Abstract:
According to an embodiment, there is provided an optical storage media recording/reproducing apparatus for calibrating an amount of light energy output by the recording/reproducing apparatus during a recording operation, the recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit to read unique property information from a writable optical disc inserted into the apparatus, which was pre-recorded on the disc during its manufacture; a controller to access stored data concerning optimum test writing parameters relevant to the recording/reproducing apparatus using the unique property information; and a recording unit to write test data on the disc in accordance with the accessed stored data concerning the optimum test writing parameters.

Description:
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/029,495 filed on Jan. 6, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,251,205, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/645,599 filed on Aug. 22, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,088,655 issued Aug. 8, 2006, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/397,028, filed on Sep. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,965 B1 issued Nov. 11, 2003, and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120; and this application claims priority of application Ser. No. 39128/1998 filed in Korea on Sep. 18, 1998 under 35 U.S.C. § 119; the entire contents of all are hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a recording/reproducing apparatus for a writable optical storage medium, and in particular to the optimization of writing parameters (for example, a writing light power, writing beam profile (or, writing strategy)) for writing of a writable optical storage medium, based on experimentally determined optimum test writing parameter for the writable optical storage medium according to the manufacturer thereof, by associating data indicative of the manufacturer of a writable optical storage medium and optimum test writing parameters corresponding to the medium manufacturer, and prior to writing an input signal into a writable optical storage medium, judging the medium manufacturer corresponding to a writable optical storage medium, setting the optimum test writing parameters corresponding thereto, and accordingly determining optimum writing parameters for the medium based by performing an optimization produce employing the thusly set optimum test writing parameters. 
   2. Description of the Background Art 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the construction of a conventional writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus which includes an A/D converter  20  converting an inputted analog signal into a digital signal, a MPEG encoder  30  encoding the digital signal from the A/D converter  20  into a MPEG format signal, a digital writing signal processing unit  70   a  converting the encoded signal into a writable format by adding an error correction code (ECC), channel bit encoder  80  for converting the signal converted into a writable format into a bit stream, a LC (Laser Diode) driving unit  81  receiving the signal from the channel bit encoder  80  and outputting an optical content driving signal, a pick-up unit  11  writing the input signal into the writable optical storage medium  10  or detecting the written signal in accordance with the optical content driving signal, a drive unit  90  driving the pick-up unit  11  and a spindle motor  91 , an R/F unit  100  receiving a signal detected by the pick-up unit  11  and a spindle motor  91 , an R/F unit  100  receiving a signal detected by the pick-up unit  11  and outputting a filtered and shaped signal, a servo unit  110  controlling the driving operation of the drive unit  90  based on a tracking error signal TE of the pick-up unit  11 , a focus error signal FE, and a rotation of the writable optical storage medium  10  and detecting a synchronous state of the output signal from the R/F unit  100 , a digital reproducing signal processing unit  70   b  recovering a compression write data from the filtered and shaped signal based on the detected synchronous signal, an MPEG decoder  120  decoding the compressed data, converting it into a video and audio signal and outputting the same, and a microcomputer  60  controlling the operations of the recording/reproducing apparatus. 
   The operation of the writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   First, when a signal KEYSIG is inputted into the microcomputer  60  requesting a writing operation of an inputted signal INPUT applied to the input terminal, the microcomputer  60  controls the pick-up unit  11  via the servo unit  110  and the drive unit  90  so that a writing light power value P ind  written on the writable optical storage medium  10  is read-out before the input signal INPUT is written into the writable optical storage medium. In the case that the writable optical storage medium  10  is a rewritable medium such as a compact disc rewritable (CD-RW), as shown in  FIG. 2 , the writing light power value P ind  is written in a data form of 3 bits W 1 , W 2  and W 3  at a M 1  information byte of a special information field in an Absolute Time In Pre-Groove (ATIP) signal format of a lead-in region of the writable optical storage medium  10 . 
   When the light power value P ind  is read out from the data W 1 , W 2  and W 3 , the microcomputer  60  outputs test digital data (for example, 101010. . . ) to the channel bit encoder  80  via the digital writing signal processing unit  70   a , and the channel bit encoder  80  converts the digital bit stream outputted from the digital writing signal processing unit  70   a  into a signal format for writing into the writable optical storage medium  10  and then applies the converted signals to the LD driving unit  81 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the microcomputer  60  variably applies an adjusting signal to the LD driving unit  81  so that the magnitude of the light power value is changed in a certain range of P ref+a , P ref−a  based on a reference writing light power (for example, P ref =8 mW) generated by the writing light power value P ind . The LD driving unit  81  outputs a test digital data based on the optical driving current corresponding to the adjusting signal, and the pick-up unit  11  writes the test digital data into the test writing region of the writable optical storage medium  10 . Here, in the case that the loaded writable optical storage medium  10  is a rewritable medium such as a CD-RW, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the test writing region is formed in the PCA (Power Calibration Area). In particular, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the microcomputer  60  causes the test digital data to be written into the test writing region of the rewritble optical storage medium and writes a certain information into the count region B of the PCA region so that the written number of the test digital data is recognized by controlling the pick-up unit  11 . 
   As the LD driving current is gradually varied, in a state that the test digital data is written in the test region A and the written number of data in the region A is written in the count region B of the PCA of the writable optical storage medium  10 , the microcomputer  60  controls the pick-up unit  11 , and the pick-up unit  11  reads out the test data written in the test region of the PCA region. The microcomputer  60  causes the R/F unit  100  to filter and shape the reproduced signal read-out by the pick-up unit  11  and continuously detects the jitter amount of the clock signal which is phase-synchronized to the reproducing signal by the servo unit  110 . The microcomputer  60  detects an optimum writing light power(in  FIG. 3 , P op ) by which the test digital data is written at the time when the minimum jitter amount is detected from the clock signals. 
