A disk-shaped recording medium includes a transparent substrate, and an optical recording layer formed on the transparent substrate. A light source emits light. An optical head is operative for applying the light to the optical recording layer from the light source via the transparent substrate, for focusing the light on the optical recording layer, and for reproducing information from the optical recording layer. A position detecting device is operative for detecting at least one of a pit depth and a physical position of information which has a first given relation with a specified address and which is recorded on the recording medium, and for generating first positional information representing at least one of the pit depth and the physical position. A previously-recorded secret code is reproduced from the recording medium. The secret code represents second positional information. The secret code is decoded into the second positional information. The second positional information represents at least one of a predetermined reference pit depth and a predetermined reference physical position. The first positional information and the second positional information are collated, and a check is made as to whether or not the first positional information and the second positional information are in a second given relation. When the first positional information and the second positional information are not in the second given relation, one of outputting of a reproduced signal of the recording medium, operation of a program stored in the recording medium, and decoding of the secret code is stopped.
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0. 12. A reproducing method for reproducing video signals recorded in a recording layer of an optical disk in such a manner that tracking variations are formed at an address position in a circular or spiral track comprising:
disk driving step of rotating an optical disk;
an optical head operating step for emitting a light beam and receiving light from said optical disk to read information recorded in said disk in the form of pits;
tracking controlling step of effecting tracking control so that a light spot on said recording layer of said optical disk resulted from said light beam follows a series of pits on a track of said optical disk;
a tracking amount detection step of detecting from a tracking amount sensor an amount of the tracking variation in the address position;
a disk checking step of properly judging whether the current disk is legal or illegal according to the distribution of tracking variations, comparing the amount of the tracking variation with a tolerance value, wherein said tolerance value is set so that the current disk is judged to be legal if the amount of the tracking variation is within the tolerance and to be illegal if the amount of the tracking variation is outside the tolerance;
reproducing step responsive to an output signal at said optical head operating step for reproducing a video signal; and
an output/operation stopping step of stopping outputting of video information reproduced at said reproducing step to be externally outputted or stopping said reproducing step in accordance with said disk checking step.
0. 1. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing signals from a recording medium in which first physical features information indicative of a physical feature unique to said recording medium was recorded as ciphered information, said apparatus comprising:
deciphering means for deciphering said ciphered information to obtain said first physical feature information;
detecting means for detecting and obtaining second physical feature information from said first physical feature information;
checking means for checking whether or not said first and second physical feature information have a specific relationship; and
means for stopping a specific operation when said checking means indicates that said first and second physical feature information do not have said specific relationship.
0. 2. The reproducing apparatus as claimed in
0. 3. The reproducing apparatus as claimed in
0. 4. The reproducing apparatus as claimed in
0. 5. The reproducing apparatus as claimed in
0. 6. A reproducing method for reproducing signals from a recording medium in which first physical feature information indicative of a physical feature unique to said recording medium was recorded as ciphered information, said method comprising the steps of:
deciphering said ciphered information to obtain said first physical feature information;
detecting and obtaining second physical feature information from said first physical feature information;
checking whether or not said first and second physical feature information have a specific relationship; and
stopping a specific operation when said checking means indicates that said first and second physical feature information do not have said specific relationship.
0. 7. The reproducing method as claimed in
0. 8. The reproducing method as claimed in
0. 9. The reproducing method as claimed in
0. 10. The reproducing method as claimed in
0. 11. The reproducing apparatus as claimed in
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This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/796,534 filed Mar. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,703 which is a Division of application Ser. No. 09/305,318 filed May 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,330, which is a Division of application Ser. No. 08/970,162 filed Nov. 13, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,948, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/534,771 filed Sep. 27, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,331, which is a Division of application Ser. No. 08/281,337 filed Jul. 27, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,584, which is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 08/184,117 filed Jan. 21, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,328, which is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 08/009,709 filed Jan. 27, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,360.
where λ denotes the recording wavelength. The head gap Lgap and the recording wavelength λ has the following relation.
λ=3×Lgap (2)
According to the results of experiments, the thickness of the preliminary layer 43 is preferably equal to 1 μm or more in view of light blocking characteristics. Generally, it is necessary that the sum of the thicknesses of the print layer 49 and the protective layer 50 is equal to at least 1 μm. Thus, the value d generally needs to be at least 2 μm, and the following relation is present.
d≧2 μm (3)
By referring to the equations (1), (2), and (3), a minimum space loss S in unit of dB is given as:
S=54.6×⅔Lgap (4)
The equation (4) determines the relation between the head gap and the space loss which is shown in FIG. 112.
Generally, to attain sufficient recording and reproducing characteristics, it is necessary to limit the space loss to 10 dB or less. Thus, it is found from
In the thirteenth embodiment, it is possible to execute full color label printing on the surface of the recording medium. It is possible to adopt the recording medium having the same appearance as that of a conventional CD or CD ROM as shown in FIG. 101. Thus, there is an, advantage such that when a CD having the magnetic recording layer of this invention is used, a consumer is prevented from being confused and the basic function of the CD standards is maintained. The magnetic recording layer uses barium ferrite which has a high magnetic coercive force Hc and which does not require the random orientation step. Thus, there is an advantage such that recorded data is not damaged under normal conditions and the recording medium can be manufactured at a low cost. The recording medium of this invention can be handled in the way same as the way of handling a conventional CD as previously described, and thus there is an advantage such that a full compatibility between the recording medium of this invention and the conventional CD can be, attained.
Next, a description will be given of countermeasures to magnetic field noise transmitted from the optical head to the magnetic head. Electromagnetic noise generated by an optical head actuator 18 tends to enter the reproducing magnetic head 8b so that the error rate may be increased. According to a first countermeasure, as shown in
Accordingly, as shown in
Experiments were done under the following conditions. The optical head of the recording and reproducing apparatus was held fixed, and the optical recording portion was subjected to focusing control. On the other hand, the magnetic head was moved on the surface of the recording medium. During the experiments, a relative level of electromagnetic noise entering the magnetic head 8 from the optical head 6 was measured.
According to another countermeasure to noise, the noise is detected, and the detected noise is added to a reproduced signal at an opposite phase to reduce the noise component from the reproduced signal. As shown in
By utilizing the fact that the recording head 8a remains unused during the reproducing process in
A description will now be given of the structure which includes the noise cancel magnetic head 8s. As shown in FIGS. 129(a) 129(b), and 129(c), the noise cancel magnetic head 8s is connected to the magnetic heads 8a and 8b via an attachment portion 8t. When the magnetic head unit contacts the recording medium 2 as shown in FIG. 129(b), a space loss having a height do occurs with respect to the noise cancel magnetic head 8s.
In the case where λ=200 μm and the space loss height do is equal to 200 μm or more, the level of a reproduced signal from the magnetic recording layer is estimated as being equal to about −60 dB and the reproduction is almost difficult. When the magnetic head is moved upward by 0.2 mm, the level of noise is reduced by only −1 dB or less as shown in FIG. 116. In the case where λ=200 μm, provided that the distance between the noise cancel magnetic head 8s and the reproducing magnetic head 8b is set to at least λ/5 equal to 40 μm, the entrance of an original signal from the reproducing head can be prevented. Thus, there is an advantage such that the transmission of electromagnetic noise from the optical head actuator to the reproducing magnetic head can be essentially completely suppressed.
It should be noted that the noise cancel magnetic head 8s may be replaced by a magnetic sensor such as a Hall element or an MR element. An example of the magnetic sensor is shown in FIG. 130. The drive magnetic noise of the optical head 6 is detected by the magnetic sensor, and a signal representative thereof is added in opposite phase to the magnetic reproduced signal. Thereby, the introduced noise can be greatly reduced. This design enables the apparatus to be further miniaturized in comparison with the magnetic head detection type.
FIGS. 172(a) and 172(b) to FIGS. 175(a) and 175(b) show examples of the details of the arrangement of FIGS. 129(a), 129(b), and 129(c). FIG. 172(a) shows an example using a head with one gap which serves as both the recording head 8a and the reproducing head 8b. In the case where heads of equal sizes are, arranged as shown in FIGS. 175(a) and 175(b), a high effect is attained although the size of the composite head is large. FIGS. 175(a) and 175(b) show an example where the width of the noise cancel head 8s is set small to realize the miniaturization. FIGS. 172(a) and 172(b) show an example using a noise cancel head 8s having a uniform width. In the arrangement of FIG. 172(c), a slider 41 is provided with a groove 41a which also forms the previously-mentioned groove having the gap do. The slider 41 is greater than the head 8a in the area of the surface contacting air, so that the magnetic head 8a receives a weaker air pressure. Therefore, the contact between the head and the recording medium is made better. In this case, 12>11. FIGS. 173(a) and 173(b) show an arrangement in which the head gap is removed from the noise cancel head 8s of FIG. 171. Since, a magnetic signal is not read out even when the noise cancel head 8s is brought into contact with the magnetic surface of the recording medium, there is an advantage such that only noise can be picked up.
FIGS. 176(a) and 176(b) to FIGS. 178(a) and 178(b) show arrangements each using a coil 499 as a noise cancel head. FIG. 176(a) shows an arrangement in which two coils 499a and 499b are located in a groove of a magnetic head 8. It is possible to detect a noise magnetic flux 85 as in FIG. 175(b). FIG. 177(a) shows an arrangement in which coils 499a and 499b are located in parallel with the gap of a head. It is possible to detect noise in the direction of the head magnetic field. FIG. 177(b) shows a noise cancel arrangement in which signals from the coils 499a and 499b are enlarged by amplifiers 500a and 500c respectively, and are combined by an amplifier 500b into a composite signal inputted to the noise canceler 378 of FIG. 134. FIG. 178(a) shows an arrangement in which vertical coils 499c and 499d are provided in addition to the coils 499a and 499b parallel to the head gap. The four coils enable higher noise detection ability. By adjusting and mixing the output signals of the parallel coils 499a and 499b and the vertical coils 499c and 499d as shown in FIG. 178(b), it is possible to obtain a noise detection signal optimal for noise cancel.
According to another countermeasure to noise, the distance between the optical head and the magnetic head is set to 10 mm or more, and the noise is reduced by 15 dB or more as understood from FIG. 116. Thus, by setting the distance between the optical head and the magnetic head to 10 mm or more, there is provided an advantage such that the noise is remarkably reduced. In this case, it is important to maintain the accuracy of the positional relation between the optical head and the magnetic head.
A description will now be given of a method of maintaining the positional accuracy. As shown in
As shown in
The design of
In the previous description of this embodiment, the magnetic head and the optical head are angularly separated by 180° with respect to the center of the disk as shown in FIG. 117. The angular separation between the two heads may be 45°, 60°, 90°, or 120°. In these cases, provided that the shortest distance between the two heads is 10 mm or more, it is possible to obtain an advantage such that the level of noise can be adequately decreased.
It is preferable to adopt one of the previously-mentioned countermeasures to noise or a combination of two or more of the previously-mentioned countermeasures to noise.
In the case where the electromagnetic shield with respect to the optical head 6 is adequately effective, the optical head 6 and the magnetic head 8 can be opposed to each other in a vertical direction as shown in FIG. 119. In this case, by providing positional references 364a and 364b, there is provided an advantage such that the accuracy of positional alignment between the two heads can be increased. The above-mentioned opposed configuration has an advantage such that the apparatus can be miniaturized since all the parts can be located at one side of the disk.
Next, a recording format will be described. With respect to an optical disk for data, a CAV (constant angular velocity) is provided and thus the rotational speed thereof remains the same even when the radius of the optical disk varies. In the application to a CD ROM, the rotation of a disk is controlled at a CLV (constant linear velocity) so that the linear speed remains constant although the rotational speed depends on the radius of a track. In this case, it is difficult to adopt a recording format of a conventional floppy disk or a conventional hard disk. In the application to a CD ROM, to increase a recording capacity, this invention uses the following design. As shown at 370a, 370b, 370c, 370d, and 370e in
Next, physical formats on a disk will be described. The physical formats are of two types, a “normal mode” and a “variable track pitch mode”. As shown in
This invention adopts a “variable angle” system. As shown in, FIG. 117 and
Since the physical frame number and the MSF block number corresponding to one revolution (round) are known, the magnetic recording can be ended with a high accuracy corresponding to 170 μm. Therefore, the sync portion 369 can be prevented from being damaged while the gap 374 can be minimized so that a greater recording capacity is enabled.
In this case, it is necessary to promptly get subcode data to establish synchronization. In
In the case where data in the optical address which corresponds to index is damaged, magnetic recording on the track is difficult. To solve such a problem, as shown in
This design makes it possible to omit a detecting circuit or a detector for the absolute angle of the disk. The recording of a head portion can be started from a part of an arbitrary angle. Therefore, in the case of a CD, data recording can be started immediately after the reading of given optical address information in the optical record portion such as subcode which forms index. Thus, during reproduction, immediately after the optical information of the track is read out, the sync portion in the head of magnetic data starts to be reproduced. Accordingly, a loss time being a rotation waiting time is completely removed from the period of magnetic data recording and the period of reproduction, and a substantive data access time is shorter. This advantage is great especially in the case where recording and reproducing apparatus of equal types are used.
A description will now be given of a method accessing a magnetic track. As shown in
Accordingly, as shown in
If it is magnetic recording at the step 468d, a check is made at a step 468m as to whether the optical index is present. If it is yes, optical addresses of, for example, ±5 frames, in a range narrower than that at the step 468e are set at a step 468n. At steps 468p and 468q, the optical head is forced to access the optical track range. At a step 468r, a head is found in response to the optical index mark. At a step 468s, the magnetic recording is started. At a step 468t, the magnetic recording is completed.
If the optical index mark is decided to be absent at the step 468m, a step 468u searches for the given optical address M0S0F0. In the case where access is done by a step 468v, when the given code data S0 and S1 (see
According to the design of
Next, the “variable track pitch mode” will be described. As in a game machine, a general ROM disk is inserted into the apparatus. At the start of a program, information is first read out from a track of a TOC region, and information is read out from a given track recording the program and information is read out from a given track recording data. This sequence is the same at every starting.
In the case where a CAV optical disk is used, it is now assumed that, as shown in
The “variable pitch mode” and the “variable angle mode” are effective to music use, for example, accompaniment use. In the case where this invention is applied to accompaniment use, personal environment setting data can be recorded and stored which represents musical intervals for respective music numbers desired by persons respectively, desired tempos of respective music numbers, desired amounts of echo, respective desired parameters of DSP, and others. Thereby, there is provided the following advantage. Provided that data setting is done once, only by inserting an accompaniment CD into an accompaniment machine, music is reproduced automatically with the musical intervals, the tempos, and the echoes desired by the respective persons. Thus, it is possible for the respective persons to enjoy the accompaniments under conditions well suited to the abilities and the tastes of the persons. In this case, magnetic tracks at the back sides of the optical tracks 65b, 65c, 65d, and 65e for determining the heads of music numbers are defined, and personal accompaniment data regarding the music numbers are recorded on the magnetic tracks 67b, 67c, 67d, and 67e. In the case where the accompaniment on the optical track 65c is selected, the related personal accompaniment data is recorded on the magnetic track 57 at the back side thereof. During the start of reproduction of a given music number, the musical interval, the tempo, and the echo of the music number are set in a period of one revolution of the disk and the reproduced music starts to be outputted. Thus, also in music use, the “variable pitch mode” provides an advantage such that both optical data and magnetic data can be quickly accessed. In general music use, this design is effective when environment setting about, for example, DSP sound fields for respective music numbers, is used.
