Information storage medium, recording method, reproducing method, and reproducing apparatus Number:7,426,167 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent An information layer 0 comprises a system lead-in area, data lead-in area, data area, and middle area, an information layer 1 comprises a system lead-out area, data lead-out area, data area, and middle area, an end position of the data area of layer 1 is positioned outer than a start position of the data area of layer 0, the data lead-in area comprises a guard track zone wider than a test zone in the data lead-out area, the data lead-out area comprises a guard track zone wider than a test zone and a management zone in the data lead-in area, the middle area of layer 0 comprises a guard track zone wider than a test zone in the middle area of layer 1, and the middle area of layer 1 comprises a blank zone wider than a test zone in the middle area of layer 0.<H reproducing, Information, Information, sto, 7426167.html, Patent, pto, 7426167

Title: Information storage medium, recording method, reproducing method, and reproducing apparatus

Abstract: An information layer 0 comprises a system lead-in area, data lead-in area, data area, and middle area, an information layer 1 comprises a system lead-out area, data lead-out area, data area, and middle area, an end position of the data area of layer 1 is positioned outer than a start position of the data area of layer 0, the data lead-in area comprises a guard track zone wider than a test zone in the data lead-out area, the data lead-out area comprises a guard track zone wider than a test zone and a management zone in the data lead-in area, the middle area of layer 0 comprises a guard track zone wider than a test zone in the middle area of layer 1, and the middle area of layer 1 comprises a blank zone wider than a test zone in the middle area of layer 0.

Patent Number: 7,426,167 Issued on 09/16/2008 to Watabe, et al.

Inventors: Watabe; Kazuo (Yokohama, JP), Ando; Hideo (Hino, JP), Maruyama; Sumitaka (Yokohama, JP), Kashihara; Yutaka (Chigasaki, JP), Ogawa; Akihito (Kawasaki, JP)
Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Tokyo, JP)

Appl. No.: 11/563,565

Filed: November 27, 2006

Related U.S. Patent Documents


Application Number	Filing Date	Patent Number	Issue Date
11530395	Sep., 2006

Foreign Application Priority Data


Sep 13, 2005 [JP]			2005-266016

Current U.S. Class: 369/59.25 ; 369/275.3; 369/47.35

Current International Class: G11B 20/12 (20060101); G11B 7/24 (20060101)

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


6424614	July 2002	Kawamura et al.
6728197	April 2004	Miyamoto et al.
2002/0167880	November 2002	Ando et al.
2003/0063535	April 2003	Shoji et al.
2003/0137909	July 2003	Motoshi et al.
2003/0227846	December 2003	Lee et al.
2004/0246863	December 2004	Ando et al.
2004/0264322	December 2004	Shishido et al.
2005/0025013	February 2005	Yamamoto
2005/0030852	February 2005	Sasaki
2005/0286399	December 2005	Lee et al.

Foreign Patent Documents


2002-216361	Aug., 2002	JP
2004-206849	Jul., 2004	JP

Primary Examiner: Feild; Joseph
Assistant Examiner: Lamb; Christopher R
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An information recording method for recording information on an information storage medium, the medium including, a layer 0 which is nearest to a read-out surface and includes a system lead-in area, a connection area located outside the system lead-in area, a data lead-in area located outside the connection area, a data area located outside the data lead-in area, and a middle area located outside the data area, wherein the data lead-in area includes an inner guard track zone (Guard), a drive test zone (TZ) located outside the inner guard track zone, a recording management data (RMD) duplication zone (RDZ) located outside the drive test zone (TZ), a recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ) located outside the recording management data (RMD) duplication zone (RDZ), an R-physical format information zone (PFI) located outside the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ), and a reference code zone (Ref) located outside the R-physical format information zone (PFI), and the middle area includes an outer guard track zone (Guard) and a drive test zone (TZ) located outside the outer guard track zone; and a layer 1 which is farthest from the read-out surface and includes a system lead-out area, a connection area located outside the system lead-out area, a data lead-out area located outside the connection area, a data area located outside the data lead-out area, and a middle area located outside the data area, wherein the data lead-out area includes a drive test zone (TZ) and an inner guard track zone (Guard) located outside the drive test zone (TZ), and the middle area includes an outer guard track zone (Guard) and a drive test zone (TZ) located outside the outer guard track zone, the method comprising: recording data proceeding from the layer 0 to the layer 1, wherein the data recording on the layer 0 is performed in a following order, 1) the drive test zone of the layer 0, 2) the RMD duplication zone, 3) the inner guard track zone of the layer 0, 4) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ), 5) the data area of the layer 0, 6) the drive test zone of the layer 0, 7) the data area of the layer 0, and 8) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ) with 6) to 8) being repeated plural times, and the data recording on the layer 1 is performed in a following order, 1) the drive test zone of the layer 1, 2) the outer guard track zone of the layer 1, 3) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ), 4) the data area of the layer 1, 5) the drive test zone of the layer 1, 6) the data area of the layer 1, and 7) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ) with 5) to 7) being repeated plural times.