   When the optimum writing light power P op  is determined, an analog signal such as an externally inputted video or audio signal is inputted into the A/D converter  20  for a writing operation at the writable optical storage medium  10 . In this state, the A/D converter  20  converts the inputted signal into a digital signal, and the MPEG encoder  30  encodes the digital signal based on the MPEG method. The digital writing signal processing unit  70   a  generates an error correction code (ECC) block by adding an encoding and error correction parity to the encoded signal in order to enhance reliability when writing the encoded signal into a writable optical storage medium  10  and output the generated code to the channel bit encoder  80 . The channel bit encoder  80  converts the digital bit stream data outputted from the digital writing signal processing unit  70   a  into a pulse width-modulated signal format for being written into a writable optical storage medium  10 . 
   Therefore, the microcomputer  60  controls the LD driving unit  81  using an optimum light driving current so that the pulse width-modulated signal is written into the writable optical storage medium  10  based on the optimum writing light power detected during the above-described operation. The LD driving unit  81  applies the pulse width-modulated signal to the pick-up unit  11  based on the optimum light driving current, and the pulse width-modulated signal is written in a user&#39;s data recording region of the writable optical storage medium  10 . 
   However, in the case that an optimum writing light power is detected, and an input signal is written, a certain light power deviation occurs between the writable optical storage medium fabrication apparatus and the recording/reproducing apparatus, which writes an input signal into the writable optical storage medium and reproduces the signal therefrom, due to a circuit characteristic and a writable optical storage medium characteristic in the system. For example, a certain deviation may occur between a reference light power adapted to the writable optical storage medium in view of the writable optical storage medium fabrication apparatus and the reference light power for determining a writing light power of the writable optical storage medium in view of each recording/reproducing apparatus. The reference light power adapted under the optimum writing condition when fabricating the writable optical storage medium may not correspond to the reference light power which provides the optimum writing conditions for the recording/reproducing apparatus due to the above-described deviation. The optimum writing condition measured when fabricating a certain writable medium may be, for example, a reference light power value of 5 mW. However, in view of the recording/reproducing apparatus, the optimum writing condition with respect to the above-described medium may be a light power value of 11 mW. In this case, even when performing the optimum writing optical detection process by varying the light power value based on the reference light power value of 5 mW, since the steps (for example, 15 steps of increments 0.3 mW) for varying the light power value is limited, in view of the recording/reproducing apparatus, it is impossible to reach 11 mW which is the optimum writing condition of the writable optical storage medium. 
   Therefore, when fabricating the writable optical storage medium, even when the optimum optical writing power detection process is performed based on the reference light power set during a writable optical storage medium manufacturer, the recording/reproducing apparatus does not detect the optimum writing light power. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optimum optical writing condition detection and storing method and an optical writing apparatus using the same which are capable of judging an optimum optical writing condition of an writable optical storage medium by the manufacturer thereof, storing the optimum condition into a certain storing unit based on the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium, judging the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium when writing an input signal into a certain writable optical storage medium, reading an optimum writing condition corresponding to the manufacturer from the storing unit, detecting an optimum writing light power based on the read-out optimum writing condition and writing an input signal based on the optimum writing light power. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an optimum writing condition detection and storing method and a writing method using the same which are capable of judging an optimum writing condition by the manufacturing company of an writable optical storage medium manufacturer, storing an optimum condition into a certain storing unit based on the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium, judging the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium when writing an input signal into a certain writable optical storage medium, reading an optimum writing condition corresponding to the manufacturer from the storing unit and detecting an optimum writing light power based on the read-out optimum writing condition. 
   To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided an optimum writing condition detection and storing method for a writable optical storage medium according to the present invention which includes a first step for changing an energy content of a writing beam at a certain writable optical storage medium which is different depending on the manufacturer of the same and writing a certain data into a certain region of the writable optical storage medium, a second step for reproducing the written data and detecting an optimum light energy content by the manufacturer based on the characteristic of the reproducing signal, and a third step for storing the optimum writing optical energy content based on a certain data of each manufacturer as the optimum writing optical energy content is detected in the second step. 
   To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a writing light power adjusting apparatus for a writable optical storage medium according to the present invention which includes a storing unit for storing an optimum writing optical energy content based on the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium with respect to a certain writable optical storage medium, a judging unit for judging the manufacturer of the writing medium, a writing unit for writing an input signal into the writable optical storage medium, and a writing unit for reading the optical writing optical energy content corresponding to the judged manufacturer from the optimum writing optical energy content and writing an input signal using the writing unit based on the optimum writing optical energy content. 
   According to another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for performing optimum test writing parameters for test writing of a writable optical storage media by using optimum test writing parameters which are specific to both an optical storage media recording/reproducing device and to a writable optical storage medium manufactured by a respective one of a plurality of media manufacturers and which optimum test writing parameters are established independently of and without being constrained by default test-writing reference power parameters pre-recorded in the writable optical storage media during its manufacture, the apparatus comprising: a detecting unit to detect information pre-recorded in a writable optical storage medium during its manufacture which uniquely specifies unique property information of the writable optical storage medium; and a controller to perform a test writing parameter optimization on the writable optical storage medium to determine optimized test writing parameters for the writable optical storage medium, by writing test digital data to the writable optical storage medium while changing a light energy content in accordance with the optimum test writing parameters so that an optimum test writing light energy content representing optimum test writing parameters can have a reproducing characteristic specific to both the writable optical storage medium and the apparatus. 
