, tracking actuator, and seek motor operate based on signals obtained from a light receiving element and a position sensor.
And the servo means 4 to control the laser spot so as to be located at a target location on the optical disc 1.

At the time of data reproduction, the reproduction signal obtained by the optical pickup 5 is amplified by the read amplifier 6 to be binarized, and then input to the CD decoder 7 for deinterleaving and error correction. Further, the data after the deinterleaving and error correction processing is stored in a CD-ROM decoder 8.
To perform error correction processing for improving data reliability.

Thereafter, the data processed by the CD-ROM decoder 8 is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 10 by the buffer manager 9, and is transferred to the host at once by the ATAPI / SCSI interface 11 when the data is prepared as sector data. In the case of music data, CD
The data output from the decoder 7 is transmitted to the D / A converter 1
2 to extract an analog audio signal.

On the other hand, at the time of data recording, ATAPI / S
When the data transferred from the host by the CSI interface 11 is received, the data is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 10 by the buffer manager 9. Writing starts when a certain amount of data is accumulated in the buffer RAM 10, but before that, a laser spot is positioned at the writing start point. The writing start point is obtained by a wobble signal which is previously engraved on the optical disk 1 by meandering of the track. The wobble signal contains A
It contains absolute time information called TIP, and ATIP
The ATIP information is extracted by the decoder 13.

The synchronizing signal generated by the ATIP decoder 13 is input to the CD encoder 14 so that data can be written at an accurate position. Buffer RAM
The data 10 is recorded on the optical disc 1 via the laser control circuit 16 and the optical pickup 5 after the error correction code is added or interleaved by the CD-ROM encoder 15 or the CD encoder 14.

Such an information recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with a microcomputer 20 comprising a CPU 17, a ROM 18, and a RAM 19 for controlling the operations of the above-described units and executing the functions described below. Reference numeral 21 denotes a nonvolatile memory.

Here, an optical disk 1 of CD-R / RW
2 is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the optical disc 1 in a cross-section in the radial direction.
ea) 32, lead-in area 33, program area 34
And an additional recording area (Lead Out) 35. In FIG. 2, the shaded portion is a recorded portion.

In such a configuration, in the case of the present embodiment, it is assumed that an appropriate value of the recording power of the semiconductor laser for the optical disc 1 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 in advance by OPC using the PCA 31. .

That is, at the time of data recording, ATAPI / SC
The data sent from the host via the SI interface 11 is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 10 and then recording is started. However, the OPC result of the previous recording on the optical disk 1 recorded in the past is already stored in the nonvolatile memory 21. Before recording, the PCA of the optical disc 1 before recording.
It is necessary to perform OPC in 31 areas to find the optimum recording power of the semiconductor laser. At the time of OPC, a data signal corresponding to the reflected light from the optical pickup 5 is amplified by the read amplifier 6 and the peak and bottom detection circuit 22
As a result, the upper peak level pk and the lower peak (bottom) level bt are detected. The detection level signal is A / D
After the conversion, the CPU 17 or the like calculates the optimum recording power based on the converted data in the following manner, and issues a recording power command to the laser control circuit 16.

For example, an OP of a CD-RW which is a rewritable optical disk as described in the Orange Book Part III
C obtains the modulation degree m given by the following equation (1) while changing the laser power of the semiconductor laser in multiple steps, and further obtains the normalized slope γ given by the following equation (2) from the modulation degree m and the characteristics of the recording power. Ask for. OPC is performed by obtaining the recording power Pt when the normalized slope γ is γ = γt (γt is a predetermined value unique to the disc).

M = (pk−bt) / pk (1) γ = (Δm / Δp) * (p / m) (2) In practice, the recording power Pt is directly used as the optimum recording power. It is sometimes preferable to set Pt * ρ as the optimum recording power by multiplying the recording power Pt by a constant ρ unique to the disc, instead of using the recording power Pt.

As a write-once optical disk, a CD-
There is R, but in this case OPC is Orange Book Part
As shown in II, the β value representing the RF signal symmetry given by the following equation (3) is measured, and the optimum recording power is determined by finding the power at which β becomes the target value βt.

