Patent Publication Number: US-2005141862-A1

Title: Recording medium, information recording apparatus, information recording method, and information recording medium

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to technical fields of a recording medium, an information recording apparatus, an information recording method, and an information recording medium, and particularly to technical fields of a recording medium on which recording information can be recorded at one or several types of recording speeds, an information recording apparatus and an information recording method which record recording information on the recording medium, and an information recording medium on which an information recording program for the information recording is computer-readably recorded.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In recent years, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) as a large-capacity recording medium on which recording information can be recorded has been widely used, and a recording speed for this recordable DVD has been rapidly made higher.  
      On the other hand, in order to expand the versatility of and widely use a CD (Compact Disc) as a conventional optical disk or the DVD, an information recording apparatus for the disk or the manufacturing of the disk has been developed and manufactured according to the preset standrd. As for improvement in recording speed, in order to record recording information while expanding the versatility between different types of information recording apparatuses, each manufacturer has developed and manufactured an optical disk and an information recording apparatus according to a standard of the preset recording speed.  
      At this time, the standard is authorized and distributed through many types of consultations or authentication tests from the need of being clearly known.  
      On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-114318 discloses an information recording apparatus for recording information on an optical disk where a recording condition at a second rotational speed of a mounted optical disk is obtained to record information on the optical disk, based on a recording condition at a first rotational speed (first recording speed) read from the mounted optical disk, and a recording condition at the first and second rotational speeds (first and second recording speeds) stored in the information recording apparatus. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,674A corresponding to the above JP Laid-open No. 4-114318 is incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
      Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-113458 discloses a structure where when information about a recordable speed is contained and recorded in read-out starting information of ATIP (Absolute Time In Pre-groove) information recorded in a pre-groove of a read-in area in an optical disk, and the optical disk is inserted into an information recording apparatus, the read-out starting information is read, and a recording speed at this time is automatically set to the maximum speed capable of being set in a range of the recordable speed instructed by the read-out starting information so that recording is performed. The disclosure of US2004095877A1 corresponding to the above JP Laid-open No. 2000-113458 is incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In consideration of a recent notable request for improvement in the recording speed for the optical disk for the above standard, when the consultations or the authentication tests for a new recording speed standard are repeated each time a higher recording speed is newly realized, there is a problem that the standard is consequently delayed to be realized and a technique for high-speed recording is not sufficiently generalized and is not utilized.  
      Therefore, the present invention has been made in terms of the above problem, and it is an object to provide a recording medium capable of accurately controlling an information recording apparatus to record recording information, even when a recording speed is further improved in the future, while easily expanding the standard for the setting of the recording speed in the future, an information recording apparatus and an information recording method which record recording information on the recording medium, and an information recording medium on which the information recording program for the information recording is computer-readably recorded.  
      The invention according to claim  1  relates to a recording medium on which recording information can be recorded at one or several types of recording speeds, comprising:  
      a recording area on which the recording information is recorded; and  
      a recording speed range information recording area which can be necessarily used when recording the recording information on the recording medium and contains at least a basic recording speed preset for each type of the recording medium, and on which recording speed range information indicating a range of the recording speed preset for each type of the recording medium is recorded.  
      The invention according to claim  4  relates to an information recording apparatus for recording the recording information on the recording medium according to claim  1 , comprising:  
      an acquiring device which acquires the recording speed range information from the recording medium;  
      a determining device which determines whether the recording information can be recorded on the recording medium based on the acquired recording speed range information; and  
      a recording device capable of recording the recording information on the recording medium at at least the basic recording speed corresponding to the acquired recording speed range information.  
