Optical information recording and erasing method

Abstract: A method of recording and erasing a signal on a recording medium having an information recording layer capable of reversibly varying between two states by irradiation with high density energy flux of laser beam or the like. In this method, for example, two circular or nearly circular laser light spots are closely disposed on a single track, and by properly selecting the distance of the two and the emission mode, a high erasing ratio and a high tracking performance may be realized. The preceding spot is emitted in a mode capable of continuously melting the irradiated portion without gap, for example, in a DC mode or in a high frequency mode by far as compared with recording frequency, and a high erasing ratio is realized by canceling the past history in the irradiated portion. The suceeding spot is modulated between two power levels depending on the signal, and the track right after erasure is irradiated, and a new recording mark corresponding to the power change is formed.

Description: This invention relates to a method of recording and erasing signals by emitting high density energy flux on a rewritable optical information recording medium, and more particularly to a method of overwriting signals. Several ideas have been proposed for the method of overwriting information signal by emitting laser beam onto an optical information recording medium having a phase change type recording material such as chalcogenide glass film, that is, the method of recording new signals directly on the existing signals while erasing them. For example, a method of overwriting by using a single laser spot is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-145530. Or a method of overwriting by using two laser spots is unveiled in the Proceedings of SPIE, volume 420, N° 27, june 1983, p. 173. The former method (the method of overwriting by single laser spot) is generally known as the single laser beam overwrite method, in which the recording medium is irradiated with a laser beam modulated between two levels of recording level and erasing level. At this time, the portion irradiated with high laser power is once melted and then cooled to be amorphous, while the portion irradiated with lower laser power is kept at a temperature exceeding the crystallization temperature for a specified time to be crystallized. When this process is realized regardless of the state before irradiation with laser beam, that is, whether it is a recording mark part in amorphous state or an erased part in crystalline state, it is possible to overwrite by a single laser spot. The single laser spot overwriting function has various merits, that is, the optical system is simplified, and the access time for rewriting is shortened to half (provided the rotating speed be identical). On the other hand, as a demerit, the erasing ratio is not sufficient (Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 26, 1987, Suppl. 26-4). The other method (the method of overwriting by two laser spots) was the first demonstration of the image recording by using phase change type medium. The preceding light spot is elliptical, stretched long in the track direction. When this spot passes over the medium the temperature of the medium is raised over the crystallization temperature, and it is kept in that state for a while to be crystallized. As a result, the recording signal recorded in amorphous state is erased. The succeeding spot is circular. When this spot passes over the medium, the temperature of the medium rises rapidly, instantly going over the melting point, and it is quickly cooled next moment. As a result, a record mark in amorphous state is formed. This two-spot method was advantageous in that high speed overwrite was possible even if a recording material slow in the crystallization speed was used. But in this method, too, the erasing ratio was poor. A method for improving the erasing ratio has been already disclosed, for example, in the USP 4,710,911. This is a method of realizing melt-anneal process on a medium by disposing two light spots closely on a same track. The part irradiated with the preceding spot is instantly melted and the atomic distribution of the part is randomized to cancel its past history. Thus, a high erasing ratio is established. The succeeding spot irradiates with a moderate power so as not to melt the irradiated part, and crystallizes the portion after the above melting process. This is an operation for writing a new signal in the next step. In this method, however, a third spot is needed for recording a new signal during one pass, and the structure of the optical head has been complicated in order to focus the three spots on the same track at high precision. European Patent Application EP-A-0223057 which reflects the preamble of the independent claims, discloses an optical erasing and re-recording apparatus which utilizes two laser beam spots which are spaced apart along the same recording track. Recording is performed by combining a