JP2005332541A - Information printing method and information printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make position deviation of a seam of a write-in start position and a write-in finish position inconspicuous when visible information is printed on a label surface of an optical disk. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 10 of a host apparatus 1 generates visible information printed on a whole surface of a label 4 consisting of an information display film attached to the label surface of an optical disk 3, the generated visible information is converted to printing information from its printing start part to a printing finish part of a position exceeding the printing start part rounding the label surface while a part at which variation of an image is the least in the direction of the circumference of the optical disk 3 serves as the printing start part, and outputted to an optical disk apparatus 2. A CPU 30 of the optical apparatus 2 drives a thermal head 33, a thermal head control circuit 34, a roller apparatus 35, and a roller apparatus control circuit 36 based on the printing information, and prints visible information from an arbitrary position of the label 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information printing method for printing visible information such as characters and images on an information display film attached to a label surface of an optical disk such as a CD and a DVD, and an information printing apparatus for performing the printing.

In recent years, various disk-shaped media in which digital information by pits or magnetism is recorded on a disk-shaped medium have become widespread, and these are generally collectively referred to as an optical disk.
As types of such optical disks, information such as music CDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs are recorded in advance, and write once optical disks (CD-R disks, DVD-Rs) that can be written only once. Discs, DVD + R discs, etc.) and rewritable optical discs (CD-RW discs, DVD-RW discs, DVD + RW discs, DVD-RAM discs, etc.) that can be rewritten any number of times, and these are rapidly spreading.
In general, an optical disc on which information is recorded as described above is attached with a label printed with visible information for the purpose of displaying the recorded content or improving the design. On the other hand, write-once optical discs and rewritable optical discs are used so that the user himself writes desired information, so it is impossible to add a label on which visible information indicating predetermined items is printed in advance. For this reason, it is common for such types of optical discs to be able to write the recorded contents in the case.

However, it is convenient if a write-once or rewritable optical disc is provided with a label attached to a music CD or the like on which information is printed in advance, and the user can print various types of visible information on the label.
Conventionally, with respect to an optical disc on which predetermined visible information can be rewritten on the label surface any number of times, a visible information writing start position (home position) on the label surface is determined, and writing of visible information is started from the writing start position. There is an information printing apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-283356

However, in the conventional information printing apparatus, when visible information is printed on the label surface of the optical disc, the image is likely to be misaligned at the joint between the writing start position and the writing end position. There was a problem that the image quality deteriorated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make the misalignment of the joint between the writing start position and the writing end position inconspicuous when visual information is printed on the label surface of an optical disc. And

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following information printing methods (1) to (8).
(1) A visible information creating step for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of a label made of an information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc, and the visible information created by the visible information creating step is used as the circle of the optical disc. Printing that uses the part with the least image change in the circumferential direction as a print start part and converts it to print information from the print start part to the print end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disc and passes the print start part An information printing method comprising: an information conversion step; and a printing step of printing the visible information from an arbitrary position of the label based on the print information converted by the print information conversion step.

(2) Visible information creating step for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of a heat sensitive information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc, and the visible information created by the visible information creating step The part having the least image change in the circumferential direction is used as a print start part, and the print information is converted from the print start part to the print end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disc and passes the print start part. An information printing method comprising: a printing information conversion step; and a printing step of printing the visible information by contacting a thermal head at an arbitrary position of the label based on the printing information converted by the printing information conversion step.
(3) The information printing method according to (1) or (2), wherein, in the visible information creating step, the visible information is created based on information read from the recording surface of the optical disc.
(4) In the information printing method according to any one of (1) to (3), in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is set to a portion where the total sum of image densities in the radial direction of the optical disc is the smallest. Information printing method.

(5) In the information printing method according to any one of (1) to (3), in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is a portion where the sum total of the image densities in the radial direction of the optical disc is the largest. Information printing method.
(6) In the information printing method according to any one of (1) to (3), in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is a portion where the density change of the image is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc. Information printing method.
(7) The information printing method according to (4) or (5), wherein, in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is positioned linearly in the radial direction of the optical disc.
(8) In the information printing method according to (4) or (5), in the print information conversion step, information printing is performed in which the print start portion is positioned in a curved, sawtooth or uneven shape in the radial direction of the optical disc. Method.

The following information printing apparatuses (9) to (16) are also provided.
(9) Visible information creating means for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of an information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc, and the visible information created by the visible information creating means are used as the circle of the optical disc. Printing that uses the part with the least image change in the circumferential direction as a print start part and converts it to print information from the print start part to the print end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disc and passes the print start part An information printing apparatus comprising: an information conversion unit; and a printing unit that prints the visible information from an arbitrary position on the label based on the print information converted by the print information conversion unit.

(10) Visible information creating means for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of a heat sensitive information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disk, and the visible information created by the visible information creating means The part having the least image change in the circumferential direction is used as a print start part, and the print information is converted from the print start part to the print end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disc and passes the print start part. An information printing apparatus comprising: a printing information conversion unit; and a printing unit that prints the visible information by contacting a thermal head at an arbitrary position of the label based on the printing information converted by the printing information conversion unit.
(11) The information printing apparatus according to (9) or (10), wherein the visible information creating unit creates the visible information based on information read from a recording surface of the optical disc.
(12) In the information printing apparatus according to any one of (9) to (11), the print information conversion unit sets the print start unit to a portion where the sum total of image densities in the radial direction of the optical disc is the smallest. Information printing device.

