Multilayer optical recording medium, recording method of recording data, and recording device

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention is a write-once or rewritable multi-layer optical recording medium or multi-layer recording medium in which N-layer recording layers provided with a data recording area for recording recorded data are laminated on at least one surface side of a base material. It relates to a recording method of recorded data with respect to the above, and a recording device configured to be able to record recorded data according to the recording method.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

The optical recording medium is attracting attention because of its high density and large capacity, and is used for various purposes. In particular, an optical recording medium (additional optical recording medium or rewritable optical recording medium; hereinafter, also collectively referred to as "recordable optical recording medium") capable of adding or rewriting recorded data by a user is general. Compared with a removable magnetic recording medium, a large amount of recorded data can be recorded, and the recorded data can be recorded and reproduced in a short time. Therefore, this kind of recordable optical recording medium has begun to be widely used as a removable storage device. As an example, this recording type optical recording medium has a basic information recording area (PCA (Power Caribration Area)) and a PMA (Program Memory Area). ), A record layer consisting of a lead-in area, a data recording area (information area), a read-out area, and the like. Further, in this type of recording type optical recording medium, recording data is recorded or recorded by irradiating the recording layer with a recording laser beam or a reproduction laser beam (hereinafter, also referred to as laser beam when not distinguished). Playback (reading of recorded data) is performed. In this case, when recording the recorded data on the recording type optical recording medium, a pit for differentizing the light reflectance of the reproduction laser beam is formed by irradiating the recording laser beam according to the data content of the recorded data. Form on the recording layer. By forming this pit, the recorded data is recorded in the data recording area, and the data management information indicating the recording position and file name of the recorded data is recorded in the lead-in area.

【0003】

On the other hand, the applicant has developed the multilayer optical recording medium 51 shown in FIG. 7 as a recording type optical recording medium capable of recording a larger amount of recording data than a conventional general recording type optical recording medium. The multilayer optical recording medium 51 is, for example, a rewritable single-sided dual-layer optical recording medium on a flat plate-shaped (disk-shaped, for example) base material 2 having a mounting center hole H formed in the center. The L1 recording layer 3, the spacer layer 4, the L0 recording layer 5, and the cover layer 6 are laminated in this order. The multilayer optical recording medium 51 is provided with two recording layers, an L1 recording layer 3 and an L0 recording layer 5, so that it is possible to record twice as much recording data as a conventional recording type optical recording medium. It has become. In this case, the base material 2 is manufactured using a resin material, and fine irregularities (not shown) such as grooves (guide grooves) and lands are formed on the surface (upper surface in the figure) on the cover layer 6 side. Has been done. The L1 recording layer 3 includes a reflective film that reflects a laser beam, a phase change film whose optical constant changes by irradiation with a recording laser beam, and a protective film that protects the phase change film on the fine irregularities of the base material 2. It is composed of laminated layers. The spacer layer 4 is made of a light-transmitting resin, and fine irregularities (not shown) such as grooves and lands are formed on the surface on the cover layer 6 side. The L0 recording layer 5 is formed by laminating a phase change film, a protective film, or the like on the fine irregularities of the spacer layer 4. The cover layer 6 is formed of a light-transmitting resin in a thin film shape so as to cover the L0 recording layer 5. In this multilayer optical recording medium 51, the laser beam is irradiated in the direction of arrow A in the figure to record recorded data on the L0 recording layer 5 and the L1 recording layer 3, and the L0 recording layer 5 and the L1 recording layer 3 are recorded. The recorded data is read from.

【0004】

In this case, the L1 recording layer 3 and the L0 recording layer 5 of the multilayer optical recording medium 51 have an area structure substantially similar to that of the recording layer of a conventional general recording type optical recording medium. Specifically, the L1 recording layer 3 is configured by forming a basic information recording area 3b, a lead-in area 3a, a data recording area 3c, and a lead-out area 3d in order from the inner peripheral side. Further, the L0 recording layer 5 is configured by forming a basic information recording area 5b, a lead-in area 5a, a data recording area 5c, and a lead-out area 5d in order from the inner peripheral side in the same manner as the L1 recording layer 3. ing. In this case, the basic information recording area 3b is composed of the PCA and PMA for the L1 recording layer 3, and the basic information recording area 5b is composed of the PCA and PMA for the L0 recording layer 5. Further, in the lead-in area 3a, the data management information Dt about the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in the data recording area 3c is recorded, and in the lead-in area 5a, the record recorded in the data recording area 5c. Data management information Dt (TOC) for data Dd, Dd ... is recorded.