In the case where this invention is applied to a CD ROM, when the magnetic coercive force Hc is set to 1,750 Oe, a RAM capacity of about 32 kB can be attained. The optical recording surface of a CD ROM has a ROM capacity of 540 MB. Thus, there is a capacity, difference by about one hundred thousand times. In most of actual products using a CD ROM, the 540-MB capacity thereof is not fully used. Generally, a CD ROM has an unused or free capacity of at least several tens of MB. This invention uses the free area of the ROM and records data compressing and expanding programs and various data compressing reference tables into the ROM to execute the compression of data recorded into the RAM.
The data compressing design will now be described with reference to FIG. 125. In the case of a game machine, the optical recording portion 4 is previously loaded with information closely related to game contents possibly required during the execution of a game program, for example, data compressing reference tables such as a place name reference table 368a and a person's name reference table 368b. The free area in the ROM is large, and various reference tables can be prepared which are of information having a high possible use frequency among words such as person's names, place names, and numeral sequences. If the word “Washington” is directly recorded on the magnetic recording layer 3 forming the RAM, an area of 80 bits is consumed. On the other hand, in this invention, the data compressing reference table 368a defines “Washington” as a binary code “10”, and thus the 80-bit data is compressed into the 2-bit data “10”. The compressed data is recorded on the magnetic recording layer 3, and thereby the information is recorded while the used capacity is reduced by a factor of 1/40. It is known that general data compression techniques provide data compression corresponding to double or three times. Provided that use is limited, data compression by a factor of 10 or more can be done according to this data compressing design. Thus, the 32-kB magnetic recording capacity of a CD ROM is substantially equivalent to the 320-kB magnetic recording capacity of a magnetic disk. As previously described, in the hybrid disk of this invention, the ROM area of the optical recording portion is used in compressing data to be stored into the RAM, and thus there is an advantage such that the logical RAM capacity is virtually increased although the physical ROM capacity decreases. In
The overall operation of the recording and reproducing apparatus will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 127 and FIG. 128. The system controller 10 operates in accordance with a program, the flowchart of which is shown in FIG. 127 and FIG. 128.
Under conditions where the magnetic head is lifted, a step 410 places a disk into a correct position. Then, a step 411 returns the magnetic head to the normal position. A step 412 moves the optical head to a TOC track, and a step 413 reads out optical data from the TOC track. A first way uses control bits, that is, Q1-Q4 bits of the subcode in FIG. 213. The magnetic layer can be recognized provided that a recording medium is defined as being with the magnetic recording layer when Q3=1. In
The program enters a magnetic recording and reproducing mode at the step 418, and advances to a block 402 which executes initial setting of the magnetic track. A step 419 in the block 402 moves the magnetic head downward onto the surface of the recording medium, and a step 420 reads out magnetic data from the TOC area. Then, a step 421 lifts the magnetic head to prevent wear thereof. A step 422 checks whether or not an error flag representing error conditions of the magnetic data is present. When a step 423a detects the presence of the error flag, an advance to a step 427a is done. The step 427a ejects the optical disk, and a step 427b indicates “clean optical disk” on a display of the apparatus. Then, a step 427c stops the program.
On the other hand, a step 424 checks whether or not the default value recorded on the optical recording surface is good with the optical address correspondence table of the respective magnetic tracks. When the result of the check is No, a step 426 updates the contents of a part of the magnetic track-optical address correspondence table in response to the magnetic data information of the TOC track. The updated table is stored into an internal memory of the apparatus. When the result of the check is Yes, an advance to a step 428 is done.
When the step 428 detects the presence of a reading instruction regarding the magnetic track, an advance to a step 440 is done. Otherwise, an advance to a step 429 is done. In cases other than the variable track pitch mode, an advance to the step 440 is done. In the case of the variable track pitch mode, a step 430 sets an optical track group number n to 0. A step 431 increments n by 1. When a step 432 detects that n is equal to a final value, a jump to a step 438 is done. Otherwise, a step 433 accesses a heading optical track in the n-th optical track group. When a step 434 detects that the default magnetic track is good, a step 436 moves the magnetic head downward onto the surface of the recording medium. Then, a step 437 reads out magnetic data and stores the readout data into the internal memory of the apparatus, and a return to the step 431 is done. On the other hand, when the optical address corresponding to the magnetic head is the default value so that bad conditions are detected, a step 435 accesses an optical address other than the default value. Then, steps 436 and 437 read out magnetic data, and a return to the step 431 is done. The step 431 increments n by 1. When n reaches the final value at the step 432, reading out the optical data and the magnetic data is completed at the step 438. Therefore, in the case of a game machine, a game program is started, and the game scene which occurs at the previous end is retrieved on the basis of the data recorded on the magnetic recording portion. A step, 439 lifts the magnetic head, and an advance to a step 446 is done.
When the step 429 detects the absence of the variable track pitch mode, a jump to a step 440 is, done. When the step 440 detects the absence of the normal track pitch mode, a jump to a step 446 is done. Otherwise, a step 441 receives an instruction of accessing the n-th magnetic track. A step 442 derives the optical address corresponding to the n-th magnetic track by referring to the information in the internal memory of the system controller 10, and a step 443 accesses the, optical address. Then, a step 444 reads out magnetic data, and a step 445 stores the readout data into the internal memory and a jump to the step 446 is done.
The step 446 checks whether or not a rewriting instruction is present. When the result of the check is No, a jump to a step 455 is done. When the result of the check is Yes, a step 447 is executed. The step 447 checks whether or not a final storing instruction is present. When the result of the check is Yes, an advance to the step 427a (or the step 455) is done. When the result of the check is No, an advance to a step 448 is done. The step 448 checks whether or not data desired to be rewritten is present in the internal memory of the apparatus. When the result of the check is Yes, a jump to a step 454 is done so that the magnetic recording is not executed but only rewriting of the internal memory is executed. When the result of the check is No, a step 449 refers to the magnetic track-optical address correspondence table and accesses the given optical track. Then, a step 450 moves the magnetic head downward, and steps 451, 452, and 453 execute reading out the magnetic data, storing the readout data into the internal memory, and lifting the magnetic head. A step 454 rewrites or updates the information transferred into the internal memory, and then an advance to the step 455 is done.
The step 455 checks whether or not a final storing instruction is present. When the result of the check is No, an advance to a step 458 is done. The step 458 detects whether or not the work has been completed. When the work has been completed, an advance to a step 476 is done. Otherwise, a return to the step 428 is done. When the result of the check at the step 455 is Yes, an advance to a step 456 is done. The step 456 extracts only updated data from the magnetic data in the internal memory, and a step 457 detects whether or not updating is present. In the absence of updating, an advance to a step 458 is done. In the presence of updating, a step 459 accesses the optical address of the corresponding magnetic track. Steps 460, 470, and 471 execute moving the magnetic head downward, recording magnetic data immediately after the detection of the optical address, and checking the recorded data. When a step 472 detects that the error rate is large, a jump to a step 481 is done. The step 481 lifts the magnetic head, and a step 482 cleans the magnetic head with the head cleaning portion. A step 483 executes the recording again and checks the error rate. When the error rate is good, an advance to the step 428 is done. When the error rate is bad, a jump to the step 427a is done.
When the step 472 detects that the error rate is small, an advance to a step 473 is done. The step 473 checks whether or not the recording has been completed. When the result of the check is No, a return to the step 470 is done. When the result of the check is Yes, a step 474 lifts the magnetic head. A step 475 checks whether or not all the work has been completed. When all the work has been completed, an advance to a step 476 is done. Otherwise, a return to the step 428 is done.
The step 476 lifts the magnetic head, and a step 477 cleans the magnetic head with the head cleaning portion. Then, a step 478 detects whether or not an ejecting instruction is present. In the presence of the ejecting instruction, a step 479 ejects the optical disk. In the absence of the ejecting instruction, a step 480 stops the program.
A band pass filter tuned to a frequency band equal to a frequency distribution of a reproduced signal from the magnetic head may be provided in the drive circuit for the actuator 18 to remove noise. Electromagnetic noise may be reduced by the following design. After access to a magnetic head, a drive current to the actuator for the optical head 6 is turned off. Then, reproduction is executed by the magnetic head. When the reproduction is completed, driving the actuator is restarted.
In most of conventional CD's, a thick films of print ink are applied to the back sides thereof by screen printing or others, so that there is a roughness of several tens of μm. When the magnetic head is brought into contact with such a CD, print ink is removed or damaged. As shown in the ON state of
According to another design, in
In
During the reproduction of information from the magnetic recording portion of the recording medium 2, a clock circuit 30a in a magnetic reproducing circuit 30 recovers a magnetic-system clock signal 383, and the magnetic-system clock signal 383 is used as a reference in demodulation executed by a demodulating section 30b in the magnetic reproducing circuit 30.
With reference to
The magnetic reproduced signal corresponds to frequency division of the optical reproduced signal by a given factor. Immediately before a change from “optical” to “magnetic”, the signal resulting from the frequency division of the optical reproduced, clock signal continues to be fed to a PLL 459a of the magnetic sync signal detector 459 as reference information. The central frequency of the PLL locking is set close thereto. Accordingly, upon a change from “optical” to “mangetic”, the frequency lockup is executed in a short time according to the magnetic reproduced clock PLL. In this way, the magnetic recording clock signal is generated by the frequency division of the optical reproduced clock signal, and the magnetic recording, is done in response to the magnetic recording clock signal. This design is advantageous in that the optical reproduced clock signal can be replaced by the magnetic reproduced clock signal in a short time upon a change of the optical head 6 into an off state during the reproduction of the magnetic signal. In the case where the optical head 6 and the magnetic head 8 fixedly travel on, the, same circumference or different circumferences, a constant division ratio is good. In the case where the heads travel on different circumferences without being fixed, the radiuses rM and ro of the circumferences are derived and the division ratio is corrected in accordance with the derived radiuses.
A description will now be given of the way of the rotation control. With respect to the rotation control during the optical reproduction, a pseudo optical sync signal generator 461 and a shortest/longest pulse detector 460 in a motor rotation controller 26 of
With reference to FIGS. 218(a)-218(h), at t=t2, the optical reproduction is turned off and is replaced by the magnetic reproduction. Immediately thereafter, the MFM period T of the magnetic reproduced signal is measured by the wave shaper 466, and thereby the magnetic sync signal having a frequency of 15 KHz or 30 KHz can be obtained. The obtained magnetic sync signal is processed by the pseudo magnetic sync signal generator 462 and a frequency divider/multiplier 464 into a clock signal matching in frequency to the optical rotation sync signal and being fed to the change switch 465. Immediately after a change from “optical” to “magnetic”, the change switch 465 moves from the position “A” to a position “C” so that rough rotation control is executed. During a later period, when the locking is established through the PLL 459a in the magnetic sync signal detector 459, the change switch 465 moves from the position “C” to a position “D” so that accurate rotation control responsive to the magnetic sync signal will be started. With reference to FIG. 218(a)-218(h), at a moment of t=t3, the magnetic reproduced signal is synchronous with the reproduced clock signal so that the magnetic data will be continuously demodulated.
It is now assumed that an error is caused by a scratch on the recording medium surface at t=t4, and the error continues for a certain time tE. In this case, at t=t5, the magnetic reproduction is turned off while the optical reproduction is turned on. During a period tR, the rotation control responsive to the optical reproduced signal is done to stabilize the rotation of the motor.
At t=t7, the period tR terminates, and the optical reproduction is turned off while the magnetic reproduction is turned on. Since the error has ended, the change of the rotation control from “optical” to “magnetic” is completed in a short time. At t=t8, the magnetic record sync signal is reproduced so that data is surely reproduced. In this way, the error is compensated. As previously described, the magnetic reproduction is executed while the rotation control responsive to the optical reproduced signal and the rotation control responsive to the magnetic reproduced signal are changed in a time division manner. This design is advantageous in that the reproduction of the magnetic signal is prevented from being adversely affected by the electromagnetic noise caused by the optical pickup portion during the optical reproduction. Also in the case where the magnetic head 8 and the optical head 6, are separated by 1 cm or more, the magnetic reproduction is enabled by using the system of FIG. 217 and FIGS. 218(a)-218(h). In this case, the optical reproduction and the magnetic reproduction can be simultaneously executed.
As shown in
As denoted by “data 1” in
If recording is executed at uniform periods To, the value of λ/2 is equal to t3′−t3=To−dT and is thus smaller than the shortest record period Tmin so that the accuracy of recorded information can not be maintained regarding the signal 384d of FIG. 150. Accordingly, in the case of the signal 384d, a new starting point is set to the moment t3 and then magnetic-system clock signal is, shifted by the time dT. Thus, a discrimination (decision) window 384 for detecting “00” of “data 2” is defined by a moment t4=t3′+dT. In addition, pulses which occur moments t5, t6, and t7 are decided to be “01”, “10”, and “11” respectively. In this way, the 2-bit data is demodulated.
When the pulse width modulation is designed so that eight different modulated signals can be generated, three bits can be recorded per symbol. When the pulse width modulation is designed so that sixteen different modulated signals can be generated four bits can be recorded per symbol. In these cases, a more increased amount of recorded data can be realized.
The optical recording wavelength is 1 μm ore less while the magnetic recording wavelength equals a larger value of, for example, 10 μm to 100 μm, due to a great space loss. Thus, when a pulse interval (pulse width) is measured by using the optical-system clock signal as a reference, a higher resolution in the measurement is attained. The combination of PWM and the optical-system clock signal provides a recording capacity remarkably greater than the recording capacity realized by conventional two-value recording.
In this embodiment, a region in the magnetic recording portion of the recording medium 2 is designed according to a use. In the case of a CD ROM for a game machine or a CD ROM for a personal computer, a large recording capacity is required, and thus recording regions for tracks are set over an entire surface of the recording medium 2. Music CD's generally require only several hundreds of bytes for recording information of music names, a music order, copy guard (protection) code, and others. Thus, in the case of music CD's, recording regions of one track to several tracks are set, and a remaining area except a magnetic track portion can be used for other purposes such as a screen, print area with unevenness.
One magnetic track may be provided on an outer area or an inner area of the optical recording surface side of a recording medium. In the case of one track, as shown in FIGS. 84(a) and 84(b), recording material can be added to an exclusive playback disk by additionally providing the elevating motor 21, the elevating circuit 22, the magnetic recording and reproducing block 9, and the magnetic head 8. This design is advantageous in that the apparatus structure is simple and the apparatus cost is low. When one track is provided on an inner area of the recording medium, the recording capacity of that one track is relatively small. When one track is provided on an outermost area of the recording medium such as a magnetic track 67f of
In this case, when a CD is inserted into the apparatus, the TOC of the optical track 64a in
The reproduced data is temporarily stored into the memory 34 of the recording and reproducing apparatus 1, and updating is executed in response to the stored data to reduce the number of times of actual magnetic recording and reproduction and to reduce a wear.
