JP2002537624A - Optical recording medium and entertainment system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an optical recording medium having a new information recording portion and an entertainment system using the same. SOLUTION: The optical recording medium according to the present invention forms a new information recording portion 210 in a portion other than the information recordable portions 200O, 200D, and 200I, and enables writing, reading, and erasing of information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium for performing new information recording using a portion other than the existing information recordable portion, and an entertainment system using the same.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, there have been various types of optical recording media using laser light, and FIG. 1 illustrates a so-called CD-ROM. The CD-ROM 200 has a disk shape made of polycarbonate as a base material, and the information recordable portion in which pits are formed is subjected to aluminum evaporation, and is covered with a protective layer so as to bury the aluminum evaporated portion. It has a broken structure. In FIG. 1, a data area 200D is mainly formed as an information recordable portion.

In manufacturing the CD-ROM 200, information is recorded on a resist master disk by a laser beam, developed to form pits, a metal mask is formed by a disk master, and a stamper is formed by a mother. FIG. 2A
This shows a state in which a transparent disk 201S made of, for example, polycarbonate is made by the stamper 203. FIG. 2B shows a state in which a metal film 204 such as aluminum for reflection is deposited. FIG. 2C shows a state in which the protective layer 205 is formed so as to bury the metal film 204.

When reading the information recordable portion of the CD-ROM, a laser beam is irradiated from below the disk 201S shown in FIG. 2C to determine the presence or absence of pits and to reproduce information.

In a CD-ROM having the above structure and manufacturing process, the data area 200
The reproduction information required by the user is written and read in the information recordable portion such as D. However, recently, in addition to the reproduction information, a CD-
There is a demand for further data writing such as security information for suppressing the appearance of counterfeit software that illegally copies recorded data in a ROM, and personal information such as end user ID numbers and playback device numbers.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention is not limited to a CD-ROM, but is directed to an optical recording medium in which a new information recording portion is formed, wherein writing and reading of required further information or erasing as required is performed. For the purpose of providing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system using an optical recording medium in which the above-described new information recording portion is formed. The present invention that achieves the above object has the following matters specifying the invention. (1) In an optical recording medium on which information is written and read by a laser beam, a new information recording portion is formed in a portion other than the information recordable portion. (2) In the above (1), the new information recording portion is at least one of the inside of the lead-in area and the outside of the lead-out area. (3) In the above (1), the new information recording portion is provided with a material that is changed by a laser beam. (4) In the above (1), the new information recording portion is characterized in that information is recorded by any of a reaction or a discoloration caused by a photosensitive material by irradiating a laser beam. (5) In the above (1), the new information recording portion is characterized in that the information is erased by irradiation of a laser beam by either uniform reaction of the photosensitive material or discoloration. (6) In the above (1), at least one of security information and personal information is recorded in the new information recording portion. (7) In an optical recording medium on which information is written and read by laser light, a laser beam for recording, reproducing, or erasing information of a new information recording portion on a portion other than the information recordable portion is used by a user. The laser beam is one of the reading laser beam and the high-power laser beam on the side. (8) A game recorded on the above-mentioned information recordable portion of the optical record medium in which a new information record portion is formed in a portion other than the information recordable portion on an optical recording medium on which information is written and read out by laser light. It is an entertainment system for reading a program and executing a game. (9) In the above (8), the new information recording portion records at least one of security information and personal information. (10) In the above (8), the recording, reproducing and erasing of information in the new information recording portion is performed by using either a reading laser beam or a high output laser beam.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 Here, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional structure of a CD-ROM as an example of the present invention. This CD-RO
In the cross section of M200, the right end in the figure shows the outer peripheral end surface of the CD-ROM 200, the left end shows the inner peripheral end surface, and the arrow A near the right end shows the lead-out area 200O,
A data area 200D is between the arrows A and B, and a lead-in area 200I is between the arrows B and C.

[0010] A portion between the arrow D and the left end is a clamping area. In this example, a new information recording portion 210 (see also FIG. 1) is formed inside the lead-in area 200I between the arrows D and C.

