Abstract:
Objectives of the present invention are to prevent a reduction in the accuracy of an OPC which would otherwise occur due to an influence of a change in temperature, and to increase the reliability of a recording data. To this end, in the OPC using a modulation, the OPC is performed with at least one of multiplication coefficients necessary for calculation changed according to temperature.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
   The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP 2006-337782 filed on Dec. 15, 2006, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an optical disc recording method and an optical disc drive apparatus for driving/controlling an optical modulation waveform when recording information on an information recording medium. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   As recordable optical discs, a large number of optical discs such as CD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD±R/RW, Blu-ray Disc (BD)-R/RE, HD DVD have been commercialized and have widely spread among public. In a recordable optical disc apparatus, correction of recording power is performed while recording user data on each medium by using a method called an Optimum Power Control (abbreviated as an OPC), in order to record user data constantly at suitable recording power which would vary due to variable factors such as a temperature, a wavelength of light source, production variation of media and the like. 
   As OPC methods, the followings are known. 
   (1) An OPC Method Mainly Used for Write-Once Discs 
   As an example of an OPC method using asymmetry, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 6-139574 discloses an OPC technique using a method in which an asymmetry of repetitive signals of a shortest mark and space is made equal to an asymmetry of repetitive signals of a longest mark and space. 
   (2) OPC Methods Mainly Used for Re-Writable Discs 
   As an example of an OPC method using a signal modulation (or reflectance), Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-306241 discloses an OPC technique using a method in which recording power is figured out by multiplying power by a coefficient, the power causing a change in reflectance caused by a change in recording power to be maximized. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-067925 disclose an OPC technique using a method in which recording power is figured out by using a gradient of a change in the degree of modulation caused by a change in recording power, or a gradient of a change in a γ-value. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic view for describing a γ-method. In this respect, the γ-value represents a value normalized using a rate of change in the modulation and that of recording power. In  FIG. 1 , a solid line represents the modulation, and a broken line represents a curve describing derivative values thereof. The modulation increases as the power increases, and there is power Ptarget where the modulation sharply increases as a mark is formed. This is a method for figuring out optimum power PWO by multiplying Ptarget by ρ, since the power obtained by multiplying the power around Ptarget by a coefficient causes a margin to be maximized. This method is an index which is not sensitive to a setting offset of recording power. 
   As for an index of the same kind, there is a so-called κ-method. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-298357 describes the κ-method which is recommended in specification of BDs. A recording power control method using the κ-method is to control an optimum recording power according to: a relational characteristic between recording power figured out by trial writing and the modulation figured out from the amplitude of a readout signal of the signal recorded in the trial writing; and values of Ptarget, Mind, κ and ρ which are set in an optical disc in advance. 
     FIG. 2  are schematic diagrams for describing the c-method. Optimum recording power Popt is figured out as follows. First, find an estimation value within a range around the set recording power Ptarget corresponding to a specified modulation Mind on the optical disc, by calculating an equation, Sm=Mm×Pwm, as one of relational characteristics between a plurality of kinds of recording power Pwm set in trial writing, and the modulation Mm found by using the amplitude of a readout signal of a signal recorded at each Pwm. Then, find recording power Pthr in the range at which the modulation becomes zero when the relational characteristic between Pwm and Sm is linearly approximated. Finally, find the optimum recording power Popt by calculating Popt=κ×ρ×Pthr by using the previously-found Pthr and the parameters κ and ρ of the optical disc. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Recordable optical discs are classified into write-once discs, recording layers of which are made of organic dye materials and the like, and rewritable discs, recording layers of which are made of phase change recording materials and the like. Furthermore, among rewritable optical discs, there are those where importance is placed on compatibility with ROM discs, and those which have the center structures and where importance is placed on random access performance. Differences from recording materials between OPC methods are described using BD-RE and BD-R discs. 
     FIG. 3  is a view for showing an experimental result on a relationship between recording power of a BD-RE disc and respective estimate indices.  FIG. 3A  shows a relationship between recording power and jitter;  FIG. 3B  shows a relationship between recording power and modulation; and  FIG. 3C  shows a relationship between recording power and asymmetry. As for recording power, it is shown that adequate recording power is normalized as 100%. 
