Patent ID: 6545961
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical reproducing method for an optical medium including a disk-like substrate, a spiral or concentric-shaped groove structure along a track formed on the disk-like substrate, the groove structure being wobbled in a radial direction of the optical medium, the track being divided into a plurality of units in the track direction by at least one radial boundary line formed by a dropout portion, identification information is disposed in the track at a head of each recording unit at the dropout portion, the medium being divided into a plurality of zones in a radial direction, a length of a circular arc being substantially the same between the zones in a circumferential direction, at least two adjacent units in the radial direction of the optical medium comprise one zone, and the groove structure included in the respective units within any zone having substantially a same number of wobbling, the method comprising the steps of:irradiating an optical spot on the optical medium; detecting a reflected beam from the optical medium; and reproducing information on the optical medium by using a signal obtained by the reflected beam.