(13) In the information printing apparatus according to any one of (9) to (11), the print information conversion unit sets the print start unit to a portion where the total sum of image densities in the radial direction of the optical disc is the largest. Information printing device.
(14) In the information printing apparatus according to any one of (9) to (11), the print information conversion unit sets the print start unit to a portion where the density change of the image is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc. Information printing device.
(15) The information printing apparatus according to (12) or (13), wherein the print information conversion unit sets the print start portion to a linear position in a radial direction of the optical disc.
(16) In the information printing apparatus according to (12) or (13), the print information conversion unit prints the print start portion in a curved, sawtooth, or uneven position in a radial direction of the optical disc. apparatus.

  An information printing method and an information printing apparatus according to the present invention provide visible information from an arbitrary position on a label of an optical disc, a portion having the smallest image change in the circumferential direction of the optical disc as a print start portion, and the print start portion to the optical disc. The label surface of the optical disk is printed to the end of printing beyond the start of printing, so the misalignment between the start and end of writing of visible information printed on the label surface of the optical disc It can be made inconspicuous.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Note that the arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of typical signals and information, and do not represent the entire connection relationship of each block.
This information printing apparatus includes a host apparatus 1 such as a personal computer and an optical disk apparatus 2 such as a CD drive and a DVD drive.
The host device 1 includes a CPU 10, a ROM 11, a RAM 12, and the like. The CPU 10 executes a program stored in the ROM 11 using the work area of the RAM 12, controls the entire host device 1 and records data on the optical disk device 2.・ Perform various processes such as data playback.

  The optical disk device 2 rotationally drives an optical disk 3 as an information recording medium in which a label 4 made of a thermal information display film (including a “thermal information display film”) that can print visible information with a thermal head is attached to a label surface 3a. Spindle motor 20, an optical pickup 21 for irradiating a laser beam to record information (data) on an information recording surface (a surface opposite to the label surface 3 a) 3 b of the optical disc 3, and the optical pickup 21 is connected to the optical disc 3. The seek motor 22 for driving in the sledge direction, the laser control circuit 23 for controlling the laser light emitted from the optical pickup 21, and the information (data) given from the host device 1 to the optical disc 3 An encoder 24 that encodes data suitable for recording is provided.

  In addition, the servo control circuit 25 that controls the objective lens driving mechanism mounted on the spindle motor 20, the seek motor 22, and the optical pickup 21 and the data read by the optical pickup 21 are processed, and the data that can be decoded by the host device 1 And a reproduction signal processing circuit 26 that generates a servo signal output to the servo control circuit 25, data read from the optical disk 3, data recorded on the optical disk 3, and visible image printed on the entire surface of the label 4. A buffer RAM 27 that temporarily stores information, a buffer manager 28 that manages input / output of data to / from the buffer RAM 27, and an interface 29 that performs bidirectional communication with the host device 1 are provided.

  Further, a CPU 30 that performs overall control of the optical disc apparatus 2, a flash memory 31 that stores a program to be executed by the CPU 30, and a RAM 32 that temporarily stores data for the CPU 30 to control the optical disc apparatus 2. The thermal head 33 that applies heat to the label 4 affixed to the label surface 3a of the optical disc 3 to print visible information, the thermal head control circuit 34 that controls the heat generation and driving of the thermal head 33, and the thermal head 33 Are also provided with a roller device 35 for rotating the optical disk 3 at a low speed and a roller device control circuit 36 for controlling the driving of the roller device 35.

The optical pickup 21 is a device for irradiating the information recording surface 3b of the optical disc 3 on which a spiral track is formed with laser light and receiving reflected light from the information recording surface 3b. The optical pickup 21 includes a semiconductor laser as a light source and an objective lens. The optical pickup 21 guides a light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser to the information recording surface 3b of the optical disk 3 and also returns a return light beam reflected by the information recording surface 3b of the optical disk 3. An optical system that leads to a predetermined light receiving position, a light receiver that is disposed at the light receiving position and receives the return light beam, a drive system (focusing actuator and tracking actuator), and the like are configured. Since these semiconductor laser, objective lens, optical system, and drive system are well-known techniques, they are not shown. Then, a signal corresponding to the amount of received light is output from the light receiver to the reproduction signal processing circuit 26.
The reproduction signal processing circuit 26 is composed of an I / V amplifier, a servo signal detection circuit, a wobble signal detection circuit, an RF signal detection circuit, a decoder, and the like which are not shown because they are known.

