JP2003288759A - Multilayer information recording medium, recording apparatus and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a rewritable multilayer information recording medium that realizes effective use of a spare area and improvement of access performance. A multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention includes a user data area for recording user data, and at least one defect area when there is at least one defect area in the user data area. A plurality of spare areas including at least one spare area that can be used instead of the first spare data area, the first spare area is arranged adjacent to the first user data area, and the second spare area is The first spare area and the second spare area are arranged at substantially equal radial positions on the multilayer information recording medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multilayer information recording medium having at least two recording layers, a recording apparatus and a recording method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical disc is an information recording medium having a sector structure. In recent years, AV data such as audio data and video data has been digitized, and there is a demand for an optical disc having a higher density and a larger capacity. A plurality of recording layers is useful for increasing the capacity. For example, in a read-only disc such as a DVD, the capacity can be doubled by forming two recording layers on one optical disc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a track 2 and a sector 3 of a general optical disc medium 1. A large number of tracks 2 are spirally formed on a disc-shaped disk medium 1, and a large number of finely divided sectors 3 are formed on each track 2. The areas formed on the disk medium 1 are roughly divided into a lead-in area 4, a user data area 8 and a lead-out area 6. Recording and reproduction of user data is performed on the user data area 8. The lead-in area 4 and the lead-out area 6 serve as margins so that the optical head (not shown) can follow the track even when the optical head overruns when accessing the end of the user data area 8. Fulfill. Also,
The lead-in area 4 includes a disk information area in which parameters necessary for accessing the disk medium 1 are stored. In sector 3, in order to identify each sector,
A physical sector number (hereinafter abbreviated as PSN) is assigned. Further, in the sector 3 included in the user data area 8, a continuous logical sector number (hereinafter, abbreviated as LSN) starting from 0 for a host device (not shown) such as a host computer to recognize the sector. It is assigned.

FIG. 2 shows the principle of reproducing data from a read-only optical disk 30 having two recording layers, which will be described below. Grooves are formed on the transparent substrates 31 and 32 so as to form spiral tracks, and the recording layer 33 is formed thereon.
The recording layers 33 and 34 are formed by depositing the recording layers 33 and 34, respectively. A transparent photo-curable resin 35 is filled between the two recording layers 33 and 34, and the two substrates 31 and 3 are
The two are stuck together to form one read-only optical disc 30. Here, for convenience of description, in FIG. 2, the recording layer 34 closer to the incident laser beam 38 is referred to as a first recording layer and the farther recording layer 33 is referred to as a second recording layer. The thickness and composition of the first recording layer 34 are adjusted so that the incident laser beam 38 is half reflected and half transmitted.
The thickness and composition of the second recording layer 33 are adjusted so as to reflect all the incident laser light 38. The objective lens 37 for converging the laser beam 38 is provided to the read-only optical disc 3
The focus (beam spot) 36 of the laser beam 38 can be made to converge on the first recording layer 34 or the second recording layer 33 by moving the laser beam 38 closer to 0 or away from it.

3A, 3B, 3C and 3D,
The tracks of the two recording layers 41 and 42 called the parallel path of the read-only DVD disc, the reproduction direction and the sector number are shown respectively. FIG. 3A shows a spiral groove pattern of the second recording layer 42, FIG. 3B shows a spiral groove pattern of the first recording layer 41, and FIG. 3C is arranged in the recording layers 41 and 42. User data area 8
And the sector number assigned to the recording layers 41 and 42 is shown in FIG. 3D.

When the read-only DVD disc is rotated clockwise when viewed from the bottom of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the laser light is emitted along the track 2 as the first and second recording layers 4 and 4.
Proceed from the inner peripheral side of 1 and 42 to the outer peripheral side. When reproducing user data in order along the reproduction direction shown in FIG. 3C, reproduction is performed from the innermost position to the outermost position of the user data area 8 of the first recording layer 41, and then the second layer recording. The reproduction is performed from the innermost position to the outermost position of the user data area 8 of the layer 42. The user data areas 8 of the first and second recording layers 41 and 42 are sandwiched between the lead-in area 4 and the lead-out area 6 so that they can follow the track 2 even if the optical head overruns. There is. As shown in FIG. 3D, the PSN and L of each recording layer 41 and 42 are
The SNs are assigned so as to increase in the order of the reproduction direction.
The PSN does not have to start from 0 so that disk molding is easy, and the first and second recording layers 41 and 42
May not be consecutive between the two numbers (the layer number may be located in the upper digit of the sector number as the PSN). L
As the SN, a continuous number starting from 0 is assigned to all the user data areas 8 included in the DVD disc. In the user data area 8 of the first recording layer 41, the LSN becomes 0 at the innermost peripheral position and increases by 1 as it goes to the outer peripheral side. The LSN of the innermost circumferential position of the user data area 8 of the second recording layer 42 is a number obtained by adding 1 to the maximum LSN of the recording layer 41 of the first user data area 8 and becomes closer to the outer circumferential side. Increase by one.

4A, 4B, 4C and 4D
2 called Opposite Path for read-only DVD disc
Tracks, reproduction directions, and sector numbers of the recording layers 43 and 44 of the layers are shown, respectively. FIG. 4A shows the second recording layer 44.
4B shows a spiral groove pattern of the first recording layer 43, and FIG. 4C shows a spiral groove pattern of FIG.
Shows the reproduction direction of the user data area 8 arranged in the recording layers 43 and 44, and FIG. 4D shows the sector numbers assigned to the recording layers 43 and 44.

When the read-only DVD disc is rotated clockwise as viewed from the bottom of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the laser light travels along the track 2 from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side in the first recording layer 43. In the second recording layer 44, it proceeds from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side. When the user data is sequentially reproduced along the reproduction direction shown in FIG. 4C, reproduction is performed from the innermost position to the outermost position of the user data area 8 of the first recording layer 43, and then the second layer recording. User data area 8 of layer 44
From the outermost position to the innermost position. 1 so that it can follow track 2 even if the optical head overruns
The user data area 8 of the second recording layer 43 is sandwiched between the lead-in area 4 and the middle area 7, and the user data area 8 of the second recording layer 44 is sandwiched between the middle area 7 and the lead-out area 6. Has been. The role of the middle area 7 is the same as that of the lead-out area 6. As shown in FIG. 4D, each of the recording layers 43 and 4 is similar to the case of the parallel path described above.
The 4 PSNs and LSNs are assigned to increase in the playback direction. However, since the spiral direction of the track 2 of the second recording layer 44 is opposite to the spiral direction of the track 2 of the first recording layer 43, the relationship between the sector number and the radial direction changes. In the user data area 8 of the first recording layer 43, the LSN becomes 0 at the innermost circumferential position and increases by 1 as it goes to the outer circumferential side. LSN of the outermost peripheral position of the user data area 8 of the second recording layer 44
Is the maximum L of the user data area 8 of the first recording layer 43.
It is a number with 1 added to SN and becomes 1 as it goes to the inner circumference side.
It increases by one.

Up to this point, the read-only optical disc has been described, but the following description will be made about items peculiar to the rewritable optical disc. These matters come from that the margin for the recording operation is stricter than that of the reproducing operation.

FIG. 5 shows an area layout of a recording layer 45 included in a DVD-RAM which is a rewritable disc of DVD. The DVD-RAM has only one recording layer (that is, the recording layer 45). In the recording layer 45 shown in FIG. 5, the disc information area 10 and the OPC are included in the lead-in area 4.
(Optimum Power Calibratio
n) A region 11 and a defect management region 12 are provided.
A defect management area 12 is provided in the lead-out area 6. Spare areas 13 are provided between the lead-in area 4 and the user data area 8 and between the user data area 8 and the lead-out area 6.

The disc information area 10 stores disc information relating to parameters and formats required for recording / reproducing data on / from the optical disc. The disc information area 10 is also included in a read-only optical disc, but only the format identifier for identifying the disc is stored in the disc information area of the read-only optical disc. On the other hand, in the rewritable optical disc, recommended values such as the power and pulse width of the recording laser light are stored in detail for each generated mark width. Disk information area 1
0 is a read-only area in which information is usually written when a disc is formed.
The same uneven pits are formed (in addition to the uneven pits, there is also one in which information is superposed on a meandering pattern of grooves (called wobble) like CD-RW).

The OPC area 11 is an area for adjusting the optimum recording power of laser light. The disc manufacturer sets the recommended laser parameters for recording in the disc information area 10
However, there is a difference in the laser characteristics such as the wavelength and the rise time of the laser power between the laser element used by the disk manufacturer to obtain the recommended value and the laser element installed in the optical disk drive device. is there. Further, even in the case of the same laser element of the optical disk drive device, a difference in laser characteristics occurs due to its ambient temperature and deterioration over time. Therefore, trial recording is performed in the OPC area 11 while varying the power value around the laser parameters described in the disc information area 10 to obtain the optimum recording power.

The defect management area 12 and the spare area 13 are
This is an area prepared for defect management in which a sector on the user data area 8 where recording / reproduction cannot be performed correctly (this is called a defective sector) is replaced with another sector in good condition. For rewritable single-layer optical discs, ISO / IEC10
Defect management such as 90 mm standard 90 mm magneto-optical disk is generally performed.

The spare area 13 is an area including a sector for replacing a defective sector (referred to as a spare sector, and particularly a sector which has been replaced with a defective sector is referred to as a replacement sector). In the DVD-RAM, the spare areas 13 are arranged at two locations on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side of the user data area 8, and the spare areas 13 are arranged on the outer circumference side so as to cope with the case where the number of defective sectors increases more than expected. Can be expanded in size.