The optical track 65a at the TOC and the outermost magnetic track 67f are simultaneously subjected to recording and reproduction, and are thus separated by a physical distance close to 3 cm as shown in FIGS. 84(a) and 84(b). Therefore, as shown in
In the one-track system, the magnetic recording layer 3 uses an outer portion of the recording medium, and may be provided on the optical recording side of the recording medium. In the case where this design is applied to a CD player having an upper lid 38a as shown in
In the case where the magnetic recording layer 3a of
In this case, as shown in
If the magnetic head contacts the uneven screen print area or the transparent substrate on the optical recording side, the magnetic head and the print area or the transparent substrate tend to be damaged. In this embodiment, such a problem is resolved as follows. As shown in
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 131(b) and FIG. 145(a), the bar code information read out from the optical mark 387 represents a region of the magnetic recording layer of the CD in the radial direction, the value of the magnetic coercive force Hc of the magnetic recording material, a secret code for a copy guard, or the identification number of the CD. A mechanism or a circuit for moving the magnetic head 8 is activated in response to the readout information so that the magnetic head 8 can be prevented from contacting an area of the recording medium 2 except the region of the magnetic recording layer. Thus, a damage by the magnetic head 8 can be prevented.
This embodiment may be modified as follows. In the case of a CD, an area inward of a TOC region is not provided with an optical recording portion. As shown in FIG. 131(a), this area is formed with a transparent portion 388 extending below the optical mark 387. The optical head 6 serves to read out information from the back side of the optical mark 387 through the transparent portion 388. In this case, the optical sensor 386 can be omitted.
It should be noted that the optical sensor 386 may be provided at a side of the optical head 6. In this case, the optical sensor 386 is located at a fixed part of the recording and reproducing apparatus or the upper-lid type CD player of
In addition, the optical sensor 386 may be designed so as to detect light which has passed through the optical mark 387. Furthermore, the optical sensor 386 may be common to an optical sensor for detecting the presence and the absence of a CD in the recording and reproducing apparatus.
According to one example, optical recording layers are formed at intervals through vapor deposition of aluminum or other substances so that a circumferential bar code or a concentric-circle bar code is provided as an optical mark. In this case, the optical mark can be formed during the fabrication of the optical recording film.
As shown in FIG. 131(b), FIG. 144(a), and FIG. 145(a), three films of a magnetic recording region 398, printed letters 45, and an optical mark 387 can be formed in a step of applying screen printed material 399 to a CD twice during the formation of a magnetic recording layer 3. The resultant print surface of the-CD has a state such as shown in FIG. 145(a). When black material having a high magnetic coercive force Hc is used, a good contrast of the printed title letters 45 is attained. Provided that print ink is replaced by ink of magnetic material-having a high magnetic coercive force Hc in a conventional CD manufacturing line, the recording medium 2 of this invention can be made through screen printing. Thus, the recording medium 2 of this invention, that is, a CD with a RAM, can be made at a cost similar to the cost of manufacture of a conventional CD.
As shown in FIG. 145(a), data “204312001” is read out from the bar code 387a. A screen printing machine 399 prints data of different ID numbers on CD's respectively. In the case where the screen printing machine 399 is inhibited from changing the printed contents from a CD to a CD having a copy protecting function, a circular bar code printer 400 prints a bar code 387a or numerals 387b representative of a disk ID number as shown in FIG. 144(a) and FIG. 144(b). In this case, normal ink may be used, and the resultant print surface has a state such as shown in FIG. 145(b). This design is advantageous in that the user can visually read the disk ID number. In the case where OCR numerals 387b representing a disk ID number are printed on a bar code area 387a, it is possible to confirm the disk ID number by either visual observation or use of art optical detector.
As shown in FIG. 144(a), a second printer 399a provides a magnetic recording region 401 of material having a high Hc of, for example, 4000 Oe, which is greater than that of a magnetic recording region 398. The magnetic recording region 401 can be subjected to reproduction by a normal recording and reproducing apparatus, but cannot be subjected to record thereby. In a factory, a disk ID number or a secret code is recorded thereinto. This design is advantageous in that illegal copy of the disk is more difficult.
As shown, in FIG. 146(a), an optical disk 2 is provided with a space portion 402a filled with magnetic powder 402 such as iron powder, and a magnetic portion 403 is provided at a top thereof, the magnetic portion 403 has a magnetic coercive force Hc comparable with that of iron. When the magnetic portion 403 is not magnetized, the magnetic powder 402 is not attracted by the magnetic portion 403 so that letters will not appear as shown in FIG. 145(a). After the magnetic portion 403 is magnetized by a multi-channel magnetic head, the magnetic powder 402 is attracted thereby so that the letters appear as shown in FIG. 146(b). In the case where OCR letters are recorded as shown in FIG. 145(c), the user can visually read the OCR letters along direction 51a. On the other hand, the magnetic head 8 can read outs magnetic recorded information of a disk ID number or others from the magnetic recording portion 403. According to this design, it is sufficient that data of a disk ID number or others is magnetically recorded in an OCR configuration disk by disk in a factory. Thus, this design is advantageous in that conventional disk manufacturing steps can be used.
According to another design, a magnetic recording layer 3 is provided at an outer portion of the side of a transparent substrate 5 of a recording medium as shown in
In the case of an exclusive playback MD-type disk, only one side has a shutter. By providing a magnetic layer on a side of a transparent substrate of the disk, this invention can be applied thereto.
Copy protection and key unlocking will now be described. It is now assumed that a CD contains 100 programs locked by logical keys. The user informs the program maker (the software maker) of a disk ID number and pays a given fee. The program maker replies key numbers, corresponding to the disk ID number, to the user. For example, the key number corresponding to the tenth program is recorded into the TOC area of the magnetic recording region of the CD. When the tenth program is reproduced, the-key information in the magnetic recording layer and the disk ID number in the optical mark are inputted into a use allowing program. If the key information is right, use of the program is permitted according to the use allowing program. In this way, during a later period, the program can be used without any additional operation. Thus, this design is advantageous in that the program can be used without inputting the key information after the key information has been inputted once. Since a disk ID number varies from disk to disk and can not be changed, a key can not be unlocked even if key information of a personal disk is inputted into another personal disk. Thus, this design is advantageous in that use of a program without paying a given fee can be inhibited.
As shown in
The optical head 6 is subjected to tracking operation by a traverse actuator 23, a traverse gear 367b, and a traverse shaft 363a. The traverse gear 367b and traverse gears 367a and 367c are in mesh with each other. The drive force of the traverse actuator 23 is transmitted to the traverse gear 367c via the traverse gears 367a and 367b. In
With reference to
In this embodiment, the CD ROM cartridge has a movable shutter 391 which blocks and unblocks a window for magnetic, recording. The magnetic-recording window is formed in the lid 390. The magnetic-recording shutter 391 is movably supported on the lid 390. The magnetic-recording shutter 391 and the optical-recording shutter 301 engage each other via a connecting portion 392. As the optical-recording shutter 301 is opened in the direction 51b, the magnetic-recording shutter 391 is moved in the direction 51a so that the magnetic-recording window is unblocked. In this way the magnetic-recording window and the optical-recording window are simultaneously opened to enable the movement of a CD into and from the cartridge. The CD ROM cartridge of this embodiment is compatible with a conventional CD ROM cartridge.
According to a fifteen embodiment of this invention, a magnetic recording layer 3 is provided on an outer surface of a cartridge 42 for a disk 2.
An optical recording and reproducing section, and a magnetic recording and reproducing section of the apparatus of
The recording and reproducing apparatus 1 of
In the case where the cartridge 42 is inserted into the recording and reproducing apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 137(a), an optical sensor 386 reads out an optical mark 387 such as a bar code provided on a part of a label portion 396 of the cartridge. An optical reproducing circuit 38 in
Generally, only a single magnetic head 8 suffices. As shown in
While the cartridge 42 remains in the apparatus as shown in FIG. 137(b), magnetic recording and reproduction are arbitrarily done to add new information or to delete the recorded information. In this case, the contents of the TOC needs to be changed. In this invention, the TOC data in the IC memory 34 is updated without rewriting the data in the magnetic recording layer 3. Thus, the new TOC data in the IC memory 34 is different in contents from the old TOC data in the magnetic recording layer 3. When the cartridge 42 is ejected from the apparatus as shown in FIG. 137(c), the data in the magnetic recording layer 3 is updated. The new data is immediately reproduced by the magnetic head 8b, being checked and confirmed.
In the presence of multiple tracks such as three tracks, data updating is executed only on one, for example, a second one, of the tracks which requires a TOC data change, and thereby the number of errors is reduced during the recording. In this case, when the cartridge 42 is ejected from the apparatus as shown in FIG. 137(c), only third one of the tracks is subjected to recording by the magnetic head 8b.
In the presence of two heads as shown in FIGS. 137(a), 137(b), and 137(c), a recorded signal 68 is simultaneously read out by the magnetic head 8a, and error check is executed thereon. As shown in FIG. 139(c), a magnetic signal 68a which has been recorded by the magnetic head 8b can be checked by using the magnetic head 8a. If an error is present, an error message is indicated on a display section 16 of the recording and reproducing apparatus 1. An indication may also be given which represents “please insert the cartridge into the body again”. In addition, a warning sound may be generated by a buzzer 397. Therefore, the user is forced to insert the cartridge 42 into the insertion portion 394 of the apparatus again. In the case where the cartridge 42 has been inserted into the apparatus again, TOC data is recorded once again when the cartridge 42 is ejected from the apparatus. The second recording has no error at a high probability. If such a process is repeated a given number of times, the magnetic recording layer 3 of the cartridge 42 is decided to be damaged while the ID number of the optical mark 387 is recorded. During a later period, when the cartridge 42 having this recorded ID number, a command of lowering the magnetic head 8 is not issued to unexecute the readout of the data. The data of the ID number is stored in the IC memory 34 with being backed up. In this way, TOC data can be reliably recorded and reproduced into and from each cartridge 42. This design is advantageous in that the addition of a simple arrangement enables the detection of a table of contents of a recording disk upon the insertion of a related cartridge into the apparatus. For a recording medium side, the attachment of a magnetic label to a conventional cartridge 42 suffices.
A sixteenth embodiment of this invention is similar to the fifteenth embodiment except that a disk cartridge is replaced by a tape cartridge. Specifically, a magnetic layer 3 provided with a protective layer 50 which has been described with reference to
In the case where the cartridge 42 is inserted into the recording and reproducing apparatus (VTR) 1 as shown in FIG. 142(a), an optical sensor 386 reads out an optical mark 387 provided on a part of a label portion 396 of the cartridge. Bar code information and a sync signal are recorded on the optical mark 387. An optical reproducing circuit 38 in
Generally, only a single magnetic head 8 suffices. Two magnetic heads may be provided to execute the recording and reproduction of same data twice. This design improves a reliability inn the readout of the data. A combining circuit 397 combines error-free portions of data 1 and data 2 into error-free complete data, thereby reproducing data containing TOC data and others which is stored into an IC memory 34. The TOC data contains the absolute address which occurs at the moment of the end of the preceding operation of the cartridge 42, and the absolute addresses of the start and the end of respective segments and respective tunes. Accordingly, when the magnetic data is reproduced, the current tape absolute address is known which occurs at the moment of the insertion of the cartridge 42 into the apparatus. The contents of an absolute address counter 398 in the system controller 10 are updated in response to the information of the absolute address.
It is now assumed that the tape stores tunes. For example, it is known that the current address corresponds to 1-minute 32-second of an eighth tune while the current absolute address corresponds to 62-minute 12-second. In the case where a point at an absolute address of 42-minute and 26-second in a sixth tune is desired to be accessed, the tape is rewound by an amount corresponding to an absolute address of 19-minute 46-second while referring to the data from an absolute address detecting head 399 so that the current tape position can be quickly accorded with the head of the sixth tune. The interval between the current tape position and the desired tape position is previously known, so that the access speed can be high by accelerating, moving, and decelerating the tape at optimal rates. In addition, the list of the TOC information can be immediately indicated upon the insertion of the tape cassette into the apparatus.
While the cartridge 42 remains in the apparatus as shown in FIG. 141(b), magnetic recording and reproduction are arbitrarily done to add a new tune or to delete a recorded tune. In this case, the contents of the TOC needs to be changed. In this invention, the TOC data in the IC memory 34 is updated without rewriting the data in the magnetic recording layer 3. Thus, the new TOC data in the IC memory 34 is different in contents from the old TOC data in the magnetic recording layer 3.
In the presence of multiple tracks such as three tracks, data updating is executed only on one, for example, a second one, of the tracks which requires a TOC data change, and thereby the number of errors is reduced during the recording. In this case, when the cartridge 42 is ejected from the apparatus as shown in FIG. 137(c), only third one of the tracks is subjected to recording by the magnetic head 8b.
In the presence of two heads as shown in FIGS. 137(a), 137(b), and 137(c), a recorded signal 68 is simultaneously read out by the magnetic head 8a, and error check is executed thereon. As shown in FIG. 139(c), a magnetic signal 68a which has been recorded by the magnetic head 8b can be checked by using the magnetic head 8a. If an error is present, an error message is indicated on a display section 16 of the recording and reproducing apparatus 1. An indication may also, be given which represents “please insert the cartridge into the body again”. In addition, a warning sound may be generated by a buzzer 397. Therefore, the user is forced to insert the cartridge 42 into the insertion portion 394 of the apparatus again. In the case where the cartridge 42 has been inserted into the apparatus again, TOC data is recorded once again when the cartridge 42 is ejected from the apparatus. The second recording has no error at a high probability. If such a process is repeated a given number of times, the magnetic recording layer 3 of the cartridge 42 is decided to be damaged while the ID number of the optical mark 387 is recorded. During a later period, when the cartridge 42 having this recorded ID number, a command of lowering the magnetic head 8 is not issued to unexecute the readout of the data. The data of the ID number is stored in the IC memory 34 with being backed up. In this way, TOC data can be reliably recorded and reproduced into and from each VTR tape cartridge 42. This design is advantageous in that the addition of a simple arrangement enables the TOC function which does not need any additional access time. For a recording medium side, the attachment of a magnetic label to a conventional cartridge 42 suffices.
A seventeenth embodiment of this invention relates to a method of unlocking a key of a given program in an optical disk such as a CD ROM. As shown in
To enhance the copy guard function, there is provided a high Hc portion 401 of barium ferrite having a magnetic coercive force Hc of 4000 Oe. In a factory, ID number data (Mag) of, for example, “205162”, is magnetically recorded on the high Hc portion 401. The ID number data is read out from the high Hc portion 401 by a normal magnetic head. The readout data is put into a disk ID number area (Mag) of the key management table 404.
With reference to FIG. 241(a), in the case where a magnetizing machine 540 of FIG. 242(a)-242(d) is used, a step of recording an ID number into a medium 2 can be executed in one second or shorter. As shown in FIGS. 242(a) and 242(b), the magnetizing machine 540 is of a ring shape. As shown in FIGS. 242(c) and 242(d), the magnetizing machine 540 has a plurality of magnetizing poles 542a-542f and windings 545a-545f. A current from a magnetizing current generator 543 is fed via a current direction changing device 544 to the windings 545a-545f so that an arbitrary magnetization direction can be attained.
FIG. 242(d) shows a case where magnetization directions of S, N, S, S, N, and S poles are set from the left. In this case, magnetic record signals of directions denoted by the arrows 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d are instantaneously recorded into a magnetic recording layer 3. Recording can done into a magnetic material having a high Hc of 4000 Oe. Thus, as shown in FIG. 242(a), a CD into which an ID number is recorded can be made in the same time interval as that in the prior art of
As previously described, in the case where a magnetizing machine 540 of FIG. 242(a)-242(d) is used, a step of, recording an ID number into a medium 2 can be executed in one second or shorter. Thus, the magnetizing machine 540 is more suited, to a step with a greater throughput. As previously described, as shown in FIGS. 242(a) and 242(b), the magnetizing machine 540 is of a ring shape.