【0005】

When recording the recording data Dd, Dd ... On the multilayer optical recording medium 51, first, the multilayer optical recording medium 51 is loaded into the recording device. In response to this, the recording device rotates the loaded multilayer optical recording medium 51 at a predetermined rotation speed, moves the pickup over the lead-in areas 5a and 3a, and emits a laser beam in that state for focusing. By doing so, for example, focus on the lead-in area 5a. Next, the recording device sequentially reads out the disc information Di recorded in the read-in area 5a by wobble or pre-pit and the data management information Dt recorded by the pit. At this time, the recording device determines that the medium is a rewritable single-sided dual-layer optical recording medium based on the disk information Di, and based on the data management information Dt, the free area of the data recording area 5c ( The area where the recorded data Dd is not recorded) is specified, and it is determined from which recording position the recording of the recorded data Dd is started. In this case, the data management information Dt is not recorded on the unused multilayer optical recording medium 51. Therefore, when the data management information Dt does not exist in the lead-in area 5a, the recording device determines that all of the data recording area 5c is a free area and starts recording the recorded data Dd from the head position thereof. Further, in the multilayer optical recording medium 51 in which the recorded data Dd is already recorded in the data recording area 5c, the data management information Dt indicating the recording position of the recorded data Dd is recorded in the read-in area 5a. Therefore, the recording device determines that the recording of the recorded data Dd is started from the start position of the specified free area based on the read data management information Dt. The recording device then moves the pickup onto the basic information recording area 5b to determine the appropriate laser power for recording the recorded data Dd for the data recording area 5c according to a predetermined procedure.

【0006】

Subsequently, the recording device focuses the lead-in area 3a by moving the pickup onto the lead-in areas 5a and 3a and emitting a laser beam in that state for focusing. Next, the recording device reads the data management information Dt recorded by the pit in the read-in area 3a. At this time, the recording device of the data recording area 3c is based on the presence / absence of the data management information Dt or the data content of the read data management information Dt in the same manner as when determining the recording start position with respect to the data recording area 5c. The free area is specified, and the recording position from which the recording of the recorded data Dd is started is determined. The recording device then moves the pickup onto the basic information recording area 3b to determine the appropriate laser power for recording the recorded data Dd for the data recording area 3c according to a predetermined procedure. Subsequently, the recording device moves the pickup onto the data recording areas 5c, 3c, focuses on the data recording area 5c, for example, and then records the recorded data Dd, Dd ... From the head position of the data recording area 5c. To start. At this time, when the recorded data Dd is recorded up to the last position of the data recording area 5c, the recording device focuses on the data recording area 3c and then records the data Dd, Dd, from the start position of the data recording area 3c. Continue recording. When the recording of all the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Is completed, the recording device moves the pickup onto the lead-in areas 5a and 3a and focuses on the lead-in area 5a. Next, the recording device records the data management information Dt for the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in the data recording area 5c in the lead-in area 5a. Similarly, the recording device records the data management information Dt of the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in the data recording area 3c in the lead-in area 3a after focusing on the lead-in area 3a. As a result, the recording data Dd, for the multilayer optical recording medium 51,

【0007】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the multilayer optical recording medium 51 being developed by the applicant has the following problems to be improved. That is, in the multilayer optical recording medium 51, in order to enable recording of a large amount of recording data, the L0 recording layer 5 and the L0 recording layer 5 in which the area structure is formed to be substantially the same as the recording layer of the conventional general recording type optical recording medium. It has two recording layers, L1 recording layer 3. Therefore, when recording the recorded data Dd, Dd ..., the data management information Dt about the recorded data Dd recorded in the data recording area 5c is recorded in the lead-in area 5a, and the recording recorded in the data recording area 3c. Data management information Dt about data Dd is recorded in lead-in area 3a. Therefore, in order to determine from which recording position of the data recording areas 5c and 3c the recording of the recorded data Dd is started, it is necessary to read the data management information Dt from both the lead-in areas 5a and 3a, respectively. In this case, it takes some time to focus on both lead-in areas 5a and 3a, and there is a problem to be improved that this should be shortened.