The defect management area 12 lists a disk definition structure (DDS) 20 that holds a format relating to defect management including management of the size and arrangement location of the spare area 13, the position of the defective sector and the position of its replacement sector. The defect list (DL) 21 is included. Defect management area 1
For 2, consider the robustness and the same content,
Many optical discs have a specification in which double recording is performed in each of the defect management areas 12 on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side, that is, a total of four recordings. Also, 6
As in the 50 MB phase change optical disk (PD) standard, when a spare area is secured in the defect management area 12 and the sector storing the DL 21 becomes a defective sector, the sector in the spare area is used. There is also a device for storing the DL 21.

In the above structure, the system including the optical disk drive apparatus rewrites the data reliability comparable to that of the read-only optical disk under the condition that the recording operation has a stricter margin in physical characteristics than the reproducing operation. It is prepared for securing the optical disc.

[0017]

However, although there is a read-only information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, only a rewritable information recording medium having one recording layer exists as a rewritable information recording medium. . The defect management in the above-described rewritable information recording medium targets only one recording layer. There is no document that discloses defect management in an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers. If an independent defect management is applied to each recording layer, the spare area of one recording layer is exhausted despite the spare area of another recording layer is exhausted. There is a problem that the defective sector cannot be replaced. Further, if a spare area is arbitrarily assigned to each recording layer, when the track is an opposite path (see FIGS. 4A to 4D), the focus of the laser beam is from the user data area of the first recording layer to the second layer. There is also a problem that the radial positions of the turn-back positions that move to the user data area of the eye recording layer are displaced from each other and the access is delayed.

In view of the above problems, the present invention devises the arrangement of spare areas in a plurality of recording layers to effectively use the spare areas and improve the access performance. An object is to provide an information reproducing method, an information recording device, and an information reproducing device.

[0019]

A multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention has a user data area for recording user data and at least one defective area in the user data area. At least one that can be used in place of the at least one defective area
A plurality of spare areas including one replacement area, the plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer and a second recording layer adjacent to each other, and the user data is stored in the first recording layer. A first user data area, which is a part of the area, and a first spare area, which is one of the plurality of spare areas, are provided, and the user data is stored in the second recording layer. A second user data area, which is another part of the area, and a second user data area, which is another one of the plurality of spare areas.
Spare area, the first spare area is arranged adjacent to the first user data area, and the second spare area is adjacent to the second user data area. It is arranged so that
The spare area and the second spare area are arranged at substantially the same radial position in the multilayer information recording medium, thereby achieving the above object.

A logical address is assigned to the first user data area in the direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. A logical address is assigned to the second user data area in the direction from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. And the logical address assigned to the second user data area are continuous,
The first spare area is arranged so as to be adjacent to the sector to which the largest logical address is allocated among the plurality of sectors included in the first user data area, and the second spare area is Of the plurality of sectors included in the second user data area, the sector may be arranged adjacent to the sector to which the smallest logical address is assigned.

A multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers of the present invention includes a user data area for recording user data and a plurality of OPC areas for adjusting the recording power of laser light. Each of the multiple recording layers,
It includes a corresponding one of the plurality of OPC areas, thereby achieving the above object.

An adjustment result storage area for storing the adjustment result of the recording power of the laser beam may be further included, and the adjustment result storage area may be provided at least in a reference layer serving as a reference of the plurality of recording layers. .

The plurality of recording layers are adjacent to each other in the first recording layer.
Recording layer and a second recording layer, the first recording layer is provided with a first user data area which is a part of the user data area, and the second recording layer Is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the first user data area has the multilayer information recording along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses are assigned in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the medium, and the second user data area is arranged from the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses may be assigned in the direction toward the inner circumference side.

The plurality of recording layers have a first portion adjacent to each other.
Recording layer and a second recording layer, the first recording layer is provided with a first user data area which is a part of the user data area, and the second recording layer Is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the first user data area has the multilayer information recording along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses are assigned in a direction from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the medium, and the inner peripheral side of the multilayer information recording medium is arranged in the second user data area along the peripheral direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses may be assigned in the direction from the outer side to the outer side.

A multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention has a user data area for recording user data and at least one defect in the user data area when there is at least one defect area. At least one spare area that can be used instead of the area, the user data area includes a plurality of sectors, and each of the plurality of sectors is assigned a logical address, One of the at least one spare area is arranged so as to be adjacent to the sector to which the largest logical address is allocated among the plurality of sectors included in the user data area, and is expandable. There, the above object is achieved thereby.

The spare area adjacent to the sector to which the maximum logical address is assigned may be expandable in the direction from the spare area to the user data area.

The plurality of recording layers are adjacent to each other in the first
Recording layer and a second recording layer, the first recording layer is provided with a first user data area which is a part of the user data area, and the second recording layer Is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the first user data area has the multilayer information recording along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses are assigned in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the medium, and the second user data area is arranged from the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses may be assigned in the direction toward the inner circumference side.

The plurality of recording layers are arranged so that the first recording layers are adjacent to each other.
Recording layer and a second recording layer, the first recording layer is provided with a first user data area which is a part of the user data area, and the second recording layer Is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the first user data area has the multilayer information recording along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses are assigned in a direction from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the medium, and the inner peripheral side of the multilayer information recording medium is arranged in the second user data area along the peripheral direction of the multilayer information recording medium. Logical addresses may be assigned in the direction from the outer side to the outer side.

In the recording apparatus for recording information on the multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention, the multilayer information recording medium has a user data area for recording user data and the user data. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used instead of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the area, the plurality of spare areas being the plurality of recording layers. The recording device is provided in at least two recording layers, and an optical head unit capable of optically writing the information to the multilayer information recording medium from one side of the multilayer information recording medium, And a control unit for controlling execution of a defect management process using the optical head unit, wherein the defect management process can be used among the plurality of spare areas. At least one spare area, a step of determining whether or not a defective area exists in the user data area, and a step of determining whether or not the defective area exists, the specified at least one spare area Among the areas, including a step of selecting a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area, and a step of replacing the defective area with a replacement area included in the selected spare area, whereby the above-mentioned object is achieved. To be achieved.

In a recording apparatus for recording information on a multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention, the multi-layer information recording medium has a user data area for recording user data and the user data. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used instead of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the area, the plurality of spare areas being the plurality of recording layers. Of the plurality of recording layers, a part of the user data area is arranged in each of the plurality of recording layers, and the recording device is arranged from one side of the multilayer information recording medium. An optical head unit capable of optically writing the information in the multilayer information recording medium, and a defect management process using the optical head unit And a control unit for controlling the defect management processing, wherein the defect management processing determines a usable at least one spare area of the plurality of spare areas, and determines whether or not a defective area exists in the user data area. And the recording layer in which the area where the defective area exists, which is a part of the user data area, is arranged, when it is determined that the defective area exists, among the at least one specified spare area Determining whether or not at least one of the above-mentioned at least one spare area is arranged in the recording layer in which the area in which the defective area exists is arranged. If determined, the step of selecting the spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area from the specified at least one spare area. And flop, the defect region includes a step of alternating the replacement area contained in the spare area selected above, the objects can be achieved.

In the recording method for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention, the multilayer information recording medium has a user data area for recording user data and the user data. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used instead of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the area, the plurality of spare areas being the plurality of recording layers. Of the plurality of spare areas, the step of identifying at least one spare area that can be used among the plurality of spare areas, and the defective area exists in the user data area. And a step of determining whether or not the defective area is present, and at least one of the specified A) selecting a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area, and replacing the defective area with a replacement area included in the selected spare area. Is achieved.

In the recording method for recording information on a multilayer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers according to the present invention, the multilayer information recording medium has a user data area for recording user data, and the user data. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used instead of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the area, the plurality of spare areas being the plurality of recording layers. Of the plurality of recording layers, a part of the user data area is arranged in each of the plurality of recording layers, and the recording method uses the plurality of spare areas. Identifying at least one possible spare area and determining if there is a defective area in the user data area. And when it is determined that the defective area exists, at least one of the identified at least one spare area is provided in the recording layer in which the area where the defective area exists, which is a part of the user data area, is arranged. And a step of determining whether or not one is arranged, and determining that none of the specified at least one spare area is arranged in the recording layer in which the area where the defective area exists is arranged. In this case, a step of selecting a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area among the specified at least one spare area, and a step of replacing the defective area with a replacement area included in the selected spare area The above object is achieved thereby.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a multilayer information recording medium according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, the multi-layer information recording medium refers to an information recording medium having two or more recording layers.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 50 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The multi-layer information recording medium 50 includes two recording layers 51 and 52. The multilayer information recording medium 50 includes a user data area 5 for recording user data. In the embodiment of the present invention, the upper layer of the plurality of recording layers is set to 1 in the drawing.
The recording layer as the first layer and the lower layer will be referred to as the second recording layer. The first recording layer 51 has the lead-in area 1 from the inner side toward the outer side, which is the same direction as the recording / reproducing direction.
01, the head spare area 105, and the user data area 5
A first user data area 15, which is a part of the above, an intermediate spare area 106, and a middle area 102. The second recording layer 52, which is the same as the recording / reproducing direction from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, is the middle area 103, the intermediate spare area 106 ′, and the second part that is a part of the user data area 5.
User data area 16 and final spare area 107,
And a lead-out area 104.

Leading spare area 105, intermediate spare area 1
06, intermediate spare area 106 'and final spare area 1
Each of the at least one 07 can be used instead of the at least one defective sector when there is at least one defective area in the user data area 5 (in the embodiment of the present invention, the defective area is a defective sector). The spare area (in the embodiment of the present invention, the spare area is a spare sector) is included.