Β = (pk + bt) / (pk−bt) (3) In any case, a value relating to the optimum recording power of the semiconductor laser on the optical disc 1 is obtained by trial writing OPC on the PCA 31 area of the optical disc 1. The non-volatile memory 21 as the non-volatile storage means is associated with the OPC function as the trial writing means and the value Pi relating to the optimum recording power obtained by the OPC with the optical disc 1.
It is assumed to be stored in At this time, the value Pi relating to the optimum recording power is associated with the optical disk by using a disk identification code or the like for identifying the optical disk as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-250481. .

Under such a premise, in the present embodiment,
When the optical disc 1 is mounted on the information recording / reproducing apparatus and an additional recording command is issued, the functions of the reproduction quality evaluating means and the power calibration setting means are executed by the CPU 17. This will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart shown in FIG. First, the optical disc 1 is inserted into the information recording / reproducing apparatus.
Is mounted (step S1), the value Pi corresponding to the optimum recording power corresponding to the optical disk 1 stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 is confirmed (S2). Next, the data area of two sectors immediately before the write address to be additionally written on the optical disc 1 is reproduced, and a parameter m for controlling the quality is measured (S3). Here, the quality of the reproduced signal is a modulation degree m for a CD-RW and β for a CD-R. Then, the magnitude relation between the measured parameter m and the target value mt at the previous recording is compared (S4). The processing of steps S3 and S4 is executed as a function of a reproduction quality evaluation unit that reproduces a previously recorded data portion area and evaluates the quality when additional recording is performed on the optical disc 1.

Then, a process for calibrating the value relating to the optimum recording power is performed according to the evaluation result in step S4.
Here, when the target value mt is mtl <mt <mth, and the evaluation result is m> mth, the calibration is performed so that the value Pw corresponding to the set power at the time of additional writing becomes w = Pi−dP ( S5) If mtl <m <mth, Pw = P
i (S6), and if m <mtl, Pw = P
Calibration is performed so as to be i + dP (S7), a value Pw relating to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of additional recording is set, and the additional recording operation is performed (S8). Here, the processing of steps S5 to S7 calibrates the value Pi relating to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 according to the evaluation result of step S4, and the value Pw relating to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of additional recording.
Is executed as a function of the power calibration setting means for setting.

Here, it should be noted that the value to be calibrated is not only the recording power itself but also a value corresponding to the recording power. For example, as described above, in the case of CD-RW, the optimum recording power is not Pt determined by OPC, but a value Pt * ρ obtained by multiplying Pt by a constant ρ specific to the disc may be used as the recording power Pw. In this case, it is sometimes better to calibrate the value Pt according to Pw than to calibrate Pw itself.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when data is additionally recorded on the optical disc 1, the previously recorded data area is reproduced to evaluate the reproduction quality, and the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 is evaluated. By calibrating the value of the semiconductor laser based on the evaluation result and setting the value of the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of additional recording, the recording power can be appropriately set without having to perform trial writing again at the time of additional recording. More specifically, when data is additionally recorded on the optical disc 1, a previously recorded data portion area is reproduced, a parameter m for controlling the quality is measured, and a magnitude relation between the parameter m and a target value mt is evaluated. A value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of additional recording is obtained by adding or subtracting a fixed amount dP to or from the value Pi corresponding to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 according to the evaluation result. By setting as, the recording power can be set appropriately without having to perform trial writing again at the time of additional recording.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same portions as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted (the same applies to the following embodiments). As a specific method for calibrating the recording power, in the first embodiment, a fixed amount dP is added to or subtracted from a value corresponding to the recording power according to whether the recording power is larger or smaller than the target value mt. In the present embodiment, an amount dP obtained by multiplying the difference between the target value mt and the parameter m corresponding to the measured value by a constant amount α is added to the value corresponding to the recording power.

First, when the optical disc 1 is mounted on the information recording / reproducing apparatus (S11), the nonvolatile memory 21
Then, the value Pi corresponding to the optimum recording power corresponding to the optical disc 1 stored in the optical disc 1 is confirmed (S12). Then
The data area of two sectors immediately before the write address to be additionally written on the optical disc 1 is reproduced, and a parameter m for controlling the quality is measured (S13). Then, the measured parameter m and the target value mt at the previous recording
Mt-m is calculated. The process of step S13 including the calculation of the difference is executed as a function of a reproduction quality evaluation unit that reproduces the previously recorded data portion area and evaluates the quality when additional recording is performed on the optical disc 1.

