JPH0896555A - Optical information recording medium, its cartridge case and optical information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable quantity of record used to be discriminated by visual observation by providing an area for recording the quantity of used data in which data corresponding to the quantity of an used information storing area and recorded in the recording area except an information recording area in an information recording medium in which reflectance changes when irradiated with a light. CONSTITUTION: An optical disk 1 is provided with a hub 1a, a label 1b and an information recording area 1c and is also provided with an area 1e for displaying quantity of information inside the area 1c and at an inner peripheral part between the label 1b and the area 1c. The label 1b is provided with 0, 10,...90% graduation based on 0 sector position 1d. The area 1e is constituted of plural tracks and a specific datum corresponding to the quantity of recorded information is recorded therein. Namely, record length (recording time from 0 sector) of the specific datum corresponding to the quantity of information recorded in the area 1e is used as a displaying datum 1f of the quantity of recorded information. Since the same data are recorded in plural tracks, the displaying datum 1f is visual as the change of reflectance shown by a hatching in the state of taking out the optical disk 1 from an optical disk device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium, a cartridge case therefor, and an optical information recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an optical information recording medium in which the amount of recorded information in the information recording medium can be easily visually checked.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the above-mentioned optical information recording / reproducing system, in order to know the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount in the information recording medium, the information recording medium is loaded into the optical information reproducing apparatus. By issuing an open operation (spindle motor on, linear motor on, focusing on, tracking on, etc.), the management data section in which the management information of the information recording medium is recorded is read.

[0003]

However, in the conventional method as described above, in order to know the amount of recorded information or the amount of unrecorded information of the information recording medium, the optical information recording / reproducing apparatus is used for the information recording medium each time. However, since it has to be loaded and loaded to execute the open operation, there is a problem that it is complicated and takes too much time.

For this reason, in applications such as video cameras, there has been a fatal obstacle of lacking prompt responsiveness when recording a moving image. That is, when the information recording amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the information recording medium is confirmed by the procedure as described above, it is determined that these are insufficient for the object to be recorded from these. , Because it must be replaced with another information recording medium,
This is because there are cases where the recording time is missed.

Further, there is a problem that it is difficult to manage the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the information recording medium by the conventional method as described above. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an optical information recording medium and a cartridge case for the same are provided so that the recorded information amount (unrecorded remaining amount) of the information recording medium can be easily known by visual observation. And an optical information recording / reproducing device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, in an information recording medium whose reflectance changes by irradiating light, a recording area other than the information recording area is There is provided an optical information recording medium having a usage amount recording area for recording data according to the usage amount of an information storage area.

Further, according to the present invention, the used amount recording area is arranged on the inner or outer peripheral side of the information recording area on the medium and is used depending on the recording length from the 0 sector position which is the recording reference. An optical information recording medium is provided which is characterized by representing a quantity.

Further, according to the present invention, the used amount recording area is composed of a plurality of tracks, and by recording a length corresponding to the used amount in a plurality of tracks, a change can be visually observed. Therefore, an optical information recording medium is provided in which the standard of the amount used is described on the label provided in the non-recording area.

Further, according to the present invention, in a cartridge case for accommodating an information recording medium whose reflectance changes by irradiating light, the information recording medium stores data according to the amount of use of the information recording area. Provided is a cartridge case for an optical information recording medium, which has a usage amount recording area for recording and uses a see-through portion so that at least a part of the usage amount recording area can be seen from the surface. It

Further, according to the present invention, a cartridge for an optical information recording medium is characterized in that the vicinity of the center of the cartridge case is formed by a see-through portion, and the see-through portion is also used as a part of the cartridge shutter. A case is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a cartridge case for an optical information recording medium, characterized in that a plastic material or a window is used as the see-through portion. Further, according to the present invention, in an information recording apparatus capable of recording / reproducing information on / from an information recording medium whose reflectance changes by irradiating light, it is possible to adjust the amount of use of a recording area on the information recording medium. Provided is an optical information recording / reproducing device characterized by rewriting data in a usage amount recording area for recording data according to the amount of information recorded or rewritten, and in accordance with the usage amount of the recording area. It

Further, according to the present invention, the data written in the usage amount recording area for recording the data according to the usage amount of the recording area is specific data, and the recording length of this specific data is the usage length. An optical information recording / reproducing apparatus, characterized in that data is recorded according to the amount, and data is recorded in the usage amount recording area at the end of recording data on a medium.