   According to another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for performing optimum test writing parameters for test writing of a writable optical storage media by using optimum test writing parameters which are specific to both an optical storage media recording/reproducing device and to a writable optical storage medium and which optimum test writing parameters are established independently of and without being constrained by default test-writing reference power parameters pre-recorded in the writable optical storage media during its manufacture, the apparatus comprising: a detecting unit to detect information pre-recorded in a writable optical storage medium during its manufacture which uniquely specifies unique property information of the writable optical storage medium; a controller to perform a test writing parameter optimization on the writable optical storage medium to determine optimized test writing parameters for the writable optical storage medium, by writing test digital data to the writable optical storage medium while changing a light energy content in accordance with the optimum test writing parameters so that an optimum test writing light energy content representing optimum test writing parameters can have a reproducing characteristic specific to both the writable optical storage medium and the apparatus; and a reproducing unit to reproduce the written test digital data from the writable optical storage medium and, in accordance with said reproduction, to determine an optimum writing light energy content. 
   According to another aspect, the present invention provides an optical storage media recording/reproducing apparatus for calibrating an amount of light energy output by the recording/reproducing apparatus during a recording operation, the recording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing unit to read unique property information from a writable optical disc inserted into the apparatus, which was pre-recorded on the disc during its manufacture; a controller to access stored data concerning optimum test writing parameters relevant to the recording/reproducing apparatus using the unique property information; and a recording unit to write test data on the disc in accordance with the accessed stored data concerning the optimum test writing parameters. 
   Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the construction of a conventional writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus; 
       FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a data format of a light power value written in a writable optical storage medium in the conventional art; 
       FIG. 3  is a graph illustrating a process for changing a light power based on a reference writing light power value when writing a test digital data to detect an optimum writing light power; 
       FIG. 4A  is a view illustrating a writing signal test region formed on a disk for an optimum writing light power detection; 
       FIG. 4B  is a view illustrating a PCA region; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the construction of an writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an optimum writing condition detecting and storing method for an writable optical storage medium according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a writing light power adjusting method for an writable optical storage medium based on the optimum writing condition according to the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views respectively illustrating a lead-in and a lead-out start time data written on a writable optical storage medium. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   An optimum writing condition detecting and storing method for a writable optical storage medium in accordance with the manufacturer thereof and an optimum writing light power detection adjusting apparatus using the optimum writing condition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention which has the same construction as the conventional recording/reproducing apparatus of  FIG. 1  except for a microcomputer  600  connected with a memory  601  storing a plurality of manufacturer company information of the writable optical storage media and the optimum writing condition in corresponding with the manufacturer of each writable optical storage medium. 
   The writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention reads certain information of the writable optical storage medium from a certain region of a certain writable medium, judges a manufacturer of the writable medium, determines an optimum writing condition corresponding to the thusly judged manufacturer from an memory  601  and searches an optimum writing light power based on the thusly judged optimum writing condition. 
   The operation of the writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 6  is a flow chart which illustrates the steps of an optimum writing condition detection and stores the optimum writing condition to a certain memory  601 . When a writable optical storage medium  10  is inserted into a optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus in Step S 01 , the microcomputer  600  judges the type of writable optical storage medium (for example, CD-R or CD-RW) from a focusing error signal FE detected when the pick-up unit  11  accesses the writable optical storage medium  10  by controlling the servo unit  110  and the drive unit  90  in Step S 02 . 
   Next, a certain information data which is different depending on the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium  10  is read from the writable optical storage medium  10  in Step S 03 . The information data which is different depending on the manufacturer is judged by reading the pre-recorded lead-in time from the writable optical storage medium  10  in the case of a CD-R and by reading the pre-recorded lead-out time in the case of a CD-RW. Here, the information data is stored in a time data format of Minutes, Seconds and Frames in the sub-Q information field of the lead-in region of or lead-out region in the writable optical storage medium  10 , in the case that the writable optical storage medium  10  is a recordable medium(for example, a CD-RW, a CD-R, etc.) as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . 
   When the pick-up unit  11  reads the written time data and outputs a high frequency signal to the digital reproducing signal processing unit  70   b , the digital reproducing signal processing unit  70   b  converts the high frequency signal into a digital data and performs an Eight to Fourteen Modulation (EFM) and ECC decoding operation and transmits a result of the EFM modulation and ECC decoding operation to the microcomputer  600 . The microcomputer  600  detects an identification code (for example, a code indicating the medium manufacturer, etc.) from the time data obtained during the decoding process in Step S 04  and temporarily stores the identification character in Step S 05 . 
   Next, the microcomputer  600  controls the LD driving unit  81  so that the light energy content (writing power level and write strategy) gradually is changed and the test digital data is written into a certain region of the writable optical storage medium. Thereafter, the microcomputer  600  detects an optimum light energy content (or optimum writing condition) having a good reproducing characteristic and stores the detected optimum light energy content into a memory  601 . 
   The above-described operation is performed with respect to the writable optical storage medium of the different medium manufacturers, and the optimum light energy content (or the optimum writing condition) is detected in Step S 06 . As shown in the following Tables 1 and 2, the detected optimum light energy content (or optimum writing condition) is stored into a certain storing unit in accordance with the manufacturers of the writable medium in Step S 07 . 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               In the case of a CD-R(1× speed) 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
                 