Subsequently, the difference mt-m is multiplied by α (α
Is an arbitrary constant set by design), dP,
An arithmetic process for adding to the value Pi stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 is performed, and the arithmetic result is calibrated and set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of additional writing (S
14). The process of step S14 is executed as a function of the power calibration setting unit.

Based on the processing in step S14, a value Pw relating to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of additional recording is set and the additional recording operation is performed (S15).

Therefore, it is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but in particular, instead of adding a fixed amount to the value Pi corresponding to the stored optimum recording power,
By adding an amount dP obtained by multiplying the calculated difference mt-m by α, a deviation from the optimum value can be absorbed, and a more reliable optimum recording power can be set.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment shows an example of application to an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function in which a pause is performed during recording on the optical disc 1 and data writing is restarted from a pause position after a lapse of a predetermined time.

In general, an information recording / reproducing apparatus does not pause during data writing. If data is not sent from the host at a transfer rate higher than the writing speed of the information recording / reproducing apparatus, the writing is interrupted. Next, data cannot be added, and writing fails. Such a phenomenon is generally called "buffer underrun". In order to prevent such a buffer underrun, when data transfer from the host is not in time while data is being written to the optical disk, data writing is temporarily stopped (pause), and data from the host is sufficiently transmitted. There is an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function for sometimes restarting (restarting) data writing.
This is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9990, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-40302, and the like. Schematically, when the user data block starts to be written and the amount of remaining data in the buffer RAM 10 becomes small, the writing is temporarily stopped (pause) by executing a pause write. Thereafter, the host waits for data transfer from the host, executes a restart write when the buffer RAM 10 is full of data, and starts writing data continuously from the point where data writing is temporarily stopped by the pause write. Here, cross-interleaved Reed Solomon (C
By performing writing that maintains data continuity by IRC) demodulation, even if the writing of data to the optical disc 1 is temporarily stopped (paused) and resumed (restarted), the data is continuously and later written. It can be read accurately.

In the present embodiment, in the information recording / reproducing apparatus having such a pause / restart function, the recording power is calibrated by operating the reproduction quality evaluating means using the time during the pause. It was done.

That is, when a recording pause occurs during recording on the optical disk 1 (S21), the recording quality immediately before the pause is measured during the pause before restarting (S2).
2). The process of step S22 is executed as a function of the reproduction quality evaluation unit. Specifically, as in the case of steps S3, S4, and S13 in the above-described embodiment, the reproduction is performed by reproducing the previously recorded data portion area and evaluating the quality thereof. Based on the result, it is determined whether or not the power at the time of the next recording at the time of the restart is appropriate, and a process of performing an appropriate calibration is performed (S23). The process of step S23 is executed as a function of the power calibration setting unit, as in the case of steps S5 to S7 and S14 of the above-described embodiment.

Based on the processing in step S23, a value Pw relating to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of restart is set, and the additional recording operation by restart is performed (S24).

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function in order to prevent a recording error due to such a buffer underrun, the time during pause is used. By calibrating the recording power by operating the reproduction quality evaluation means, it is possible to perform recording with the optimum recording power at the time of restart.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is basically the same as the third embodiment described above, but waits for an original pause event due to a shortage of data transfer amount from the host while using the pause / restart function. Instead, the recording operation is forcibly paused at predetermined intervals, and at the time of restart, the reproduction quality evaluation means is operated to periodically calibrate the recording power.

That is, every time one minute elapses as a predetermined period (S25), the recording is paused during recording on the optical disk 1 (S21), and the recording quality immediately before the pause is measured during the pause before restarting (S21). S22). The process of step S22 is executed as a function of the reproduction quality evaluation unit. Specifically, step S of the above-described embodiment is performed.
As in the case of 3, S4 or S13, the reproduction is performed by reproducing two sectors immediately before the pause as the previously recorded data part area and evaluating the quality thereof. Based on the result, it is determined whether or not the power at the time of the next recording at the time of the restart is appropriate, and a process of performing an appropriate calibration is performed (S23). The processing in step S23 is the same as step S5 in the above-described embodiment.
This is executed as a function of the power calibration setting means, similarly to the case of S7 and S14.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform stable recording with the optimum recording power at the time of restart. At this time, even if it takes about 10 ms including the seek time to reproduce two sectors in step S22, the overhead is at a level that hardly causes a problem. As a result, when running OPC is not possible or C
It is also very effective in the case of the AV recording system. This is a method of performing optimum recording power control while performing a recording operation by measuring an RF signal level while performing running OPC recording, but it is difficult to sample the RF signal level during recording because the recording pulse width is short as in CD-RW. In such a case, it is difficult to implement, but in the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately control the optimum recording power by periodically calibrating the recording power. Further, the present invention can also be used in a CAV recording method in which the optimum recording power changes according to the recording position.

