JP2006048929A - Information recording system and information recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an optical recording medium which is suitable for identification, management, or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A recording layer formed on an optical recording medium DSC is irradiated with write-in light by a pickup 28, a visible image pattern suitable for identification, management, or the like is formed on the optical recording medium DSC by varying optical properties at an irradiation part and a non-irradiation part of light in the recording layer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information recording system having a function of recording visible information on an optical recording medium.

  CD (Compact Disk), DVD (Digital Video Disk or Digital Versatile Disk) and the like are known as optical recording media on which information is recorded or reproduced optically. In addition, write-once discs and rewritable discs capable of recording information have been developed to provide users with excellent convenience.

  For example, when a user uses these write-once and rewritable discs, it becomes possible to write and edit content data such as music and images, and to create and enjoy original discs themselves. In addition, it has become possible to write program data for computers and make a highly convenient disc with necessary applications.

  However, as the number of disks to be used increases, it is difficult to distinguish each disk from the viewpoint of appearance, which makes it difficult to select and manage a desired disk from a large number of disks. Arise.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, in a conventional disk, a surface that is not used for information writing, that is, a surface that is a back surface with respect to a surface that is irradiated with a light beam for performing information writing and information reading (hereinafter, referred to as “light writing”). On the label side), users can write letters and designs using writing instruments.

  However, discs on which information can be written as described above can provide excellent convenience to the user. However, in order to manage these discs, writing letters and patterns for identification are handwritten on the label surface with a writing instrument. There is still a technical backwardness that is most convenient. In addition, when handwritten on the label surface, characters and patterns may gradually fade and become unclear, or the appearance may be impaired. For this reason, development of a technique that replaces handwriting and enables discs to be identified at a glance as in handwriting has been desired.

  The present invention has been made to overcome such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information recording system having a function of recording visually recognizable information.

The invention according to claim 1 is an information recording system for recording information by irradiating a write-once or rewritable disc with write light, wherein the disc is irradiated with the write light output from a light source. And writing means for writing a visible image on the disc, and control means for outputting a signal for simulating and displaying the image.
The invention according to claim 13 is an information recording method for recording information by irradiating a write-once or rewritable disc with write light, and irradiating the disc with the write light output from a light source. And a writing process for writing a visible image on the disc, and a display process for simulating and displaying the image in the writing process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As a preferred embodiment, a digital audio system that can use a write-once disc such as a CD-R, a rewritable disc such as a CD-RW, and a read-only disc such as a CD-ROM or CD-DA. Will be described.

First, the terms “pit art”, “pit art data”, and “pit art recording” used in the description of this embodiment are defined.
“Pit art” is the recording of data on the recording layer of a disc such as a CD-R where data can be written. An image pattern that can be used visually. In other words, unlike normal data recording, an image pattern such as characters, symbols, and patterns recorded on the recording layer so as to be seen visually is called “pit art”. “Pit art data” refers to data written to form “pit art” on a recording layer of a disc. “Pit art recording” refers to recording “pit art data” on a recording layer of a disc on which data can be written.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the external structure of the digital audio system, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing the internal configuration of the digital audio system.

  In FIG. 1, a front panel 2 of the digital audio system 1 is provided with a disk insertion slot 3 for loading and unloading a disk as an optical recording medium, and a display unit 4 formed by a liquid crystal display or the like. A plurality of operation switches are provided around the disc insertion slot 3 and the display unit 4.

  If representative operation switches are listed, an eject switch 5 for performing loading and unloading, a power-on switch 6, a rotary switch 7 for volume adjustment, and a plurality of switches arranged on the right side of the display unit 4 are listed. A function switch 8, a plurality of function switches 9 provided on the left side of the display unit 4, a recording start switch 10 for instructing recording start, and a rotary switch 11 called a jog dial are provided.

  A movable tray (not shown) for placing a disk is provided in the disk insertion slot 3, and the movable tray moves forward and backward through the disk insertion slot 3 when the eject switch 5 is pressed. The disk is loaded into a so-called clamp position or unloaded from the clamp position.

  More specifically, when the eject switch 5 is pressed while the movable tray is located at the back of the disc insertion slot 3, the movable tray protrudes forward through the disc insertion slot 3. As a result, it is possible to take out a disk that has already been loaded or load a new disk. Further, when the eject switch 5 is pressed with the movable tray protruding forward through the disk insertion slot 3, the movable tray automatically moves to the back of the disk insertion slot 3 to perform loading. Is called.

  Further, in the digital audio system 1, the disc is placed with the label surface facing the movable tray. This allows the user to load and unload the disc on the movable tray with the label side of the disc facing downward (movable tray side) and keeping the data recording / reproducing side of the disc in view. It has become.

  The plurality of function switches 8 are composed of a plurality of operation switches for starting reproduction of data recorded on the disc, pausing data reproduction, specifying a track number on which data is recorded, and the like.

  The plurality of function switches 9 are composed of a plurality of operation switches that are operated when writing pit art data to a write-once disc and a rewritable disc. More specifically, in addition to the pit art recording start switch for instructing the start of pit art recording, the size of characters, symbols, patterns, etc. for recording as pit art, and the arrangement thereof are edited. A plurality of editing switches and a confirmation switch for confirming edited characters, symbols, designs, and the like are provided.

  A rotary switch 11 called a jog dial is provided for the user to select characters, symbols, designs, etc. to be recorded in the pit art. Each time the user rotates the rotary switch 11 at a predetermined angle, the data of characters, symbols, patterns, etc. is switched. When the confirmation switch is operated, the characters, symbols, patterns, etc. selected by the rotary switch 11 are pit art. It has come to be confirmed as.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, an external device connection terminal for connecting external devices such as a CS tuner, a BS tuner, a CD player, an MD player, and a DVD player, and a keyboard are provided on the back of the digital audio system 1. A keyboard connection terminal is provided for connecting the computer.