     FIG. 4  is a view for showing a similar experimental result on a relationship between recording power of a BD-R disc and respective estimate indices. Comparing the rates of change in asymmetry with respect to the changes in recording power as shown in  FIGS. 3C and 4C , it can be seen that the rate of change in the rewritable BD-RE disc is relatively small while the rate of change thereof for the write-once BD-R disc is relatively large. This occurs due to differences in the characteristics of recording materials. In the rewritable BD-RE discs, recording and erasing of data occur simultaneously. For this reason, when recording power is increased to form a large mark, an effect that excess recording power (or erasing power) causes a mark to be small (erasing) also occurs simultaneously. Consequently, a change in the size of the recording mark becomes small with respect to a change in the recording power. This is the reason why the rate of change in asymmetry is relatively small with respect to the recording power. In contrast, in the write-once BD-R discs, since a mark recorded cannot be erased, when the recording power is increased, its heat energy increases and, accordingly, the size of a recording mark to be formed is also increased. This is the reason why the rate of change in asymmetry is relatively large with respect to the recording power. 
   As described above, asymmetry with respect to the change of the recording power, i.e. the difference of the rage of change in the size of a recording mark to be formed, also appears in the behaviors of jitters of both discs. As is clear from comparing  FIG. 3A  with  FIG. 4A , a power margin of the BD-RE disc is large where the rate of change in the size of the recording mark with respect to the recording power is small. 
   Therefore, as an OPC method for a BD-RE disc where the rate of change in asymmetry is relatively small with respect to the recording power, a method is suitable in which recording power threshold P thr  is found from modulation without using asymmetry, and in which suitable recording power is found by multiplying the power threshold thus found with a predetermined coefficient. Meanwhile, as an OPC method for a BD-R disc where the rate of change in asymmetry is relatively large with respect to the recording power, there is generally used a method in which suitable recording power is directly found by using a method of finding recording power where asymmetry is a predetermined value. However, as in the case of the BD-RE disc, it is also possible to found suitable recording power based on the modulation. 
     FIG. 5  is a table showing a summary of OPC methods suitable in response to a difference in recording materials. As described above, as the conventional OPC methods, those using the modulation and asymmetry are disclosed. In the above methods, the OPC method using the modulation has two features as follows.
     1) The modulation indicating the formation of a long mark is a reference.   2) From a result of a power scan being smaller than optimum power, optimum recording power is found.   
   In other words, a long mark, which is hardly influenced by external disturbance, is not considered as a reference and, further, a situation in the vicinity of an optimum power is not considered. 
   Considering temperature characteristics of a medium, for example, in the κ-method, there is a possibility that multiplication coefficients (κ, ρ) used for finding optimum power from Pthr are different. When the multiplication coefficients are different for finding optimum power, the position where target recording power is located changes on a power margin. This optimum power is determined from a system margin, and whether it is high or small in excess, a system margin becomes small. 
     FIG. 6  is a schematic view for showing a result measured by measuring power margins of BD-RE discs for every temperature setting write power found by using the κ-method as 100%. In the κ-method, there is a tendency that, comparing with an OPC at ordinary temperature, high power is found at a low temperature, and low power is found at a high temperature. As a result, a power margin on the high power side becomes small when a temperature is low, and a power margin on the low power side becomes small when a temperature is high. 
   Objects of the present invention are to solve the problems of the above-described conventional technique, and to provide an OPC method and an optical disc apparatus using the method, which are always capable of determining suitable record power in response to a change in temperature. 
   As described above, in rewritable optical discs, since a rate of change in asymmetry is small with respect to a change in recording power, an OPC is performed based on a modulation and, thereby, the recording power is determined. However, in the OPC methods (κ-method, ρ-method) using the modulation, when the multiplication coefficients κ and ρ are fixed with respect to a change of temperature, the power found by the OPC is deviated from optimum power in some cases. 
   Hence, in the present invention, multiplication coefficients of the OPC method are held as multiplication coefficients which are dependent on temperature. Thus, an atmospheric temperature of an optical disc medium is measured and, using a multiplication coefficient corresponding to measured temperature, the optimum recording power is found. 
   Alternatively, a relationship between a standard modulation and an asymmetry equivalent amount is held as standard data, and a relationship between deviation deviated from the standard data and multiplication coefficient values of the OPC method is also held. Data patterns for power correction are practically recorded on/read out from an optical disc medium, so that a relationship between modulation and asymmetry equivalent amount is found. Based on the relationship thus found and the deviation deviated from the standard data, corrected multiplication coefficients of the OPC method is obtained. Using the coefficients, the optimum recording power is to be found. 
   The present invention is capable of providing an OPC method for determining suitable recording power in response to a change in temperature, and capable of providing a highly reliable recording method and an optical disc apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention is useful not only for rewritable optical discs but also for write-once optical discs. 