The new information recording portion 210 is provided with a material that is changed by a laser beam. In this case, the following example is given as an example that is changed by the irradiation of the laser beam. (1) mixing a photosensitive material with respect to laser light into polycarbonate; (2) embedding the photosensitive material in a part of the optical disk area; and (3) applying the photosensitive material to a part of the optical disk area. That is, the irradiation of the laser light is regarded as a reaction due to exposure. Alternatively, (4) an aluminum deposited film 210S, which is extremely thinner than the aluminum deposited film formed in the data area 200D, is formed in advance as shown in FIG. 3, and the color is changed by laser light irradiation. It can be considered as a reaction.

Then, information such as security information and personal information can be recorded by the reaction of the photosensitive material and the discoloration pattern of the aluminum vapor-deposited film.

In this case, the information is recorded not only at the time of CD-ROM creation but also by the laser beam of the reproducing apparatus on the user side, that is, the reading laser beam or the reading laser power is slightly increased by the end user as possible. Information can be written with laser light.

Further, by uniformly writing the entire new information recording portion 210 with the laser beam on the user side, a uniform reaction and discoloration can be obtained, so that the information can be erased.

This information is written, for example, as security information at the time of CD-ROM creation, and at the time of reproduction, the security information is recognized and stored by the end user at the end user, or the security information is thereafter written by the end user. Erasing is performed by performing the above-described uniform information writing. As the personal information, the end user writes information such as an ID number. Thus, for recording, reproducing, and erasing information in the new information recording portion 210, recording was performed at the time of CD-ROM creation, or the reading laser power was increased by the end user according to the purpose of the information. Recording, reproduction, and erasing are performed by laser light or reading laser light.

In the above description, the inside of the lead-in area is a new information recording portion, but the outside of the lead-out area is also possible.

In the above description, a CD-ROM is described, but a new information recording portion can be formed on another optical recording medium by laser light.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a CD-ROM player with respect to the CD-ROM 200, and a laser oscillator 211 with respect to the CD-ROM 200 chucked in the machine.
Is passed through a diffraction grating 212, passes through a beam splitter 213, is collimated by a collimators 214, and is condensed by an objective lens 215.

The reflected light read from the CD-ROM 200 is transmitted to the collimators 21.
4, is reflected by the beam splitter 213, and is incident on the photodiode 217 via the lens 216. Here, writing, reproducing or erasing of information is performed on the new information recording portion of the CD-ROM 200 by the above-described reading laser light, and writing and erasing of information by the laser light stronger than the reading laser light. Will be performed. Here, the laser light stronger than the read laser light is obtained by increasing the output of the laser transmitter or increasing the light collection rate, and by switching the power supply to the laser transmitter or replacing the optical system. Obtainable.

FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrate an entertainment system which is a video game machine. The optical recording medium mounted in the video game machine is the same as that of the above-described example.
There is a D-ROM.

FIG. 5 shows the appearance of a video game device as an example of an entertainment system. The video game device 1 is for reading a game program recorded on, for example, an optical disk or the like, and executing the program in response to an instruction from a user (game player). The execution of the game mainly refers to controlling the progress of the game and the display and sound.

The main body 2 of the video game apparatus 1 is provided with an optical disc such as a CD-ROM as a recording medium for supplying an application program such as a video game or recording security information and personal information at a central portion thereof. Disc mounting part 3
A reset switch 4 for arbitrarily resetting the game; and a power switch 5
And a disk operation switch 6 for operating the mounting of an optical disk, and, for example, two slot portions 7A and 7B.

Two operating devices 20 can be connected to the slots 7A and 7B, and two users can play a battle game or the like. The slot portions 7A, 7B
For example, a memory card device that can save (store) and read game data, and a portable electronic device that can execute a game separately from the main body can be inserted.

