Information recording-reproducing method and apparatus

Abstract: An information recording-reproducing method comprises the step of imparting an error correction code of M bytes and N bytes in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, respectively, to data of m x n bytes, and producing a signal of (m + M) x (n + N) bytes (m, n, M and N being 1 or greater integer), the step of writing into a recording medium the signal to which the error correction code has been imparted, the step of reading out the written-in signal from the recording medium, the step of effecting error correction on the read-out signal in only one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by the use of the error correction code included in the signal, the step of judging that there has been abnormality in the writing-in when all the errors in the signal could not be corrected by the error correction in the one direction, the step of re-reading out from the recording medium the signal for which it has not been judged that there has been abnormality in the writing-in, and the step of effecting error correction on the re-read-out signal in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by the use of the error correction code included in the signal and reproducing the data.

Description: This invention relates to an information recording-reproducing method and apparatus, and in particular to an information recording-reproducing method and apparatus in which error correction is effected. Related Background Art Various information recording mediums such as disk-like mediums, card-like mediums and tape-like mediums are known as information recording mediums on which information is recorded by the use of light and from which the recorded information is read out. Among these, an optical information recording medium formed in the shape of a card (hereinafter referred to as the optical card) is expected to have a great demand as a compact, light-weight information recording medium of great capacity convenient to carry. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic plan view of the optical card, and Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings is a fragmentary enlarged view thereof. In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 designates the optical card, the reference numeral 2 denotes information tracks, and the reference numeral 3 designates the home position. The optical card 1 is such that by scanning a light beam modulated in accordance with recording information and stopped down into a minute spot on the optical card, information is recorded as optically detectable record bit rows (information tracks). To record and reproduce the information accurately at this time without causing a trouble such as crossing of the information tracks 2, it is necessary to control the applied position of said light beam in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction (auto tracking, hereinafter referred to as AT). Also, to apply the the minute spot stably in spite of the bending and mechanical error of the optical card, it is necessary to control the light spot in a direction perpendicular to the optical card (auto focusing, hereinafter referred to as AF). As shown in Figure 2, tracking tracks 5 (5₁, 5₂, ....) for effecting said AT are provided between the information tracks 2 (2₁, 2₂, ...) of the optical card 1. A method of recording and reproducing information on the optical card will now be described. In Figure 1, the light beam exists at the home position 3 at first. The light beam then moves in the direction of arrow D, finds out the information track 2N to be recorded or reproduced, and scans on the information track 2N in the direction of arrow F, thereby accomplishing recording or reproduction of the information. Also, where the optical information recording medium is an unerasable postscript type recording medium, the recorded data is immediately reproduced and whether it is the same as the record data is examined (hereinafter referred to as verify), and if the result is wrong, a recording method of recording the data again on the next information track is adopted. As means for examining whether the data recorded on the recording medium is the same as the record data, i.e., verifying means, there is adopted a method of comparing the record data with the immediately reproduced data of the recorded data and examining the error of the data, or a method of comparing the parity of the record data with the parity of the reproduced data to thereby examine the error of the data. However, in such methods, when the information recording medium is reproduced after the verification of the record, there is the possibility that an error occurs due to dust, a flaw or the like. Usually, such a recording-reproducing apparatus has the correcting ability to add an error correction code (ECC) to the data to be recorded and correct the error resulting from dust, a flaw or the like on the information recording medium during recording and reproduction, but in the above-described methods, the error correcting ability during verification is the same as the error correcting ability during reproduction, and this has led to the problem that there occurs a case where correction is impossible during reproduction with regard to an error due to an error cause (dust, a flaw or the like) newly arising after recording and verification. U.S. Patent No. 3,774,154 proposes an apparatus in which the error correcting ability is reduced more during verification than during reproduction, whereby even an error arising after verification can be corrected. This apparatus has two error correcting means, i.e. ECC and a signal error