In the present embodiment, the pause is forcibly performed every one minute. However, the pause may be forcibly performed every time the optical disk 1 rotates a certain number of rotations.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is basically the third,
As in the fourth embodiment, the pause / restart function is used. However, before the pause, recording is performed while varying the amount of the recording power or the like that actually affects the recording quality. OPC is performed.

In the present embodiment, the optical disc 1
This is an example in which the recording operation is paused (S32) every time the disc is rotated (Y in S36). Immediately before the recording pause, the recording power is increased by 3 points for 3 sectors (3 steps) for 9 sectors in the data area. To perform recording (S31). The process of step S31 is executed as a function of the pause operation control unit. At this time, it is necessary to limit the recording power to three points so that the recording power is not changed to a level at which reproduction at the changed part cannot be performed. After the forced pose (S3
2) Reproduction is performed for nine sectors recorded immediately before the pause, and the quality is measured (S33). This step S
33 is executed as a function of the reproduction quality evaluation means. Specifically, step S3 of the above-described embodiment is performed.
This is the same as S4 and S13, but in the case of the present embodiment, the quality is evaluated by reproducing the immediately preceding 9 sectors of the data portion area and evaluating the quality. Based on the result, the optimum recording power at the time of the next recording at the time of the restart is calculated, thereby performing the calibration processing of the recording power (S34). The processing in step S34 is similar to the processing in steps S5 to S7 and S14 in the above-described embodiment.
It is executed as a function of the power calibration setting means.
In the present embodiment, the value of the recording power given in three stages is taken into consideration, so that calibration to a more optimal recording power can be performed.

Based on the processing in step S34, a value Pw relating to the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of restart is set, and a write operation by restart is performed (S35).

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. This embodiment shows an example of application to an information recording / reproducing device having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing.

Generally, in this type of information recording / reproducing apparatus,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-40302, there is a device having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing in which a recording unit is a packet unit. In the case of such a packet unit, the data length may be long,
The recording power may deviate from the optimum value due to a change in the medium surface temperature during packet writing, a variation in the control of the light source power, and the like. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in accordance with the case of the second embodiment, at the time of appending to a certain packet, the data portion area of the previously recorded packet is reproduced to evaluate its quality, and the optimum recording is performed. It is designed to be calibrated to power.

First, when the optical disk 1 is mounted on the information recording / reproducing apparatus (S41), the nonvolatile memory 21
Then, the optimum recording power corresponding to the optical disc 1 stored in is stored (S42). Next, the data area of two sectors immediately before the end of the previously recorded packet is reproduced on the optical disc 1 to evaluate its quality (S4).
3). The process of step S43 is executed as a function of the reproduction quality evaluation unit. Specifically, as in the case of steps S3, S4, and S13 of the above-described embodiment, this is performed by evaluating the quality of the reproduced two sectors.

Based on the result, it is determined whether or not the power at the time of recording for the next packet is appropriate, and a process for performing an appropriate calibration is performed (S44). The process of step S44 is executed as a function of the power calibration setting unit, as in the case of steps S5 to S7 and S14 of the above-described embodiment.

Based on the processing in step S44, the recording power of the semiconductor laser at the time of the next packet recording is set and the additional recording operation is performed (S45).

Here, packets used in CD-R and CD-RW include fixed-length packets having a fixed data length and variable-length packets in which the data length is not constant for each packet. FIG. 9 shows the structure of the packet 36 specified in the Orange Book. End of packet 36 is Run-Out
There are two sectors 37, followed by one of the Link units 38.
After recording 26 EFM frames in the sector, the process ends.
The Link part 38 and Run-In (4
There is a user data section 40 after the sector 39. For example, the recording power is measured by measuring the recording quality in step S43 in two Run-Out 37 sectors before the Link section 38, and the recording power from the Link section 38 is calibrated. Can be kept optimal.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, at the time of appending to a certain packet, the data portion area of the previously recorded packet is reproduced to evaluate its quality and calibrate it to the optimum recording power. Thus, even in an information recording / reproducing apparatus having such a recording / reproducing function by packet writing, it is possible to appropriately perform the additional recording operation on a certain packet with the optimum recording power.