【0008】

Further, in the multilayer optical recording medium 51, when the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Are recorded in both the data recording areas 5c and 3c, the data management of the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in the data recording area 5c. The information Dt is recorded in the lead-in area 5a, and the data management information Dt about the recorded data Dd and Dd recorded in the data recording area 3c is recorded in the lead-in area 3a. Therefore, when the recording of the recorded data Dd, Dd ... is completed (when the data management information Dt is recorded), it is necessary to focus on both lead-in areas 5a and 3a in order, and this focusing is also performed. Since it takes some time, there is a problem to be improved that this should be shortened. Further, when reading the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium 51, the data management information Dt, Dt are read from both the read-in areas 5a and 3a, respectively, and the recorded data Dd, Dd ... It is necessary to specify the recording position. Therefore, as in the recording process, in the reproduction process (reading of the recorded data Dd), it takes some time for focusing, and there is a problem to be improved that this should be shortened.

【0009】

Further, in the multilayer optical recording medium 51, since the area structures of the L0 recording layer 5 and the L1 recording layer 3 are formed to be substantially the same, the read-in areas 5a and 3a overlap in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording medium 51. Will exist in. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, when focusing on the lead-in area 5a, when the focal position of the emitted laser La (laser beam) is gradually moved from the base material 2 side (point P5) in the direction of arrow B. In addition, the lead-in area 3a (point P4) will be focused before the lead-in area 5a (point P2) is focused. Therefore, the recording device may erroneously determine that the lead-in area 5a is in focus based on the reflection level of the emitted laser La, and the lead-in area 5a is tried to be focused, but the lead-in area 5a is focused. Area 3a may be in focus. If the focus position is gradually moved from the cover layer 6 side (point P1) to the lead-in area 5a in the direction of arrow A, the lead-in area 5a will not be in focus and will pass through point P2. The focus may move to points P3, P4, and so on (so-called overrun). In such a case, the recording device may erroneously determine that the lead-in area 5a is in focus when the focus position is moved to the point P4, and the recording device attempts to focus on the lead-in area 5a. , The lead-in area 3a may be in focus. Therefore, it is preferable to improve these points.

【0010】

The present invention has been made in view of the problem to be improved, and provides a multilayer optical recording medium capable of recording and reading recorded data quickly and easily, a recording data recording method, and a recording apparatus. Is the main purpose. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer optical recording medium, a recording method for recorded data, and a recording apparatus capable of reliably and easily focusing on a data management information recording area.

【0011】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention has at least one surface of an N layer (N is a natural number of 2 or more) in which a data recording area for recording data is formed. A write-once or rewritable multilayer optical recording medium laminated on the side for recording data management information for all the recorded data recorded in each data recording area in each recording layer. The data management information recording area is formed only in any one of the N recording layers.

【0012】

In this case, it is preferable to form the data management information recording area on the first recording layer counted from the incident direction of the reproduction laser beam or the recording laser beam.

【0013】

Further, it is preferable to form the data management information recording area at a portion of each recording layer that does not overlap with each data recording area in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording medium.

【0014】

Further, in the recording data recording method according to the present invention, N layers (N is a natural number of 2 or more) in which data recording areas for recording the recorded data are formed are laminated on at least one surface side of the base material. This is a recording data recording method for recording the recorded data on a write-once or rewritable multilayer optical recording medium, and is data on the recorded data recorded in each data recording area in each recording layer. Data management information recording area for recording management information is defined in any one of the recording layers of the N layer, and the recorded data is recorded in each data recording area, and all the recorded data are recorded. The data management information about the recorded data of is recorded in the data management information recording area specified above.

【0015】

In this case, when focusing on the data management information recording area at the time of recording the recorded data, it is preferable to sequentially move the focal position of the laser beam along the incident direction of the recording laser beam.

【0016】

Further, it is preferable to define the data management information recording area in the first recording layer counted from the incident direction of the reproduction laser beam or the recording laser beam.

【0017】

Further, the recording device according to the present invention is a recording device configured to be capable of recording the recording data and the data management information on the multilayer optical recording medium according to the recording data recording method, and is the multilayer optical recording medium. A recording means for recording the recorded data and the data management information, and a recording control unit for controlling the recording process by the recording means are provided, and the recording control unit provides the recording means with the multilayer optical recording. The data management information for all the recorded data recorded on the medium is recorded in the data management information recording area defined in any one of the recording layers of the N layer.