pointer. The apparatus is designed to display a recording error when an error exceeding the ability of the ECC is detected during verification. Also, in col.5, 1.48-64 of said U.S. Patent, it is disclosed that the criteria of light check are reduced during verification. However, the above described-apparatus has been complicated in construction because it has means for generating a signal error pointer, in addition to ECC. British Patent Specification No. 2175123A discloses an information recording method in which data is written in one direction and is then immediately verified in the other direction. Specification WO85/01382 discloses an information recording method in which data is verified by a bit-to-bit companion after recording, data blocks also including Reed-Solomon codes for error correction, and European Patent Application No. 0180764 discloses an error correction method employing the use of two error correction codes each of which is used separately to generate error flags. From one aspect the present invention comprises a method of recording and reproducing data comprising writing of data into a recording medium having vertical and horizontal error correction codes, verifying the written data by use of the error correction code in one direction only, rewriting those parts of the data in which the verification step has indicated an abnormality, and characterised in that after verification is carried out the written data is then reproduced and checked for errors using both the vertical and horizontal error codes so that the error correction ability is greater in this step than in the verification step. From a second aspect the invention comprises data recording and reproducing apparatus comprising means for writing into a recording medium data having vertical and horizontal error codes and for rewriting the data if correction is required, means for reading data so written, and verifying means for determining by means of an error correction code in one direction only if an error exists in the written data and causing the erroneous data to be rewritten, and characterised in that subsequent to verification the reading means read the data for verification by the verifying means using both the vertical and horizontal error correction codes so that the error correction ability is greater in this step than in the verification step. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the optical card according to the prior art. Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the optical card shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of an example of the optical card used in the present invention. Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the portion A of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an illustration regarding the construction of the optical head portion of the information recording-reproducing apparatus. Figure 7 illustrates a light beam applied onto the optical card. Figure 8 illustrates the construction of a photodetector. Figure 9 illustrates the operation during recording on the optical card by the information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Figure 10A illustrates the locus of a light beam spot during recording, and Figure 10B illustrates the recording timing. Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating the operation during recording when an E-mark is used. Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating the operation during recording when a V-mark is used. Figures 13A and 13B are schematic plan views of an optical card feeding device. Figure 14 illustrates the optical card feeding operation. Figure 15 illustrates the operation of detecting a reference track. Figures 16A - 16C are schematic views for illustrating the E-mark. Figure 17 is a wave form diagram for illustrating of the operation of detecting the E-mark. Figure 18 illustrates the Reed Solomon method. Figure 19 illustrates the disposition of an error correction data code. Figure 20 is a flow chart illustrating the error check-up operation during recording. Figure 21 is a flow chart illustrating the operation during reproduction. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The basic construction of an optical card and the construction of an optical head portion will first be described. In the ensuing description, like members are given like reference numerals. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an example of an optical card used in the present invention. Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the portion A of Figure 4. In these figures, tracking tracks 5 (5₁, 5₂,...) pre-formed in the shape of continuous lines are disposed at equal intervals on the optical card 1. Data recording sections 4 (4₁, 4₂, ...) for recording information are provided between the tracking tracks. That is, the optical card 1 has data recording sections between all the tracking tracks. As shown in Figure 5, a G-mark 7 is provided between the tracking tracks 5₁ and 5₋₁. This G-mark 7 is a mark for discriminating a reference track, and is disposed at a predetermined location on the optical card by a preformat. A pattern 8 for discriminating the kind of the medium which is an auxiliary data portion is recorded and formed by a preformat or a light spot on the extension of a data recording portion 40 on which the G-mark 7 lies. This pattern 8 for discriminating the kind of the medium represents the kind of the optical card, and comprises recorded information such as the modemodulating system, the data capacity per track and the total number of tracks. Figure 6 is an illustration regarding the construction of the optical head portion of an