JPH0887749A - High density information recording medium, information recording and reproducing method and information recording and reproducing device to be used for its execution - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain recording capacity of not less than that of the CD-ROM of the size of 12cms by using the disk of not more than the size of about 2.5 inches. CONSTITUTION: This medium is a disk shaped high density information recording medium 1 recording and reproducing information with respect to information tracks by using an optical spot and a recording area 2 in which information tracks are formed has zones 3 and respective zones have sectors 4. Respective sectors have a pre-format information area and a data information area of ruggedness pits on information tracks and the combination between the number of sectors of respective zones and information track pitches are selected so as to be user capacity not less than 640MB. The radius of the disk 1 is about 32mm and the recording area 2 is provided in the part whose radius is from about 15mm to about 30mm. The information track pitches are 0.65μm to 0.85μm. There are information tracks constituted by including land parts and information tracks constituted by including groove parts in information tracks.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a high density information recording medium,
On the other hand, the present invention relates to a method for recording / reproducing information using a minute light spot, and an information recording / reproducing apparatus used for implementing the method.

The present invention particularly relates to a disc-shaped recording medium which is excellent in portability, small in size, and capable of high-density recording, and its use. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a disc-shaped recording medium capable of recording information in two types of high density recording and low density recording, and its use.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a high-density information recording medium for recording or / and reproducing information (simply referred to as "recording / reproducing") using a minute light spot has attracted attention. Among them, a high-density information recording medium in the form of a disc (simply called “disc”)
Is a read-only type in which information is recorded in concave or convex pits, a write-once type using a metal thin film or a dye-based recording material, or a rewritable type using a magneto-optical material or a phase transition material. There are things like.

As a read-only disc, the diameter is 12c
There are m or 8 cm compact discs (CDs).
The types are music CDs that record music information,
CD-RO that records information on programs and databases
There is M etc. The recording capacity is, for example, 12 cm CD-
ROM is about 540 megabytes, 8 cm CD-
It is about 180 megabytes in ROM. Further, a constant linear velocity (CLV) method is used for reading information. The data transfer rate is, for example, 150 kilobytes / second,
Depending on the capacity of the reading device, it is double the speed 30
0 kilobytes / second or 4 times faster 600 kilobytes /
Seconds etc. are possible. CD and C for music and video
Some D-ROMs have a limited transfer rate.
For example, for a music CD, the transfer rate is 150 kilobytes /
Seconds to 175 kilobytes / second, which is 4 for digital video discs that record programs such as movies.
Requires a transfer speed of double speed or more.

Further, as a reproduction-only disc, a disc (MD) having a diameter of 2.5 inches for music can be reproduced by the same device as a rewritable disc.
Further, in recent years, this disc (MD) has been developed as an external memory of a computer. The capacity of this disc (MD) is about 140 megabytes for a computer, and the constant linear velocity (CLV) method is also used for reading information, and the data transfer rate of this disc for music is 175. It is the same as a music CD in kilobytes / second, but since the music information is compressed to about 1/5, the actually required transfer rate is about 36.5 kilobytes / second. The read compressed information is stored in the buffer memory, decompressed, and then sent out.

As a write-once disc, there is a write-once music CD in which music information is additionally written. The feature of this disc is the same as the above-mentioned read-only music CD and can be played by the same device as the read-only music CD. . Of course, it is not possible to additionally write with a reproduction-only device. In addition, there is a write-once type photo (photo) CD in which photographic information is additionally written. The additional recording of information is performed by a specific recording device installed at a photo development handling place or the like. Playback is a photo
It is performed by a dedicated CD reproducing device or a device capable of reproducing a plurality of types of CDs such as a music CD. The recording capacity, reading method of information, data transfer rate, and the like are the same as those of the reproduction-only CD.

Rewritable discs include magneto-optical discs of 5.25 inch size and 3.5 inch size. These are mainly used as external memories of computers. The recording capacity is, for example, a 3.5-inch size, such as 128 megabytes or 230 megabytes. Constant angular velocity (CAV) for reading information
The method is used. The data transfer speed is, for example, about 1 megabyte / second, which is higher than that of the above-mentioned CD, although it depends on the device and the location on the disc to be read.
Further, in a 230-megabyte disc, the recording area is divided into a plurality of zones (Z-CAV).

On the other hand, a number of information processing apparatuses have been developed which are compact and have excellent portability. For example, there are a pen input computer, an electronic notebook, a wireless telephone and the like for practical use, and a game machine, a compact disc player, a digital image input device, a navigation system and the like for hobby use. As an external memory of these information processing devices, research and development of a small-sized high-density information recording medium having a large recording capacity is under way. Considering portability, the size is preferably about 2.5 inches or less. Further, the recording capacity is required to be equal to or larger than the recording capacity of the 12-cm size CD-ROM in order to be able to inherit the information of the programs and databases of the 12-cm size CD-ROM. Techniques for increasing the density include shortening the wavelength of the spot light for recording / reproducing and providing information tracks on both the land and groove.

[0009]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the past,
A disc having a size of 2.5 inches or less and having a recording capacity of a CD-ROM having a size of 12 cm or more has not been proposed. It is the first object of the present invention to propose this.

Further, in the conventional disc having the information tracks provided on both the land portion and the groove portion, there is room for improvement in the recording / reproducing method of the preformat information by the concave or convex pits. This improvement is the second aspect of the present invention.
Is the purpose.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional disc having the information tracks provided on both the land portion and the groove portion, there is room for improvement in recording / reproducing information on / from information tracks having different land portions and groove portions. It is the third object of the present invention to make this improvement.

Further, conventionally, it has not been proposed to record and reproduce low density information on a high density information recording medium. It is the fourth object of the present invention to propose this.

Further, the conventional apparatus for recording or reproducing information on both the reproduction-only disc and the rewritable disc has a problem that the data transfer rate is low. The inch size disc had a problem that the recording capacity was small. It is a fifth object of the present invention to solve this problem.

[0014]

As means for achieving the object of the present invention, particularly for achieving the first object,
A high-density disc-shaped information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks along the circumferential direction and recording / reproducing information by using an optical spot on the information tracks, wherein the information tracks are formed. The recording area has a plurality of zones divided in the radial direction, each zone includes a plurality of information tracks, each zone has a plurality of sectors divided in the circumferential direction, Each sector has a preformatted area in which preformatted information is recorded by concave or convex pits on the information track and a data area for data information, and the number of sectors in each zone and the above The combination with the pitch of the information tracks is selected so that the user capacity recorded in the data area is 640 MB or more. Recording medium, it is provided.

