JPS62239345A - Optical information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain application of a high-grade system that handles plural types of media in a simple constitution by providing the recording parts where information is recorded with irradiation of light beams among those tracking tracks set equidistantly together with marks that can be optically detected to show the types of media. CONSTITUTION:The continuous linear tracking tracks 31-3n are provided to a recording layer 2 in parallel with each other and equidistantly. Then the recording parts are added among those tracks for recording of information. That is, this optical card 1 contains recording parts among tracking tracks. Then G marks 51 and 52 that can be optically detected are provided at two areas of the recording parts to show the reference positions. A medium discriminating pattern 6 is formed at the recording part where the mark 52 is provided. In such a simple constitution, the types of media can be accurately confirmed with a system that handles plural types of media.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an optical information recording medium, and particularly to an optical information recording medium suitable for application to a card-shaped medium.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, various types of media such as disks, cards, and tapes are known as media for recording information using light and for reading recorded information. Among these, a card-shaped optical information recording medium (hereinafter referred to as an optical card) is expected to be in great demand as a medium with a large recording capacity that is small in size and easy to carry.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of such an optical card.
1 is an optical card, 103 is a tracking track, 107
is the track number.

The optical card described above is a recorded bit string (information track) that can be optically detected by scanning the card with a light beam that is modulated according to recorded information and focused on a minute spot.
Information is recorded as .

At this time, in order to accurately record and reproduce information without causing problems such as crossing of information tracks, the irradiation position of the light beam is controlled in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction (auto tracking, hereinafter referred to as AT). Is it necessary? Further, in order to stably irradiate a minute spot despite the bending of the optical card and mechanical errors, it is necessary to perform control (autofocusing, hereinafter referred to as AF) in a direction perpendicular to the optical card.

Next, the recording/reproducing method will be explained using FIG. 10. Initially, the light beam is at a home position outside the recording area. Next, the light beam moves in the direction shown in the figure, finds a track to be recorded or reproduced, scans this track in the F direction, and records or reproduces. Here, as a means of detecting whether or not it is a target track, conventionally, as explained in FIG. The track is read and inspected to determine whether it is the desired track. Furthermore, by inquiring the track number and management information, it can be determined whether the track has already been recorded or not, and it is possible to prevent so-called override, in which additional information is accidentally written on a recorded track.

On the other hand, the recording speed and reproduction speed of optical information recording media will continue to improve as progress is made in the future. Also, modulation
Various demodulation methods may be adopted depending on how the medium is used, etc. Conventional media do not take the above points into consideration, so they have the disadvantage of being difficult to maintain compatibility even in advanced application systems.

[Summary of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical information recording medium that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art described above and that has a simple configuration and can be used in advanced systems that handle multiple types of media. It is in.

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to have tracking tracks arranged at regular intervals and a recording section provided between the tracking tracks and on which information is recorded by irradiation of a light beam, the recording section This is achieved by an optical information recording medium provided with an optically detectable mark indicating the medium type at at least one location.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an optical card to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, an optical card 1 includes a substrate made of plastic or the like, and a recording layer 2 of a silver salt type, dye type, chalcogen type, etc. on which information can be recorded optically. On this recording layer 2, a tracking track 3++ 32+ 331 is formed in advance in a continuous linear shape.
34+ 38°...3n-4+3n-3,3n-
2, 3n-1, 3n are arranged parallel to each other at equal intervals. A recording section for recording information between each track is provided. That is, the optical card 1 has a recording section located between each tracking track. Then, in two places in the recording section,
Marks 51, 52 (
A mark (hereinafter referred to as G mark) is formed. In addition, a medium identification pattern 6 is provided on the recording section provided with the G mark 52.
is formed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information on an optical card according to the present invention. A beam emitted from a light source 11 such as a semiconductor laser is collimated by a collimator lens 12 and divided into three beams by a diffraction grating 13. These beams are
The objective lens 14 forms an image on the optical card 1 as shown in FIG. 6, forming beam spots S+, 32, and Ss, respectively. Here, the optical card 1 is moved in the direction of arrow R by a driving means (not shown), and is scanned by the beam spot in the direction in which the tracking track extends. Beam spot S1°S2. The reflected light from S3 passes through the objective lens again, is reflected by the beam splitter 15, and is sent to the photodetectors 17 and 18 by the condensing lens system 16.
．． 19 respectively. The condensing lens system 16 is an astigmatism system, and is an example arranged so that autofocusing can be performed using a well-known astigmatism method. These photodetectors are configured in the arrangement shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, 20 is a prism for converting the cross-sectional distribution of the collimated light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser from an ellipse to a circular shape, and 21 is a mirror that guides the light beam to the objective lens 14. The photodetector 18 has a light receiving surface divided into four parts as shown by A, B, C, and D in FIG. Next, the operation of recording information on an optical card using the above-mentioned apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG. First, when recording information in the recording section 10, spot S1. The tracking track 33, the recording section 10, and the tracking track 34 are irradiated with S2+S3, respectively. These spots are scanned in the direction of arrow F by the movement of the optical card 1 as described above. The reflected light from spot S1 enters the aforementioned photodetector 17, and the reflected light from spot S3 enters photodetector 19,
Tracking signals are detected from these output signals.