2. An information recording apparatus for recording information on an information storage medium, the medium including, a layer 0 which is nearest to a read-out surface and includes a system lead-in area, a connection area located outside the system lead-in area, a data lead-in area located outside the connection area, a data area located outside the data lead-in area, and a middle area located outside the data area, wherein the data lead-in area includes an inner guard track zone (Guard), a drive test zone (TZ) located outside the inner guard track zone, a recording management data (RMD) duplication zone (RDZ) located outside the drive test zone (TZ), a recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ) located outside the recording management data (RMD) duplication zone (RDZ), an R-physical format information zone (PFI) located outside the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ), and a reference code zone (Ref) located outside the R-physical format information zone (PFI), and the middle area includes an outer guard track zone (Guard) and a drive test zone (TZ) located outside the outer guard track zone; and a layer 1 which is farthest from the read-out surface and includes a system lead-out area, a connection area located outside the system lead-out area, a data lead-out area located outside the connection area, a data area located outside the data lead-out area, and a middle area located outside the data area, wherein the data lead-out area includes a drive test zone (TZ) and an inner guard track zone (Guard) located outside the drive test zone (TZ), and the middle area includes an outer guard track zone (Guard) and a drive test zone (TZ) located outside the outer guard track zone, the apparatus comprising: a recording unit configured to record data proceeding from the layer 0 to the layer 1, wherein the recording unit is configured to record data on the layer 0 in a following order, 1) the drive test zone of the layer 0, 2) the RMD duplication zone, 3) the inner guard track zone of the layer 0, 4) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ), 5) the data area of the layer 0, 6) the drive test zone of the layer 0, 7) the data area of the layer 0, and 8) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ) with 6) to 8) being repeated by plural times, and the recording unit is configured to record data on the layer 1 in a following order, 1) the drive test zone of the layer 1, 2) the outer guard track zone of the layer 1, 3) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ), 4) the data area of the layer 1, 5) the drive test zone of the layer 1, 6) the data area of the layer 1, and 7) the recording management zone (RMZ) in data lead-in area (L-RMZ) with 5) to 7) being repeated by plural times.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-266016, filed Sep. 13, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One embodiment of the invention relates to a storage medium such as a recordable optical disc, a recording method, and a reproducing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

As recording media capable of recording a large quantity of information such as video signals, digital versatile discs (DVDs) have been popularized. Consequently, a movie of about two hours is recorded on a DVD, and information is reproduced by a reproducing apparatus, which makes it possible to freely watch the movie at home. In recent years, digitization of television broadcasting has been proposed, and a plan has been made to put a high-resolution television system which is called a high-definition television (HDTV) system to practical use. For that purpose, a standard for a next-generation DVD has been proposed in which a recording capacity is increased by narrowing down a beam spot, for example, in such a manner that a wavelength of a laser beam is shortened, or a numerical aperture NA is enlarged. As a technique of increasing a recording capacity, use of a single-sided multilayer recording medium has been considered in addition to the method of narrowing down a beam spot. The single-sided multilayer recording medium is configured such that a plurality of recording layers are provided on one side of a disc, and a beam is focused on the respective layers by moving an objective lens in an optical axis direction, which makes it possible to write/read for each recording layer (for example, refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-206849, paragraphs 0036 to 0041, FIG. 1)

A single-sided multilayer information recording medium has the problem of interlayer crosstalk which is not generated in a single-sided single-layer recording medium. For ease of explanation, dual layers will be described as an example. In a single-sided dual layer recording medium, a laser beam is focused on the respective layers from a single read surface. A layer close to the read surface is called Layer 0, and a layer distant from the read surface is called Layer 1. When a beam is focused on each layer, some laser beam is irradiated onto a layer other than a target layer. For this reason, a reflected light from the layer other than the target layer is mixed up with a reproduction signal in reproduction, which brings about interlayer crosstalk. Note that interlayer crosstalk could be a problem in, not only reproduction, but also recording.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view of the contents of constituent elements of an information storage medium and a combination method in the present embodiment;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exemplary views showing a standard phase shift recording film structure and an organic dye recording film structure;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a specific structural formula of the specific content "(A3) azo-metal complex+Cu" of the information storage medium constituent elements shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view illustrating an example of optical absorption spectrum characteristics of an organic dye recording material for use in a current DVD-R disc;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are exemplary views each showing comparison of shapes of recording films formed in a pre-pit area or a pre-groove area 10 in the phase shift recording film and the organic dye recording film;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are exemplary views each showing a specific plastic deformation state of a transparent substrate 2-2 at a position of a recording mark 9 in a write-once type information storage medium using a conventional organic dye material;

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are exemplary views relating to a shape or dimensions of a recording film in which a principle of recording is easily established;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are exemplary views each showing a shape and dimensions of the recording film;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view illustrating light absorption spectrum characteristics in an unrecorded state of a an "H-L" (high to low) recording film;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating light absorption spectrum characteristics in a recording mark of the "H-L" recording film;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view illustrating one embodiment of an information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view showing a detailed structure of peripheral portions including a sync code position sampling section 145 shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary view showing a signal processor circuit using a slice level detecting system;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view showing a detailed internal structure of a slicer 310 shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an exemplary view showing a signal processor circuit using a PRML detecting technique;

FIG. 16 is an exemplary view showing an internal structure of a Viterbi decoder 156 shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary view showing a state transition in PR (1, 2, 2, 2, 1) class;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary view showing a waveform (Write Strategy) of a recording pulse for carrying out test writing in a drive test zone;

FIG. 19 is an exemplary view showing a definition of a recording pulse shape;

FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are exemplary views of a recording pulse timing parameter setting table;

FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C are exemplary views relating to values of each parameter used when optimal recording power is checked;

FIG. 22 is an exemplary view showing a light reflectivity range of an "H-L" recording film and a "L-H" (low to high) recording film;

FIG. 23 is an exemplary view illustrating polarity of a detection signal detected from the "H-L" recording film and the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 24 is an exemplary view showing a comparison in light reflection factor between the "H-L" recording film and the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 25 is an exemplary view showing light absorption spectrum characteristics in an unrecorded state of the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 26 is an exemplary view showing a change of light absorption spectrum characteristics in a recorded state and an unrecorded state of the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 27 is an exemplary general structural formula of a cyanine dye utilized for a cation portion of the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 28 is an exemplary general structural formula of a styril dye utilized for a cation portion of the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 29 is an exemplary general structural formula of a monomethine cyanine dye utilized for a cation portion of the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 30 is an exemplary general structural formula of a formazane metal complex utilized for an anion portion of the "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 31 is an exemplary view showing an example of an internal structure and dimensions of an information storage medium;