preceding light spot having a defocused condition with a succeeding light spot having a first in focus condition while erasing is performed with the proceeding light spot just in focus and the succeeding light spot in a defocused condition. Further, the beam spots never heat the recording medium to a temperature sufficient to melt the film. EP-A-0146109 discloses an optical erasing and re-recording apparatus which utilizes two laser beam spots which are spaced apart along the same recording track. Control means are provided to control the spacing between the light spots as well as the length of elliptical spots when such a desired. The present invention provides an optical information recording method for overwriting information signals on a rewritable optical information recording medium comprising at least a substrate and a phase change type recording material film formed on said substrate which reversibly changes its ordering of atomic distribution between a relatively more ordered state and a relatively less ordered state, the method comprising the steps of erasing and recording by irradiating said medium with two laser beam spots which are spaced apart along the same recording track characterized in that said two spots are spaced apart along a same recording track of said medium while keeping the spacing between adjacent half intensity points of said two spots to within 0 to 100 um and are focussed onto said track, wherein a preceding one of said two spots which first irradiates each position of said track is circular or ellipsoidal in shape stretched along in the track direction and when ellipsoidal has ellipse ratio of at most 1:2, and a succeeding one of said two spots which irradiates a position of said track just irradiated by said preceding spot is circular in shape, in that the step of erasing comprises cancelling a recording history of said track, regardless of a recording state of said track, by irradiation of said preceding spot having a power level which is high enough to melt said film, and in the step of recording comprises recording binary information signals on said track by successive irradiation of said succeeding spot in the same period of rotation of said medium as in said step of erasing, wherein an irradiation power level of said succeeding spot is modulated between a peak power level high enough to melt said film at an irradiated position and a bias power level not so high as to melt said film at an irradiated position. This invention presents a method of overwriting while keeping a high erasing ratio, by successively emitting two closely disposed circular or nearly circular laser spots to the portion to be erased. The preceding spot is emitted on the medium with a high power enough to melt the illuminated portion to cancel the past history on the medium. The succeeding spot is modulated between the amorphization level and the crystallization level, and a binary value recording is accomplished. By shortening the entire length of the spot row by using nearly circular or approximately circular spots the light spots can be precisely disposed on a track and can be more readily tracked. By shortening the total emission time by modulating the intensity at a frequency higher than the recording frequency the service life of the diodes and particularly that providing the preceding light spot can increased. An alternative embodiment provides a method of overwriting by bringing the two spots closer to each other until partly overlapped. In this case, the role of the succeeding spot is to control the cooling rate of the portion heated by the preceding spot, so that the same effect as in the primary object may be obtained if driven with a relatively low power. Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B are diagrams showing the shape and configuration of laser spots for explaining the optical information recording and erasing method in one of the embodiments of this invention; Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B are digarams to show the irradiation conditions fo the above laser spots; Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B are characteristic diagrams to show the temperature changes of the recording film when irradiated in the above irradiation conditions; Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B are the shape of the laser spots for explaining other embodiment of the invention; and a drawing to explain their configuration and function; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a typical structure of an optical disk for applying the method of this invention; Fig. 6 is a characteristic diagram to show the relation between the erasing power and erasing ratio; and Fig. 7A, Fig. 7B are the diagrams for further practically showing the structure of overwriting method of this invention in comparison with the overwriting by the conventional two-spot configuration. The following are possible reasons why a sufficiently large erasing ratio was not obtained when overwriting with a single laser