Patent ID: 8064303

Claim:
A method for setting an optimum value of a write parameter for use in an optical recording apparatus for writing information on an optical recording medium by means of a radiation beam, the method comprising the steps of: 1) writing a series of test patterns on the recording medium, each pattern being written with a different value of a write power level (P) of the radiation beam, 2) reading the test patterns from the recording medium so as to form corresponding read signal portions, and 3) deriving a value of a read parameter from each read signal portion, 4) curve-fitting a plurality of functions, each function defining a relation between the read parameter and the write power level (P), to associated values of the read parameter and the write power level (P), each curve-fitting function having a corresponding initial value of write power level (P ini ), 5) deriving a corresponding plurality of characteristic write power levels (P char ) from each of the curve-fitting functions, each characteristic write power level (P char ) thereby having an associated initial value of the write power level (P ini ), and 6) setting an optimum value of a write parameter by comparing the plurality of initial values of write power levels (P ini ) with each value of its associated characteristic write power levels (P char ).