FIG. 32 is an exemplary view showing a value of a general parameter in a read-only type information storage medium;

FIG. 33 is an exemplary view showing a value of a general parameter in a write-once type information storage medium;

FIG. 34 is an exemplary view showing a value of a general parameter in a rewritable type information storage medium;

FIGS. 35A, 35B and 35C are exemplary views each comparing detailed internal data structures of a system lead-in area SYLDI and a data lead-in area DTLDI in a variety of information storage mediums;

FIGS. 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D are exemplary views each showing an internal data structure of an RMD duplication zone RDZ and a recording position management zone RMZ located in a write-once type information storage medium;

FIGS. 37A, 37B, 37C, 37D, 37E and 37F are exemplary views each showing a comparison of internal data structures of a data area DTA and a data lead-out area DTLDO in the variety of information storage mediums;

FIGS. 38A, 38B and 38C are exemplary views each showing an internal data structure of recording position management data RMD;

FIGS. 39A, 39B, 39C and 39D are exemplary views each showing another embodiment which is different from

FIGS. 40A, 40B, 40C and 40D are exemplary views each illustrating a structure of a border area in the write-once type information storage medium;

FIGS. 41A, 41B, 41C and 41D are exemplary views each showing an internal data structure of a control data zone CDZ and an R physical information zone RIZ;

FIG. 42 is an exemplary view showing specific information contents in physical format information PFI and R physical information format information R_PFI;

FIG. 43 is an exemplary view showing a comparison of the contents of detailed information recorded in allocation place information on a data area DTA;

FIG. 44 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 45 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 46 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 47 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 48 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 49 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIGS. 50A, 50B, 50C and 50D are exemplary views each showing an internal data structure of a data ID;

FIG. 51 is an exemplary view adopted to explain another embodiment relevant to a data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 52 is an exemplary view adopted to explain the other embodiment relevant to a data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 53 is an exemplary view showing another data structure in an RMD field 1;

FIG. 54 is an exemplary view of another embodiment relating to physical format information and R physical format information;

FIGS. 55A, 55B, and 55C are exemplary views illustrating another embodiment relating to an internal data structure of the control data zone;

FIG. 56 is an exemplary view showing an outline of converting procedures for configuring a physical sector structure;

FIG. 57 is an exemplary view showing an internal structure of a data frame;

FIGS. 58A and 58B are exemplary views each showing an initial value assigned to a shift register when producing a frame after scrambled and a circuit configuration of a feedback shift register;

FIG. 59 is an exemplary view illustrating an ECC block structure;

FIG. 60 is an exemplary view illustrating frame arrangement after scrambled;

FIG. 61 is an exemplary view illustrating a PO interleaving method;

FIGS. 62A and 62B are exemplary views each illustrating an internal structure of a physical sector;

FIG. 63 is an exemplary view of the contents of a sync code pattern;

FIG. 64 is an exemplary view showing a detailed structure of an ECC block after PO-interleaved, shown in FIG. 61;

FIG. 65 is an exemplary view illustrating a reference code pattern;

FIGS. 66A, 66B, 66C, and 66D are exemplary views showing a comparison of a data recording format by a variety of information storage mediums;

FIGS. 67A and 67B are exemplary views each illustrating a comparison with a conventional example of a data structure in the variety of information storage mediums;

FIG. 68 is an exemplary view illustrating a comparison with a conventional example of a data structure in the variety of information storage mediums;

FIG. 69 is an exemplary view illustrating 180 degree phase modulation and an NRZ technique in wobble modulation;

FIG. 70 is an exemplary view illustrating a relationship between a wobble shape and an address bit in an address bit area;

FIGS. 71A, 71B, 71C and 71D are exemplary views illustrating a comparison in positional relationship between a wobble sync pattern and an inside of a wobble data unit;

FIGS. 72A, 72B, 72C, and 72D are exemplary view relating to an internal data structure of wobble address information in a write-once type information storage medium;

FIG. 73 is an exemplary view illustrating a setting location of a modulation area on the write-once type information storage medium;

FIGS. 74A, 74B, 74C and 74D are exemplary views each illustrating a setting location of a modulation area in a physical segment on the write-once type information storage medium;

FIGS. 75A and 75B are exemplary view illustrating a layout in a recording cluster;

FIGS. 76A, 76B, 76C, 76D, 76E and 76F are exemplary views each showing a data recording method for recording rewritable data on a rewritable type information storage medium;

FIG. 77 is an exemplary view illustrating a data random shift of the rewritable data recorded on the rewritable type information storage medium;

FIG. 78 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for writing write-once type data once, the data being recorded on the write-once type information storage medium;

FIG. 79 is an exemplary view illustrating a cause of an occurrence of a crosstalk in wobble signal;

FIG. 80 is an exemplary view showing a method for measuring a maximum value (Cwmax) and a minimum value (Cwmin) of a carrier level of a wobble detection signal;

FIG. 81 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method for measuring a maximum amplitude (Wppmax) and a minimum amplitude (Wppmin) of the wobble detection signal;

FIGS. 82A and 82B are exemplary views each showing characteristics of the wobble signal and a track shift signal;

FIG. 83 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method for measuring a (I1-I2) pp signal;

FIG. 84 is an exemplary view illustrating a circuit for measuring NBSNR in response to a square waveform of the wobble signal;

FIG. 85 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method for measuring NBSNR in response to the square waveform of the wobble signal;

FIGS. 86A and 86B are exemplary views each illustrating characteristics of a spectrum analyzer detection signal of the wobble signal caused by phase modulation;