  Next, the internal configuration of the digital audio system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As the external device connection terminals, the digital input terminal 13 connected to the digital input circuit 12, the analog input terminal 15 connected to the A / D converter 14, and the digital output terminal 17 connected to the digital output circuit 16. An analog output terminal 19 connected to the D / A converter 18 is provided.

  The digital input terminal 13 is formed by an optical digital input terminal or a coaxial digital input terminal, and the digital input circuit 12 is a digital data capable of signal processing optical or electrical digital data supplied via the digital input terminal 13. Convert to and input.

  As a result, when an external device such as a CS tuner, a BS tuner, a CD player, or an MD player is connected to the digital input terminal 13, the digital audio system 1 maintains the digital data supplied from these external devices as the digital data. To enter.

  The analog input terminal 15 is provided for inputting an analog signal. That is, when an external device such as a CD player or an MD player is connected to the analog input terminal 15 and an audio signal reproduced in analog is supplied from these external devices, the A / D converter 14 converts the audio signal to digital. The data is converted into data and input to the digital audio system 1.

  The digital output terminal 17 is formed by an optical digital output terminal or a coaxial digital output terminal. Further, when the digital audio system 1 reproduces a write-once disc, a rewritable disc or a reproduction-only disc, the digital output circuit 16 converts the reproduced digital data obtained thereby into optical or electrical digital data for digital output. Output to an external device via the terminal 17.

  The D / A converter 18 converts digital data reproduced from a write-once disc, a rewritable disc, or a reproduction-only disc into an analog signal and outputs it to the outside via an analog output terminal 19. Thereby, when the analog amplifier to which the speaker is connected is connected to the analog output terminal 19, the reproduced sound can be played through the speaker. When an analog device such as an analog tape recorder is connected, the playback sound can be recorded in analog.

  The keyboard connection terminal 20 is connected to a system controller 21 having a microprocessor (MPU). When the user connects a keyboard 22 compliant with the JIS standard or the like to the keyboard connection terminal 20, instead of the function switch 9 and the rotary switch 11, the pit art data is edited and pit art recording is instructed by operating the keyboard. Can be done.

  An encoder 26 and an LD drive circuit 27 are cascade-connected to the digital input circuit 12 and the A / D converter 14 via a two-contact switching circuit 23 that is switched and controlled by the system controller 21.

  The encoder 26 is controlled by the system controller 21 and performs EFM modulation (Eight-Fourteen Modulation) and CIRC (Cross Interleave Reed-Solomon Code) interleaving on the input data D1 from the two-contact switching circuit 23. The write data D2 generated by the process is output to the LD drive circuit 27. Although details will be described later, when the pit art data Dp is supplied from the system controller 21, write data D2 is generated based on the pit art data Dp and output to the LD drive circuit 27.

  The LD drive circuit 27 is controlled by the system controller 21 and amplifies the write data D2 from the encoder 26 to supply it to a semiconductor laser (not shown) in the pickup 28. Thus, the data modulated by the power-amplified write data D3 (hereinafter referred to as write light) is irradiated onto the recording layer of the disk DSC to perform data writing.

  When reading data from the disk DSC, the LD drive circuit 27 supplies a constant power instructed by the system controller 21 to the semiconductor laser in the pickup 28, so that light with a constant power (hereinafter referred to as read) is supplied. Light) is applied to the recording layer of the disk DSC.

  A spindle motor 29 that clamps and rotates the disk DSC at a constant linear velocity and a feed motor 30 that moves the pickup 28 forward and backward in the radial direction of the disk DSC are provided at the clamp position described above.

  Furthermore, the photodetector (not shown) in the pickup 28 photoelectrically converts the return light generated in response to the writing light or reading light being applied to the disk DSC during the data writing or data reading, and the RF amplifier 31. The photoelectric conversion signal SRF is supplied to the address decoder 32, the servo control circuit 33, and the decoder 34.

  The address decoder 32 detects the track address of the disk DSC irradiated with the write light or the read light from the photoelectric conversion signal SRF output from the RF amplifier 31, and sends the detected address data D4 to the encoder 26 and the system controller 21. Supply.

  As a result, the above-described encoder 26 transfers the write data D2 synchronized with the address data D4 to the LD drive circuit 27 at the time of the data recording, and the system controller 21 has the pickup 28 connected to the disk at the time of the data recording. It is determined whether or not the track address to be recorded in the DSC is in an on-track state.

  The decoder 34 receives the photoelectric conversion signal SRF output from the RF amplifier and the address data D4 output from the address decoder 32, and in synchronization with the address data D4, the audio data included in the photoelectric conversion signal SRF and the like. Deinterleave with EFM demodulation. As a result, a decoding process opposite to that of the encoder 26 is performed, and the decoded data D4 generated by the process is supplied to the digital output circuit 16 and the D / A converter 18.

  When TOC (Table of Contents) data is read from the disk DSC by data reproduction, the decoder 34 decodes the TOC data and supplies the decoded TOC data Dt2 to the system controller 21.

  The servo control circuit 33 detects a tracking error or a focus error based on the photoelectric conversion signal SRF output from the RF amplifier 31, and servo-controls the spindle motor 29, the feed motor 30 and the optical pickup 28 based on the detection result. To do.

  Further, the system controller 21 is connected to a pit art data memory 37 and a standard data memory 38, and is provided with a pit art data generation unit 39 shown in FIG.

  The pit art data generation unit 39 includes a character data decoding unit 40, a pit art data editing unit 41, and an address generation unit 42. Under the microprocessor MPU provided in the system controller 21, pit art data Dp is generated.

  The character data decoding unit 40 inputs character information data from the rotary switch 11 called a jog dial and character information data from the keyboard 22 via the microprocessor MPU. Based on the character information data D6, The standard character data Dc stored in advance in the standard data memory 38 is searched and supplied to the pit art data editing unit 41.