information recording-reproducing apparatus. Figure 7 illustrates a light beam applied onto the optical card. Figure 8 illustrates the construction of a photodetector. A light beam emitted from a light source 27 such as a semiconductor laser is collimated by a collimator lens 28 and divided into three beams by a diffraction grating 30. These light beams are imaged on the tracking tracks 5₁ and 5₂ and the data recording portion 41 on the optical card 1 by an objective lens 26, as shown in Figure 7, and form beam spots S₁, S₂ and S₃. Here, the optical card 1 is moved in the direction of arrow R by driving means, not shown, and is scanned in the direction in which the tracking tracks extend, by said beam spots. The reflected lights of the beam spots S₁, S₂ and S₃ again pass through the objective lens 26, are reflected by a beam splitter 20 and are projected onto photodetectors 22, 23 and 24 by a condensing lens system 21. The condensing lens system 21 is an astigmatic system, and is an example disposed so that auto focusing can be effected by a well-known astigmatic system. The photodetectors comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 8, and the photodetector 23 is divided into four areas A, B, C and D. In Figure 6, the reference numeral 29 designates a prism for converting the cross-sectional distribution of the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser and collimated from an ellipse into a circular shape, and the reference numeral 25 denotes a mirror for directing the light beam to the objective lens 26. The operation of recording information on the optical card by the use of the aforedescribed apparatus will now be described with reference to Figure 7. First, when information is to be recorded on the data recording section 4₁, the beam spots S₁, S₂ and S₃ are applied to the tracking track 5₂, the data recording section 4₁ and the tracking track 5₁, respectively. These beam spots are caused to scan in the direction of arrow F by the movement of the optical card 1 as previously described. The reflected light from the beam spot S₁ enters the aforementioned photodetector 22, and the reflected light from the beam spot S₃ enters the photodetector 24, and a tracking signal is detected by the so-called three-beam method. That is, if the beam spots S₁ and S₃ deviate relative to the tracking tracks 5₂ and 5₁, a difference occurs between the intensities of the lights entering the photodetectors 22 and 24, and by comparing the signals from these light receiving surfaces, there is obtained a tracking signal. On the basis of this tracking signal, the beam spots S₁, S₂ and S₃ are moved as a unit in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction (the direction of arrow D in Figure 4) by unshown tracking means (such as means for moving the objective lens 26 in the direction of arrow Z in Figure 6), whereby AT is accomplished. On the data recording section 4₁, record pits 31 are accurately recorded along the tracking tracks 5₁ and 5₂ by the beam spot S₂. The information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention will now be described. The information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention records a special mark indicative of the presence or absence of an error, after verification, on the extension of the information track. As regards the special mark indicative of the presence or absence of an error, there is a case where a mark (hereinafter referred to as the E-mark) is recorded when there is an error, a case where a mark (hereinafter referred to as the V-mark) is recorded when there is no error, or a case where the E-mark and the V-mark are selected and recorded depending on the presence or absence of an error. A method of recording the E-mark will hereinafter be described as an example of the recording of the mark. Figure 9 illustrates the operation during the recording on the optical card by the information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Figure 10A illustrates the locus of the light beam spot during recording, and in this figure, the vertical axis represents speed, and F and L corresponds to F and L in Figure 9. Figure 10B illustrates the recording timing, and in this figure, HIGH is the non-recording portion and LOW is the recording portion. Figure 11 is flow chart illustrating the operation during recording, and in this figure, "F direction" is indicative of the direction of the light spot. The recording operation will hereinafter be described with reference to Figures 9, 10A and 10B and in accordance with the flow chart of Figure 11. When as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the light spot is at a point a , the light spot is moved in F direction at a low speed and if the signal by the E-mark does not appear until the light spot reaches a point c (this is detected by a position detector, not shown, or by measurement of time), recording is started, and after recording is completed, the speed is changed to a high speed and the direction is changed to L (a point b ). When the signal by the E-mark is detected, shift is made to the next information track and a similar operation is performed. When the light spot is moving in L direction, reproduction of the data and check-up of the error are effected, and when the light spot reaches the point c , that is, after all data are reproduced, the speed is changed to a low speed without the direction being changed, and when the light spot reaches a point d , if there is an error, a predetermined pattern, i.e., the E-mark, is recorded on the recording area 34 for a predetermined period of time. If there is no error, the recording control signal of Figure 10B is inhibited (dotted