Title of Invention

POWER DETERMINING METHOD, SINGLE-SIDED MULTILAYER OPTICAL DISK, RECORDING METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM, AND OPTICAL DISK APPARATUS

Abstract A power determining method is disclosed for determining the light emitting power of a light source upon recording information on an optical disk having plural rewritable recording layers, the method involving obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to an optimum recording power by recording test data on the optical disk.
Full Text -1-
DESCRIPTION
POWER DETERMINING METHOD, SINGLE-SIDED MULTILAYER
OPTICAL DISK, RECORDING METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT,
COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM, AND OPTICAL DISK APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a power
determining method for determining the light emitting power of
a laser beam for recording information on an optical disk
having plural rewritable recording layers, a single-sided
multilayer optical disk to which the power determining method
may be applied, a recording method and an optical disk
apparatus for recording information on an optical disk using
the light emitting power determined by the power determining
method, a power determining program used in the optical disk
apparatus, a computer-readable medium that stores such a
program, and a computer program product including such a
computer-readable medium.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years and continuing, with the
development of digital technology and data compression
technology, optical disks such as the CD (compact disk) and
the DVD (digital versatile disk) are commonly being applied as

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media for recording information such as music, photographs,
and computer software, for example (referred to as 'contents').
Also, with the decrease in price of such optical disks,
optical disk apparatuses configured to record information on
such optical disks are becoming increasingly popular.
An optical disk apparatus may be configured to
record/erase information on/from an optical disk having a
spiral track or concentric tracks formed thereon by
irradiating a laser beam emitted from a light source and
forming microscopic spots on a recording layer of the optical
disk. The optical disk apparatus may also be configured to
reproduce information based on light reflected from the
recording layer. The optical disk apparatus may include an
objective lens, an optical system for guiding a light flux
irradiated from the light source to the recording layer and
guiding a reflected light flux that is reflected from the
recording layer to a predetermined light receiving position,
and an optical pickup device including an optical detector
that is disposed at the light receiving position, for example.
Information may be recorded on an optical disk
based on the lengths of mark/space areas having differing
reflection rates and combinations thereof. Upon recording
information on an optical disk using an optical disk apparatus,
the light emitting power of the light source of the optical
disk apparatus is controlled to enable a mark area and a space

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area to be formed at predetermined positions on a recording
layer of the optical disk.
For example, in the case of recording information
on a rewritable optical disk such as the CD-RW (CD-rewritable),
the DVD-RW (DVD-rewritable), or the DVD+RW (DVD+rewritable)
that includes special alloy in the recording layer as
recording material, a mark area is formed by creating an
amorphous state through heating the special alloy to a first
temperature and rapidly cooling the special alloy thereafter.
On the other hand, a space area is formed by creating a
crystallized state through heating the special alloy to a
second temperature ( the special alloy thereafter. In this way, the mark area is
arranged to have a reflectance rate that is lower than that of
the space area. The temperature control of the special alloy
as is described above may be realized by controlling the light
emitting power of the light source. Upon creating the mark
area, the light emitting power may be arranged into plural
pulses in order to hinder influences from heat accumulation.
Such a method of controlling the light emitting power is
referred to as the multi-pulse recording method. Also, the
maximum value of the multi-pulse light emitting power is
referred to as the recording power, and the minimum value of
the multi-pulse light emitting power is referred to as the
bias power. Also, the light emitting power for creating the

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space area is referred to as the erasing power (recording
power > erasing power > bias power).
In the optical disk apparatus, before recording
information on an optical disk, test writing is performed on a
predetermined test writing area, referred to as PCA (Power
Calibration Area), to obtain the optimum recording power so
that a mark and a space may be formed on the optical disk at
desired positions with desired lengths (e.g., see Japanese
Patent No. 3259642, Japanese Patent No. 3124721, and Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-190643). Such a process
is referred to as an OPC (Optimum Power Control) process.
It is noted that in recent years and continuing,
the amount of contents being recorded on an optical disk is
increasing, and in turn, there is a growing demand for an
optical disk with increased recording capacity. In this
respect, an optical disk that is arranged to have light
irradiated thereon from one side and includes plural recording
layers is being developed (referred to as 'single-sided
multilayer optical disk' hereinafter) as one way of increasing
the recording capacity of the optical disk, and an optical
disk apparatus configured to perform processes on such a
single-sided multilayer optical disk is also being developed.
It is noted that in the single-sided multilayer
optical disk, the light emitting power has to be controlled
with greater accuracy. With the growing demand for higher

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recording speed, it is expected that a recording operation
capable of stably recording information on a single-sided
multilayer optical disk with good recording quality may not be
realized based on the optimum recording power obtained through
conventional power determining methods such as those disclosed
in Japanese Patent No. 3259642, Japanese Patent No. 3124721,
or Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-190643, for
example.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been conceived in
response to one or more of the problems described above, and
it provides a power determining method for determining a
suitable light emitting power of a light source upon recording
information on an optical disk having plural rewritable
recording layers.
The present invention also provides a recording
method and an optical disk apparatus for stably performing
high quality recording on an optical disk having plural
rewritable recording layers.
The present invention also provides a power
determining program that is executed by a control computer of
an optical disk apparatus and is configured to enable high
quality recording to be stably performed on an optical disk
having plural rewritable recording layers, a computer-readable

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medium storing such a program, and a computer program product
including such a computer-readable medium.
The present invention also provides a single-sided
multilayer optical disk to which the power determining method
of the present invention may be applied.
According to one embodiment of the present
invention, a power determining method is provided for
determining the light emitting power of a light source upon
recording information on an optical disk having plural
rewritable recording layers, the method including a step of:
obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to
an optimum recording power by recording test data on the
optical disk.
According to one aspect of the present embodiment,
upon recording information on an optical disk having plural
rewritable recording layers, test data are recorded on the
optical disk and an optimum erasing power with respect to an
optimum recording power is obtained. More specifically, both
an optimum recording power and an optimum erasing power for
recording information on the optical disk are determined.
Accordingly, a suitable light emitting power may be determined
for recording information on an optical disk having plural
rewritable recording layers.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, a recording method is provided for recording

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information on an optical disk having plural rewritable
recording layers, the recording method including a step of
recording information on the optical disk using the optimum
erasing power obtained by the power determining method
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
According to one aspect of the present embodiment,
information may be recorded on the optical disk under optimum
recording conditions, and thereby, high quality recording may
be stably performed on the optical disk having plural
rewritable recording layers.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, a computer program product is provided that
includes a computer-readable medium storing a computer-
executable program executed by a control computer of an
optical disk apparatus configured to record information on an
optical disk having plural rewritable recording layers, the
program being executed by the control computer to perform a
step of obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to an
optimum recording power by recording test data on the optical
disk.
According to an aspect of the present embodiment,
when a power determining program according to an embodiment of
the present invention is loaded in a predetermined memory and
a start address of the program is set to a program counter, a
control computer of the optical disk apparatus according to an

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embodiment of the present invention may record test data on an
optical disk to obtain an optimum erasing power with respect
to an optimum recording power for recording information on the
optical disk. Specifically, the program according to the
present embodiment may control the control computer of the
optical disk apparatus to execute the power determining method
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Accordingly, high quality recording may be stably performed on
the optical disk having plural rewritable recording layers.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, a computer-readable medium storing the program
according to an embodiment o f the present invention is
provided.
According to an aspect of the present embodiment,
the power determining program is stored in a computer-readable
medium to be executed by a computer so that high quality
recording can be performed on an optical disk having plural
rewritable recording layers.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, an optical disk apparatus is provided that is
configured to record information on an optical disk having
plural rewritable recording layers, the apparatus including:
an optimum power obtaining unit configured to
record test data on the optical disk and obtain an optimum
erasing power with respect to an optimum recording power; and

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a recording unit configured to record information
on the optical disk using the optimum erasing power obtained
by the optimum power obtaining unit.
According to one aspect of the present embodiment,
the optimum power obtaining unit is configured to obtain the
optimum erasing power with respect to an optimum recording
power for recording information on an optical disk having
plural rewritable recording layers, and in turn, the recording
unit may stably perform high quality recording on the optical
disk.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, a single-sided multilayer optical disk is provided
that includes plural rewritable recording layers;
wherein setting value information is preformatted
in at least one of the recording layers, the setting value
information being used for obtaining the optimum erasing power
in the power determining method according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed descriptions when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration

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of an optical disk apparatus according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of a single-
sided multilayer optical disk according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an
optical pickup device of the optical disk apparatus of FIG.l;
FIG. 4 is a diagram describing a modulation level
and asymmetry relating to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first part of
a recording process performed at the optical disk apparatus of
FIG.l according to one embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second part of
the recording process performed at the optical disk apparatus
of FIG.l;
FIG. 7 is a graph showing a corresponding
relationship between a target modulation level and a target
recording power obtained in the recording process of FIGS. 5
and 6;
FIG. 8 is a graph showing a corresponding
relationship between a target asymmetry and an optimum erasing
power obtained in the recording process of FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a first part of
a recording process according to a first modified embodiment

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of the recording process of FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a second part
of the recording process according to the first modified
embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a graph showing a corresponding
relationship between a target gamma value and a target
recording power obtained in the recording process of FIGS. 9
and 10;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a first part of
a recording process according to a second modified embodiment
of the recording process of FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a second part
of the recording process according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the 1T strategy
as a recording strategy used in exemplary applications of the
present invention;
FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating data obtained in
first and second exemplary applications of the present
invention;
FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating data obtained in
the first exemplary application;
FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating data obtained in
third and fourth exemplary applications of the present
invention;
FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating data obtained in

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the third exemplary application;
FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating data obtained in
fifth and sixth exemplary applications of the present
invention;
FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating data obtained in
the fifth exemplary application;
FIG. 21 is a graph illustrating a first set of data
obtained in a seventh exemplary application of the present
invention;
FIG. 22 is a graph illustrating a second set of
data obtained in the seventh exemplary application;
FIG. 23 is a graph illustrating a third set of data
obtained in the seventh exemplary application;
FIG. 24 is a graph illustrating a fourth set of
data obtained in the seventh exemplary application;
FIG. 25 is a graph illustrating a fifth set of data
obtained in the seventh exemplary application;
FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating a first set of data
obtained in an eighth exemplary application of the present
invention;
FIG. 27 is a graph illustrating a second set of
data obtained in the eighth exemplary application;
FIG. 28 is a graph illustrating differences in
jitter characteristics in 1T strategy recording depending on
differing erasing power setting conditions;