  Although details will be described later, when reproducing an information recording medium such as a CD or MD on which data has already been recorded and performing pit art recording based on the reproduced data, the character data decoding unit 40 Character information data such as TOC and UTOC (User Table of Contents) included in the reproduction data is input and supplied to the pit art data editing unit 41.

  When performing pit art recording based on data supplied from an external device such as a CS tuner or a BS tuner, the character data decoding unit 40 inputs character information data Dp included in the data. To the pit art data editing unit 41.

  The pit art data editing unit 41 converts the standard character data Dc into bitmap format data (hereinafter referred to as bitmap data) Dbmp and stores it in the pit art data memory 37. When the user operates the function switch 9 or the keyboard 22 to perform editing, the pit art data editing unit 41 inputs the editing command data D7 via the microprocessor MPU, and the bitmap data Dbmp is input according to the editing command. Edit and store in the pit art data memory 37.

  The address generator 42 generates address data Dr for reading the bitmap data Dbmp stored in the pit art data memory 37. That is, the position of the pickup 28 with respect to the disk DSC is determined based on the address data D4 supplied from the address decoder 32 via the microprocessor MPU. When it is determined that the pickup 28 has reached the position where pit art is to be recorded, the pit art data memory 37 is accessed by the address data Dr, and the bitmap data Dbmp is used as pit art data Dp for each dot via the microprocessor MPU. To the encoder 26 to perform pit art recording.

  Next, the operation of the digital audio system 1 having such a configuration will be described.

  The digital audio system 1 is provided with three types of modes for performing pit art recording under the control of the system controller 21.

  When the user selects and designates the first mode (hereinafter referred to as an external data recording mode) with the function switch 9, a CS tuner, a BS tuner, a CD player, an MD player, a DVD player, etc. connected to the digital input terminal 13 When recording (copying) audio data supplied from an external device to a write-once disc or writable disc, character information data supplied from a CS tuner or BS tuner, or TOC data supplied from a CD player Is automatically edited, and character information data included in UTOC data supplied from an MD player is automatically edited, and pit art data Dp generated by automatic editing is recorded on a write-once disc or a writable type. By writing to a disc, you can automatically Carry out the door record.

  When the user selects and designates the second mode (hereinafter referred to as the internal data recording mode) with the function switch 9, the TOC already recorded on the write-once disc or writable disc loaded in the audio system 1 is displayed. The data is reproduced, the character information data included in the reproduced TOC data is automatically edited, and the pit art data Dp generated by the automatic editing is written on the loaded write-once disc or writable disc. Pit art recording automatically.

  When the user selects the third mode (hereinafter referred to as manual mode) with the function switch 9, the user can edit the pit art data Dp by operating the rotary switch 11 or the keyboard 22. .

  First, the operation in the external data recording mode will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In a typical case, a user loads a CD-R as a disc DSC into the digital audio system 1, connects a CD player as an external device to the digital input terminal 13, and is played back by the CD player. The operation when the reproduced data is recorded (copied) on the disc DSC as the CD-R will be described.

  In FIG. 4, when the user loads a disk DSC, the TOC data Dt2 as the table of contents information is reproduced from the disk DSC and stored in a first memory (not shown) in the system controller 21 (step S100).

  Next, based on the TOC data Dt2, the type of the loaded disc is determined (step S102).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a recordable disc is loaded (step S104). Here, if a read-only disc such as a CD-ROM is loaded, a recording prohibition process such as displaying on the display unit 4 that recording is not possible is performed (step S106), and the process is forcibly terminated. .

  On the other hand, if the disc DSC is a CD-R, it is determined that a recordable disc is loaded, and the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S108, it is determined whether or not the recording start switch 10 is turned on, and the process waits until the recording start switch 10 is turned on. In this standby state, when the user performs a playback operation of the CD player as an external device and further turns on the recording start switch 10, playback data from the CD player is input as input data D1.

  Next, the encoder 26 acquires TOC data Dt1, which is table of contents information included in the input data D1, and stores it in a second memory (not shown) in the system controller 21 (step S110).

  Next, when the pickup 28 is moved to the recording start address of the disc DSC and data has already been recorded on the disc DSC, a value obtained by adding 1 to the track number TRNO associated with the data is set as a new track number TRNO. (Step S112).

  Next, the encoder 26 encodes the input data D1, and starts data recording by the pickup 28 using the new track number TRNO as the head track number (step S114).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the track number attached to the data D1 from the CD player as the copy source has changed (step S116). If it has not changed, the data recording in step S114 is continued.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S116 that the track number attached to the data D1 has changed, the process proceeds to step S118, and it is determined whether or not the supply of the data D1 from the CD player has ended. Here, if the supply of the data D1 is not completed, it is determined that the data D1 of the next track number has been supplied, and in step S112, the next track number is set and the recording of the data D1 is continued (step S112). S114).

  When all the data D1 from the CD player has been recorded, the process proceeds to step S120, where finalization processing is performed, and the table of contents information related to the data D1 recorded so far is written together with the TOC data Dt2 in the lead-in area of the disk DSC. Furthermore, after recording the lead-out area, after entering the pause state (step S122), the process proceeds to step S200 in FIG.

  In step S200 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the user has turned on the pit art recording start switch in the function switch 9 during the pause state. If the pit art recording start switch is not turned on for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S202 to perform pit art recording prohibition processing, and a series of data recording processing ends without performing pit art recording. .

  On the other hand, when the pit art recording start switch is turned on, a temporary stop state is established (step S204), and the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S206, the head address ADRS of the unrecorded area remaining on the disc DSC is detected from the TOC data Dt2 acquired in step S100 and the table of contents information written in step S120. Furthermore, based on the maximum lead-out start position information recorded as ATIP information in the wobble of the lead-in area (position information indicating the latest address among the position information standardized as the lead-out recording start address), The end address ADRE of the unrecorded area is detected. The address data ADRS and ADRE are supplied to the pit art data editing unit 41 shown in FIG. 3 together with the editing command data D7.