The I / V amplifier converts the output signal of the light receiver constituting the optical pickup 21 into a voltage signal and amplifies it with a predetermined gain.
The servo signal detection circuit detects servo signals such as a focus error signal and a track error signal based on the output signal of the I / V amplifier. The servo signal detected here is output to the servo control circuit 25. The wobble signal detection circuit detects a wobble signal based on the output signal of the I / V amplifier. The RF signal detection circuit detects an RF signal based on the output signal of the I / V amplifier. The decoder extracts address information and a synchronization signal from the wobble signal. The address information extracted here is output to the CPU 30, and the synchronization signal is output to the encoder 24. The decoder performs decoding processing, error detection processing, and the like on the RF signal. When an error is detected by the error detection processing, the decoder performs error correction processing, and then reproduces the data via the buffer manager 28. Stored in the buffer RAM 27.

The servo control circuit 25 has an optical pickup device control circuit, a seek motor control circuit, and a spindle motor control circuit which are not shown because they are well known.
The optical pickup device control circuit generates a driving signal for the focusing actuator based on the focus error signal in order to correct the focus shift of the objective lens constituting the optical pickup 21. The optical pickup device control circuit generates a drive signal for the tracking actuator based on the track error signal in order to correct the track shift of the objective lens. Each drive signal generated here is output to the optical pickup 21. Thereby, tracking control and focus control are performed.
The seek motor control circuit generates a drive signal for driving the seek motor 22 based on an instruction from the CPU 30. The drive signal generated here is output to the seek motor 22.

The spindle motor control circuit generates a drive signal for driving the spindle motor 20 based on an instruction from the CPU 30. The drive signal generated here is output to the spindle motor 20.
In the buffer RAM 27, data to be recorded on the optical disc 3 (recording data), data reproduced from the optical disc 3 (reproduction data), visible information to be printed on the label 4 attached to the label surface 3a of the optical disc 3, and the visible information thereof The print information obtained by converting is temporarily stored. Data input / output to / from the buffer RAM 27 is managed by the buffer manager 28.
The encoder 24 takes out the recording data stored in the buffer RAM 27 based on an instruction from the CPU 30 via the buffer manager 28, modulates the data, adds an error correction code, etc., and generates a write signal to the optical disc 3. To do. The write signal generated here is output to the laser control circuit 23.

The laser control circuit 23 controls the power of laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser that constitutes the optical pickup 21. For example, at the time of recording, the laser control circuit 23 generates a drive signal for the semiconductor laser based on the write signal, the recording conditions, the light emission characteristics of the semiconductor laser, and the like.
The interface 29 is a bidirectional communication interface with the host device 1, and includes AT AT (Package Interface Interface: ATAPI), SCAZY (Small Computer System Interface: SCSI), and US Serial Bus (USB). Complies with the standard interface.

The flash memory 31 includes a program area and a data area. In the program area of the flash memory 31, a program written in a code decodable by the CPU 30 is stored. The data area of the flash memory 31 stores information such as recording conditions, semiconductor laser emission characteristics, and thermal head heat generation conditions.
The CPU 30 controls the operation of each unit according to a program stored in the program area of the flash memory 31 and saves data and the like necessary for control in the RAM 32 and the buffer RAM 27.
The roller device 35 includes a roller that rotates the optical disk 3 at a low speed by being pressed against the optical disk 3, a stepping motor that rotates the roller at a low speed when visible information is printed on the label 4 by the thermal head 33, and a roller. A roller moving mechanism or the like for moving and pressing the optical disk 3 is provided.

The roller device control circuit 36 controls the roller driving mechanism of the roller device 35, the rotational speed of the rotary motor, and the like in accordance with instructions from the CPU 30.
The thermal head 33 includes a plurality of heating elements for printing visible information on the label 4 of the optical disk 3 by heat generation and a thermal head driving mechanism for bringing the heating elements close to the optical disk 3.
The thermal head control circuit 34 drives the heating element of the thermal head 33 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 30, and performs control to cause each light emitting element of the thermal head 33 to generate heat based on the print information stored in the buffer RAM 27.

For information printing on the label 4 attached to the label surface 3a of the optical disc 3 according to the present invention, the host device 1 performs the visible information creation processing and print information conversion processing according to the present invention, and the optical disc device 2 performs the present invention. When performing such printing processing, the CPU 10 of the host apparatus 1 executes a program for realizing the functions according to the present invention stored in the ROM 11 using the RAM 12, and the visible information creating step and print information conversion according to the present invention are executed. The CPU 30 of the optical disc apparatus 2 performs the process of each process, and realizes the function according to the present invention stored in the flash memory 31 using the RAM 32 based on the print information sent from the host apparatus 1. The program is executed to perform the printing process according to the present invention.
That is, the CPU 10, ROM 11 and RAM 12 of the host device 1 perform the functions of the visible information creating means and the print information converting means according to the present invention. Further, the CPU 30, flash memory 31, RAM 32, thermal head 33, thermal head control circuit 34, roller device 35 and roller device control circuit 36 of the optical disk device 2 fulfill the functions of the printing means according to the present invention.