spot. One is that the amorphous state part for forming the record mark and the surrounding crystalline part are mutually different in optical characteristics (optical absorption) and thermal characteristics (thermal conductivity, specific heat). That is, when making a new record directly on a track on which any previous record marks are left over, if the recording part and erasing part are irradiated with the same laser power, a large difference is caused in the heating-cooling process between the two. This fact means that the effect of the previous mark remains even after overwriting and is superposed in the shape of a new record mark, which lowers the erasing ratio. Another reason is that the intensity distribution of a laser spot conforms to a Gaussian distribution. An amorphous mark is formed by rapidly cooling the part melted by laser irradiation. At this time, certain portions crystallized from the molten state are formed in the periphery of the amorphous mark. Such portions are larger in crystal grain size and aligned in the crystalline orientation as compared with the crystalline state obtained by crystallizing the amorphous mark through solid process. In other words, when the whole track on which amorphous marks are recorded, is crystallized for erasing through solid process, only the contour shape of the record marks become residual signal as crystals larger in the grain size as compared with the surrounding area, which is a cause of low erasing ratio. The second reason above applies to the insufficiency of the erasing ratio when overwritten by use of two laser spots. This invention is intended to establish overwriting with two laser spots maintaining a high erasing ratio through eliminating the above-discussed causes. Referring now to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the configuration of laser spots and method of irradiation for embodying the optical information recording and erasing method of this invention are described below. Fig. 1A refers to an embodiment of disposing two circular laser spots on a track 3. A preceding erasing spot 1 is emitted on the medium with a power equal to the peak power of a recording spot 2 (that is, the power capable of melting the irradiated part) or a slightly higher power. At this time, as shown in Fig. 2, when the erasing spot 2 is emitted as being modulated at a sufficiently higher frequency as compared with recording frequency or without modulation, all the recording film on the track is once melted. As a result, the past history on the track is canceled. Modulation of laser is effective to extend the life of the laser diode by shortening the emission time. Fig. 1B relates to an embodiment of using an elliptical light spot somewhat longer in the track direction as erasing spot 1′. Same as in Fig. 1A, the erasing laser spot is not modulated or modulated at a sufficiently higher frequency as compared with the recording frequency, and is emitted prior to the recording laser spot. In the case of a nearly circular erasing laser spot, since the irradiation time becomes longer in proportion to the length, the power density for obtaining the same final temperature may be lowered than in the case of circular erasing spot. In this case, the total power becomes larger to the contrary, but since the emission pattern of the presently realized laser diode is an ellipsoidal shape of the ratio of ellipse of about 1:2, when the spot shape is selected approximately in this ellipsoidal form, it is possible to focus efficiently in a simple lens system. That is, high transmission efficiency and inexpensive optical system can be realized. The light spot row applied in this invention may be easily realized on the medium surface by synthesizing two laser beams by the optical system. When using a laser diode, it may be easily composed by mounting two laser chips, or using a multi-laser array having two laser emitting parts. The interval between the centres of the two laser spots may be properly selected. If too apart from each other, it is difficult to incorporate them into the same lens system, or to arrange on the same track. Considering the position where the intensity of each spot becomes half, it is preferable to keep their positions within about 2 to 100 µm. A further closer spot configuration is described later (Fig. 4) and can be used. Fig. 3 shows the mode of time-wise temperature changes occurring at one point on the track when overwriting according to the optical information recording and erasing method of this invention. In the diagram, the solid line indicates the temperature changes caused by passing of the erasing spot, and the broken line represents the temperature changes when the recording spot passes in succession. It is known that the irradiated part is once melted whether in erasing-recording or in erasing alone. Whether the recording mark should be selected at the higher side of the order or at the lower side should be determined by the characteristics of the recording film. When selected at the higher