The operating device 20 has first and second operating units 21 and 22, an L button 23L, an R button 23R, a start button 24, and a selection button 25. It has units 31, 32, a mode selection switch 33 for selecting an operation mode of these operation units 31, 32, and a display unit 34 for displaying the selected operation mode.

FIG. 6 shows a slot section 7 A provided on the front face of the main body 2 of the video game apparatus 1.
, 7B. The slot portions 7A and 7B are formed in two stages, and the memory card 10 and the memory card insertion portions 8A and 8B into which the portable electronic device 100 is inserted are provided in the upper stage, and the lower stage is provided in the lower stage. Controller connection portions (jacks) 9A, 9B to which connection terminal portions (connectors) 26 of the controller 20 are connected.
Is provided.

The insertion holes (slots) of the memory card insertion portions 8A and 8B are formed somewhat asymmetrically, so that the memory card is not erroneously inserted. On the other hand, the controller connection portions 9A and 9B are also formed somewhat asymmetrically, have a structure in which the connection terminal portions 26 of the controller 20 are not erroneously connected, and have a memory card insertion portion 8A so that the memory card is not erroneously inserted. , 8B have different shapes of insertion holes.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the portable electronic device 100 has been inserted into the memory card insertion section 8 A of the slot section 7 A provided on the front face of the video game machine 1.

Next, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic circuit configuration of a main part of the video game apparatus 1.

The video game device 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing).
Unit) 51 and a control system 50 including peripheral devices and the like, and a frame buffer 63.
A graphic system 60 including an image processing device (GPU: Graphic Processing Unit) 62 for performing drawing on an audio processing device (SP) for generating musical sounds, sound effects, and the like.
U: Sound Processing Unit) 71 and the like, an optical disk control unit 80 that records an application program and controls an optical disk for recording security information and personal information, and receives an instruction from a user. Card 10 that stores the signals from the controller 20 to be executed and the game settings, etc.
A communication control unit 90 that controls input and output of data from the portable electronic device 100,
The system is provided with a bus BUS to which the above-described units are connected.

The control system 50 includes a CPU 51 and interrupt control and direct memory access.
(DMA: Direct Memory Access) a peripheral device control unit 52 for controlling transfer, etc.
A main memory (main storage device) 53 consisting of a random access memory (RAM) and a program such as a so-called operating system for managing the main memory 53, the graphic system 60, the sound system 70 and the like are provided. And a read-only memory (ROM) 54 stored therein. Here, the main memory means a memory capable of executing a program on the memory.

The CPU 51 controls the entire video game apparatus 1 by executing an operating system stored in the ROM 54.
It consists of a 2-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) -CPU.

When the power is turned on, the video game apparatus 1 controls the CP of the control system 50.
When the U51 executes the operating system stored in the ROM 54, the CPU 51 causes the graphic system 60 and the sound system 7 to operate.
Control such as 0 is performed.

When the operating system is executed, the CPU 51 performs initialization of the entire video game apparatus 1 such as operation check, and then controls the optical disk control unit 80 to control the game recorded on the optical disk. And other application programs. By executing a program such as a game, the CPU 51 controls the graphic system 60, the sound system 70, and the like in accordance with an input from a user to control display of an image, generation of sound effects, and generation of musical sounds. The optical disk control unit also reads, erases, and records, reproduces, and erases security information.

Further, the graphic system 60 performs a geometry conversion for performing a process such as a coordinate conversion.
Transfer Engine (GTE: Geometry Transfer Engine) 61 and CPU5
1, a GPU 62 for performing drawing in accordance with a drawing instruction from the CPU 1, a frame buffer 63 for storing an image drawn by the GPU 62, and an image decoder for decoding image data compressed and encoded by orthogonal transform such as discrete cosine transform. 64.

The GTE 61 includes, for example, a parallel operation mechanism that executes a plurality of operations in parallel.
In response to an operation request from U51, operations such as coordinate conversion, light source calculation, matrix or vector can be performed at high speed. Specifically, this GTE61
For example, in the case of an operation of performing flat shading in which one triangular polygon is drawn in the same color, it is possible to perform a coordinate operation on a maximum of about 1.5 million polygons per second. In this video game device, the load on the CPU 51 can be reduced, and high-speed coordinate calculation can be performed.