Alternatively, for information printing on the label 4 attached to the label surface 3a of the optical disc 3 according to the present invention, when the optical disc apparatus 2 performs all of the visible information creation processing, print information conversion processing, and printing processing according to the present invention, The CPU 30 of the optical disc apparatus 2 executes a program for realizing the function according to the present invention stored in the flash memory 31 using the RAM 32 based on the print information sent from the host apparatus 1, and The visible information creation process, the print information conversion process, and the printing process are performed.
That is, the CPU 30 of the optical disc apparatus 2 performs the functions of the visible information creation means and the print information conversion means according to the present invention, and includes the CPU 30, flash memory 31, RAM 32, thermal head 33, thermal head control circuit 34, roller device 35, and The roller device control circuit 36 functions as a printing means according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical disc 3 and the label 4 shown in FIG.
An optical disc 3 has a label 4 made of an information display film that can be rewritten many times on a label surface (also referred to as “label surface”) 3a opposite to an information recording surface 3b on which data is recorded / reproduced by laser light. Yes. Examples of the label 4 include a thermal rewritable film (thermoreversible information display film) which is a heat sensitive information display film.
As the thermal rewritable film, there is a thermo-chromic film (TC film): TC film. The TC film is a film composed of a thermoreversible material whose transparency and color tone reversibly change due to applied heat and whose transparency or color tone is maintained in two or more forms at room temperature. Further, in addition to attaching the label 4 by applying a film as described above, the label 4 may be attached so that a thermoreversible recording medium is applied to the label surface 3a.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the optical disc 3, the thermal head 33, and the roller device 35.
The roller device 35 includes a roller 37 made of a material having a large friction coefficient such as a rubber roller, a stepping motor 38 and a friction roller 39 for rotating the roller 37 at a low speed when visible information is printed on the label 4 by the thermal head 33, and a roller. A roller moving mechanism or the like for moving 37 and pressing the optical disc 3 is provided. The illustration of the roller moving mechanism is omitted.
Reference numeral 40 denotes a disk support claw, which has an inclined surface 40a in contact with the lower edge of the outer periphery of the optical disk 3, and supports the optical disk 3 rotatably with a spindle (not shown).

During the printing of visible information, the roller device control circuit 36 drives the roller moving mechanism of the roller device 35 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 30 to bring the roller 37 into contact with the label 4 of the thermal head 33 and the optical disk 3 of the disk support claw 40. Is moved in conjunction with the contact with the outer peripheral lower edge of the optical disc 3 and pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the optical disc 3. Further, the stepping motor 38 is controlled to rotate at a low speed, and the friction roller 39 is rotated in the direction of arrow a in the figure, thereby rotating the roller 37 in the direction of arrow b in the figure. Therefore, the optical disk 3 rotates at a low speed in the direction of arrow c in the figure.
Then, the line-shaped heat generating portion 33a of the thermal head 33 is brought into contact with the entire length of the label 4 along the radial direction, and the thermal head control circuit 34 follows the instruction from the CPU 30 to generate the heat generating portion 33a of the thermal head 33. The heating elements are driven, each heating element is heated based on the print information stored in the buffer RAM 27, and visible information is printed on the label 4.

Next, the principle of printing visible information on the label 4 will be described in detail.
Here, the case where the TC film which is the thermoreversible information display film (thermoreversible recording medium) described above is used as the label 4 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature of the TC film and the transparency.
The vertical axis in the figure represents the transparency of the TC film, and the horizontal axis represents the heating temperature.
For example, when a TC film is heated to temperatures T0 (A), T1 (B), T2 (C), and T3 (D), the transparency increases (point E), and then the temperature is T3 (D ), T2 (C), and T0 (A) or less, the transparent state is maintained at a high level even when the temperature returns to room temperature.
Also, when heated to temperatures T0 (A), T1 (B), T2 (C), T3 (D), T4 (F) or higher, a translucent state is obtained, and then T4 (F), points G, T0 ( A) When it returns to the following normal temperature, it becomes cloudy.

  Such a phenomenon occurs because the organic low molecular weight substance particles dispersed in the resin base material constituting the TC film and the resin base material are in close contact with each other, and there are voids in the organic low molecular weight substance particle part. In the absence of light, light incident from one side passes through the opposite side without scattering, so the TC film appears transparent. When configured, a gap is formed at the interface of the crystal or the interface between the particle and the resin base material, and the light incident from one side is refracted and reflected at the interface between the gap and the crystal and between the crystal and the resin, and thus the TC film is scattered. Because it looks white.

Note that the label is not limited to one in which the state is maintained by changing to two modes of a transparent state and a cloudy state as in the above-described TC film, but the state is maintained by changing the color tone to two or more modes. It is possible to selectively use various thermoreversible information films.
In other words, any film can be used as a label as long as it is in a first state when heated to the first temperature and in a second state different from the first state when heated to the second temperature. Is possible.
Further, a film that can be color-printed so as to be rewritable by heating with a thermal head may be used.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of printing visible information on a label.
The visible information 5 is printed on the entire surface of the label 4 of the optical disc 3 as described above. As the visible information 5, for example, in the case of write-once type and rewritable type optical discs, what is recorded as data depends on the user, but the contents cannot be determined only by appearance. The ease of use becomes much better if simple information such as the title, artist name, date, and remaining capacity (remaining recording time) can be easily recognized.
Moreover, not only character information but also various images can be printed, and label printing according to the user's wish can be performed.