Further, according to the present invention, the usage amount recording area representing the usage amount is composed of a plurality of tracks, and data of the same recording length is recorded on a plurality of tracks of the usage amount recording area. An optical information recording / reproducing device is provided.

[0014]

According to the above-mentioned solution means of the present invention, the remaining amount of the general recording area can be determined by visually observing the information recording medium or the cartridge containing this medium. Therefore, the conventional cassette tape or 8 m video tape is used. Similarly to the above, it is possible to make a judgment immediately without inserting it into the device, simplify the management of the medium, etc., and even if it is desired to record at once, it is possible to start recording without missing a chance.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an optical disc device as an optical information recording / reproducing device to which the present invention is applied.

This optical disc apparatus uses an optical disc 1 such as a magneto-optical disc having a recording film for changing the material such as the magnetization direction as an optical information recording medium by using a magnetic field from a magnet 2 and converged light from an optical head 3 for information. The recording, reproducing, or erasing operation is performed.

Grooves (recording tracks) are spirally formed on the surface of the optical disk 1.
Is rotated at a constant speed, for example, by a spindle motor 4 fixed on a base (not shown) as a fixed portion.

The spindle motor 4 is controlled by a spindle motor control circuit 5. Optical disc 1
Recording, reproduction, and erasing of information with respect to the optical disc 1 are performed by the optical head 3 provided below the optical disc 1.

The optical head 3 comprises a moving optical system 6 and a fixed optical system 7 fixed on the base. The moving optical system 6 is a movable part of the linear motor 8, and the movement is controlled by the linear motor control circuit 9.

The moving optical system 6 is provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the optical disc 1. A position detector 10 is connected to the linear motor control circuit 9. The position detector 10 outputs a position signal corresponding to the position of the moving optical system 6.

As a result, the linear motor control circuit 9
The moving optical system 6 of the optical head 3, that is, the objective lens 11 is moved in the x direction by energizing the linear motor 8 with a current according to a position signal from the position detector 10 and a target moving position from the CPU 24 described later. Move to.

The moving optical system 6 of the optical head 3 comprises an objective lens 11, focusing coils 12 and 13, and a rising mirror 14. Fixed optical system 7 of optical head 3
Is a laser diode 1 as a semiconductor laser oscillator.
6, a collimator lens (not shown), beam splitters 17 and 18, photodetectors PD1 and PD2, a galvanometer mirror 19, and a rotating unit 2 that rotates and moves the galvanometer mirror 19.
It is composed of 0 etc.

The collimator lens is the laser diode 1
The laser beam from the laser diode 16 is placed immediately after the laser beam 6 and is collimated. Beam splitter 1
Reference numeral 7 guides the laser beam from the collimator lens to the galvanometer mirror 19 and also guides the laser beam from the moving optical system 6 guided by the galvanometer mirror 19 to the beam splitter 18.

The beam splitter 18 guides the laser beam guided from the beam splitter 17 to the photodetector PD1 or the photodetector PD2. The photodetector PD1 is composed of, for example, two elements (photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes), and each element has the same size and shape.

The photodetector PD2 is also the photodetector PD1.
Similarly, is composed of two elements (photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes), each element having a size,
The shapes are the same.

The photodetectors PD1 and PD2 are used for tracking, focusing, information reproduction and rotation angle detection of the galvano mirror 19. In this embodiment, the photodetector PD1 is used for focusing, information reproduction, and tracking, and the photodetector PD2 is used for detecting the rotation angle of the galvano mirror 19.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the optical head 3 described above, and the optical path of the laser beam will be described with reference to this drawing. In the optical head 3, the laser beam RO generated from the laser diode 16 is collimated by a collimator lens (not shown) and sequentially transmitted through the beam splitter 17, galvanometer mirror 19 and half mirror 15 to be guided to the moving optical system 6. Has become.