      The invention according to claim  5  relates to an information recording apparatus for recording the recording information on the recording medium according to claim  3 , comprising:  
      an acquiring device which acquires the maximum recording speed information and the minimum recording speed information from the recording medium;  
      a recognizing device which recognizes a range of the recording speed capable of being used when recording the recording information on the recording medium based on the acquired maximum recording speed information and minimum recording speed information;  
      a designating device which designates the recording speed to be used when recording the recording information on the recording medium;  
      a determining device which determines whether the designated recording speed is contained in a range of the recognized recording speed; and  
      a recording device which, when the recording information can be recorded on the recording medium using at least the basic recording speed corresponding to the recording speed range information recorded in the recording speed range information recording area, and the designated recording speed is contained in a range of the recognized recording speed, records the recording information on the recording medium at the designated recording speed.  
      The invention according to claim  7  relates to an information recording method for recording the recording information on the recording medium according to claim  1 , comprising the processes of:  
      acquiring the recording speed range information from the recording medium;  
      determining whether the recording information can be recorded on the recording medium based on the acquired recording speed range information; and  
      recording, when it is determined in the determining process that the recording information can be recorded on the recording medium, at least the recording information on the recording medium at the basic recording speed corresponding to the acquired recording speed range information.  
      The invention according to claim  8  relates to an information recording method for recording the recording information on a recording medium according to claim  3 , comprising the processes of:  
      acquiring the maximum recording speed information and the minimum recording speed information from the recording medium;  
      recognizing a range of the recording speed capable of being used when recording the recording information on the recording medium based on the acquired maximum recording speed information and minimum recording speed information;  
      designating the recording speed to be used when recording the recording information on the recording medium;  
      determining whether the designated recording speed is contained in a range of the recognized recording speed; and  
      recording the recording information on the recording medium at the designated recording speed, when the designated recording speed is contained in a rage of the recognized recording speed.  
      The invention according to claim  9  relates to an information recording medium on which an information recording program is computer-readably recorded, which causes a computer contained in an information recording apparatus for recording the recording information on the recording medium according to claim  1  to function as:  
      an acquiring device which acquires the recording speed range information from the recording medium;  
      a determining device which determines whether the recording information can be recorded on the recording medium based on the acquired recording speed range information; and  
      a recording device which, when it is determined that the recording information can be recorded on the recording medium, records at least the recording information on the recording medium using the basic recording speed corresponding to the acquired recording speed range information.  
      The invention according to claim  10  relates to an information recording medium on which an information recording program is computer-readably recorded, which causes a computer contained in an information recording apparatus for recording the recording information on a recording medium according to claim  3  to function as:  
      an acquiring device which acquires the maximum recording speed information and the minimum recording speed information from the recording medium;  
      a recognizing device which recognizes a range of the recording speed capable of being used when recording the recording information on the recording medium based on the acquired maximum recording speed information and minimum recording speed information;  
      a designating device which designates the recording speed to be used when recording the recording information on the recording medium;  
      a determining device which determines whether the designated recording speed is contained in a range of the recognized recording speed; and  
      a recording device which, when the designated recording speed is contained in a range of the recognized recording speed, records the recording information on the recording medium at the designated recording speed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1A  is a diagram showing a physical format in a DVD according to one embodiment;  
       FIG. 1B  is a diagram for explaining a concept of recording speed range information of the DVD according to the embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a recorder according to the embodiment; and  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a recording processing according to the embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      One embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is one when the present invention is applied to a recordable DVD and a recorder as an information recording apparatus which records recording information on the DVD.  
      (I) Embodiment of DVD  
      The embodiment of a recording DVD according to the present invention will be described using  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a physical recording format in the DVD according to the present embodiment.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1A , a recording DVD  100  according to the embodiment is specifically realized as a DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) using a pigment film as a recording layer, a DVD-RW (DVD-Re-Recordable) using a phase change film as a recording layer, or a DVD-RAM (DVD-Rewritable), and is configured of, from the inner periphery, a read-in area LI where control information or the like to be initially read when recording information is recorded/reproduced for the DVD  100  is recorded, a control information area SC where control information to be read when information is recorded/reproduced for the DVD  100  and to be used for various control processings is recorded, a data area DA where recording information to be actually recorded/reproduced is to be recorded (or is recorded), and a read-out area LO where control information or the like to be read when recording/reproducing of recording information for the DVD  100  is completed is recorded.  