As shown in FIGS. 242(c) and 242(d), the magnetizing machine 540 has a plurality of magnetizing poles 542a-542f and windings 545a-545f. A current from a magnetizing current generator 543 is fed via a current direction changing device 544 to the windings 545a-545f so that an arbitrary magnetization direction can be attained. FIG. 242(d) shows a case where magnetization directions of S, N, S, S, N, and S poles are set from the left. In this case, magnetic record signals of directions denoted by the arrows 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d are recorded on a given track in a magnetic recording layer 3 in a short time, for example, several ms. In the case of the magnetizing machine 540, since a great current can be fed, recording can done into a magnetic material having a high Hc of 4000 Oe. Thus, as shown in FIG. 241(a), and ID number can be recorded in a work time comparable to that in the prior art of FIG. 241(b), and a CD can be made without changing a flow of steps. In the case where the magnetizing machine 540 is used, an ID number can be magnetically recorded without rotating a medium 2. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the throughput. The absence of rotation of a medium provides an advantage such that matters can be accurately printed on the medium with a given angle after an ID number is recorded as shown in FIG. 241(a).
As previously described, in the case of the magnetizing machine 540, since a great current can be fed, recording can done into a magnetic material having a high Hc of 4000 Oe. It is preferable that a medium uses such a high-Hc magnetic material in a region corresponding to a given track, and an ID number is recorded on the given track by the magnetizing machine 540. In this case, the recorded ID number can not be rewritten by a normal magnetic head 8, and an improvement can be attained on the security of a password related to the ID number. It should be noted that the normal magnetic head 8 is designed to be capable of operating on a magnetic recording layer with an Hc of 2700 Oe or less.
In this invention, as shown in
In a recording and reproducing apparatus 1, a secret code decoder 543 decodes a secret code, and a separator 549 divides the output signal of the decoder 543 into an ID number 550 and a disk physical arrangement (layout) table 532 in response to the separation key. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 238 and
In the system of
A specific operation sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 148. In the case where a command of starting a program having a number N comes at a step 405, a reading process is done to check whether key information of the program is recorded on a magnetic track at a step 405a. At this time, a recording current is driven in the magnetic head to erase data from the magnetic track. In the case of a formal disk, key information is not erased because of a high Hc. In the case of an illegal disk, key information is erased. Next, at a step 405b, a check is made as to whether key data or a password is present. If it is no, the user is informed of a key inputting command as shown in
Returning to the step 405b, if it is yes, an advance to a step 405h is done. At the step 405h, the key data of the program having the number N is read out. At a step 405i, a disk ID number (OPT) is read out from the optical recording layer. At a step 405j, a disk ID number (Mag) is read out from the magnetic recording layer. At a step 405k, a check is made as to the ID numbers are correct. If it is no, an indication of “a copy disk” is given on the display screen at a step 405m and the operation stops. If it is yes, secret code unlocking calculation is executed among the key data, the disk ID number (OPT), and the disk ID number (Mag) to check whether the data is correct. A step 405p executes a check. If it is no, an error indication is executed at a step 405q. If it is yes, a step 405s starts the program having the number N to be used.
According to this invention, for example, 120 tunes are recorded into a CD while being compressed by a factor of ⅕. For example, 12 tunes among the 120 tunes have no keys and thus can be reproduced freely while the other tunes are locked by keys. Such a CD is sold at a price corresponding to a copyright fee of the 12 tunes. The user is informed of data of the keys by paying an additional fee. Then, the user can enjoy the other tunes as shown in FIG. 147.
According to this invention for example, a plurality of, game programs are recorded into a CD. For example, only one game program thereamong has no key and thus can be reproduced freely while the other game programs are locked by keys. Such a CD is sold at a price corresponding to a copyright fee of one game program. The user is informed of data of the keys by paying an additional fee. Then, the user can enjoy the other game programs as shown in FIG. 147.
The use of an audio expansion block 407 enables a CD to contain a 370-minute length of music. A desired tune can be selected by unlocking the related key. When a key is unlocked once, key data is recorded. Accordingly, during a later period, it is unnecessary to input the key data. This invention can also be applied to a CD forming an electronic dictionary, a CD containing video information, or a CD containing general application programs. It should be noted that the ID number in the high Hc portion 401 may be omitted to lower the cost.
With reference to
As previously described, in the case of a CLV optical disk such as a CD-ROM, recording in a spiral configuration is done with a constant linear velocity previously set in the range of 1.2 m/s to 1.4 m/s. In the case of CLV, the amount of recorded data in one round varies as the linear velocity changes. When the linear velocity is low, a data arrangement (layout) 530a such as shown in FIG. 236(a) is provided. When the linear velocity is high, a data arrangement (layout) 530b such as shown in FIG. 236(b) is provided. In the case where a normal mastering apparatus is used, a legal (ligitimate) CD and an illegal CD have different data arrangements (layouts) 530. A normal mastering apparatus for a CD can set a linear velocity at an accuracy of 0.001 m/s. As previously described, an original disk is formed at a constant linear velocity. Even in the case where an original disk for a 74-minute CD is formed at a linear velocity of 1.2 m/s with such a high accuracy, the outermost track has an error corresponding to 11.78 rounds in a plus side. In other words, an available data arrangement (layout) 530b is in a condition where an outermost portion has an angular error corresponding to the product of 11.783 rounds: and 360 degrees. Thus, as shown in FIG. 236(a) and FIG. 236(b), a legal (legitimate) CD and an illegal CD are different from each other in data arrangements (layouts) 530, that is, addresses 323a-323x of A1-A26. For example, in the case where arrangement zones 531 being Z1-Z4 are defined according to division into four, the arrangement zones 531 of the addresses 323 of A1-A26 are different. Thus, in the case where physical position tables 532, that is, tables of correspondence between addresses 323 and arrangement zones 531 of two CD's, are formed, physical position tables 532a and 532 are different as shown in FIG. 236(a) and FIG. 236(b). This condition can be used in discriminating a legal (ligitimate) CD and an illegal CD.
As shown in
In a drive side, a secret code 538b is reproduced from a CD 2 or 2a, and a physical arrangement (layout) table 532 is recovered by using a secret code decoding program 534 reproduced from the CD. By using a disk check program 533a reproduced from the CD, disk rotation information 335 with respect to an actual CD address 38a is obtained from an index or a rotation pulse signal from a previously-mentioned FG. The information is collated with data in the physical arrangement (layout) table 532. If the result of the collation is OK, starting is done. If the result of the collation is NO, the current disk is judged to be an illegal CD so that the operation of the software program and the reproduction of a music software are stopped. Since the illegal CD shown in FIG. 236(b) differs from a legal (legitimate) CD in the physical position table 532b, the illegal CD is rejected. An illegal disk with a copied secret code is rejected. If the secret code encoding program 537 can not be decoded, an illegal CD will not start to operate. Thus, there is a great advantage such that the reproduction of an illegal CD is prevented.
In this invention, since the secret code decoding program 534 and the disk check program 533a are provided in a medium side rather than a drive side, they can be changed press by press or title by title of CD-ROM's. This is advantageous in a guard against illegal copy.
This invention uses a one-directional function of an open secret code key system of the RSA type such as shown in FIG. 238. For example, it is possible to use a calculation equation as C=E(M)=Memodn. One of the key, that is, the secret code decoding program on a CD-ROM, is open to the public while the other of the key, that is, the secret code encoding program, remains secret. In the system of
In the mastering apparatus 529 of this invention, as shown in
A start point S is defined in the case where equal data is recorded on a given optical track 65a at a constant linear velocity of 1.2 m/s as shown in FIG. 235(b). It is now assumed that an end point A1 at which the data has been recorded agrees with a position of 360 degrees. Under these conditions, in the case where the linear velocity is increased from 1.2 m/s to 1.4 m/s at a constant rate in one revolution, the physical position 539a of an address A3 agrees with a physical position 539b offset by 30 degrees. In the case where the linear velocity is increased in a ½ revolution the physical position 539a agrees with a physical position 539c offset by 45 degrees. Thus a position can be changed by 45 degrees or less in one round. Since a normal mastering apparatus for CLV generates only one rotation pulse per revolution, the error is accumulated into a positional shift of 90 degrees until two revolutions are completed. The linear velocity modulation of this invention causes a positional deviation of 90 degrees between a legal (legitimate) original disk and an illegal original disk. A CD formed by illegal copy can be detected by sensing this positional deviation. It is good that the resolution of sensing of the positional deviation is chosen to correspond to 90 degrees or less. Thus, in the case where the linear velocity is varies in the range of 1.2 m/s to 1.4 m/s, an illegal CD can be detected by setting at least four 90-degree divided zones Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 as shown in FIGS. 236(a) and 236(b).
The mastering apparatus of
A way of detecting a relative position will now be described. As shown in FIG. 237(a), one rotation pulse of a motor or one index signal of an optical sensor is generated per revolution of a disk. This period is subjected to time division as shown in FIG. 237(b). In the case of division into six zones, signal position time slots Z1-Z6 are determined. As previously described, address signals 323a and 323b are generated from the sub code of a reproduced signal. From signal position signals, it is possible to detect that the address A1 is in the zone Z1 while the address A2 is in the zone Z3.
With reference to
As previously described, a linear velocity is varied in the range of 1.2 m/s to 1.4 m/s during the formation of a disk. When a conventional CD player subjects such a disk to a reproducing process, an original signal can be recovered without any problem. A mastering apparatus is able to execute a cutting process at an accuracy whose minimum value corresponds to a linear velocity of 0.001 m/s. With respect to CD's, there are provided such standards for a mastering apparatus that a linear velocity is equal to ±0.01 m/s. A linear velocity can be increased from 1.20 m/s to 1.22 m/s as shown in FIGS. 244(a) and 244(b) while the standards are met. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 244(c) and 244(d), a physical arrangement of an angle of a same address shifts from a state 539a to a state 539b by an angle of 5.9 degrees per revolution of the disk. As shown in
The rotational angle sensor 335 has a structure such as shown in FIG. 249. Pulses outputted from a rotational angle sensor 17a such as an FG associated with a motor 17 are subjected to time division by a time division circuit 553a in an angular position detector 553 of a disk physical arrangement detector 556. Even in the case where one rotation pulse signal occurs per revolution, when a time accuracy of ±5% is available, division into 20 can be done so that an angular resolution of about 18 degrees can be attained. It should be noted that the operation of the rotational angle sensor 335 has been described with reference to FIGS. 237(a), 237(b), and 237(c).
In the case of a CD, since there is an eccentricity of ±200 μm, an error in measurement of an angle is caused by the eccentricity. In the case of a disk according to the CD standards, an error in the angular measurement which corresponds to 0.8 degree or less in P—P is caused by an eccentricity. As shown in
The detection of the eccentricity and the calculation of the corrective value will now be described. In the absence of an eccentricity as shown in FIG. 252(a), the center of a triangle defined by three points A, B, and C on a common radius is coincident with the center 557 of the disk when “θa=θb=θc” is satisfied. In fact, as shown in FIGS. 252(b), there occurs an offset (an eccentricity) 559 due to an, eccentricity of the disk or an error in the position of the disk relative to the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 252(b), the relative angles of the addresses of the three points A, B, and C are detected by the angle sensor 335, and the difference L′a between the center 558 of rotation of the disk and the true center 557 of the disk is calculated by referring to the equation as “L′a=f(θa, θb, θc)”. The eccentricity corrector 553b corrects the rotational angle signal of the rotational angle sensor 17a in response to the calculated eccentricity (offset or difference). Thereby, it is possible to compensate for the eccentricity. Thus, there is an advantage such that the angular resolution can be increased to an accuracy of one degree or less, and that the accuracy of detection of a illegal disk can be improved.
A flowchart of
The prevention of wrong judgement is also enabled by using a statistical process as follows. As shown in FIG. 245(a), a legal (legitimate) original disk has frequency distributions as in a graph 1 regarding angle-address, angle-tracking direction, address-tracking direction, angle-pit depth, and address-pit depth. As in g graph 2, specified data is selected. In the case where reproduction is done by a player, data of sample addresses which can be easily discriminated is selected. As shown n FIG. 245(b), reproduction is done on a formed disk, and a signal portion outside an allowable range is found out as denoted in black in a graph 3. An abnormal value outside the allowable range is deleted from a list as shown in a graph 4. The drawing shows the frequency distribution of angle-address arrangement (layout). A similar advantage is available in the case of a distribution of pit depth or a distribution of address-tracking amount. In this way, it is possible to delete a copy protecting signal portion from the list. It should be noted that the deleted copy protecting signal portion tends to be erroneously judged to be wrong since discrimination thereof is difficult. Accordingly, the rate of occurrence of wrong judgment is reduced during reproduction by the reproducing player. The probability of errors can be further reduced by accessing an address which has been judged to be illegal twice or more.
In the case of an illegally copied original disk, as shown in FIG. 245(c), the original disk is formed by reading out addresses of a formed disk. Thus, as in a graph 5, there occurs a CP (copy protection) signal distributed in a range where a probability is constant. In this case, a disk physical arrangement (layout) table can not be changed, and selection of data can riot be executed as in the graph 2. Therefore, data close to the allowable range limit or a CP signal exceeding the allowable range is present in the physical arrangement (layout) of the illegal original disk. An optical disk formed from such an illegal original disk by shaping press has an additional error due to a shaping variation, and a distribution is in a condition as in a graph 6. Thus, there is generated a physical arrangement signal 552b which exceeds the allowable range as denoted in black. The physical arrangement signal 552b peculiar to the illegal disk is detected by the disk check program, and the detection thereof stops the program and prevents the use of the copied disk. In this way, the temporal distribution of the CP signal related to angle-address is dispersed in a small range by the shaping press. With reference to FIG. 250(b), a pit depth is greatly varied in response to cutting and shaping conditions. Since accurate control of the pit depth tends to be difficult, the yield of illegally copied disks is remarkably reduced. Thus, in the case of a pit depth, a stronger copy protection can be provided.
With reference to FIG. 246 and
A flowchart of
A step 551m in the disk check program 471t is a properness judging program which provides the following process. A step 551 executes readout by decoding a secret key of a maximum tolerance (allowable range) Pn(m) with respect to the error amount m from the reference value of the angular arrangement Z′n of the address n which has been made into a secret code and recorded on the optical recording layer or the magnetic layer. Then, a check is made on the reference physical arrangement (layout) table 532a and the error distribution table 556a of
The flowchart of
As shown in
In the case of a legal (legitimate) disk of FIG. 253(a), the physical-position 539a of an address A1 is subjected to modulation such as wobbling in the tracking direction during the manufacture of an original disk. Therefore, tracking is offset in a direction toward an outer edge. This condition is defined as “T1=+1”, and the relation “T2=−1” appears at the physical position 539b of an address A2. This information can be detected during or after the manufacture of an original disk, and a reference physical arrangement (layout) table 532 is made which is converted into a secret code before being recorded on the medium 2.
In the case of an illegally copied medium 2 of FIG. 253(b), a normal tracking variation fails to be added. Even if a tracking variation is added, tracking variations T′1 and T′2 of addresses A1 and A2 in a same angular zone Z1 are in a state of O1+1 as shown in the drawing. Thus, a measured disk physical arrangement (layout) table 556 differs from the reference physical arrangement (layout) table 532 corresponding to a legal (legitimate) disk. This fact is detected by the collating portion 535 in the disk check portion 533 of
As shown in
In this way, as shown in FIGS. 254(a), 254(b), 254(c), and 254(d), four parameters being an address An, an angle Zn, a tracking variation amount Tn, and a pit depth Dn are checked with respect to physical arrangements 539a, 539b, and 539c composing one sample point. This is advantageous in enhancing the copy protection.