Next, the visible information printing process in this information printing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing visible information printing processing in this information printing apparatus.
In this process, the bitmap original data (BMP original data) of visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label surface of the optical disc is created in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1 (visible information creation process). The BMP source data is a part where the image change in the circumferential direction of the optical disk is the smallest as a print start part, and from the print start part to the print end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disk and passes the print start part. A print information conversion process for converting to print information is performed (print information conversion process). In step 3, the visible information is printed on the label attached to the label surface of the optical disk based on the print information (print process), and this process ends. To do.
In the visible information creation process in step 1, data (text data, image data, etc.) recorded on the information recording surface 3b of the optical disc 3 may be read and used.

Next, the print information conversion process in the visible information print process will be described.
As the print information conversion process (print information conversion process), the following first to fourth print information conversion processes may be performed.
First, the first print information conversion process in this information printing apparatus will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the first print information conversion process.
In the first print information conversion process, the bitmap original data (BMP original data) of visible information to be printed on the label attached to the label surface of the optical disc in step (indicated by “S” in FIG. 11) is stored in the RAM (this When the processing is performed on the host device 1 side, it is input to the RAM 12, and when it is performed on the optical disc device 2 side, the BMP original data is input to a plurality of sequences Ln in the radial direction of the optical disc (n is the radial direction of the optical disc). (The number of pixels is divided into one line as a line), the sum Sn of the density of each pixel in the column is obtained for each number Ln in step 13, and the density of the pixels in each number column in step 14 Are compared with each other, and a sequence Lmin having the smallest value Smin is selected. In step 15, a sequence Lmin of BMP original data (the density of the image in the radial direction of the optical disk) is selected. Based on the BMP original data, BMP data from the print start part to the print end part at a position beyond the print start part is created based on the BMP original data. In step 16, the BMP data is converted into print information and output, and this process is terminated.

  With this process, the portion of the visible information printed on the label that has the lightest density at the linear position in the radial direction of the optical disc (the portion that has the smallest sum of the density of images in the radial direction of the optical disc) is printed with the print start portion. Since it is possible to perform overprinting from the printing start part to the printing end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disc from the printing start part to the position where the print start part is exceeded, the print start part and the print end part are misaligned. Even if this occurs, the deviation can be made inconspicuous.

Next, the second print information conversion process in this information printing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the second print information conversion process.
In the second print information conversion process, the bitmap original data (BMP original data) of visible information to be printed on the label attached to the label surface of the optical disc in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 21 is stored in RAM (this If the processing is performed on the host device 1 side, it is input to the RAM 12 and if it is performed on the optical disk device 2 side, it is input to the RAM 32). (The number of pixels is divided into one line as a line), the sum Sn of the density of each pixel in the column is obtained for each number Ln in step 23, and the density of the pixels in each number column in step 24 Are compared with each other, and a sequence Lmax having the largest value Smax is selected. In step 25, the sequence Lmax of the BMP original data (the density of the image in the radial direction of the optical disk) is selected. Based on the BMP original data, BMP data from the print start part to the print end part at a position beyond the print start part is created based on the BMP original data. In step 26, the BMP data is converted into print information and output, and this process is terminated.

  By this processing, the portion of the visible information printed on the label having the highest density at the linear position in the radial direction of the optical disc (the portion having the highest sum of the density of the images in the radial direction of the optical disc) is printed with the print start portion. Since it is possible to perform overprinting from the printing start part to the printing end part that goes around the label surface of the optical disc from the printing start part to the position where the print start part is exceeded, the print start part and the print end part are misaligned. Even if this occurs, the deviation can be made inconspicuous.

Next, a third print information conversion process in this information printing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a third print information conversion process.
In the third print information conversion process, the bitmap original data (BMP original data) of visible information to be printed on the label attached to the label surface of the optical disc in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 31 is stored in the RAM (this If the processing is performed on the host device 1 side, it is input to the RAM 12 and if it is performed on the optical disk device 2 side, it is input to the RAM 32). (The number of pixels is divided into one line as a line), and in step 33, the sum Sn of the density of each pixel in each column is obtained for each number column Ln, and the density of the pixels in each number column in step 34 Are compared with each other, two adjacent sequences Lm−1 and Lm (m is an integer) having the smallest sum Sn are selected, and in step 35, the sequence Lm− of the BMP original data is selected. From the BMP original data from the print start portion in the circumferential direction of the optical disc as a print end portion. BMP data up to the end of printing is created. In step 36, the BMP data is converted into print information and output, and this process ends.
With this process, the print end portion can be overlaid and printed on the print start portion in the portion of the visible information printed on the label where the density difference is the smallest. Therefore, a shift occurs between the print start portion and the print end portion. However, the deviation can be made inconspicuous.