line), whereby recording of the E-mark is inhibited. Irrespective of the presence or absence of an error, after the light spot has passed a point e , the light spot is moved from the data recording area 32 to the data recording area 33, and a similar operation is repeated. As described above, according to the present invention, recording of data, verification and recording of the E-mark are completed by one reciprocal movement of the light spot on the same information track and therefore, the recording time can be shortened. In the foregoing description, the speed during recording and the speed during reproduction are made different as shown in Figure 10B, but the effect will not change even if the two speeds are the same. The E-mark, as shown in Figure 16A, may basically be a bar-like pattern. However, if there is dust or a flaw in the unrecorded portion and moveover in the portion wherein the E-mark is disposed (see Figure 16C), there is the undesirable possibility that such dust or flaw is regarded as the E-mark and even a good track is recognized as a bad track. In order to eliminate such disadvantage, the E-mark may be recorded in a pattern on a dotted line as shown in Figure 16B, whereby it can be distinguished from the signal shown by Figure 16C. This will be described with reference to Figure 17. As shown in Figure 17, when the E-mark is detected by the photodetector 23, the E-mark portion is a portion b in the output signal 23-1 of the photodetector and the portion by dust, a flaw or the like is a portion C. When the output signal 23-1 is input to a signal processing circuit, not shown, for example, a retriggerable monostable multivibrator, there is output an output signal 23-1a as shown in Figure 17. Since the E-mark is a pattern on a dotted line, the pulse width T by the signal of the area b becomes greater than the pulse width T' by the signal of the area c, and if the pulse width T is greater than a predetermined value, it may be regarded as the E-mark, whereby distinction between the E-mark (Figure 16B) and dust or a flaw (Fig. 16C) becomes possible. The pattern shape of the V-mark and the method of detecting it are also similar to what has been described above with respect to the E-mark. The case where there is not the E-mark during said recording includes a case where there is no error but information is being recorded and a case where information is not yet recorded, and it is difficult to prevent overlight completely, but if recording is effected with the E-mark and the V-mark selected in accordance with the presence or absence of an error, it is possible to distinguish between the absence of an error, the presence of an error and non-recording. During reproduction, processing somewhat differs between a case where the light spot is at the point a at the start of reproduction and a case where the light spot is at the point b at the start of reproduction. When the light spot is at the point a , if the signal by the E-mark can be detected before the light spot reaches the point c , the reproducing process for data is not carried out, but track change is effected at the point b and reproduction of the next information track is executed. On the othe hand, when the light spot is at the point b , up to error check is executed, and if the E-mark can be detected, track change is effected irrespective of the presence or absence of an error and reproduction of the next information track is executed. When there is an error in spite of the E-mark having not been detected, re-try is repeated a predetermined number of times. Thus, where a plurality of information tracks are to be continuously reproduced, even if there is an information track having the E-mark (hereinafter referred to as the bad track), that bad track need not execute re-try and therefore, even if there is a number of bad tracks, the time required for reproduction does not become so long as compared with a case where there is no bad track. A similar effect can be obtained by using the V-mark instead of the E-mark. Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating the operation during recording in a case where the V-mark is used. In the same manner as in the case where the E-mark is used, when the light spot is at the point a as shown in Figures 9, 10A and 10B, the light spot is moved at a low speed in F direction, and if the signal by the V-mark does not appear before the light spot reaches the point c (this is detected by a position detector, not shown, or measurement of time), recording is started, and after the recording is completed, the speed is changed to a high speed and the direction is changed to L (the point b ). If the signal by the V-mark is detected, shift is made to the next information track and a similar is performed. When the light spot is moving in L direction, reproduction of data and check-up of an error are effected, and when the light spot reaches the point c , that is, after all data are reproduced, the speed is changed to a low speed without the direction being changed, and if there is no error when the light spot reaches the point d , a predetermined pattern, i.e., the V-mark, is recorded on the recording area 34 for a predetermined period of time. If there is an error, the recording control signal of Figure 10B is inhibited (dotted line) to thereby inhibit the recording of the V-mark. Irrespective of the presence or absence of an error, after the light spot has passed the point e, the light spot is moved from the data recording portion 32 to the data recording portion 33 and a similar operation is repeated. As described above, in the same manner as in the case of the E-mark, recording of data, verification