As shown in
In the case of an illegally copied disk of FIG. 250(a), pits 561a-561f are equal in depth. In the case of a legal (legitimate) disk of FIG. 250(b), pits 560c, 560d, and 560e have small depths. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 250(c), corresponding reproduction pulses 562c, 562d, and 562e have small peak values. An effective output signal such as shown in FIG. 250(f) appears with a reference slice level S0 in the multiple level slicer 555b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 250(d), no effective output signal appears with a detection slice level S1. Thus, AND operation is executed between the inverted value of S1 and S0, and thereby copy protection signals 563c, 563d, and 563e are generated only in the case of a legal (legitimate) disk as shown in FIG. 250(g). In the case of an illegal disk, since the output of the detecting slice level S1 is consecutively “1”, any copy protection signal is not outputted. Accordingly, a copied disk is detected. A similar advantage is available also in the case where, as shown in FIG. 250(e), the amplitude amount detector 555a detects a reduction in the modulation rate or a reduction in the amplitude of the envelope of the optical output waveform, and thereby an inverted code signal with respect to S1 is generated.
It is clear from
In this way, the original disk is formed with pits while the amplitude of the laser output is varied. In the case of such a disk, as shown in a waveform (5) of
In this way, the pit depth is modulated by the optical output modulator 567. The pit depth information Dn is fed from the optical output modulation signal generator 566 to the pit depth information portion 32h. The copy protection signal generator 565 makes the reference physical arrangement (layout) table 532 which is a table of the previously-indicated parameters An, Zn, Tn, and Dn. The secret code encoder 537 encodes the table into the secret code, which is recorded on the magnetic recording layer.
According to an alternative way, as in steps of
FIG. 268(a) is a top view of an original disk. FIG. 268(b) is a sectional view of the original disk. As shown in FIG. 265 and FIGS. 266(a) and 266(b), two original disks may be bonded together.
As shown in
In the case where a combination of a pulse width and a pit depth is intended to be changed as shown in
This invention uses a way of making optimal pits during the manufacture of an original disk. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 263(a)-263(e), several hundreds “n” of bit groups 580a-580d are provided, and recording is done under “n” different laser output conditions. In this case, several pit groups among the “n” pit groups meet required conditions of pit depths, pit shapes, and pulse widths. As shown in
A similar advantage is provided in the case where a record type optical disk such as a partial ROM is used, and a physical arrangement (layout) table is made into a secret code, which is recorded on the recording layer of the optical RAM. A plurality of the disk check programs may be placed in a program installing routine 584d, a printing routine 584e, a saving routine 584f, and other routines of a program 586 in an application, software (see
An eighteenth embodiment of this invention realizes a copy guard function which can be applied to the case where a software such as an OS is installed into a given number of machines or personal computers.
An optical mark portion 387 or a high Hc portion 401 of a disk stores data of the maximum number of personal computers into which information is permitted to be installed from the disk The data is formed as data of a disk ID number (OPT) or a disk ID number (Mag) for a key management table. For example, the data represents “ID=204312001. N1=5, N2=3”. This means that the disk ID number is “204312001”. Additionally, this means that the maximum number of personal computers into which a first program is permitted to be installed is equal to 5, and that the maximum number of personal computers into which a second program is permitted to be installed is equal to 3. As shown in the drawing, in the case where a program 1 is installed into a first personal computer 408 identified as “xxxx11”, a key unlocking decoder 406 outputs data since five tables of the program 1 remain. The output data enables a program such as an OS to be installed into a hard disk 409 of the first personal computer 408 via an external interface 14. At this time, the data of the ID number “xxxx11” of the personal computer 408 is fed to a CD ROM drive 1a. The ID data is stored into an “n=1” position of the program 1 in the key management table 404, and is then recorded on a magnetic track 67 of the CD ROM.
In the case where the program such as the OS is intended to be installed from the CD ROM 2a into a second personal computer 408a identified as “xxxx23”, a check is made on the key management table 404. As a result of the check, it is known that four machines remain into which the program is permitted to be installed. Thus, the installing process is started and executed. The data of the ID number “xxxx23” of the personal computer 408a is stored into an “n=2” column in the program 1 in the key management table 404. In such a way, the program such as the OS can be installed into at most five personal computers. In the case where the program such as the OS is intended to be installed into a sixth personal computer, there is no unoccupied column in the program 1 so that an ID number of the sixth personal computer can not be recorded. Thus, the program such as the OS is inhibited from being installed into the sixth personal computer. In this way, illegal copy of the program such as the OS is prevented. If the program such as the OS in one of the first personal computer to the fifth personal computer breaks, the program such as the OS can be freely installed thereinto since the ID number of that personal computer has been already registered. As previously described, the disk ID number is recorded into the high Hc portion 401 and the optical mark 387 as two types of data. This design causes more work and cost to be necessary in copying a disk, and thus enhances the copy guard function.
A programmed operation sequence for executing the method of this invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 150. At a step 410a, a command of installing a program having a number N is issued. At a step 410b, an ID number of a personal computer is read out. For example, the ID number is “xxxx11”. Then, a CD ROM 2a is set in a CD ROM drive 1a. At a step 410c, magnetic data is fed to a memory of the personal computer 408 and a key management table 404 is made. At a step 410e, a machine ID number registered in a column of the program having the number N in the table 404 is readout. At a step 410f, a check is made as to whether the readout ID number is equal to the ID number of the personal computer into which the program is intended to be installed. If it is yes, an advance to a step 410q is done. If it is no, a check is made at a step 410g as to whether an unoccupied column (area) for registering the machine ID number is present. Specifically, a check is made as to how many personal computers remain into which the program is permitted to be installed. If it is no, an advance to a step 410n so that the program is prevented from being installed. Then, operation stops at a step 410p. On the other hand, if it is yes, the ID number of the personal computer into which the program is intended to be installed is registered in the table 404. As a result, a reduction occurs in the number of remaining personal computers into which the program is permitted to be installed. At a step 410i, the machine ID number is recorded into the magnetic track 67 by the magnetic head. At a step 410j an installing process is started. If the installing process succeeds at a step 410k, the operation stops at the step 410p. If the installing process fails, the ID number of the personal computer into which the program is intended to be installed is deleted from the magnetic track. Then, the operation stops at the step 410p.
A ninth embodiment of this invention relates to an interface between a personal computer and a CD ROM drive. As shown in
In the case of a drive 1a for a CD ROM which has a magnetic recording portion of this invention, two drivers, that is, the A driver 418a and the B driver 418b are defined in the input/output control system 416. The A driver functions to reproduce data of a logically defined optical record file 421 via the interface 14 in the CD ROM drive 1a. The A driver does not operate for recording. Specifically, an optical reproducing portion 7 reads out exclusive playback data from an optical recording layer 4 in the optical disk, and the readout data is transmitted to the personal computer 408 via the A driver. The B driver functions to record and reproduce data into and from a logically defined magnetic record file 422. Specifically, a magnetic recording and reproducing portion 9 records and reproduces data into and from the magnetic recording layer 3 of the optical disk 2. The magnetic recording and reproducing portion 9 transmits and receives data to and from the personal computer 408 via the B driver 418b in the device driver 417.
In this embodiment, the two drivers 418a and 418b are defined with respect to the single drive 1a for a CD ROM having a RAM. According to this design, provided that the OS 415 executes multiple tasks, the recording and reproduction of the magnetic file 422 can be executed while the personal computer 408 reproduces the optical record file 421. Thus, a process of inputting and outputting the files can be performed at a higher speed than the speed in the case where only a single drive 418 is present. This advantage is remarkable when a virtual file is used.
Methods of executing the above-mentioned simultaneous processing will be described. A first method is designed as follows.
A data compressing/expanding portion 435 of
Next, a description will be given of the case where the CD ROM drive of this invention is handled as a single drive. The operation in this case is similar to that in the case of two drives except for the following points.
As shown in
The personal computer is enabled to handle the CD ROM having the RAM as a single memory disk. The optical data can be reproduced. The magnetic data can be recorded and reproduced. The address of magnetic data which is high in use frequency is recorded as the logic address “01252”. Thus, by transferring the data in the magnetic recording layer 3, which corresponds to this address, to the magnetic file 422 of the drive memory 34a via the magnetic recording and reproducing section 9 and the data compressing/expanding section 435 after the insertion of the CD ROM 2a into the device as shown in the drawing, it is hardly necessary to physically read out the data from the magnetic recording layer 3 in a later period. The recording and reproduction of the magnetic data are virtually performed by rewriting the data in the drive memory 34a composed of the IC memory. The amount of the magnetic data is equal to a small value, for example, 32 KB, so that all the magnetic data can be stored in a small-capacity IC memory. This design enables a longer life of the disk and higher speeds of access, and data inputting and outputting processes. As previously described, the magnetic data is physically recorded only when the disk is ejected from the device. The one-drive system can be simple in structure.
A method of effectively executing the reproduction of data from the magnetic recording layer 3 and the reproduction of data from the optical recording layer 4. To prevent a reduction in data transmission rate of a CD ROM, it is desirable that the reproduction on the magnetic recording layer is done while the reproduction on the optical recording layer is being executed. In addition, it is important to shorten a start-up time upon the insertion of a CD ROM into a drive. A file arrangement according to this embodiment is designed as follows. As shown in FIGS. 154(a) and 154(b), a CD ROM 2a having a magnetic recording layer has an optical file 421 and a small-capacity magnetic file 422 provided with physical and optical addresses and magnetic-addresses other than an optical address table 440 respectively. As shown in
A specific method of simultaneously performing the reproduction of the magnetic data and the reproduction of the optical data will now be explained. In the case where a CD ROM is inserted into the drive to start up only a necessary program the reproduction of only necessary optical data is executed. It is good that only magnetic data necessary for starting the program is recorded in the magnetic track on the back side of the optical track storing the necessarily reproduced data. The necessary magnetic data is, for example, personal point data and personal progress data related to a game software.
The operation according to this method will now be described with reference to FIG. 156. At a step 444a, an initial value “m=0” is set. At a step 444b, an incrementing process is done by referring to a statement “m=m+1”. At a step 444c, a check is made as to whether the number m is equal to a final value. If it is yes, a jump to a step 444m is done. If it is no, an advance to a step 444d is done so that optical data in an m-th optical address A(m) is reproduced. Then, at a step 444e, an entrance into a subroutine is done which serves to find an optical address, among optical addresses in the optical track corresponding to the magnetic track, which is close to the optical address A(m). In the subroutine, at a step 444f, setting “n=0” is done. At a step 444g, an incrementing process is executed by referring to a -statement “n=n+1”. At a step 444w a check is made as to whether the number n is equal to a final value. If it is yes, a jump to the step 444m is done. If it is yes, an optical address M(n) at the back side of the n-th magnetic address is read out from the address link table 443 at a step 444h. At a step 444i, a checking process of, for example, “M(n)+10” is done to check whether the optical address is close thereto. If it is no, a return to the step 444g is done to check a next optical address. If it is yes, the magnetic head is lowered onto the magnetic recording layer 3 at a step 444j so that the data in the magnetic address n is reproduced and the optical traverse is fixed. At a step 444k, a check-is made as to whether the reproduction of the magnetic data has been completed. If it is no, the step 444j is executed again. If it is yes, a return to the step 444b is done so that the number m is incremented by one. The above-mentioned processes are repeated. Here, if the number m reaches an end value (a completed value), a jump to a step 444m is done to check whether the reproduction on the magnetic track containing the data necessary for starting the program has been completed in conjunction with a step 444n. If it has been completed, a jump to a step 444v is done. If it has not yet been completed, the entrance into a subroutine 444p for the reproduction on n0 magnetic tracks is performed to reproduce the remaining magnetic data. In this subroutine, setting “n=0” is done at a step 444q, and setting “n=n+1” is done at a step 444r. At a step 444s, a check is made as to whether the number n reaches a completed value. If it is yes, a jump to the step 444v is done. If it is no, the optical address corresponding to the n-th magnetic address is accessed. The magnetic data is reproduced at a step 444u, and a return to the step 444r is done to execute the setting “n=n+1”. As long as the completion has not yet been reached, the similar processes are repeated. If the completion has been attained, a jump to the step 444v is done so that the work of reproducing the data for starting the program is completed.
According to this design, the magnetic data necessary for starting the program is recorded on the magnetic track at the back side of the optical track of the optical data. Thereby, there is an advantage such that a time for starting the program can be shorted. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 154(a) and 154(b), the selection of the magnetic tracks on the back sides of the optical tracks means that the magnetic tracks are not always arranged at equal intervals. The use of the variable pitch magnetic tracks of this invention realizes the shortening of the time for starting the program.
As shown in FIG. 154(a) and 154(b), the optical addresses of the optical tracks at the back sides of the magnetic tracks 01, 02, . . . into the magnetic TOC area, and magnetic tracks at a free pitch can be realized. The magnetic tracks are arranged according to the use frequency, and thereby frequency management data can be omitted and the substantive capacity can be larger.
A twentieth embodiment of this invention relates to a method of correcting bugs in a program in a CD ROM software by using a CD ROM 1a. As shown in FIG. 157(b), a bug correcting program 455 is recorded in an optical file 421 in the CD ROM 1a having a capacity of 540 MB. A program such as an OS is also stored in the remaining part thereof as a ROM data. A magnetic file 422 has a capacity of about 32 KB, which contains only bug correcting data. As shown in FIG. 157(b), correction data, correction contents, and optical addresses of optical ROM data to be corrected are contained therein. As shown in FIG. 157(c), only a given file such as an OS which has bugs is transferred to a memory 34, and correction-resultant data 448 is generated in response to the bug correcting program 447 and the bug correcting data 446.
An operation sequence will now be described with reference to FIG. 157(a). When the given file having the bugs is read out at a step 445a, the whole of the given file is transferred to the memory 34. At a step 445b, setting “N=0” is done. At a step 445c, the number N is incremented. At a step 445d, N-th bug correcting data in the given file is read out. At a step 445e, a check is made as to whether the correction is of the type without changing the address. If it is yes, the data is corrected at a step 445f. If it is no, the line is deleted at a step 445h. At a step 445j, the logic address of the optical file is changed. Then, an advance to a step 445k is done. At the step 445k, a check is made as to whether a line is added. If it is no, an advance to a step 445p is done. If it is yes, the addition of the line is executed at steps 445m and 445n so that the logic address of the optical file is changed. Then, an advance to a step 445p is done. At the step 445p, a check is made as to whether other processing is present. If it is no, an advance to a step 445r is done. If it is yes, the other processing is executed at a step 445q. At the step 445r, a check is made as to whether the number N reaches M, that is, whether the correction has been completed. At a step 445s, the correction is completed. The given file which has been corrected is outputted.
In this embodiment, the correcting program is previously recorded into the optical ROM portion, and the correcting data is recorded into the magnetic file upon the shipment of the recording medium (the optical disk). This design is advantageous in that the correction of bugs in the OS or others can be executed after the manufacture of the optical disk. The correcting program is recorded into the optical ROM portion while only the correcting data is recorded into the magnetic file 422. This design enables the recording of a relatively large amount of the correcting data.
