Patent ID: 7193945

Claim:
A device for determining type of recording media, comprising: a setting unit that sets a scanning period during which a recording surface of a recording medium is scanned in perpendicular direction relative to the surface, the recording medium having at least one recording layer; a detector that detects a reproduction output level based on the amplitude of reproduction output within the scanning period; a storage device that stores a first predetermined normal ratio; a comparer that divides, when at least a first reproduction output and a second reproduction output are obtained from the recording medium, the second reproduction output level detected based on the second reproduction output by the first reproduction output level detected based on the first reproduction output, compares a result of the division with the first predetermined normal ratio stored in the storage device, and for the case the result of division is larger than the first predetermined normal ratio, then compares the second reproduction output level with a predetermined level; a counter that counts the number of the reproduction outputs having reproduction output levels higher than the predetermined level, compared by the comparer; and a determination unit that determines the recording medium has recording layers at least in a number same as the number of the reproduction outputs counted by the counter.