      At this time, in the control information area SC, there are previously recorded, on a recording track by so-called pre-write or emboss pit, reproducing control information  20  required for reproducing the data area DA such as disk type information indicating a type of the DVD  100 , or information indicating a standard version number, recording speed range information  21  according to the present invention indicating a preset recording speed range to be used when recording information is recorded on the DVD  100 , maximum recording speed information  22  according to the present invention indicating the maximum recording speed capable of being physically used when recording information is recorded on the DVD  100 , minimum recording speed information  23  according to the present invention indicating the minimum recording speed capable of being physically used when recording information is recorded on the DVD  100 , and other information  24  as the control information. At this time, the other information  24  includes strategy information and the like for setting a strategy waveform described later for each recording speed.  
      The control information area SC may be formed inside the read-in area LI, and further may be formed to be overlapped on the recording area on which the recording information is recorded so that the information can be read out as sub-information of a recording track using a so-called land prepit or a wobbling of the recording track.  
      Next, the recording speed range information  21  will be described in more detail using  FIG. 1B .  
      As described above, the recording speed range information  21  is previously recorded in the DVD  100  when being shipped after manufacture of the DVD  100 , and a manufacturer of the DVD  100  presets the contents (recording speed within a range indicated by the recording speed range information  21 ) as the information indicating a recording speed range to be used when recording the recording information on the DVD  100 .  
      As for the setting of the contents of the recording speed range information  21 , at least one of the recording speeds capable of being always used when recording the recording information on the DVD  100  is set as a basic recording speed. When two types of DVDs  100  whose recording speed ranges are mutually different are present, the contents of the recording speed range information for each DVD  100  are preset such that the basic recording speed corresponding to at least one type of the DVD  100  is a recording speed outside the recording speed range indicated by the recording speed range information  21  recorded on the other type of the DVD  100 .  
      More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 1B , for example, first recording speed range information  21 - 1  indicating that the recording speed is uniform or double is recorded on the DVD  100  for uniform speed recording (indicated as “*1” in  FIG. 1B ) and double-speed recording (indicated as “*2” in  FIG. 1B ). In this first recording speed range information  21 - 1 , the basic recording speed is set uniform (indicated by double circle in  FIG. 1B ), and in the information recording apparatus for the DVD  100  on which the first recording speed range information  21 - 1  is recorded, each parameter or the like in the information recording apparatus has to be set such that the recording information can be recorded at at least uniform speed.  
      Similarly, second recording speed range information  21 - 2  indicating that the recording speed can be set in a range from double-speed to 8-time speed is recorded on the DVD  100  for double-speed recording to 8-time speed recording (indicated as “*8” in  FIG. 1B ). In this second recording speed range information  21 - 2 , the basic recording speed is 4-time speed, and in the information recording apparatus for the DVD  100  on which the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  is recorded, each parameter or the like in the information recording apparatus has to be set such that the recording information can be recorded at at least 4-time speed.  
      Further, third recording speed range information  21 - 3  indicating that the recording speed is 12-time speed or 16-time speed is recorded on the DVD  100  for 12-time speed recording (indicated as “*12” in  FIG. 1B ) to 16-time speed recording (indicated as “*16” in  FIG. 1B ). In this third recording speed range information  21 - 3 , the basic recording speed is 12-time speed, and in the information recording apparatus for the DVD  100  on which the third recording speed range information  21 - 3  is recorded, each parameter or the like in the information recording apparatus has to be set such that the recording information can be recorded at at least 12-time speed.  
      The value itself of each recording speed described above is not recorded as the first recording speed range information  21 - 1 , the second recording speed range information  21 - 2 , or the third recording speed range information  21 - 3 , but each recording speed range information is recorded in such a manner that the recording speed applied to the DVD  100  can be recognized by the information recording apparatus as being within the recording speed range separately prescribed in the standard of, for example, the first recording speed range information  21 - 1  (more specifically, in such a manner that a name of “first recording range information” is recorded, for example).  