FIG. 87 is an exemplary view illustrating the spectrum analyzer waveform of the phase modulated wobble signal;

FIG. 88 is an exemplary view illustrating the spectrum analyzer waveform produced after squaring the wobble signal;

FIG. 89 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for measuring a suppression ratio in the present embodiment;

FIGS. 90A and 90B are exemplary views each illustrating another embodiment of a detection signal level conforming to an H format in an "H-L" recording film;

FIGS. 91A and 91B are exemplary views each illustrating another embodiment of the detection signal level conforming to the H format in an "L-H" recording film;

FIG. 92 is an exemplary view illustrating a relationship between a detection range and a detection signal level of a preamplifier 304;

FIGS. 93A and 93B are exemplary views each illustrating a method for making a search for a lastly recorded location;

FIG. 94 is an exemplary flow chart for making a search for the lastly recorded location in an information recording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 95 is an exemplary flow chart for making a search for the lastly recorded location in an information reproducing apparatus;

FIGS. 96A, 96B and 96C are exemplary views each illustrating a setting state of a recording position management zone RMZ in a bordered area BRDA;

FIG. 97 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for setting the recording position management zone RMZ in the bordered area BRDA;

FIGS. 98A and 98B are exemplary views illustrating a data structure in a state in which reproduction can be carried out by the information reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 99 is an exemplary view illustrating a border close processing method;

FIGS. 100A and 100B are exemplary views each illustrating another embodiment of a method for setting an extended drive test zone;

FIG. 101 is an exemplary view relating to a method for controlling polarity of a portion 13T;

FIGS. 102A and 102B are exemplary views each illustrating a reproduction signal from a burst cutting area;

FIG. 103 is an exemplary view illustrating a BCA data structure;

FIG. 104 is an exemplary view illustrating bit patterns of a BCA sync byte SBBCA and a BCA re-sync RSBCA;

FIGS. 105A, 105B, 105C, 105D, 105E, 105F and 105G are exemplary views each illustrating an example of the contents of the BCA information recorded in the BCA data area;

FIGS. 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D and 106E are exemplary views each illustrating a wobble address format in a write-once type information storage medium;

FIG. 107 is an exemplary view illustrating a relationship in physical segment setting location between the adjacent tracks;

FIGS. 108A and 108B are exemplary views each illustrating type selection in setting location of a modulation area of an i+1-th adjacent track;

FIG. 109 is an exemplary view illustrating a setting location condition in the case where a setting location type is selected as type 3;

FIG. 110 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for selecting a setting location type of the modulation area;

FIG. 111 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an outline of procedures for recording information in a medium (such as HD DVD-R disc) including information contained in a recording management data field 1 (RMD Field1) or the like;

FIG. 112 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an outline of procedures for reproducing information from a medium (such as HD DVD-R disc) having recorded therein information contained in a recording management data field 1 (RMD Field1) or the like;

FIG. 113 is an exemplary view illustrating a detail on information stored in the recording management data field 1 (RMD Field1);

FIG. 114 is an exemplary view showing specific information contents in physical format information PFI and R physical information format information R_PFI;

FIG. 115 is an exemplary view showing a comparison of the contents of detailed information recorded in allocation place information on a data area DTA;

FIG. 116 is an exemplary view showing a detailed data structure in recording position management data RMD;

FIG. 117 shows an exemplary sectional view of a dual layer recordable disc according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 118A and 118B show exemplary views explaining a space layer thickness measurement;

FIG. 119 shows an exemplary view showing the ray bundle on the other layer while reading and writing of a layer of the disc;

FIG. 120 shows an exemplary view showing the clearance to prevent the influence of the other layer at the worst case;

FIG. 121 shows an exemplary view showing the clearance in the number of physical sectors;

FIG. 122 shows an exemplary view showing a physical sector number on Layer 0 and the corresponding recordable physical sectors on Layer 1;

FIG. 123 shows an exemplary view showing the reference values for the measurement;

FIG. 124 shows an exemplary view showing the general parameters;

FIG. 125 shows an exemplary view showing the schematic of lead-in area and lead-out area;

FIG. 126 shows an exemplary view showing the schematic of original middle area;

FIG. 127 shows an exemplary view showing the track path;

FIGS. 128A, 128B, and 128C show an exemplary view showing the example of data recording procedure (part 1);

FIGS. 129A, 129B, and 129C show an exemplary view showing the example of data recording procedure (part 2);

FIG. 130 shows an exemplary view showing the physical sector layout and numbering;

FIG. 131 shows an exemplary view showing the layout of address field in WAP (Wobble Address in Periodic position);

FIG. 132 shows an exemplary view showing the primary WDU (Wobble Data Unit) in sync field;

FIG. 133 shows an exemplary view showing the primary WDU in address field;

FIG. 134 shows an exemplary view showing the secondary WDU in sync field;

FIG. 135 shows an exemplary view showing the secondary WDU in address field;

FIG. 136 shows an exemplary view showing the WDU in unity field;

FIG. 137 shows an exemplary view showing the structure of the lead-in area;

FIG. 138 shows an exemplary view showing the structure of a control data zone;

FIG. 139 shows an exemplary view showing a structure of a data segment in a control data section;

FIG. 140 shows an exemplary view showing the physical format information;

FIG. 141 shows an exemplary view showing the physical format information (part 1);

FIG. 142 shows an exemplary view showing the physical format information (part 2);

FIG. 143 shows an exemplary view showing the data area allocation;

FIG. 144 shows an exemplary view showing the layout of the RMD (Recording Management Data) duplication zone;

FIG. 145 shows an exemplary view showing the data structure of the recording management data;

FIG. 146 shows an exemplary view showing the RMD field 0;

FIG. 147 shows an exemplary view showing the data area allocation;

FIG. 148 shows an exemplary view showing the renewed data area allocation;