side, the erasing state may be selected at the lower side of the order, and the recording spot may be modulated between the reproducing level and the recording level. Fig. 4 shows another spot configuration for embodying the optical information recording and erasing of this invention. As shown in Fig. 4A, it is characterised that the two spots are placed very close to each other. The preceding spot works to once melt the recording film in the irradiated part. In this case it is effective to irradiate continuously with a constant power, but it may be also possible to modulate at high frequency. When modulating at high frequency, as compared with the method explained in Fig. 1, it is necessary to raise the frequency furthermore. The succeeding laser spot effects on/off switching corresponding to the recording signal, and the cooling rate from the molten state is controlled. Fig. 4B shows the mode of temperature-dependent change of the recording film in the irradiated part when the second spot is turned on, and Fig. 4C shows that when it is turned off. It is known from here the recording film is cooled somewhat slowly in ON state as compared with OFF state. When the succeeding spot is turned on, the recording film is cooled slowly from the molten state, and becomes a stable state, for example, a crystalline state. On the other hand, in OFF state, the recording film is cooled quickly, and a metastable state, such as an amorphous state is formed. In other words, two values may be recorded by modulating the succeeding light spot depending on the signal. The optical information recording and erasing method of the invention may be applied effectively in all recording media making use of reversible phase changes between amorphous state and crystal, and between crystals. As the amorphous-crystal phase change material, very high speed crystallizing materials include GeTe, GeSb₂Te₄, Ge₂Sb₂Te₅, Inse, InSeTlCo and others, and relatively highspeed crystallizing materials include GeSnTeAu, GeSbTeSe, TeSnTeO, SeTeSn, GaSeTe, and others. As the crystal-crystal phase change material, InSb, AgZn and others may be used. This invention is further described below while referring to practical examples. EMBODIMENT 1 On a polycarbonate substate of 1. 2 mm in thickness and 130 mm in diameter, a ZnS protective layer of 100 nm, GeSb₂Te₄ recording layer of 60 nm, ZnS protective layer of 200 nm, and Au reflection layer of 20 nm were sequentially deposited, and an identical polycarbonate substrate was glued thereon by an adhesive, and an optical disk was prepared (Fig. 5). Each layer was formed by evaporating in a vacuum of about 1 × 10⁻⁴ P. For forming the recording layer, individually controllable three sources and electron guns were used. A substrate may pass sequentially over each source. On the substrate, a track groove of 0.6 µm in width and 0.07 µm in depth for optical guide was preliminarily formed. In the recording and erasing test using a disk, a dynamic tester (deck) having the following laser spots was used. That is, for recording, a laser beam of 780 nm in wavelength was focussed into a circular light spot of half-value width of 0.8 µm. For erasing, two configurations with a laser beam of 830 nm in wavelength were tested. For one case a laser spot was focussed into a circular spot of half-value width of 0.9 µm and for the other case it was focussed into an ellipsoidal form of 1:2 slightly longer in the track direction. The interval of the two spots (recording spot and erasing spot) was 5 µm at the respective half-value points. The disk was rotated at 3600 rpm, and the erasing ratio was measured at two points, that is, the linear speed of 10 m/sec (inner circumference) and 20 m/sec (outer circumference). The measuring procedure is given below. a) The track to be measured is initialized (crystallized). As the method of initializing, heating of the disk in an oven and sequential radiation of tracks by laser beam for erasing are known. The latter method was employed here. b) At the recording power of 20 mW (20 m/sec), 12 mW (10 m/sec), 5 MHz single frequency mode recording was effected. In both cases, a CNR of about 55 dB was obtained. c) The erasing ratio was measured for various power of the erasing spot. The erasing spot was emitted without modulation. The erasing ratio was measured by the difference in the carrier level before and after erasure as measured by a spectrum analyzer. The results of measurement are shown in Fig. 6. It is known from this diagram that each erasing ratio critically increases at certain powers for various conditions of the linear velocity and spot shape. Through transmission electron microscope observation much larger crystal grains were found in the track corresponding to the high erasing ratio as compared with the initialized portion. Particularly, the large crystal grains orthogonal to the track direction in the crystal orientation, which indicated that the recording film on this track was once melted. In the case of the recording film used in this