      In the example shown in  FIG. 1B , the basic recording speed (uniform speed) in the first recording speed range information  21 - 1  is out of the recording speed range indicated by the second recording speed range information  21 - 2 , and the basic recording speed (4-time speed) in the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  is out of the recording speed range indicated by the first recording speed range information  21 - 1 .  
      Further, the basic recording speed (4-time speed) in the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  is out of the recording speed range indicated by the third recording speed range information  21 - 3 , and the basic recording speed (12-time speed) in the third recording speed range information  21 - 3  is out of the recording speed range indicated by the second recording speed range information  21 - 2 .  
      In this example, the basic recording speed in the first recording speed range information  21 - 1  may be changed to double-speed, alternatively the basic recording speed in the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  may be changed to double-speed. This is because even when the basic recording speed in the first recording speed range information  21 - 1  is changed to double-speed, the basic recording speed (4-time speed) in the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  is maintained at the recording speed out of the recording speed range indicated by the first recording speed range information  21 - 1 . Similarly, this is because even when the basic recording speed in the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  is changed to double-speed, the basic recording speed (uniform speed) in the first recording speed range information  21 - 1  is maintained at the recording speed out of the recording speed range indicated by the second recording speed range information  21 - 2 .  
      In the aforementioned embodiment, the DVD  100  on which, for example, the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  is recorded does not need to be configured such that the DVD  100  is recordable for all the recording speed ranges indicated by the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  (that is, double-speed, 4-time speed (basic recording speed), 6-time speed, and 8-time speed) and as long as the DVD  100  is configured to record the recording information at the basic recording speed, the DVD  100  may be configured such that the recording information can be recorded at, for example, double-speed, 4-time speed, 6-time speed, but cannot be recorded at 8-time speed.  
      (II) Embodiment of Recorder  
      Next, an embodiment of a recorder which records recording information on the DVD  100  on which each control information is previously recorded using the physical format mentioned above will be specifically described using  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a recorder according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a recording processing to be executed in the recorder.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , a recorder R according to the embodiment is configured of a spindle motor  1 , a pickup  2  as acquiring device, a driver  3 , a strategy controller  4 , a modulating unit  5 , a combining unit  6 , an A/D converter  7 , a decoder  8 , a CPU  9  as recognizing device, determining device, and recording device, a memory  10 , a display  11 , an input unit  12  as designating device, and a servo controller  13 .  
      The entire operation will be described below.  
      Recording information Sin to be recorded on the DVD  100  mounted on the recorder R is first input from the outside to be digitized by the A/D converter  7 , and is output to the combining unit  6  as digital recording information Sdin.  
      The combining unit  6  superimposes and combines the reproducing control information  20  or the like to be used for reproducing the recording information after recorded on the digital recording information Sdin based on control information Scm from the CPU  9 , and generates combined recording information Smix to output it to the modulating unit  5 .  
      Next, the modulating unit  5  performs modulating processing such as 8-16 modulation for the combined recording information Smix based on control information Sce from the CPU  9 , and outputs the combined recording information Smix as modulation information Sen to the strategy controller  4 .  
      The strategy controller  4  generates a drive pulse which is directed for modulation-driving a semiconductor laser (not shown) in the pickup  2  based on the modulation information Sen, and which is subjected to a processing of forming a shape of recording pit formed on the DVD  100  and outputs the drive pulse as a pulse signal Ssr to the driver  3 , based on control information Scs from the CPU  9 .  
      Thus, the driver  3  amplifies the pulse signal Ssr at a preset amplification rate, and generates a drive signal Sd for actually driving the semiconductor laser to output the drive signal to the pickup  2 .  
      Next, the pickup  2  uses the drive signal Sd to drive the incorporated semiconductor laser, and generates a laser beam B for information recording to output it to the DVD  100 . When this laser beam B is irradiated on a recording layer (not shown) in the DVD  100 , the recording pit corresponding to the contents of the recording information Sin is formed on the recording layer so that the recording information Sin is recorded.  