Next, a fourth print information conversion process in this information printing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the fourth print information conversion process.
In the fourth print information conversion process, the bitmap original data (BMP original data) of visible information to be printed on the label attached to the label surface of the optical disk in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 41 is stored in the RAM (this If the processing is performed on the host device 1 side, the RAM 12 is input, and if the processing is performed on the optical disc device 2 side, the RAM 32 is input. (The number of pixels in the circumferential direction of the optical disk) is divided (the number of columns corresponding to one pixel is converted into a number of columns).

  In step 43, an arbitrary number sequence in the radial direction is determined as a temporary start position, and a width (hereinafter referred to as “range width”) consisting of a predetermined number of pixels in the circumferential direction starting from the sequence at the start position is determined. The BMP original data within the width is divided into a plurality of circumferential sequences Kn (1 ≦ n ≦ N2: the number of pixels in the radial direction), and the amount of change in density between adjacent pixels for each number sequence Kn. The minimum value is obtained, and a sum An (1 ≦ n ≦ N1) of the minimum values obtained by adding the minimum values of the N2 change amounts obtained for each number sequence Kn is obtained. That is, the sum An of the minimum value of the change amount of the density between the adjacent pixels in each range width in which the start position is the sequence of numbers L1 to LN1 is obtained.

Further, in step 44, the minimum value Amin is selected from the sum An of the minimum values in the respective range widths in the number sequences L1 to LN1, and within the range width starting from the start position number sequence Lmin giving the selected minimum value Amin. The pixel that gives the minimum value of the amount of change in density between adjacent pixels in each of the several sequences Kn is determined as the start position in each of the several sequences in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the circumferential number sequence has a discontinuous start position in the radial direction with a range width starting from the start position number sequence.
In step 45, a print start portion of the BMP original data is determined based on the obtained start position, and data from the print start portion to the print end portion of the pixel adjacent in the direction opposite to the print direction from the start position is obtained. Created for each number sequence in the circumferential direction, creates BMP data from the print start part to the print end part in the circumferential direction of the optical disk from each data, converts the BMP data into print information in step 46, and outputs it. This process ends.

  With this processing, the print start portion can be placed in a curved, sawtooth or uneven position in the radial direction of the optical disc, and when printing visible information, the portion with the least image change in the circumferential direction of the optical disc By printing the portion with the smallest image change by using the print start portion, even if a shift occurs at the joint between the print start portion and the print end portion, the shift can be made inconspicuous.

  In the fourth print information conversion process, a threshold for the minimum value Amin selected in step 44 is provided, and when the minimum value Amin in the range width is larger than the threshold, the number of pixels in the range width is increased by one pixel. The number of pixels in the range width may be increased until the threshold value is not more than the threshold value. In the case of the process, there is a possibility that even if the minimum value is obtained for the entire width of the optical disc, the value may be larger than the threshold value. In this case, the minimum value among all the minimum values Amin obtained is adopted. .

  With this processing, the print start portion can be placed in a curved, sawtooth or uneven position in the radial direction of the optical disc, and when printing visible information, the portion with the least image change in the circumferential direction of the optical disc The printing start part and the print end part are overlapped and printed by making the print end part a position that goes around the label surface and goes beyond the print start part. Even if a shift occurs in the joint, the shift can be made inconspicuous.