                 
               Optimum light energy 
             
             
               Manufacturer 
               Lead-in start time 
               1W2W3 
               content (power level[mW]) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Kodak 
               97:27:45 
               10 
               6.0 
             
             
               Mitsui 
               97:27:55 
               00 
               5.6 
             
             
               Ricoh(A) 
               97:27:66 
               01 
               5.8 
             
             
               Anix 
               97:23:10 
               00 
               6.0 
             
             
               Ritex 
               97:31:00 
               10 
               6.6 
             
             
               Mitsubishi 
               97:34:20 
               10 
               6.6 
             
             
               Woong Jin 
               97:28:21 
               11 
               6.8 
             
             
               TDK 
               97:32:00 
               10 
               6.8 
             
             
               CMC 
               97:26:60 
               01 
               6.2 
             
             
               SMC 
               97:15:00 
               00 
               5.8 
             
             
               Maxwel 
               97:25:21 
               11 
               6.8 
             
             
               Ricoh(B) 
               97:27:00 
               01 
               6.6 
             
             
               BTC 
               97:22:18 
               10 
               6.8 
             
             
               Pioneer 
               97:27:25 
               11 
               7.0 
             
             
               SKC 
               97:26:23 
               00 
               5.8 
             
             
               Taiyo Yuden 
               97:24:01 
               01 
               6.0 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 2 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
             