  Further, the pit art data editing unit 41 calculates the shape of the unrecorded area based on the address data ADRS and ADRE. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the width W of the unrecorded area in the radial direction of the disk DSC is calculated, and the shape of the annular unrecorded area corresponding to the width W is calculated.

  Next, in step S208, character information data (data such as album title, song name, and artist name) D6 compliant with the CD-TEXT standard included in the TOC data Dt1 stored in the second memory is shown in FIG. 3 is supplied to the character data decoding unit 40 shown in FIG.

  In step S210, the character data decoding unit 40 searches for the standard character data Dc corresponding to the character information data D6 and supplies the standard character data Dc to the pit art data editing unit 41. The pit art data editing unit 41 uses the standard character data Dc. Is converted into bitmap data Dbmp.

  Next, in step S212, the pit art data editing unit 41 compares the size of the bitmap data Dbmp with the shape of the unrecorded area, and the resolution of the bitmap data Dbmp so that the pit art does not protrude from the unrecorded area. Automatically edit (dot density per unit area) and size. Then, the edited bitmap data Dbmp is stored in the pit art data memory 36.

  Next, in step S214, the bitmap data Dbmp stored in the pit art data memory 36 is supplied to the display unit 4 through the microcomputer MPU, and how the pit art is formed in the unrecorded area of the disc DSC. The display is presented, that is, a preview display.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preview display. For example, if the character information data D6 is an album title “ABCDE”, the shape of the disc DSC and the shape of the unrecorded area are displayed. "ABCDE" bitmap data Dbmp is displayed.

  Further, a display for prompting an instruction as to whether or not the pit art recording may be started based on the bitmap data Dbmp, for example, “Is the displayed image OK?” Is displayed.

  As a result, the user can know in advance the size and arrangement of the characters “ABCDE” that will be recorded as pit art.

  Next, when an instruction to continue pit art recording is given to the preview display by the function switch 9 in step S216, the process proceeds to step S218. On the other hand, when an instruction to stop the pit art recording is given by the function switch 9, the process proceeds to step S202, the pit art recording prohibiting process is performed, and the series of data recording processes is completed. For example, when the user looks at the preview display and determines that the character “ABCDE” that will be recorded as pit art is too small, or determines that the position of the pit art in the unrecorded area is inappropriate. If an instruction to stop pit art recording is given, useless pit art recording is not performed.

  The pit art data editing unit 41 compares the shape of the unrecorded area with the size of the bitmap data Dbmp, and the pit art is small because the shape of the unrecorded area (particularly, the width W of the unrecorded area) is small. If it becomes too much, the process may automatically shift to step S202 so that pit art recording is not performed.

  Next, in step S218, after the pickup 28 is moved to a position away from the start address ADRS of the unrecorded area by a predetermined number of tracks N1 (N1 = 1000 tracks in the present embodiment) radially outside, the pickup 28 is moved from the moved position. An annular pit art is formed by irradiating a predetermined number of tracks N2 (in this embodiment, N2 = 1000 tracks in the radial direction) with write light having a predetermined power. As a result, the annular unrecorded portion for the N1 track and the annular pit art for the N2 track are concentrically formed outside the recorded area where data has already been recorded from the lead-in area to the start address ADRS. Therefore, the annular pit art can be visually recognized as a boundary line between the recorded area and the pit art described later.

  Even when the pit art data editing unit 41 automatically edits the resolution (dot density per unit area) and size of the bitmap data Dbmp in step S212, the annular unrecorded portion for N1 tracks and The bitmap data Dbmp is automatically edited on the basis of the shape of the unrecorded area existing outside in the radial direction of the annular pit art portion for N2 tracks.

  Next, in step S220, the pickup 28 is positioned at an address at a position radially outward of the disk DSC from the portion where the annular pit art is formed. Further, in step S222, the bit map data Dbmp is read from the pit art data memory 36. Is read out and supplied to the pickup 28 as pit art data Dp, so that it is written in an unrecorded area of the disk DSC.

  Next, in step S224, it is determined whether or not the pit art recording is completed. If not, the process returns to step S220 to supply the next one dot bitmap data Dbmp to the pickup 28 as the pit art data Dp. Recording is performed at the next address of the unrecorded area (step S222).

  When the pit art recording is completed, in step S226, the display unit 4 displays that the pit art recording is completed, and then the pit art recording process is terminated.

  When pit art recording is performed in this way, as shown in FIG. 8, pit art PA1 composed of an annular pit row indicating the boundary line between the recorded area and the unrecorded area, and pit art PA2 of characters such as “ABCDE” Is formed.

  The character portions of the annular pit art PA1 and the pit art PA2 are recorded as a large number of pits on the CD-R recording layer, and no pits are formed in the background portion. Since the reflectance with respect to light differs between the portion where the pit is formed and the portion where the pit is not formed, the pit art PA2 such as “ABCDE” can be visually recognized by the difference in reflectance.

  As described above, when the pit art is formed in the external data recording mode, the user can easily identify and manage the disc only by looking at the pit art PA2.

  In addition, in the case of conventional handwriting, there are problems such as blurring and loss of aesthetics, but since the above pit art is formed on the recording layer of the disc, the sharpness is maintained and aesthetics are impaired. Does not occur.

  Further, the recorded area and the unrecorded area can be distinguished from each other only by looking at the annular pit art PA1. For this reason, the user may touch the unrecorded area where the pit art PA2 is formed with his / her hand, but can make a judgment such as not touching the recorded area where the data is recorded.

  Also, when reproducing data, the annular pit art PA1 is detected to detect the existence of an unrecorded area where pit art is formed, thereby preventing erroneous reproduction of pit art data. be able to.