【0018】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the multilayer optical recording medium, the recording data recording method, and the recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

【0019】

First, the multilayer optical recording medium 1 which is an example of the multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the multilayer optical recording medium 51 already developed by the applicant are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

【0020】

The multilayer optical recording medium 1 is a so-called single-sided dual-layer optical recording medium (rewritable optical recording medium) provided with two recording layers (for example, a phase change recording layer) made of an inorganic material (an example of N layers in the present invention). ), As shown in FIG. 1, the L1 recording layer 3, the spacer layer 4, the L0 recording layer 5, and the cover layer 6 are laminated in this order on the base material 2. The base material 2 is formed in a flat plate shape (for example, a disk shape) using an organic material (for example, a resin material such as polycarbonate), and one surface (upper surface in FIG. 1) is formed from the vicinity of the central portion thereof. Grooves (not shown) and lands (not shown) for laser beam guides as fine irregularities are spirally formed toward the outer edge. The L1 recording layer 3 is formed by laminating a reflective film, a phase change film, a protective film, and the like on a groove or land formed on the surface of the base material 2. In this case, the reflective film is formed into a thin film by sputtering a metal material, and the phase change film and the protective film are formed into a thin film by sputtering an inorganic material.

【0021】

The spacer layer 4 is formed of a light-transmitting resin as an organic material (specifically, an energy ray-curable resin having light-transparency (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin)), and a groove (specifically, a groove (specifically, an ultraviolet curable resin)) is formed on the surface of the cover layer 6 side. (Not shown) and lands (not shown) are formed. The L0 recording layer 5 is formed by laminating a phase change film, a protective film, or the like on a groove or land formed on the surface of the spacer layer 4. The cover layer 6 is a layer having a role of preventing scratches such as the L0 recording layer 5, adjusting the thickness of the multilayer optical recording medium 1 as a whole, and as a part of the optical path of the laser beam, and is a layer that transmits light as an organic material. It is made of a sex resin (specifically, an energy ray-curable resin having light transmittance (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin)).

【0022】

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the L1 recording layer 3 is configured by forming a basic information recording area 3b, a data recording area 3c, and a lead-out area 3d in this order from the inner peripheral side. Further, the L0 recording layer 5 is configured by forming a lead-in area 5a, a basic information recording area 5b, a data recording area 5c, and a lead-out area 5d in this order from the inner peripheral side. In this case, the data recording areas 5c and 3c correspond to the data recording area in the present invention, and the read-in area 5a corresponds to the data management information recording area in the present invention. In this multilayer optical recording medium 1, the innermost peripheral portion of the L0 recording layer 5 (that is, the lead-in area 5a) is formed closer to the inner peripheral portion than the innermost peripheral portion of the L1 recording layer 3 (that is, the basic information recording area 3b). ing. Therefore, the lead-in area 5a is formed at a portion that does not overlap the data recording areas 3c and 5c of the recording layers 3 and 5 in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording medium 1. Further, in the lead-in area 5a, all the recorded data Dd, dd ... Recorded in the multilayer optical recording medium 1 (that is, the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in both the data recording areas 3c and 5c ... ) Data management information Dt is recorded. In the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the L0 recording layer 5 and L1 are formed by irradiating the laser beam in the direction of the arrow A in the figure in the same manner as the multilayer optical recording medium 51 developed by the applicant. The recorded data Dd, Dd ... Are recorded on the recording layer 3, and the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Are read from the L0 recording layer 5 and the L1 recording layer 3.

【0023】

Next, a recording / reproducing device 11 configured to be able to record the recording data Dd, Dd ... On the multilayer optical recording medium 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

【0024】

The recording / reproducing device 11 corresponds to the recording device in the present invention, and is configured to be capable of recording recorded data Dd, Dd ... According to the recording data recording method according to the present invention. The recording / reproducing device 11 includes a turntable 12, a pickup (recording means) 13, a spindle servo 14, a feed servo 15, a focus tracking servo 16, and a control unit 17. In this case, the turntable 12 is formed in a disk shape on which the multilayer optical recording medium 1 can be placed, and is rotated by a spindle motor (not shown) driven and controlled by the spindle servo 14 as described later. Then, the multilayer optical recording medium 1 is rotated under a constant linear velocity condition.

【0025】

The pickup 13 is configured by integrating a laser emitting unit and a laser receiving unit, and a laser (both not shown) is driven by a laser driver under the control of the control unit 17 for recording on the multilayer optical recording medium 1. A laser beam or a reproduction laser beam (emission laser La) is emitted. This depends on the recording of the pits on the L0 recording layer 5 or the L1 recording layer 3 (recording of recorded data Dd, data management information Dt, etc.) and the level of the reflected laser Lb reflected by the part where the pits are recorded. An electrical signal is output. In this case, at the time of recording the recorded data Dd, the laser driver of the pickup 13 adjusts the emission power of the emission laser La so as to have a predetermined emission power under the control of the control unit 17. Further, the pickup 13 includes an objective lens and a half mirror (both not shown), and focuses the emitted laser La on the L0 recording layer 5 or the L1 recording layer 3 of the multilayer optical recording medium 1. Specifically, the focus tracking servo 16 controls the focus tracking of the objective lens, whereby the emitted laser La is focused (focused) on the L0 recording layer 5 or the L1 recording layer 3 of the multilayer optical recording medium 1. The pickup 13 is reciprocated by the servo 15 by feeding between the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the multilayer optical recording medium 1 along the radial direction.