Further, in order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the first object described above, a plurality of information tracks are provided along the circumferential direction, and information is recorded on the information tracks by using a light spot. Is a disc-shaped high-density information recording medium on which recording and reproduction are performed, and the recording area in which the information track is formed has a plurality of zones divided in the radial direction, and each zone has a plurality of zones. A preformat in which an information track is included, each zone has a plurality of sectors divided in the circumferential direction, and each sector has preformat information recorded by concave or convex pits on the information track. There is an area and a data area for data information, and the number of sectors in the zone is between the zones on the inner side and the zones on the outer side between two adjacent zones. The number of sectors in the innermost zone is equal to the total number of the zones, and the combination of the total number of the zones and the pitch of the information tracks is the data. There is provided a high-density information recording medium characterized in that the user capacity recorded in the area is selected to be 640 MB or more.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the radius is about 32 mm, and the recording area has a radius of about 1 in the radial direction.
It is provided in a portion from 5 mm to about 30 mm.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the pitch of the information tracks is 0.85 μm or less.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the pitch of the information tracks is 0.65 μm or more.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the information tracks include a first information track including a land portion and a second information track including a groove portion, which have substantially the same width. Have.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, in the data area, the first information track comprises a land portion and the second information track comprises a groove portion.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, also in the pre-formatted area, the first information track includes a land portion and the second information track includes a groove portion.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the concave or convex pit is formed in only one of the first and second information tracks in the preformatted area. According to this, especially the said 2nd objective is achieved.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the width of the concave or convex pit is substantially the same as the width of the land portion or the groove portion.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the depth or height of the concave or convex pit is substantially the same as the difference in depth or height between the land portion and the groove portion.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the difference in depth or height between the land portion and the groove portion is λ, which is the wavelength of light for forming a light spot, on the light incident side to the information track. Approximately λ / (6n) where n is the refractive index of the medium
Is.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the preformatted region is such that the wavelength of light for forming a light spot is λ and the information track is Is about λ / (6n), where n is the refractive index of the medium on the light incident side.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, concave or convex pits for data information are also formed in the data area.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the depth or height of the concave or convex pits in the preformat area and the depth or height of the concave or convex pits in the data area are substantially the same.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the wavelength of light for forming a light spot is λ, and the refractive index of the medium on the incident side to the information track is n, and the medium is formed in the preformat area. The depth or height of the concave or convex pit is about λ / (6n), and the depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the data area is about λ / (4n). .

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the wavelength of light for forming a light spot is λ, and the refractive index of the medium on the incident side to the information track is n, and the medium is formed in the preformat region. The depth or height of the concave or convex pit is about λ / (4n), and the depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the data area is about λ / (6n). .

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, the light reflectance of the member forming the information track is substantially the same as the light reflectance of the magneto-optical recording material.

In one aspect of the medium of the present invention, information is recorded in the data area by the concave or convex pit in a part of the zone, and information is recorded in the data area in the other part of the zone. Can be rewritten.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and particularly to achieve the second object, there is provided a method for recording / reproducing information on / from the high density information recording medium, wherein the information track is The preformat information is reproduced by scanning the light spot and detecting the change in the amount of the reflected light, and further, the desired information track is scanned with the light spot to record and reproduce the information in the desired data area. An information recording / reproducing method for a high density information recording medium is provided.

In one aspect of the recording / reproducing method of the present invention,
The preformat information is reproduced by scanning the information track with a light spot and detecting the change in the light amount distribution of the reflected light in the direction perpendicular to the information track.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and particularly to achieve the second object, there is provided an apparatus for recording / reproducing information on / from the high density information recording medium, wherein the information track is Scanning means for scanning with a light spot, light quantity change detecting means for detecting a light quantity change of reflected light from the light spot on the high density information recording medium, and the preformat information based on the detection result of the light quantity change detecting means. A preformatted information reproducing means for reproducing, and a desired information track selected based on the reproduced preformatted information is scanned with an optical spot to record and reproduce information on a desired data area. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a density information recording medium is provided.

In one aspect of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention,
The high-density information recording medium is provided with a light amount distribution change detecting means for detecting a change in the light amount distribution in the direction perpendicular to the information track of the reflected light from the light spot, and based on the detection result of the light amount distribution change detecting means. The preformat information reproducing means reproduces the preformat information.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the second object, a plurality of information tracks are provided, and every other one of the information tracks has a track number by concave or convex pits. A method of recording / reproducing information on / from a high-density information recording medium having a preformatted area in which preformatted information such as sector numbers and timing pits is recorded, the method comprising scanning the information track with an optical spot. A step of detecting a light quantity change of reflected light from the high density information recording medium and generating a light quantity change signal; detecting a change of a light quantity distribution of the reflected light from the high density information recording medium in a direction perpendicular to an information track; Generating a distribution change signal, reading the light quantity change signal and the concave or convex pits of the preformat area from the light quantity distribution change signal A step of scanning a desired information track with a light spot, and a step of recording / reproducing information to / from the data area of the desired information track. An information recording / reproducing method is provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the second object, a plurality of information tracks are provided, and every other one of the information tracks has a track number by a concave or convex pit, A device for recording / reproducing information on / from a high density information recording medium having a preformatted area in which sector numbers, timing pits, etc. are recorded, wherein the means for scanning the information track with an optical spot, the high density information recording Means for detecting a change in the light quantity of the reflected light from the medium and generating a light quantity change signal, detecting a change in the light quantity distribution of the reflected light from the high density information recording medium in the direction perpendicular to the information track, Generating means, means for reading the concave or convex pits in the preformatted area from the light quantity change signal and the light quantity distribution change signal, desired information Means for scanning over the click by the light spot, and characterized in that it comprises a means, for recording and reproducing information to the data area of the desired information track,
An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium is provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the third object, there is provided a method of recording / reproducing information on / from the high density information recording medium, which is within a desired zone. First, one of the first and second information tracks is sequentially scanned with an optical spot from the innermost track to the outermost track or from the outermost track to the innermost track to record information. Playback, then the first and second
Characterized in that the other of the information tracks is sequentially scanned with an optical spot from the innermost track to the outermost track or from the outermost track to the innermost track to record and reproduce information. An information recording / reproducing method for a high density information recording medium is provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and particularly to achieve the third object, there is provided an apparatus for recording / reproducing information on / from the high density information recording medium, which is within a desired zone. First, one of the first and second information tracks is sequentially scanned with an optical spot from the innermost track to the outermost track or from the outermost track to the innermost track to record information. Playback, then the first and second
Means for controlling the recording and reproduction of information by sequentially scanning the other information track from the innermost track to the outermost track, or from the outermost track to the innermost track with a light spot. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium is provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the third object, a plurality of information tracks are provided, the recording area is divided into a plurality of zones, and each zone comprises a plurality of zones. Recording and reproduction of information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium which is divided into sectors and has an A information track consisting of a land portion and a B information track consisting of a groove portion in the information track of the data recording area. And a step of scanning an A information track or B information track on the innermost or outermost periphery of a desired zone with an optical spot, the innermost or outermost A information track or B information track To the outer or inner circumference, the process of recording / reproducing information on the outer or inner A information track or B information track in sequence. When recording / reproducing of information is completed on the A information track or B information track of the circumference or the innermost circumference, the B information track or the A information track at the innermost circumference or the outermost circumference of the same zone is scanned with a light spot. Information is recorded / reproduced from the innermost or outermost B information track or A information track to the outer or inner B information track or A information track in sequence from the innermost or outermost step. An information recording / reproducing method for a high-density information recording medium is provided, which comprises:

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the third object, a plurality of information tracks are provided, the recording area is divided into a plurality of zones, and each zone comprises a plurality of zones. Recording and reproduction of information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium which is divided into sectors and has an A information track consisting of a land portion and a B information track consisting of a groove portion in the information track of the data recording area. And a means for scanning an A information track or B information track on the innermost or outermost periphery of a desired zone with a light spot, and the innermost or outermost A information track or B information track To the outer or inner circumference, the means for recording / reproducing information on the outer or inner A information track or B information track in sequence, and at the same zone When recording / reproducing of information is completed on the A information track or B information track of the circumference or the innermost circumference, the B information track or the A information track at the innermost circumference or the outermost circumference of the same zone is scanned with a light spot. And the recording and reproducing of information from the innermost or outermost B information track or A information track to the outer or inner B information track or A information track in order toward the outer or inner circumference. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium is provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the fourth object, there is provided a method for recording information on the high density information recording medium, wherein the information recording is performed as described above. It is selected whether to perform low density only for one of the first and second information tracks or high density for both, and the contents of the selection are used as management information for the high density information recording medium. There is provided an information recording method for a high density information recording medium, which comprises recording and further recording information in a data area of the information track according to the content of the selection.