The lead-in area 101 includes a disc information area 10, an OPC area 11, and a defect management area 12. The middle area 102 includes the defect management area 12. The lead-out area 104 is the OPC area 11
Is included. The defect management area 12 includes a DDS 20 and a DL.
21 and 21 are included.

The disc information area 10 is the first recording layer 5
The disc information area 10 is provided in the first layer and the second layer.
Recording / reproducing parameters recommended individually for both the recording layers 51 and 52 of the second layer are stored. Thereby, all the recording layers 51 and 5 of the multi-layer information recording medium 50 can be accessed only by accessing the first recording layer 51.
Since the parameter for 2 can be obtained, the processing speed can be increased, which is advantageous.

The defect management area 12 is the first recording layer 51.
And includes defect management information relating to defect management of both the first and second recording layers 51 and 52. That is, D
In the DS 20, information regarding the leading spare area 105, the intermediate spare area 106, and the final spare area 107 is described. In addition, the DL 21 includes a first recording layer 51 and a second recording layer 51.
The positions of both defective sectors of Nos. 52 and 52 and the position of the replacement sector of the replacement destination are listed. This allows
Since it is possible to obtain information regarding all defect management of the multi-layer information recording medium 50 simply by accessing the first recording layer 51, it is advantageous that the processing speed can be increased.

The head spare area 105 and the intermediate spare area 106 are arranged adjacent to both ends of the user data area 15. The intermediate spare area 106 ′ and the final spare area 107 are arranged so as to be adjacent to both ends of the user data area 16. This is the first and second
As compared with the case where each of the spare areas 105 to 107 is arranged at a position where any one of the user data areas 15 and 16 is divided in the middle, there is an advantage that sequential recording / reproducing in the recording / reproducing direction can be performed at high speed. Further, the intermediate spare area 106 and the intermediate spare area 106 ′ are arranged at the same radial position on the multilayer information recording medium 50. With this arrangement, when the focus position of the laser light is switched from the first user data area 15 of the first recording layer 51 to the second user data area 16 of the second recording layer 52, Radial movement distance is ideally 0
Therefore, faster access can be realized. Here, ideally, there is a discrepancy when the first recording layer 51 and the second recording layer 52 are stuck together, and the eccentricity of the disc during the switching of the focus position of the laser beam. This is because the shift of the laser light is required in the radial direction.

O for adjusting the recording power of the laser beam
The PC area 11 is provided on both the first and second recording layers 51 and 52, respectively. This is because one recording layer is semitransparent, while the other recording layer adjusts the thickness of the recording film so that total reflection occurs.Therefore, the recording characteristics are different for each recording layer. is there. Therefore, the adjustment of the recording power of the laser beam is performed by adjusting the first recording layer 51
And OPC so that the second recording layer 52 and the second recording layer 52 can be performed separately.
The area 11 is provided in each of the recording layers 51 and 52.

A storage area for control information other than the disk information area 10 and the defect management area 12, for example, an adjustment result storage area 1 for storing the adjustment result of the recording power of laser light.
4 and the like, if considering the processing speed as described above, 1
It is desirable to dispose on the recording layer 51 of the second layer.

The size of the leading spare area 105, the size of the intermediate spare area 106, and the size of the final spare area 107 may be zero. Further, for example, even if the sizes of the leading spare area 105 and the intermediate spare area 106 are non-zero and the size of the final spare area 107 is 0, the above-mentioned advantages are not changed.

FIG. 7 shows D in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The data structure of DS20 is shown. The data of DDS20 is
DDS identifier 201, LSN0 position 202, head spare area size 203, and intermediate spare area size 204
, Final spare area size 205, and first layer final LSN
206, a second layer last LSN 207, and a spare depletion flag group 208. The DDS identifier 201 indicates that this data structure is DDS. LSN0 position 202
Is the P of the sector whose LSN (ie logical address) is 0.
Indicates SN (that is, physical address). The head spare area size 203 indicates the number of sectors in the head spare area 105. The intermediate spare area size 204 is the intermediate spare area 1
The number of sectors is 06. Final spare area size 205
Indicates the number of sectors in the final spare area 107. The first layer last LSN 206 indicates the LSN assigned to the last sector of the first user data area 15 of the first recording layer 51, which is equal to the number of sectors of the first user data area 15. The second layer final LSN 207 is the second recording layer 52.
Shows the LSN assigned to the last sector of the second user data area 16 of the first user data area 1
It is equal to a value obtained by adding the number of sectors of 5 and the number of sectors of the second user data area 16. The spare depletion flag group 208 is
Each of the spare areas 105 to 107 includes a flag group indicating whether or not there is a usable spare sector.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the spare depletion flag group 208. The head spare area depletion flag 221 corresponds to the head spare area 105, the first layer intermediate spare area depletion flag 222 corresponds to the intermediate spare area 106, and the second layer intermediate spare area depletion flag 223 corresponds to the intermediate spare area 10.
6 ', and the final spare area depletion flag 224 corresponds to the final spare area 107. Spare depletion flag group 20
It is sufficient that 8 includes flags corresponding to the spare areas 105 to 107, and the arrangement of the flags is not limited to this.

FIG. 9 shows D in the first embodiment of the present invention.
The data structure of L21 is shown. The data of DL21 is DL
It includes an identifier 301, a DL entry number 302, and zero or more DL entries 303. DL identifier 301
Indicates that this data structure is DL. The DL entry number 302 indicates the number of DL entries 303. DL entry 303 has defective sector position 304
And information about the replacement sector location 305. As the defective sector position 304, the PSN of the defective sector is stored. PS of the replacement sector as the replacement sector position 305
N is stored. The PSN includes a layer number 306 and an intra-layer sector number 307. The layer number 306 may be any value that identifies the recording layers, for example, 0 for the first recording layer 51 and 1 for the second recording layer 52. The in-layer sector number 307 may be a value that identifies each sector in a certain recording layer, and is a number that increases by 1 every time one sector advances along the recording / reproducing direction, for example. Further, similar to the opposite path of the DVD-ROM, the relationship between the PSN values of the sectors arranged at the same radial position between the first recording layer 51 and the second recording layer 52 is 2 The above-mentioned condition is satisfied even in the complement relation of. For example, the PSN is represented by 28 bits, and the PSN of the first recording layer 51 is 0000000.
It is assumed that the range is h to 0FFFFFFh (h represents a hexadecimal number). PS of a certain sector of the first recording layer 51
If N is 0123450h, the PSN of the sector of the second recording layer 52 located at the same radial position is FEDCB.
AFh (see steps (1) to (4) below). (1) 0 1 2 3 4 5 0: Hexadecimal number (2) 0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0000: Binary number (3) 1111 1110 1101 1100 1011 1010 1111: Bit-inverted binary number (4) F E D C B A F: The hexadecimal most significant bit is always 0 in the PSN of the first recording layer 51 and is always F in the PSN of the second recording layer 52, so this most significant bit is considered to be the layer number 306. Good.
The PSN of the next sector is 0123451 in the order of the recording / reproducing direction (from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side) of the first recording layer 51.
h. In the recording / reproducing direction of the second recording layer 52 (from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side), the PSN of the next sector is FE.
It is DCBB0h. Layer number 306 from these PSNs
If the most significant bit is removed, the sector number in the layer is 307
become. The intra-layer sector number 307 is 123450h for the current sector of the first layer and 123451h for the next layer, which is 2
The current sector of the layer is EDCBAFh and the next sector is EDCB
It is B0h, and it can be seen that both increase by 1.

When the DL 21 of the present invention is used, not only the defective sector is replaced with a spare sector included in a spare area provided in the same recording layer where the defective sector is found, but also a defective sector is found. The spare sector included in a spare area provided on a recording layer different from the recording layer can be replaced. For example, the DL entry 303 in which the defective sector position 304 indicates the PSN in the first recording layer 51 and the replacement sector position 305 indicates the PSN in the second recording layer 52 is the DL entry 303 of the first recording layer 51. This indicates that the defective sector in the first user data area 15 is replaced by the spare sector in the second recording layer 52. If the defect list is composed of DL entries that cannot identify the recording layer as in the conventional case, the replacement process cannot be performed when the defective sectors exceed the number of spare sectors arranged in a certain recording layer. Therefore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the defective sector can be replaced with the spare sector until the spare sectors of all the recording layers are used up, and the spare area can be effectively used.

FIG. 10 shows sector number allocation in the first embodiment of the present invention. From the left to the right in the figure, it is disclosed from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the first recording layer 51 and from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the second recording layer 52.
Therefore, from the left to the right in the figure, the leading spare area 1
05, first user data area 15, intermediate spare area 1
06, the intermediate spare area 106 ′, the second user data area 16, and the final spare area 107 are arranged in this order, and each area includes a plurality of sectors. PSN is the first recording layer 5
In case of 1, the number increases by 1 every time one sector moves to the outer circumference side, and in the second recording layer 52, it increases by one each time one sector moves toward the inner circumference side. P
As SN, the numerical range excluding the layer number may be set to the same range in the first recording layer 51 and the second recording layer 52 (that is, included in the head spare area 105 of the first recording layer 51). The minimum PSN of the sector and the minimum PSN of the sector included in the intermediate spare area 106 of the second recording layer 52 are the same except for the layer number of the sector included in the intermediate spare area 106 of the first recording layer 51. Maximum PSN and maximum P of sectors included in the final spare area 107 of the second recording layer 52.
SN is equal except for the layer number). Or DVD-R
Similar to the opposite path of the OM, the relationship between the PSN values of the sectors at the same radial position between the first recording layer 51 and the second recording layer 52 may be a two's complement relationship. .