At this time, a part of the laser beam RO is reflected by the half mirror 15, is guided to the galvanometer mirror 19, and is reflected again there, and the beam splitters 17 and 18 are then reflected.
The light guided to the photodetector PD2 via is used for detecting the rotation angle of the galvanometer mirror 19 described later.

The optical path of the laser beam RO emitted from the fixed optical system 7 is changed by 90 ° by the raising mirror 14, and the objective lens 11 is in a state where the intensity center of the laser beam RO and the center of the objective lens 11 substantially coincide with each other. Incident on.

The laser beam RO is guided to the objective lens 11 and converged, and then is irradiated onto the optical disc 1 as a spot. The light beam of the laser beam R1 which is reflected by the optical disc 1 and contains the information signal and the error signal travels in the reverse direction on the above optical path and reaches the galvanometer mirror 19.

The luminous flux of the laser beam R1 guided to the galvanometer mirror 19 is guided to the beam splitter 18 via the beam splitter 17, where the luminous flux at that time is divided into about half, and the light change detector PD1, Enter PD2, focus, tracking, information reproduction,
It is converted into a detection signal (electrical signal) for detecting the rotation angle of the galvano mirror 19 and output to each unit.

The detection signal of the photodetector PD1 is output to the focusing control circuit 21, the information signal control circuit 22 and the tracking control circuit 23, and the detection signal of the photodetector PD2 is output to the tracking control circuit 23. To be done.

The focusing control circuit 21 generates a signal related to the focus point of the laser beam, that is, a focusing signal in response to the detection signal from the photodetector PD1, and outputs an output signal (current) corresponding to this focusing signal to the focusing coil 12. , 13 are supplied.

As a result, the objective lens 11 is moved in the y direction, and the spot of the laser beam formed by the objective lens 11 is controlled so that it is always in perfect focus on the optical disc 1.

The information signal processing circuit 22 includes a photodetector PD1.
Signal from which the magnetization direction (recording information) recorded on the optical disc 1 is reflected by the detection signal from
An information signal is generated, and a reproduction signal reproduced by being demodulated into image information from the information signal is output.

The tracking control circuit 23 includes a photodetector P.
A signal related to the tracking point of the laser beam, that is, a tracking error signal is generated by the detection signal from D1.

The tracking error signal is
The low-frequency component and the high-frequency component are band-separated, and an output signal corresponding to the high-frequency component is supplied to the rotating unit 20 of the galvanometer mirror 19 to rotate the galvanometer mirror 19.

As a result, the spot of the laser beam formed by the objective lens 1 slightly moves on the optical disc 1 so that tracking control can be performed. The low frequency region component of the tracking error signal is sent to the linear motor control circuit 9, and the linear motor 8 performs tracking control by the low frequency region component, that is, relatively large movement control.

The CPU 24 performs a predetermined operation according to the programs and information stored in the memory 25 and controls the entire apparatus, and is connected to the bus 26.
Motor control circuit 5, focusing control circuit 21, information signal processing circuit 22, tracking control circuit 23, linear motor control circuit 9, laser control circuit 27 (described later), D /
The A converter 28 (described later) and the A / D converter 29 (described later) are
It is adapted to be controlled by the CPU 24 via the bus 26.

The laser control circuit 27 causes the laser diode 16 to generate a laser beam having a light amount corresponding to each operation of reproducing, recording, and erasing information according to an instruction from the CPU 24.

For example, when reproducing information, the CPU
When information is recorded by causing the laser diode 16 to generate a laser beam corresponding to the reproduction light amount in accordance with the switching signal from 24, an information signal obtained by modulating a recording information signal supplied from an interface circuit 27 (described later). In response to the,
The laser diode 16 is driven to generate a laser beam having a recording light amount.

The D / A converter 28 and the A / D converter 29 are
Information is transmitted and received between the CPU 24 and the focusing control circuit 21 and the tracking control circuit 23.

When the CPU 24 reads the information previously stored in the memory 25, it outputs it to the D / A converter 28. The D / A converter 28 converts digital information into analog information, and the focusing control circuit 2 is converted via the bus 26.
1 and the tracking control circuit 23.