and recording of the V-mark are completed by one reciprocal movement on the same information tarck and therefore, the recording time can be shortened. In the foregoing description, the speed during recording and the speed during reproduction are made different as shown in Figure 10B, but the effect will not change even if the two speeds are the same. During reproduction, processing somewhat differs between the case where the light spot is at the point a at the start of reproduction and the case where the light spot is at the point b at the start of reproduction. When the light spot is at the point a , if the signal by the V-mark cannot be detected before the light spot reaches the point c , the reproducing process for data is not effected, but track change is effected at a point B and reproduction of the next information track is executed. On the other hand, when the light spot is at the point b , up to error check-up is executed and, if the V-mark cannot be detected, track change is effected irrespective of the presence or absence of an error and reproduction of the next information track is executed. If there is an error in spite of the V-mark having been detected, re-try is repeated a predetermined number of times. Thus, where a plurality of information tracks are to be continuously reproduced in the same manner as in the case of the E-mark, even if there is an information track having no V-mark (hereinafter referred to as the bad track), that bad track need not execute re-try and therefore, even if there is a number of bad tracks, the time required for reproduction does not become so long as compared with a case where there is no bad track. Description will now be made of the error check-up method carried out to record the aforementioned E-mark by the use of the information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the Reed Solomon method will be described as an example of the error correcting method. Figure 18 is an illustration representing a method of adding an error correcting data code to data (m x n) bytes by the Reed Solomon method. Figure 19 is a view showing the arrangement of data of (m x n) bytes and the added error correcting data code in the order of recording. Where data (m x n) bytes are to be recorded on the optical card, an error correcting data code of four bytes is found relative to data m bytes in the vertical direction CII and an error correcting data code of also four bytes is found relative to data n bytes in the horizontal direction CI, whereby data of a total of (m + 4) x (n + 4) bytes are produced (hereinafter referred to as encode), and where the recorded data are to be reproduced from the optical card, data of (m + 4) x (n + 4) bytes are read and data is found for each n bytes while error correction is effected in the direction CI, and this operation is repeated with respect to 1 column- m columns. Also in the direction CII, error correction is effected up to 1 row - n rows and data is found for each m bytes. (This will hereinafter be referred to as decode.) Here, in the encode, error correcting data codes are succcesively found in the direction CII, whereafter error correcting data codes are found with respect to the direction CI, and in the decode, error correction is effected in the direction CI, whereafter error correction is effected in the direction CII. The system in which error correction is thus effected with respect to the direction CI and CII or the directions CII and CI is referred to as the interleave system. Such a system is described in detail, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,413,340, U.S. Patent No. 4,476,562 and U.S. Patent No. 4,546,474. Description will now be made of the error check-up method carried out during verification. Error check-up is effected by the use of the aforedescribed error correcting method. The error check-up during verification is such that error correction only in the direction CI is effected in the aforedescribed decode and where correction cannot be made, it is regarded as verify error. In the present embodiment, when in (n + 4) bytes in the direction CI, an error of three bytes occurs even in one of 1 - m columns, it is regarded as a verify error and data of (m + 4) x (n + 4) bytes are again written into another track. The degree of certainty of the recorded data after recording and verification is determined to an error less than three bytes in (n + 4) bytes in the direction CI, in the matrix by the Reed Solomon method. During the reproduction of the recorded data of (m + 4) x (n + 4) bytes, the aforedescribed decode is effected, that is, in addition to the correction during verification effected after recording, correction is also effcted for the direction CII (the interleave system) and therefore, there is ability to correct the error of the reproduced data resulting from a flaw created after recording and verification or the dust during reproduction. In the present embodiment, where error correction is effected during decode by the use of the interleave system, that error correction is carried out only in the direction CI during verification, whereby the degree of certainty of the data during recording is enhanced and the error correcting ability during reproduction has a superfluity, and the reliability of recording and reproduction of data in the present apparatus is improved. The construction of the information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention will now be described. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the information recording-reproducing apparatus of the present invention. The information recording-reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the drive) 19 is connected to a high-rank control device (hereinafter referred to as the CPU) 9, and communications, control, etc. of data are effected between the drive 19 and the CPU 9. A microprocessing unit (MPU) 10a in the drive 19 contains an ROM and an RAM therein, and controls chiefly a card feeding motor 14 and a head feeding motor 13 and an AT/AF control circuit 11 receives the signal of photodetectors 22, 23 and 24 and drives an AF actuator 15 and an AT actuator 16. A modemodulating circuit 12 varies the intensity of light emitted from an irradiating optical system 17 during recording to thereby execute recording, and demodulates data on the basis of the signal of the photodetector 23 during reproduction. However when the card is inserted, the medium kind discriminating pattern 8 of the reference track shown in Figure 5 is demodulated and discriminated by the MPU 10a. An ECC circuit 10b is controlled by the MPU 10a, and encodes data to be supplied to the modemodulating circuit 12 and decodes the demodulated signal from the modemodulating circuit 12. The recording-reproducing operation of the above-described recording-reproducing apparatus will now be described with reference to Figures 3, 4, 13A, 13B, 14 and 15. Figure 13A is a schematic illustration of an optical card feeding device, and Figure 13B shows the construction of the optical card feeding device. Figure 14 is an illustration for determining the home position of the optical card. Figure 15 illustrates the reference track detecting operation. When the insertion of the optical card 1 into the drive 19 is detected by a sensor, not shown, the card feeding motor 14 is controlled so as to feed the optical card 1 into L direction, and as shown in Figures 13A and 13B, the optical card 1 is fed in L direction by a roller 35. The reference numerals 38 and 39 designate rollers for supporting the optical card. A light-emitting element 37 and a light-receiving element 36 are used to detect the passage of the leading end edge f of the optical card 1 past the light-receiving sensor 36 as shown in Figures 13A and 13B, the signal 36-1 of the light-receiving sensor 36 becomes HIGH at a point f, and when the detection aperture 40 of the optical card passes the light-receiving sensor, the signal becomes LOW at a point g, and after the detection aperture passes the light-receiving sensor, the signal again becomes HIGH at a point h. By the distance or time between f-g and between g-h being measured by a detector, not shown, whether the optical card 1 has been properly inserted is discriminated, and if the insertion is proper, the optical card 1 is conveyed by a predetermined distance and stopped. This stopped position is the home position 3. If the insertion is not proper, the control circuit immediately reverses the rotation of the feed roller 35 to thereby discharge the card 1 and at the same time, urge the operator to re-insert the optical card 1, by means of a buzzer, a lamp or the like. Subsequently, the operation of finding out the reference track (hereinafter referred to as the track 00) is executed. That operation is this: first, when the light spot is at the home position 3 by said operation, the MPU 10a drives the head feeding motor 13 so as to move a light pick-up 18 in the direction of arrow D in Figure 4, and if as described in connection with Figure 15, nothing is written between the tracking tracks, the output 22-1 of the detector 22 corresponding to the light spot S1 is time j, and if something is written between the tracking tracks, the output 22-1 is time k and therefore, the control circuit measures the interval at which the light spot crosses the tracking tracks and finds out the G-mark 7, or examines the presence or absence of the G-mark at a predetermined position on each track while the optical card 1 is fed in L and F directions, and finds out the G-mark 7, and at the point of time whereat the G-mark has been detected, the head feeding motor 13 is stopped, and the optical card is once returned in F direction, and then is moved in L direction, and the G-mark is again detected, whereby it is confirmed that the current information track is the track 00. After the G-mark 7 has been detected, the optical card 1 is intactly fed in L direction (the light spot is in F direction), and the MPU 10a reads the medium kind discriminating pattern 8 (shown in Figure 5) recorded on the track 00. This medium kind discriminating pattern 8 is such that the kind of the information recording-reproducing apparatus to be applied is pre-registered in the ROM in the MPU 10a and the MPU 10a judges whether the inserted optical card is capable of recording and reproducing, and if applicable, the discrimination information of the optical card is transmitted to the CPU 9, and if not applicable, the information of "recording and reproduction being impossible" is transmitted to the CPU 9. Also, when applicable, the MPU 10a informs the CPU 9 that the unit has become ready. In response thereto, the CPU 9 transmits a command for recording or reproduction to the MPU 10a. The reproducing operation will be again described with reference to Figure 9. When the light spot is at the point a , the optical card 1 is conveyed in L direction (that is, the light spot is in F direction), and whether there has existed the E-mark or the V-mark before the light spot reaches the point c is confirmed and memorized. After the light spot reaches the point c , the data demodulation signal from the modemodulating circuit 12 is stored into the RAM in the MPU 10a and the stored data is subjected to the error correction by the inter-leave system, by means of the ECC circuit 10b, and error