The LSN is assigned only to a plurality of sectors included in the user data area 5. LSNs are assigned to the first user data area 15 along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium 50. LSNs are also assigned to the second user data area 16 along the circumferential direction.
LSN assigned to the first user data area 15
And the LS assigned to the second user data area 16
It is continuous with N.

In the first user data area 15 of the first recording layer 51, 0 is assigned as the LSN of the sector at the innermost circumferential position, and the LSN of each sector goes from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side. Increase by 1. Second recording layer 52
In the second user data area 16 of, the value obtained by adding 1 to the maximum LSN assigned to the first user data area 15 of the first recording layer 51 is assigned as the LSN of the sector at the outermost circumference position. Therefore, the LSN is increased by 1 for each sector from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference side. Thus, the second user data area 16 is assigned with a logical address in a direction opposite to the direction of assigning the logical address to the first user data area 15.

The intermediate spare area 106 is arranged so as to be adjacent to the sector to which the largest logical address is assigned among the plurality of sectors included in the first user data area 15. In addition, the intermediate spare area 106 ′ has a second
Of the plurality of sectors included in the user data area 16, the sector is arranged so as to be adjacent to the sector to which the smallest logical address is assigned. As described above, the intermediate spare area 106 and the intermediate spare area 106 ′ are arranged at the same radial position on the multilayer information recording medium 50. Therefore, the sector to which the maximum logical address of the first user data area 15 is allocated and the second user data area 1
The sector to which the smallest logical address of 6 is assigned is arranged at the same radial position on the multilayer information recording medium 50. With this arrangement, the first user data area 15
From the sector assigned the highest logical address of
When the focus position of the laser light is switched to the sector to which the smallest logical address of the user data area 16 is assigned, the moving distance of the laser light in the radial direction can be ideally set to zero.

It will be described with reference to FIG. 10 that the size of the spare area can be increased even if the user data is already recorded in the user data area 5. The final spare area 107 is arranged so as to be adjacent to the sector to which the largest LSN is assigned among the plurality of sectors included in the user data area 5. Final spare area 107
Indicates the direction from the final spare area 107 to the second user data area 16 (that is, the arrow 107 'shown in FIG. 10).
Direction).

First, the final spare area 107 is indicated by the arrow 10.
Before expanding in the 7'direction, the second user data area 1
The user data recorded in the extended area in 6 is moved to another area in the user data area 5. Next, the file management information (one of the information managed by the file system) of the moved user data is corrected to point to the sector position of the movement destination. Next, the size change of the user data area 5 is reflected in the volume space management information (one of the information managed by the file system). Finally, the size of the outermost peripheral spare area 107 is expanded. Incidentally, it is unrealistic to expand the sizes of the leading spare area 105 and the intermediate spare areas 106 and 106 '. Because, if their size is expanded, the LSN to the user data area 5
Is changed, and the file system that manages the user data area 5 using the LSN fails.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, continuous access performance can be improved in a multi-layer information recording medium having two recording layers. Further, since the defective sector can be replaced with the spare area of any recording layer, the spare area can be effectively used. Further, the reliability of data can be improved by expanding the size of the spare area to prevent the spare area from running short.

(Second Embodiment) A multilayer information recording medium according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a reference layer serving as a reference among a plurality of recording layers included in the multilayer information recording medium will be described. Figure 1
1A, FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11C are views for explaining the layout of the recording layer of the information recording medium in the second embodiment.
FIG. 11A shows an information recording medium 5 having one recording layer 402.
3 shows a three layer layout. In FIG. 11A, the information recording medium 53 includes a transparent resin 401, a total reflection recording layer 402, and a substrate 400 in the order along the laser light incident direction. Here, the total reflection recording layer 402 is located at a depth d from the surface of the transparent resin 401 on which the laser light is incident. Figure 11
B and FIG. 11C show three recording layers 402, 403 and 4
4 shows a layer layout of information recording media 54 and 55 with 04. Total reflection recording layer 40 provided on substrate 400
The semi-transparent recording layers 403 and 404 are laid out so as to be sandwiched by the transparent resin 401 in the direction in which the laser light is incident from 2. Positioned at the depth d from the surface of the outermost transparent resin 401 on which the laser light is incident is the total reflection recording layer 402 in the information recording medium 54 of FIG. 11B and the semi-transparent recording in the information recording medium 55 of FIG. 11C. The difference of the layer 403 is between the information recording medium 54 and the information recording medium 55.

Usually, the optical head is designed so that an optimum light spot can be obtained at the position of the depth d. Therefore, the recording layer located at this depth d will be referred to as a reference layer. Therefore, an area for storing important information, for example, the disk information area 10 or the defect management area 12
Are preferably placed on this reference layer. The recording layer 51 in which the disc information area 10, the defect management area 12, and the adjustment result storage area 14 shown in FIG. 6 are arranged is a reference layer.

In the following description, the names of the recording layers will be referred to as the first recording layer, the second recording layer, the third recording layer, ... And For example, in the multilayer information recording medium 54 shown in FIG. 11B, the total reflection recording layer 402 is the first recording layer, the semitransparent recording layer 403 is the second recording layer, and the semitransparent recording layer 404 is the third recording layer. Recording layer. Further, for example, in the multilayer information recording medium 55 shown in FIG. 11C, the semitransparent recording layer 403 is the first recording layer and the semitransparent recording layer 404.
Is referred to as a second recording layer, and the total reflection recording layer 402 is referred to as a third recording layer. As described above, the numbering of the recording layers does not always depend on the arrangement relationship between the upper and lower sides of the recording layers. It should be noted that the case where three recording layers are provided has been described here, but the same applies to all information recording media provided with two or more recording layers.

FIG. 12 shows an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 56 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The multilayer information recording medium 56 comprises three recording layers 57, 58 and 59. The multi-layer information recording medium 56 has a user data area 5 for recording user data. The first recording layer 57 is a part of the lead-in area 101, the head spare area 105, and the user data area 5 from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side in the same direction as the recording / reproducing direction. User data area 17, an intermediate spare area 106, and a middle area 102. The second recording layer 58 has a middle area 103, an intermediate spare area 106 ', and an inner spare area 106' in the same direction as the recording / reproducing direction from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference side.
A second user data area 18, which is a part of the user data area 5, an intermediate spare area 108, and a middle area 109.
Including and The third recording layer 59 is formed in the middle area 1 from the inner side toward the outer side, which is the same direction as the recording / reproducing direction.
09, an intermediate spare area 108 ′, a third user data area 19 which is a part of the user data area 5, a final spare area 107, and a lead-out area 104.
The lead-in area 101 includes the disk information area 10 and O
It includes a PC area 11 and a defect management area 12. The middle area 102 includes the defect management area 12. The middle area area 109 includes the OPC area 11.
The defect management area 12 includes a DDS 20 and a DL 21.

The disc information area 10 is provided in the first recording layer 57, and the disc information area 10 stores recording / reproducing parameters individually recommended for all the recording layers 57, 58 and 59. Has been done. Thereby, the parameters for all the recording layers 57, 58 and 59 of the multilayer information recording medium 56 can be obtained only by accessing the first recording layer 57, which is advantageous in that the processing speed can be increased.

The defect management area 12 includes the first recording layer 57.
And includes defect management information regarding defect management of all the recording layers 57, 58, and 59. That is, in the DDS 20, the head spare area 105 and the intermediate spare areas 106, 1
06 ', 108 and 108' and the final spare area 107
The information about and is described. Further, in the DL 21, the positions of the defective sectors of all the recording layers 57, 58 and 59 and the positions of the replacement sectors of their replacement destinations are listed. According to this, information on all defect management of the multilayer information recording medium 56 can be obtained only by accessing the first recording layer 57, which is advantageous in that the processing speed can be increased.

Any of the spare areas 105 to 108 'of the respective recording layers 57 to 59 is the first to third user data area 1
It is arranged at a position adjacent to any one of the ends 7 to 19. This is the first to third user data areas 17 to 19
There is an advantage that sequential recording / reproducing can be performed at a high speed in the recording / reproducing direction, as compared with the case where the spare area is arranged at a position where any one of them is divided on the way. Further, the intermediate spare area 106 and the intermediate spare area 106 ′ arranged on the outer peripheral sides of the recording layers 57 and 58 are arranged at the same radial position. With this arrangement, when the focal position of the laser light is switched from the first user data area 17 to the second user data area 18, the radial movement distance of the optical head portion is ideally 0, so High-speed access can be realized. Further, the intermediate spare area 108 and the intermediate spare area 108 'arranged on the inner peripheral side of the recording layers 58 and 59 are arranged at the same radial position. With this arrangement, when the focus position of the laser light is switched from the second user data area 18 to the third user data area 19, the moving distance in the radial direction of the optical head portion is ideally 0. High-speed access can be realized. here,
Ideally, since a deviation occurs when the recording layers 57 to 59 are attached to each other or an eccentricity of the disk occurs while the focal position of the laser light is switched, a slight radial direction deviation occurs. This is because it is necessary to move the laser light.

The OPC area 11 includes all the recording layers 57-5.
9 is provided. This is because the recording layers 57 to 59 have different recording characteristics. Therefore,
The OPC area 11 is provided in each of the recording layers 57 to 59 so that the recording power can be adjusted separately in any of the recording layers.

The size of the leading spare area 105, the sizes of the intermediate spare areas 106, 106 ', 108 and 108', and the size of the final spare area 107 may be zero. Further, for example, even if the size of the leading spare area 105 and the intermediate spare areas 106, 106 ′, 108 and 108 ′ is non-zero and the size of the final spare area 107 is 0, the above-mentioned advantages are not changed.