The focusing control circuit 21 outputs the focusing signal to the A / D converter 29. The A / D converter 29 converts the focusing signal from analog to digital and outputs it to the CPU 24 via the bus 26.

An optical disk control device 31 is connected to the interface circuit 30. The interface circuit 30 is connected to a bus 26, and exchanges information signals and reproduction signals with the optical disk control device 31 under the control of the CPU 24. Is.

When the interface circuit 30 receives the reproduction information from the information signal processing circuit 22, it performs error correction processing and the like and then outputs it to the optical disk control device 31.
Further, the interface circuit 30 supplies the recording information from the optical disc control device 31 to the laser control circuit 27 via the bus 26.

Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the CPU 24 manages the information amount of the record information given through the optical disc control device 31, the interface circuit 30 and the bus line 26, and the record information amount. The specific data corresponding to is recorded on the optical disc 1 through the laser control circuit 27 and the optical head 3 so as to be visible in a recording information amount display area, which will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows an external view of the optical disc 1 of the first embodiment used in the above optical disc device. That is, this optical disc 1 has a hub 1a, a label 1b, and an information recording area 1c, as well as a normal one, and a recording information amount display area 1e inside the information recording area 1c and between the label 1b. It is provided.

The label 1b is provided with a scale of 0, 10, 20, ... 90% based on the 0 sector position 1d. The recording information amount display area 1e is composed of a plurality of tracks, and specific data corresponding to the recording information amount is recorded therein.

That is, the specific data corresponding to the recording information amount recorded in the recording information amount display area 1e is used as the display data 1f whose recording length (recording time from 0 sector) is the recording information amount. used.

In this case, since the same data is recorded on a plurality of tracks, the display data 1f is reflected in the recording information display area 1e as shown by hatching in the state where the optical disk 1 is taken out from the optical disk device. It becomes visible as a change in the rate.

By reading this in association with the scale attached to the label 1b, the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the disc 1 can be immediately known.

The recording of the specific data corresponding to the recording information amount in the recording information amount display area 1e is performed by recording the information (including rewriting and recording of some unit data) on the disc 1 under the control of the CPU 24. Each time it is performed, it is updated, or it is collectively updated immediately before the optical disk 1 is ejected from the optical disk device.

As described above, without loading the optical disc 1 into the optical disc device, the recorded information amount of the optical disc 1 (the unrecorded remaining amount) can be simply and simply by visually observing the display data 1f of the recorded information amount display area 1e. You will be able to know.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the case where the optical disk 1 is housed in the cartridge case 100. That is, in this case, in the cartridge case 100, at least the portion facing the recorded information amount display area 1e is formed of a transparent material such as plastic or a transparent portion 1
Since the optical disc 1 is formed as No. 02, even when the optical disc 1 is housed in the cartridge case 100, the display data 1f of the recording information amount display area 1e is visually observed from the outside through the see-through part 102 to record the optical disc 1 The amount of information (unrecorded remaining amount) can be easily known.

In this case, the scale is the cartridge case 10.
0, the transparent portion 102, the shutter 101 and the like. In the above description, the recording information amount display area 1e provided on the optical disc 1 may be any recording area other than the information recording area 1c capable of optical recording, and may be not only the inner peripheral portion but also the outer peripheral portion. Is not limited to one round, and may be a part of the arc-shaped portion.

Further, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the CPU 24 manages the amount of recorded information given through the optical disc controller 31, the interface circuit 30 and the bus line 26, and the recorded information amount. The emitted light corresponding to (1) is irradiated through the laser control circuit 27 and the optical head 3 so that the recorded information amount display area of the optical disc 1 by a heat-sensitive portion, which will be described later, causes a thermal change and is visible.

FIG. 5 shows an external view of the optical disc 1 of the second embodiment used in the above optical disc device. That is, this optical disc 1 has a hub 1a, a label 1b, and an information recording area 1c, as well as a normal one, and a recording information amount display area 1e by a heat sensitive portion is provided in a part of the label 1b.

