Recording method, recording apparatus, and signal processing circuit for recording information on optical recording medium

Abstract

In a recording method or apparatus, in order to set an optimal recording condition by a minimal number of times of testing, test recording is carried out while changing power and pulse width of recording pulses in a stepwise manner. Conditions for the test recording are concentrated in a region of a matrix defined by power×pulse width.

1 . A recording method for recording information onto an optical recording medium, whose identification information is unknown, with a recording condition determined based on a result of test recording carried out by irradiating pulsed laser beams onto the medium, wherein the test recording is carried out by changing the power and pulse width of the laser beams in a stepwise manner, and a range of changing the power and pulse width is determined based on a result of checking recording characteristics prior to the test recording. 
   
   
       2 . The recording method according to  claim 1 , wherein the test recording is carried out by changing a pulse width in a stepwise manner and changing the power in a stepwise manner for each value of the pulse width changed. 
   
   
       3 . The recording method according to  claim 1 , wherein the recording characteristics are checked by carrying out test recording on the optical recording medium by a plurality of predetermined reference conditions and detecting a result of reproduced characteristics. 
   
   
       4 . The recording method according to  claim 1 , wherein the test recording is carried out by changing a power of the laser beams in a stepwise manner and changing the pulse width in a stepwise manner for each value of the power changed. 
   
   
       5 . An optical drive comprising:
 a laser light source;   a laser light source controller coupled to said laser light source; and   a memory storing information for use by said laser light source controller in controlling said laser light source, wherein said information comprises a set of predefined laser light source test conditions, and wherein said optical drive is configured to, when working with an optical recording medium whose identification information is unknown, define a second set of additional test recording conditions based on the results of test recordings performed with said set of predefined laser light source test conditions, wherein the test recording is carried out by changing the power and pulse width of the laser beams in a stepwise manner, and a range of changing the power and pulse width is determined based on said set of predefined laser light source test conditions.   
   
   
       6 . The optical drive of  claim 5 , wherein said optical drive is further configured to define a data recording condition based at least in part on test results from said additional test recording conditions. 
   
   
       7 . An optical drive comprising:
 a laser light source;   means for recording test data on an optical medium using a first defined set of test conditions characterized by one or more different laser pulse widths, laser pulse powers, or both;   means for making a first determination of recording characteristics at said first predefined set of test conditions;   means for defining a range of different laser pulse powers, laser pulse widths, or both, based at least in part on said first determination;   means for recording test data on said media using a second set of test conditions within said defined range of pulse powers, pulse widths, or both;   means for making a second determination of recording characteristics at a plurality of said test conditions within said defined range; and   means for defining a recording condition for recording information onto said optical recording medium based at least in part on said second determination.