  Further, since the CD-R recording layer is formed of an organic dye, pit art can be clearly formed when pit art recording is performed. In particular, when pit art recording is performed on a CD-R having a recording layer formed of a cyanine or azo dye, pit art with high contrast can be formed.

  Further, as described above, the digital audio system 1 performs loading / unloading with the CD-R recording layer side facing up and the label surface facing down, so the user can put pit art into view. CD-R can be handled. For this reason, it becomes easy for the user to manage and identify the disc based on the pit art, and thus the convenience of the pit art can be provided more effectively. However, loading / unloading may be performed with the recording layer side surface of the CD-R facing downward and the label surface facing upward, and pit art may be recorded from the recording layer side facing downward.

  Further, in this external data recording mode, the character information data in the table of contents information supplied from the CD player is automatically recorded as pit art data on the copy destination disc, so that the user can easily perform pit art recording. A method can be provided.

  Further, although the case where a CD player is connected as an external device has been described, if an MD player is connected, character information data included in UTOC data can be recorded as pit art data. If a CS tuner or a BS tuner is connected, character information data received by the CS tuner or BS tuner can be recorded as pit art data.

  In the external data recording mode described above, after the finalizing process in step S120, the process for pit art recording shown in FIG. 5 is performed. However, as a modification, the finalizing process is not performed. You may make it start the process for pit art recording.

  However, in this case, in step S120, when the writing of the data D1 is completed, the table of contents information accompanying the data D1 is stored in the program management area (PMA) inside the lead-in area of the disk DSC. The temporary TOC is recorded, and then the pit art recording process shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

  Further, in the processing for pit art editing and preview display in steps S206 to S214, the start address ADRS of the unrecorded area is detected based on the temporary TOC information, and a relatively large number of tracks (books) are detected from the start address ADRS. In the embodiment, the position of a track separated by 10000 to 30000 tracks) in the radial direction outside is set as a head position where pit art can be recorded, and an unrecorded area radially outward from the head position is set as an area where pit art can be recorded. Pit art editing and preview display.

  Furthermore, when recording the annular pit art PA1 and pit art PA2 in steps S218 to S224, these are recorded in an unrecorded area radially outward from the position separated by 10,000 to 30,000 tracks from the start address ADRS. The annular pit art PA1 and pit art PA2 are recorded.

  According to this modification, a so-called partial disc can be produced in which the unrecorded area for N1 tracks shown in FIG. 8 is secured for 10,000 to 30,000 tracks. As a result, the user can perform additional recording in an unrecorded area reserved for 10,000 to 30,000 tracks. For this reason, it is possible to provide a partial disc that is more convenient and can be easily managed by recorded pit art.

  It should be noted that when 10000 to 30000 tracks are recorded as additional recordable areas, the user may be allowed to select and specify a desired number of tracks within the range of these numbers of tracks, or the number of tracks may be limited. Instead, the user may designate a desired number of tracks, or may designate the number of tracks as a time-converted amount, and secure the designated unrecorded area as an area that can be additionally recorded.

  Next, the operation in the internal data recording mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As a typical case, the digital audio system 1 is loaded with a CD-R that has already been finalized by the user, that is, a CD-R in which the TOC information is already recorded in the lead-in area and the lead-out area is recorded. The operation when performing pit art recording on the CD-R will be described.

  In FIG. 9, when the user loads the finalized CD-R, the TOC data Dt2 is reproduced from the loaded disk DSC and stored in the first memory in the system controller 21 (step S300). (Step S302).

  When the user operates the predetermined operation switch in the function switch 9 to select the internal data recording mode in the pause state, the process proceeds to step S304, and the disc type is determined based on the TOC data Dt2 in the first memory. Is determined.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a recordable disc is loaded (step S306). Here, if a read-only disc such as a CD-ROM is loaded, recording prohibition processing such as displaying on the display unit 4 that recording is impossible is performed (step S308), and the internal data recording mode is forcibly executed. Exit. On the other hand, if the disc DSC is CD-R, it is determined that a recordable disc is loaded, and the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S310, the head address ADRS of the unrecorded area remaining on the disc DSC is detected from the TOC data Dt2 in the first memory. Furthermore, based on the maximum lead-out start position information recorded as ATIP information in the wobble of the lead-in area (position information indicating the latest address among the position information standardized as the lead-out recording start address), Detect end address ADRE of unrecorded area. The address data ADRS and ADRE are supplied to the pit art data editing unit 41 shown in FIG. 3 together with the editing command data D7.

  Further, the pit art data editing unit 41 calculates the shape of the unrecorded area based on the address data ADRS and ADRE. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the width W of the unrecorded area in the radial direction of the disk DSC is calculated, and the shape of the annular unrecorded area corresponding to the width W is calculated. In step S310, as in the process of step S206 in FIG. 5, the width W and the shape of the unrecorded area that is radially outside N1 tracks from the start address ADRS of the unrecorded area are calculated.

  Next, in step S312, character information data (data such as album title, song name, artist name, etc.) D6 included in the TOC data Dt1 stored in the first memory is converted into the character data decoding shown in FIG. To the unit 40.

  In step S314, the character data decoding unit 40 searches for the standard character data Dc corresponding to the character information data D6 and supplies the standard character data Dc to the pit art data editing unit 41. The pit art data editing unit 41 performs the standard character data Dc. Is converted into bitmap data Dbmp.

  Next, in step S316, the pit art data editing unit 41 compares the size of the bitmap data Dbmp with the shape of the unrecorded area, and the resolution of the bitmap data Dbmp so that the pit art does not protrude from the unrecorded area. Automatically edit (dot density per unit area) and size. Then, the edited bitmap data Dbmp is stored in the pit art data memory 36.