That is, spots Sl and S are on tracking track 3.
．． ．． If it deviates from 34, it becomes a photodetector! A difference is created in the intensity of light incident on the light receiving surfaces 7 and 19, and a tracking signal is obtained by comparing the signals from these light receiving surfaces. Based on this tracking signal, a tracking means (not shown) (for example, in FIG. 3, the objective lens 14 is
spot Sl, S2
．． S3 is integrally moved in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction (direction b) to perform AT. Then, the recording bit 9 is accurately recorded on the recording unit 10 along the tracking tracks 34 and 38 by the spot S2. The recorded pits are indicated by broken lines in FIG.

Next, the function of the G mark will be explained. Figure 2 is G of Figure 1.
This is an enlarged view of the portion marked with mark 5□. The mark 52 is actually formed in the shape of an interrupted broken line as shown in FIG.

Initially, the light spot S1 is at the home position 4, and when this light spot S1 is moved in the D direction by a driving means (not shown), the detection signal level of the reflected light of the spot S1 changes as shown in FIG. . That is, the spot S moves in the direction D, and the tracking track 3n
The first change appears when crossing 3n-1,3
It changes every time it crosses n-2 and G mark 52. At this time, if the moving speed of the spot is constant, 3n-2 and 52
and the time between 3n and 3n-1%3n-1 and 3n-2
Since it is clearly different from the time between, it is possible to determine whether the G mark 52 has been crossed by using a time measuring circuit (not shown) to measure the change time of the signal. Next, when the light spot Sl comes on top of the tracking track 3n-3, as is clear from FIG. Stop.

Next, in this state, card 1 is sent in the F direction to point p, and then in the backward direction to point 9. Light spot S at this time
The change in the signal level obtained from the reflected light of 1 is shown in Figure 6.When the card is sent to p, it is LOW, and when the card feeding direction is reversed, the time of HIGH while passing through G mark 5 is measured. If so, it is determined to be a G mark, and if there is no change in the signal by the time the 9th point is reached, the current track is determined to be the reference track. By arranging the preformatted G mark at a predetermined location on the card 1 as described above, it becomes possible to reliably identify the reference track without arranging a track number on the tracking track. Then, based on this reference track, while moving the spot in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, information is recorded one after another in the recording sections provided parallel to each other. When another G mark 51 is detected, that recording section is determined to be the final track, and recording is ended.

That is, in this embodiment, the recording area 8 is formed on the medium surface;
It is divided into non-recording areas 71 and 72, and their boundaries are indicated by G marks 51 and 52. Tracking track 311 provided in the non-recording area 72. 3n-1, 3n-
2 is not used for recording information, but is simply used as a guard track. For example, when the recording section closest to the home position is set as the reference track, the light spot is moved in the 'fSs direction, and when the light spot crosses the first tracking track that appears, the control circuit of the AT (not shown) rapidly As the vehicle tries to follow the track, the optical pickup (ie, the optical spot) also moves rapidly and greatly. As a result, overshoot or the like may cause a malfunction in which the track follows the next track. Therefore, in this embodiment, at least two or more tracking tracks are provided outside the recording section where the G mark 52 is provided, and after these tracks are reliably pulled into the tracking track, the G mark 5. This is the start of detection.

Similarly, tracking tracks 31 + 32.33 provided in the non-recording area 71 are also used as guard tracks. That is, when accessing a track, if the G mark 51 is not detected due to some trouble and the spot does not go past the final track, the spot is pulled in by one of these guard tracks to prevent the spot from jumping out from the medium surface. It is something to do. G mark like this 5. It is desirable that at least two or more tracking tracks are formed on the outside.

The intermittent pattern of the G mark shown in Figure 2 is sometimes preferable because the detection signal clearly appears when the spot crosses it, but the same effect can be obtained by using the G mark as a single strip pattern. It will be done.

In addition, the G mark is shown in Figure 1, 5. ．． As shown in Fig. 54, by providing it on the q side as well, the area sandwiched between HIGH signals for a certain period of time between p and q is determined to be the reference track, making it difficult to be affected by scratches and dust. , the reference position can be detected reliably.

