Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Control of storage or retrieval operation by a control... – Control of information signal processing channel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-17
2001-11-27
Hindi, Nabil (Department: 2651)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Control of storage or retrieval operation by a control...
Control of information signal processing channel
C369S047270, C369S047280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324136
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of setting a recording time point, which sets a recording time point (a record position) of record information on a recording medium such as an optical disk and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A DVD-R is a recordable optical disk and has a record density equal to about 7 times that of a CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable). Record control information referred to as a pre-pit is recorded in advance on the recording surface of this DVD-R. When record information is recorded onto the DVD-R, an information recorder detects the position of the pre-pit, and then sets the recording time point of the record information in accordance with the position of the pre-pit.
However, if crack, contaminant or the like is present on the surface of the DVD-R, there may be a case that the pre-pit on the DVD-R can not be normally detected. This case results in a problem that the recording time point of the record information can not be normally set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for and a method of setting a recording time point, which can set a recording time point of record information even if record control information (mark or pre-pit) recorded on an optical disk cannot be normally detected.
The present invention provides a method of setting a recording time point for recording an information piece into one of a plurality of predetermined areas on a recording medium on the basis of a plurality of marks. The marks is pre-recorded on the recording medium at predetermined intervals. The locations of the marks correspond to the locations of the predetermined areas, respectively. The locations of the predetermined areas are predetermined on the basis of a time length of the information pieces. In this method, firstly, at least one of the marks is detected. Next, an expectation signal is generated on the basis of the time length of the information piece, and then, a time point at which an output of the expectation signal is started is synchronized with a time point at which the at least one of the marks is detected. The expectation signal is a signal for determining an expectation time point that one of the marks, except for the at least one of the marks already detected, is to be detected. Next, the expectation time point determined by the expectation signal is set as the recording time point.
In this method, the locations of the marks correspond to the locations of the predetermined areas, respectively, and the locations of the predetermined areas are predetermined on the basis of the time length of the information pieces. Therefore, on the basis of the time length of the information pieces, the expectation time point can be expected. Furthermore, by synchronizing the start time point of the expectation signal with the time point that at least one mark is detected, the expectation time point can be actually determined. Once the expectation time is generated, the recording time point can be determined by using the expectation signal. Accordingly, the recording time point can be set, even if the mark (i.e., record control information) is not normally detected.
In this method, the generating process may include a process of calculating an average of the expectation time point determined by the expectation signal that is generated at a present time and the expectation time point determined by the expectation signal that is generated in the past. Therefore, the accuracy of setting the recording time point can be improved.
In the aforementioned method, the generating process may include a process of adjusting the expectation time point depending on whether no information piece is recorded on the recording medium or whether another information piece has been already recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, the recording time point can be accurately set whether no information piece is recorded on the recording medium or whether another information piece has been already recorded on the recording medium. In the case where the position at which the information piece is to be recorded is different depending on whether the recording medium is a new, unused or re-formatted recording medium or a previously used recording medium, the recording time point can be accurately set depending on this difference.
The present invention also provides an apparatus for setting a recording time point for recording an information piece into one of a plurality of predetermined areas on a recording medium on the basis of a plurality of marks. This apparatus includes: a detecting device for detecting at least one of the marks; a generating device for generating an expectation signal on the basis of the time length of the information piece and for synchronizing a time point at which an output of the expectation signal is started with a time point at which the at least one of the marks is detected by the detecting device, the expectation signal being a signal for determining an expectation time point that one of the marks, except for the at least one of the marks already detected by the detecting device, is to be detected; and a setting device for setting the expectation time point determined by the expectation signal as the recording time point.
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Shimoda Yoshitaka
Yoshida Masayoshi
Hindi Nabil
Pioneer Electronic Corporation
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
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