In one aspect of the recording method of the present invention, the management information is recorded at a low density regardless of the content of the selection.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the fourth object, there is provided a method of reproducing information from a high density information recording medium recorded by the above recording method. Reading out the management information recorded on the high-density information recording medium, and reproducing the information according to the read-out content on only one of the first and second information tracks. There is provided an information reproducing method for a high density information recording medium, which is characterized in that it is selected whether or not it is performed.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and particularly to achieve the fourth object, there is provided an apparatus for recording information on the high density information recording medium, wherein the information recording is performed as described above. It is selected whether to perform low density only for one of the first and second information tracks or high density for both, and the contents of the selection are used as management information for the high density information recording medium. An information recording apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, characterized in that it has means for recording and controlling to record information in the data area of the information track according to the contents of the selection.

In one aspect of the recording apparatus of the present invention, the control means controls to record the management information at a low density regardless of the content of the selection.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and particularly to achieve the fourth object, an apparatus for reproducing information from a high density information recording medium recorded by the above recording method is provided. Reading out the management information recorded on the high-density information recording medium, and reproducing the information according to the read-out content on only one of the first and second information tracks. There is provided an information reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium, characterized in that it has a means for controlling selection as to whether or not to perform it.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the fourth object, a plurality of information tracks are provided, the recording area is divided into a plurality of zones, and each zone is divided into a plurality of zones. Recording and reproduction of information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium which is divided into sectors and has an A information track consisting of a land portion and a B information track consisting of a groove portion in the information track of the data recording area. And a step of selecting whether to record the information on only the A information track or the B information track, or on both the A information track and the B information track. Recording the recorded contents on the high density information recording medium as management information of the high density information recording medium, and recording the information according to the selected contents in the A information track. Or B information track only, or A
A step of performing both of the information track and the B information track, in reproducing the information, the step of reading the management information recorded on the high density information recording medium, and the information according to the read content Playback of A information track or B information track only or A information track and B
An information recording / reproducing method for a high density information recording medium is provided, which comprises a step of performing both of the information tracks.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the fourth object, a plurality of information tracks are provided, the recording area is divided into a plurality of zones, and each zone is divided into a plurality of zones. Recording and reproduction of information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium which is divided into sectors and has an A information track consisting of a land portion and a B information track consisting of a groove portion in the information track of the data recording area. And a means for selecting whether to record information only on the A information track or the B information track or on both the A information track and the B information track, the selected content being the high density Means for recording on the high-density information recording medium as management information of the information recording medium, and recording of information according to the selected contents, A information track or B information track Or a means for performing both the A information track and the B information track, and / or means for reading the management information recorded on the high density information recording medium, and the read contents. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, characterized in that it includes means for reproducing information according to A information track or B information track only or both A information track and B information track. Provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the fifth object, there is provided a method for reproducing information from the high density information recording medium, wherein a desired information track is reproduced. An information recording / reproducing method for a high-density information recording medium, characterized in that information is read out and stored in a buffer memory, a data transfer rate is selected, and the information stored in the buffer memory is sent out in accordance with the selected transfer rate. , Are provided.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and particularly to achieve the fifth object, information is reproduced by using a light spot on a high density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks. A method comprising the steps of selecting a data transfer rate, reading desired information and storing it in a buffer memory, and sending out the information stored in the buffer memory according to the selected transfer rate. An information reproducing method for a high density information recording medium is provided.

In one aspect of the reproducing method of the present invention, the data transfer rate is set to 150 kilobytes / second or 17
Select from integer multiples of 5 kilobytes / second.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, and in particular to achieve the fifth object, there is provided a device for reproducing information from the high density information recording medium, which comprises a desired information track. It is characterized in that it has a reading means for reading information, a buffer memory for accumulating the information read by the reading means, and an information signal transmitting means for transmitting the accumulated information of the buffer memory according to the selected transfer rate. An information reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium is provided.

An aspect of the reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a data transfer rate conversion circuit including the buffer memory and the information signal transmitting means.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, in particular, to achieve the fifth object, information is reproduced by using a light spot on a high density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks. An apparatus, comprising means for selecting a data transfer rate, means for reading out desired information and storing it in a buffer memory, and means for sending out the information stored in the buffer memory according to the selected transfer rate. An information reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium is provided.

In an aspect of the reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the selected data transfer rate is an integer multiple of 150 kilobytes / second or 175 kilobytes / second.

[0058]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the high density information recording medium of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a disk as a high density information recording medium. Here, the radius of the disk 1 is set to 32 mm with an emphasis on portability. Reference numeral 2 denotes a recording area in which information is to be recorded or in which information has already been recorded, in which a plurality of spiral or concentric information tracks are formed along the circumferential direction. Note that, in the present invention, even in the case of spiral information tracks, it is assumed that a plurality of information tracks having a substantially circular shape are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of information tracks are arranged in parallel. The recording area 2 is provided in a portion having a radius of about 15 mm to about 30 mm in the radial direction. The recording area 2 is 3-1, 3-2, ...
As shown by .., it is divided into a plurality of annular zones 3 arranged in parallel along the circumferential direction (that is, the disk 1 is a so-called Z-CAV medium). Further, each zone 3 is divided into a plurality of sectors 4 divided in the circumferential direction as indicated by 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, ....

Information is recorded / reproduced by rotating the disc 1 at 3600 times per minute. Also, a 12 cm CD or C
Recording capacity that is equivalent to or greater than the recording capacity of the D-ROM,
The value of the information track pitch, the total number of zones, and the number of sectors in the innermost circumference are selected so as to achieve a data transfer rate of at least 1 megabyte / second. Specific numerical examples are shown in Table 1:

[0061]

[Table 1] Here, in order to increase the recording density, the number of sectors in the zone is set to increase one by one toward the outer zone. The recording capacity on one information track of one sector was 748 bytes, and the recording capacity was calculated by setting 512 bytes of the user capacity. The pit length and the data transfer rate are values when (1,7) RLL modulation is used. The total number of zones and the number of sectors in the innermost circumference were determined so that the pit length in each zone was approximately constant with respect to the value of the pitch of the information track on each disc. As a result, in all cases, the total number of zones is equal to the number of sectors in the innermost circumference. In any case, a recording capacity of 650 megabytes (MB) or more is obtained,
12 cm even considering the replacement sector and recording capacity margin
A value larger than the recording capacity of 540 megabytes of the CD-ROM can be obtained. If the wavelength of the spot forming light used for recording and reproduction is 670 nm, the information track pitch is 0.65.
˜0.85 μm is preferred. If the information track pitch is too large, the pit length becomes too short and there is a high possibility that playback will not be possible. On the other hand, if the information track pitch is too small, the problem of crosstalk from adjacent tracks increases.

FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged view of an example of a rewritable rewritable disc. Reference numeral 5 is a disk substrate made of glass, polycarbonate (PC) or the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording layer, which is made of a magneto-optical material here. 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, ... Are information tracks arranged in parallel, and land portions 8-1, 8-2 ,.
(7-2 etc.) and groove parts 9-1, 9-2
.. (7-1, 7-3, etc.) are alternately arranged. As mentioned above, the information tracks are spiral or concentric. In the case of the spiral shape, the information track formed of the land portion and the information track formed of the groove portion form a double spiral. If the wavelength of the spot light is λ and the refractive index of the substrate 5 is n, the difference in height or depth between the land portion 8 and the groove portion 9 is λ.
About / (6n) is preferable. In addition, the information track 7
It has a preformat area 10 and a data area 11 in one sector. In the pre-format area 10,
Information such as a track number, a sector number, and a timing pit is recorded as preformat information by the concave or convex pit 12. In this embodiment, such pre-pits (pits of pre-format information) 12 are recorded only on the information track consisting of the groove portion.
When the depth of the pre-pit 12 is λ / (6n), the bottom surface of the pre-pit 12 and the surface of the land portion 8 have the same height (level). In other words, there are only two height differences,
It becomes easy to create a land / groove recording type disc. When the tracking error signal is obtained by the push-pull method, the depth of the prepit 12 may be set to λ / (4n) in order to make a difference between the tracking error signal and the prepit signal (preformat information signal). In this case, there are three height differences. Of course λ / (6
Even with the depth of n), if the frequency separation is performed, the prepit signal and the push-pull tracking error signal can be obtained separately.