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FIG. 29 is a graph illustrating differences in
asymmetry characteristics in 1T strategy recording depending
on differing erasing power setting conditions;
FIG. 30 is a graph illustrating differences in
jitter characteristics in 2T strategy recording depending on
differing erasing power setting conditions;
FIG. 31 is a graph illustrating differences in
asymmetry characteristics in 2T strategy recording depending
on differing erasing power setting conditions;
FIG. 32 is a graph illustrating a corresponding
relationship between an erasing power, a recording power, and
j itter;
FIG. 33 is a graph illustrating a corresponding
relationship between an erasing power, a recording power, and
a modulation level;
FIG. 34 is a graph illustrating a corresponding
relationship between an erasing power, a recording power, and
asymmetry;
FIG. 35 is another diagram illustrating the 1T
strategy parameter of FIG.14 in greater detail;
FIG. 36 is a graph illustrating differences in
asymmetries depending on differing erasing powers in cases
where recording is performed on a power calibration area once,
ten times, and one hundred times, respectively;
FIG. 37 is a graph illustrating recording

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characteristics (jitter) measured for an optimum erasing power
at an area other than the power calibration area; and
FIG. 38 is a graph illustrating differences in
recording characteristics between a near side information
layer and a further side information layer of the optical disk
of the present embodiment.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the following, preferred embodiments of the
present invention are described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration
of an optical disk 20 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
The optical disk apparatus 20 as is shown in FIG. 1
includes a spindle motor 22 for rotating an optical disk 15 as
a single-sided multilayer optical disk according to one
embodiment of the present invention, an optical pickup device
23, a seek motor 21 for driving the optical pickup device 23
in a sledge direction, a laser control circuit 24, an encoder
25, a drive control circuit 26, a reproducing signal
processing circuit 28, a buffer RAM 34, a buffer manager 37,
an interface 38, a flash memory 39, a CPU 40, and a RAM 41,
for example. It is noted that arrows shown in FIG. 1
illustrate representative flow directions of signals and

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information; however, connections between the block components
shown in FIG. 1 are not limited to those represented by the
arrows being shown. Also, it is assumed that the optical disk
apparatus 20 of the present embodiment is adapted for a
single-sided multilayer optical disk.
The optical disk 15 shown in FIG. 1 is a rewritable
single-sided two-layer optical disk (referred to as 'two-layer
phase change type optical disk' hereinafter). In one example,
the optical disk 15 may include a first substrate 15a, a first
information layer 15b, an intermediate layer 15c, a second
information layer 15d, and a second substrate 15e as is shown
in FIG. 2. In the following descriptions, it is assumed that
the optical disk 15 is a DVD type information recording
medium; however the present invention by no means limited to
such type of optical disk.
As is shown in FIG. 2, the first information layer
15b includes a first lower protective layer bl, a first
recording layer b2, a first upper protective layer b3, a first
reflective layer b4, and a heat diffusion layer b5 that are
arranged in this order from the first substrate 15a side to
the intermediate layer 15c side. The second information layer
15d includes a second lower protective layer dl, a second
recording layer d2, a second upper protective layer d3, and a
second reflective layer d4 that are arranged in this order
from the intermediate layer 15c side to the second substrate

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15e side.
It is noted that in the single-sided multilayer
optical disk, an information layer other than that disposed
furthest from the laser beam irradiating side is preferably
arranged to have high permeability, and measures are being
taken to reduce the absorption of light at the metal layer and
to reduce the thickness of the recording layer. As a result,
heat dissipation may not be adequately realized at the
information layer other than that disposed furthest from the .
laser beam irradiating side. In turn, when the
crystallization speed of the recording material is fast, it
may be difficult to form a mark by creating an amorphous state
at the recording material. In view of such a problem, a
eu tectic composition of Sb (antimony) and Te (tellurium)
containing Sb at approximately 70% is preferably used as the
recording material of the information layer other than the
furthermost layer. For example, Ge-Sb-Te, In-Sb-Te, Ag-In-Sb-
Te, Ge-In-Sb-Te, Ge-Sn-Sb-Te, or Ag-In-Ge-Sb-Te may be used as
the recording material. Also, Ge-Te, In-Sb, Ga-Sb, or Ge-Sb
may be used, for example.
The first recording layer b2 preferably has a
thickness of 4-12 nm. When the thickness of the first
recording layer b2 is less than 4 nm, too much light may
penetrate therethrough so that the recording sensitivity of
the first recording layer b2 may be degraded and its

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resistance with respect to repeated recording may be degraded.
On the other hand, when the thickness of the first recording
layer b2 is greater than 12 nm, the light permeability of the
first information layer 15b may be too low, and in turn, the
recording sensitivity of the second information layer 15d may
be degraded.
The second recording layer d2 preferably has a
thickness of 10-20 nm.
The first reflective layer b4 preferably has a
thickness of 5-12 nm. When the thickness of the first
reflection layer is less than 5 nm, the reflectance of the
first reflective layer b4 may be degraded, and it may become
difficult to secure a predetermined signal amplitude. When
the thickness of the first reflective layer b4 is greater than
12 nm, the light permeability of the first information layer
15b may be too low, and in turn, the recording sensitivity of
the second information layer 15d may be degraded. It is noted
that the first reflective layer b4 is preferably made of Cu
and Ag in order to obtain good recording characteristics at
the first recording layer b2. In one example, the Cu and Ag
may be used in an alloy. In another example, Cu having a
small amount of impurity element incorporated therein at 0.2-
5.0 weight % may be used, the impurity element being at least
one metal element selected from a group of Mo, Ta, Nb, Zr, Ni,
Cr, Ge, and Au, for example, so that reproducing stability and

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reliability of the first information layer 15b may be improved.
The second reflective layer d4 does not necessarily
have to be semi-transparent like the first reflective layer b4,
and may be made of any suitable metal reflective film. The
thickness of the second reflective film d4 may be
approximately equal to the thickness of the reflective layer
of a conventional single layer phase change type optical disk,
preferably within a range of 100-200 nm. When the thickness
of the second reflective layer d4 is less than 100 nm, heat
dissipation effects may not be obtained, and jitter may be
degraded. When the thickness of the second reflective layer
d4 is greater than 200 nm, substantial warping of the
substrate may occur upon forming the second reflective film d4,
and the mechanical characteristics of the optical disk may be
degraded.
The upper protective layer is configured to prevent
degradation and alteration of the recording layer, reinforce
the bond with the recording layer, and improve recording
characteristics, for example. The material used for the upper
protective layer is preferably a transparent material that has
good light permeability and a melting point that is higher
than that of the recording layer. It is noted that in a
conventional single layer phase change type optical disk, ZnS-
SiO2 is commonly used for the upper protective layer, and in
such a case, the mixture ratio is preferably Zns : SiO2 = 80 :

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reliability of the first information layer 15b may be improved.
The second reflective layer d4 does not necessarily
have to be semi-transparent like the first reflective layer b4,
and may be made of any suitable metal reflective film. The
thickness of the second reflective film d4 may be
approximately equal to the thickness of the reflective layer
of a conventional single layer phase change type optical disk,
preferably within a range of 100-200 nm. When the thickness
of the second reflective layer d4 is less than 100 nm, heat
dissipation effects may not be obtained, and jitter may be
degraded. When the thickness of the second reflective layer
d4 is greater than 200 nm, substantial warping of the
substrate may occur upon forming the second reflective film d4,
and the mechanical characteristics of the optical disk may be
degraded.
The upper protective layer is configured to prevent
degradation and alteration of the recording layer, reinforce
the bond with the recording layer, and improve recording
characteristics, for example. The material used for the upper
protective layer is preferably a transparent material that has
good light permeability and a melting point that is higher
than that of the recording layer. It is noted that in a
conventional single layer phase change type optical disk, ZnS-
SiO2 is commonly used for the upper protective layer, and in
such a case, the mixture ratio is preferably Zns : SiO2 =80 :

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20. However, in a two-layer phase change type optical disk,
since the first reflective layer is arranged to be thin, heat
dissipation may not be adequately realized and information
recording on the first recording layer may be difficult.
Thereby, a material having good heat conductivity is
preferably used as the first upper protective layer; that is,
a material that has better heat conductivity than ZnS-SiO2 is
preferably used. Specifically, metal oxides such as ZnO, SnO2,
A12O3, TiO2, In2O3, MgO, ZrO2, TaO, and Ta2O5; nitrides such as
Si3N4, A1N, TiN, BN, and ZrN; sulfides such ZnS, In2S3, and
TaS4; carbides such as SiC, TaC, B4C, WC, TiC, ZrC; diamond
like carbon; and combinations thereof may be used, for example.
However, it is noted that in a case where Ag is used as the
first reflective layer, deposition of a sulfide thereon is
preferably avoided since the Ag and S may react with one
another to cause inconveniences.
The first upper protective layer b3 preferably has
a thickness within the range of 3-30 nm. When the thickness
of the first upper protective layer b3 is less than 3 nm, the
light reflectance of the first information layer 15b may be
too high so that it may be difficult to secure a predetermined
modulation level. When the thickness of the first upper
protective layer b3 is greater than 30 nm, the light
reflectance of the first information layer 15b may be too low
so that it may be difficult to secure a predetermined signal

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amplitude.
As for the material of the second upper protective
layer d3, ZnS-SiO2 may be used as in the single layer phase
change type optical disk, or other oxides, nitrides, and
sulfides may be used as well. Since the second reflective
layer d4 is arranged to have a sufficient thickness, heat
dissipation may be adequately realized upon recording
information on the second recording layer d2 regardless of the
material of the second upper protective layer d4. However, it
is noted that in a case where Ag is used as the second
reflective layer d4, deposition of a sulfide as the second
upper protective film d3 is preferably avoided since the Ag
and S may react with one another to create inconveniences. In
one preferred embodiment, when Ag is used as the second
reflective layer d4, an interfacial layer made of TiOC (e.g.,
with a thickness of 4 nm) may be arranged between the second
upper protective layer d3 and the second reflective layer d4.
The second upper protective layer d3 preferably has
a thickness within the range of 3-30 nm. When the thickness
of the second upper protective layer is less than 3 nm,
recording sensitivity may be degraded. On the other hand,
when the thickness of the second upper protective layer d3 is
greater than 30 nm, heat may be trapped leading to jitter
degradation, for example.
The lower protective layer is configured to prevent

