Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Company

Other

Lawrence Nathaniel Taugher

D Mitchel Hanks

Kevin Lawrence Colburn

Charles L Hunter

Andrew L Van Brocklin

Greg J Lipinski

Andrew J Rodgers

Paul William Martin

Daryl E Anderson

Makarand P Gore

David H Hanes

Jayprakash C Bhatt

Michael A Pate

Charles Robert Weirauch

Darwin Mitchel Hanks

J Robert Sims, Iii

Kerry J Monroe

Jeffrey M Valley

Stephen F Bayless

Christian J Warling

Erik R Habbinga

William P Repasky

Steven G Hall

Kevin L Colbum

Thomas L Bloom

A method for forming an optical disc includes forming a first disc portion, forming a second disc portion, coupling the first disc portion to the second disc portion, wherein forming the first disc portion includes forming a data recording layer, and wherein forming the second disc portion includes forming a material layer including a plurality of embossed features having a depth of approximately &#xbc;&#x3bb; for optimized encoder compatibility, where &#x3bb; is the wavelength of a light source being used to sense the embossed features.

Optical disc embossed features

Systems and methods for calibrating laser write power in a digital media drive are disclosed. The method includes writing to a calibration portion on a digital media labeling layer with energy from a laser. The writing includes using at least two different laser power settings within the calibration portion. The method also includes measuring a parameter in the calibration segment, the parameter being indicative of the reflectivity of the labeling layer, and determining a calibrated laser write power setting based on the measured parameter and the at least two different laser write power settings.

System and method for laser write power calibration

An optical scanning device and method are provided for marking an optically sensitive layer. The device can include an optical source capable of emitting a beam. At least one pivot can be configured to enable the beam to travel through a beam output arc. In addition, a mirror surface can be oriented toward the optically sensitive layer. The mirror surface can be configured to reflect the beam within the defined beam output arc onto a plurality of locations of the optically sensitive layer.

Device and method for optical scanning

This invention relates to a method of determining the location of a plurality of laser spots, comprising: determining a first distance of a first laser spot; determining a second distance of the first laser spot; determining a first distance of a second laser spot; determining a second distance of the second laser spot; and adjusting, if necessary, the locations of the first and second laser.

Method of laser spot location and adjustment thereof

A method for detecting and optimizing the quality of a mark made by a laser on a recording medium, comprising (a) recording a test mark at a selected level of laser power and a selected speed of movement of the recording medium, (b) measuring at least one dimension of the test mark, (c) comparing the at least one dimension of the test mark to a stored reference value for at least one reference dimension, and (d) determining whether the at least one dimension of the test mark is comparable to the at least one dimension of the stored reference value.

Methods and apparatus for detecting and optimizing laser mark quality on recording media

A method of compensating for output variations in laser power output over time in a system using a laser to record visible marks on an optical disc, the method comprising (a) applying a test light beam from the laser to the optical disc to determine a test value of an optical parameter, (b) determining a difference between the test value and a predetermined reference value for the optical parameter, and (c) adjusting the laser power output to compensate for the difference.

Methods and apparatus to compensate for power output variations over time

Various embodiments and methods relating to the writing of a label on a disc at the same time that data is written upon the disk are disclosed.

Label writing

Various systems, methods, and programs embodied on a computer-readable medium are provided for calibrating a laser power in an optical disc drive. In one embodiment, a plurality of marked segments of a calibration pattern are created on a label surface of an optical disc with a laser in the optical disc drive. The marked segments are created by the application of assorted quanta of radiant energy from the laser. The reflectivity of the marked segments is measured. Ultimately, the laser power of a laser in the optical disc drive is set for writing a label based upon the reflectivities measured for each of the marked segments for each quantum of radiant energy.

Laser power calibration in an optical disc drive

Various systems, methods, and programs embodied on a computer-readable medium are provided for calibrating a laser power in an optical disc drive. In one embodiment, a range of reflectivity of an optical disc in the optical disc drive is established. A calibration pattern of marked segments is written to the optical disc and the reflectivity of the marked segments is measured. An average reflectivity is generated for each one of a plurality of laser power settings within the range of reflectivity, thereby obtaining a curve that depicts the average reflectivity with respect to the laser power settings. The laser power setting at a knee of the curve is identified and a slope of the curve at a position on the curve where the average reflectivity decreases as the laser power settings increase is determined. The laser power setting is calculated that results in a predefined darkness based upon the laser power setting at the knee and based upon the slope.

For at least some layers of a number of stacked layers of an optical disc that correspond to different colors, an optical beam is selectively impinged on a region of the optical disc. The optical beam has a wavelength to which the layer is uniquely sensitive as compared to other of the layers, to sufficiently heat the layer so as to cause the region to change from at least substantially translucent to a color to which the layer corresponds.

Optical disc having layers corresponding to different colors and sensitive to optical beam wavelengths

Disclosed are systems and methods for organizing images. In one embodiment, a system and a method pertain to analyzing images, detecting attributes of the images, comparing the detected attributes to identify images having a similar attribute, and associating images having the similar attribute to automatically generate an attribute-based album.

System and method for organizing images

A method and apparatus are provided for visually marking a recording medium by inducing a phase change in a light-sensitive surface by heat absorption from laser radiation. The method includes applying the laser radiation to a desired portion of the light-sensitive surface according to a first power profile for a first period sufficient to substantially obtain a color change at the desired portion, and applying the laser radiation to the desired portion of the light-sensitive surface according to a second power profile for a second period sufficient to complete the color change at the desired portion.

Labeling methods and apparatus using electromagnetic radiation

A method and apparatus for write protection of rewritable compact disks and digital video disks. A Power Calibration Area is covered to prevent the drive laser from completing a calibration procedure. In one embodiment, the disk has an indented area formed around the central hole in the disk. A ring shaped plug is inserted into the indented area, with an extended surface that covers the calibration area. In an alternative embodiment, an adhesive label, ink, dye or paint is used. In still another alternative embodiment, the calibration area is mechanically abraded to provide permanent write protection. Finally, the laser in the drive may be used to darken, damage or destroy the calibration area or a transparent label over the calibration area, for permanent write protection.

Write protect for rewritable compact disks and digital video disks

A scalable and portable disc player or recorder for containing and transferring audio, video or computer data to and from an optical disc of various sizes. The casing of the disc player provides a case scaling mechanism having a set of pivotal wings and slidable sleeves that can be adjusted to accommodate various optical disc sizes. This same process changes the structural size of the disc player casing.

Scalable and portable disc player for various optical disc sizes

The present invention relates to the attachment of latency-intolerant devices, such as CD-RW devices to a well supported high bandwidth interface on a host computer. A preferred high bandwidth interface is the Universal Serial Bus (USB) which is commonly installed in personal computers manufactured in the late 1990's. A need for both high pre-allocated bandwidth makes use of the Isochronous transfer mode desirable for communication with CD-RW and other devices requiring continuous data transmission. One of a range of data reliability mechanisms is preferably implemented on the connection to the USB to ensure accuracy in data transmission to the various devices connected to the USB.

Growing community of inventors

Loveland, CO, United States of America

Lawrence Nathaniel Taugher