Optical recording medium and method for setting power of laser beam

Abstract

An optical recording medium has a plurality of test areas on each of which test signals are written, and a plurality of power sitting information recording areas on each of which an optimum laser power obtained by reading the recorded test signal written in one of the test areas is written. An identification information of a recording system by which the test signal is written is also written on the power setting information recording area.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An optical recording medium on which information is recorded in an information recording area by changing a physical quality thereof, said medium comprising: 
       a plurality of test areas in each of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       a plurality of power setting information recording areas,  
       each of the test areas being coupled with one of the power setting information recording areas, and each couple of areas being located at predetermined relative positions which can be relatively detected,  
       wherein an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written and an optimum laser power, obtained by reading a recorded test signal in a corresponding test area, are written to a power setting information recording area corresponding to each test area of said plurality of test areas.  
     
     
       2. An optical recording medium on which information is recorded in an information recording area by changing a physical quality thereof, said medium comprising: 
       a plurality of test areas in each of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       a plurality of power setting information recording areas disposed between each of said plurality of test areas,  
       wherein an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written and an optimum laser power, obtained by reading a recorded test signal in an adjacent test area, is written to a power setting information recording area corresponding to each test area of said plurality of test areas.  
     
     
       3. An optical recording medium on which information is recorded in an information recording area by changing a physical quality thereof, said medium comprising: 
       a plurality of test areas in each of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       a plurality of power setting information recording areas disposed after said plurality of test areas,  
       wherein an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written and an optimum laser power, obtained by reading a recorded test signal in a test area, is written to a power setting information recording area corresponding to each test area of said plurality of test areas.  
     
     
       4. A method for setting a power of a laser beam for an optical disc having a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, said method comprising the steps of: 
       writing test signals on test areas a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information in an information recording area by reading a recorded test signal;  
       writing an optimum laser power and an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written in one of the plurality of power setting information recording areas, wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed between each of said test areas;  
       reading out an identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area;  
       reading out an optimum laser power written in the one power setting information recording area in which the identification information is written;  
       setting the power of the laser beam to said optimum laser power, for recording information.  
     
     
       5. A method for setting a power of a laser beam for an optical disc having a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, said method comprising the steps of: 
       writing test signals on test areas a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information in an information recording area by reading a recorded test signal;  
       writing an optimum laser power and an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written in one of the plurality of power setting information recording areas, wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said test areas;  
       reading out an identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area;  
       reading out an optimum laser power written in the one power setting information recording area in which the identification information is written;  
       setting the power of the laser beam to said optimum laser power, for recording information.  
     
     
       6. An optical recording medium on which information is recorded in an information recording area, said medium comprising: 
       
         a plurality of test areas, on at least one of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       
       
         a plurality of power setting information recording areas, on at least one of which the following information is written: identification information of a recording system by which the test signals have been written in a test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising an optimum laser power obtained by reading a recorded test signal in the test area and position information of the test area where the test signals have been written. 
       
     
     
       7. The optical recording medium of  claim 6 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed between each of said plurality of test areas respectively. 
     
     
       8. The optical recording medium of  claim 6 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       9. The optical recording medium of  claim 6 , wherein in at least one of said power setting information recording areas, the following information is written: the date and time of a test, and data indicating an optimum recording strategy. 
     
     
       10. A method for setting a power of a laser beam for an optical disc having a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, said method comprising the steps of: 
       
         writing test signals on a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       
       
         obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information in an information recording area of the optical disc by reading the written test signals in the test area;  
       
       
         setting the obtained optimum laser power to the power of the laser beam, for recording information on the optical disc; and  
       
       
         writing the following information in one of the power setting information recording areas: identification information of a recording system by which the test signals have been written in the test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising obtained optimum laser power and position information of the test area where test signals have been written. 
       
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
       
         reading out said written identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area;  
       
       
         determining whether said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized; and  
       
       
         setting an optimum laser power using the parameter written in the power setting information recording area to the power of the laser beam, if said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized. 
       
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
       
         reading out said written identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area; and  
       
       
         determining whether said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized,  
       
       
         wherein said step of writing test signals is executed, if said written identification information is different from the identification information of the recording system being utilized. 
       
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed between each of said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said optimum power parameter further comprises the date and time of the test, and data indicating an optimum recording strategy. 
     
     
       16. A recording system including a laser beam for recording information onto an optical disc, the optical disc having a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, said recording system comprising: 
       
         a first writing device for writing test signals on a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       
       
         an obtaining device for obtaining an optimum laser power of said laser beam for writing information in an information recording area of the optical disc by reading the written test signals in the test area;  
       
       
         a setting device for setting the obtained optimum laser power to the power of the laser beam, for recording information on the optical disc at an optimum laser power; and  
       
       
         a second writing device for writing the following information in one of the power setting information recording areas: identification information of the recording system by which the test signals have been written in the test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising obtained optimum laser power and position information of the test area where test signals have been written. 
       
     
     
       17. The recording system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       
         a reading device for reading out said written identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area;  
       
       
         a determining device for determining whether said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized; and  
       
       
         a setting device for setting an optimum laser power using the parameter written in the one power setting information recording area to the power of the laser beam, if said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized. 
       
     
     
       18. The recording system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       
         a reading device for reading out said written identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area; and  
       
       
         a determining device for determining whether said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized,  
       
       
         wherein said first writing device for writing test signals executes the writing of the test signals, if said written identification information is different from the identification information of the recording system being utilized. 
       
     
     
       19. The recording system of  claim 16 , wherein said power setting information recording areas of the optical disc are disposed between each of said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       20. The recording system of  claim 16 , wherein said power setting information recording areas of the optical disc are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       21. The recording system of  claim 16 , wherein said optimum power parameter further comprises the date and time of a test, and data indicating an optimum recording strategy. 
     