   According to the present invention, even when an ambient temperature changes, an accuracy of an OPC using the modulation can be secured, so that it is possible to secure a high reliability. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view for describing a γ-OPC method; 
       FIG. 2  is a view for describing a κ-OPC method; 
       FIG. 3  is a view for showing an experimental result on a relationship between recording power for a BD-RE disc and respective estimation index; 
       FIG. 4  is a view for showing an experimental result on a relationship between recording power for a BD-R disc and respective estimation index; 
       FIG. 5  is a view for showing a summary of suitable OPC methods in response to differences in recording materials; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view for showing results in which a power margin of a BD-RE disc is measured at every temperature, with write power found by using a κ-method set as 100%; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view for showing a configuration example of an optical disc apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a view for showing an example of a table of multiplication coefficients of the κ-method of the present invention at each temperature; 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart for showing an example of a recording power determining method according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a view for showing a relationship between jitter and power margin; 
       FIG. 11  is a view for showing a relationship between SER (Symbol Error Rate) and power margin; 
       FIG. 12  is a view for showing an example of a table of multiplication coefficients of the γ-method of the present invention at each temperature; 
       FIG. 13  is a view for showing a result on a relationship between asymmetry and modulation measured at 0° C., 25° C. and 50° C.; 
       FIG. 14  is a view for showing an example of a table for changing multiplication coefficients of the κ-method based on the relationship between asymmetry and modulation; 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart for showing an example of a recording power determining method according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 16  is a view for showing an example of a table for changing multiplication coefficients of the κ-method based on the relationship between asymmetry and modulation. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Using an embodiment, the present invention is described in detail below. 
   First Embodiment 
     FIG. 7  is a schematic view for showing a configuration example of an optical disc apparatus according to the present invention. An optical disc medium  100  is rotated by a motor  160 . A CPU  140  detects an ambient temperature of the optical disc medium  100  by using a temperature sensor  170 . A memory  180  holds a table such as one shown in  FIG. 8 , and the CPU  140  calculates an OPC by using coefficients κ and ρ stored in the table. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the coefficients κ and ρ of a κ-method are caused to be temperature-dependent. In an example of  FIG. 8 , κ=κ 0  which represents a value κ at 25° C. and ρ=ρ 0  which represents a value ρ at 25° C. are set as referential values. When a temperature is 0° C. lower than the above, the value ρ is set to be ρ=0.95×ρ 0 ; when a temperature is 50° C. higher than the above, the value κ and the value ρ are set to be κ=1.05×κ 0  and ρ=1.05×ρ, respectively. Even at temperatures other than 0° C. and 50° C., the coefficients κ and ρ having the temperature dependency may be set in the same manner. 
   At the time of reading out from the optical disc medium  100 , a laser power/pulse controller  120  controls electric current which is to flow to a laser diode  112  in an optical head  110 , so that laser light  114  is generated in order to reach a light intensity instructed by the CPU  140 . The laser light  114  is converged through an objective lens  111 , so that a light spot  101  is formed on the light disc medium  100 . Reflected light  115  from the light spot  101  is detected by a photodetector  113  through the objective lens  111 . The photodetector  113  is formed of plural segmented photo-detecting elements. A readout signal processing circuit  130  reads out information recorded on the optical disc medium  100  by using a signal detected by the optical head  110 . 
   At the time of recording on the optical disc medium  100 , the laser power/pulse controller  120  converts predetermined recording data into predetermined recoding pulse current, and controls so that pulse light is irradiated from the laser diode  112 . In the present embodiment, although recording power is set following to an OPC of the γ-method, coefficients κ and ρ used at this time are those having temperature dependency as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   A method for determining recording power in the present embodiment is described with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 9 . A sequence shown in  FIG. 9  is held in the memory  180  as a program. The CPU  140  executes the sequence shown in  FIG. 9  by using the program held in the memory  180 , the table, and outputs from the temperature sensor  170 . 
   First, to start the OPC, obtained are OPC parameters such as recording start power and recording termination power for a disc to be operated, and recording parameters such as power scan information and storage information (S 101 ). Next, numerous kinds of recording power PWm are set according to a predetermined condition; and a predetermined signal pattern, e.g. an isolated 8T mark with the predetermined length, is recorded on a trial writing area of the optical disc by using respective PWm (S 102 ). 