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degradation and alteration of the recording layer, reinforce
the bond with the recording layer, and improve recording
characteristics, for example. The material used for the lower
protective layer is preferably a transparent material that has
good light permeability and a melting point that is higher
than that of the recording layer. It is noted that metal
oxides, nitrides, sulfides, and carbides are often used. For
example, metal oxides such as ZnO, SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, In2O3, MgO,
ZrO2, TaO, and Ta2O5; nitrides such as Si3N4, A1N, TiN, BN, and
ZrN; sulfides such ZnS, In2S3, and TaS4; carbides such as SiC,
TaC, B4C, WC, TiC, ZrC; diamond like carbon; and combinations
thereof may be used, for example. It is noted that these
materials may be used alone, or a mixture thereof may be used.
Also, an impurity may be included in these materials as is
necessary or desired. It is noted that ZnS-SiO2, which is a
mixture of ZnS and SiO2, is commonly used as the material of
the lower protective layer, and in such a case, the mixture
ratio is preferably Zns : SiO2 =80 : 20. ZnS-SiO2 has a high
refraction index n and an extinction coefficient that is
substantially equal to zero so that the absorption efficiency
of the recording layer may be improved. Also, the coefficient
of heat conductivity of ZnS-SiO2 is a small value so that
dispersion of heat generated from light absorption may be
suitably controlled. In this way, the temperature of the
recording layer may be raised to its melting temperature.

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The first lower protective layer bl preferably has
a thickness within the range of 40-80 nm. When the thickness
of the first lower protective layer bl is less than 40 nm,
light permeability of the first information layer 15b may
decrease, and its resistance with respect to repeated
recording may be degraded. On the other hand, when the
thickness of the first lower protective layer bl is greater
than 80 nm, although good resistance with respect to repeated
recording may be obtained, light permeability of the
information layer 15b may be degraded and substantial warping
of the substrate may occur upon depositing the first lower
protective layer bl so that mechanical characteristics of the
optical disk may be degraded.
The second lower protective layer dl preferably has
a thickness within the range of 110-160 nm. When the
thickness of the second lower protective film is less than 110
nm, the reflectance of the second information layer 15d may
decrease and the predetermined signal amplitude may not be
obtained upon reproduction. On the other hand, when the
thickness of the second lower protective layer dl is greater
than 160 nm, light permeability of the second information
layer 15d may decrease and substantial warping may occur at
the substrate upon deposition of the second lower protective
film dl so that the mechanical characteristics of the optical
disk may be degraded.

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The heat diffusion layer b5 preferably has a large
coefficient of heat conductivity in order to rapidly cool the
first recording layer b2 when light is irradiated thereon.
Also, the heat diffusion layer b5 preferably has a low
absorption rate with respect to the wavelength of the
irradiated light; that is, the heat diffusion layer b5 is
preferably arranged to be transparent with respect to the
irradiated light so that recording and reproduction may be
performed on the second information layer d2. In this respect,
the heat diffusion layer b5 preferably includes at least one
of a nitride, an oxide, a sulfide, a carbide, or a fluoride.
For example, the heat diffusion layer b5 may include A1N, Al2,
SiC, SiN, IZO, ITO (IN2O3-SnO2) , DLC (diamond like carbon), or
BN. It is noted that IZO or ITO is particularly preferred,
and in the case of using ITO, tin oxide is preferably included
in the ITO at 1-10 weight %. When the proportion of the tin
oxide is greater or less than the above range, heat
conductivity and permeability of the heat diffusion layer b5
may be degraded. Also, in order to improve reliability,
another element may be added at a range of 0.1-5.0 weight %.
When the proportion of the added element is less than the
above range, improvement in reliability may not be obtained.
When the proportion of the added element is greater than the
above range, the light absorption rate may increase and the
light permeability may decrease.

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Also, in the case where IZO is used in place of ITO,
internal stress within the optical disk may be reduced so that
change in film thickness over time may be substantially
prevented. In one preferred embodiment, IN2O3 is included in
the IZO and ITO preferably at around 90 molar %.
The heat diffusion layer b5 preferably has a
thickness within a range of 40-80 nm. When the thickness of
the heat diffusion layer b5 is less than 40 nm, light
permeability of the first information layer 15b may decrease
and heat dissipation may not be adequately realized. When the
thickness of the heat diffusion layer b5 is greater than 80 nm,
light permeability of the first information layer 15b may
decrease.
The first substrate 15a is preferably arranged to
allow adequate permeation of irradiated light that is used for
recording and reproducing information. The first substrate
15a may be a made of a material that is conventionally used
such as glass, ceramics, or resin. It is noted that resin is
particularly preferred in view of its moldability and cost.
As specific examples of resin, polycarbonate resin, acryl
resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, acrylic nitrile-styrene
copolymer resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin,
silicon resin, fluorine resin, ABS resin, or urethane resin
may be used. It is noted that acrylic resin such as
polycarbonate resin and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is

-25-
particularly preferred in view of its moldability, optical
characteristics, and cost. The surface of the first substrate
15a on which the first information layer 15b is deposited has
a concavo-convex pattern such as a spiral groove or concentric
grooves formed thereon. This concavo-convex pattern may be
formed through injection molding or a photopolymer process,
for example. The thickness of the first substrate is
preferably arranged to be within the range of 10-600 m.
It is noted that the same material of the first
substrate 15a may be used for the second substrate 15e.
Alternatively, a material that is opaque with respect to the
irradiated light for recording or reproducing information may
be used; that is, the first substrate 15a and the second
substrate 15e may be made of different materials and have
differing groove patterns, for example. The thickness of the
second substrate 15e is not particularly restricted to a
certain range; however, the thickness of the second substrate
15e is preferably arranged such that the total thickness of
the first substrate 15a and the second substrate 15e may be
approximately 1.2 mm.
The intermediate layer 15c is preferably arranged
to have a low light absorption rate with respect to the
wavelength of the irradiated light for recording and
reproducing information, and resin is preferably used as the
material of the intermediate layer 15c in view of its

-26-
moldability and cost. For example, UV curable resin, delayed
resin, or heat reversible resin may be used. The second
substrate 15e and the intermediate layer 15c may have a
concavo-convex pattern such as a spiral groove or concentric
grooves formed thereon through injection molding or a
photopolymer process, for example. The intermediate layer 15c
is for realizing optical isolation between the first
information layer 15b and the second information layer 15d,
and its thickness is preferably arranged to be within the
range of 10-70 Mm. When the thickness of the intermediate
layer 15c is less than 10 m, crosstalk is likely to occur
between the information layers. On the other hand, when the
thickness of the intermediate layer 15c is greater than 70 Mm,
spherical aberration may occur upon recording/reproducing
information on/from the second recording layer d2 so that the
recording operation or the reproducing operation may be
hindered.
According to the present embodiment, the groove of
the optical disk 15 is arranged to wobble at predetermined
periods in a manner similar to the groove of the DVD+RW, and
information may be recorded on the optical disk 15 as ADIP
information through phase modulation. In the present
embodiment, it is assumed that the ADIP information includes
various types of information used in recording processes
described below. In other words, setting value information

-27-
used for obtaining an optimum recording power and an optimum
erasing power is preformatted in at least one of a lead-in
area or a lead-out area of the optical disk 15.
In the following, a method of fabricating the
optical disk 15 is described. The method for fabricating the
optical disk 15 includes a film deposition process, an
initialization process, and an adhesion process. In the
exemplary fabrication process flow described below, it is
assumed that the above processes (i.e., film deposition,
initialization, and adhesion) are performed in the above order.
In the film deposition process, the first lower
protective layer bl, the first recording layer b2, the first
upper protective layer b3, the first reflective layer b4, and
the heat diffusion layer b5 are deposited in this order on the
surface of the first substrate 15a on which the concavo-convex
pattern is formed. The structure realized by arranging the
first information layer 15b on the first substrate 15a is
referred to as 'first recording member' hereinafter. Also,
the second reflective layer d4, the second upper protective
layer d3, the second recording layer d2, and the second lower
protective layer dl are deposited in this order on the surface
of the second substrate 15e on which the concavo-convex
pattern is formed. The structure realized by arranging the
second information layer 15d on the second substrate 15e is
referred to as 'second recording member' hereinafter. It is

-28-
noted that the layers may be deposited through various vapor-
phase growth processes (e.g., vacuum vaporization process,
sputtering process, plasma CVD process, ion plating process,
electron beam vaporization process). Of these exemplary
processes, the sputtering process is particularly preferred
since it can realize good productivity and good film quality,
for example. Generally, in the sputtering process, an
inactive gas such as argon is introduced while performing the
film deposition. In one embodiment, oxygen or nitrogen may be
mixed into such inactive gas to realize the so-called reaction
sputtering process, for example.
In the initialization process, energy light such as
a laser beam is irradiated on the first recording member and
the second recording member, and initialization, namely,
crystallization of the surfaces of the recording layers is
realized. In a case where one of the layers may peel off
(exfoliate) in this initialization process due to the energy
of the laser beam, an over-coating process may be performed in
which UV resin is spin coated on the heat diffusion layer b5
and the second lower protective layer dl, respectively, after
which ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the UV resin, for
example.
In the adhesion process, the first recording member,
the second recording member, and the intermediate layer 15c
are adhered to each other. For example, UV resin may be