FIG. 13 shows the data structure of the DDS 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DDS20 is DDS
Identifier 201, number of recording layers 209, LSN0 position 202
A leading spare area size 203, an inner peripheral side intermediate spare area size 210, and an outer peripheral side intermediate spare area size 21.
1, a final spare area size 205, a first layer user data area size 212, an intermediate layer user data area size 213, a final layer user data area size 214,
And a spare depletion flag group 208. The same components as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The number of recording layers 209 indicates the total number of recording layers. Inner peripheral side intermediate spare area size 210
Indicates the number of sectors in the intermediate spare areas 108 and 108 'on the inner circumference side. The outer peripheral side intermediate spare area size 211 is
The number of sectors in the intermediate spare areas 106 and 106 'on the outer peripheral side is shown. The first layer user data area size 212 indicates the number of sectors in the first user data area 17. this is,
Since it is equal to the maximum value of the LSN assigned to the first user data area 17, it is actually the same as the first layer last LSN 206 in the first embodiment. The middle layer user data area size 213 indicates the number of sectors of the second user data area 18. The final layer user data area size 214 is
The number of sectors in the third user data area 19 is shown.

The DDS 20 shown in FIG. 13 can be applied to a multilayer information recording medium having two or more arbitrary recording layers.
For example, when applied to a multilayer information recording medium having four recording layers, it is as follows. The number of recording layers 209 is 4. The intermediate layer user data area size 213 indicates the number of sectors in the user data area of the second recording layer, and also indicates the number of sectors in the third user data area. The final layer user data area size 214 indicates the number of sectors in the user data area of the fourth layer.

Intermediate spare areas 108 and 10 on the inner peripheral side
8 ′ and the outer peripheral side intermediate spare areas 106 and 106 ′ are limited to include the same number of sectors, the inner peripheral side intermediate spare area size 210 and the outer peripheral side intermediate spare area size 211.
Corresponds to the intermediate spare area size 204 described in the first embodiment. Further, if the head spare area 105 and the inner peripheral side intermediate spare areas 108 and 108 'are limited to include the same number of sectors, the head spare area size 203 and the inner peripheral side intermediate spare area size 210 are combined into one field. . The first layer user data area size 212 and the middle layer user data area size 213 may also be combined in one field. As mentioned above, fields that have the same content if you add restrictions,
The fields required by the four arithmetic operations may be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the spare depletion flag group 208. The head spare area depletion flag 221 corresponds to the head spare area 105, the first layer intermediate spare area depletion flag 222 corresponds to the intermediate spare area 106,
The intermediate spare area depletion flag 225 on the outer peripheral side of the second layer corresponds to the intermediate spare area 106 ', the intermediate spare area depletion flag 226 on the inner peripheral side of the second layer corresponds to the intermediate spare area 108, and Inner spare side intermediate spare area depletion flag 2
27 corresponds to the intermediate spare area 108 ′, and the final spare area depletion flag 224 corresponds to the final spare area 107.

As in the first embodiment, the data structure shown in FIG. 9 can be applied to the DL 21 of the second embodiment. Also,
If the layer number 306 is represented by 4 bits, up to 16 recording layers can be represented. In the second embodiment as well, it is obvious that the defective sector can be replaced with the spare sector until the spare sectors of all the recording layers are used up, and the spare area can be effectively used.

FIG. 15 shows sector number allocation in the second embodiment of the present invention. From left to right in the figure, from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the first recording layer 57, from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the second recording layer 58, the third recording layer It is disclosed from the inner peripheral side of 59 to the outer peripheral side. Therefore,
From the left to the right in the figure, a head spare area 105, a first user data area 17, an intermediate spare area 106, an intermediate spare area 106 ′, a second user data area 18,
Intermediate spare area 108, intermediate spare area 108 ', third
The user data area 19 and the final spare area 107 are arranged in this order. In the first recording layer 57, the PSN increases by 1 every time one sector advances toward the outer circumference side, and in the second recording layer 58, the PSN increases by one every one sector advances toward the inner circumference side, and the third recording layer At 59, it is incremented by 1 every time one sector is advanced to the outer peripheral side. In the recording layers adjacent to each other, the LSN allocation directions of the respective recording layers are opposite to each other. As the PSN, the numerical range excluding the layer number may be the same range among the first to third recording layers 57 to 59. Alternatively, the PSN allocation rule in the opposite path of the DVD-ROM is expanded so that the lower value of the PSN of the sectors located at the same radial position between the odd-numbered layer and the even-numbered layer is a two's complement relation. May be In this case, as the upper value of PSN, 0 is applied to the first and second recording layers and 1 is applied to the third and fourth recording layers.
May be applied, and 2 may be applied to the fifth and sixth recording layers.

The LSN is assigned only to the sectors included in the user data area 5. First user data area 1
In Fig. 7, 0 is assigned as the LSN of the sector at the innermost circumferential position, and the LSN increases by 1 for each sector from the inner circumferential side toward the outer side. Second user data area 1
8, the LSN of the sector at the outermost position is the maximum LS assigned to the first user data area 17.
A value obtained by adding 1 to N is assigned, and the LSN increases by 1 for each sector from the outer side toward the inner side. In the third user data area 19, a value obtained by adding 1 to the maximum LSN assigned to the second user data area 18 is assigned as the LSN of the sector at the innermost circumferential position,
The LSN increases by 1 for each sector from the inner circumference side to the outer side.

Although the description is omitted because it is similar to that of the first embodiment, even in the multi-layer information recording medium having three or more recording layers, even if user data is already recorded in the user data area 5, the outermost peripheral spare area 107 is formed. The size of can be expanded.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, continuous access performance can be improved in a multi-layer information recording medium having two or more recording layers. Further, since the defective sector can be replaced with the spare area of any recording layer, the spare area can be effectively used. Further, the reliability of data can be improved by expanding the size of the spare area to prevent the spare area from running short.

(Third Embodiment) Hereinafter, a multilayer information recording medium according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 16 shows an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium 60 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The multi-layer information recording medium 60 comprises two recording layers 61 and 62. The recording and reproducing directions of the first and second recording layers 61 and 62 are the same. The multi-layer information recording medium 60 has a user data area 5 for recording user data. 1
The recording layer 61 of the layer is a lead-in area 101, a head spare area 105, and a first user data area 2 which is a part of the user data area 5 from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side.
3, the intermediate spare area 106, and the lead-out area 11
Including 1 and. The second recording layer 62 includes a lead-in area 110, an intermediate spare area 108, a second user data area 24 that is a part of the user data area 5, and a final recording area from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side. The spare area 107 and the lead-out area 104 are included. Lead-out area 111
Includes the defect management area 12. Lead-in area 1
10 includes an OPC area 11. The same components as those described in the first or second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As the data structure of the DDS 20 in the third embodiment, the DDS 2 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is used.
0 can be applied. In this case, the middle layer user data area size 213 is simply unnecessary.

As the spare depletion flag group 208 in the third embodiment, the flag group shown in FIG. 8 can be applied.

The data structure shown in FIG. 9 can be applied to the DL 21 in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment as well, it is obvious that the defective sector can be replaced with the spare area until the spare sectors of all the recording layers are used up, and the spare area can be effectively used.

FIG. 17 shows sector number allocation in the third embodiment of the present invention. From left to right in the figure, it is disclosed from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the first recording layer 61 and from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the second recording layer 62.
Therefore, from the left to the right in the figure, the leading spare area 1
05, first user data area 23, intermediate spare area 1
06, the intermediate spare area 108, the second user data area 24, and the final spare area 107 are arranged in this order. PSN is 1
Both the recording layer 61 of the second layer and the recording layer 62 of the second layer increase by 1 each time one sector progresses from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side. The PSNs of the sectors at the same radial position on the first and second layers are the same except for the layer number. The LSN is assigned only to the sectors included in the user data area 5. In the first user data area 23, 0 is assigned as the LSN of the sector at the innermost circumferential position, and the LSN increases by 1 for each sector from the inner circumferential side toward the outer side. In the second user data area 24, a value obtained by adding 1 to the maximum LSN allocated to the first user data area 23 is assigned as the LSN of the sector at the innermost circumference position, and the value is added from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side. The LSN increases by 1 for each sector toward.

Even if there is a difference in the recording / reproducing direction of the recording layer between the multi-layer information recording medium 50 of the first embodiment and the multi-layer information recording medium 60 of the third embodiment, the LSN allocation and the spare area The fact that the relationship with the arrangement is the same is shown in FIG.
And FIG. 17 clearly. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, even if user data is already recorded in the user data area 5, the size of the spare area can be increased.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in a multi-layer information recording medium having two or more recording layers, a multi-layer information recording medium in which the recording and reproducing directions of each recording layer are the same, The common defect management can be applied to the multi-layer information recording medium in which the recording and reproducing directions of the recording layers are alternately opposite, and the defective sector can be replaced by the spare area of any recording layer, so that the spare area can be effectively used. . Further, the reliability of data can be improved by expanding the size of the spare area to prevent the spare area from running short.

(Embodiment 4) An embodiment of an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing using the multi-layer information recording medium 50 described in Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 includes a disc motor 502, a preamplifier 508, a servo circuit 509, and a binarizing circuit 5.
10, a modem circuit 511, an ECC circuit 512, a buffer 513, a CPU 514, an internal bus 534,
And an optical head unit 535. Information recording / reproducing apparatus 500
A multi-layer information recording medium 50 is installed in the. The optical head unit 535 includes a lens 503 and an actuator 504.
A laser drive circuit 505, a photodetector 506, and a transfer table 507. Reference numeral 520 indicates a rotation detection signal, reference numeral 521 indicates a disk motor drive signal, reference numeral 522 indicates a laser emission permission signal, and reference numeral 523.
Is a light detection signal, reference numeral 524 is a servo error signal,
Reference numeral 525 represents an actuator drive signal, reference numeral 526 represents a transfer base drive signal, reference numeral 527 represents an analog data signal, reference numeral 528 represents a binarized data signal,
Reference numeral 529 indicates a demodulated data signal, reference numeral 530 indicates a corrected data signal, reference numeral 531 indicates a stored data signal, reference numeral 532 indicates an encoded data signal, and reference numeral 5
Reference numerals 33 denote modulated data signals, respectively.