FIG. 3 shows a part of an optical system and a signal processing system of an apparatus for recording / reproducing information on / from the above disc. A semiconductor laser 13 is a light source.
The wavelength of the semiconductor laser 13 is 670 nm. The divergent light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 13 is collimated by the collimator lens 14 and corrected by the beam shaping prism 15 into a parallel light beam having a circular cross section. Linearly polarized light components orthogonal to each other are P-polarized light and S-polarized light, and this parallel light flux is P-polarized linearly polarized light (here, linearly polarized light parallel to the paper surface). The P-polarized light beam enters the polarization beam splitter 16. The polarization beam splitter 16 has, for example, a P-polarized light transmittance of 60%, a reflectance of 40%, and an S-polarized light of S.
The transmittance of polarized light is 0% and the reflectance is 100%. The P-polarized light flux that has passed through the polarization beam splitter 16 is condensed by the objective lens 17 and enters the disc 1. The disk 1 is the magneto-optical disk shown in FIG. The incident light flux forms a light spot on the magneto-optical recording layer 6.
An external magnetic field is applied from the magnetic head 18 to the light spot irradiating section, and information magnetic domains are recorded in the recording layer 6.

The reflected light from the disc 1 is the objective lens 1
It is returned to the polarization beam splitter 16 via 7 and a part of reflected light is separated here. The separated light beam is further separated into a reproduction optical system and a control signal generating optical system by a separately prepared polarization beam splitter 19. The characteristics of the polarization beam splitter 19 are, for example, a transmittance of 20% for P-polarized light and a reflectance of 80%, and a transmittance of 0% for S-polarized light and a reflectance of 100%.

One of the light beams separated by the polarization beam splitter 19 is guided to the reproducing optical system. The reproduction optical system includes a half-wave plate 2 for rotating the polarization direction of the light beam by 45 degrees.
0, a condenser lens 21 for condensing a light beam, a polarization beam splitter 22, and photodetectors 23 and 24 for detecting the light beams separated by the polarization beam splitter 22, respectively. The characteristics of the polarization beam splitter 22 are, for example, 100% transmittance for P-polarized light and 0% reflectance, and 0% transmittance for S-polarized light and 100% reflectance. Photodetector 23, 2
The signal detected at 4 is differentially amplified by the differential amplifier 26 to generate the data information reproduction signal 28. Further, by amplifying the signals detected by the photodetectors 23 and 24 by the addition amplifier 25, it is possible to reproduce the preformat information recorded in the concave or convex prepits (details will be described later).

The other light beam split by the polarization beam splitter 19 is guided to the control signal generating optical system. In the control signal generation optical system, the light flux is guided to the half prism 30 via the condenser lens 29, and is separated into two here, one of which has a division line in a direction parallel to the information track. The other end is guided to the two-part photodetector 36 via the knife edge 35. The tracking error signal 34 is obtained by differentially amplifying the detection signals of the respective divided light receiving portions of the photodetector 31 by the differential amplifier 32 and passing through the low pass filter 33. Further, the signals obtained by differentially amplifying the detection signals of the respective divided light receiving portions of the photodetector 31 by the differential amplifier 39 are used for reproducing the preformat information recorded in the concave or convex prepits. Used (details will be described later). On the other hand, the focus error signal 38 is obtained by differentially amplifying the detection signals of the respective divided light receiving portions of the photodetector 36 by the differential amplifier 37.

A method of reproducing the preformat information in the case of a disc in which the prepits 12 are arranged in every other information tracks 7 as in the example shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a state in which pre-pits are recorded on every other information track and a state in which a light spot scans each information track. Three information tracks 51, 52, 53 having a preformatted area 10 and a data area 11 are shown. The pre-format area 10 is set to 3 here for simplification of description.
It is assumed to consist of a bit track number 46 and a 1-bit timing pit 47. The pre-pit 12 is
It is recorded on the information tracks 51 and 53, but is not recorded on the information track 52. As shown in the figure,
On the information track 51, the track number {1, 1, 0}
And timing pit {1} are recorded. Also,
On the information track 53, track numbers {1, 1, 1}
And timing pit {1} are recorded. The information spots 5 are respectively formed by the light spots 48, 49 and 50.
It is assumed that 1, 52 and 53 are scanned.

In FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the light spots 48, 50 and 49 are the information tracks 51 and 5, respectively.
When scanning the pre-formatted area 10 of 3, 52,
The output 27 (light amount change detection signal) 27 of the addition amplifier 25 is shown.

(A) is for the light spot 48,
(B) is for the light spot 50, and (c) is for the light spot 49. In the place where the pre-pit 12 exists, the light spot is diffracted and the amount of reflected light decreases,
The voltage of the detection signal 27 becomes low. On the other hand, pre-pit 12
In the place where there is no, the light spot is not diffracted, so the voltage of the detection signal 27 remains high. Therefore, for the {1, 1, 0, 1} preformat information of the information track 51, the detection signal of (a) is obtained. Further, for the {1, 1, 1, 1} preformat information of the information track 53, the detection signal of (b) is obtained.

The detection signal 27 is input to the comparators 42 and 43 as shown in FIG. The comparator 42 is for comparing the voltage V2 and the detection signal 27,
The comparator 43 is for comparing the voltage V3 (<V2) with the detection signal 27. The output of each comparator is input to the uneven pit read circuit 44. In the concavo-convex pit read circuit 44, the pre-pit arrangement position (that is, the position where the pre-pits should be arranged when the pre-pit information is {1}: actually, when the pre-pit information is {1} and the pre-pits are arranged) If the voltage is lower than the voltage V3, the pre-pit information {1} is detected by sampling the comparator output at the timing When the voltage is higher than the voltage V2, the prepit information {0} is detected. As a result, the reproduction signal 45 of the preformat information by the uneven pit is output.