-29-
applied to either one of the surface of the heat diffusion
layer b5 or the surface of the second lower protective layer
dl, and the heat diffusion layer b5 and the second lower
protective layer dl may be arranged to face against each other
to adhere the first recording member and the second recording
member together. Then, ultraviolet rays may be irradiated to
cure the UV resin. In this way, the first recording member
and the second recording member may be adhered together via
the intermediate layer 15c to form the optical disk 15.
It is noted that in one alternative embodiment, the
adhesion process may be performed before the initialization
process. In this case, the first recording member and the
second recording member are adhered together via the
intermediate layer 15c after which the initialization process
is performed on the recording layers starting from the first
substrate 15a side.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the optical pickup device
23 is configured to irradiate a laser beam on the recording
layer to be accessed out of the two recording layers b2 and d2
of the optical disk 15 (referred to as 'accessing recording
layer' hereinafter), and receive light reflected from the
optical disk 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical pickup
device 23 includes a light source unit 51, a coupling lens 52,
a beam splitter 54, an objective lens 60, a condensing lens 58,
a light receiver PD, and a drive system including a focusing

-30-
actuator and a tracking actuator, for example, (not shown) for
driving the objective lens 60.
As is shown in FIG. 3, the light source unit 51
includes a semiconductor laser LD as a light source that emits
a laser beam with a wavelength of 660 nm, for example. In the
present embodiment, it is assumed that the maximum intensity
emitting direction for the laser beam emitted from the light
source unit 51 is in the +X direction shown in FIG. 3. The
collimator lens 52 is arranged at the +X side of the light
source unit 51, and is configured to arrange the light emitted
from the light source unit 51 to be substantially parallel.
The beam splitter 54 is arranged at the +X side of
the collimator lens 52. The beam splitter 54 is configured to
allow light from the collimator lens 52 to pass through and
diverge light reflected from the optical disk 15 in the -Z
direction. The objective lens with NA=0.65 is arranged at the
+X side of the beam splitter 54, and this objective lens 60 is
configured to condense light passing through the beam splitter
54 onto the accessed recording layer of the optical disk 15.
The detection lens 58 is arranged at the -Z side of
the beam splitter 54, and is configured to condense the
reflected light that is divert in the -Z direction at the beam
splitter 54 onto the light receiving surface of the light
receiver PD. The light receiver PD includes plural light
receiving elements that output signals including wobble signal

-31-
information, reproducing data information, focus error
information, and track error information, for example. The
light receiving elements of the light receiver PD are
configured to generate signals according to the amount of
light received through photoelectric transfer and output the
generated signals to the reproducing signal processing circuit
28.
The focusing actuator (not shown) is configured to
drive the objective lens 60 in minute detail with respect to
the focusing direction corresponding to the optical axis
direction of the objective lens 60. In the present embodiment,
the optimum position for the objective lens 60 with respect to
the focusing direction when the first recording layer b2
corresponds to the accessing recording layer is referred to as
'first lens position', and the optimum position of the
objective lens 60 with respect to the focusing direction when
the second recording layer d2 corresponds to the accessing
recording layer is referred to as "second lens position'.
The tracking actuator (not shown) is configured to
drive the objective lens 60 in minute detail with respect to
the tracking direction corresponding to the direction that is
orthogonal to the track tangential line.
In the following, the light reflected from the
optical disk 15 is described.
When the first recording layer b2 corresponds to

-32-
the accessing recording layer, the objective lens 60 is
positioned at the first lens position. In this way, light
emitted from the light source unit 51 may be condensed at the
first recording layer b2 by the objective lens 60. Then,
light reflected from the first reflective layer b4 is incident
on the objective lens 60 as signal light.
When the second recording layer d2 corresponds to
the accessing recording layer, the objective lens 60 is
positioned at the second lens position. In this way, light
emitted from the light source unit 51 may be condensed at the
second recording layer d2 by the objective lens 60. Then, the
light flux reflected from the second reflective layer d4 is
incident on the objective lens 60 as signal light.
Referring back to FIG.l, the reproducing signal
processing circuit 28 acquires servo signals (e.g., focus
error signals, track error signals), address information,
synchronizing information, RF signals, modulation information,
gamma value information, asymmetry information, and amplitude
information of a sum signal, for example, based on the output
signals of the light receiver PD (e.g., plural photoelectric
transfer signals).
The servo signals acquired at the reproducing
signal processing circuit 28 are output to the drive control
circuit 26, the address information is output to the CPU 40,
and the synchronizing signal is output to the encoder 25 and

-33-
the drive control circuit 26, for example. Also, the
reproducing signal processing circuit 28 is configured to
perform processes such as a decoding process and an error
detection process on the RF signal. Further, upon detecting
an error, the reproducing signal processing circuit 28
performs an error correction process on the RF signal. Then,
the reproducing signal processing circuit 28 stores the
processed signal as reproducing data in the buffer RAM 34 via
the buffer manager 37. Also, the address information included
in the reproducing data is output to the CPU 40.
The reproducing signal processing circuit 28
transmits the modulation information, the gamma information,
the asymmetry information, and the sum signal amplitude
information to the CPU 40.
Referring to FIG. 4, given that the reflectance of
14T crystalline space is denoted as I14H, and the reflectance
of 14T amorphous mark is denoted as I14L, modulation level M
is defined by the following formula (1):
Modulation Level M = (I14H - I14L)/I14H ••• (1)
Also, given that the reflectance of 3T crystalline
spaces is denoted as 13H, and the reflectance of 3T amorphous
marks is denoted as 13L, asymmetry A is defined by the
following formula (2):

-34-
Asymmetry A = (I14H + I14L - I3H-I3L)/2(I14H-I14L)
…(2)
Referring back to FIG. 1, the drive control circuit
26 generates a drive signal for the drive system based on the
servo signal from the reproducing signal processing circuit 28,
and outputs the generated signal to the optical pickup device
23. In this way, the tracking control and focus control
operations may be realized. Also, the drive control circuit
26 generates a drive signal for driving the seek motor 21, and
a drive signal for driving the spindle motor 22 based on
commands from the CPU 40. The motor drive signals generated
by the drive control circuit 26 are output to the seek motor
21 and the spindle motor 22, respectively.
The buffer RAM 34 temporarily stores data such as
data to be recorded on the optical disk 15 (recording data)
and data reproduced from the optical disk 15 (reproducing
data). The input/output of data in the buffer RAM 34 is
managed by the buffer manager 37.
The encoder 25 retrieves the recording data stored
in the buffer RAM 34 via the buffer manager 37 based on a
command from the CPU 40, and performs processes such as
modulating the retrieved signal and attaching error correction
codes to the signal to generate a write signal for the optical

-35-
disk 15. In the present embodiment, the generated write
signal is output to the laser control circuit 24.
The laser control circuit 24 controls the light
emitting power of the semiconductor laser LD. For example, in
a recording operation, the laser control circuit 24 generates
a drive signal for the semiconductor laser LD based on the
write signal, recording conditions, and the light emitting
characteristics of the semiconductor laser LD.
The interface 38 is a bidirectional communication
interface realizing an interface with a superordinate
apparatus 90 (e.g., personal computer), and may conform to
standard interface schemes such as the ATAPI (AT Attachment
Packet Interface), the SCSO (Small Computer System Interface),
or the USB (Universal Serial Bus).
The flash memory 39 stores programs described by
code readable by the CPU 40 and light emitting characteristics
of the semiconductor laser LD, for example.
The CPU 40 controls operations of the respective
units of the optical disk apparatus 20 according to the
programs stored in the flash memory 39, and stores data for
realizing such control in the RAM 41 and the buffer RAM 34.
(Recording Process)
In the following, a recording process that is
performed at the optical disk apparatus 20 when the recording
request is issued by the superordinate apparatus 90 is

-36-
described with reference to FIGS.5 and 6. It is noted that
FIGS.5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating a sequence of process
algorithms that are executed by the CPU 40.
In response to receiving a recording request signal
from the superordinate apparatus 90, the start address of the
program corresponding to the flowchart of FIGS.5 and 6 stored
in the flash memory 39 is set to the program counter of the
CPU 40, and the recording process is started.
First, in step 401, a command is sent to the drive
control circuit 26 to rotate the optical disk 15 at a
predetermined linear speed (or angular speed), and a signal is
sent to the reproducing signal processing circuit reporting
that a recording request signal has been received from the
superordinate apparatus 90.
Next, in step 403, a designated address is
extracted from the recording request signal, and a
determination is made as to whether the accessing recording
layer is the first recording layer b2 or the second recording
layer d2.
Next, in step 405, ADIP information is retrieved
from the optical disk 15, and the ratio  between the erasing
power Pe and the recording power Pp, the target modulation
le0vel Mtarget, the multiplying coefficient p for obtaining the
optimum recording power Ppo, and the target asymmetry Atarget
are obtained and stored in the RAM 41.

-37-
Next, in step 407, an initial value of the
recording power Pp is set, and the laser control circuit 24 is
informed of the set value.
Next, in step 409, the erasing power Pe is
calculated so that the ratio between the erasing power Pe and
the recording power Pp may be equal to  , and the laser
control circuit 24 is informed of the calculated erasing power
Pe.
Next, in step 411, a command signal is issued
instructing the recording of test data on a test writing area
prearranged at the accessing recording layer. In turn, the
test data are recorded on the test writing area via the laser
control circuit 24 and the optical pickup device 23.
Next, in step 413, a determination is made as to
whether the test writing has been completed. If the test
writing has not been completed, a negative determination is
made and the process moves on to step 415.
In step 415, a predetermined variation A p is added
to the recording power Pp after which the process goes back to
step 409.
It is noted that the steps 409, 411, 413, and 415
are repeated until a positive determination is obtained in
step 413.
When test writing of data using plural
predetermined recording powers Pp is completed, a positive

-38-
determination is made in step 413, and the process moves on to
step 417.
In step 417, the test writing area on which the
test data are recorded is reproduced via the reproducing
signal processing circuit 28 to acquire the modulation
information.
Next, in step 419, a corresponding relationship
between the recording power Pp and the modulation level M such
as that illustrated in FIG.7 is determined.
Next, in step 421, the target modulation level
Mtarget corresponding to the recording power value (Ptarget)
is obtained based on the corresponding relationship between
the recording power Pp and the modulation level M as is shown
in FIG.7.
Next, in step 423, the recording power optimum
value (Ppo) is calculated based on the formula (3) indicated
below:
Ppo = p X ptarget ... (3)
Next, in step 431, the recording power is set to
the optimum value Ppo, and the laser control circuit 24 is
informed of the set recording power optimum value Ppo.
Next, in step 433, an initial value for the ratio 
is set.