Next, the function of the medium identification pattern will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of the optical card shown in FIG.
(hereinafter simply referred to as a pattern) is recorded and formed using a preformat or a light spot. The feature of this pattern is that it has a completely different format from other data recording sections, does not depend on read speed, and is processed only by software without using any circuit to reproduce or demodulate other data recording sections. It is a possible method. 8th
The method shown in the figure is a type of FM modulation method, and the signal detected by the photodetector 18 (spot S2) is as shown in FIG. First, the time from rise to rise of the signal is measured N times (twice in FIG. 9), the average value is calculated, and this value is used as the reference time from now on. Here, 1.0
The determination formula is 1. When is the reference time and the non-measurement time is T, for example, if T>2t, then olo, 5t+
If <T<2 t+, it is determined to be 1.

Furthermore, in order to improve reliability, as explained in FIG. However, when the same bit pattern occurs consecutively, that pattern is recognized as a number unique to the medium.

For example, pattern "6" (this example) is MFM modulation,
For a medium with a speed of 100 mm and 7 seconds, the pattern "bi" is 8
-14 conversion, when the speed is defined as 200 mm 7 seconds, and when the recording/playback device is of the MFM modulation type,
Read the pattern at a speed of 100 mm and 7 seconds, and if the pattern information is "l", record/record according to the pattern information.
By setting the playback speed to 200 mm/sec and switching the modulation/demodulation circuit to the 8-14 conversion side, recording and playback of 8-14 conversion media becomes possible. If the device does not have an 8-14 conversion modulation/demodulation circuit, should it send information that means r-recording/playback impossible to a higher-level device (not shown) that controls the recording/playback device? ,or,
A buzzer, lamp, etc. included in the recording/reproducing device notifies the operator that recording/reproducing is not possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to record and reproduce data on and from a wide variety of media using high-speed hardware and software. In addition, in FIG. 1, pattern 6 is the G mark 52.
Although it is placed on a certain track, this is so as not to reduce the data recordable area, and the effect of the present invention does not change even if it is placed on another track.

As in the above embodiment, when the present invention is applied to an optical card, the width W of the tracking track shown in FIG.
．． It is desirable that the thickness is 5 μm or more. The reason for this will be explained below.

Optical information recording media usually have a transparent protective layer on the recording layer on which the beam spot is imaged. The light beam diameter on the surface of this protective layer is larger than the spot diameter on the recording layer. Therefore, even if there is dust on the surface of the protective layer,
Even if dust and the like are added, their influence on signal detection will be small. Based on this principle, optical disks and the like have a track width of about 1 to 2 μm to achieve high density. However, in optical cards,
- From the perspective of standardizing the size with other credit cards, etc., the card thickness is limited to about 8m111. Therefore, the thickness of the transparent protective layer is also 1/3 to 1/3 of that of the optical disc.
Considering the influence of dust, etc., the width of the tracking track needs to be 2.5 μm or more. For the same reason, it is desirable that the interval between the tracking tracks, that is, the width W1 of the recording section, is also 2.5 μm or more.

In addition to the embodiments described above, the present invention can be applied in various ways. For example, the medium shape is not limited to a card shape, but can also be applied to a tape shape.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, since a mark indicating the medium type is provided in a part of the recording section, the medium type can be reliably confirmed with the cylinder A1 configuration, and multiple types of media can be handled. It is now possible to use the system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the optical information recording medium of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a light-receiving surface of a photodetector shown in FIG. 3. , FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams showing the waveform of the detection signal, respectively, FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 'S1, and FIG. 9 is the waveform of the signal detected from the medium type identification pattern. Figures 10 and 11 show conventional optical systems 3, 3n...tracking track, 4...
...Home position, 5I-54...G mark, 6...Pattern for medium type identification.爾8(21 LkoIjn51j Chestnut 10fig□F Mouth ° Ninini] Roniniko Ro: Ni3~10μ-1 "
- 12th Snake 6E τ light 1 q 6--〇- Hand thread seller Hosei () (spontaneous) April 8, 1985 1, Indication of the case 1988 Patent Application No. 82931 2, Title of the invention Optical information recording medium 3, relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant residence Canon Co., Ltd., 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo 146 (telephone: 758-2111) 5, specification and drawings subject to amendment 6.? ifl Correct content (1) Correct the phrase ``Shutsushita'' on page 5, line 17 of the specification to read ``I uttered one word.'' (2) Correct "Sl" in the 7th line of page 9 to "Sl". (3) r8mmB of the same No. 15N 6th row is rO, 8mm.”
and correct it. (4) Only Figure 4 of the drawings shall be corrected as shown in the attached sheet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Tracking tracks arranged at regular intervals,
a recording section provided between the tracking tracks and on which information is recorded by irradiation with a light beam; Information recording medium.