embodiment, it was hard to produce an amorphous state by no-modulation irradiation. EMBODIMENT 2 As in embodiment 1, a circular erasing spot was employed, and the erasing spot and recording spot were disposed on the track so that the interval of half values may be 0 to 100 µm, and overwriting was effected. The erasing spot was set at slightly higher powers than the power at which erasing ratio is saturated, that is, 20 mW (20 m/sec) and 14 mW (10 m/sec), and was emitted without modulation, and the recording spot was immediately emitted in succession. The recording spot was modulated between the peak values of 18 to 22 mW (20 m/sec), 12 mW to 16 mW (10 m/sec), and the bias values of 12 mW (20 m/sec), 8 mW (10 m/sec). Recording was effected alternately at the recording frequencies of 5 MHz and 3.5 MHz (20 m/sec), or 2.5 and 3.5 MHz (10 m/sec), and the CNR and erasing ratio of 7 MHz component (20 m/sec) and 3.5 MHz (10 m/sec) were measured. The results corresponding to each power are shown in Table 1. It is known from this table that the high CNR and high erasing ratio were both realized in overwriting. Similar results were obtained when the erasing spot was nearly circular. An embodiment of modulating also the erasing light spot is described below. EMBODIMENT 3 The same system as in embodiments 1, 2 was employed. The erasing spot was elliptical (0.9 × 1.8 µm), and the erasing spot power was modulated in the condition of linear velocity of 10 m/sec. In order to once melt whole of the track, it is necessary to satisfy the relation of F = > V/L , supposing the effective radius (half width) of the preceding laser spot in the track direction to be L, the relative speed of the medium and the spot to be V, and the modulation frequency of erasing spot to be F. In this embodiment, from the length 1.8 µm of the spot in the track direction and the linear velocity of 10 m/sec, it is calculated that the modulation frequency of over 5 MHz be necessary in order to melt all positions on the track. At the recording frequency of 2.5 MHz and 3.5 MHz, the CNR and erasing ratio were measured at 3.5 MHz. The recording power was 14 mW and the erasing power was 15 mW. The results of measurement for various modulation frequency are shown in Table 2. It is known from this table that the erasing ratio is critically improved when the erasing frequency is over 5 MHz. It was necessary to set the erasing power somewhat higher as compared with the case of irradiation without modulation. Relation between Modulation Frequency of Erasing Light and Erasing Ratio Modulation frequency of erasing light (MHz) CNR (dB) Erasing Ratio (dB) 3.5 45 -33 4 48 -35 4.5 50 -38 5 52 -41 5.5 53 -43 6 54 -45 7.5 55 -45 8 55 -45 8.5 55 -45 9 55 -45 9.5 55 -45 10 55 -45 A next embodiment relates to an example of bringing two spots closer until overlapped. EMBODIMENT 4 Fig. 7 compares the two-spot configuration of this invention, and the two-spot configuration of the prior art. In the conventional method, the preceding erasing spot was shaped into an oval spot of 1 × 7 µm (wavelength 830 nm), and the succeeding recording spot was shaped into a circular form of 0.8 µm in diameter (wavelength 780 nm). The interval of the two was 5 µm in half value. In this case, the length from the beginning till the end of the two spots was about 13 µm. In the composition of this invention, the tester explained in embodiment 1 is used. In this case, the center distance of two circular laser spots was set at 0.7 µm. In this condition, the two spots are partly overlapped, and the length from the beginning till the end of the two spots was about 1.5 µm. Rotating the disk at 3600 rpm, overwriting was effected at the linear velocity of 15 m/sec points. The procedure of experiment is shown below. a) A signal was recorded on the track at frequency of 5 MHz. At this time, 53 dB of CNR was obtained. b) On the above track, a signal of 3 MHz was newly overwritten. At this time, in the method of this invention, 16 mW was continuously emitted as the preceding spot, and the succeeding spot was modulated between 7 mW and the reproducing light level of 1 mW. In the conventional method, the preceding spot was continuously emitted at the power of 20 mW, and the power of the succeeding spot was modulated between 18 mW and the reproducing light level of 1 mW. c) The attenuation ratio (erasing ratio) of the 5 MHz signal component and the CNR of 3 MHz signal were measured by spectrum analyzer, and evaluated. The results of measurement are shown in Table 3. Erasing ratio (dB) CNR (dB) Prior art -37 dB 54 dB This invention -43 dB 53 dB Accordingly this invention realizes the following features. a) It is possible to overwrite at a high signal quality, that is, without effect of the signal before rewriting when rewriting the information. b) The optical system is simple because a nearly circular light spots can be used. c) Tracking is easy because the length of spot row is short. Hence an optical information recording and erasing method having such features is realized.