  Next, in step S318, the bitmap data Dbmp stored in the pit art data memory 36 is supplied to the display unit 4 through the microcomputer MPU, and how the pit art is formed in the unrecorded area of the write-once disc DSC. Or preview.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the character information data D6 is an album title "ABCDE", the shape of the disc DSC and the shape of the unrecorded area are displayed, and the unrecorded data is displayed. While the area is displayed, the edited bitmap data Dbmp of “ABCDE” is displayed. Further, a display for prompting an instruction as to whether or not the pit art recording may be started based on the bitmap data Dbmp, for example, “Is the displayed image OK?” Is displayed.

  As a result, the user can know in advance the size and arrangement of the characters “ABCDE” that will be recorded as pit art.

  Next, when an instruction to continue pit art recording is given to the preview display by the function switch 9 in step S320, the process proceeds to step S322. On the other hand, if the function switch 9 gives an instruction not to perform pit art recording, the process proceeds to step S308, where pit art recording prohibition processing is performed, and a series of data recording processing ends.

  In step S322, the pickup 28 is positioned at a position separated by N1 tracks from the start address ADRS of the unrecorded area. Then, write light having a predetermined power is irradiated from the position to N2 tracks. As a result, an annular pit art PA1 representing the boundary line between the unrecorded area and the recorded area is formed.

  Next, in step S324, the pickup 28 is positioned at an address on the radially outer side of the disk DSC from the portion where the annular pit art is formed. Further, in step S326, the bit map data Dbmp is read from the pit art data memory 36. Is read out and supplied to the pickup 28 as pit art data Dp, so that it is written in an unrecorded area of the disk DSC.

  Next, in step S328, it is determined whether all pit art recording has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S324 to supply the next one dot of bitmap data Dbmp as pit art data Dp to the pickup 28. Recording is performed at the next address of the unrecorded area (step S326).

  When the writing of all the bitmap data Dbmp is completed, in step S330, the display unit 4 displays that the pit art recording is completed, and then the pit art recording process is terminated.

  When pit art recording is performed in this way, as shown in FIG. 8, an annular pit art PA1 indicating a boundary line between a recorded area and an unrecorded area, and a pit art PA2 of characters such as “ABCDE” are obtained. The user can easily identify and manage the disc by simply looking at the pit arts PA1 and PA2 due to the difference in the reflectance with respect to light between the formed part and the part where the pit is not formed.

  Further, according to the internal data recording mode, the contents information already recorded on the CD-R can be automatically stored as pit art data as pit art data. Thereby, it is possible to provide the user with an effect that the pit art can be used in a handwritten sense.

  In the above internal data recording mode, the case where pit art recording is performed on a finalized CD-R has been described, but pit art recording may also be performed on a partial disc.

  In this case, it is possible to record pit art on a partial disc by processing the temporary TOC information recorded in the PMA area of the partial disc as the TOC information recorded on the finalized CD-R. It becomes possible.

  Next, the operation in the manual mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As a typical case, the operation when the user loads a finalized CD-R into the digital audio system 1, edits the pit art, and records the pit art on the loaded CD-R will be described. .

  In FIG. 10, when the user loads the CD-R, the TOC data Dt2 as the table of contents information is reproduced from the loaded disk DSC, and the reproduced TOC data Dt2 is stored in the first memory in the system controller 21. A temporary stop state is established (step S400).

  When the user operates the predetermined operation switch in the function switch 9 and selects the manual mode in the pause state, the process proceeds to steps S402 to S406.

  In steps S402 to S406, it is determined whether or not a desired character, symbol, pattern, or the like has been input by the rotary switch 11 or the keyboard 22 called the jog dial, and the character or the like has been selected. Wait until a selection operation is performed (step S402).

  Here, when the character or the like is input, the data such as the input character is temporarily stored in a predetermined buffer register, and the character or the like is blinked and displayed on the display unit 4. When a selection operation is performed, data such as characters in the buffer register is stored in the buffer memory and confirmed, and the blinking display is switched to a still image display (non-flashing display) to confirm the input characters. This is notified (step S404).

  More specifically, for example, when the user appropriately rotates the rotary switch 11 to input a character string “ABCDE” and operates a selection operation switch (hereinafter referred to as an enter key) each time a character is input, In other words, if you operate (A) → (Enter) → (B) → (Enter) → (C) → (Enter) → (D) → (Enter) → (E) → (Enter), the character string “ “ABCDE” can be designated, and as shown in FIG. 11A, character strings are displayed in the order of input.

  When the keyboard 22 is operated, the character string “ABCDE” is input by a key provided on the keyboard 22, and the character string “ABCDE” is input by inputting a “line feed key” every time each character is input. "Can be specified.

  In this way, when the user inputs a desired character string and operates a predetermined operation switch in the function switch 9 to instruct the character string to be finally confirmed as pit art, Step S408) and the process proceeds to Step S410. When the user operates the keyboard 22, if the “line feed key” provided on the keyboard 22 is operated again, the process proceeds to step S 408 and then to step S 410.

  In step S410, the disc type is discriminated based on the TOC data Dt2 in the first memory.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a recordable disc is loaded (step S412). Here, if a read-only disc such as a CD-ROM is loaded, recording prohibition processing such as displaying on the display unit 4 that recording is not possible is performed (step S414), and the manual mode is forcibly terminated. To do. On the other hand, if it is a write-once disc, it is determined that a recordable disc is loaded, and the process proceeds to step S416.

  In step S416, the head address ADRS of the unrecorded area remaining in the write-once disc DSC is detected from the TOC data Dt2 in the first memory. Furthermore, based on the maximum lead-out start position information recorded as ATIP information in the wobble of the lead-in area (position information indicating the latest address among the position information standardized as the lead-out recording start address), The end address ADRE of the unrecorded area is detected. The address data ADRS and ADRE are supplied to the pit art data editing unit 41 shown in FIG. 3 together with the editing command data D7.