               In the case of a CD-RW (2× speed) 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Lead-out 
                 
               Optimum light energy 
             
             
               Manufacturer 
               start time 
               1W2W3 
               content (power level [mW]) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               MCC 
               74:30:00 
               100 
               12.4 
             
             
               Ricoh 
               74:12:00 
               101 
               12.6 
             
             
               Ritex 
               74:45:00 
               010 
               12.2 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The thusly stored information is used as an information with respect to the optimum light energy content (or optimum writing condition) of the writable optical storage medium when manufacturing the recording/reproducing apparatus for a writable optical storage medium and is stored into the storing unit of the recording/reproducing apparatus. 
   Here, Table 1 illustrates the manufacturers of the writable optical storage medium (CD-R) based on 1× speed and the time data corresponding thereto, and Table 2 illustrates the manufacturers of the rewritable optical storage medium (CD-RW) based on 2× speed and the time data corresponding thereto. In the present invention, the data of Tables 1 and 2 include the optimum light energy contents, especially power level. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an optimum light energy content adjusting method for a writable optical storage medium according to one embodiment of the present invention. The microcomputer  600  receives a FE signal from the pick-up unit  11  and judges whether a writable optical storage medium is loaded in the writable optical storage recording/reproducing apparatus in Step S 10 . If it is loaded, the microcomputer  600  receives a signal outputted R/F unit  100  and determines the type of the writable optical storage medium in Step S 11 . 
   Next, the microcomputer  600  controls the servo unit  110  and the drive unit  81 , and the pick-up unit  11  reads out the time data corresponding to a certain information of the writable optical storage medium written in a certain region of the writable optical storage medium, so that it is possible to recognize the time data by the manufacturer from the signals recovered by the digital reproducing signal processing unit  70   b . The microcomputer  600  searches the time data by the manufacturer of the optical storage medium stored in the memory  601  in the formats as shown in Tables 1 or 2 generated based on the processes of  FIG. 6  and judges the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium in Step S 13 . 
   After the manufacturer of the inserted writable optical storage medium  10  is judged, the optimum light energy content (or optimum writing condition) is read out from the memory  601  in Step S 14 . 
   The microcomputer  600  performs an optimum writing light power detection process by varing the writing light power according to an increment of a energy content based on the optimum writing energy content (or optimum writing condition) as a reference start point in Step S 15  and detects an optimum writing light power of the writable optical storage medium. 
   After the optimum writing light power is obtained irrespective of a characteristic deviation of the writable optical storage medium in accordance with the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium, the microcomputer  600  applies a control signal corresponding to the optimum writing light power to the LD driving unit  81  and applies a driving current corresponding thereto to the pick-up unit  11  via the LD driving unit  81  in Step S 16 . 
   The input signal converted by the A/D converter  20  is encoded into a MPEG format by the MPEG encoder  30  and is changed to a corresponding bit stream format by the digital signal processing unit  70   a  and the channel bit encoder  80 . Thereafter, the bit stream data is written into a user&#39;s data recording region of the writable optical storage medium  10  by the pick-up unit  11 . 
   As described above, in the optimum writing condition detection and storing method in accordance with the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium and a writing light power detection adjusting apparatus using the same and a method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturer of the writable medium and an optimum writing condition of a writable medium corresponding to the manufacturer are detected and stored in a memory of the writable optical medium recording/reproducing apparatus. When writing an input signal into the writable optical storage medium, the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium inserted in the writable optical storage medium recording/reproducing apparatus is judged by the microcomputer. The optimum writing condition is detected based on the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium, and the optimum writing light power is obtained based on the optimum writing condition, and an input signal is recorded in the program region of the writable optical storage medium based on the optimum writing light power. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to write an input signal into an writable optical storage medium irrespective of the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium by preventing a non-detection phenomenon of the optimum writing light due to a characteristic deviation of the writable optical storage medium according to the manufacturer of the writable optical storage medium, and it is possible to reproduce the recorded signals from the user&#39;s data recording region of the writable optical storage medium without an error. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the accompanying claims.