FIG. 149 shows an exemplary view showing the drive test zone;

FIG. 150 shows an exemplary view showing the RMD field 1 (part 1);

FIG. 151 shows an exemplary view showing the RMD field 1 (part 2);

FIG. 152 shows an exemplary view showing the RMD field 4;

FIG. 153 shows an exemplary view showing the RMD field 5 to RMD field 21;

FIG. 154 shows an exemplary view showing the structure of a physical sector block in a R-physical format information zone;

FIG. 155 shows an exemplary view showing the physical format information;

FIG. 156 shows an exemplary view showing the data area allocation;

FIGS. 157A and 157B shows an exemplary view showing the schematic of middle area before/after the expansion;

FIG. 158 shows an exemplary view showing the structure of the middle area before the expansion;

FIG. 159 shows an exemplary view showing the structure of the middle area after the large size expansion;

FIG. 160 shows an exemplary view showing the number of physical sectors in guard track zone;

FIG. 161 shows an exemplary view showing the structure of the lead-out area;

FIGS. 162A and 162B show an exemplary views showing the example of the data area structure for single RZone recording;

FIG. 163 shows an exemplary view showing the example of data area structure for reserve RZone recording;

FIG. 164 shows an exemplary view showing the example of final area structure for recording user data on Layer 1;

FIGS. 165A and 165B show an exemplary view showing the example of final area structure for not recording user data on Layer 1;

FIG. 166 shows an exemplary view showing the terminator location for not recording user data on Layer 1;

FIG. 167 shows an exemplary view showing the channel bit length measurement;

FIGS. 168A and 168B shows an exemplary view showing the schematic of two adjacent tracks;

FIGS. 169A and 169B show an exemplary view showing the type selection for track #i+1;

FIG. 170 shows an exemplary view showing the example of the case that type 3 physical segment is selected;

FIG. 171 shows an exemplary view showing the adaptive write control tables; and

FIG. 172 shows an exemplary view showing the conditions for writing data on Layer 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, an information storage medium comprises information layers of layer 0 and layer 1 which are sequentially arranged from a read surface, recording is carried out from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of layer 0, and recording is carried out from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of layer 1, wherein the information layer of layer 0 comprises a system lead-in area, a data lead-in area, a data area, and a middle area which are arranged from an inner periphery; the information layer of layer 1 comprises a system lead-out area, a data lead-out area, a data area, and a middle area which are arranged from an inner periphery; an end position of the data area of layer 1 is positioned at a periphery outer than a start position of the data area of layer 0; the data lead-in area comprises a guard track zone corresponding to a zone which is wider than a test zone in the data lead-out area; the data lead-out area comprises a guard track zone corresponding to a zone which is wider than a test zone and a management zone in the data lead-in area; the middle area of layer 0 comprises a guard track zone corresponding to a zone which is wider than a test zone in the middle area of layer 1; and the middle area of layer 1 comprises a blank zone corresponding to a zone which is wider than a test zone in the middle area of layer 0.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a recording medium and a method for recording and reproducing the recording medium according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Summary of Characteristics and Advantageous Effect of the Invention

1) Relationship between track pitch/bit pitch and optimal recording power:

Conventionally, in the case of a principle of recording with a substrate shape change, if a track pitch is narrowed, a "cross-write" or a "cross-erase" occurs, and if bit pitches are narrowed, an inter-code crosstalk occurs. As in the present embodiment, since a principle of recording without a substrate shape change is devised, it becomes possible to achieve high density by narrowing track pitches/bit pitches. In addition, at the same time, in the above described principle of recording, recording sensitivity is improved, enabling high speed recording and multi-layering of a recording film because optimal recording power can be lowly set.

2) In optical recording with a wavelength of 620 nm or less, an ECC block is composed of a combination of a plurality of small ECC blocks and each item of data ID information in two sectors is disposed in a small ECC block which is different from another:

According to the invention, as shown in FIG. 2B, a local optical characteristic change in a recording layer 3-2 is a principle of recording, and thus, an arrival temperature in the recording layer 3-2 at the time of recording is lower than that in the conventional principle of recording due to plastic deformation of a transparent substrate 2-2 or due to thermal decomposition or gasification (evaporation) of an organic dye recording material. Therefore, a difference between an arrival temperature and a recording temperature in a recording layer 3-2 at the time of playback is small. In the present embodiment, an interleaving process between small ECC blocks and data ID allocation are contrived in one ECC block, thereby improving reproduction reliability in the case where a recording film is degraded at the time of repetitive playback.

3) Recording is carried out by light having a wavelength which is shorter than 620 nm, and a recorded portion has a higher reflection factor than a non-recording portion:

Under the influence of absorption spectrum characteristics of a general organic dye material, under the control of light having a wavelength which is shorter than 620 nm, the light absorbance is significantly lowered, and recording density is lowered. Therefore, a very large amount of exposure is required to generate a substrate deformation which is a principle of recording in a conventional DVD-R. By employing an "Low to High (hereinafter, abbreviated to as L-H) organic dye recording material" whose reflection factor is increased more significantly than that of an unrecorded portion in a portion (recording mark) recorded as in the present embodiment, a substrate deformation is eliminated by forming a recording mark using a "discoloring action due to dissociation of electron coupling", and recording sensitivity is improved.

4) "L-H" organic dye recording film and PSK/FSK modulation wobble groove:

Wobble synchronization at the time of playback can be easily obtained, and reproduction reliability of a wobble address is improved.

5) "L-H" organic dye recording film and reproduction signal modulation degree rule:

A high C/N ratio relating to a reproduction signal from a recording mark can be ensured, and reproduction reliability from the recording mark is improved.

