Sony Corporation

Yoshiro Arikawa

Shinichi Nakao

Kazuhito Kurita

Minoru Tobita

Mikinori Matsuda

Tokio Kanada

Akihiro Noda

A tracking error signal calculating unit () detects a tracking error signal of light with respect to a mark recorded on a wobbled groove in a focused-on state from the light reflected back from the wobbled groove. A pull-in signal calculating unit () detects a total light volume signal PI of the mark, recorded on the wobbled groove, from the reflected light. A D-flipflop discriminating circuit () compares the phase of a binary coded version of a tracking error signal TE detected by the tracking error signal calculating unit to the phase of a binary coded version of the total light volume signal PI as detected by the pull-in signal calculating unit to discriminate the sorts of the optical discs having the same outer shape and the same optical system but differing in the UTOC recording system.

Optical disc discriminating apparatus, optical disc discriminating method, optical disc recording apparatus and optical disc reproducing apparatus

A recording medium is provided wherein type determination and writing possibility determination is enabled for various types of disks. Opening and closing structure functions to open and close a detection hole of a cartridge. The structure forms a plane substantially horizontal level with a reference plane of the cartridge at a position of a detection hole when the detection hole is in a closed state. The cartridge has at least a first detection hole and a second detection hole formed therein. The second detection hole (H) is opened and closed by the opening and closing structure, and the first detection hole (H) is in an open state at all times.

Cartridge type recording medium, associated apparatus and methodology of disc detection

A disc drive apparatus is provided which determines a recording medium enabling type and recordability for various types of discs. The discs are housed in a cartridge and each cartridge has at least a first and second detection hole formed therein. The second detection hole (H) is variably opened and closed by an opening/closing device, and the first detection hole (H) is in an open state at all times. The disc drive apparatus determines the disc type using a light signal reflected from the loaded recording medium. The disc drive apparatus also determines disc determining parameters (for example, recordability of a disc) based on information received about the disc type and the open/closed state of one or more detection holes formed in the cartridge.

Disc detection device and associated method

Optical disk identifying device, optical disk identifying method, optical disk recorder, and optical disk reproducing device

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Yoshiro Arikawa