The CPU 514, which functions as a control unit, controls the overall operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 via the internal bus 534 in accordance with the built-in control program.
As described below, the optical head unit 535 can optically write information on the multilayer information recording medium 50 from one side of the multilayer information recording medium 50. Further, the optical head unit 535 can optically read information from the multilayer information recording medium 50. The CPU 514 controls execution of a defect management process as described below using the optical head unit 535.

Laser beam 536 is emitted from the laser drive circuit 505 to the multi-layer information recording medium 50 by the laser emission permission signal 522 output from the CPU 514. The light reflected from the multilayer information recording medium 50 is converted into a photodetection signal 523 by the photodetector 506. The light detection signal 523 is added / subtracted by the preamplifier 508 and the servo error signal 52 is added.
4 and analog data signal 527 are generated. further,
The analog data signal 527 is A / D (analog / digital) converted by the binarization circuit 510 and converted into a binarized data signal 528, and the binarized data signal 528 is then demodulated and demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 511. Data signal 5
29 is generated. The demodulated data signal 529 is then
Corrected data signal 53 without error by ECC circuit 512
0 and the corrected data signal 530 is converted into a buffer 513.
Stored in. The servo circuit 509 outputs the servo error signal 52
4 outputs the actuator drive signal 525 to the actuator 504 to feed back the servo error to the actuator 504, and the focusing control and tracking control of the lens 503 are executed. The stored data signal 531 that is the output of the data stored in the buffer 513 is added with an error correction code by the ECC circuit 512, and an encoded data signal 532 is generated. Next, the encoded data signal 532 is modulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 511 to generate a modulated data signal 533. Further, the modulated data signal 533 is the laser driving circuit 505.
Is input to the laser, and the power of the laser light is modulated.

The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is a CD-ROM.
When used as a computer peripheral device such as a drive, a host interface circuit (not shown) is added, and a host computer (not shown) and a buffer 513 are connected via a host interface bus (not shown) such as SCSI. Exchange data between. When used as a consumer device such as a CD player, an AV decoder that expands or compresses compressed video and audio
An encoder circuit (not shown) is added to exchange data between the host computer and the buffer 513.

In the reproducing operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the defect management is applied 2
In order to reproduce the information recorded on the multi-layer information recording medium 50 having the recording layers of two layers, two processes, that is, the process of acquiring the defect management information and the process of reproducing the sector in consideration of replacement are required.

In the recording operation of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, defect management is applied 2
In order to record information on the multi-layer information recording medium 50 having two recording layers, in addition to the above-described reproduction operation, two processes, that is, a defect management information update process and a sector recording process in consideration of replacement are required. become.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart 60 for explaining the defect management information acquisition procedure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates 0. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the disc information area 10 storing the disc information and the defect management area 12 storing the defect management information are provided in the reference layer.

In the first step 601 of the defect management information acquisition processing, the CPU 514 causes the servo circuit 509 to
Command the track of the reference layer to follow the focus of the laser light.

In step 602, the optical head unit 53
5 reproduces the sector in which the disc information is stored, and the CPU
Reference numeral 514 confirms parameters and formats required for recording / reproducing with respect to the multilayer information recording medium 50.

At step 603, the optical head unit 535 reproduces the sector in which the defect management information is stored, and the reproduced data is held in a predetermined location of the buffer 513.

FIG. 20 shows a flowchart 700 for explaining a sector reproducing procedure in consideration of replacement in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this playback process, DDS
The defect management information including 20 and DL 21 is stored in the buffer 51.
It has been already held at 3.

In the first step 701 of this reproducing process, the CPU 514 converts LSN into PSN (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 21).

At step 702, the CPU 514 refers to the layer number of the PSN to obtain the laser beam 53.
It is determined whether or not the focused recording layer of 6 and the recording layer to be reproduced are the same. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step 704, and if not, the process proceeds to step 703.

In step 703, the CPU 514 instructs the servo circuit 509 to make the focus of the laser beam 536 follow the track of the recording layer to be reproduced.

In step 704, the optical head unit 53
Step 5 reproduces the information recorded in the sector to which the PSN converted in step 701 is assigned.

FIG. 21 shows a flowchart 800 for explaining the LSN to PSN conversion procedure (that is, step 701 shown in FIG. 20) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, PSN increases by 1 every time one sector progresses from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side in the first recording layer, and 2
In the recording layer of the first layer, it is incremented by 1 every time one sector progresses from the outer circumference to the inner circumference.

In the first step 801, the LSN is converted into PSN without considering the replacement result of the defective sector and the spare area indicated by the DL 21 (that is, similar to the case where no defective sector exists). Explaining with reference to FIG. 10, when the LSN to be converted is smaller than the total number of sectors of the first user data area 15, (first
PSN can be obtained by calculating the minimum PSN of the user data area 15) + (LSN). When the LSN to be converted is larger than the total number of sectors of the first user data area 15, (minimum PSN of the second user data area 16) + (LSN) − (first user data area 15
PSN can be obtained by calculating (total number of sectors of).

In step 802, the CPU 514 refers to the DL entry 303 of the DL 21 to determine whether the sector to which the PSN obtained above is assigned is replaced with a spare sector, and if so, the process proceeds to step 803. If not replaced, the conversion process ends.

At step 803, the CPU 514 adopts the replacement sector position of the DL entry 303, which indicates that the PSN is replaced, as the PSN.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention reproduces information recorded on the multilayer information recording medium 50 having two recording layers to which defect management is applied. can do. Since the reproducing operation of the user data after the focus of the laser beam 536 moves to the recording layer to be accessed is basically the same as the reproducing operation of the user data using the single-layer information recording medium, the information corresponding to the single layer is recorded. Obviously, any user data playback procedure of the recording / playback device can be used.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart for explaining the procedure for updating defect management information according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the formatting process of the multilayer information recording medium 50 includes a defect management information initialization process and a spare area size expansion process.

In the first step 901 of the update processing, the CPU 514 determines whether or not the necessary format processing is the spare area size expansion processing, and if it is the spare area size expansion processing, the processing proceeds to step 902, and so on. If not, the process proceeds to step 903.

In step 902, the CPU 514
The DDS20 to be the designated spare size.
The value of the final spare area size 205 (FIG. 7) is set.

In step 903, the CPU 514
Sets each value of the DDS 20 to the predetermined value of the device, which is set in advance, and sets the DL entry number 302 of the DL 21 to 0.

In step 904, the CPU 514
Determines whether or not the focus of the laser beam 536 is following the track of the reference layer, and if it is following the track of the reference layer, the process proceeds to step 906, and if not, step 9
Go to step 05.

In step 905, the CPU 514 commands the servo circuit 509 to cause the laser beam 536 to follow the focus of the reference layer track.

In step 906, the optical head unit 53
5 records the defect management information including the DDS 20 and the DL 21 in the sector included in the defect management area 12.

FIG. 23 shows a flowchart 1000 for explaining a sector recording procedure in consideration of replacement in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the first step 1001 of the recording process, the CPU 514 sets L according to the procedure shown in FIG.
Convert SN to PSN.

In step 1002, the CPU 514
By referring to the PSN layer number, laser light 5
It is determined whether the recording layer in focus and the recording layer on which information is to be recorded are the same, and if they are the same, step 1
If not, the process proceeds to step 004.
Go to processing.

In step 1003, the CPU 514
Instructs the servo circuit 509 to make the focus of the laser beam 536 follow the track of the recording layer on which information is to be recorded.

In step 1004, step 10
Information is recorded in the sector to which the PSN converted in 01 is assigned.

In step 1005, the CPU 514
Controls the optical head unit 535 to reproduce the information recorded in the sector, thereby determining whether or not the information recording in the sector has succeeded (that is, whether or not there is a defective sector in the user data area 5). If the determination is successful, the recording process is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to step 1006.

In step 1006, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector to a defective sector to replace the defective sector with a spare sector (details of spare sector assignment processing will be described later with reference to FIGS. 24A and 24B).

In step 1007, if the process of replacing the defective sector with the spare sector is impossible, the recording process is ended, and if the process of replacing the defective sector with the spare sector is possible, the process returns to step 1001. .

FIG. 24A is a flowchart 1 for explaining spare sector allocation processing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates 100.

The spare sector allocation process is a process of identifying at least one spare region that can be used among a plurality of spare regions included in the multi-layer information recording medium 50, and a process from a defective sector of the identified at least one spare region. And a process of selecting a spare area having the shortest distance. Details of the spare sector allocation process will be described below with reference to FIG. 24A.

In the first step 1101 of the spare sector allocation process, the CPU 514 refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 (FIG. 8) and determines whether or not there is an available spare area in the multilayer information recording medium 50. To do. If there is no available spare, it is determined that the allocation processing is impossible, and the allocation processing ends, and if there is a spare area available, the processing proceeds to step 1102.

At step 1102, the CPU 514
Determines whether the radial position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side or the spare area arranged on the outer circumference side. If the radial position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side, the process proceeds to step 1103, and if it is close to the spare area arranged on the outer circumference side, the process proceeds to step 1104.

In step 1103, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208, and determines whether or not the spare area arranged on the inner peripheral side is available. Step 1 if the spare area located on the inner circumference side is available
105, otherwise step 1106
Go to processing.