【0026】

Under the control of the control unit 17, the spindle servo 14 rotates the spindle motor (that is, the turntable 12 and the multilayer light) so that the linear speed becomes a specified constant speed within a range of, for example, 9 m / sec or more and 25 m / sec or less. (Rotation of recording medium 1) is controlled. The control unit 17 corresponds to the recording control unit in the present invention, controls the drive of the pickup 13, the spindle servo 14, the feed servo 15, and the focus tracking servo 16, and is L0 based on the electric signal output from the pickup 13. Interpret the recorded data Dd, Dd, data management information Dt, etc. recorded on the recording layer 5 and the L1 recording layer 3. Further, the control unit 17 drives and controls the pickup 13 when the multilayer optical recording medium 1 is loaded in the recording / playback device 11, so that the disc is first recorded in the read-in area 5a by wobble or prepit. Read various information such as information Di and recommended power data. At this time, it is determined that the loaded medium is a rewritable single-sided dual-layer optical recording medium based on the read disc information Di, and the recorded data Dd is emitted at the time of recording based on the read recommended power data. Identify recommended values for the emission power of the laser La.

【0027】

Next, the recording method of the recorded data according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example the recording method of the recorded data Dd, Dd ... On the unused multilayer optical recording medium 1 (blank disk).

【0028】

First, the multilayer optical recording medium 1 for recording the recording data Dd is loaded into the recording / playback device 11. In response to this, the control unit 17 of the recording / reproducing device 11 executes the recording process 20 shown in FIG. In this recording process 20, the control unit 17 first drives and controls the spindle servo 14 to rotate the turntable 12 under constant linear velocity conditions of, for example, about 9 m / sec, and drives and controls the feed servo 15 to pick up. Move 13 over the lead-in area 5a. Next, the control unit 17 drives and controls the pickup 13 to emit the emitted laser La, and also drives and controls the focus tracking servo 16 to perform focusing on the lead-in area 5a (step 21). At this time, the focus tracking servo 16 adjusts the focal position of the emitted laser La according to a predetermined procedure. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the focal position of the emitted laser La is gradually moved from the cover layer 6 side (point P1) in the direction of arrow A (that is, the incident direction of the emitted laser La), and L0. Whether or not the L0 recording layer 5 is in focus based on the light receiving state of the reflected laser Lb reflected by the surface of the recording layer 5 (lead-in area 5a) or the interface between the L0 recording layer 5 and the spacer layer 4. To determine. In this case, as described above, the multilayer optical recording medium 1 has a structure in which the L1 recording layer 3 does not exist at a portion overlapping the read-in area 5a in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording medium 1. Therefore, even if the lead-in area 5a (point P2) is overrun and the focal position is moved to points P3, P4, etc., the focus is not on anything other than the L0 recording layer 5, so the focus is on the lead-in area 5a. Are surely matched.

【0029】

Next, the control unit 17 reads the disk information Di, the recommended power data, and the like from the read-in area 5a (step 22), and then reads the data management information Dt recorded by the pit in the read-in area 5a (step 23). .. At this time, the control unit 17 identifies free areas (areas in which the recorded data Dd is not recorded) in the data recording areas 5c and 3c based on the read data management information Dt, and records data from any recording position. Decide if you want to start recording Dd. In this case, in the multilayer optical recording medium 1, all the recording data Dd, Dd ... (that is, the recording data Dd, Dd recorded in both the data recording areas 5c and 3c) recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium 1 Since the data management information Dt for () is collectively recorded in the lead-in area 5a, the entire multilayer optical recording medium 1 (data recording) can be recorded simply by reading the data management information Dt recorded in the lead-in area 5a. Free space in areas (both areas 5c and 3c) can be specified. Since the data management information Dt is not recorded on the unused multilayer optical recording medium 1, when the data management information Dt does not exist in the read-in area 5a, the control unit 17 sets the data recording areas 5c and 3c. It is determined that the recorded data Dd is not recorded on both sides, and it is determined that the recorded data Dd is started from the beginning of the data recording area 5c, for example.