It should be noted that the label 1b is provided with a scale of 0, 10, 20, ... 90% on the basis of the 0 sector position 1d so as to face the recording information display area 1e by the heat sensitive portion. The recording information amount display area 1e by the heat-sensitive section is made of, for example, a thermal paper, and the laser emission light corresponding to the recording information amount is irradiated from the optical head 3 to the area and length of the display data 1f. Change the height.

That is, the recording information amount display area 1e by such a heat-sensitive portion causes a thermal change by the laser beam irradiated corresponding to the recording information amount, and the change length (recording time from 0 sector) is the recording information amount. Is used as the display data 1f.

In this case, the display data 1f is reflected in the recording information display area 1e as shown by hatching in the state where the optical disk 1 is taken out from the optical disk device by the irradiation of the laser beam from the optical head 3. It becomes visible as a change in the rate.

By reading this in association with the scale attached to the label 1b, the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the disc 1 can be immediately known.

Then, the display data 1f corresponding to the recording information amount for the recording information amount display area 1e by the heat-sensitive portion has information recorded on the disc 1 (including recording of certain unit data) under the control of the CPU 24. Each time it is performed, it is updated, or it is collectively updated immediately before the optical disk 1 is ejected from the optical disk device.

As described above, without loading the optical disc 1 into the optical disc device, the recorded information amount of the optical disc 1 (the unrecorded remaining amount) can be simply and simply by visually observing the display data 1f of the recorded information amount display area 1e. You will be able to know.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the case where the optical disk 1 is stored in the cartridge case 100. That is, in this case, in the cartridge case 100, at least the portion facing the recorded information amount display area 1e is formed of a transparent material such as plastic or a transparent portion 1
Since the optical disc 1 is formed as No. 02, even when the optical disc 1 is accommodated in the cartridge case 100, the display data 1f of the recording information amount display area 1e is visually observed from the outside through the see-through part 102 to record the optical disc 1 concerned. The amount of information (unrecorded remaining amount) can be easily known.

In this case, the scale is the cartridge case 10.
0, the see-through part 102, the shutter 101 and the like. In the above description, the recording information amount display area 1e formed by the heat sensitive portion provided on the optical disc 1 may be any area other than the information recording area 1c, and may be not only the inner peripheral portion but also the outer peripheral portion. Not limited to this, a part of the arc-shaped portion may be used.

The information recording area 1c is provided by providing a plurality of recording information amount display areas 1e by the heat sensitive section.
It is possible to deal with the case where there is a large amount of rewriting or deletion of data.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, C
The PU 24 manages the information amount of the recording information given via the optical disc control device 31, the interface circuit 30 and the bus line 26, and outputs the emitted light corresponding to the recording information amount via the laser control circuit 27 and the optical head 3. Then, heat is applied to a recording information amount display area by a heat-sensitive portion, which will be described later, of the optical disk cartridge so as to irradiate it so that it can be viewed.

FIG. 7 is an external view of an optical disk cartridge of the third embodiment used in the above optical disk device. That is, this optical disk cartridge pulls out the optical disk 1 housed in the cartridge case 100 from the cartridge case 100 in a state of being loaded in the optical disk device as in the ordinary case, and at the time of discharging the cartridge case 10 again.
A shutter 101, which is slidable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, is provided in order to store the shutter in 0.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the shutter 101 provided in the cartridge case 100 is composed of a sheet-like thermal paper 103a having an adhesive attached to the back surface thereof as shown in FIG. The recording information amount display area 103 by the heat sensitive portion is provided by pasting in a state of being extended in the radial direction of the optical disc 1, and as shown in FIG. 3, 0, 10, 20 are provided along the recording information amount display area 103. ... Provide a scale of 100 (%).

And, such a cartridge case 1
00 for recording the amount of information recorded on the optical head
The optical head 3 is set to a position corresponding to the outermost circumference of the optical disc 1, and laser light corresponding to the amount of recorded information on the optical disc 1 up to that time is irradiated during the ejecting operation of the optical disc cartridge. The area or length of the display data 104 shown is changed.

That is, the recording information amount display area 103 by such a heat-sensitive section causes a thermal change by the laser beam irradiated corresponding to the recording information amount, and the change length is used as the display data 104 of the recording information amount. To be done.