A twenty-first embodiment of this invention relates to a method of correcting data bugs in a CD ROM in real time during the readout of a file such as a dictionary. As shown in FIG. 158(b), an optical ROM data correcting table 446 is recorded in a magnetic file 422, and correction-resultant data corresponding to an optical address is recorded therein. As shown in FIG. 158(c), data of an optical file 421 is corrected in real time in response to a correcting program in the optical file 421 and the correcting data in the magnetic file 422. The correction-resultant data is outputted as data 448.
An operation sequence will now be described with reference to FIG. 158(a). With respect to the file data correcting program 447, a command of reading out given optical data is received at a step 447a. At a step 447b, a number N is set to a starting number of an optical address of data to be read out. At a step 447c, the number N is incremented by one. At a step 447d, data at the optical address N is read out. At a step 447e, a check is made as to whether the optical address is kl-kM of the correcting table 446. If it is no, an advance to a step 447g is done. If it is yes, the data at the optical address N is corrected in response to the correcting table 447f. Then, at the step 447g, a check is made as to all necessary optical data is read out. If it is no, a return to the step 447c is done. If it is yes, an advance to a step 447h is done to output the correction-resultant optical data. Since the data is corrected and outputted in unit of optical address, this design is advantageous in that the data can be outputted in real time. In the case of a dictionary, the magnetic recording layer 3 can be used for recording data having a high use frequency and marking important data.
A twenty-second embodiment of this invention relates to a method of logically increasing the capacity of a magnetic file using a virtual memory in which a physical large-capacity file in a hard disk 425 is logically present in the magnetic file 422. The arrangement of this embodiment is similar to the arrangement of
As shown in
A specific data structure will be described with reference to FIG. 160. The CD ROM 1a has the physically-existing optical file 421, the physically-existing magnetic file 422, and the logically-defined virtual file 450. Actual data in the virtual file 450 is stored in the HDD 425, the replaceable disk 428, or the physical file 451 in the HDD 425a. The magnetic file portion 422 of the CD ROM 1a contains a virtual directory entry 452 holding directory information such as characters and names of respective virtual files, and link information of the physical file 451 and the virtual file 450. The virtual directory entry has characteristic data related to 11 items that is, 1) an address 438 in the magnetic file, 2) a connection program including a command of connection with another personal computer via the LAN, 3) a machine ID number 454 which contains a machine ID number of a drive or a personal computer provided with the disk storing a physical file 451 containing the actual data, 4) the disk ID number 455 of the disk containing the physical file 451, 5) the name 456 of the virtual file, 6) an expanding item 457, 7) a characteristic 458 indicating the type of the virtual file, 8) a reservation region 459, 9) the time and the date of change of the file, 10) a start cluster number 461 indicating the cluster number at which the file is started, and 11) a file size 462. The fifth item to the eleventh item are equal to those in directory used by an OS such as MSDOS, and are usually composed of 32 bytes. All the items occupy 48 to 64 bytes.
As shown in the magnetic file table 422a, the magnetic file 422 contains a number of virtual directory entries 452 which is equal to the number of virtual files.
With respect to the first virtual directory entry 452a. “AN” is in the connection program number corresponding to the item 2). It is known from the sub machine ID number 454 corresponding to the item 3) that the ID number of the machine containing the physical address 451 is Ap. Since the CD ROM 1a is connected to the CD ROM drive of the personal computer corresponding to the machine ID=Ap, it is unnecessary that the connection program AN for connecting the LAN is started to access the disk of another personal computer In the case where the main machine ID number 454 corresponds to another personal computer, the connection program AN is started and the connection to the personal computer of the LAN address corresponding to the main machine ID number 454 is provided so that the disk 425a thereof is accessed. Since substantially all the directory information is in the link data 452, it is unnecessary to access the physical file 451 when the personal computer looks at the directory. It is sufficient to access the physical file only when data is read and written from and into the virtual file 450.
In this way, access to the physical file is executed. As shown in the directory range table 465, the directory 463 of the physical file contains sub virtual directory entry 467 of a normal format. This data stores items 5)-11) among the items 1)-11) in the main virtual directory entry 452. Data of the main disk ID number at the original CD ROM side having the virtual file 450, data of the user ID number 470 corresponding to the setting of the virtual file 450, data of a secret number 471 for each file, and data of the main machine ID number 472 corresponding to the final main personal computer making the virtual file are added to a sub reservation region 468 corresponding to the item 8) in comparison with that in the virtual directory entry 452. The added data is used for checking and confirming the relation between the virtual file 450 and the physical file 451 from the physical file side. If the relation is decided to be in a low degree as a result of the check, a permission of writing an OS is not issued. To inhibit normal writing which does not relate to the virtual file 450, reproduction exclusive code as “01H” is stored in the characteristic 458 corresponding to the item 7) in the case of MSDOS. Thus, in general, the recording can not be executed. In the case where data is recorded into the virtual file 450, information such as the change information 460 and the CD ROM ID number 469 associated with the virtual file 450 is fed to the input/output control system of the personal computer. A check is made as to whether this data agrees with the sub file link data 467. If the result of the check is good, the IOSYS in the Cornell portion permits the writing into the physical file 451 so that the recording is executed. In the case where data is added to “File A”, the directory 463 of the physical file 451 is examined and the contents of FAT 466 are additionally written as FAT 466a so that the additional data in the “File A” is physically recorded into the new data region. In this case, the file size is expanded, and the data of the file size 462 of each of the virtual directory entry and the directory entry 467 in the virtual file and the physical file is written into, for example, “5600 KB”.
In this way, the data of the physical file 451 corresponding to the virtual file 450 can be recorded and reproduced. Since all the work related to the virtual file 450 is performed by the OS, the input/output OS, and the network OS, the user can handle the apparatus as if the physical file having a capacity of, for example, 5600 KB, is present in the magnetic recording layer 3 of the CD ROM 1a.
Physical recording and reproduction of data is enabled by linking the physical file 451 and the virtual file 450 in response to the data from the virtual directory entry 452. Although the capacity of the magnetic file 422 is equal to a small value, that is, 32 KB, in connection with the CD ROM 1a, 500to 1000 virtual directories 452 can be provided and thus virtual recording and reproduction on 500 to 1000 virtual files 450 can be performed.
A description will now be given of a method of reproducing a virtual file with reference to FIG. 161. It is now assumed that a command for calling a file “X” is received at a step 481a. At a next step 481b, a check is made as to whether only the contents of the directory information suffice. If it is yes, the virtual directory entry in the magnetic file 422 is read out. At a step 481d, only the directory contents such as the file name, the directory name, the file size, and the making date and time are indicated on the display of the personal computer as shown by the, characters 496a on the screen 495 of FIG. 164(a).
Here, screen indication is described. In FIG. 164(a), the indicated characters 495b and 495c represent that a virtual file 450 is logically present in the drive A, that is, the CD ROM 1a with the RAM. A 10-MB still picture file and a 1-GB moving picture file can be recorded into the virtual file 450. A 540-MB CD ROM file is also denoted by indicated characters 496d. There are also indicated characters 496edenoting “four files”. In this embodiment, the personal computer is provided with a 20 GB hard disk. As shown in
As shown in FIG. 165 and
Returning to
If the physical file corresponding to the virtual file is decided to be absent from the hard disk of the present personal computer at the step 481e, a jump to a step 482a is done so that the connection with the personal computer of the main ID number which contains the physical file is started. In this case, the connecting routine 482 is in the network OS. First, the LAN address of the main machine ID number is read out from the item of the main machine ID number in the virtual directory entry. At a step 482b, the number of the connecting program is read out. The given network connecting program is executed, and the previously-mentioned LAN address is inputted to try the connection. A step 482c checks the connection. If the connection fails, error indication is made at a step 482d. If the connection succeeds, a command of reading the file is transmitted to the sub personal computer 408a via the network such as the LAN.
From a step 482g, OS work by the sub personal computer 408a is started. Data is read out from the physical file in response to a command of reading the file “X” from the main personal computer. This work is same as the previously-mentioned subroutine 483 for reading out the physical file data. Accordingly, the subroutine 483a uses the, previously-mentioned subroutine. At a step 482h, a check is made as to whether the readout of the file has been completed. If it is yes, an advance to a step 482j is done so that the data of the file is transmitted to the main personal computer 408. Then, an advance to a step 482k is done. If it is no, an advance to a step 482i is done so that an error message is, transmitted to the main personal computer. Then, an advance to the step 482k is done.
The step 482k is in the connecting routine 482 by the network OS in the personal computer 480 which is executed via the LAN. The step 482k receives the data of the file or the error message from the sub personal computer 408a. At a step 482m, a check is made as to whether the error message is present. If it is yes, error indication is made at a step 482p. If it is no, an advance to a step 482y is done to complete the work of reading the file.
With reference to
If it is yes at the step 485k, the directory region 465 in the disk having the sub disk ID number is read out and then the corresponding file name 456 is searched for and checked. If it is no, a jump to the step 485j is done to execute the indication of “error”. If it is yes, an advance to a step 485r is done so that a collation or check is made as to whether the physical file is the actual physical file in the virtual file. Specifically, a check is made as to whether the contents of the virtual directory entry 452 is equal to the data in the directory entry 467 except the characteristic data. In addition, a check is made as to whether the disk ID number of the client-side CD ROM is equal to the main disk ID number 469 of the CD ROM in the server side disk entry.
At a step 485s, a check is done. If it is no, a jump to the step 485j is done to execute the indication of “error”. If it is yes, an advance to a step 485t is done so that the system such as the OS temporarily erases the write inhibiting flag such as the characteristic data “01H” or “02H” in the directory entry of the file “X”. In this case, the recording is enabled. This file can not be seen from files other than the virtual file of the CD ROM because of the presence of “invisible code”, and can not be corrected also.
In this way, the virtual file can be seen from and corrected by only the corresponding CD ROM so that the virtual file is protected. At a step 485u, a check is made as to whether the disk having the physical file has a free capacity. If it is no, the error indication is executed by the step 485j. If it is yes, an advance to a step 485v is done so that the data in the corresponding file of the directory is read out and the start cluster number is obtained. At a step 485w, the cluster number which follows the start cluster number is obtained from the FAT region 466. With respect to the data region 473, at a step 485x, the data in the data region of the cluster number is rewritten. In the case where the amount of the new data is greater than the amount of the old data, the data is also recorded in the new cluster. In this way, the data is actually recorded into the physical file 451. At a step 485y, a check is made as to whether the completion has been reached. If it is no, a return to the step 485x is done. If it is yes, an advance to a step 485z is done so that the FAT and the directory of the physical file 451 are rewritten. At this time, the data “02H” corresponding to “invisible” is recorded again into the characteristic of the directory entry 467. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 167(a) and 167(b), the substance of the physical file is made invisible to the user. Accordingly, it is generally difficult to execute rewriting other than rewriting of the virtual file 450 in the CD ROM 1a by the OS. This design is advantageous in that the data can be prevented from being improperly rewritten. In the case where the previously-mentioned secret number is set for each virtual file, the data is protected further.
An advance to a step 486n is done, so that the data in the directory entry 467 except the characteristic data is transferred to the virtual directory entry 452 of the magnetic file. As a result, the contents of the two are the same in the items including the date and the time. Thus, during a later period, writing into the physical file 451 is permitted by the collating work upon rewriting. The operation work ends at a step 486p.
If it is no at the step 485g, a jump to a step 486a is done so that the routine 488 for the connection with the LAN is started. First, the LAN address of the main machine ID number corresponding to the presence of the physical file is read out from the virtual directory entry 452. At a step 486b, a plurality of the numbers of programs are read out which are designed to provide the connection via the network such as the LAN from the LAN address “B” of the main personal computer 408 currently provided with the CD ROM 1a to the sub personal computer 408a of the LAN address “A” of the main machine ID number as shown in FIG. 168. In addition, the LAN addresses are inputted, and the connecting programs are 'successively executed. At a step 486c, a check is made as to the connection. If the connection has been realized by one of the programs, an advance to a step 486ecorresponding to “yes” is done. If it is no, an advance to a step 486d is done so that error indication is performed. At the step 486e, new data and a command of rewriting the physical file 451 are, transmitted to the sub personal computer 408a.
Then, an advance to a step 486fis done. Here, the OS of the main personal computer is replaced with the work by the input/output control OS and the network OS of the sub personal computer 408a. The file rewriting command and the new data are received. At a next step, the subroutine 487 for rewriting the data in the physical file is executed. At a step 486g, a check is made as to whether the file data rewriting has succeeded. If it is yes, an advance to a step 486h is done so that the information of the completion of the rewriting and the newest data in the directory entry 467 of the physical file are transmitted to the main personal computer 408 via the network. Then, a jump to a step 486j is done which correspond to the work by-the network OS of the main personal computer 408. If it is no at the step 486g, a jump to a step 486i is done so that the error message is transmitted to the main personal computer 408 via the network. Then, a jump to the step 486j is done which corresponds to the work by the network OS of the main personal computer 408.
At the step 486j which corresponds to the work by the network OS of the main personal computer 408, the error message or the data of the directory entry 467 of the physical file 451 is received from the sub personal computer 408a. If the error message is decided to be absent by a step 486k, a step 486n rewrites the virtual directory entry 452 of the virtual file 450 of the magnetic file of the CD ROM in response to the data of the directory entry 467 which represents the items such as the date. At a step 486p, the rewriting work ends. If the error message is decided to be present at the step 486k, an advance to a step 486m is done so that “error” is indicated on the display screen.
As shown in
This design can be applied to an IC card or an optical disk having a ROM and a RAM.
A description will now be given of a method of making a new virtual file with reference to FIG. 163. It is assumed that, as shown in FIG. 169(a), at a step 491a, the user inputs the user ID number or a command of saving a new data file having a name “X”. The OS checks whether the magnetic file 422 has a free capacity. If it is no, stopping is executed at a step 491c. If it is yes, the sub disk ID number and the main machine ID number 474 of the default of the user ID number are read out at a step 491d. At a step 491e, screen indication is executed as shown in FIG. 169(a) to check whether the default is good. If it is no, the user is forced to input a changed default value at a step 491f and then a check is executed again. If it is yes, an advance to a step 491g is done so that a check is made as to whether the ID number of the main machine of the default which links with the virtual file is equal to the ID number of the machine currently provided with the CD ROM. If it is no, an advance to a step 492a is done which lies in a network connecting subroutine. If it is yes, an advance to a step 491h is done which lies in a new file registering subroutine 493. At the step 491h, a check is made as to whether a disk having the ID number of the default is present. If it is no, a step 491i checks whether the disk is of the replaceable type by referring to the data. If it is yes, “insert disk xx” is indicated as shown in FIG. 169(a). At a step 491k, a check is made as to whether the disk has a physical capacity for providing a physical file. If it is no, “error” is indicated at a step 491u. If it is yes, an advance to a next step 491m is done so that the data is stored into a free part of the data region 473 of the physical file from the cluster start number xx. At a step 491n, a check is made as to whether the data storing has been completed. If it is no, the error indication is executed by the step 491u. If it is yes, the directory region 465 and the FAT region 466 of the physical file are rewritten in response to the record file. At a step 491q, the OS stores invisible characteristic data such as “02H” into the characteristic 458 of the directory entry 467 of the physical file (see FIG. 160). Write inhibiting data “01H” may be stored. The input control OS handles only the virtual file in a special way, and the recording and reproduction on the file are performed while the file links with the virtual file. According to other operation sequences, neither the recording nor the reproduction can be performed. At a step 491r, a secret number and the main machine ID number are stored into the directory entry 467. At a next step 491s, unique information such as the file name and the registration date and time which is equal in contents with the directory entry 467 of the physical file 451 is stored into the virtual directory entry 452 of the recording medium 2. Thereby, the collation with the physical file 451 can be reliably executed when the virtual file is rewritten during a later period. In addition, a physical file 451 in another personal computer on the network can be prevented from being erroneously rewritten. The new file making routine ends at a step 491t.