【0030】

Subsequently, the control unit 17 drives and controls the feed servo 15 to move the pickup 13 onto the basic information recording area 5b, and applies the appropriate laser power of the emitted laser La when recording the recorded data Dd to the data recording area 5c. Confirm according to a predetermined procedure. Specifically, by trial writing a pit in a predetermined part in the basic information recording area 5b with the emission power specified based on the recommended power data read from the lead-in area 5a (emission power corresponding to the recommended value), Fine-tune the emission power of the emission laser La to the optimum power. At this time, in the multilayer optical recording medium 1, since the basic information recording area 5b is formed next to the read-in area 5a, the recording / playback device 11 has a multilayer in a focused state with respect to the lead-in area 5a. The lead-in area 5a can be focused by simply moving the pickup 13 in the radial direction of the optical recording medium 1 (the emitted laser La is focused as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5). Note that the trial writing in the basic information recording area 5b is not necessarily a required process, and when recording the recorded data Dd, Dd ... at a low speed of, for example, about 4 times the speed of the multilayer optical recording medium 1. , The emission power specified based on the recommended power data can also be determined as the emission power of the emission laser La at the time of recording the recording data Dd.

【0031】

Next, the control unit 17 drives and controls the feed servo 15 to move the pickup 13 onto the data recording area 5c, and starts recording the recorded data Dd, Dd ... (Step 24). At this time, in the multilayer optical recording medium 1, since the data recording area 5c is formed next to the basic information recording area 5b, the recording / playback device 11 remains focused on the basic information recording area 5b. By moving the pickup 13 in the radial direction of the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the data recording area 5c can be focused (the emitted laser La is focused as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5). As a result, recording of the recorded data Dd and Dd can be started by focusing only once on the lead-in area 5a as described above.

【0032】

On the other hand, when the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Is recorded up to the last position of the data recording area 5c, the control unit 17 records the remaining recorded data Dd, Dd ... In the data recording area 3c (step 25). At this time, the control unit 17 drives and controls the feed servo 15 to move the pickup 13 onto the basic information recording areas 5b and 3b, and then drives and controls the focus tracking servo 16 to control the basic information recording area 3b. Focusing on. Next, the control unit 17 trial-writes a pit in a predetermined portion in the basic information recording area 3b with the emission power specified based on the recommended power data, so that the recording data Dd for the data recording area 3c is recorded. Fine-tune the emission power of the emission laser La to the optimum power. In this case, similar to the trial writing to the basic information recording area 5b, the trial writing to the basic information recording area 3b is not necessarily a required process, and the emission power specified based on the recommended power data is recorded as the recording data Dd. It can also be determined as the emission power of the emission laser La at the time of recording. In this case, instead of focusing on the basic information recording area 3b, focusing is performed directly on the data recording area 3c.

【0033】

After that, when the recording of all the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Is completed, the control unit 17 moves the pickup onto the lead-in area 5a and focuses on the lead-in area 5a. Next, the control unit 17 performs data on the recorded data Dd, Dd ... (that is, all the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium 1) recorded in both the data recording areas 5c and 3c. Record the management information Dt in the lead-in area 5a (step 26). As a result, the recording of the recorded data Dd, Dd ... On the multilayer optical recording medium 1 is completed.

【0034】

As described above, according to the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the data management information recording area for recording the data management information Dt for all the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in the data recording areas 5c, 3c ( By providing the read-in area 5a) only on one of the L0 recording layer 5 and the L1 recording layer 3 (in this case, the L0 recording layer 5), all the recorded data Dd recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium 1 Data management information about, Dd ... Since Dt is collectively recorded in the lead-in area 5a, it is possible to quickly identify the free area of the data recording areas 5c and 3c simply by accessing this lead-in area 5a. it can. As a result, the recording start position of the recorded data Dd can be determined quickly and easily. In this case, since the data management information Dt for the recorded recording data Dd, Dd ... Is recorded only in the lead-in area 5a for the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the recording including the recording of the data management information Dt is recorded. The processing time of the entire processing can be sufficiently shortened. Also, when playing back the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium 1 (reading the recorded data Dd, Dd ...), simply access the read-in area 5a and read the data management information Dt. Since the recording positions of all the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Can be specified with, the recorded data Dd can be reproduced quickly and easily.