Next, the reproduction of the information track 52 will be described. In the present invention, since a high density medium is used,
As shown in FIG. 4, the light spot straddles the adjacent information tracks (extends to the adjacent information tracks).
Will be placed. Therefore, when reproducing the information track 52,
If {1} pre-pit information exists in the information tracks on both sides adjacent to each other, light diffraction similar to the above occurs. In particular,
When the size (width) of the prepits in the direction perpendicular to the information track and the width of the information track are almost the same, light diffraction equivalent to the presence of {1} prepit information on the information track occurs. However, as in the case where the prepit information of the information track 51 is {0} and the prepit information of the information track 53 is {1}, the prepit information {1} exists only in one of the adjacent information tracks on both sides. In the case, the diffraction of light is less than if {1} were present in both information tracks. Of course, when the {0} prepit information is present in both adjacent information tracks, light diffraction does not occur. Therefore, when the pre-pit information of both adjacent information tracks 51 and 53 is {1, 1, 0, 1} and {1, 1, 1, 1}, respectively,
The detection signal of FIG. 5C is obtained for the information track 52 in the meantime. Where the pre-pit information of both adjacent information tracks is equal, as described above, the concave-convex pit reading circuit 44 samples the outputs of the comparators 42 and 43 at the timing corresponding to the pre-pit arrangement position, thereby {1} or { 0} pre-pit information is reproduced. On the other hand, when the prepit information of both adjacent information tracks is different, the voltage of the detection signal 27 from the addition amplifier 25 becomes a value between V2 and V3 as shown in (c), and the prepit information is {1} or {0}
Cannot be detected (this is information {?}). Of course, the outputs of the comparators 42 and 43 are sampled at the timing corresponding to the pre-pit arrangement position, and V2 and V
3 may be detected to detect that the prepit information of the information tracks on both sides is different.
By utilizing the fact that the pre-pits are asymmetrical with respect to the direction perpendicular to the information track, it is possible to detect the change in the light amount distribution in this direction by the same push-pull method as the detection of the tracking error signal. Since the frequency of this signal is higher than that of the tracking error signal, both can be easily separated. The output of the photodetector 31 for detecting the tracking error signal is set to the differential amplifier 3
By performing differential amplification at 9, a positive or negative peak signal can be obtained only when the prepit information of both adjacent information tracks is different (this is referred to as {positive} or {negative}).
FIG. 5D shows a case where a positive peak signal is obtained. Of course, when the pre-pit information on both sides is opposite, a negative peak signal is obtained. The output of the differential amplifier 39 is input to the comparators 40 and 41 as shown in FIG. The comparator 40 uses the voltage V1 and the differential amplifier 3
9 and the output peak value of the differential amplifier 39 are compared with each other, and the comparator 41 compares the voltage (-V1) with the output peak value of the differential amplifier 39. The output of each comparator is input to the uneven pit read circuit 44. The uneven pit read circuit 44 samples the outputs of the comparators 40 and 41 at the timing of the pre-pit arrangement position, thereby detecting a positive peak signal when the voltage is higher than the voltage V1, and also detecting the voltage (-V).
When it is lower than 1), it is detected as a negative peak signal. That is, in this method, it is possible to know which of the adjacent information tracks the prepit information is {0} or {1} by knowing the positive / negative of the peak.

Here, how to assign track numbers will be described. For example, {0,0,1}, {0,1,0}, {0,1,1},
{1, 0, 0}, {1, 0, 1}, {1, 1, 0},
It is assumed that the track numbers are incremented by one such as {1, 1, 1} .... The detection signals on the information tracks formed by the groove portions between the information tracks formed by the respective land portions are {0 ,? ,
? }, {0, 1 ,? }, {? ,? ,? }, {1, 0,
? }, {1 ,? ,? }, {1, 1 ,? } ...
When detected from (d) of FIG. 5, {0, positive,
Negative}, {0, 1, positive}, {positive, negative, negative}, {1, 0,
Positive}, {1, positive, negative}, {1, 1, positive} ...
In either case, it is possible to unambiguously determine which land portion is the information track including the groove portion between the information tracks including the land portion, based on the detected track number. So, {0 ,? ,? } Or {0, positive, negative} is obtained, the number of the information track composed of the groove portion is changed to {0,
0 (1)} (replaced with). Sequentially {0, 1 ,? } Or {0, 1, positive} to {0, 1, 0}
To {? ,? ,? } Or {positive, negative, negative} to {0, 1,
1}, then {1, 0 ,? } Or {1, 0, positive} to {1,
0,0}, then {1 ,? ,? } Or {1, positive, negative} into {1, 0, 1} and {1, 1 ,? } Or {1, 1,
Replace positive} with {1, 1, 0}, ...

As described above, not only the information track formed of the land portion in which the preformat information is recorded but also the information track formed of the groove portion in which the preformat information is not recorded is included. The number can be detected. Further, in this method, when the track number is detected, the information track is the information track ({?} Or {positive}, {negative}) of the groove part.
At least one peak is detected),
It is possible to know whether it is the information track of the land portion (no peak of {?} Or {positive}, {negative} is detected).

FIG. 6 shows a rewritable disc 1 according to the present invention.
Another example of is shown as a partially enlarged view. For the disk substrate 5 and the recording layer 6, the same materials as those in the embodiment of FIG. 2 can be used. 54-1, 54-2, 54-
3 ... is an information track. Information track 54
Has a pre-formatted area 57 and a data area 58 in each sector. In this embodiment, the land portions 55-1 and 5-5 are provided only in the data area 58 of the information track 54.
5-2, ... and the groove portions 56-1, 56-2, ...
・ A distinction is made between. Similarly to the above, when the information track has a spiral shape, the information track including the land portion and the information track including the groove portion form a double spiral. As in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the difference in height or depth between the land portion and the groove portion is λ / (6, where λ is the wavelength of the spot light and n is the refractive index of the substrate.
About n) is preferable. Further, as in the case of FIG. 2, the pre-pit 59 is arranged only on one of the information track having the land portion and the information track having the groove portion (in the present embodiment, the information track having the land portion). The size (width) of the land portion and the groove portion in the direction perpendicular to the information track is substantially the same, and the width of the prepit 59 is also substantially the same as the width of the information track. The height or depth of the pre-pit 59 is also λ / (6n) or λ / (4n), as in the case of FIG.

Further, FIG. 7 shows a modification of the rewritable disc of FIG. The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the pre-pit 61 is the pre-formatted area 6
0 is placed on all of the information tracks 54. In this case, the width of the pre-pit 61 in the direction perpendicular to the information track 54 is smaller than the width of the information track 54. On the other hand, the height or depth of the pre-pit 61 is similarly λ /
(6n) or λ / (4n). The reading of the preformat information by the prepits can be performed in the same manner as in the case of a conventional CD or the like.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the present invention has a plurality of zones, each zone has a plurality of information tracks, and the information tracks have a groove portion and a land portion. An example of a method for recording information on a disc, which is a rewritable high-density information recording medium, will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the information track having a land portion will be referred to as an A information track, and the information track having a groove portion will be referred to as a B information track.

In FIG. 8, when the operation of recording information is started, in step S1, a light spot is moved onto the A information track at the innermost circumference of the desired zone where information is to be recorded, and the light spot causes As the disc rotates, the information tracks are scanned. The preformatted information can be reproduced by this scanning. Next, in step S2,
Recording of information is started from the data area of the A information track at the innermost circumference. When the information is recorded on all the A information tracks on the innermost circumference, one light spot is moved to the A information track on the outer circumference side, and the information is recorded on the data area. In this way, information is sequentially recorded on the outer A information track. Next, in step S3, the A
When the recording of the information up to the information track is completed, the light spot is moved to the B information track at the innermost circumference of the same zone, and the information track is scanned by the light spot as the disc rotates. Next, in step S4, information is similarly recorded from the data area of the innermost B information track. When the information is recorded on all the innermost B information tracks, one light spot is moved onto one B information track on the outer peripheral side, and the information is recorded in the data area. In this way, information is sequentially recorded on the outer B information track. This completes the recording in the zone. When the recording of information is completed up to the B information track on the outermost periphery of this zone, the light spot is moved to the next desired zone, and steps S1 to S4 are repeated in the same manner.

Information is recorded as described above. still,
In the above description, it is assumed that the innermost information track is sequentially recorded to the outer information track, but conversely, the outermost information track may be sequentially recorded to the inner information track. . Although the B information track is recorded after the A information track is recorded, conversely, the B information track may be recorded and then the A information track may be recorded. Further, reproduction of the recorded information can be similarly performed by step S1 to S4 of FIG.

The recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention can not only perform recording / reproduction on a disc in which information can be rewritten, but also reproduction on a reproduction-only disc.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the reproduction-only disc 1 as a partially enlarged view. As the disk substrate 5, FIG.
The same material as that of the embodiment can be used. 62
Is a reflective layer. The reflectance of the reflective layer 62 may be the same as that of the CD or the recording layer 6 of FIG. In particular, when recording or reproducing the rewritable disc and the reproduction-only disc shown in FIG. 2 with the same recording / reproducing apparatus, the reflectances of the both are made equal to control the autofocus and the autotracking of the apparatus, and the light source. Power control, control of the amplification factor of the detector, etc. are facilitated. 63-1, 63-2, 63-3, ... Are information tracks. The information track 63 has a preformatted area 66 and a data area 67 in one sector as described above. In this embodiment, the data area 67
2 is not divided into a land portion and a groove portion as in the embodiment of FIG.
3, ... are A information tracks, 65-1, 65-2, 6
By using 5-3, ... As B information tracks, information can be reproduced in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. In the case of this embodiment, the A information track and the B information track form a double spiral. Of course, in the case of this read-only disc, the conventional method may be used in which the adjacent information tracks are sequentially reproduced without particularly distinguishing the information tracks from A and B. In this case, the information track has a single simple spiral shape. Reference numerals 68 and 69 respectively indicate pre-pits in the pre-formatted area 66 and the data area 67. The heights or depths of the pre-pits 68 and 69 may be the same, or may be different in order to make a difference between them in the detection signal. The height or depth of each is, for example, λ / (6n) or λ / (4n).

Next, the information reproduction of the rewritable disc of FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 and the reproduction-only disc of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 70 is a signal for reading information from the disc 1. When the information is magneto-optical recording information, the magneto-optical information reproduction signal 28 of FIG. 3 becomes the read signal 70. On the other hand, when the information is information of concave or convex pits, the detection signal (concavo-convex pit reproduction signal) 27 of FIG. Read signal 70
Is subjected to error correction and demodulation by the demodulation circuit 71. The demodulation circuit 71 outputs the information signal 72. According to the example shown in Table 1, the data transfer rate of the information signal 72 varies depending on the zone, but is 1.2 megabytes / second or more. The information signal 72 is input to the data transfer rate conversion circuit 73. One of the purposes of the high-density information recording medium of this embodiment is to be able to directly inherit programs and databases such as a CD-ROM having a diameter of 12 cm. CD or C with a diameter of 12 cm in terms of capacity
Even if the data exceeds the D-ROM, some data transfer rates are limited as described above. For example, in the case of music information such as a music CD, 150 kilobytes / second to 175
Kilobytes / second, and for recording video information, low image quality for karaoke etc. is over 150 kilobytes / second, high quality for movie programs is over 600 kilobytes / second. I need. The data transfer rate conversion circuit 73 converts the data transfer rate into a desired rate. The data transfer rate may be selected according to the information that the user wants to reproduce,
It is also possible to record the required data transfer rate on the high density information recording medium as management information, read the management information first when reproducing the information, and automatically select the data transfer rate.

Reference numeral 74 is a transfer rate switching signal for switching to the selected data transfer rate. The data transfer rate conversion circuit 73 is, for example, a FIFO (Fast In).
Fast Out) buffer memory is included. The information signal 72 is accumulated at high speed in this buffer memory. The read clock from the buffer memory corresponds to the desired rate determined by the transfer rate switching signal 74. Since the desired transfer rate is usually lower than the storage rate, the reading of information from the disk 1 may be intermittent. That is, even if the reading of information from the disk 1 fails at the time of a shock from the outside, if the buffer memory is secured to a certain extent, the information can be reread and stored.

FIG. 11 shows the data transfer rate conversion circuit 7
3 shows an example of a rate to be converted. 85 is CD-
It is 1x speed (150 kilobytes / second) which is the basic data transfer rate of ROM. 86, 87, 88 are double speed (300 kilobytes / second) and double speed (600
Kilobytes / second) and 8 times speed (1.2 megabytes / second). Further, 89 is the case of reading at the maximum data transfer rate. In this case, the data transfer rate conversion circuit 73
Acts as a conventional cache memory.

Returning to FIG. 10, the description will be continued. Reference numeral 75 denotes a converted information signal whose data transfer rate has been converted according to the transfer rate switching signal 74, and this signal is input to the output destination switching circuit 76. Output destination switching circuit 7
6, the output destination switching signal 77 switches to a reproduction circuit dedicated to the information according to the type of information and outputs. The output destination may be selected by the user according to the type of information, or the type of information is recorded as management information on the high-density information recording medium, and the management information is first read when reproducing the information. May be automatically selected. The dedicated reproducing circuit is, for example, a circuit indicated by 78, 80, 82. Reference numeral 78 is a music information reproducing circuit for reproducing the information of the music CD and outputting the audio signal 79. Reference numeral 80 denotes a video signal 8 by reproducing low-quality video information such as a karaoke CD.
1 is a first video information reproducing circuit for outputting 1. 82 is
The second video information reproducing circuit reproduces high-quality video information recorded on a digital video disc or the like and outputs a video signal 83. In addition to these, as the dedicated reproduction circuit, many ones such as a still image compression / expansion circuit and an audio compression / expansion circuit can be used. By adding these dedicated circuits, many kinds of information can be stored. It can support playback. Reference numeral 84 indicates the flow of data to other circuits such as a computer device. Further, by reversing the data flow described in FIG. 10, it is possible to cope with recording of many kinds of information.

The high-density information recording medium and the method and apparatus for recording / reproducing information using the same have been described above. However, in the low-performance recording / reproducing apparatus, the above-mentioned information track pitch is used for the adjacent tracks. In some cases, crosstalk becomes large and it becomes difficult to record and reproduce information. Therefore, a method of using this high density information recording medium as a low density information recording medium will be described with reference to FIG.

When the operation is started, first in step S11,
It is selected whether information is recorded or reproduced on the high density information recording medium.

When recording information, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, it is selected whether the information is recorded on only one of the A information track and the B information track (low density recording) or both the A information track and the B information track (high density recording). To do. In a high-performance recording / reproducing apparatus capable of high-density recording, the user may make such a selection. On the other hand, a low-capacity recording / reproducing apparatus that cannot perform high-density recording may automatically select low-density recording. In this case, when the prepits as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 are arranged only on one information track (for example, A information track), low density recording is automatically performed on the one information track. It is preferable to choose. In step S13, the content selected in step S12 (that is, low density recording or high density recording) is recorded as management information on the high density information recording medium. When different recording densities are used, it is necessary to record the management information as low density recording. Step S1
In step 4, low density recording or high density recording of information is performed on the high density information recording medium according to the contents selected in step S12.

On the other hand, when reproducing information, the process proceeds from step S11 to step S15. Step S15
Then, the management information recorded on the high-density information recording medium is read out to know whether the desired information is low-density recorded or high-density recorded. Then, in step S16, only the A information track or the B information track is reproduced in the case of the low density recording information, and both the A information track and the B information track are reproduced in the case of the high density recorded information. Here, in the case of a high-performance recording / reproducing apparatus, such reproduction can be performed. However, in the case of a low-capacity recording / reproducing apparatus, it is impossible to read out information recorded at high density.
In this case, the user is informed that the information cannot be read because it is high density information.

As described above, it is possible to record and reproduce low density information on the high density information recording medium.