The GPU 62 draws a polygon (polygon) on the frame buffer 63 in accordance with a drawing command from the CPU 51. The GPU 62 is capable of rendering a maximum of about 360,000 polygons per second.

Further, the frame buffer 63 is formed of a so-called dual-port RAM, and can simultaneously perform drawing from the GPU 62 or transfer from the main memory and reading for display. The frame buffer 63 has a capacity of, for example, 1 Mbyte, and has a width of 1024 bits each having 16 bits.
It is treated as a matrix consisting of pixels and 512 pixels vertically. The frame buffer 63 has a GPU 6 in addition to a display area output as a video output.
2 refers to a color lookup table (CL
UT: Color Look Up Table) is stored, and a texture area is stored in which a material (texture) to be inserted (mapped) into a polygon or the like which is subjected to coordinate conversion at the time of drawing and drawn by the GPU 62 is stored. ing. These CL
The UT area and the texture area are dynamically changed according to a change in the display area.

In addition to the above-described flat shading, the GPU 62 performs Gouraud shading, which determines the color in the polygon by complementing from the colors of the vertices of the polygon, and the texture that attaches the texture stored in the texture area to the polygon.・ Mapping can be performed. When performing these Gouraud shadings or texture mappings, the GTE 61 can perform a coordinate calculation of up to about 500,000 polygons per second.

Further, the image decoder 64 controls the main memory 5 under the control of the CPU 51.
3 decodes the still or moving image data stored in the
3 is stored.

The reproduced image data is stored in the frame buffer 63 via the GPU 62, so that the reproduced image data can be used as a background of the image drawn by the GPU 62.

The sound system 70 is based on an instruction from the CPU 51, an SPU 71 for generating musical sounds, sound effects, and the like, a sound buffer 72 for recording waveform data and the like by the SPU 71, and an SPU 71. A speaker 73 for outputting musical sounds, sound effects and the like is provided.

The SPU 71 is, for example, an ADPCM decoding function for reproducing adaptively encoded PCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) audio data as 16-bit audio data as a 4-bit differential signal, and is stored in the sound buffer 72. It has a reproduction function of generating a sound effect or the like by reproducing the waveform data stored therein, a modulation function of modulating the waveform data stored in the sound buffer 72 and reproducing the data, and the like.

By providing such a function, the sound system 70
It can be used as a so-called sampling sound source that generates musical tones, sound effects and the like based on the waveform data recorded in the sound buffer 72 in accordance with an instruction from U51.

The optical disk control unit 80 includes an optical disk device 81 that reproduces data and the like including programs and security information recorded on the optical disk, and an error correction code (for example,
A decoder 82 for decoding programs, data, etc. recorded with ECC (Error Correction Code) added thereto and data from the optical disk device 81 are temporarily stored, thereby speeding up the reading of data from the optical disk. And a buffer 83. The sub CPU 84 is connected to the decoder 82.

As the audio data read by the optical disk device 81 and recorded on the optical disk, there is so-called PCM data obtained by converting an audio signal from analog to digital, in addition to the above-described ADPCM data. As described above, the optical disk control unit 80 also has a function of erasing security information and a function of recording and erasing personal information.

As the ADPCM data, for example, audio data recorded by expressing the difference of 16-bit digital data by 4 bits is supplied to the above-described SPU 71 after being decoded by the decoder 82, and is subjected to digital / analog conversion by the SPU 71. After processing such as is performed, it is used to drive the speaker 73.

The audio data recorded as PCM data, for example, as 16-bit digital data, is decoded by the decoder 82 and then used to drive the speaker 73.

Further, the communication control unit 90 includes a communication controller 91 for controlling communication with the CPU 51 via the bus BUS, and the controller connection unit 9 to which the controller 20 for inputting an instruction from a user is connected. The communication controller 91 is provided with memory card insertion sections 8A and 8B to which a memory card 10 and a portable electronic device 100 described later are connected as auxiliary storage devices for storing game setting data and the like.