6) Light reflection factor range in "L-H" organic dye recording film and mirror section:

A high C/N ratio relating to a reproduction signal from a system lead-in area SYLDI can be ensured and high reproduction reliability can be ensured.

7) "L-H" organic dye recording film and light reflection factor range from unrecorded area at the time of on-track:

A high C/N rate relating to a wobble detection signal in an unrecorded area can be ensured, and high reproduction reliability relevant to wobble address information can be ensured.

8) "L-H" organic dye recording film and wobble detection signal amplitude range:

A high C/N ratio relating to a wobble detection signal can be ensured and high reproduction reliability relevant to wobble address information can be ensured.

<<Table of Contents>>

Chapter 0: Description of Relationship Between Wavelength and the Present Embodiment

Wavelength used in the present embodiment.

Chapter 1: Description of Combination of Constituent Elements of Information Storage Medium in the Present Embodiment:

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the contents of constituent elements of the information storage medium in the present embodiment.

Chapter 2: Description of Difference in Reproduction Signal Between Phase Change Recording Film and Organic Dye Recording Film

2-1) Difference in Principle of Recording/Recording Film and Difference in Basic Concept Relating to Generation of Reproduction Signal . . . Definition of .lamda..sub.max write

2-2) Difference of Light Reflection Layer Shape in Pre-Pit/Pre-Groove Area

Optical reflection layer shape (difference in spin coating and sputtering vapor deposition) and influence on a reproduction signal.

Chapter 3: Description of Characteristics of Organic Dye Recording Film in the Present Embodiment

3-1) Problem(s) Relevant to Achievement of High Density in Write-Once Type Recording Film (DVD-R) Using Conventional Organic Dye Material

3-2) Description of Basic Characteristics Common to Organic Dye Recording Films in the Present Embodiment:

Lower limit value of recording layer thickness, channel bit length/track pitch in which advantageous effect is attained in the invention, repetitive playback enable count, optimal reproduction power,

Rate between groove width and land width . . . Relationship with wobble address format

Relationship in recording layer thickness between groove section and land section

Technique of improving error correction capability of recording information and combination with PRML

3-3) Recording Characteristics Common to Organic Dye Recording Films in the Present Embodiment

Upper Limit Value of Optimal Recording Power

3-4) Description of Characteristics Relating to a "High to Low (Hereinafter, Abbreviated to as H-L)" Recording Film in the Present Embodiment:

Upper limit value of reflection factor in unrecorded layer

Relationship between a value of .lamda..sub.max write and a value of .lamda.1.sub.max (absorbance maximum wavelength at unrecorded/recorded position)

Relative values of reflection factor and degree of modulation at unrecorded/recorded position and light absorption values at reproduction wavelength . . . nk range

Relationship in upper limit value between required resolution characteristics and recording layer thickness

Chapter 4: Description of Reproducing Apparatus or Recording/Reproducing Apparatus and Recording Condition/Reproducing Circuit

4-1) Description of Structure and Characteristics of Reproducing Apparatus or Recording/Reproducing Apparatus in the Present Embodiment: Use Wavelength Range, NA Value, and RIM Intensity

4-2) Description of Reproducing Circuit in the Present Embodiment

4-3) Description of Recording Condition in the Present Embodiment

Chapter 5: Description of Specific Embodiments of Organic Dye Recording Film in the Present Embodiment

5-1) Description of Characteristics Relating to "L-H" Recording Film in the Present Embodiment

Principle of recording and reflection factor and degree of modulation at unrecorded/recorded position

5-2) Characteristics of Light Absorption Spectra Relating to "L-H" Recording Film in the Present Embodiment:

Condition for setting maximum absorption wavelength .lamda..sub.max write, value of Al.sub.405 and a value of Ah.sub.405

5-3) Anion Portion: Azo Metal Complex+Cation Portion: Dye

5-4) Use of "Copper" as Azo Metal Complex+Main Metal:

Light absorption spectra after recorded are widening in an "H-L" recording film, and are narrowed in an "L-H" recording film.

Upper limit value of maximum absorption wavelength change amount before and after recording:

A maximum absorption wavelength change amount before and after recording is small, and absorbance at a maximum absorption wavelength changes.

Chapter 6: Description Relating to Pre-Groove Shape/Pre-Pit Shape in Coating Type Organic Dye Recording Film and on Light Reflection Layer Interface

6-1) Light Reflection Layer (Material and Thickness):

Thickness range and passivation structure . . . Principle of recording and countermeasures against degradation (Signal is degraded more easily than substrate deformation or than cavity)

6-2) Description Relating to Pre-Pit Shape in Coating Type Organic Dye Recording Film and on Light Reflection Layer Interface:

Advantageous effect achieved by widening track pitch/channel bit pitch in system lead-in area:

Reproduction signal amplitude value and resolution in system lead-in area:

Rule on step amount at land portion and pre-pit portion in light reflection layer 4-2:

6-3) Description Relating to Pre-Groove Shape in Coating Type Organic Dye Recording Film and on Light Reflection Layer Interface:

Rule on step amount at land portion and pre-groove portion in light reflection layer 4-2:

Push-pull signal amplitude range:

Wobble signal amplitude range (combination with wobble modulation system)

Chapter 7: Description of First Next-Generation Optical Disc: HD DVD System (Hereinafter, Referred to as H Format):

Principle of recording and countermeasure against reproduction signal degradation (Signal is degraded more easily than substrate deformation or than cavity):

Error Correction Code (ECC) structure, PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) System:

Relationship between a wide flat area in the groove and wobble address format.

In the write-once recording, overwriting is carried out in a VFO area which is non-data area.

Influence of DC component change in overwrite area is reduced. In particular, advantageous effect on "L-H" recording film is significant.

Now, a description of the present embodiment will be given here.