Finally, in the above description, as the high-density information recording medium, a rewritable disc is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 and a read-only disc is illustrated in FIG. Information such as concave or convex pits is recorded in the data area in some zones of the disc as in the read-only disc of FIG. 9, and in the remaining zones, rewriting of FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 is performed. Information may be rewritable like a possible disc.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even in a disc having a size of about 2.5 inches or less, it is possible to provide a rewritable disc and a read-only disc having a recording capacity of 12 cm or more and a recording capacity of the CD-ROM.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effect that the preformatted information can be recorded / reproduced by the concave or convex pit in the medium having the information tracks on both the land portion and the groove portion. In addition, by reproducing the preformatted information on this medium, it is possible to know whether the light spot is on the information track of the land portion or the information track of the groove portion.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to record / reproduce information on / from different information tracks of the land portion and the groove portion even in the medium having the information tracks provided on both the land portion and the groove portion. The effect is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to record low density information on the high density information recording medium.

Further, according to the present invention, the effect that the data transfer rate can be converted from low speed to high speed can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a high density information recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a rewritable disc of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of an optical system and a signal processing system of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which pre-pits are recorded on every other information track and a state in which an optical spot scans each information track.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a waveform of a detection signal when a preformatted area is scanned with a light spot.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a rewritable disc of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a rewritable disc of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for recording information on the rewritable disc of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a reproduction-only disc of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a data flow in reproduction of the high density information recording medium of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining conversion of a data transfer rate.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a method of recording / reproducing low-density information on the high-density information recording medium of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 High-density information recording medium 2 Recording area 3 Zone 4 Sector 5 Substrate 6 Recording layer 7 Information track 8 Land portion 9 Groove portion 10 Preformat area 11 Data area 12 Prepit 27 Light intensity change detection signal 28 Data information reproduction signal 34 Tracking error signal 38 Focus error signal 40, 41, 42, 43 Comparator

Claims (44)