In step 1104, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side is available. If the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side is available, step 110
If not, the process proceeds to step 1105.

At step 1105, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether or not the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of the recording layer where the defective sector exists can be used. If it is available, the process proceeds to step 1107, and if not, the process proceeds to step 1108.

In step 1106, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether or not a spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of the same recording layer as the recording layer in which the defective sector exists can be used. If it can be used, the process proceeds to step 1109, and if not, the process proceeds to step 1110.

In step 1107, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of the same recording layer where the defective sector exists to the defective sector.

At step 1108, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of another recording layer to a defective sector.

In step 1109, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of the same recording layer where the defective sector exists to the defective sector.

At step 1110, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of another recording layer to a defective sector.

In the spare sector allocation procedure shown in FIG. 24A, a spare sector included in a spare area whose radial distance is as short as possible from the sector position of the defective sector is used. Due to the close radial distance, the transfer table 507
The seek operation time in the radial direction that accompanies the movement of can be shortened. Different allocation processing procedures may be used as long as the purpose of using the spare sector included in the spare area whose radius distance is as short as possible from the sector position of the defective sector is achieved.

FIG. 24B shows a flowchart 1120 for explaining another spare sector allocation process according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Another spare sector allocation process is a process of identifying at least one spare region that can be used among a plurality of spare regions included in the multilayer information recording medium 50, and a defective sector that is a part of the user data region 5. A process for determining whether or not at least one of the specified at least one spare area is arranged in the recording layer in which the area in which the defective sector exists is arranged, and in the recording layer in which the area in which the defective sector exists is arranged. A process of selecting a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective sector among the specified at least one spare areas when it is determined that none of the specified at least one spare areas is arranged. including. Details of this spare sector allocation processing are shown in FIG.
This will be described below with reference to B.

In the first step 1121 of the spare sector allocation processing, the CPU 514 refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether or not there is a usable spare area in the multilayer information recording medium 50. If there is no available spare area, it is determined that the allocation processing is impossible, and the allocation processing ends, and if there is a spare available, step 11
Proceed to 22 processing.

At step 1122, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether or not the spare area arranged in the same recording layer as the recording layer in which the defective sector exists can be used. If it can be used, the process proceeds to step 1123, and if not, step 1
The process proceeds to 124.

At step 1123, the CPU 514
Determines whether the radial position of the defective sector is close to the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side or the spare area arranged on the outer circumference side. When it is close to the spare area arranged on the inner circumference side, the process proceeds to step 1125, and when it is close to the spare area arranged on the outer circumference side, the process proceeds to step 1127.

In step 1125, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether the spare area arranged on the inner peripheral side of the recording layer is available. If it is available, the process proceeds to step 1129, and if not, the process proceeds to step 1131.

In step 1127, the CPU 514
Refers to the spare depletion flag group 208 to determine whether the spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of the recording layer is available. If it is available, the process proceeds to step 1131. If not, the process proceeds to step 1129.

Steps 1124, 1126 and 112
The process of 8 is the same as the processes of steps 1123, 1125 and 1127 except that the recording layer in which the spare area to be processed is arranged and the recording layer in which the defective sector exists are different.

In step 1129, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of the same recording layer where the defective sector exists to the defective sector.

In step 1130, the CPU 514
Assigns to the defective sector a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the inner circumference side of a recording layer different from the recording layer in which the defective sector exists.

In step 1131, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of the same recording layer where the defective sector exists to the defective sector.

In step 1132, the CPU 514
Assigns a spare sector included in a spare area arranged on the outer peripheral side of a recording layer different from the recording layer in which the defective sector exists to the defective sector.

In the spare sector allocation procedure shown in FIG. 24B, the spare sector included in the spare area arranged in the same recording layer as the defective recording layer is used as much as possible. By using the spare sector included in the spare area arranged on the same recording layer, it is not necessary to change the setting of the recording parameter which is different for each recording layer. For example, when the optimum recording power is not adjusted for another recording layer during the recording operation of information on a certain recording layer, the allocation procedure shown in FIG. 24B is the allocation procedure shown in FIG. 24A. Will be faster than. Different allocation procedures may be used as long as the purpose of using the spare sector included in the spare area arranged in the same recording layer as the recording layer in which the defective sector exists is achieved.

As described above, the information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention can record information on the multi-layer information recording medium 50 including two recording layers to which defect management is applied. . The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 is
A spare sector can be assigned from a spare area of a recording layer different from the recording layer in which the defective sector exists. or,
The information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 executes a spare sector allocation process that emphasizes shortening of seek time as described with reference to FIG. 24A, and shortens recording power setting time as described with reference to FIG. 24B. It is also possible to execute a spare sector allocation process that is emphasized.

Here, since the recording operation to the user data area after moving to the recording layer to be accessed is basically the same as that of the single-layer information recording medium, any recording of the information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the single layer is performed. Obviously the procedure can be used.

The recording operation to the user data area after the focus of the laser beam 536 moves to the recording layer to be accessed is
Since it is basically the same as the recording operation to the user data area using the single-layer information recording medium, it is obvious that the recording procedure to any user data area of the information recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding to the single layer can be used. .

Although the multilayer information recording medium 50 described in the first embodiment is used in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the multilayer information recording medium 60 described in the third embodiment can also be used. It's obvious. It is obvious that the multi-layer information recording medium 56 described in the second embodiment can be used by applying the conversion process in step 801 shown in FIG. 21 to three or more recording layers.

In the description of the present invention, the sector is used as a unit for reproduction / recording and defect management. However, a block which is an aggregate of sectors, for example, an ECC for a unit for calculating an error correction code in a DVD disc. block,
It is obvious that the present invention can be applied even if it is replaced with. Since the plurality of sectors included in the ECC block including the defective sector are replaced with the plurality of spare sectors, the defective sector is replaced with the spare sector in this case as well. Such modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art are included in the claims of the invention.

[0148]

According to the multilayer information recording medium of the present invention, 1
The defect management information of all recording layers is stored in one recording layer. As a result, the defect management information of all recording layers can be grasped by only accessing one recording layer, and continuous access performance can be improved.

According to the multilayer information recording medium of the present invention, the first
The first spare area located adjacent to the user data area and the second spare area located adjacent to the second user data area are located at substantially equal radial positions of the multilayer information recording medium. It is located in. As a result, when the focal position of the laser light is switched from the first user data area to the second user data area, the moving distance in the radial direction of the optical head portion is ideally 0, so continuous access is possible. The performance can be improved.

According to the multilayer information recording medium of the present invention, the detected defective sector can be replaced with the spare area of any recording layer, so that the spare area can be effectively used and the reliability of data is improved. be able to.

According to the multi-layer information recording medium of the present invention, by expanding the size of the spare area, the defective sector can be replaced with the spare sector even if the number of defective sectors becomes larger than expected. Can be improved.

According to the multi-layer information recording medium of the present invention, continuous LSNs between the user data areas of each recording layer are assigned to each user data area. As a result, common defect management can be applied between the multilayer information recording medium in which the recording and reproducing directions of the recording layers are the same and the multilayer information recording medium in which the recording and reproducing directions of the recording layers are alternately opposite to each other. And development costs can be reduced.

According to the multilayer information recording medium of the present invention, the control information areas such as the area storing the recording / reproducing parameters and the area storing the defect management information are arranged in one recording layer. As a result, the control information of all the recording layers can be grasped by only accessing one recording layer, and continuous access performance can be improved.

According to the multi-layer information recording medium of the present invention, by arranging the control information area in the reference layer, it is possible to perform a reliable recording / reproducing operation for the information in the control information area.

According to the multi-layer information recording medium of the present invention, by arranging the OPC area for adjusting the recording power in all recording layers, the optimum recording power can be adjusted for each recording layer. .

According to the information reproducing method and the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, information can be reproduced from the multi-layer information recording medium containing the defect management information regarding a plurality of recording layers.

According to the information recording method and the information recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to record information on the multilayer information recording medium containing the defect management information on a plurality of recording layers.

According to the information recording method and the information recording apparatus of the present invention, it is important to shorten the seek time in the radial direction by replacing the defective sector with the spare sector included in the spare area close to the defective sector. Spare sectors can be assigned.

According to the information recording method and the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording power is set by replacing the defective sector with the spare sector included in the spare area arranged in the same recording layer as the recording layer in which the defective sector exists. Spare sectors can be assigned with an emphasis on reduction of time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of tracks and sectors of a general optical disc.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a reproduction principle of an optical disc having two recording layers.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a groove pattern of a second recording layer in a parallel path of a DVD disc.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a groove pattern of a first recording layer in a parallel path of a DVD disc.

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a disc recording / reproducing direction in a parallel path of a DVD disc.

FIG. 3D is a diagram showing allocation of sector numbers in a parallel path of a DVD disc.

FIG. 4A: 2 in opposite path of DVD disc
The figure which shows the groove pattern of the recording layer of the 1st layer

FIG. 4B: 1 in opposite path of DVD disc
The figure which shows the groove pattern of the recording layer of the 1st layer

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing the recording / reproducing direction of the disc in the opposite path of the DVD disc.

FIG. 4D is a diagram showing allocation of sector numbers in the opposite path of a DVD disc.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an area layout of a DVD-RAM.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an area layout of the multilayer information recording medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of the DDS 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a spare depletion flag group 208 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a data structure of DL21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing sector number allocation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a layout of recording layers of a multilayer information recording medium having one recording layer.