check-up is executed. After all the data of one information track has been stored and error check-up has been executed, whether there has been the E-mark or the V-mark on the information track being currently reproduced is examined, and if the E-mark is absent and an error is present or if the V-mark is present and an error is present, the direction of feeding of the card is reversed and reproduction (re-try) is executed again. If the E-mark is absent and an error is absent or if the V-mark is present and an error is absent, track change is effected to prepare for the next reproducing operation and the MPU 10a forwards the reproduced data to the CPU 9. When the E-mark is present or when the V-mark is absent, track change is effected irrespective of the presence or absence of an error and the next track is reproduced. The flow of the operation during recording and the flow of the operation during reproduction are shown in Figures 20 and 21, respectively, chiefly about the ECC circuit 10b. During recording, the MPU 10a recognizes the recording mode in accordance with the command from the CPU 9. As shown in Figure 20, at step S1, the data input from the CPU 9 is first supplied to the ECC circuit 10a through the MPU 10a and an error correction data code is imparted. Subsequently, at step S2, the signal to which the error correction data code has been imparted is sent to the modemodulating circuit 12 to drive the irradiating optical system 17, whereby this signal is written into the optical card 1. Subsequently, at step S3, the outputs of the photodetectors 22-24 are supplied to the modemodulating circuit 12, whereby said written-in signal is read out. At step S4, this signal is sent to the ECC circuit 10b through the MPU 10a and error correction is effected. At this time, the ECC circuit 10b effects error correction only in the direction CI on the basis of the command for the recording mode from the MPU 10a. If error correction is possible at step S5, advance is made to step S6, where the V-mark is recorded as described in connection with Figure 12, whereafter advance is made to the next step. If error correction is impossible at step S5, return is made to step S2, where re-recording is effected on the next track. During reproduction, the MPU 10a recognizes the reproducing mode in accordance with the command from the CPU 9 shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 21, at step S11, the signal is first read out from the optical card 1. This reading-out is accomplished by the outputs of the photodetectors 22-24 being sent to the modemodulating circuit 12. Subsequently, at step S12, the read-out signal is sent to the ECC circuit 10b through the MPU 10a, and error correction is effected. At this time, the ECC circuit 10b effects the error correction by the interleave system (the error correction in the directions CI and CII of Figure 18) on the basis of the command for the reproducing mode from the MPU 10a. If at step S13, error correction is possible, this error-corrected reproduced data is output to the CPU 9 through the MPU 10a, and advance is made to the next step. If at step S13, a column or a row which cannot be error-corrected arises, return is made to step S11, where reading-out is re-tried. In Figure 21, reading-out is repeated until error correction becomes possible, but if error correction cannot be accomplished even when it is re-tried several times, the MPU may be informed of the read error and the operation may be discontinued. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus using other medium than the optical card, such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk. The present invention covers all such modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A method of recording and reproducing data comprising writing of data into a recording medium (1) having vertical and horizontal error correction codes, verifying the written data by use of the error correction code in one direction only, rewriting those parts of the data in which the verification step has indicated an abnormality, and characterised in that after verification is carried out the written data is then reproduced and checked for errors using both the vertical and horizontal error codes so that the error correction ability is greater in this step than in the verification step. A method according to claim 1, wherein data is recorded in tracks, and verifying is carried out for individual tracks, the verifying step including writing an error mark on a track when it has been determined that an abnormality exists in the track. A method according to claim 1, wherein data is recorded in tracks, and verifying is carried out for individual tracks, the verifying step including writing a verification mark when it has been determined that no abnormality exists in the track. Data recording and reproducing apparatus comprising means (17) for writing into a recording medium (1) data having vertical and horizontal error codes and for rewriting the data if correction is required, means (22-24,12) for reading data so written, and verifying means (106) for determining by means of an error correction code in one direction only if an error exists in the written data and causing the erroneous data to be rewritten, and characterised in that subsequent to verification the reading means read the data for verification by the verifying means using both the vertical and horizontal error correction codes so that the error correction ability is greater in this step than in the verification step.

Inventors: OGINO TSUKASA, TANIWA SHIGEYUKI, OGINO, TSUKASA, TANIWA, SHIGEYUKI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: G11B7, G11B20