  Further, the pit art data editing unit 41 calculates the shape of the unrecorded area based on the address data ADRS and ADRE. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the width W of the unrecorded area in the radial direction of the write-once disc DSC is calculated, and the shape of the annular unrecorded area corresponding to the width W is calculated.

  In step S416 as well, the width W and shape of the unrecorded area that is N1 tracks radially outward from the start address ADRS of the unrecorded area are calculated in the same manner as in step S206 in FIG.

  In step S418, data such as a character string (data such as a character string selected by the user) D6 stored in the buffer memory is supplied to the character data decoding unit 40 shown in FIG.

  In step S420, the character data decoding unit 40 searches for the standard character data Dc corresponding to the data D6 and supplies it to the pit art data editing unit 41. The pit art data editing unit 41 converts the standard character data Dc into a bitmap. Convert to data Dbmp.

  Next, in step S422, the pit art data editing unit 41 compares the size of the bitmap data Dbmp with the shape of the unrecorded area, and the resolution of the bitmap data Dbmp so that the pit art does not protrude from the unrecorded area. Edit (dot density per unit area) and size. Then, the edited bitmap data Dbmp is stored in the pit art data memory 36.

  Next, in step 424, the bitmap data Dbmp stored in the pit art data memory 36 is supplied to the display unit 4 through the microcomputer MPU, and how the pit art is formed in the unrecorded area of the write-once disc DSC. Or preview.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, if the data D6 is a character string “ABCDE”, the shape of the disk DSC and the shape of the unrecorded area are displayed, and further the display of the unrecorded area is displayed. The edited bitmap data Dbmp of “ABCDE” is displayed. Further, a display for prompting an instruction as to whether or not the pit art recording may be started based on the bitmap data Dbmp, for example, “Is the displayed image OK?” Is displayed.

  As a result, the user can know in advance the size and arrangement of the characters “ABCDE” that will be recorded as pit art.

  Next, when the preview display is instructed to continue pit art recording by the function switch 9 or the keyboard 22 in step S426, the process proceeds to step S428. On the other hand, if an instruction not to perform pit art recording is given by the function switch 9 or the keyboard 22, the process proceeds to step S414, a pit art recording prohibition process is performed, and a series of data recording processes is completed.

  Next, in step S428, after the pickup 28 is positioned at a position radially outward of N1 tracks from the start address ADRS of the unrecorded area, writing light having a predetermined power is irradiated onto N2 tracks. As a result, an annular pit art PA1 representing the boundary line between the unrecorded area and the recorded area is formed.

  Next, in step S430, the pickup 28 is located at an address at a position radially outward of the disk DSC from the portion where the annular pit art PA1 is formed. Further, in step S432, the bit map data is read from the pit art data memory 36. The first dot of Dbmp is read out and supplied as pit art data Dp to the pickup 28 to be written in an unrecorded area of the disc DSC.

  Next, in step S434, it is determined whether or not all the bitmap data Dbmp has been written in the unrecorded area. If not, the process returns to step S430 and the bitmap data Dbmp for the next one dot is set as pit art data Dp. The image is supplied to the pickup 28 and recorded at the next address of the unrecorded area (step S432).

  When the writing of all the bitmap data Dbmp is completed, in step S436, the display unit 4 displays that the pit art recording is completed, and then the pit art recording process is terminated.

  When pit art recording is performed in this way, as shown in FIG. 8, an annular pit art PA1 indicating a boundary line between a recorded area and an unrecorded area, and a pit art PA2 of characters such as “ABCDE” are obtained. The user can easily identify and manage the disc only by looking at the pit art PA1 and PA2 depending on the difference in the reflectance with respect to the light of the formed portion and the portion where the pit is not formed.

  Also, according to this manual mode, the user can record the title name and the like as pit art, so that it is possible to provide the user with an effect that the pit art can be used in a handwritten sense.

  As described above, according to the digital audio system of the present embodiment, the visible pit art is recorded on the recordable disc, so that the user can manage and identify a plurality of discs by viewing the pattern. It becomes possible.

  In the above manual mode, the case where the pit art edited by the user is recorded on the finalized CD-R has been described. However, the pit art edited by the user can also be recorded on the partial disc. In this case, it is possible to record pit art on a partial disc by processing the temporary TOC information recorded in the PMA area of the partial disc as the TOC information recorded on the finalized CD-R. It becomes possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where pit art is recorded on a CD-R has been described. However, pit art is also applied to an optical recording medium capable of writing data such as a CD-RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW. You can record.

  Further, according to the digital audio system of the present embodiment, when a disc capable of double-side recording such as DVD-R is used, one recordable surface is dedicated to pit art recording, and the other surface is used as a normal one. It can be a data recording surface.

  Further, when a disc capable of double-sided recording such as a DVD-R is used, a part of one recordable surface is used as a pit art recording area, and a part of the other recordable surface is also used as a pit art recording area. By doing so, it is possible to form pit art on both sides and perform normal data recording on both sides.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the case where the pit arts such as character strings are formed in a line has been described, but the pit art is arranged by arranging the character strings in an arc shape in accordance with the shape of the circular disk. You may make it form. Further, the entire unrecorded area may be positioned in the same manner as a conventional label surface, and an editing function capable of variously editing bitmap data may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the pit art recording is performed by the writing light used in the normal data recording has been described. However, in this case, since the spot diameter of the writing light applied to the recording layer of the disc is small, there is a problem that it takes a long time to form a visible pit art. Therefore, at the time of pit art recording, the objective lens provided on the pickup 28 may be adjusted to record with writing light having a large spot diameter. Also, a pickup dedicated to pit art recording that emits writing light having a large spot diameter may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the pit art recording is automatically performed in the external data recording mode and the internal data recording mode. However, the user manually operates in the external data recording mode and the internal data recording mode. You may make it edit pit art data by operation.