   The numerous kinds of recording power PWm are set based on mean optimum recording power which is obtained, for example, by reading mean optimum recording power on the disc, which is stored in advance in an optical recording/reading device, or by reading out mean optimum recording power which is recorded in advance on an information control area of the disc. As an example, numerous kinds of recording power setting values Dm (m is an integer, for example, m=1, 2, 3, . . . 16), which are stored in advance in an optical recording/reproduction device, are read. The numerous kinds of recording power PWm are set by using an equation, PWm=(mean optimum recording power)*Dm and respective Dm. 
   Next, an area where a trial writing has been performed is read out, so that a high envelope (Henv) and a low envelope (Lenv) of readout signals corresponding to respective PWm are measured, and the modulation Mm, which is defined by an equation, Mm=(Henv−Lenv)/Henv, is calculated (S 103 ). A relationship between the modulation Mm and the corresponding recording power PWm becomes for example, those in  FIGS. 2 and 3B . 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an estimation value Smn=Mm×Pwm in the κ-method is calculated, and a relational characteristic between correction recording power Pwm and the estimation value Smn is linearly approximated in the neighborhood of Mind (modulation recommended for discs), whereby recording power threshold Pthr is calculated, at which a modulation, i.e. an estimation value, is zero (S 104 ). Subsequently, with reference to a temperature sensor value of a drive which is performing an OPC, the values κ and ρ depending on temperature thus referred are obtained from the table of  FIG. 8  (S 105 ). 
   By using the calculated recording power threshold Pthr and a multiplication coefficient obtained from the table of  FIG. 8 , by performing a calculation of the equation, Popt=κ×ρ×Pthr, the optimum recording power Popt is calculated (S 106 ). Using the optimum recording power Popt thus determined, recording on a recording disc is performed. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  show results of relationships recorded using recording power found by the OPC of the present embodiment and measured at temperatures of 0° C., 25° C. and 50° C., the relationships being those between a jitter being a representative index for a recording quality, or symbol error rate (abbreviated as SER) and power margin. It can be seen that an improvement was made that, by introducing the table of  FIG. 8 , power margins at each temperature agree in jitter and SER. Specifically, by setting the multiplication coefficients κ and ρ to be temperature-dependent, a margin for temperature can be increased. This effect was confirmed on another disc. Furthermore, the effect that the multiplication coefficients are changed according to temperature is also effective for the γ-method using the same modulation; and, by changing the ρ value of Popt=ρ×Ptarget according to temperature as shown in  FIG. 12 , power margins at the time of recording can be set to be the same even when ambient temperatures are different. 
   Second Embodiment 
   Another embodiment is described in which multiplication coefficients are not fixed to temperatures but is variable with reference to asymmetry and modulation. In the present embodiment, no information is necessary from the temperature sensor. 
     FIG. 13  is a view for showing results of relationships between asymmetry and modulation measured at 0° C., 25° C. and 50° C. For example, where asymmetry is −5%, modulations are different at each temperature. In this embodiment, using this relationship, differences such as temperatures and recording states are detected, and optimum power is found by changing the coefficients κ and ρ. 
   Accordingly, for example, the values of the modulations when asymmetries measured by a standard drive apparatus are −5% and 0%, are tabulated in a reference database as standard values of the modulation, and stored in a memory area of control software. In mass-produced drive apparatuses, with reference to the reference data base, κ and ρ are changed as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
   In an example of  FIG. 14 , in a reference data base, the modulation M 0  at which an asymmetry is −5% and the modulation M 1  at which an asymmetry is 0% are registered. The degrees of modulations at which asymmetries are −5% and 0%, were measured by using a notable drive apparatus, and they were found to be Mm 0  and Mm 1 . When the measured modulation Mm 0  satisfies 0.98×M 0 ≦Mm 0 ≦1.02×M 0 , the standard values κ 0  and ρ 0  are used as the κ and ρ values used for the OPC of the κ-method. When the measured modulation Mm 0  is less than 0.98×M 0 , values that the standard values are multiplied by α, are used as the κ and ρ values. When the measured modulation Mm 0  is greater than 1.02×M 0 , values that the standard values are multiplied by β are used as the κ and ρ values. The values of α and β can be found experimentally. For Mm 1 , the same procedure as that for Mm 0  is performed, so that the accuracy of the values, α and β, is raised by performing simple averaging, weighted averaging and the like. 
   Here, there is shown the example in which the values of modulations where asymmetries are −5% and 0% are held in the reference data base, but what is used in this example is applicable on condition that the rates of change in the modulation and the asymmetry due to a change in the recording power are small, i.e. the recording power is large. 