【0035】

Further, according to the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the lead-in area is in the first recording layer (in this case, L0 recording layer 5) counting from the incident direction of the reproduction laser beam or the recording laser beam (emission laser La). By providing 5a and sequentially moving the focal position of the emitted laser La along the incident direction of the emitted laser La, the lead-in area 5a to be focused first is emitted at the time of focusing on the multilayer optical recording medium 1. Since it is located on the front side of the laser La in the incident direction, it can be focused in a short time. Further, at the time of focusing on the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the focal position is moved along the direction of incidence of the emitted laser La (that is, the movement from the cover layer 6 side toward the base material 2 side). As will be described later, it is possible to effectively prevent the lower end of the pickup from coming into contact with the surface of the cover layer 6. Further, according to the multilayer optical recording medium 1, the lead-in area 5a is formed at a portion where the multilayer optical recording media 1 does not overlap with each other in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording media 1, so that the focus is focused on the lead-in area 5a. At times, regardless of the direction of arrows A or B in FIG. 5, the focus position can be reliably focused on the lead-in area 5a.

【0036】

Further, according to the recording method of the recorded data Dd by the recording / reproducing device 11 described above, the data management information Dt about the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Recorded in the data recording areas 5c, 3c is collectively collected in the read-in area 5a. By recording, it is only necessary to record the data management information Dt only in the lead-in area 5a, and the processing time of the entire recording process including the recording of the data management information Dt can be sufficiently shortened. Further, for the multilayer optical recording medium 1 on which the recorded data Dd, Dd ... Are recorded by this recording method, the read-in area 5a is accessed and the data is also accessed during the reproduction (reading of the recorded data Dd, Dd ...). Since the recording positions of all the recorded data Dd, Dd ... can be specified only by reading the management information Dt, the recorded data Dd can be reproduced quickly and easily. In addition, when adding other recording data Dd to the multilayer optical recording medium 1 on which the recording data Dd is recorded by this recording method, the free area of the data recording areas 5c and 3c can be obtained simply by accessing the read-in area 5a. As a result, the recording start position of the recorded data Dd can be determined quickly and easily.

【0037】

Further, according to this recording method, when focusing to the lead-in area 5a at the start of recording the recorded data Dd, the focus position is sequentially moved along the incident direction of the emitted laser La to pick up and cover during focusing. Contact with layer 6 can be sufficiently prevented. Specifically, in recent optical recording media, the use of a blue laser beam as the emission laser La is being studied in order to increase the recording density of recorded data Dd, Dd, and the like. Since this pickup capable of emitting a blue laser beam uses a lens having a relatively large numerical aperture (NA), it is necessary to bring the pickup close to the optical recording medium in order to focus on the recording layer of the optical recording medium. There is. Therefore, when the focal position is to be moved in order from the base material 2 side (point P5) in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5, the lower end of the pickup and the surface of the cover layer 6 are in the state of focusing on the point P5. The clearance with and is about 0.1 mm. In this state, even if the multilayer optical recording medium 1 is slightly exposed, the pickup may come into contact with the cover layer 6. On the other hand, when the focal position is sequentially moved along the incident direction of the emitted laser La (direction of arrow A in the figure), the lead-in area 5a (point P2) before the pickup comes very close to the cover layer 6. ) Is focused, so contact between the pickup and the cover layer 6 can be sufficiently prevented.

【0038】

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment of the invention, and can be appropriately modified. For example, in the embodiment of the above-described invention, the lead-in area 5a is provided in the first recording layer (in this case, the L0 recording layer 5) counting from the incident direction of the emitted laser La. The multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as in the multilayer optical recording medium 1A shown in FIG. 6, recording other than the first one counting from the incident direction (direction of arrow A) of the emitted laser La. A read-in area 3a may be provided on the layer (in this case, the L1 recording layer 3) in the same manner as the read-in area 5a of the multilayer optical recording medium 1. In this case, by not forming the L0 recording layer 5 at the portion overlapping the basic information recording area 3b in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording medium 1A, the emission laser La can be used in the same manner as when focusing on the multilayer optical recording medium 1. The focus can be reliably and quickly focused on the lead-in area 3a. Further, the number of recording layers (N layers) in the present invention is not limited to two layers such as the multilayer optical recording medium 1, 1A, and may be three or more layers. Even with this configuration, by providing the read-in area only in any one of the plurality of recording layers, the remarkable effect of the present invention can be obtained in the same manner as in the multilayer optical recording media 1, 1A.