Next, a process for printing visible information on the label of the optical disc using the print information obtained by the first to fourth print information conversion processes will be described.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a first example of a print start unit and a print end unit when visible information is printed using the print information.
A position where the print end portion of the print information goes around the label surface of the optical disc from the print start portion and passes the print start portion at a linear position in the radial direction of the optical disc by the first and second print information conversion processes. In the case where the visible information is printed on the label 4 of the optical disc 3 by the print information obtained by the third print information conversion process, the thermal head 33 is brought into contact with an arbitrary position of the label 4 of the optical disc 3. By printing the visible information on the entire surface of the label, as shown in FIG. 11, the visible information print start unit 40 goes around the label surface of the optical disc 3 to the print end unit 50 at a position beyond the print start unit 40. Printing is performed, and the seam at the time of printing the visible image is overprinted. The joint portion is the portion where the image change is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc 3, the portion where the density of the radial image is the lightest, or the portion where the density of the radial image is the darkest, and printing is started. Since the overlapping printing is performed up to the printing end part beyond the part, the shift of the seam during printing can be made extremely inconspicuous.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a second example of a print start unit and a print end unit when visible information is printed using the print information.
As a result of the fourth print information conversion process, the portion of the optical disc that has the least image change in the circumferential direction, the portion of the radial image having the lowest density, or the portion of the radial image having the highest density is printed. When the printing start part is curved in the radial direction of the optical disk as the printing start part, and the position where the label surface of the optical disk goes around from the printing start part and exceeds the printing start part is the printing end part, The thermal head 33 is brought into contact with an arbitrary position of the label 4 to print the visible information on the entire surface of the label, and as shown in FIG. Thus, printing is performed up to the curved printing end portion 51 at a position beyond the curved printing start portion 41, and the seam at the time of printing the visible image is overprinted. It becomes door. The joint portion is a portion where the image change is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc 3, a portion where the density of the image in the radial direction is the lightest, or a portion where the density of the image in the radial direction is the darkest. In addition, since it is overprinted up to the print end portion beyond the print start portion, the seam shift can be made extremely inconspicuous depending on the contents of the visible information image.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a third example of a print start unit and a print end unit when visible information is printed using the print information.
As a result of the fourth print information conversion process, the portion of the optical disc that has the least image change in the circumferential direction, the portion of the radial image having the lowest density, or the portion of the radial image having the highest density is printed. When the print start part is serrated in the radial direction of the optical disk as the print start part, and the position where the label surface of the optical disk makes a round from the print start part and exceeds the print start part is the print end part, The visible information is printed on the entire surface of the label 4 by contacting the thermal head 33 at an arbitrary position on the label 4, and as shown in FIG. Thus, printing is performed up to the same sawtooth-shaped print end portion 52 at a position beyond the sawtooth-shaped print start portion 42, and the seam at the time of printing the visible image is overprinted. It becomes door. The joint portion is a portion where the image change is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc 3, a portion where the density of the image in the radial direction is the lightest, or a portion where the density of the image in the radial direction is the darkest. In addition, since the superposition printing is performed up to the print end portion beyond the print start portion, the shift of the seam can be made extremely inconspicuous according to the content of the visible information image.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a fourth example of a print start unit and a print end unit when visible information is printed using the print information.
As a result of the fourth print information conversion process, the portion of the optical disc that has the least image change in the circumferential direction, the portion of the radial image having the lowest density, or the portion of the radial image having the highest density is printed. When the printing start part is made uneven in the radial direction of the optical disk as a printing start part, and the position where the label surface of the optical disk goes around from the printing start part and exceeds the printing start part is set as the printing end part, The thermal head 33 is brought into contact with an arbitrary position of the label 4 to print the visible information on the entire surface of the label, and as shown in FIG. Thus, printing is performed up to the same uneven printing end portion 53 at a position beyond the uneven printing start portion 43, and the seam at the time of printing the visible image is overprinted. It becomes door. The joint portion is a portion where the image change is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc 3, a portion where the density of the image in the radial direction is the lightest, or a portion where the density of the image in the radial direction is the darkest. In addition, since it is overprinted up to the print end portion beyond the print start portion, the seam shift can be made extremely inconspicuous according to the content of the visible information image.

  In this way, if the seam at the time of printing the visible image is overlaid and printed, when the visible information is printed on the label surface of the optical disk, the roller that rotates the optical disk at low speed slips and the thermal head is moved. Even when the optical disk cannot be rotated exactly once so as to move from the print start portion to the print end portion, the visible information after printing does not require an unrecorded portion between the print start portion and the print end portion. For example, when the visible information printed on the label is rewritten, it is not necessary to cause a problem that the previously recorded visible information remains between the print start unit and the print end unit.

Further, when creating the visible information based on the data recorded on the information recording surface 3b of the optical disc 3, the visible information printed on the label 4 is changed when the data recorded on the information recording surface 3b is rewritten. You may make it reprint based on the content of the rewritten data.
In that case, when a part of the information recorded on the information recording surface of the optical disc is rewritten in the visible information creating step, the visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label is created based on the rewritten information, In the print information conversion step, the generated visible information is printed by turning the portion of the optical disc in the circumferential direction where the image change is the least as a print start portion and making a round of the label surface of the optical disc from the print start portion. Print information up to the print end part at a position beyond the print part, and in the printing process, the visible information is printed by contacting the thermal head at an arbitrary position of the label based on the converted print information. The visible information on the label surface of the optical disk may be rewritten.

In this way, the information printing apparatus can start printing from an arbitrary position on the label surface when printing visible information on the label 4 attached to the label surface of the optical disk 3. It is not necessary to perform complicated processing for obtaining the printing start position with respect to the surface, and the label printing processing can be reduced.
Also, this information printing apparatus records data such as characters and images on the information recording surface on one side of the optical disk in the housing of the optical disk device, and the visible information is recorded on the label surface on the other side by a thermal head. Therefore, data recording and label printing on the optical disk can be performed quickly and easily with a single device.
For example, after data is recorded on the information recording surface, visible information related to the data (information indicating the contents of the data, images created or selected by the user according to the contents of the data, etc.) can be quickly printed on the label. it can.

Further, since data recording and label printing on the optical disk can be performed by one apparatus, there is no possibility that the data recorded on the information recording surface of the optical disk and the visible information printed on the label surface cannot be consistent.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where a label made of a thermoreversible information display film is used and visible information is printed on the label using a thermal head has been described. However, the information printing method and information printing apparatus of the present invention are other The present invention can be carried out in the same manner using a rewritable film and means for printing visible information on the film. The present invention can also be implemented in the same manner in a printable information display film such as paper as a label and an ink jet information printing apparatus that prints visible information by spraying ink on the information display film. Furthermore, the present invention can also be implemented in the same manner in a laser type information printing apparatus that prints visible information by irradiating an information display film with laser light.

  In the first to fourth print information conversion processes described above, the portion having the lightest image density, the darkest image density, or the least image density change is set as the print start unit. Although an example of such a process has been shown, a process in which a change in the color of an image of visible information (for example, color tone, saturation, brightness, luminance, etc.) is the smallest may be set as a print start unit.