Although not shown in the figure, in the case of an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing, as in the case of the fifth embodiment, before the recording of a certain packet is completed. The parameter that affects the recording quality is changed stepwise within the range that does not affect the reproduction quality of the data area at that time by the packet write operation control means, and is recorded. The quality may be evaluated by reproducing the data portion area recorded by changing to. According to this, even a device having no function of performing pause / restart during recording can be implemented, and packet recording can be continued with a reliable optimum recording power.

[0074]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when performing additional recording on the information recording / reproducing medium, the previously recorded data portion area is reproduced by the reproduction quality evaluation means to evaluate the reproduction quality. Since the value relating to the optimum recording power stored in the storage means is calibrated by the power calibration setting means based on the evaluation result and the value relating to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording is set, it is necessary to perform trial writing again at the time of additional recording. Therefore, the recording power can be set appropriately.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to realize the first aspect of the present invention, more specifically, when performing additional recording on the information recording / reproducing medium, the previously recorded data portion area is reproduced quality. The parameter m which controls the quality by reproducing the data by the evaluation means is measured, the magnitude relation of the parameter m with respect to the target value mt is evaluated, and the value Pi corresponding to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means is obtained. According to the evaluation result, a value obtained by adding or subtracting a fixed amount dP to or from the value Pi is set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional writing by the power calibration setting means. The recording power can be set appropriately without the need.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a specific method for realizing the second aspect of the present invention is provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to realize the first aspect of the present invention, more specifically, when data is additionally recorded on the information recording / reproducing medium, the previously recorded data portion area is reproduced. A parameter m controlling reproduction of the quality is measured by the evaluation means, a difference mt-m between the parameter m and a target value mt is calculated, and a value corresponding to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means is calculated. Pi is the calculated difference mt−
The value obtained by adding the amount dP obtained by multiplying m by α is set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording by the power calibration setting means. It can be set appropriately, and in particular, instead of adding a fixed amount to the value Pi corresponding to the stored optimum recording power, the calculated difference mt−
By adding an amount dP obtained by multiplying m by α, a deviation from the optimum value can be absorbed, and a more reliable optimum recording power can be set.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a pause / pause control is performed to prevent a recording error due to a buffer underrun.
For information recording / reproducing devices with a restart function,
In realizing the first aspect of the present invention, the recording power is calibrated by operating the reproduction quality evaluation means using the time during the pause, so that the recording is performed with the optimum recording power at the time of restart. be able to.

According to the invention of claim 6, basically the same as in the invention of claim 5, except that the original pause due to a shortage of data transfer amount or the like while utilizing the pause / restart function. Without waiting for an event, the recording operation is forcibly paused at predetermined intervals, and the playback quality evaluation means is activated at the time of restart to periodically calibrate the recording power. Recording can be performed stably with the recording power, and as a result, the write-once operation can be performed with the optimum recording power that is reliable even in a situation where running OPC cannot be performed.
It is possible to appropriately cope with the case of the CAV recording method in which the optimum recording power changes according to the recording position.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the recording power is basically the same as that of the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention. And the calibration is made to the optimum recording power based on the evaluation of the reproduction quality, so that a more appropriate and highly reliable recording power can be obtained, and the CAV in which the optimum recording power changes according to the recording position. It is possible to properly cope with the case of using a recording method.