Chapter 0: Description of Relationship between Use Wavelength and the Present Embodiment

As a write-once type optical disc obtained by using an organic dye material for a recording medium, there has been commercially available a CD-R disc using a recording/reproducing laser light source wavelength of 780 nm and a DVD-R disc using a recording/reproducing laser light beam wavelength of 650 nm. Further, in a next-generation write-once type information storage medium having achieved high density, it is proposed that a laser light source wavelength for recording or reproducing, which is close to 405 nm (namely, in the range of 355 nm to 455 nm), is used in either of H format (D1) and B format (D2) of FIG. 1 described later. In a write-once type information storage medium using an organic dye material, recording/reproducing characteristics sensitively changes due to a slight change of a light source wavelength. In principle, density is increased in inverse proportion to a square of a laser light source wavelength for recording/reproducing, and thus, it is desirable that a shorter laser light source wavelength be used for recording/reproducing. However, for the above described reason, an organic dye material utilized for a CD-R disc or a DVD-R disc cannot be used as a write-once type information storage medium for 405 nm. Moreover, because 405 nm is close to an ultraviolet ray wavelength, there can easily occur a disadvantage that a recording material "which can be easily recorded with a light beam of 405 nm", is easily changed in characteristics due to ultraviolet ray irradiation, lacking a long period stability. Characteristics are significantly different from each other depending on organic dye materials to be used, and thus, it is difficult to determine the characteristics of these dye materials in general. As an example, the foregoing characteristics will be described by way of a specific wavelength. With respect to an organic dye recording material optimized with a light beam of 650 nm in wavelength, the light to be used becomes shorter than 620 nm, recording/reproducing characteristics significantly change. Therefore, in the case where a recording/reproducing operation is carried out with a light beam which is shorter than 620 nm in wavelength, there is a need for new development of an organic dye material which is optimal to a light source wavelength of recording light or reproducing light. An organic dye material of which recording can be easily carried out with a light beam shorter than 530 nm in wavelength easily causes characteristic degradation due to ultraviolet ray irradiation, lacking long period stability. In the present embodiment, a description will be given with respect to an embodiment relevant to an organic recording material suitable to use in close to 405 nm. Namely, a description will be given with respect to an embodiment relating to an organic recording material which can be stably used in the range of 355 nm to 455 nm in consideration of a fluctuation of a light emitting wavelength which depends on manufacturers of semiconductor laser light sources. That is, the scope of the present embodiment corresponds to a light beam which is adapted to a light source of 620 nm in wavelength, and desirably, which is shorter than 530 nm in wavelength (ranging from 355 nm to 455 nm in a definition in the narrowest range).

In addition, the optical recording sensitivity due to light absorption spectra of an organic dye material is also influenced by a recording wavelength. An organic dye material suitable for long period stability is easily reduced in light absorbance relevant to a light beam which is shorter than 620 nm in wavelength. In particular, the light absorbance is significantly lowered with respect to a light beam which is shorter than 620 nm in wavelength, and in particular, is drastically reduced with respect to a light beam which is shorter than 530 nm in wavelength. Therefore, in the case where recording is carried out with a laser light beam ranging from 355 nm to 455 nm in wavelength, which is the severest condition, recording sensitivity is impaired because the light absorbance is low, and there is a need for a new design employing a new principle of recording as shown in the present embodiment.

The size of a focusing spot used for recording or reproducing application is reduced in proportion to a wavelength of a light beam to be used. Therefore, from only a standpoint of the focusing spot size, in the case where a wavelength is reduced to the above described value, an attempt is made to reduce a track pitch or channel bit length by a wavelength component with respect to a current DVD-R disc (use wavelength: 650 nm) which is a conventional technique. However, as described later in "3-2-A] Scope requiring application of technique according to the present embodiment", as long as a principle of recording in a conventional write-once type information storage medium such as a DVD-R disc is used, there is a problem that a track pitch or a channel bit length cannot be reduced. A track pitch or a channel bit length can be reduced in proportion to the above described wavelength by utilizing a technique devised in the present embodiment described below.

Chapter 1: Description of Combination of Constituent Elements of Information Storage Medium in the Present Embodiment

In the present embodiment, there exists a great technical feature in that an organic recording medium material (organic dye material) adapted to a light source of 620 nm or less in wavelength has been devised. Such an organic recording medium (organic dye material) has a unique characteristic (Low to High characteristic) that a light reflection factor increases in a recording mark, which does not exist in a conventional CD-R disc or a DVD-R disc. Therefore, a technical feature of the present embodiment and a novel effect attained thereby occurs in a structure, dimensions, or format (information recording format) combination of the information storage medium which produces more effectively the characteristics of the organic recording material (organic dye materials) shown in the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a combination, which produces a new technical feature and advantageous effect in the present embodiment. That is the information storage medium in the present embodiment has the following constituent elements:

A] an organic dye recording film;

B] a pre-format (such as pre-groove shape/dimensions or pre-pit shape/dimensions);

C] a wobble condition (such as wobble modulation method and wobble change shape, wobble amplitude, and wobble allocating method); and

D] a format (such as format for recording data which is to be recorded or which has been recorded in advance in information storage medium).

Specific embodiments of constituent elements correspond to the contents described in each column of FIG. 1. A technical feature and a unique advantageous effect of the present embodiment occur in combination of the specific embodiments of the constituent elements shown in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, a description will be given with respect to a combination state of individual embodiments at a stage of explaining the embodiments. With respect to constituent elements, which do not specify a combination, it denotes that the following characteristics are employed:

A5) an arbitrary coating recording film;

B3) an arbitrary groove shape and an arbitrary pit shape;

C4) an arbitrary modulation system;

C6) an arbitrary amplitude amount; and

D4) an arbitrary recording method and a format in a write-once medium.