  The information printing method and information printing apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to personal computers such as desktop personal computers and notebook personal computers.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information printing apparatus of the Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the optical disk 3 and the label 4 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of an optical disc 3, a thermal head 33, and a roller device 35 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the temperature of TC film, and transparency. It is a top view which shows the example of printing of the visible information on the label of an optical disk.

It is a flowchart figure which shows the visible information printing process in the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing first print information conversion processing in the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart figure which shows the 2nd print information conversion process in the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a third print information conversion process in the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart figure which shows the 4th print information conversion process in the information printing apparatus shown in FIG.

It is explanatory drawing of the 1st example of a printing start part when the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 prints visible information with printing information, and a printing end part. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd example of the printing start part when the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 prints visible information with printing information, and a printing end part. It is explanatory drawing of the 3rd example of the printing start part when the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 prints visible information with printing information, and a printing end part. It is explanatory drawing of the 4th example of the printing start part when the information printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 prints visible information with printing information, and a printing end part.

Explanation of symbols

1: Host device 2: Optical disc device 3: Optical disc 3a: Label surface 3b: Information recording surface 4: Label 5: Visible information 10: CPU 11: ROM 12: RAM 20: Spindle motor 21: Optical pickup 22: Seek motor 23: Laser control circuit 24: Encoder 25: Servo control circuit 26: Reproduction signal processing circuit 27: Buffer RAM 28: Buffer manager 29: Interface 30: CPU 31: Flash memory 32: RAM 33: Thermal head 34: Thermal head control circuit 35: Roller device 36: Roller device control circuit 37: Rubber roller 38: Rotating motor 40-43: Print start unit 50-53: Print end unit

Claims (16)

A visible information creating step for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of an information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc;
The visible information created by the visible information creating step starts printing by turning the label surface of the optical disc from the printing start portion around the portion where the image change is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc. A print information conversion step for converting to print information up to a print end portion at a position beyond the copy;
An information printing method comprising: a printing step of printing the visible information from an arbitrary position of the label based on the printing information converted by the printing information conversion step. A visible information creation step for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of a heat sensitive information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc;
The visible information created by the visible information creating step starts printing by turning the label surface of the optical disc from the printing start portion around the portion where the image change is smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc. A print information conversion step for converting to print information up to a print end portion at a position beyond the copy;
An information printing method comprising: a printing step of printing the visible information by contacting a thermal head at an arbitrary position of the label based on the printing information converted by the printing information conversion step.   3. The information printing method according to claim 1, wherein, in the visible information creating step, the visible information is created based on information read from a recording surface of the optical disc.   4. The information printing according to claim 1, wherein, in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is a portion where the total sum of the density of the image in the radial direction of the optical disk is the smallest. Method.   4. The information printing according to claim 1, wherein, in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is a portion where the sum total of the density of images in the radial direction of the optical disc is the largest. Method.   4. The information printing according to claim 1, wherein, in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is a portion where the density change of the image is the smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc. Method.   6. The information printing method according to claim 4, wherein, in the printing information conversion step, the printing start portion is set to a linear position in a radial direction of the optical disc.   6. The information printing method according to claim 4, wherein, in the print information conversion step, the print start portion is positioned in a curved shape, a sawtooth shape, or an uneven shape in a radial direction of the optical disc. Visible information creating means for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of an information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc;
The visible information created by the visible information creating means starts printing the portion of the optical disc in the circumferential direction with the least change in the image as a printing start portion and makes a round of the label surface of the optical disc from the printing start portion. Print information conversion means for converting to print information up to a print end portion at a position beyond the copy;
An information printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints the visible information from an arbitrary position of the label based on the printing information converted by the printing information conversion unit. Visible information creating means for creating visible information to be printed on the entire surface of the label made of a thermal information display film attached to the label surface of the optical disc;
The visible information created by the visible information creating means starts printing the portion of the optical disc in the circumferential direction with the least change in the image as a printing start portion and makes a round of the label surface of the optical disc from the printing start portion. Print information conversion means for converting to print information up to a print end portion at a position beyond the copy;
An information printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints the visible information by bringing a thermal head into contact with an arbitrary position of the label based on the printing information converted by the printing information conversion unit.   The information printing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the visible information creating unit creates the visible information based on information read from a recording surface of the optical disc.   The information printing according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the print information converting unit sets the print start portion to a portion where the total sum of density of images in the radial direction of the optical disc is the smallest. apparatus.   The information printing according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the print information converting means sets the print start portion to a portion where the sum total of image densities in the radial direction of the optical disc is the largest. apparatus.   The information printing according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the print information conversion unit sets the print start portion to a portion where the density change of the image is the smallest in the circumferential direction of the optical disc. apparatus.   14. The information printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the print information conversion unit sets the print start portion to a linear position in the radial direction of the optical disc.   14. The information printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the print information conversion unit sets the print start portion to a curved, sawtooth or uneven position in a radial direction of the optical disc.

Images