【0039】

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, as an example, a rewritable multilayer optical recording medium 1 having both recording layers of L0 recording layer 5 and L1 recording layer 3 having a phase change film has been described as an example. The multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention is not limited to this, and both recording layers may be formed of an inorganic material or an organic dye material to form a write-once multilayer optical recording medium.

【0040】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention, the data management information recording area for recording the data management information for all the recorded data recorded in each data recording area in each recording layer is N. By forming only one of the recording layers of the layers, data management information for all the recorded data recorded on this multilayer optical recording medium can be obtained by accessing only one data management information recording area. Since it can be read out quickly, the recording start position of the recorded data can be determined quickly and easily, and the processing time of the entire recording process including the recording of the data management information can be sufficiently shortened. Further, when reproducing the recorded data recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium, the recorded data can be reproduced quickly and easily only by reading the data management information from one data management information recording area.

【0041】

Further, according to the multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention, the recording laser beam is formed by forming the data management information recording area on the first recording layer counting from the incident direction of the reproduction laser beam or the recording laser beam. By sequentially moving the focal position of the laser beam along the direction of the incident, it is possible to perform focusing on the multilayer optical recording medium at the time of focusing in a short time.

【0042】

Further, according to the multilayer optical recording medium according to the present invention, data management information recording is performed by forming a data management information recording area at a portion that does not overlap with each data recording area of each recording layer in the thickness direction of the multilayer optical recording medium. When focusing on an area, the focus can be reliably and easily focused on the data management information recording area regardless of the direction in which the focus position is moved.

【0043】

Further, according to the recording data recording method according to the present invention, the data management information recording area for recording the data management information about the recorded data recorded in each data recording area in each recording layer is the N layer recording layer. By specifying in any one of the recording layers, recording the recorded data in each data recording area, and recording the data management information for all the recorded data in the specified data management information recording area. Since the data management information for all the recorded data recorded on this multilayer optical recording medium can be quickly read out by simply accessing one data management information recording area, the recording start position of the recorded data can be quickly and easily read. It can be determined, and the processing time of the entire recording process including the recording of data management information can be sufficiently shortened. Further, when reproducing the recorded data, the recorded data can be reproduced quickly and easily only by reading the data management information from one data management information recording area.

【0044】

Further, according to the recording data recording method according to the present invention, when focusing on the data management information recording area at the time of recording the recorded data, the focal position of the laser beam is sequentially moved along the incident direction of the recording laser beam. By moving the pickup (recording means), contact between the lower end portion of the pickup (recording means) and the surface of the multilayer optical recording medium can be sufficiently prevented.

【0045】

Further, according to the recording data recording method according to the present invention, for example, by defining the data management information recording area in the first recording layer counting from the incident direction of the reproduction laser beam or the recording laser beam, for example. Focusing can be achieved in a short time during focusing on a multilayer optical recording medium in which a data management information recording area is formed on the first recording layer counting from the incident direction of the reproduction laser beam or the recording laser beam. ..

【0046】

Further, according to the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the recording control unit transmits data management information for all the recorded data recorded on the multilayer optical recording medium to the recording means among the N-layer recording layers. By recording in the data management information recording area defined in one recording layer, the recorded data can be recorded and reproduced quickly and easily.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a side sectional view which shows the structure of the multilayer optical recording medium 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a side sectional view which shows the area structure in L0 recording layer 5 and L1 recording layer 3 in a multilayer optical recording medium 1.

[Fig. 3]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the recording / reproduction apparatus 11 which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a flowchart of the recording process 20 executed by the recording / playback apparatus 11.

[Fig. 5]

It is a side sectional view which shows the focal position (points P1 to P5) of the emission laser La at the time of focusing with respect to a multilayer optical recording medium 1.

[Fig. 6]

It is a side sectional view which shows the structure of the multilayer optical recording medium 1A which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

It is a side sectional view which shows the structure of the multilayer optical recording medium 51 which the applicant has already developed.

[Fig. 8]

It is a side sectional view which shows the focal position (points P1 to P5) of the emission laser La at the time of focusing with respect to a multilayer optical recording medium 51.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1A multi-layer optical recording medium 2 Base material 3 L1 recording layer 3a, 5a lead-in area 3b, 5b Basic information recording area 3c, 5c data recording area 3d, 5d lead-out area 4 spacer layer 5 L0 recording layer 6 Cover layer 11 Recording / playback device 13 pickup 17 Control unit 20 Recording process Dd recorded data Di disk information Dt data management information La emission laser Lb reflective laser P1 ~ P5 points