As described above, the display data 104 is indicated by hatching in the drawing in the state where the optical disk cartridge is taken out from the optical disk device by irradiating the optical head 3 with the laser beam corresponding to the recording information amount up to that point. Thus, the change in the reflectance in the recorded information amount display area 103 becomes visible.

By reading this in association with the scale attached to the shutter 101 of the cartridge case 100, it is possible to immediately know the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the optical disk 1 accommodated in the cartridge case 100. You can

The irradiation of the laser corresponding to the recorded information amount on the recorded information amount display area 103 by the heat sensitive portion is controlled by the CPU 24 at the time of recording information on the disc 1 or when the optical disc 1 is stopped and ejected. However, it may be performed as described above at a certain time immediately before the optical disc cartridge is actually ejected from the optical disc device.

As described above, the display data 10 in the recorded information amount display area 103 by the heat-sensitive portion provided in the shutter 101 of the cartridge case 100 without loading the optical disk cartridge in the optical disk device.
The cartridge case 10 can be simply and simply viewed
It becomes possible to know the recorded information amount (unrecorded remaining amount) of the optical disc 1 within 0.

The recording information amount display area 1e by the heat-sensitive section may be made of photosensitive paper instead of thermal paper, as long as the change corresponding to the irradiation of laser light can be visually observed from the outside. Good.

When a large amount of data is rewritten on or deleted from the optical disc 1, the recording information amount display area 103 formed by the thermosensitive (optical) paper 103a is reattached to the shutter 101 of the cartridge case 100. Therefore, it is possible to deal with it easily.

Further, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the CPU 24 manages the information amount of the recording information given through the optical disk control device 31, the interface circuit 30 and the bus line 26, and sets the recording information amount to the recorded information amount. Corresponding specific data is recorded via the laser control circuit 27 and the optical head 3 so as to be visible in a recording information amount display area of the optical disc 1 which will be described later.

FIG. 9 shows an external view of the optical disc 1 of the fourth embodiment used in the above optical disc device. That is, this optical disc 1 has a hub 1a, a label 1b, and an information recording area 1c, as well as a normal one, and an address format pre-written on the 0 sector position 1d indicated by the broken line in the information recording area 1c is recorded on the optical disc 1. Recording information amount display area 1 written as a specific pattern associated with the information amount
is formed in e.

In this case, it is assumed that the optical disc 1 uses an optical information recording medium such as a perforation type or a phase change type in which information is recorded and reproduced as a difference in reflectance.
The recording information amount display area 1d is provided for each predetermined recording amount (for example, 10, 20, 30, ... 10) from the inner circumference side of the optical disc 1.
0%), the leading and trailing ends of the address are written as an alternate zigzag address format as shown in the figure, so that only those address recording portions have different reflectances from other information recording areas 1c as shown by hatching in the figure. Since it can be visually observed in a zigzag shape, the recorded information amount display 1e has a scale according to the specific pattern associated with the recorded information amount as described above.

Then, since the reflectance changes in the portion 1f where the information is actually recorded by spreading in a band shape from the inner peripheral portion of the optical disc 1, the boundary between the recorded area and the unrecorded area can be clearly discriminated. By referring to this and the scale according to the recording information amount by the specific pattern by the specific address format in the recording information amount display area, when the optical disc 1 is ejected from the optical disc device, the optical disc 1 is read again in the optical disc device. It is possible to immediately know the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the optical disc 1 simply by visually observing the recorded information amount display area 1e without loading.

In FIG. 9, a pair of ejection stop marks 1g and 1h are formed on the inner peripheral portion of the optical disk 1 at the ± 90 ° portion of the 0 sector position. That is, the optical disc apparatus detects the pair of ejection stop marks 1g and 1h during the closing or ejecting operation of the optical disc 1 to detect the recording information amount display area 1e on the optical disc 1.
By always making a predetermined positional relationship and stopping for a number of times, the visual judgment of the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount is made convenient.

This function is as shown in FIG.
This is particularly effective when the optical disk 1 is used as an optical disk cartridge housed in the cartridge case 100.