-39-
Next, in step 435, ε X ppo is calculated, and the
laser control circuit 24 is informed of the calculated value
as the erasing power Pe.
Next, in step 437, a command signal is issued
instructing the recording of test data on the test writing
area prearranged at the accessing recording layer. In turn,
the test data are recorded on the test writing area via the
laser control circuit 24 and the optical pickup device 23.
Next, in step 439, a determination is made as to
whether the test writing has been completed. If the test
writing has not been completed, a negative determination is
made and the process moves on to step 441.
In step 441, the predetermined variation A e is
added to the ratio ε after which the process goes back to step
435.
It is noted that the steps 435, 437, 439, and 441
are repeated until a positive determination is obtained in
step 439.
When test writing of data is completed using plural
predetermined values of E differing from each other, a
positive determination is made in step 439, and the process
moves on to step 443.
In step 443, the test writing area on which the
test data have been recorded is reproduced via the reproducing
signal processing circuit 28 to acquire the asymmetry

-40-
information.
Next, in step 445, a corresponding relationship
between the erasing power Pe and the asymmetry A is determined
based on the asymmetry information, an example of such
relationship being illustrated in FIG.8.
Next, in step 447, the erasing power Peo
corresponding to the target asymmetry Atraget is obtained
based on the corresponding relationship between the erasing
power Pe and the asymmetry A as is shown in FIG.8, for example.
This erasing power Peo is set as the optimum value of the
erasing power.
Next, in step 501, a command signal is sent to the
drive control circuit 26 so that a beam spot may be formed in
the vicinity of a target position corresponding to the
designated address. In turn, a seek operation is performed.
It is noted that in a case where the seek operation is not
necessary, this step may be skipped.
Next, in step 503, the recording conditions are set.
For example, the recording power is set to the optimum value
recording power Ppo, and the erasing power is set to the
optimum value erasing power Peo.
Next, in step 505, recording is allowed, and thus,
data may be recorded on a designated address with optimum
recording conditions via the encoder 25, the laser control
circuit 24, and the optical pickup device 23.

-41-
Next, in step 507, a determination is made as to
whether the recording has been completed. If the recording
has not been completed, a negative determination result is
obtained, and the determination is made once again after a
predetermined time period. If the recording has been
completed, a positive determination result is obtained, and
the recording process is hereby ended.
It is noted that in the above-described recording
process, the modulation level M is used to obtain the optimum
value of the recording power Pp. However, the present
invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and for
example, in another embodiment, the optimum value of the
recording power Pp may be obtained using the gamma valueg
instead of the modulation level M as is shown in FIGS.9 and 10.
It is noted that in the flowcharts of FIGS.9 and 10, process
steps that are identical to those described with reference to
FIGS.5 and 6 are given the same reference numerals and their
descriptions are omitted. In the following, features of the
recording process of the present embodiment that are different
from those of the previously described embodiment are
described.
In the present embodiment, in step 405A, ADIP
information is retrieved from the optical disk 15, and the
ratio  between the erasing power Pe and the recording power
Pp, the target gamma value 7 target, the multiplying

-42-
coefficient p , and the target asymmetry Atarget are obtained.
It is noted that the target gamma value y target is
Preformatted in the optical disk 15 as part of the ADIP
information.
In step 417A, the test writing area on which test
data are recorded is reproduced via the reproducing signal
processing circuit 28 to acquire the gamma value information.
Next, in step 419A, a corresponding relationship
between the recording power Pp and the gamma value g is
determined based on the gamma value information, an example of
such relationship being shown in FIG.11.
Next, in step 421A, the target recording power
Ptarget corresponding to the target gamma value g target is
obtained based on the corresponding relationship between the
recording power Pp and the gamma value g as is shown in FIG.11,
Also, it is noted that in recording processes
according to the above-described embodiments, the optimum
value of the erasing power Pe is obtained using the asymmetry
A. However, the present invention is not limited to such
embodiments, and for example, in another embodiment, the
optimum value of the erasing power Pe may be obtained using
the amplitude of a sum signal obtained from the output signal
of the light receiver PD as is illustrated in the flowcharts
of FIGS.12 and 13. It is noted that the process steps of the
recording process illustrated in FIGS.12 and 13 that are

-43-
identical to those described in relationship to the previously-
described embodiments are given the same reference numerals
and their descriptions are omitted. In the following,
features of the recording process according to the present
embodiment that are different from those of the previously-
described embodiments are described.
In the present embodiment, in step 405B, ADIP
information is retrieved from the optical disk 15, and the
ratio E between the erasing power Pe and the recording power
Pp, the target modulation level Mtarget, the multiplying
coefficient P , and coefficients such as  and  are obtained.
It is noted that the coefficients ε and  are preformatted in
the optical disk 15 as part of the ADIP information.
In step 451, the optimum value recording power Ppo
is set as the recording power Pp, and the laser control
circuit 24 is informed of the set recording power Ppo.
Next, in step 453, a command signal is issued
instructing the recording of test data on the test writing
area prearranged at the accessing recording layer. In this
way, test data may be recorded with the optimum recording
power Ppo.
Next, in step 455, an initial value of  is
determined.
Next, in step 457, ε X ppo is calculated, and the
laser control circuit 24 is informed of the calculated value

-44-
as the erasing power Pe.
Next, in step 459, a command signal is issued
instructing erasure of a portion of the test writing area on
which the test data have been recorded. In this step, the so-
called DC erasure is performed using the erasing power Pe.
Next, in step 461, a determination is made as to
whether the erasure operation has been completed. If the
erasure operation has not been completed, a negative
determination is made, and the process moves on to step 463.
In step 463, a predetermined variation A  is added
to the value ε , and the process goes back to step 457.
It is noted that the steps 457, 459, 461, and 463
are repeated until a positive determination is obtained in
step 461.
When the erasure operation using plural
predetermined values of ε that differ from one another is
completed, a positive determination is made in step 461, and
the process moves on to step 465.
In step 465, the test writing area on which the
erasure operation has been performed is reproduced, and the
amplitude information of the sum signal is acquired.
Next, in step 467, a corresponding relationship
between the amplitude Wdc of the sum signal and the erasing
power is determined.
Next, in step 469, the amplitude Wo of a sum signal

-45-
from an unrecorded area is obtained via the reproducing signal
processing circuit 28.
Next, in step 471, the erasing power Pedc
corresponding to ε X Wo is obtained based on the
corresponding relationship between the amplitude Wdc of the
sum signal and the erasing power Pe.
Next, in step 473, ε X Pedc is calculated, and the
calculation result is set as the optimum erasing power value
Peo. Then, the process moves on to step 501.
It is noted that the coefficients  and  may be
set at the optical disk apparatus 20 side based on the type of
the optical disk or the test data erasure operation result.
(Exemplary Applications)
In the following, exemplary applications of the
present invention are described; however, it is noted that the
present invention is by no way limited to these examples. In
the following descriptions, it is assumed that the so-called
IT strategy (see FIG.14) is used, and the recording linear
speed is 9.2 m/s, the reproducing linear speed is 3.83 m/s,
and the reproducing power is 1.4 mW. Also, it is assumed that
the DVD sprinter (sheet-fed sputtering apparatus) by Balzers
is used as the sputtering apparatus.
1. First Application
On a polycarbonate resin layer as the first
substrate 15a with a diameter of 12 cm, a thickness of 0.565

-46-
mm, and one side having a continuous wobble groove formed
thereon at a track pitch of 0.74 ε m, ZnS (80 mol %)-SiO2 (20
mol %) with a thickness of 60 nm as the first lower protective
layer bl, Ago.5ln4.sSb69Te24Ge2 with a thickness of 8 nm as the
first recording layer b2, SnO2 (90 mol %)-Ta2O5 (10 mol %) with
a thickness of 7.5 nm as the first upper protective layer b3,
Cu (98.9 weight %)-Mo (1.1 weight %) with a thickness of 10 nm
as the first reflective layer b4, and In2O3 (90 mol %)-ZnO (10
mol %) with a thickness of 60 nm as the heat diffusion layer
b5 are deposited in this order in an Ar gas atmosphere through
magnetron sputtering.
On a polycarbonate resin layer as the second
substrate with a diameter of 12 cm, a thickness of 0.6 mm, and
one side having a continuous wobble groove formed thereon at a
track pitch of 0.74 m, Ag with a thickness of 140 nm as the
second reflective layer, SnO2 (90 mol %)-Ta2Os (10 mol %) with a
thickness of 15 nm as the second upper protective layer d3,
Ago.5ln4.5Sb69Te24Ge2 with a thickness of 15 nm as the second
recording layer d2, and ZnS (80 mol %)-SiO2 (20 mol %) with a
thickness of 140 nm as the second lower protective layer dl
are deposited in this order in an Ar gas atmosphere through
magnetron sputtering.
UV curable resin (e.g., KAYARAD DVD-576M by Nippon
Kayaku Co., Ltd.) is applied to the surface of the heat
diffusion layer b5, and the second lower protective layer dl

-47-
is adhered to the heat diffusion layer b5. Then, ultraviolet
rays are irradiated from the first substrate 15a side to cure
the UV curable resin and arrange the UV curable resin layer
into the intermediate layer 15c. In this way, a two-layer
phase change type optical disk is created. In the present
example, the thickness of the intermediate layer 15c is
arranged to be 55 m.
Then, using a dedicated apparatus for performing an
initialization process, a laser beam is irradiated from the
first substrate side 15a, and initialization processes are
performed on the second recording layer d2 and the first
recording layer b2 in this order. In the present example, the
initialization process involves condensing a laser beam
irradiated from a semiconductor laser (oscillation wavelength:
810±10 ran) with an objective lens of NA=0.55 on the respective
recording layers. The initialization conditions for the
second recording layer d2 is set such that the optical disk is
rotated in CLV (constant linear speed) mode with a linear
speed of 3 m/s, a feed amount of 36 m/rotation, at a radial
position (distance from the rotational center) of 23-58 mm,
and an initialization power of 1050 mW. The initialization
conditions for the first recording layer b2 are set such that
the optical disk is rotated in CLV mode with a linear speed of
3 m/s, a feed amount of 50 m/rotation, at a radial position
of 23-58 mm, and an initialization power of 700 mW. It is