     
       22. An optical recording medium on which information is recorded in an information recording area, said medium comprising: 
       
         a plurality of test areas, on at least one of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       
       
         a plurality of power setting information recording areas, on at least one of which the following information is written: identification information of a recording system by which the test signals have been written in a test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising at least position information of the test area where the test signals have been written. 
       
     
     
       23. The optical recording medium of  claim 22 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed between each of said plurality of test areas respectively. 
     
     
       24. The optical recording medium of  claim 22 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       25. The optical recording medium of  claim 22 , wherein in at least one of said power setting information recording areas, information of the date and time of a test is written. 
     
     
       26. The optical recording medium of  claim 22 , wherein in at least one of said power setting information recording areas, information of data indicating an optimum recording strategy is written. 
     
     
       27. A method for setting a power of a laser beam for an optical disc having a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, said method comprising the steps of: 
       
         writing test signals on a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       
       
         obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information in an information recording area of the optical disc by reading the written test signals in the test area;  
       
       
         setting the obtained optimum laser power to the power of the laser beam, for recording information on the optical disc; and  
       
       
         writing the following information in one of the power setting information recording areas: identification information of a recording system by which the test signals have been written in the test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising at least position information of the test area where test signals have been written. 
       
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of: 
       
         reading out said written identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area; and  
       
       
         determining whether said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized,  
       
       
         wherein said step of writing test signals is executed, if said written identification information is different from the identification information of the recording system being utilized. 
       
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed between each of said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said optimum power parameter further comprises the date and time of the test. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said optimum power parameter further comprises data indicating an optimum recording strategy. 
     
     
       33. A recording system including a laser beam for recording information onto an optical disc, the optical disc having a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, said recording system comprising: 
       
         a first writing device for writing test signals on a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       
       
         an obtaining device for obtaining an optimum laser power of said laser beam for writing information in an information recording area of the optical disc by reading the written test signals in the test area;  
       
       
         a setting device for setting the obtained optimum laser power to the power of the laser beam, for recording information on the optical disc at an optimum laser power; and  
       
       
         a second writing device for writing the following information in one of the power setting information recording areas: identification information of the recording system by which the test signals have been written in the test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising at least position information of the test area where test signals have been written. 
       
     
     
       34. The recording system of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
       
         a reading device for reading out said written identification information of a recording system from the one power setting information recording area; and  
       
       
         a determining device for determining whether said written identification information is the same as the identification information of a recording system being utilized,  
       
       
         wherein said first writing device for writing test signals executes the writing of the test signals, if said written identification information is different from the identification information of the recording system being utilized. 
       
     
     
       35. The recording system of  claim 33 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed between each of said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       36. The recording system of  claim 33 , wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       37. The recording system of  claim 33 , wherein said optimum power parameter further comprises the date and time of a test. 
     
     
       38. The recording system of  claim 33 , wherein said optimum power parameter further comprises data indicating an optimum recording strategy. 
     
     
       39. A system for reproducing information from an optical recording medium, the information being recorded in an information recording area by changing a physical quality thereof, said medium comprising: 
       
         a plurality of test areas in each of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       
       
         a plurality of power setting information recording areas,  
       
       
         each of the test areas being coupled with one of the power setting information recording areas, and each couple of areas being located at predetermined relative positions which can be relatively detected,  
       
       
         wherein an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written and an optimum laser power, obtained by reading a recorded test signal in a corresponding test area, are written to a power setting information recording area corresponding to each test area of said plurality of test areas,  
       
       
         the apparatus comprising:  
       
       
         a pickup which emits a laser beam to be irradiated to the optical recording medium;  
       
       
         a servo circuit; and  
       
       
         a reproducing decoder which reproduces the information recorded on the optical recording medium. 
       
     
     
       40. The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of power setting information recording areas are disposed after said plurality of test areas. 
     
     
       41. A system for reproducing, from an optical recording medium having a information recording area, a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, information recorded in accordance with a method comprising the steps of: 
       
         writing test signals on a test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       
       
         obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information in an information recording area by reading a recorded test signal;  
       
       
         writing an optimum laser power and an identification information of a recording system by which each test signal is written in one of the plurality of power setting information recording areas, wherein said power setting information recording areas are disposed after said test areas; and  
       
       
         recording the information on the information recording area of the optical recording medium. 
       
     
     
       42. A system for reproducing information from an optical recording medium on which the information is recorded in an information recording area, said medium comprising: 
       
         a plurality of test areas, on at least one of which test signals are written for obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information on the information recording area; and  
       
       
         a plurality of power setting information recording areas, on at least one of which the following information is written: identification information of a recording system by which a test signal is written and optimum power parameter comprising at least position information of a test area where the test signals have been written,  
       
       
         the apparatus comprising:  
       
       
         a pickup which emits a laser beam to be irradiated to the optical recording medium;  
       
       
         a servo circuit; and  
       
       
         a reproducing circuit which reproduces the information recorded on the optical recording medium. 
       
     
     
       43. A system for reproducing, from an optical recording medium having a information recording area, a plurality of test areas and a plurality of power setting information recording areas, information recorded in accordance with a method comprising the steps of: 
       
         writing test signals on at least one test area of the plurality of test areas;  
       
       
         obtaining an optimum laser power for writing information in the information recording area by reading the written test signals in the test area;  
       
       
         setting the obtained optimum laser power to the power of the laser beam, for recording information on the optical disc; and  
       
       
         writing the following information in one of the power setting information recording areas: identification information of a recording system by which a test signal has been written in the test area, and an optimum power parameter comprising at least position information of a test area where test signals have been written.