[Claims] 1. A disk-shaped high-density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks along the circumferential direction and recording / reproducing information on / from the information tracks by using an optical spot. The recording area in which is formed has a plurality of zones divided in the radial direction, each zone includes a plurality of information tracks, and each zone includes a plurality of sectors divided in the circumferential direction. Have,
Each sector has a preformatted area in which preformatted information is recorded by concave or convex pits on the information track and a data area for data information, and the number of sectors in each zone and the above A high density information recording medium, characterized in that the combination with the pitch of the information track is selected so that the user capacity recorded in the data area is 640 MB or more. 2. A disk-shaped high-density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks along the circumferential direction and recording / reproducing information on / from the information tracks by using an optical spot. The recording area in which is formed has a plurality of zones divided in the radial direction, each zone includes a plurality of information tracks, and each zone includes a plurality of sectors divided in the circumferential direction. Have,
Each sector has a preformatted area in which preformatted information is recorded by concave or convex pits on the information track and a data area for data information, and the number of sectors in the zone is adjacent. It is set so that the outermost zone is increased by one more than the innermost zone between the two zones, and the number of sectors in the innermost zone is equal to the total number of the zones. A high density information recording medium, characterized in that the combination of the total number of zones and the pitch of the information tracks is selected so that the user capacity recorded in the data area is 640 MB or more. 3. The high density information according to claim 1, wherein the radius is about 32 mm, and the recording area is provided in a portion having a radius of about 15 mm to about 30 mm in the radial direction. recoding media. 4. The information track pitch is 0.85 μm.
The high density information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the high density information recording medium is m or less. 5. The information track pitch is 0.65 μm.
The high density information recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the high density information recording medium is at least m. 6. The information track includes a first information track including a land portion and a second information track including a groove portion, which have substantially the same width. The high density information recording medium according to claim 1. 7. The high density information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein, in the data area, the first information track includes a land portion and the second information track includes a groove portion. . 8. The preformatted area also includes:
The first information track includes a land portion and the second information track.
The high-density information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the information track of (1) comprises a groove portion. 9. The concave or convex pit is formed in only one of the first and second information tracks in the preformat area.
The high density information recording medium according to claim 6. 10. The high density information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the width of the concave or convex pit is substantially the same as the width of the land portion or the groove portion. . 11. The depth or height of the concave or convex pit is substantially the same as the difference in depth or height between the land portion and the groove portion.
10. The high-density information recording medium according to any one of 10 to 10. 12. The difference in depth or height between the land portion and the groove portion is λ, which is the wavelength of light for forming a light spot, and n is the refractive index of the medium on the light incident side to the information track. The high density information recording medium according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that 13. The depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the pre-formatted area is a medium on the light incident side to the information track, where λ is the wavelength of light for forming a light spot. Is about λ / (6
n) The high density information recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is n). 14. The high density information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein concave or convex pits for data information are also formed in the data area. 15. The depth or height of the concave or convex pits in the preformatted area and the depth or height of the concave or convex pits in the data area are substantially the same. The high-density information recording medium described in. 16. A wavelength of light for forming a light spot is λ
The depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the preformat region is about λ / (6n), where n is the refractive index of the medium on the incident side to the information track.
15. The high density information recording medium according to claim 14, wherein the depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the data area is about λ / (4n). 17. The wavelength of light for forming a light spot is λ
The depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the preformat region is about λ / (4n), where n is the refractive index of the medium on the incident side to the information track.
15. The high density information recording medium according to claim 14, wherein the depth or height of the concave or convex pit formed in the data area is about λ / (6n). 18. The high density information according to claim 1, wherein a light reflectance of a member forming the information track is substantially the same as a light reflectance of a magneto-optical recording material. recoding media. 19. Information is recorded by the concave or convex pits in a data area in a part of the zone, and information can be rewritten in the data area in another part of the zone. The high density information recording medium according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that 20. A method of recording / reproducing information on / from the high-density information recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the information track is scanned with a light spot to change a light amount of reflected light. Information on a high-density information recording medium characterized by reproducing the preformatted information by detecting, and further recording and reproducing information on a desired data area by scanning a desired information track with an optical spot. Recording and playback method. 21. The preformat information is reproduced by scanning the information track with a light spot and detecting a change in a light amount distribution of reflected light in a direction perpendicular to the information track. Information recording and reproducing method described. 22. An apparatus for recording / reproducing information on / from the high-density information recording medium according to any one of claims 9 to 19, comprising: scanning means for scanning the information track with a light spot; A light quantity change detecting means for detecting a light quantity change of the reflected light from the light spot on the information recording medium, a preformat information reproducing means for reproducing the preformat information based on the detection result of the light quantity change detecting means, and An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, characterized in that a desired information track selected based on preformat information is scanned with a light spot to record / reproduce information in a desired data area. 23. A light quantity distribution change detecting means for detecting a light quantity distribution change of a reflected light from a light spot on the high density information recording medium in a direction perpendicular to an information track is provided, and the light quantity distribution change detecting means detects the change. 23. The information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the pre-formatted information reproducing means reproduces the pre-formatted information based on the result. 24. A high format recording medium having a plurality of information tracks, and having a pre-formatted area in which pre-formatted information such as track numbers, sector numbers, timing pits, etc. is recorded by means of concave or convex pits at every other information track. A method of recording / reproducing information on / from a density information recording medium, the method comprising: scanning the information track with a light spot; detecting a light amount change of reflected light from the high density information recording medium to generate a light amount change signal. Generating a light amount distribution change signal by detecting a change in a light amount distribution in a direction perpendicular to an information track of reflected light from the high-density information recording medium, the light amount change signal and the light amount distribution change signal Reading concave or convex pits in the format area, scanning a desired information track with a light spot, and The method for recording / reproducing information in / from the data area of the information track, the method for recording / reproducing information on a high density information recording medium. 25. A high-density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks, and having a preformatted area in which track numbers, sector numbers, timing pits, etc. are recorded by concave or convex pits at every other information track. A device for recording and reproducing information with respect to the information track, means for scanning the information track with a light spot, means for detecting a light quantity change of reflected light from the high density information recording medium, and a light quantity change signal, Means for detecting a change in the light quantity distribution in the direction perpendicular to the information track of the reflected light from the density information recording medium and generating a light quantity distribution change signal, the light quantity change signal and the concave portion of the preformat area from the light quantity distribution change signal Or means for reading convex pits, means for scanning a desired information track with a light spot, and data for the desired information track An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, comprising means for recording / reproducing information on / from an area. 26. A method of recording / reproducing information on / from the high-density information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the first and second information tracks are first in a desired zone. One of the innermost circumference to the outermost circumference or one of the outermost circumference to the innermost circumference is sequentially scanned with a light spot to record and reproduce information. Characterized in that the other of the information tracks is sequentially scanned with an optical spot from the innermost track to the outermost track or from the outermost track to the innermost track to record and reproduce information. Information recording / reproducing method for high-density information recording medium. 27. An apparatus for recording / reproducing information on / from the high-density information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the first and second information tracks are first in a desired zone. One of the innermost circumference to the outermost circumference or one of the outermost circumference to the innermost circumference is sequentially scanned with a light spot to record and reproduce information. Means for controlling the recording and reproduction of information by sequentially scanning the other information track from the innermost track to the outermost track, or from the outermost track to the innermost track with a light spot. An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, characterized by having. 28. A data track having a plurality of information tracks, the recording area being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone being divided into a plurality of sectors, and the information track of the data recording area being an A information track consisting of a land portion. A method for recording / reproducing information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium having a B information track composed of a groove portion and A information at the innermost or outermost periphery of a desired zone. A step of scanning a track or B information track with a light spot; from the innermost or outermost A information track or B information track to the outer or inner circumference, the outer or inner A information track or B information track The step of recording / reproducing information on / from the top, recording / reproducing information on / from the outermost or innermost A information track or B information track When the reproduction is completed, the step of scanning the B information track or the A information track on the innermost circumference or the outermost circumference of the same zone with the light spot, and from the innermost circumference or the outermost circumference B information track or the A information track And a step of sequentially recording and reproducing information on the B information track or the A information track on the outer or inner side toward the outer or inner circumference, and a method for recording and reproducing information on a high density information recording medium. . 29. An information track having a plurality of information tracks, the recording area being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone being divided into a plurality of sectors, and the information track of the data recording area being an A information track consisting of a land portion. A device for recording / reproducing information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium having a B information track composed of a groove portion and A information at the innermost or outermost periphery of a desired zone. Means for scanning a track or B information track with a light spot, from the innermost or outermost A information track or B information track to the outer or inner circumference, the outer or inner A information track or B information track A means for recording / reproducing information on / from the above, and recording / reproducing information on / from the A information track or B information track on the outermost or innermost circumference of the same zone. When the reproduction is finished, a means for scanning the B information track or the A information track on the innermost circumference or the outermost circumference of the same zone with a light spot, and from this innermost circumference or the outermost circumference B information track or A information track An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, which further comprises means for recording / reproducing information on the B information track or A information track on the outer or inner side in order toward the outer or inner periphery. . 30. A method of recording information on the high-density information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the information recording is performed by one of the first and second information tracks. Whether to perform low density or high density to both, record the contents of the selection as management information on the high density information recording medium, and further to record the information track according to the contents of the selection. An information recording method for a high-density information recording medium, characterized in that information is recorded in the data area. 31. The management information is recorded at a low density regardless of the contents of the selection.
Information recording method described in. 32. A method for reproducing information from a high density information recording medium recorded by the information recording method according to claim 30 or 31, wherein management recorded on the high density information recording medium is performed. High density, which is characterized in that information is read out and whether reproduction of the information is performed only for one of the first and second information tracks or for both of them is performed according to the read content. Information reproducing method for information recording medium. 33. An apparatus for recording information on the high-density information recording medium according to any one of claims 6 to 19, wherein one of the first and second information tracks is used for recording information. Whether to perform low density or high density to both, record the contents of the selection as management information on the high density information recording medium, and further to record the information track according to the contents of the selection. An information recording apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, comprising means for controlling so as to record information in the data area. 34. The information recording apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said control means controls such that said management information is recorded at a low density regardless of the contents of said selection. 35. An apparatus for reproducing information from a high density information recording medium recorded by the information recording method according to claim 30 or 31, wherein management recorded on the high density information recording medium. And a means for controlling the selection of whether to read the information and to reproduce the information according to the read content for only one of the first and second information tracks or both. An information reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium. 36. An information track having a plurality of information tracks, the recording area being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone being divided into a plurality of sectors, and the information track of the data recording area being an A information track consisting of a land portion. A method for recording / reproducing information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium having a B information track composed of a groove portion and a B information track. A step of selecting whether to perform only on the B information track or both the A information track and the B information track, and the selected content is recorded on the high density information recording medium as management information of the high density information recording medium. The process of recording, and
According to the selected content, the step of recording the information on only the A information track or the B information track or on both the A information track and the B information track is included. In reproducing the information, the information is recorded on the high density information recording medium. A step of reading the recorded management information, and a step of reproducing the information in accordance with the read content to only the A information track or the B information track or both the A information track and the B information track. An information recording / reproducing method for a high-density information recording medium, characterized by: 37. An information track having a plurality of information tracks, the recording area being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone being divided into a plurality of sectors, and the information track of the data recording area being an A information track consisting of a land portion. A device for recording / reproducing information using a light spot on a high-density information recording medium having a B information track consisting of a groove portion, and recording information on only the A information track or the B information track. Means for selecting whether to perform on the A information track and the B information track, a means for recording the selected content on the high density information recording medium as management information of the high density information recording medium, and Means for recording information on the A information track only, the B information track only, or both the A information track and the B information track, according to the selected content, and / Or means for reading management information recorded on the high-density information recording medium, and reproduction of information according to the read content, A information track or B information track only, or A information track and B information track An information recording / reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium, characterized in that it includes means for performing both. 38. A method for reproducing information from the high-density information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information is read from a desired information track, stored in a buffer memory, and data is transferred. An information reproducing method for a high-density information recording medium, characterized in that a rate is selected and the information accumulated in the buffer memory is sent out in accordance with the selected transfer rate. 39. A method of reproducing information on a high density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks by using an optical spot, the step of selecting a data transfer rate,
Reading desired information and storing it in a buffer memory,
And a step of sending out the information stored in the buffer memory according to the selected transfer rate, the method for reproducing information on a high density information recording medium. 40. The method of reproducing information on a high density information recording medium according to claim 38, wherein the data transfer rate is selected from an integral multiple of 150 kilobytes / second or 175 kilobytes / second. 41. An apparatus for reproducing information from the high-density information recording medium according to claim 1, comprising a reading means for reading information from a desired information track, and the reading means. An information reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium, comprising: a buffer memory for accumulating the read information and an information signal transmitting means for transmitting the accumulated information of the buffer memory according to a selected transfer rate. 42. An information reproducing apparatus for a high density information recording medium according to claim 41, further comprising a data transfer rate converting circuit including said buffer memory and said information signal transmitting means. 43. An apparatus for reproducing information on a high density information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks by using a light spot, and means for selecting a data transfer rate,
Means for reading out desired information and storing it in a buffer memory,
And an information reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium, including means for sending out information stored in the buffer memory according to a selected transfer rate. 44. The selected data transfer rate is
The information reproducing apparatus for a high-density information recording medium according to any one of claims 41 to 43, which is an integral multiple of 150 kilobytes / second or 175 kilobytes / second.