      At this time, the pickup  2  irradiates the laser beam B having a constant intensity on the control information area SC in the DVD  100  prior to recording the recording information Sin, and detects the recording speed range information  21 , the maximum recording speed information  22 , the minimum recording speed information  23 , and the strategy information to output these information as a detection signal Spu to the decoder  8 .  
      The decoder  8  decodes the contents of each information in the detection signal Spu, and outputs the decoded contents as decode information Sdc to the CPU  9 .  
      Thus, the CPU  9  generates each control information Scs (including the strategy information), Sce, and Scm for controlling the operations of the respective constituents based on the contents of the decode information Sdc, as well as, control information Ssc described later to output the same to each corresponding constituting member, and entirely controls these constituting members.  
      On the other hand, the rotation speed of the DVD  100  (that is, recording speed of recording information Sin) is controlled based on control information Sss from the servo controller  13 .  
      The controlling of a focal position of the laser beam B (tracking servo controlling in a direction parallel to the recording layer in the DVD  100 , as well as, focus servo controlling in a direction orthogonal to the recording layer) is performed based on control information Ssp from the servo controller  13 .  
      Thus, as for the servo controller  13 , each of the control information Sss and Ssp is generated to be output to the spindle motor  1  and the pickup  2  (more specifically, an actuator (not shown) in the pickup  2 ) based on the control information Ssc from the CPU  9 .  
      The information required when the CPU  9  entirely controls these operations is temporarily stored in the memory  10 , the information being memory information Sm, and is read out again as needed to be used for the entire controlling.  
      The information indicating the operation to be realized by the recorder R is input by a user in the input unit  12 , and an operation signal Sop corresponding to this input operation is output from the input unit  12 . Then the CPU  9  is operated based on the contents of this operation signal Sop so that a desired operation as the recorder R is realized.  
      An operation status of the recorder R or the like is displayed on the display  11  composed of a liquid crystal display or the like based on a display signal Sdp indicating the operation status from the CPU  9 .  
      Next, a recording processing according to the embodiment of the recorder R having the above structure will be specifically described using  FIG. 3 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the recording processing according to the embodiment, when the DVD  100  is first mounted on the recorder R, and a recording start operation in the input unit  12  is performed, necessary control information is read out from the read-in area LI in the DVD  100  (step S 1 ), the recording speed range information  21 , the maximum recording speed information  22 , the minimum recording speed information  23 , and the strategy information are detected from the control information area SC and decoded (step S 2 ) to be temporarily stored in the memory  10 .  
      Next, based on the contents of the recording speed information  21 , it is confirmed whether a recording speed is contained which is executable using the DVD  100  mounted in the recording speed range executable in the recorder R (step S 3 ), and when the recording speed executable using the DVD  100  mounted in the recording speed range executable in the recorder R is not contained (step S 3 ; NO), the DVD  100  is discharged from the recorder R, since information cannot be recorded by the recorder R on the currently-mounted DVD  100  (step S 4 ), and the recording processing according to the embodiment is terminated.  
      On the other hand, in the determination in step S 3 , when there is contained the recording speed executable using the DVD  100  mounted in the recording speed range executable in the recorder R (step S 3 ; YES), the recording speed range indicated by the recording speed range information  21  (for example, in the case of the second recording speed range information  21 - 2  shown in  FIG. 1B , double-speed, 4-time speed, 6-time speed, and 8-time speed), as well as, the contents of the maximum recording speed information  22  and the contents of the minimum recording speed information  23  are confirmed in the CPU  9  (step S 6 ), and an operation of designating a recording speed desired at that time is performed in the input unit  9  (step S 5 ). In this case, a configuration may be such that an error rate along with recording/reproducing on the DVD  100  or the like is detected and the CPU  9  automatically designates an optimum recording speed based on the contents thereof.  