-48-
noted that the light permeability of the first information
layer after the initialization process is performed thereon is
37.4 %.
In the present example, when Ttop = Tmp = 0.188T,
dTtop = 0.6T, dTera = 0.3T, and the 1T strategy is used to
perform test writing on the first information layer 15b, a
corresponding relationship between the modulation level and
the recording power Pp as is illustrated in FIG.15 is obtained.
When the target modulation level and the multiplying
coefficient are determined to be Mtarget = 0.47 and P = 1.36,
then Ptarget = 22 mW and Ppo = 29.2 mW. When the recording
power is fixed to the above optimum value recording power Ppo
and  is assigned to measure the asymmetry, data represented
by FIG.16 are obtained. When the target asymmetry is
determined to be Atarget = 0.05, a suitable jitter value of
7.6 % may be obtained at the corresponding erasing power value.
It is noted that jitter represents the temporal variation of
the boundary of a binary signal with respect to a clock when
the reflectances of a mark and a space are binarized into the
binary signal using the slice level.
2. Second Application
The two layer phase change type optical disk as is
described in the first example is used, and test writing is
performed on the first information layer 15b in a manner
similar to that described in the first example. In this way,

-49-
a corresponding relationship between the gamma value and the
recording power Pp as is shown in FIG.15 is obtained. When
the target gamma value and the multiplying coefficient are
determined to be g target =1.9 and p = 1.36, Ptarget = 22 mW,
Ppo = 29.2 mW, and a suitable jitter value of 7.6 % are
obtained as in the first example.
3. Third Application
In the present example, the thickness of the first
lower protective layer bl is arranged to be 75 nm, the
thickness of the first recording layer b2 is arranged to be
7.5 nm, the thickness of the first upper protective layer b3
is arranged to be 3 nm, and the thickness of the first
reflective layer b4 is arranged to be 7 nm. It is noted that
other structural features of the two-layer phase change type
optical disk used in the present example are identical to
those of the optical disk used in the previously described
examples. It is noted that the reflectance of the first
information layer 15b after the initialization process is
performed thereon is 43.7 %.
In the present example, when Ttop = Tmp = 0.2T,
dTtop = 0T, dTera = 0.3T, and the 1T strategy is used to
perform test writing on the first information layer 15b, a
corresponding relationship between the modulation level and
the recording power Pp as is illustrated in FIG.17 is obtained.
When the target modulation level and the multiplying

-50-
coefficient are determined to be Mtarget =0.46 and p = 1.29,
then Ptarget = 24 mW and Ppo = 31.0 mW. When the recording
power is fixed to the above optimum value recording power Ppo
and  is assigned to measure the asymmetry, data represented
by FIG.18 are obtained. When the target asymmetry is
determined to be Atarget = -0.07, a suitable j itter value of
8.1 % may be obtained at the corresponding erasing power value.
4. Fourth Application
The two-layer phase change type optical disk
identical to that used in the third example is used in the
present example, and test writing is performed on the first
information layer 15b in a manner similar to that of the third
example. In this way, a corresponding relationship between
the gamma value and the recording power Pp as is illustrated
in FIG.17 is obtained. When the target gamma value and the
multiplying coefficient are determined to be g target = 1.7 and
p = 1.29, then Ptarget = 24 mW, Ppo =31.0 mW, and a suitable
jitter value of 8.1 % may be obtained.
5. Fifth Application
In the present example, the thickness of the first
lower protective layer bl is arranged to be 75 nm, the
thickness of the first recording layer b2 is arranged to be
7.5 nm, the thickness of the first upper protective layer b3
is arranged to be 5 nm, and the thickness of the first
reflective layer b4 is arranged to be 7 nm. It is noted that

-51-
other structural features of the two-layer phase change type
optical disk used in the present example are identical to
those of the optical disk used in the first example. It is
noted that the light permeability of the first information
layer 15b after the initialization process is performed
thereon is 43.4 %.
In the present example, when Ttop = Tmp = 0.2T,
dTtop = 0T, dTera = 0.3T, and the 1T strategy is used to
perform test writing on the first information layer 15b, a
corresponding relationship between the modulation level and
the recording power Pp as is illustrated in FIG.19 is obtained.
When the target modulation level and the multiplying
coefficient are determined to be Mtarget =0.48 and p = 1.26,
then Ptarget = 23 mW and Ppo = 29.0 mW. When the recording
power is fixed to the above optimum value recording power Ppo
and  is assigned to measure the asymmetry, data represented
by FIG.20 are obtained. When the target asymmetry is
determined to be Atarget = -0.05, a suitable jitter value of
8.6 % may be obtained at the corresponding erasing power value.
6. Sixth Application
In the present example, the two-layer phase change
type optical disk identical to that used in the fifth example
is used, and test writing is performed on the first
information layer 15b in a manner similar to the fifth example.
In this way, a corresponding relationship between the gamma

-52-
value and the recording power Pp as is illustrated in FIG.19
is obtained. When the target gamma value and the multiplying
coefficient are determined to be 7 target = 1.7 and P = 1.26,
then Ptarget = 23 mW, Ppo =29.0 mW, and a suitable jitter
value of 8.6 % may be obtained as in the fifth example.
7. Seventh Application
In the present example, on a polycarbonate resin
layer as the first substrate 15a with a diameter of 12 cm, a
thickness of 0.6 mm, and one side having a continuous groove
formed thereon at a track pitch of 0.74 m, ZnS (80 mol %)-
SiO2 (20 mol %) with a thickness of 60 nm as the first lower
protective layer bl, Ag2In4Sb69Te23Ge2 with a thickness of 8 nm
as the first recording layer b2, In2O3 with a thickness of 5 nm
as the first upper protective layer b3, Cu95Ag5 with a thickness
of 8 nm as the first reflective layer b4, and In2O3 (90 mol %)-
ZnO (10 mol %) with a thickness of 60 nm as the heat diffusion
layer b5 are deposited in this order in an Ar gas atmosphere
through magnetron sputtering.
On a polycarbonate resin layer as the second
substrate 15e with a diameter of 12 cm, a thickness of 0.6 mm,
and one side having a continuous wobble groove formed thereon
at a track pitch of 0.74 m, Ag with a thickness of 120 nm as
the second reflective layer d4, TiOC with a thickness of 4 nm
as an interfacial layer, ZnS (80 mol %)-SiCO2 (20 mol %) with a
thickness of 15 nm as the second upper protective layer d3,

-53-
Ag2In4Sb69Te23Ge2 with a thickness of 17 nm as the second
recording layer d2, and ZnS (80 mol %)-SiO2 (20 mol %) with a
thickness of 140 nm as the second lower protective layer dl
are deposited in this order in an Ar gas atmosphere through
magnetron sputtering. It is noted that adhesion and
initialization processes are performed in a manner similar to
that of the first example.
In the present example, when Ttop = Tmp = 0.22T,
dTtop = 0T, dTera = 0.3T, and the 1T strategy is used to
perform test writing on the first information layer 15b, Ppo =
28 mW. In turn, test writing is performed by setting the
recording power to Ppo (=28 mW), and DC erasure is performed
on the test writing area while changing the erasing power Pe
determined by  = 0.196 within a predetermined range ±10 % of
the determined erasing power Pe. Then, the amplitude Wdc of
the sum signal of the output signal from the light receiver PD
obtained from the light reflected from the test writing area
is measured. In this way, data represented by FIGS.21 and 22
may be obtained. It is noted that the amplitude Wo of the sum
signal corresponding to the unrecorded portion of the writing
area is 8 mV. In the present example, given that the
corresponding erasing power for  (= 0.186) in a case where
the signal amplitude Wdc is equal to 2 X Wo (a =2) is
denoted as Pedc (= 5.22 mW), the value obtained by multiplying
the erasing power Pedc by 1.1 (ε =1.1) is set as the optimum

-54-
erasing power Peo (= 5.7 mW ( = 0.204)) . Upon repeatedly
performing ten recording operations on plural tracks under
these conditions, a suitable jitter value of 8 % may be
obtained as is shown in FIGS.23 and 24.
FIG.25 illustrates the respective recording power
margins in a case where Pe is constant (i.e., Pe= 5.7),
referred to as condition A, and in a case where Pe is equal to
Pp X ε (i.e., ε =0.2), referred to as condition B. As can be
appreciated from this drawing, jitter is exacerbated when the
recording power is deviated from the optimum value recording
power Ppo (=28 mW) in both conditions A and B.
8. Eighth Application
In the present example, a two-layer phase change
type optical disk identical to that used in the first example
is used. When Ttop = Tmp = 0.188T, dTtop = 0.6T, dTera = 0.3T,
and the 1T strategy is used to perform test writing on the
first information layer 15b, Ppo = 29.2 mW. In turn, test
writing is performed by setting the recording power to Ppo (=
29.2 mW), and DC erasure is performed on the test writing area
while changing the erasing power Pe determined by  = 0.226
within a predetermined range ±10 % of the determined erasing
power Pe. Then, the amplitude Wdc is measured to obtain data
represented by FIG.26. It is noted that the amplitude Wo of
the sum signal corresponding to the unrecorded portion of the
writing area is 8 mV. In the present example, given that the

-55-
corresponding erasing power for ε (= 0.212) in a case where
the signal amplitude Wdc is equal to 2 X Wo (a =2) is
denoted as Pedc (= 5.22 mW), the value obtained by multiplying
the erasing power Pedc by 1.1 ( =1.1) is set as the optimum
erasing power Peo (=5.7 mW ( = 0.204)). Upon repeatedly
performing ten recording operations on plural tracks under
these conditions, a suitable jitter value of 7.8 % may be
obtained as is shown in FIG.27.
9. Ninth Application
In the present example, a two-layer phase change
type optical disk is used in which the first recording layer
b2 is made of Ago.2In3.5Sb69.8Te22Ge4.5 with a thickness of 7.5 ran,
the first upper protective layer has a thickness of 3 ran, and
the first reflective layer b4 has a thickness of 7.5 nm. It
is noted that other structural features of the two-layer phase
change type optical disk used in the present example are
identical to those of the optical disk used in the first
example. Test writing is performed on the first information
layer 15b under the conditions Ttop = Tmp = 0.188T, dTtop =
0.375T, dTlast = -0.438T, dTera = 0.375T, and using the 1T
strategy. It is noted that the negative sign "-" in front of
the value dTlast signifies that the signal is temporally
delayed with respect to the standard clock (see FIG.35) .
A recording operation is performed once on three
tracks within the test writing area (PCA) using the optimum