If it is no at the step 491g in the connecting subroutine 488, an advance to a step 492a is done so that the LAN address of the main machine is read out from the virtual directory entry 452, and the connection with the main personal computer is executed via thee network. In addition, the physical file 451 for the virtual file 450 in the disk of the sub personal computer 408 is registered by using the new file registering subroutine 493, and the result is transmitted to the main personal computer. The flow portion from the step 492a to a step 492j is equal to that in
With reference to
Regarding
In
With reference to
On the other hand, a folder 568c indicated in the window 567b of the RAM portion can be displayed by reading out the substantial master file in the medium 2. When the related icon is subjected to double click, a window 576d of the folder A is opened as shown by the arrow 51b so that icons for files 569b, 569c, and 569d are indicated. The file information and the directory information which appear up to this process are stored in the RAM portion of the small capacity such as the magnetic recording portion of the medium 2. Thus, it is unnecessary to read out a file 573 and a folder 574, that is, a slave file, which is an actual physical file stored in a hard disk 572a with respect to the virtual file. The operator handles the apparatus as if the capacity of the RAM portion of the CD-ROM 2 is 7.6 GB or 520 MB. In this case, the file 573 and the folder 574 of the substantial file for the virtual file are not indicated on the display as being an invisible file. Thus, in the case where a CD-ROM 2 is not inserted which is linked with a virtual file, the operator is prevented from doing a wrong process such as rewriting or erasing a substantial file. To this point, only the substantial master file in the medium 2 is opened.
With reference to
In the case where “visualize the slave file” is selected from a pull down menu, an indication is given of a window 567f for visualizing the slave file. When a correct password is inputted into a password input portion 578a of the window 567f, an invisible file 573b is visualized which corresponds to the password as shown by the arrow 51g. In the case where “erase virtual file” is selected from the pull down menu, an indication is given of a file erasing window 567f. When the file name is inputted into a file name input portion 579 of the window 567f and a password corresponding to the file is inputted into the password input portion 578b, the physical file of the invisible file 573 is erased from the HDD 571. In this way, it is possible to erase an unnecessary file among the slave files of virtual master files in the HDD 571. Since the slave files in the linked HDD can be arranged, the HDD can be efficiently used. In addition, since a slave file is protected by a password, the slave file is prevented from being erased by other operators. In this way, slave files are protected which correspond to master files in the RAM portion of the CD-ROM.
Substantial slave files for virtual master files can be set in an HDD 571a of another computer B via a network shown in FIG. 273. Also in this case, indication and erasion can be inhibited by using passwords.
With reference to
The OS of this invention executes the previously-indicated processes. Thus, in the case where a medium being a CD-ROM 2 is used which has a large-capacity ROM portion storing a software and a small-capacity RAM portion, the capacity of the RAM portion can be virtually expanded to a large capacity of several GB. In this case, a physical file being a slave file is stored in a memory actually present in the home HDD 571 of the home machine connected via the network or the machine provided with the CD-ROM/RAM. It is good to record a small amount of information into the RAM portion of the medium. The small, amount of information corresponds to several tens of bytes, and contains information for connection via the network such as an address of the home machine with the home HDD and also information of the date, the capacity, and the directory of the actually-present substantial file. Thus, it is good that the physical capacity of the RAM portion of the CD-ROM/RAM is small. According to window indication as in
According to this invention, when a virtual file is required to be newly set, a window 567 is indicated. A home machine name, a file name and a password are inputted into the window, and thereby the virtual file can be set. When a physical file is required to be erased, indication is done as in a window 567g. A file name and a password are inputted into the window, and thereby the physical file is erased without a CD-ROM/RAM 2 being a master. Even if a master CD-ROM/RAM 2 is lost, a physical file or a slave file for a virtual file can be erased. Accordingly, this invention can arrange slave files, that is, substantial files 573, of virtual files in the HDD 571.
As previously described, a CD-ROM/RAM is used in combination with an OS such as a Windows OS or a Mac OS which contains a CD-ROM driver software. In this case, by using a virtual file for a CD-ROM/RAM according to this invention, the capacity of the ROM portion of the CD-ROM can be virtually expanded. When both a low-cost CD-ROM/RAM medium 2 of this invention and a virtual file of this invention are used, there is provided an advantage comparable to or greater than the advantage of a prior art expensive optical disk of the partial ROM type.
It should be noted that a virtual file may be set in a RAM portion of a medium with a ROM such as an optical disk of the partial ROM type or an IC card with a ROM.
The recording medium 2 will now be described. In the case where the directory information is recorded into the magnetic recording layer, the virtual file is damaged if the information is damaged. Thus, in the case where this design is applied to a CD ROM, equal virtual directory entries are recorded into two or three physically separated places as shown in FIG. 171. To protect the directory information from a circumferential scratch on the disk, the recording into separate tracks 67x, 67y, and 67z is executed To protect the directory information from a radial scratch on the disk, the directory entries 452x, 452y, and 452z are located at different positions of angles θx, θy, and θz respectively.
According to this invention, the system provides a physical file and logically defines a large-capacity virtual file in the RAM portion of an optical disk 2 by using a capacity of an HDD as previously described. Thus, the optical disk having a small-capacity RAM can be handled as a ROM disk with a large-capacity RAM. Even in the case where the main personal computer 408 into which the optical disk 2 is inserted lacks the server side physical file 451 corresponding to the virtual file 450, the data is recorded and reproduced by automatically accessing the physical file 451a of the sub personal computer 408a via the network as shown in FIG. 168.
This design is advantageous in that the physical file corresponding to the virtual file can be accessed when the optical recording medium 2 of this invention is inserted into any personal computer. This design can be realized by an application program.
As previously described, the recording medium 2 has an optical recording surface. The back side of the recording medium 2 is provided with the magnetic recording layer 3. In the recording and reproducing apparatus which executes the RAM type recording, and reproduction such as the magneto-optical recording and reproduction, the magnetic head is used in common for the two purposes. Thus, without substantially increasing the number of parts and the cost, it is possible to magnetically record information of independent channels provided on the recording medium. In this case, the slider tracking mechanism for the magnetic head is originally provided so that an increase in the cost of the recording and reproducing apparatus hardly occurs. Thus, there is an advantage such that the magnetic recording and reproducing function which is independent of the optical recording can be added at essentially the same cost.
The recording medium containing the recorded information is applied to a music CD, an HD, a game CD ROM, and an MD ROM, and the back side thereof is provided with the magnetic recording track. This recording medium is subjected to the reproducing process by the ROM type recording and reproducing apparatus of FIG. 17. Thereby, there is provided an advantage such that the conditions which have been previously used can be retrieved upon the reproduction. As described with respect to the first embodiment, in the case where the recording is limited to only one track of the TOC area, information of several hundreds of bits can be recorded when the gap width is set to 200 μm. This capacity meets the requirements for use of a game IC ROM with a nonvolatile memory. In the case of limitation to the TOC, a device for accessing the magnetic track can be omitted so that the structure of the system can be simple.
In the recording and reproducing apparatus which is exclusive for the reproduction regarding the optical recorded information, it is necessary to provide the magnetic head and others at the opposite side of the optical head with respect to the recording medium The related parts can be common to the magnetic field modulating head for the magneto-optical recording, so that the cost of the apparatus can be lowered by mass production. The parts are originally very cheaper than optical recording parts and magnetic recording parts for a low density, and thus an increase in the cost is small. Since the optical head is mechanically linked with the magnetic head located at the opposite side thereof, it is unnecessary to add a related tracking mechanism. Thus, in this regard, an increase in the cost is small.
The time information or the address information is recorded on the optical recording layer at the surface of the recording medium of the RAM type or the ROM type. The tracking with respect to the optical head is executed in response to the time information or the address information. Thereby, the tracking control is done so that the magnetic head can move to an arbitrary position on the disk. Thus, there is an advantage such that it is unnecessary to use expensive parts such as a linear sensor and a linear actuator.
The protective layer on the back side of a conventional magneto-optic recording medium of the magnetic field modulation type is formed from binder and lubricant by spin coat. In this invention, it is sufficient that the magnetic material is added to the combination of the binder and the lubricant, and the spin coat is executed at the same step. Thus, the number of manufacture steps does not increase. A related increase in the cost is in a negligible order relative to the entire cost. Therefore, the new value being the magnetic recording function is added without significantly increasing the cost.
As previously described, in this invention, the magnetic channel can be added without significantly increasing the cost. In addition, the RAM function can be added to a conventional disk of the ROM type and a player exclusively for a ROM.
The high Hc magnetic sheet of this invention is attached to the label portion of a video tape cassette or an audio tape cassette. Upon the loading of the cassette, data is read out from the magnetic sheet by the magnetic head 8. The readout data is stored into the IC memory in the microcomputer. In the case where the data on the magnetic sheet is required to be updated only the contents of the IC memory are updated during the insertion of the cassette. When the cassette is ejected from the apparatus, only the updated data in the IC memory is recorded into the magnetic recording layer by the magnetic head fixed near the cassette insertion opening. Thereby, the index information such as the TOC and the address of the cassette tape can be recorded on the cassette separately from the tape. This design is advantageous in that the search for the information in the cassette tape can be quickly executed.
This invention can be applied to a video game machine connected to a display 44a and a key pad 450A as shown in FIG. 180. The reproduction can not be performed if an illegal copy identifying signal is not recorded on the magnetic recording layer 3. This design is advantageous in that a CD made by illegal copy can be excluded. Data such as environment setting data, the name of the user, the point, and the result at a mid part of the game is recorded into the magnetic recording layer 3. Thus, the game can be restarted from the conditions which occur at the end of the preceding play of the game. As shown in
The CD 2 is inserted into the apparatus, and the upper lid is moved to a closed state. During the movement of the upper lid to the closed state, the magnetic head 8 and its suspension move in a direction 51 to a place above the CD 2 according to the movement of the upper lid.
The operation sequence will now be described with reference to FIGS. 183(a), 183(b), 183(c), 183(d), and 183(e). In FIG. 183(a), when the upper lid 389 is closed in a direction 51a, lid rotation shafts 393 and 393a rotate so that a head retracting device 502 moves in a direction 51b and the magnetic head 8 connected thereto moves in a direction 51c. In this way, as shown in FIG. 183(b), the magnetic head 8, a slider 41, and a suspension 41a move to a place above the recording medium 2 such as the CD.
Upward and downward movement of the magnetic head 8 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 183(c), 183(d), and 183(e). As shown in FIG. 183(c), an optical head 6 executes the reproduction on an innermost track 65a of the TOC and others. As shown in FIGS. 184(a), 184(b), and 184(c), a medium identifier 504 is read out, and a check is made as to whether the medium has a magnetic track 67 by referring to the medium identifier 504. If the medium actually has a magnetic track 67, the optical head 6 is moved to a place inward of the innermost track as shown in FIG. 183(d). A head elevator 505 is forced by a head elevating link 503, bringing the magnetic head 8 into contact with an outermost magnetic track 67a and enabling the recording or reproduction of a magnetic record signal via the magnetic head 8.
As shown in FIG. 185(a), a servo signal region 505 is provided. During the manufacture of a recording medium, a high Hc portion is applied thereto as shown in FIG. 185(b). As shown in FIG. 185(c), the recording medium is formatted in a factory or others. A servo signal selector information, and a medium identification number are recorded on a sync signal region 507 medium by medium. This recording is executed by using a magnetic head capable of recording information into a magnetic region having an Hc of 2750-4000 Oe. Next, as shown in FIG. 185(d), a low Hc magnetic portion 402 is applied. The low Hc magnetic portion 402 is made of material having an Hc of 1600-1750 Oe. As shown in FIG. 185(e), a protective layer 50 is applied thereon.
The magnetic portion 402 and the protective layer 50 make it more difficult to rewrite the information in the high Hc magnetic portion. Thus, the medium identification number 506 recorded in the sync signal region 507 can be more reliably prevented from being rewritten. This design is advantageous in that the previously-mentioned illegal copy guard function is hardly removed.
The servo signal 505 and the address signal can not be erased by a conventional recording and reproducing apparatus. Thus, after the shipment of the medium from the factory, the data in the sync signal region can be maintained and protected so that stable data recording can be realized in response to the data in the sync signal region.
Rotation servo will be further described with reference to FIG. 183(d). In the presence of an optical recording portion at an innermost part of the CD 2, the rotational speed of a motor is made constant by CLV motor rotation control in response to the sync signal in the optical track. In this case, the magnetic recording and reproduction are enabled.
In the absence of an optical recording portion from an innermost part of the CD 2, the magnetic head 8 reproduces the servo signal 505 from the sync signal region 507 of FIG. 185(a). A rotation servo signal is thus reproduced by a rotation servo signal reproducing section 30c of FIG. 181. The rotation servo signal is transmitted to a motor drive circuit 26 so that the motor is controlled at a constant rotational speed. Therefore, data can be recorded and reproduced into and from desired sectors in data recording regions 508 and 508a of the magnetic track 67a of FIGS. 185(a), 185(b), 185(c), 185(d), and 185(e).
After the recording or reproduction has been completed, the optical head 6 moves toward a disk outer portion as shown in FIG. 183(e). Thereby, the head elevating link 503 returns to the original position, and the magnetic head 8 moves in a direction 51e and separates from the magnetic track 67a. The separation of the magnetic head 8 from the magnetic track 67a prevents a wear problem. In this way, the magnetic head 8 can be moved upward and downward by a traverse motor 23. This design is advantageous in that it is unnecessary to provide another head elevating actuator.
As shown in FIGS. 186(c), 186(d), 186(e), the optical head 6 is forced to an outermost portion of the disk by the traverse motor 23, and the head elevating link 503 is moved in the direction 51a. The magnetic head 8 is lowered along the direction 51b into contact with the magnetic track 67a so that the recording and reproduction of the magnetic signal are enabled. In the case where magnetic noise from the optical head 6 causes a problem, the operation of an optical head actuator 18 is suspended. When the operation is suspended or when the reproduction of a signal from the optical track can not be executed, a drive current to the optical head is cut off. In addition, the servo signal 505 in the magnetic track of FIG. 185(a) is reproduced via the rotation servo signal reproducing portion 30c of
The arrangement of this embodiment can be applied to the plural magnetic track type or the one magnetic track type. In the case of a one track system, access to the head is unnecessary so that the apparatus can be simple in structure. In the case of one track at a disk outermost part, the capacity is large. As shown in FIGS. 187(a), 187(b), 187(c), 187(d), and 187(e), the recording medium has sectors provided with the sync signal region 507, into which the magnetic servo signal 505 is stored in a factory or others. Upon the magnetic reproduction, the servo control responsive to the optical signal is replaced by the servo control responsive to the magnetic signal so that the drive current to the optical head 6 can be cut off. Thus, the noise from the optical head can be prevented from occurring.