      Whether an actual recording operation using the designated (step S 5 ) recording speed is possible is determined by comparing the designated recording speed with the recognized recording speed range (that is, the recording speed which is in the recording speed range indicated by the recording speed range information  21  or which is equal to or less the maximum recording speed indicated by the maximum recording speed information  22  and is equal to or more than the minimum recording speed indicated by the minimum recording speed information  23 ) (step S 7 ), and when the actual recording operation using the designated recording speed is possible (step S 7 ; YES), the control information Sss is output to the spindle motor  1  in order to rotate the DVD  100  at the designated recording speed, and the recording information Sin is recorded (step S 10 ) while the DVD  100  is being rotated at the designated recording speed (step S 8 ).  
      It is confirmed whether all the recording information Sin is recorded (step S 11 ), and when the recording is not terminated (step S 11 ; NO), the processing returns to step S 10  to continue the recording processing, and when the recording is completed (step S 11 ; YES), the recording processing according to the embodiment is completed.  
      On the other hand, in the determination in step S 7 , when the recording operation using the designated recording speed is not executable (step S 7 ; NO), the recording information Sin is recorded using the recording speed nearest to the designated recording speed among the recording speeds recognized using the recording speed range information  21  (step S 9 ). Thereafter, steps S 10  and S 11  are repeated using the nearest recording speed to record the recording information Sin.  
      As described above, according to the operation of the recorder R in the embodiment, since the recording speed range information  21  including at least the basic recording speed is recorded in the control information area SC, the recording speed range information  21  is read when recording the recording information Sin on the DVD  100 , and is used for setting the recording speed in the recording so that, even when the recording speed is further improved in the future, the recorder R or the like can be accurately controlled correspondingly to record the recording information Sin, and the standard for the setting of the recording speed can be easily expanded in the future.  
      In this case, the actual recording processing can be performed based on other recording speed which is set specific to the recorder R based on the recording speed indicated by the recording speed range information  21  or based on the contents of other strategy processing.  
      Since the contents of the recording speed range information  21  in the respective types of DVD  100  is preset respectively such that the basic recording speed corresponding to one type of DVD  100  is assumed as the recording speed out of the recording speed range corresponding to other type of DVD  100 , when the respective types of DVD  1000  are manufactured and sold, the DVD  100  can be manufactured and sold in correspondence to a wide range of recording speed while specifying the recording speed optimum for each DVD  100 .  
      Since the maximum recording speed information  22  and the minimum recording speed information  23  are recorded together, follower performance for a change in the recording speed of the DVD  100  is sufficiently utilized, thereby performing information recording in various manners using many types of recording speeds.  
      When the maximum recording speed information  22  and the minimum recording speed information  23  are recorded together, and the designated recording speed is contained in the recording speed range recognized by the maximum recording speed information  22  and the minimum recording speed information  23 , since the recording information Sin is recorded on the DVD  100  at the designated recording speed, the follower performance for a change in the recording speed of the DVD  100  is sufficiently utilized, thereby performing information recording in various manners using many types of recording speeds.  
      When the designated recording speed is not contained in the recording speed range of the DVD  100 , since the recording information Sin is recorded on the DVD  100  using any recording speed capable of being used in the recorder R when recording the recording information Sin on the DVD  100 , the recording information Sin can be recorded using the recording speed optimum for the DVD  100 .  
      In the aforementioned embodiment, there is described the case where the present invention is applied to the recorder R for recording the recording information Sin on the DVD  100 , however, the present invention can be applied to a recorder which records information on an existing recordable CD or an optical disk having a recording capacity higher than the currently-developed DVD.  
      A general-purpose microcomputer can function as the CPU  9  according to the embodiment by acquiring and recording a program corresponding to the flowchart in  FIG. 3  via network such as Internet or by recording the program on an information recording medium such as flexible disk or hard disk to be read out and executed by the general-purpose microcomputer.  
      The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.  
      The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-400834 filed on Nov. 28, 2003 including the specification, claims, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.