-56-
recording power Ppo (=38 mW) after which an erase operation
is performed on the recorded area using an erasing power Pe
calculated based on a value  (=0.182) formatted (recorded) on
a predetermined area of the disk beforehand. Then, recording
may be performed on the tracks once, ten times, or one hundred
times, for example, while sequentially changing the erasing
power Pe to measure the resulting asymmetry in the recording
operation. FIG.36 is a graph showing the measurement results
obtained by performing recordings on the testing area once,
ten times, and one hundred times, respectively, in the
recording operation. As can be appreciated from FIG.36,
differences in asymmetry are created depending on the number
of recordings performed on the test writing area in the
recording operation. FIG.37 is a graph indicating the
respective j itters resulting from performing a recording
operation on an area other than the testing area using a
corresponding ε value for a case in which the asymmetry is
substantially equal to 0 (zero) . As can be appreciated from
FIG.37, desirable jitter values may be obtained when Ppo = 38
rnW and ε = 0.172 and 0.182 (Peo = 6.5 mW and 6.9 mW)
regardless of the number of recordings performed on the
testing area in the recording operation for obtaining a
suitable  value.
In the above-described exemplary applications, a
desirable jitter value may be obtained, and high quality

-57-
recording may be stably performed on the optical disk.
FIG.28 is a graph indicating respective recording
power margins for cases A and B when recording is successively
performed on the first information layer 15b ten times using
5 the 1T strategy, case A corresponding to a case in which Pe is
constant (= 6 mW), and case B corresponding to a case in which
Pe equals PpX  ( = 0.214). FIG.29 is a graph indicating the
respective asymmetries obtained in cases A and B. As can be
appreciated from these drawings, when the recording power Pp
10 deviates from the optimum recording power Ppo (= 28 mW) jitter
is degraded to a greater extent in case B compared to case A.
Also, when the recording power Pp is greater than the optimum
recording power Ppo (=28 mW), asymmetry is degraded at a
greater extent in case B compared to case A.
15 FIG.30 is a graph indicating respective recording
power margins for cases A and B when recording is successively
performed on the first information layer 15b ten times using
the 2T strategy, case A corresponding to a case in which Pe is
constant (= 6 mW), and case B corresponding to a case in which
20 Pe equals PpX ε ( = 0.214). FIG.31 is a graph indicating the
respective asymmetries obtained in cases A and B. As can be
appreciated from these drawings, the asymmetry and jitter are
degraded to a greater extent in case B compared to case A when
the recording power Pp is deviated from the optimum recording
25 power Ppo as in the example using the 1T strategy described

-58-
above.
As is described above, regardless of whether the 1T
or the 2T strategy is used, a wider recording power margin may
be secured and desirable recording quality may be obtained in
a case where recording is performed with a constant erasing
power Pe compared to a case where the recording is performed
under the condition Pe = Pp X  . In other words, when a
fixed optimum erasing power Peo is determined, stable
information recording may be performed even in a case where
there is a slight deviation in the optimum recording power Ppo,
for example (see FIGS.28 and 30).
FIG.32 is a graph indicating a corresponding
relationship between the recording power Pp, the erasing power
Pe, and jitter. As is shown in this drawing, the points at
which Pe equals Pp X ε and the points at which minimum j itter
is realized do not correspond. FIG.33 is a graph indicating a
corresponding relationship between the recording power Pp, the
erasing power Pe, and the modulation level. FIG.34 is a graph
indicating a corresponding relationship between the recording
power Pp, the erasing power Pe, and asymmetry.
As can be appreciated from the above descriptions,
in the optical disk apparatus 20 according to one embodiment
of the present invention, the CPU 40 and the programs executed
by the CPU 40 realize an optimum power obtaining unit
according to one embodiment of the present invention. However,

-59-
in other embodiments, at least a part of the processes
realized by the programs executed by the CPU 40 may be
realized by hardware, or all the processes may be realized by
hardware, for example.
Also, in the above-illustrated embodiment, the
encoder 25, the laser control circuit 24, and the optical
pickup device 23 realize a recording unit according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Also, in the above-illustrated embodiment, the
flash memory 39 realizes a computer-readable medium according
to one embodiment of the present invention that stores various
programs including a program for executing the process steps
illustrated in FIGS.5 and 6, FIGS.9 and 10, or FIGS.12 and 13
(power determining program), for example. It is noted that
such a program may be embodied as a computer program product
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Also, the recording process steps described above
may realize a power determining method and a recording method
according to embodiments of the present invention.
According to one embodiment, in the above-described
optical disk apparatus 20, first, test writing is performed on
the optical disk 15 by changing the recording power and the
erasing power while recording test data in a manner such that
the ratio  between the recording power and the erasing power
equals a predetermined value. Then, based on the test writing

-60-
result, a recording power corresponding to a target modulation
level Mtarget (predetermined modulation level) or a target
gamma value g target (predetermined gamma value) is obtained
after which the obtained recording power is multiplied by a
multiplying coefficient P (predetermined coefficient) to
obtain an optimum recording power Ppo.
Then, the optimum recording power Ppo is set as the
recording power to be used, and test writing is preformed by
changing the erasing power Pe while recording the test data.
Then, based on the test writing result, an erasing power Peo
corresponding to a target asymmetry (predetermined asymmetry)
is obtained, and the obtained erasing power Peo is set as the
optimum erasing power.
Alternatively, after test data are recorded on the
test writing area of the optical disk 15 using the optimum
recording power Ppo, the recorded test data are erased from
the test writing area using differing erasing powers. Then,
based on a sum signal amplitude Wdc obtained from the test
writing area, an erasing power Pedc corresponding to  X(sum
signal amplitude Wo obtained from unrecorded area) is obtained,
and  Xpedc is set as the optimum erasing power Peo.
Then, the obtained optimum recording power Ppo and
optimum erasing power Peo are used to record user data on the
optical disk 15. In this way, high quality recording may be
stably performed on an optical disk having plural rewritable

-61-
recording layers. It is noted that by applying the present
embodiment, advantageous effects may be obtained particularly
in a case where the accessing recording layer corresponds to
the first recording layer b2 that is positioned closer to the
plane of incidence of the laser beam emitted from the light
source unit 51.
It is noted that in the above descriptions, a two-
layered phase change type optical recording medium is used as
a single-sided multilayer optical disk that has light
irradiated thereon from one side. The two-layered phase
change type optical recording medium may be created by
layering two information layers each including at least a
recording layer and a metal reflective layer, and bonding the
two information layers together with UV curable resin, for
example. The bonding portion for realizing the bond between
the information layers may correspond to an isolation layer
(referred to as "intermediate layer" in the above
descriptions) that optically isolates the two information
layers. The information layer at a near side with respect to
the light irradiating side of the optical disk (e.g., first
information layer) is preferably arranged to be made of a
suitable material with a suitable thickness to enable
sufficient light (laser beam used for recording/reproducing
information) to penetrate therethrough to reach the
information layer positioned at a further side with respect to

-62-
the light irradiating side (e.g., second information layer).
It is noted that in the two-layer phase change type
optical recording medium, information may not be adequately
recorded/reproduced on/from the recording layer of the
information layer at the further side (second information
layer) unless a sufficient portion of the irradiated laser
beam can penetrate through the information layer at the near
side (first information layer). In this respect, in the first
information layer, a thin semi-transparent reflective layer is
preferably used as the reflective layer, and a transparent
material having high heat conductivity is preferably arranged
thereon. On the other hand, the second information layer does
not necessarily have to have high light permeability, and
thereby, a relatively thick metal reflective layer may be used
as the reflective layer of the second information layer as in
a conventional single layer optical recording medium, for
example.
It is noted that a recording operation is realized
on a recording layer of a phase change type optical recording
medium by irradiating a laser beam on a phase change recording
material, rapidly cooling the recording material, and changing
the phase of the recording material from a crystalline state
to an amorphous state to create a mark. An erasing operation
is realized by irradiating continuous light on the recording
material and slowly cooling the recording material to realize

-63-
a crystalline state.
In a two-layered phase change type optical
recording medium, the second information layer is arranged to
include a metal layer with high heat conductivity such as an
Ag layer so that a layer with good heat dissipation
characteristics may be realized and formation/erasure of an
amorphous mark may be accurately performed. The first
information layer of a two-layer phase change type optical
recording medium preferably includes a relatively thin
semitransparent metal layer (e.g., approximately 10 nm) in
order to realize good light permeability. Also, the first
information layer preferably includes a transparent heat
dispersion layer arranged on the semitransparent metal layer
in order to improve heat dissipation characteristics. In this
way, recording and erasure may be facilitated. However, the
heat dissipation characteristics of the first information
layer is still inferior to that of the second information
layer having a metal reflective layer with an adequate
thickness. Specifically, waste heat may not be easily
dissipated so that recording or erasure may not be smoothly
performed (e.g., see FIG.38).
FIG.38 is a graph indicating jitters at the near
side information layer and the further side information layer
in a case where the multi-pulse recording method is applied to
a rewritable optical recording medium, wherein a mark is

-64-
formed by a multi-pulse alternating between the recording
power Pp and the bias power Pb through intensity modulation of
the light emitting power, the mark is erased (a space is
formed) by irradiating a continuous light with the erasing
power Pe, and the ratio between the recording power Pp and the
erasing power Pe (Pe/Pp =  ) is arranged to be constant. In
the present example, it is assumed that  = 0.18 at the near
side information layer (first information layer), and  =
0.409 at the further side information layer (second
information layer).
As can be appreciated from the example of FIG.38,
the power range (power margin) at which good jitter
characteristics may be obtained differ between the first
information layer and the second information layer owing to
differences in their layer structures, particularly, the
difference in the thicknesses of their metal layers.
Specifically, in FIG.38, a wider power margin is obtained in
the second information layer compared to that of the first
information layer. In this case, in the second information
layer, once the optimum recording power Ppo is determined, the
optimum erasing power Peo may be simultaneously determined by
the formula Peo =  X ppo. However, as for the first
information layer with a narrower power margin, good recording
characteristics may not be achieved by merely determining the
optimum recording power Ppo. Accordingly, in an embodiment of