  Further, in step S206 in FIG. 5, step S310 in FIG. 9, and step S416 in FIG. 10, the shape of the unrecorded area is detected based on the TOC information or the temporary TOC information and the ATIP information. As another variation, the pickup is moved in the radial direction of the disk DSC, and the unrecorded area is recorded based on the difference in the amount of reflected light between the recorded area and the unrecorded area of the return light (reflected light) obtained during the movement. The shape of the area may be detected.

  Also, not the difference in the reflected light amount between the recorded area and the unrecorded area, but comparing the reflected light amount from the recorded area or the reflected light amount from the unrecorded area with a predetermined threshold, etc. The shape may be detected and determined.

  In this embodiment, the writing for forming the image pattern (pit art) and the normal information writing are performed by the pickup 28 as writing means. However, the image pattern (pit art) is used. You may make it the structure provided with the pick-up for forming, and the pick-up for performing normal information writing.

  Further, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which so-called bitmap data is generated and pit art recording is performed on the recording layer of the optical recording medium by a light beam modulated based on the bitmap data. Pit art recording may be performed based on data in other data formats.

  In addition to simply recording pit art with and without pits, the pit art can be recorded by adjusting the size of the pits and adjusting the pit-to-pit spacing. Pit art that gives a plurality of gradations may be recorded. Accordingly, it is possible to form pit art that can express shading or the like, that is, pit art that provides expressive power.

  Further, the case where the annular pit art PA1 is recorded between the area where the normal information recording is performed (recorded area) and the area where the pit art recording is performed (unrecorded area) has been described. The pit art PA1 may not be recorded. Further, the user may select and specify whether or not to record the annular pit art PA1.

  In the above embodiments, the digital audio system configured by hardware has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a pit art recording function equivalent to that of the digital audio system may be realized by a computer program.

  For example, a recordable player (for example, a recordable CD player or DVD player) capable of recording and reproducing data using a recordable optical recording medium is mounted on a personal computer or the like, and the above pit art is installed on the personal computer or the like. A pit art may be formed on an optical recording medium loaded in a recordable player by installing a computer program having a recording function and causing the personal computer or the like to execute the computer program.

  According to such a configuration, the convenience of pit art recording can be provided not only to a digital audio system but also to many users.

  Also, when a computer program having the pit art recording function is installed in a personal computer or the like, an optical recording medium on which the computer program is recorded is provided, and a CD player or a DVD player mounted on the personal computer or the like The computer program may be installed using a network such as a personal computer connected to a network such as the Internet (including a telephone line, a wired line such as a LAN, or wireless), and the computer program may be transmitted (downloaded) via the network. And may be set up in a personal computer or the like.

  As described above, according to the information recording system and the information recording method of the present invention, the recording layer formed on the optical recording medium is irradiated with light, and the light irradiation portion and the non-irradiation portion of the recording layer are optically irradiated. Since a visible image pattern is formed by causing a change in characteristics, a user or the like can manage and identify a plurality of optical recording media by looking at the formed image pattern. .

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of the digital audio system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the digital audio system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the pit art data generation part provided in the digital audio system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the 1st automatic mode in the digital audio system of this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for further explaining the operation of the first automatic mode in the digital audio system of the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the unrecorded area where pit art recording is made. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the preview display of a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the state by which the pit art recording was made. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the 2nd automatic mode in the digital audio system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the manual mode in the digital audio system of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the preview display displayed on a display part at the time of manual mode. It is a figure which shows the state which described the handwritten character etc. on the label surface of the disc.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital audio system 4 ... Display part 9 ... Function switch 11 ... Rotary switch 12 ... Digital input circuit 13 ... Digital input terminal 20 ... Keyboard connection terminal 21 ... System controller 22 ... Keyboard 26 ... Encoder 27 ... LD drive circuit 28 ... Pickup 31 ... RF amplifier 32 ... address decoder 34 ... decoder 37 ... pit art data memory 38 ... standard data memory 39 ... pit art data generating unit 40 ... character data decoding unit 41 ... pit art data editing unit 42 ... address generating unit DSC ... disc PA1, PA2 ... Pit art

Claims (14)

An information recording system for recording information by irradiating write light to a recordable or rewritable disc,
Writing means for irradiating the disk with the writing light output from a light source and writing a visible image on the disk;
Control means for outputting a signal for simulating and displaying the image;
An information recording system comprising:   The information recording system according to claim 1, further comprising display means for simulating and displaying the image based on the signal. The display means performs the simulated display prior to the writing of the image onto the disk by the writing means;
The information recording system according to claim 2. The display means displays after the writing of the image to the disk by the writing means is completed, that the writing of the image is completed;
The information recording system according to claim 2 or 3, The writing means records data other than the image in an area excluding the image writing area of the disc;
The information recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The writing means is one optical means for performing both writing of the image and recording of data other than the image,
The information recording system according to claim 5, further comprising:   The information recording system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the data other than the image is music or image data. The light source is a semiconductor laser;
When the semiconductor laser reads information other than the image recorded on the disc, the semiconductor laser irradiates the disc with reading light from the light source,
The information recording system according to claim 1, wherein: The disc is a disc having a surface on which the image is written and a surface on which data other than the image is recorded;
The information recording system according to any one of claims 5 to 8. The writing means writes the visible image by irradiating the disk with the writing light to form pits;
The information recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The visually recognizable image is formed using a difference in reflectance of light on the disc;
The information recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The writing means performs writing of the visible image by irradiating the writing light to form a portion having a different light reflectance on the disc.
The information recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: An information recording method for recording information by irradiating write light to a recordable or rewritable disc,
A writing step of writing a visible image on the disc by irradiating the disc with the writing light output from a light source;
A display step of simulating and displaying the image in the writing step;
An information recording system comprising: Performing the simulated display in the display step prior to writing the image to the disk in the writing step;
The information recording method according to claim 13.

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