A method of the rotation servo control responsive to the optical servo signal will now be described with reference to FIGS. 188(a)-188(f). FIG. 188(a) show conditions which occur at t=0. The optical head 6 is in a position corresponding to an outer track or a TOC track 65a. In FIG. 188(b), at t=t1, the optical head 6 reads out information from the TOC track 65a. A medium identifier 504 is found out from the subcode of the TOC, the subcode portion of an audio track, or the first track of a CD ROM as shown in FIG. 184(c), FIG. 184(b), and FIG. 184(a). At this time, since the head elevating link 503 moves from a position A to a position B according to the movement of the optical head 6, a switch 511 of a mechanical delay device 509 is moved to an on position. Until a delay time tD elapses, the head elevating link 503a remains inactive. In FIG. 184(c), at t=t2, the reproduction of the TOC data is completed. In the case where the delay time tD is set as tD>t2, the magnetic head 8 is not moved downward. In the absence of a medium identifier, that is, in an off state, tD>t3. In FIG. 188(d), at t=t3, the optical head 6 moves in the direction 51d, and the head elevating link 503 suspends pressing the switch 511 so that the head is not moved downward.
In the presence of a medium identifier, there is always a magnetic track 67a. In an on state, at t=t4 (t4>tD), the switch 511 remains pressed for the delay time tD or longer as shown in FIG. 188(e). Therefore, the output of the mechanical delay device 509 becomes effective, and the head elevating link 503a moves downward a support portion including the suspension of the magnetic head 8 in the direction 51e. As a result, the magnetic head 8 contacts the magnetic track 67a. At this time, since the optical head 6 executes the reproduction on the optical track 65a of the TOC or others, the optical servo signal is reproduced. The motor 17 is rotated at a constant rotational speed by the CLV control responsive to the optical servo signal. Accordingly, the magnetic signal is reproduced in synchronism with the sync signal of the optical reproduced signal. Since the rotation servo control can be executed simultaneously in response to the magnetic reproduction and the optical reproduced signal, it is unnecessary to provide another mechanism for rotation servo control. Thus, this design is advantageous in that the medium and the apparatus can be simple in structure. In this case, the rotation servo signal reproducing portion 30c may be omitted from the arrangement of FIG. 181.
When the reproduction or recording of the magnetic signal has been completed, the system controller 10 of FIG. 181 transmits a given signal to the traverse moving circuit 24a so that the optical head 6 is moved in a direction 51f and the switch 511 of the mechanical delay device 509 is released. At t=t5 after a delay time tDS shorter than the delay time tD elapses, the head elevating link 503a moves upward along a direction 51g as shown in FIG. 188(f) so that the magnetic head 8 is elevated out of contact with the magnetic track 67a. In this way, a simpler arrangement enables the upward and downward movement of the magnetic head, and the optical reproduction and the magnetic reproduction can be simultaneously executed.
As shown in FIGS. 185(a), 185(b), 185(c), 185(d), and 185(e), a plurality of magnetic tracks 67 may be used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 189(a), the track width TWH of the magnetic track 8 is set greater than the width TW of the magnetic track 67a by a quantity corresponding to an eccentricity amount (an off-center amount). This design is advantageous in that a single head can be used in common for recording and reproduction. When the widths are set as TWH>>TW, the recording into all the magnetic track 67a can be executed so that the previously-recorded portion will not be left at all. In the case where magnetic layers corresponding to a plurality of tracks are separately provided, a single head can be used as both a recording head and a reproducing head.
In the case of the multiple track system, setting of the track pitch Tp is important. The CD standards allow an error Δr of ±0.2 mm between the position of an optical track 65 and the center of the CD circle in the radial direction. Under ideal conditions, as shown in FIG. 189(a), a magnetic track 67a is located at the back side of a given optical track 65a, and access to the magnetic track by referring to the optical address can be accurately executed. Under actual bad conditions, as shown in FIG. 189(b), the optical track 65a and the magnetic track 67a are offset by +Δr. Under opposite actual bad conditions, as shown in FIG. 189(c), the optical track 65a and the magnetic track 67a are offset by −Δr. To prevent the magnetic head 8 from accessing a magnetic track 67b neighboring the desired magnetic track, it is necessary to satisfy the following conditions.
r−Δr−TWH/2>r+Δr+TWH/2−Tp
Accordingly, the following relation is obtained.
Tp>2Δr+TWH
In the case of a CD, Δr=0.2 mm so that the track pitch Tp is determined by the following relation.
Tp>0.4 mm
Thus, it is necessary to set the track pitch Tp to 0.4 mm or greater.
As shown in FIG. 187(a) and FIG. 189(a), the separate magnetic recording layers are provided, and the magnetic servo signal is recorded thereinto by a single magnetic head. In this case, as shown in
As shown in FIGS. 183(c), 183(d), and 183(e), the magnetic head 8 is moved upward and downward by using the traverse motor 23. This method of moving the magnetic head 8 can be applied to an arrangement where an optical head 6 and a magnetic head 8 are located on a common side of a recording medium as shown in FIGS. 191(a), 191(b), 191(c), 191(d), and 191(e). In the case where an identifier is detected under condition of a TOC track 67a in FIG. 191(c), the optical head 6 moves to a state of FIG. 191(d) along a direction 51a. Therefore, a head elevating link 503 moves in the same direction, raising the magnetic head along a direction 51b into contact with the magnetic track 67a provided on an outer area of the optical recording surface side of the medium. Then, the magnetic recording, or reproduction via the magnetic head 8 is performed. At this time, the optical head reproduces an optical servo signal from an optical track provided on an inner area of the medium, and rotation servo control for rotation at a constant speed is executed in response to the reproduced optical servo signal. The rotation servo control may be performed in response to the magnetic servo signal reproduced from the magnetic track 67a. After the magnetic recording or reproduction has been completed, the optical head 6 moves outward as shown in FIG. 191(e) and the magnetic head 8 moves downward out of contact with the medium.
FIGS. 192(c) and 192(d) show another design in which an optical head 6 moves along a direction 51a to a region outside an outer edge of a recording medium, and thereby a magnetic head 8 is raised along a direction 51b into contact with a magnetic track 67a. Operation according to this design is approximately similar to the operation of the design of FIGS. 186(a), 186(b), 186(c), 186(d), and 186(e).
As previously described, the magnetic recording track 67a is provided on an outer area of the optical recording surface side of the recording medium. Even in the case where the magnetic head 8 and the optical head 6 are located on the same side of the recording medium, the magnetic head 8 is moved upward and downward by the traverse motor 23 so that the number of parts can be reduced.
According to a CD player of FIG. 193(a), when an upper lid 389 is open but a CD is not inserted into the player, a magnetic head 8 and a suspension 41a are exposed. The magnetic head 8 and the suspension 41a tend to be damaged by a touch thereto.
To prevent such a problem, a magnetic head shutter 512 covers the magnetic head 8 when the upper lid 389 is open. As a CD 2 is inserted into the player and the upper lid 389 is closed, the magnetic head shutter 512 moves in a direction 51a to uncover the magnetic head 8. This process will be further described. With reference to FIG. 191(a), as the upper lid 389 is closed in a direction 51, a lid rotation shaft rotates in a direction 51d and the magnetic head shutter 512 moves in a direction 51e. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 191(b), a magnetic head window 513 is unblocked so that the magnetic head 8 is permitted to move upward and downward. In this regard, the arrangement of FIGS. 192(a) and 192(b) is similar. This design is advantageous in that the magnetic head 8 and the suspension 41a can be protected by the magnetic head shutter 512.
There is no problem in an arrangement where a magnetic head 8 and a traverse of an optical head 6 are adequately separate as shown in FIGS. 193(a) and 193(b). On the other hand, in the case where a magnetic head 8 is located in a range of movement of a traverse, the magnetic head 8 is provided with a spring 514 as shown in FIG. 194(e). In this case, only when an optical head 6 executes the reproduction on an outermost optical track 65a, the magnetic head 8 is forced in a direction 51a by the optical head 6 so that the magnetic head 8 is retracted outward. This design is advantageous in that an adequate access range of the optical head 6 can be maintained. This design is effective in the case of a recording medium such as a CD having a magnetic recording track 67a which is not provided on the optical recording surface side thereof
FIGS. 222(a)-222(f) show arrangements in which a magnetic track 67 is provided on a ROM disk being an MD (mini disk) in a cartridge 42. As shown in FIG. 222(a), one side of the cartridge 42 for the MD ROM disk has a small radially-extending shutter window 302. Thus, a magnetic head 8 and an optical head 6 are located on a common straight line 514c. Therefore, A tracking range of the optical head 6 overlaps the position of the magnetic head 8. The presence of the magnetic head 8 makes it difficult for the optical head 6 to access an outermost optical track 65a.
According to this invention, as shown in FIG. 222(e), a magnetic head 8 is designed to be movable in a radial direction, and the magnetic head 8 is pressed against a stopper 514c by a spring 514 and is normally held in a given position. When an optical head 6 access an outermost optical track 65a as shown in FIG. 222(f), the magnetic head 8 (8a) is temporarily retracted or moved out of a range of movement of the optical head 6. In this way, the optical head 6 is permitted to access the outermost optical track 65a even if the magnetic head 8 is provided at a shutter window 302. As the optical head 6 moves back to an inner region, the magnetic head 8 is returned to the given position by the spring 514 and the stopper 514c. The magnetic track 67 has only one track provided on an outermost area of the optical reading side of the recording medium. The magnetic track 67 has a given thickness or height h. The thickness of the mangetic track 67 prevents contact with the optical recording portion which might adversely affect the optical recording portion. The position of the magnetic track 67 relative to the recording medium enables a large recording capacity, thereof. Positional interference between the magnetic head and the optical head can be removed by the previously-mentioned arrangement for retracting the magnetic head. This design is advantageous in that a ROM disk having a magnetic recording layer and a recording and reproducing apparatus therefor can be realized while the ROM disk can be compatible with a conventional MD disk.
As shown in FIG. 222(a), a ROM medium having a magnetic recording layer has an identification hole 313a for the magnetic recording layer. A cartridge of a recording medium without any magnetic recording layer does not have any identification hole 313a. When such a cartridge is inserted into an apparatus as shown in FIG. 222(c), a magnetic head motion inhibiting device 514b is pressed and activated to that a magnetic head 8 is forced into a state where upward and downward movement of the magnetic head 8 are inhibited. This design is advantageous in that the recording medium 2 can be prevented from being damaged by erroneous movement of the magnetic head 8 thereto. The magnetic head 8 remains movable in the direction of an optical head moving region, and an optical head 6 is permitted to access an outermost optical track 65a.
When the recording medium 2 with the magnetic recording layer is inserted into the apparatus as shown in FIG. 222(d), the identification hole 313a for the magnetic recording layer prevents downward movement of the magnetic head motion inhibiting device 514b so that upward and downward movement of the magnetic head 8 remain permitted. The magnetic head motion inhibiting device 514b can be formed by simple mechanical parts.
When the optical head 6 is in a position other than an innermost region, the magnetic head 8 is in an off state as shown in FIG. 222(c). With reference to FIG. 222(e), as the optical head 6 moves to the innermost region, a head elevation connecting device 514a moves in a direction 51b and the magnetic head 8 is raised in a direction 51c into contact with a magnetic track 67a. In this way, the magnetic recording or reproduction is enabled. With reference to FIG. 222(c), as the optical head 6 returns from the outermost region to a normal position, the magnetic head 8 is lowered out of contact with the magnetic track 67a. In the case of a CD or an MD, when the disk is inserted into the apparatus, TOC information is always read out for several seconds. In this invention, during this period, the magnetic head 8 contacts the magnetic track 67a and reproduces the magnetic data therefrom. Since the optical reproduction on the TOC area is simultaneously executed, the rotation servo control is enabled. In addition a write clock signal for the magnetic recording can be derived by frequency-dividing the optical sync clock signal. Since the upward and downward movement of the magnetic head are enabled by the traverse motor for the optical head, the structure of the apparatus is simple.
In the case where the data on the magnetic track 67a is required to be rewritten upon the end of the disk reproduction process, the optical head 6 is moved again to the innermost area so that the magnetic head 8 contacts the magnetic track 67a. Magnetic track data is written into the magnetic track 67a from a cache memory 34 of
In some of cases where an optical head 6 and a magnetic head 8 are located on opposite sides of a recording medium respectively, a magnet generates a strong magnetic field depending on the designing of the optical head 6.
As shown in
According to an arrangement using a multiple track head 8 for providing a magnetic track 67a divided into three as shown in FIG. 198(a), an increased capacity of magnetic recording is attained. In the case where a magnetic head 8 corresponds to three azimuth heads 8a, 8b, and 8c of different azimuth angles, the track density can be increased by three times. In the case of a non-azimuth head, a required track pitch Tp is equal to 0.4 mm in track width. In the case of an azimuth head of this type, the required track pitch Tp is equal to 0.13 mm in track pitch. In the case of azimuth heads 8a and 8b of different azimuth angles as shown in FIGS. 198(c) and 198(d), a double recording capacity is attained.
A description will now be given of a method of recording a medium identifier into a TOC area. Optical tracks 65a, 65b, 65c and 65d are wove and wobbled as shown in FIG. 199(b), and thereby an additional signal (a wobbling signal) is recorded into the TOC area of FIG. 199(a). As shown in
In the case of a CD player of the tray type such as shown in FIGS. 201(a), 201(b), 201(c), and 201(d), upward and downward movement of a head are executed by a loading motor 516. In FIG. 201(a), the loading motor 516 rotates and a tray moving gear 518 moves in a direction 51a, so that loading of a tray 520 starts. In FIG. 201(b), as the tray 520 is placed in the player, a micro-switch 521 is actuated and therefore the motor is deactivated. Then, the reproduction of a CD starts. In the presence of a medium identifier the motor 516 further rotates in a direction 51g so that the tray moving gear 518 further advances in a direction 51b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 201(c), a head moving link 503 is rotated, and a head elevator 519 is raised in a direction 51c. As a result, a magnetic head 8 is brought into contact with a magnetic track 67a so that the magnetic recording or reproduction is enabled. After the magnetic recording or reproduction has been completed, the motor 516 rotates in the opposite direction so that the tray moving gear 518 moves in a direction 51d. Therefore, the head elevator 519 is raised in a direction 51e, and the magnetic head 8 is moved out of contact with the magnetic track 67a. Then, the normal optical reproduction is started. As previously described, the reproduced magnetic data is stored into a memory 34 composed of an IC memory, and a data updating process is executed in response to the data in the memory 34. Immediately before the tray is ejected from the player, only the updated data (the new data) is subjected to magnetic recording or reproduction to update the magnetically recorded data.
With reference to
In the apparatus of
The upper lid 38a is provided with an optical sensor 386. When the upper lid is closed, the optical sensor 386 reads an optical mark on a label surface of a CD 2. Only in the case where the presence of a magnetic layer is detected by referring to the output signal of the optical sensor 386, an elevating motor 21 drives a head elevator 519 to lower the magnetic head 8 onto the magnetic layer. Thus, there is an advantage in that a conventional CD without any magnetic layer can be damaged by the magnetic head 8.
With reference to
In the apparatus of
The apparatus of
In the case of a CD-HB of this invention, magnetic record data is present which contains the menu-selected number table 522 which can be updated. Accordingly, the previous menu selection number related to the operator can be reproduced again. For example, in the case of an education software, the display image can be advanced to the previously-learned final branch point. Thus, there is an advantage in that it is unnecessary for the operator to input a number again in the menu.
With reference to
The step 524u indicates the reproduction sequence for the normal video CD. This invention is advantageous in that once the number is inputted, it is unnecessary for the operator to input the number again. FIG. 231(a) shows picture and audio data structures. FIG. 231(b) shows index numbers for MPEG data corresponding to one track.
A description will now be given of a way of accessing a magnetic track at a higher speed. In the case where a magnetic track is accessed by searching for a given address as shown in
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