Claims: An optical information recording method for overwriting information signals on a rewritable optical information recording medium comprising at least a substrate (11) and a phase change type recording material film (13) formed on said substrate (11) which reversibly changes its ordering of atomic distribution between a relatively more ordered state and a relatively less ordered state, the method comprising the steps of erasing and recording by irradiating said medium with two laser beam spots (1, 1', 2) which are spaced apart along the same recording track characterised in that said two spots (1, 1', 2) are spaced apart along a same recording track (3) of said medium while keeping the spacing between adjacent half intensity points of said two spots (1, 1', 2) to within 0 to 100 µm and are focussed onto said track (3), wherein a preceding one (1, 1') of said two spots (1, 1' 2) which first irradiates each position of said track (3) is circular or ellipsoidal in shape stretched along in the track direction and when ellipsoidal has ellipse ratio of at most 1:2, and a succeeding one (2) of said two spots (1, 1' 2) which irradiates a position of said track (3) just irradiated by said preceding spot (1, 1') is circular in shape, in that the step of erasing comprises cancelling a recording history of said track (3), regardless of a recording state of said track (3), by irradiation of said preceding spot (1, 1') having a power level which is high enough to melt said film (13), and in the step of recording comprises recording binary information signals on said track (3) by successive irradiation of said succeeding spot (2) in the same period of rotation of said medium as in said step of erasing, wherein an irradiation power level of said succeeding spot (2) is modulated between a peak power level high enough to melt said film (13) at an irradiated position and a bias power level not so high as to melt said film (13) at an irradiated position. A method according to claim 1, wherein said bias power level is set up to be high enough to recover the ordering of atomic distribution of said film (13) when said film (13) is in the relatively less ordered state after irradiation by said succeeding spot (2). An optical information recording method for overwriting information signals on a rewritable optical information recording medium which comprises at least a substrate (11) and a phase change type recording material film (13) formed on said substrate (11) which reversibly changes its ordering of atomic distribution between a relatively more ordered state and a relatively less ordered state, the method comprising the steps of erasing and recording by irradiating two laser beam spots (4,5) onto said medium which rotates; characterized in that said two spots (4,5) are spaced along a same recording track (6) of said medium so as to overlap partly with each other and are focussed onto said track (5), wherein a preceding one (4) of said two spots (4,5) which first irradiates each position of said track (6) is circular or ellipsoidal in shape stretched long in the track direction and when ellipsoidal has an ellipse ratio of at most 1:2, and a succeeding one (5) of said two spots (4,5) which irradiates a position of said track (6) is circular in shape, in that the step of erasing comprises cancelling a recording history of said track (6), regardless of a recording state of said track (6) by irradiation of said preceding spot (4) having a power level which is high enough to melt said film (13), and in that the step of recording comprises recording binary information signals on said track (6) by successive irradiation of said succeeding spot (4) in the same period of rotation of said medium as in said step of erasing, wherein an irradiation power level of said succeeding spot (5) is modulated between two power levels, which are each not so high as to melt said film (13) at an irradiated position, for controlling a cooling rate of a position melted by irradiation of said preceding spot (4), a first relatively higher power level for decreasing said cooling rate in order to make said irradiated position a relatively more ordered state, and a second relatively lower power level in order to make said irradiated position a relatively less ordered state. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said succeeding spot (2,5) is ellipsoidal in shape which is the same as an emission pattern of a laser diode light source of said preceding spot (1,1',4) and which is elongated in a direction coincident with a direction of said track (3,6). A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said preceding spot (1,1',4) is modulated between the two power levels at a frequency of F ≧ V /L where F is a modulation frequency, V is a relative speed between said medium and said spots (1,1',2,4,5) and L is an effective radius which is a half width of the power level of said preceding spot (1,1',4) in said track direction. A method according to claim 1, 3 or 5, wherein the power density of said preceding spot (1,1',4) is selected to be at least that of said succeeding spot (2,5) so as to make the temperature of an irradiated position of said preceding spot (1,1',4) to be at least equal to that of said succeeding spot (2,5). A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said rewritable optical information recording medium comprises material producing one of a reversible phase change between amorphous and crystalline phases and a reversible phase change between a crystalline phase and another crystalline phase.

Inventors: NISHIUCHI KENICHI, OHNO EIJI, YAMADA NOBORU, NISHIUCHI, KENICHI, OHNO, EIJI, YAMADA, NOBORU
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B7