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a layout of recording layers of the multilayer information recording medium according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11C is a diagram showing a layout of the recording layer showing a modification of the layout of the recording layer shown in FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an area layout of a multilayer information recording medium according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data structure of the DDS 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a spare depletion flag group 208 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing sector number allocation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a region layout of a multilayer information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing sector number allocation according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an information recording / reproducing apparatus 500 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for acquiring defect management information according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a sector reproduction procedure in consideration of replacement according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows LSN to P according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Flowchart explaining the conversion procedure to SN

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for updating defect management information according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a sector recording procedure in consideration of replacement according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24A is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for assigning a replacement sector according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24B is a flowchart showing a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 24A.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 disk media Two tracks 3 sectors 4 Lead-in area 5 User data area 6 Lead-out area 7 Middle area 10 Disk information area 11 OPC area 12 Defect management area 13 spare area 20 Disk definition structure (DDS) 21 Defect list (DL) 101 Lead-in area 102 Middle area 103 Middle area 104 Lead-out area 105 Top spare area 106 Intermediate spare area 107 Final spare area 108 Intermediate spare area 109 Middle area 110 Lead-in area 111 Lead-out area 201 DDS identifier 202 LSN 0 rank 203 Lead spare area size 204 Intermediate spare area size 205 Final spare area size 206 First Layer Final LSN 207 Layer 2 final LSN 208 Spare depletion flags 209 Number of recording layers 210 Intermediate spare size on the inner circumference side 211 Intermediate spare size on the outer circumference 212 First layer user data area size 213 Middle user data area size 214 Last layer user data area size 301 DL identifier 302 Number of DL entries 303 DL entry 304 defective sector position 305 Replacement sector position 306 Layer number 307 Layer sector number 400 substrates 401 transparent resin 402 Total reflection recording layer 403 Semi-transparent recording layer 404 Semi-transparent recording layer 500 information recording / reproducing apparatus 501 optical disc 502 disk motor 503 lens 504 actuator 505 Laser drive circuit 506 Photodetector 507 transfer table 508 preamplifier 509 Servo circuit 510 binarization circuit 511 Modulation and demodulation circuit 512 ECC circuit 513 buffer 514 CPU 520 rotation detection signal 521 Disk motor drive signal 522 Laser emission permission signal 523 Light detection signal 524 Servo error signal 525 Actuator drive signal 526 Transfer stand drive signal 527 Analog data signal 528 Binary data signal 529 Demodulated data signal 530 corrected data signal 531 Stored data signal 532 encoded data signal 533 modulated data signal 534 internal bus

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ueda             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Yamamoto             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tokai Hayashi             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5D044 AB01 BC03 CC06 DE03 DE54                       DE62 GK19                 5D090 AA01 BB04 CC02 CC14 FF27                       FF36

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium has a user data area for recording user data, and at least one defective area in the user data area. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that may be used in place of the at least one defective area in some cases, wherein the plurality of recording layers are adjacent to each other. A first user data area, which is a part of the user data area, and a first spare area, which is one of the plurality of spare areas, in the first recording layer. A second user data area, which is another part of the user data area, and a second one, which is another one of the plurality of spare areas, are provided on the second recording layer. spare An area is provided, the first spare area is arranged so as to be adjacent to the first user data area, and the second spare area is so arranged as to be adjacent to the second user data area. The multi-layer information recording medium, wherein the first spare area and the second spare area are arranged at substantially equal radial positions of the multi-layer information recording medium. 2. A logical address is assigned to the first user data area in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium, A logical address is assigned to the second user data area in a direction from the outer circumference side to the inner circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium. The logical address assigned to the data area and the logical address assigned to the second user data area are continuous, and the first spare area includes a plurality of logical addresses included in the first user data area. The sector is arranged so as to be adjacent to the sector to which the largest logical address is allocated, and the second spare area is included in the second user data area. Of the number of sectors, the smallest logical address is disposed adjacent to the sectors assigned, multilayer information recording medium according to claim 1. 3. A multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium has a plurality of user data areas for recording user data and a plurality of recording power for adjusting laser beam recording power. OPC area of each of the plurality of recording layers, and each of the plurality of recording layers includes a corresponding one of the plurality of OPC areas. 4. An adjustment result storage area for storing an adjustment result of the recording power of the laser beam is further included, and the adjustment result storage area is provided at least in a reference layer serving as a reference of the plurality of recording layers. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 3. 5. The plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer and a second recording layer which are adjacent to each other, and the first recording layer has a first recording layer that is a part of the user data area. User data area is provided, the second recording layer is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the second user data area is provided in the first user data area. Are assigned logical addresses in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium, and the multilayer information is stored in the second user data area. 4. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 3, wherein logical addresses are assigned in a direction from an outer peripheral side to an inner peripheral side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the recording medium. 6. The plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer and a second recording layer which are adjacent to each other, and the first recording layer is a part of the user data area. User data area is provided, the second recording layer is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the second user data area is provided in the first user data area. Are assigned logical addresses in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium, and the multilayer information is stored in the second user data area. 4. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 3, wherein logical addresses are assigned in a direction from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the recording medium. 7. A multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium has a user data area for recording user data, and at least one defective area in the user data area. And at least one spare area including at least one replacement area that may be used in place of the at least one defective area in some cases, the user data area includes a plurality of sectors, and each of the plurality of sectors includes: A logical address is allocated, and one of the at least one spare area is arranged so as to be adjacent to a sector to which the largest logical address is allocated among the plurality of sectors included in the user data area. And a multi-layer information recording medium that is expandable. 8. The spare area adjacent to the sector to which the maximum logical address is assigned is expandable in a direction from the spare area toward the user data area.
The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 7. 9. The plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer and a second recording layer which are adjacent to each other, and the first recording layer has a first recording layer which is a part of the user data area. User data area is provided, the second recording layer is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the second user data area is provided in the first user data area. Are assigned logical addresses in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium, and the multilayer information is stored in the second user data area. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein logical addresses are assigned in a direction from an outer peripheral side to an inner peripheral side of the multilayer information recording medium along a circumferential direction of the recording medium. 10. The plurality of recording layers include a first recording layer and a second recording layer adjacent to each other, and the first recording layer has a first recording layer that is a part of the user data area. User data area is provided, the second recording layer is provided with a second user data area which is another part of the user data area, and the second user data area is provided in the first user data area. Are assigned logical addresses in a direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the multilayer information recording medium along the circumferential direction of the multilayer information recording medium, and the multilayer information is stored in the second user data area. The multilayer information recording medium according to claim 7, wherein logical addresses are assigned in a direction from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the multilayer information recording medium along a circumferential direction of the recording medium. 11. A recording device for recording information on a multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium comprises a user data area for recording user data, and the user data area. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the data area, and the plurality of spare areas include the plurality of recording areas. The recording device is provided in at least two recording layers of the layers, and the recording device includes an optical head unit capable of optically writing the information to the multilayer information recording medium from one side of the multilayer information recording medium. And a control unit that controls execution of a defect management process using the optical head unit, wherein the defect management process can be used among the plurality of spare areas. Of at least one spare area that is capable of operating, a step of determining whether or not a defective area exists in the user data area, and a step of determining whether or not the defective area exists if the defective area exists A recording apparatus comprising: selecting a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area from among the spare areas; and replacing the defective area with a replacement area included in the selected spare area. 12. A recording device for recording information on a multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium comprises a user data area for recording user data, and the user. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the data area, and the plurality of spare areas include the plurality of recording areas. At least two recording layers of the layers are provided, a part of the user data area is arranged in each of the plurality of recording layers, and the recording device is provided on one side of the multilayer information recording medium. From the above, an optical head unit capable of optically writing the information to the multilayer information recording medium, and execution of a defect management process using the optical head unit A control unit for controlling the defect management processing, wherein the defect management processing determines a usable spare area of the plurality of spare areas, and determines whether or not a defective area exists in the user data area. And a recording layer in which an area in which the defective area exists, which is a part of the user data area, is arranged when it is determined that the defective area exists, of the at least one specified spare area. Determining whether or not at least one of the above-mentioned at least one spare area is arranged in the recording layer in which the area in which the defective area exists is arranged. If it is determined, a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area is selected from the specified at least one spare area. A recording apparatus comprising: a step; and a step of replacing the defective area with an alternative area included in the selected spare area. 13. A recording method for recording information on a multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium comprises a user data area for recording user data, and the user data area. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the data area, and the plurality of spare areas include the plurality of recording areas. The recording method is provided in at least two recording layers of the layers, and in the recording method, a step of identifying at least one available spare area of the plurality of spare areas; And a step of determining whether or not to perform the determination, and if it is determined that the defective area exists, the at least one specified Of A region, including a step of alternating the steps of distance from the defective area to select the shortest spare area, a replacement area contained the defect region in the selected spare area, the recording method. 14. A recording method for recording information on a multi-layer information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers, wherein the multi-layer information recording medium comprises a user data area for recording user data, and the user data area. A plurality of spare areas including at least one replacement area that can be used in place of the at least one defective area when there is at least one defective area in the data area, and the plurality of spare areas include the plurality of recording areas. At least two recording layers among the plurality of recording layers, a part of the user data area is arranged in each of the plurality of recording layers, and the recording method is Identifying at least one spare area that can be used and determining whether a defective area exists in the user data area. And when it is determined that the defective area exists, at least one of the at least one spare area specified in the recording layer in which the area where the defective area exists, which is a part of the user data area, is arranged. Determining whether or not one of them is arranged, and determining that none of the specified at least one spare area is arranged in the recording layer in which the area where the defective area exists is arranged. In this case, a step of selecting a spare area having the shortest distance from the defective area among the specified at least one spare areas, and a step of replacing the defective area with a replacement area included in the selected spare area A recording method including and.