Chapter 2: Description of Difference in Reproduction Signal Between Phase Change Recording Film and Organic Dye Recording Film

2-1) Difference in Principle of Recording/Recording Film and Difference in Basic Concept Relating to Generation of Reproduction Signal

FIG. 2A shows a standard phase change recording film structure (mainly used for a rewritable-type information storage medium), and FIG. 2B shows a standard organic dye recording film structure (mainly used for a write-once type information storage medium). In the description of the present embodiment, a whole recording film structure excluding transparent substrates 2-1 and 2-2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B (including light reflection layers 4-1 and 4-2) is defined as a "recording film", and is discriminated from recording layers 3-1 and 3-2 in which a recording material is disposed. With respect to a recording material using a phase change, in general, an optical characteristic change amount in a recorded area (in a recording mark) and an unrecorded area (out of a recording mark) is small, and thus, there is employed an enhancement structure for enhancing a relative change rate of a reproduction signal. Therefore, in a phase change recording film structure, as shown in FIG. 2A, an undercoat intermediate layer 5 is disposed between the transparent substrate 2-1 and a phase change type recording layer 3-1, and an upper intermediate layer 6 is disposed between the light reflection layer 4-2 and the phase change type recording layer 3-1. In the invention, as a material for the transparent substrates 2-1 and 2-2, there is employed a polycarbonate PC or an acrylic PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate) which is a transparent plastic material. A center wavelength of a laser light beam 7 used in the present embodiment is 405 nm, and refractive index n.sub.21, n.sub.22 of the polycarbonate PC at this wavelength is close to 1.62. Standard refractive index n.sub.31 and absorption coefficient k.sub.31 in 405 nm at GeSbTe (germanium antimony tellurium) which is most generally used as a phase change type recording material are n.sub.31.apprxeq.1.5 and k.sub.31.apprxeq.2.5 in a crystalline area, whereas they are n.sub.31.apprxeq.2.5 and k.sub.31.apprxeq.1.8 in an amorphous area. Thus, a refractive index (in the amorphous area) of a phase change type recording medium is different from a refractive index of the transparent substrate 2-1, and reflection of a laser light beam 7 on an interface between the layers is easily occurred in a phase change recording film structure. As described above, for the reasons why (1) a phase change recording film structure takes an enhancement structure; and (2) a refractive index difference between the layers is great or the like, a light reflection amount change at the time of reproduction from a recording mark recorded in a phase change recording film (a differential value of a light reflection amount from a recording mark and a light reflection amount from an unrecorded area) can be obtained as an interference result of multiple reflection light beams generated on an interface between the undercoat intermediate layer 5, the recording layer 3-1, the upper intermediate layer 6, and the light reflection layer 4-2. In FIG. 2A, although the laser light beam 7 is apparently reflected on an interface between the undercoat intermediate layer 5 and the recording layer 3-1, an interface between the recording layer 3-1 and the upper intermediate layer 6, and an interface between the upper intermediate layer 6 and the light reflection layer 4-2, in actuality, a reflection light amount change is obtained as an interference result between a plurality of multiple reflection light beams.

In contrast, an organic dye recording film structure takes a very simple laminate structure made of an organic dye recording layer 3-2 and a light reflection layer 4-2. An information storage medium (optical disc) using this organic dye recording film is called a write-once type information storage medium, which enables only one time of recording. However, unlike a rewritable-type information storage medium using the phase change recording medium, this medium cannot carry out an erasing process or a rewriting process of information which has been recorded once. A refractive index at 405 nm of a general organic dye recording material is often close to n.sub.32.apprxeq.1.4 (n.sub.32=1.4 to 1.9 in the refractive index range at 405 nm of a variety of organic dye recording materials) and an absorption coefficient is often close to k.sub.32.apprxeq.0.2 (k.sub.32.apprxeq.0.1 to 0.2 in the absorption coefficient range at 405 nm of a variety of organic dye recording materials). Because a refractive index difference between the organic dye recording material and the transparent substrate 2-2 is small, there hardly occurs a light reflection amount on an interface between the recording layer 3-2 and the transparent substrate 2-2. Therefore, an optical reproduction principle of an organic color recording film (reason why a reflection light amount change occurs) is not "multiple interference" in a phase change recording film, and a main factor is a "light amount loss (including interference) midway of an optical path with respect to the laser light beam 7 which comes back after being reflected in the light reflection layer 4-2". Specific reasons which cause a light amount loss midway of an optical path include an "interference phenomenon due to a phase difference partially caused in the laser light 7" or an "optical absorption phenomenon in the recording layer 3-2". The light reflection factor of the organic dye recording film in an unrecorded area on a mirror surface on which a pre-groove or a pre-pit does not exist is featured to be simply obtained by a value obtained by subtracting an optical absorption amount when the recording layer 3-2 is passed from the light reflection factor of the laser light beam 7 in the light reflection layer 4-2. As described above, this film is different from a phase change recording film whose light reflection factor is obtained by calculation of "multiple interference".

First, a description will be given with respect to a principle of recording, which is used in a current DVD-R disc as a conventional technique. In the current DVD-R disc, when a recording film is irradiated with the laser light beam 7, the recording layer 3-2 locally absorbs energy of the laser light beam 7, and becomes hot. If a specific temperature is exceeded, the transparent substrate 2-2 is locally deformed. Although a mechanism, which induces deformation of the transparent substrate 2-2, is different depending on manufacturers of DVD-R discs, it is said that this mechanism is caused by:

1) local plastic deformation of the transparent substrate 2-2 due to gasification energy of the recording layer 3-2; and

2) transmission of a heat from the recording layer 3-2 to the transparent substrate 2-2 and local plastic deformation of the transparent substrate 2-2 due to the heat.

If the transparent substrate 2-2 is locally plastically deformed, there