The controller 20 connected to the controller connection unit 9 has, for example, 16 instruction keys for inputting an instruction from a user, and according to an instruction from the communication controller 91, a state of the instruction key. Is transmitted to the communication controller 91 at 60
Send about once. Then, the communication controller 91 transmits the state of the instruction key of the controller 20 to the CPU 51.

As a result, an instruction from the user is input to the CPU 51, and the CPU 51 performs processing according to the instruction from the user based on the game program or the like being executed.

Here, the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64, and the decoder 82
During such time, it is necessary to transfer a large amount of image data at high speed when reading a program, displaying an image, or drawing an image. Therefore, in this video game device, a so-called DMA that directly transfers data between the main memory 53, the GPU 62, the image decoder 64, the decoder 82, and the like under the control of the peripheral device control unit 52 without passing through the CPU 51 as described above. The transfer can be performed.
Thus, the load on the CPU 51 due to data transfer can be reduced, and high-speed data transfer can be performed.

When the CPU 51 needs to store setting data and the like of the game being executed, the CPU 51 transmits the stored data to the communication controller 91, and the communication controller 91
The data from the PU 51 is stored in the memory card insertion section 8A or the memory card insertion section 8B.
Is written to the memory card 10 or the portable electronic device 100 inserted in the slot.

Here, the communication controller 91 has a built-in protection circuit for preventing electrical destruction. The memory card 10 and the portable electronic device 100 are separated from the bus BUS, and can be detached while the power of the apparatus main body is turned on. Therefore,
When the storage capacity of the memory card 10 or the portable electronic device 100 becomes insufficient, a new memory card can be inserted without turning off the power supply of the apparatus main body. Therefore, a new memory card can be inserted and necessary data can be written to the new memory card without losing game data that needs to be backed up.

A parallel I / O interface (PIO) 96 and a serial I / O interface (SIO) 97 are interfaces for connecting the memory card 10 or the portable electronic device 100 to the video game apparatus 1. is there.

[0055]

【The invention's effect】

As described above, according to the present invention, an information recording portion can be formed in addition to an existing information recordable portion, and can be used as a security or personal information source. And an entertainment system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a CD-ROM.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an end portion of a disk manufacturing process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an end portion of a disk manufacturing process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a CD-ROM player.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the appearance of the video game device.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a state of a slot of the video game device.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the video game device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a specific configuration example of a main part.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C001 BD04 CA08 CB01 CB02 CB06 5D029 JB09 JB42 JC01 PA01 5D090 AA01 DD03 GG38

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An optical recording medium in which information is written and read by a laser beam, wherein a new information recording part is formed in a part other than the information recordable part. 2. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the new information recording portion is at least one of inside a lead-in area and outside a lead-out area. 3. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said new information recording portion is provided with a material that is changed by a laser beam. 4. The optical recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the new information recording section records information by any of reaction or discoloration of a photosensitive material by irradiation of a laser beam. Medium. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the new information recording portion erases information by one of uniform reaction of the photosensitive material and discoloration by irradiation of a laser beam. The optical recording medium according to the above. 6. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of security information and personal information is recorded in said new information recording portion. 7. An optical recording medium in which information is written and read out by a laser beam, a laser beam for performing any one of information recording, reproduction and erasing of a new information recording portion in a portion other than the information recordable portion is provided. An optical recording medium, which is one of a reading laser beam and a high output laser beam on the user side. 8. An optical recording medium on and from which information is written and read by a laser beam, wherein a new information recording portion is formed in a portion other than the information recordable portion. An entertainment system that reads a game program and executes the game. 9. The entertainment system according to claim 8, wherein said new information recording part records at least one of security information and personal information. 10. Recording, reproducing, and erasing of information in the new information recording portion is performed by:
Characterized in that the reading is performed with either the reading laser light or the high output laser light,
An entertainment system according to claim 8.