     FIG. 15  is a flowchart for describing a method of determining recording power in the present embodiment. A sequence shown in  FIG. 15  and standard data base shown in  FIG. 16  are held in the memory  180  of the optical disc apparatus shown in  FIG. 7  as a program. The CPU  140  executes the sequence shown in  FIG. 15  using the program and table held in the memory  180 . 
   First, to start the OPC, obtained are OPC parameters such as recording start power and recording termination power for a disc, and recording parameters such as power scan information and storage information (S 201 ). Next, numerous kinds of recording powers PWm are set according to a predetermined condition; and predetermined signal patterns are recorded on a trial writing area of the optical disc by using each PWm (S 202 ). In the present embodiment, since asymmetry equivalent amounts (asymmetry, β) are obtained later, the signal patterns to be recorded need to be random patterns or patterns mixed of a long mark and a short mark. 
   Next, an area where a trial writing is performed is reproduced, so that a high envelope (Henv) and a low envelope (Lenv) of readout signals corresponding to respective PWm are measured, and the modulation Mm, which is defined by an equation Mm=(Henv−Lenv)/Henv, is calculated (S 203 ). Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an estimation value Smn=Mm×Pwm in the κ-method is calculated, and a relational characteristic between correction recording power Pwm and an estimation value Smn is linearly approximated in the neighborhood of Mind (modulation recommended for discs), whereby recording power threshold Pthr is calculated at which the modulation, i.e. an estimation value, is zero (S 204 ). 
   Next, since multiplication coefficients used at the time of calculating of OPC are determined not with reference to temperature measured by the temperature sensor as in the first embodiment but with reference to a recording state, an asymmetry equivalent amount ASYm (m is an integer) and modulation are obtained at the same time. Based on the relationship between measured ASYm and Mm, a difference from the standard data held in advance is figured out, whereby the values κ and ρ are obtained with reference to tables such as those in  FIG. 14  (S 205 ). Next, using calculated recording power threshold Pthr and the κ and ρ values thus obtained, an operation of the equation, Popt=κ×ρ×Pthr, is performed, whereby optimum recording power Popt is calculated (S 206 ). Using the optimum recording power Popt thus determined, recording on a recording disc is performed. 
   The present embodiment is also applicable to the case where there are fluctuations in a temperature sensor; the case where there are fluctuations due to a drive when there are changes in temperature; and the like. 
   As described above, the method is described in which the rate of change of modulation is detected by setting the asymmetry as a reference, and thereby an operation value is changed. Another method is also considered in which the change in asymmetry is measured by setting the modulation as a reference, and thereby an operation value is changed. In this case, a reference database and a conversion table for κ and ρ values such as those shown in  FIG. 16  instead of  FIG. 14  may be used. 
   In an example shown in  FIG. 16 , in the case where the degrees of modulation measured by a reference drive apparatus are 35% and 40%, asymmetry values ASY 0  and ASY 1  are tabulated in a reference database as standard asymmetry values. In mass-produced drive apparatuses, κ and ρ are changed as shown in  FIG. 16  with reference to the reference data base and a relationship between measured modulation and asymmetry. Specifically, in a notable drive apparatus, assuming that the asymmetry is ASYm 0  when the modulation is 35% and that the asymmetry is ASYm 1  when the modulation is 40%, when ASYm 0  satisfies 0.98×ASY 0 ≦ASYm 0 ≦1.02×ASY 0 , the standard values κ 0  and ρ 0  are used as κ and ρ values to be used for an OPC of the κ-method. When the measured asymmetry ASYm 0  is less than 0.98×ASY 0 , values that the standard values are multiplied by α, are used as the κ and ρ values. Meanwhile, when the measured asymmetry ASYm 0  is greater than 1.02×ASY 0 , values that the standard values are multiplied by β are used as the κ and ρ values. The values, α and β, can be found experimentally. For ASYm 1 , the same procedure as that for ASYm 0  is performed, so that the accuracy of the values, α and β, are raised by performing simple averaging, weighted averaging and the like. 
   The following methods in the present embodiment are effective also on the γ-method: the method in which the change in the modulation is detected by setting an asymmetry as a reference, and thereby an operation value is changed, or the method in which the change in asymmetry is measured by setting the modulation as a reference and an operation value is changed. By varying the value ρ of Popt=ρ×Ptarget as in the cases of  FIGS. 14 and 16 , power margins at the time of recording can be set to be the same values, even when ambient temperatures are different. 
   The present invention is applicable to high-capacity optical disc apparatuses which are compatible with optical discs having a recording layer.