-65-
the present invention, the ratio £ is changed to obtain the
optimum erasing power Peo.
It is noted that the optical disk 15 according to
an embodiment of the present invention has setting information
for obtaining the optimum recording power and the optimum
erasing power preformatted therein so that the optimum
recording power and the optimum erasing power may be speedily
and accurately obtained.
Also, it is noted that in the above descriptions,
the optical disk 15 of the present embodiment has been
described as a DVD type optical disk. However, the present
invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and may
equally be applied as other types of optical disks such as a
next generation optical disk utilizing light at 405 nm
wavelength, for example.
Also, it is noted that in the above-described
embodiments of the present invention, the optical disk 15 is
described as having two recording layers (information layers).
However, the present invention is not limited to such an
embodiment, and three or more recording layers (information
layers) may be included in an optical disk applied in the
present invention. In this case, advantageous effects may be
obtained particularly when the accessing recording layer
corresponds to a recording layer other than that positioned
furthest from the plane of incidence of the laser beam emitted

-66-
from the light source unit 51.
Also, it is noted that in the above descriptions, a
power determining program according to an embodiment of the
present invention is stored in the flash memory 39; however,
such a program may be stored in other types of storage media
such as a CD, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD, a memory card, a
USB memory, or a flexible disk. In this case, the program
according to the present embodiment may be loaded in the flash
memory 39 via a reproducing apparatus (or a dedicated
interface) adapted for the corresponding storage medium. In
another example, the program of the present embodiment may be
transferred to the flash memory 39 via a network such as a LAN,
an Intranet, or the Internet. In other words, the program of
the present embodiment may be stored or carried in any medium
to be loaded in the flash memory 39.
Also, it is noted that in the above-described
embodiments, the optical pickup device 23 includes one
semiconductor laser; however, the present invention is not
limited to such an embodiment, and for example, plural
semiconductor lasers that emit light fluxes with differing
wavelengths may be included in the optical pickup device. In
this case, at least one of a semiconductor laser that emits a
light flux at a wavelength of approximately 405 nrn, a
semiconductor laser that emits a light flux at a wavelength of
approximately 660 nm, and a semiconductor laser that emits a

-67-
light flux at a wavelength of approximately 780 ran may be
included in the optical pickup device, for example. In other
words, an optical disk apparatus according to one embodiment
of the present invention may be an optical disk apparatus
adapted for plural types of optical disks conforming to
differing standards. In this case, the optical disk apparatus
may be adapted for at least a single-sided multilayer optical
disk having plural rewritable recording layers.
As can be appreciated from the above descriptions,
embodiments within the scope of the present invention include
a power determining method, a recording method, an optical
disk apparatus, a single-sided multilayer optical disk, and a
power determining program. The power determining method
according to an embodiment of the present invention may be
suitably applied to determine an appropriate light emitting
power upon recording information on an optical disk having
plural rewritable recording layers. The recording method and
the optical disk apparatus according to embodiments of the
present invention may enable high quality recording to be
stably performed on an optical disk having plural rewritable
recording layers. The single-sided multilayer optical disk
according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a
suitable medium to which the power determining method of the
present embodiment may be applied. The power determining
program according to an embodiment of the present invention

-68-
may enable an optical disk apparatus to stably perform high
quality recording on an optical disk having plural rewritable
recording layers. The power determining program may be
embodied in any computer-readable medium for carrying or
having computer-executable instructions or data structures
stored therein. The power determining program may also be
embodied in a computer program product including such a
computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can be
any available medium which can be accessed by a general
purpose or a special purpose computer. By way of example, and
not limitation, such a computer-readable medium can comprise a
physical storage medium such as a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, a CD-
ROM, other optical disk storage devices, other magnetic
storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to
carry or store desired program code means in the form of
computer-executable instructions or data structures and which
can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose
computer. Such a medium may include a wireless carrier signal,
for example. When information is transferred or provided over
a network or other communications connection (either hardwired,
wireless, or combinations thereof) to a computer, the computer
properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium.
Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-
readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be
included within the scope of the computer-readable medium.

-69-
Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example,
instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer,
a special purpose computer, or a processing device to perform
a certain function or a group of functions.
Although the present invention is shown and
described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is
obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to
others skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the
specification. The present invention includes all such
equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the
scope of the claims.
The present application is based on and claims the
benefit of the earlier filing dates of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2005-285715 filed on September 30, 2005,
Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-338801 filed on November
24, 2005, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-364190
filed on December 19, 2005, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.

-70-
CLAIMS
1. A power determining method for determining a
light emitting power of a light source upon recording
information on an optical disk having a plurality of
rewritable recording layers, the method comprising a step of:
obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to
an optimum recording power by recording test data on the
optical disk.
2. The power determining method as claimed in claim
1, wherein
the step of obtaining the optimum erasing power
includes erasing the test data using differing erasing powers
after recording the test data on the optical disk using the
optimum recording power, and obtaining the optimum erasing
power based on an amplitude of a signal obtained from an area
of the optical disk from which the test data are erased.
3. The power determining method as claimed in claim
2, wherein
the optimum erasing power is equal to an erasing
power used when the amplitude of the signal obtained from the
area from which the test data are erased establishes a
predetermined relationship with an amplitude of a signal

-71-
obtained from an unrecorded area of the optical disk.
4. The power determining method as claimed in claim
1, wherein
the step of obtaining the optimum erasing power
includes recording the test data using the optimum recording
power while changing an erasing power being used, obtaining an
erasing power corresponding to a predetermined asymmetry based
on results of recording the test data, and setting the
obtained erasing power as the optimum erasing power.
5. The power determining method as claimed in claim
1, further comprising steps to be performed before the step of
obtaining the optimum erasing power which steps include:
performing test writing on the optical disk while
changing a recording power and an erasing power being used in
a manner such that a ratio between the recording power and the
erasing power being used is equal to a predetermined value;
obtaining a recording power corresponding to a
predetermined modulation level based on results of the test
writing; and
obtaining the optimum recording power by
multiplying the obtained recording power by a predetermined
coefficient.

-72-
6. The power determining method as claimed in claim
1, further comprising steps to be performed before the step of
obtaining the optimum erasing power which steps include:
performing test writing on the optical disk while
changing a recording power and an erasing power being used in
a manner such that a ratio between the recording power and the
erasing power being used is equal to a predetermined value;
obtaining a recording power corresponding to a
predetermined gamma value based on results of the test
writing; and
obtaining the optimum recording power by
multiplying the obtained recording power by a predetermined
coefficient.
7. The power determining method as claimed in claim
1, wherein
the step of obtaining the optimum erasing power
includes recording the test data on at least one of the
recording layers other than a furthest recording layer of the
recording layers which at least one is positioned furthest
from a plane of incidence on which light from the light source
is incident.
8. A recording method for recording information on
an optical disk having a plurality of rewritable recording

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layers, the recording method comprising a step of:
recording the information on the optical disk using
an optimum erasing power obtained by a power determining
method including a step of obtaining the optimum erasing power
with respect to an optimum recording power by recording test
data on the optical disk.
9. A computer program product including a computer-
readable medium storing a computer-executable program executed
by a control computer of an optical disk apparatus configured
to record information on an optical disk having a plurality of
rewritable recording layers, the program being executed by the
control computer to perform a step of:
obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to
an optimum recording power by recording test data on the
optical disk.
10. A computer-readable medium storing a computer-
executable program executed by a control computer of an
optical disk apparatus configured to record information on an
optical disk having a plurality of rewritable recording layers,
the program being executed by the control computer to perform
a step of:
obtaining an optimum erasing power with respect to
an optimum recording power by recording test data on the

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optical disk.
11. An optical disk apparatus configured to record
information on an optical disk having a plurality of
rewritable recording layers, the apparatus comprising:
an optimum power obtaining unit configured to
record test data on the optical disk and obtain an optimum
erasing power with respect to an optimum recording power; and
a recording unit configured to record information
on the optical disk using the optimum erasing power obtained
by the optimum power obtaining unit.
12. A single-sided multilayer optical disk,
comprising:
a plurality of rewritable recording layers;
wherein setting value information is preformatted
in at least one of the recording layers, the setting value
information being used for obtaining an optimum erasing power
with respect to an optimum recording power by recording test
data on said at least one of the recording layers.
13. The single-sided multilayer optical disk as
claimed in claim 12, wherein
the setting value information is preformatted in at
least one of a lead-in area and a lead-out area of said at

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least one of the recording layers.

A power determining method is disclosed for determining the light emitting power of a light source upon recording
information on an optical disk having plural rewritable recording layers, the method involving obtaining an optimum erasing power
with respect to an optimum recording power by recording test data on the optical disk.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=a2rEV6REpbDHBKcGvgwy5g==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 272288
Indian Patent Application Number 2666/KOLNP/2007
PG Journal Number 14/2016
Publication Date 01-Apr-2016
Grant Date 28-Mar-2016
Date of Filing 17-Jul-2007
Name of Patentee RICOH COMPANY, LTD
Applicant Address 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SHINOTSUKA MICHIAKI 45-211, RYUJOUGAOKA 6-CHOME, HIRATSUKA-SHI, KANAGAWA 254-0814
2 SEKIGUCHI HIROYOSHI 17/27, EDAMINAMI 2-CHOME, TSUZUKI-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 224-0007
3 SHINKAI MASARU 683, KAWASHIMACHO, HODOGAYA-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 240-0045
4 HIBINO EIKO 7-2-306, NAKAMACHIDAI 5-CHOME, TSUZUKI-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 224-0041
5 KATO MASAKI 10-11-101, HIGASHIRINKAN 2-CHOME, SAGAMIHARA-SHI, KANAGAWA 228-0811
6 YAMADA KATSUYUKI 5791-1-401, IRIYA 3-CHOME, ZAMA-SHI-KANAGAWA 228-0024
PCT International Classification Number G11B 20/18
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP06/310417
PCT International Filing date 2006-05-18
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2005-285715 2005-09-30 Japan
2 2005-338801 2005-11-24 Japan
3 2005-364190 2005-12-19 Japan