Write once optical disc recording apparatus with reduced data error rate

Abstract

An apparatus for recording data signals onto an optical recording medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a unit for radiating a laser beam onto the optical recording medium, a photo-electric converting unit for converting the laser beam reflected from the optical recording medium into an electrical signal, a first detection unit for detecting whether or not the data signals are recorded on the optical recording medium, a second detection unit for detecting a value of asymmetry based upon an output of the photo-electric converting unit, and a control unit for detecting, prior to recording of the data signals on the optical recording medium, whether or not the data signals are recorded in a region proximate to a region of the optical recording medium in which the data signals are to be recorded. The control unit sets a value of asymmetry detected by the second detection unit based on the data signal reproduced from the proximate region as being a target value of asymmetry when the data signals are recorded in the proximate region. The control unit also sets a predetermined value of asymmetry as the target value of asymmetry when data signals are not recorded in the proximate region.