That is, FIG. 10 shows an external view of the cartridge case 100 for housing the optical disk 1.
At least a part of the cartridge case 100 is made of transparent plastic or the like so that the recorded information amount display area 1e formed on the optical disc 1 can be seen through at a position of ± 90 ° from a shutter 101 which is normally provided. It is formed as a see-through portion 102 including a window.

That is, the optical disc apparatus is controlled by the CPU 24 so that the ejection stop mark 1g on the optical disc 1 during the ejection operation of such an optical disc cartridge,
Recorded information amount display area 1 on the optical disc by detecting 1h
At a position where e is opposed to the see-through part 102 of the cartridge case 100, the optical disc 1 is stopped and then ejected out of the apparatus.

As a result, even when the optical disk 1 is used as an optical disk cartridge housed in the cartridge case 100, the cartridge case 1
Recording information amount display area 1e
It is possible to immediately know the recorded information amount or the unrecorded remaining amount of the optical disc 1 outside the disc device by visually observing.

[0088]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided an optical information recording medium and a cartridge case for the optical information recording medium, by which the amount of recorded information (unrecorded remaining amount) of the information recording medium can be easily known visually. It is possible to provide an optical information recording / reproducing device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical disc device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the optical head of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of an optical disc to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of a cartridge case to which a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of an optical disc to which the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of a cartridge lid to which a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of a cartridge case to which a third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing pasting of a recording information amount display area using heat-sensitive (light) paper according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of an optical disc to which a fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the outer appearance of a cartridge case to which a modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Optical disc, 6 ... Moving optical system, 7 ... Fixed optical system, 8
... Linear motor, 9 ... Linear motor control circuit, 16 ... Laser diode, PD1, PD2 ... Photodetector, 19 ... Carbano mirror, 20 ... Rotating part, 23 ... Tracking control circuit, 1a ... Hub, 1b ... Label, 1c ... Information Recording area, 1d ... 0 sector position, 1e ... Recording information amount display area, 1f ... Display data, 100 ... Cartridge case,
Reference numeral 101 ... Shutter, 102 ... Transparent portion, 103 ... Recording information amount display area, 104 ... Display data, 103a ... Thermal (light) paper, 1g, 1h ... Discharge stop mark.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A usage recording area for recording data according to the usage of the information storage area in a recording area other than the information recording area in an information recording medium whose reflectance changes by irradiating light. An optical information recording medium comprising: 2. The usage amount recording area is arranged on the inner or outer circumference side of the information recording area on the medium, and the usage amount is represented by a recording length from a 0 sector position which is a recording reference. The optical information recording medium according to claim 1, which is characterized. 3. The usage amount recording area is composed of a plurality of tracks, and a length corresponding to the usage amount is recorded on the plurality of tracks so that a change can be visually observed. The optical information recording medium according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the standard is described on a label provided in the non-recording area. 4. A cartridge case containing an information recording medium whose reflectance changes by irradiating light, wherein the information recording medium records data according to the amount of use of the information recording area. A cartridge case for an optical information recording medium, which has an area, and a see-through portion is used so that at least a part of the usage amount recording area can be seen from the surface. 5. The optical information recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the vicinity of the center of the cartridge case is formed by a see-through portion, and the cartridge shutter is also provided with the see-through portion. Cartridge case. 6. The cartridge case for the optical information recording medium according to claim 4, wherein a plastic material or a window is used as the see-through portion. 7. An information recording apparatus capable of recording and reproducing information on an information recording medium whose reflectance changes by irradiating light, and records data according to the amount of use of a recording area on the information recording medium. An optical information recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that data is rewritten in a usage amount recording area in accordance with the amount of information recorded or rewritten, and in accordance with the usage amount of the recording area. 8. The data written in the usage amount recording area for recording data according to the usage amount of the recording area is specific data, and the recording length of the specific data is recorded according to the usage amount, 8. The optical information recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein data recording is performed in the usage amount recording area at the end of recording the data on the medium. 9. The usage amount recording area representing the usage amount is composed of a plurality of tracks, and data of the same recording length is recorded on a plurality of tracks of the usage amount recording area. Alternatively, the optical information recording / reproducing device according to item 8.