According to the invention of claim 8, at the time of appending to a certain packet, the data portion area of the previously recorded packet is reproduced to evaluate its quality and calibrate to the optimum recording power. Therefore, even in an information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing, it is possible to appropriately perform an additional recording operation on a certain packet with an optimum recording power.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is basically the same as the eighth aspect of the present invention, but in particular, before the recording of a certain packet is completed, the recording power is actually increased by one step or several steps. Recording by shaking only in steps, and calibrating to the optimum recording power based on the evaluation of the reproduction quality,
With respect to packet writing, more appropriate and reliable recording power can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an area configuration of an optical disc.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of a recording power setting process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a recording power setting process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a recording power setting process according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a recording power setting process according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a recording power setting process according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an example of a recording power setting process according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a packet configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information recording / reproducing medium 21 Non-volatile storage means 31 Power calibration area S3, S4 Reproduction quality evaluation means S5-S7 Power calibration setting means S13 Reproduction quality evaluation means S14 Power calibration setting means S22 Reproduction quality evaluation means S23 Power calibration setting means S31 Pause operation control means S33 Reproduction quality evaluation means S34 Power calibration setting means

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A light source for emitting light to irradiate an information recording / reproducing medium, and a trial for obtaining a value relating to an optimum recording power of the light source for the information recording / reproducing medium by trial writing on a power calibration area of the information recording / reproducing medium. Writing means; nonvolatile storage means for storing a value relating to the optimum recording power of the light source obtained by the test writing means in association with the information recording / reproducing medium; Reproduction quality evaluation means for reproducing the data area recorded in the non-volatile storage means, and calibrating a value relating to the optimum recording power stored in the nonvolatile storage means according to the evaluation result by the reproduction quality evaluation means. Power calibration setting means for setting a value relating to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording. Apparatus. 2. The non-volatile storage means stores a value Pi corresponding to an optimum recording power, and the reproduction quality evaluation means reproduces a data portion area before an address to be additionally written and evaluates the quality of the data area. m
And the power calibration setting means evaluates the magnitude relationship between the parameter m and the target value mt. The power calibration setting means adds or subtracts a value obtained by adding or subtracting a fixed amount dP to or from the value Pi according to the evaluation result by the reproduction quality evaluation means. 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value is set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording. 3. The power calibration setting means sets a target value to m
When tl <mt <mth, when m> mth, Pw = Pi−dP, when mtl <m <mth, Pw = Pi, and when m <mtl, Pw = Pi + dP The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information recording / reproducing apparatus performs the following processing. 4. The non-volatile storage means stores a value Pi corresponding to an optimum recording power, and the reproduction quality evaluation means reproduces a data part area before an address to be additionally recorded and evaluates the quality of the data area. m
Is measured, and the difference mt− between the parameter m and the target value mt is calculated.
m, and the power calibration setting means calculates a difference mt−m between the parameter m calculated by the reproduction quality evaluation means and a target value mt.
Is multiplied by α (α is an arbitrary constant set by design), and a value obtained by adding the value dP to the value Pi is set as a value Pw corresponding to the recording power of the light source at the time of additional recording. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function for pausing during recording on said information recording / reproducing medium and restarting data writing from a pause position after a lapse of a predetermined time, wherein said reproducing quality evaluation is performed. 2. An information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means reproduces a previously recorded data portion area and evaluates its quality during said pause by said pause / restart function. 6. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function for pausing during recording on the information recording / reproducing medium and restarting data writing from a pause position after a lapse of a predetermined time, wherein the reproduction quality evaluation is performed. The means is forcibly paused during recording by the pause / restart function at predetermined intervals, and at the time of restart, reproduces a previously recorded data portion area and evaluates its quality. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 7. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a pause / restart function for pausing during recording on the information recording / reproducing medium and restarting data writing from a pause position after a lapse of a predetermined time. Pause operation control means for performing a recording and then pausing by changing a parameter affecting recording quality stepwise within a range that does not affect the reproduction quality of the data portion area at that time immediately before performing the reproduction quality. The evaluation means reproduces and records the data portion area recorded in a stepwise manner under the control of the pause operation control means during the pause by the pause / restart function to evaluate the quality. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 8. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing, wherein the reproduction quality evaluation means is configured to perform a data portion area of a previously recorded packet when additional recording is performed on a certain packet on the information recording / reproducing medium. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is reproduced to evaluate the quality. 9. An information recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording / reproducing function by packet writing, wherein parameters which affect recording quality before terminating recording of a certain packet are used to influence the reproducing quality of a data part area at that time. A packet writing operation control unit for recording the data in a stepwise manner within a range that does not affect the recording, wherein the reproduction quality evaluation unit is controlled in a stepwise manner under the control of the packet writing operation control unit before the start of recording the next packet. 2. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the quality is evaluated by reproducing the changed data portion area.