Patent ID: 7027375

Claim:
A multi-value data recording and reproducing device that varies the sizes of recording marks in accordance with multi-value (0, 1, 2, . . . (m−1): m being an integer of 3 or greater) data on an optical information recording medium, and detects the multi-value data through predetermined signal processing on signals obtained by scanning the recording marks with an optical spots, the multi-value data recording and reproducing device comprising: a predictor that predictively determines the multi-value data; a delay unit that delays the predetermined signal processing by a period of time required for the predictive determination by the predictor; a determiner that determines the multi-value data through waveform equalization based on predictive data that are prediction results from the predictor; and a waveform equalizing coefficient learning unit that reproduces an area on the optical information recording medium in which known multi-value data are prerecorded, determines such a predictive waveform equalizing coefficient that the signal output of each item of the multi-value data subjected to signal processing by a predictive waveform equalizing circuit has the smallest possible error with respect to a target value, and also determines such a detective waveform equalizing coefficient that the signal output of each item of the multi-value data subjected to signal processing by a detective waveform equalizing circuit has the smallest possible error with respect to a target value, the detective waveform equalizing coefficient being determined for each combination pattern of three or more sequential recording marks including a known data value of a recording mark string that precedes a subject recording mark, a known data value of the subject recording mark, and a known data value of a recording mark string that follows the subject recording mark.