In the following, further preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the enclosed figures.
Before turning to the description of the invention, an alternative concept based on prior-art mastering concepts will be described below with reference to
Regarding the mastering of such data mark patterns, it is expected that future mastering devices will use multiple writing beam spots, obtained from a laser diode array, still under development at present. Control and alignment of multiple writing beams derived from a single beam, or other methods than a laser diode array, have proven to be difficult to achieve and expensive. Therefore, a single writing beam spot is used at present for mastering two-dimensional data patterns. According to prior art methods the writing beam generates (writes) a sequence of data marks on a master disc track by track in a constant angular velocity (CAV) mode at a given frequency, which strictly depends on the radial position of the writing beam spot and on the channel bit length.
The channel bit data file 28 for this data pattern, which is to be written in a CAV mode, contains a periodic structure, wherein each period has a sequence of five sections, which are marked “Track 1” to “Track 5” in
Special care has to be taken that the sequence of channel bit data values intended to be written at a given track is precisely one disc circumference long. The radial position, where the writing takes place, changes during the disc writing process. The channel bit data file has to be constructed taking this change of radial position into account. Therefore, the length of the sections “Track 1” to “Track 5” within the channel bit data file has to change as the allocated radial writing position changes.
In consequence, the interdependence of the angular velocity of the disc, the radial position of the respective sub-track, and the channel bit length requires a complicated structure of a channel bit data file for mastering a disc with a track-to-track synchronization of data marks. In fact, at present, known mastering methods and devices cannot fulfill optimal mastering conditions over the whole disc using this concept.
The channel bit data memory 30 of
In contrast to the prior-art concept shown in
When writing the data contained in channel bit data memory 30 to a master disc, the writing will begin with channel bit data file 34 at a given radial marker. Upon a full disc rotation, the disc motor will provide a synchronisation signal, also referred to as the “pulse-per-revolution” (PPR) signal. Upon receiving the PPR signal the writing process will switch to the next channel bit data file 36 in order to write to sub-track 52. This is symbolized by an arrow “PPR” in
The data structure shown in
The individual channel bit data files 34 to 47 are made by integer numbers of information frames. Each file contains the maximum number of information frames that can be completely fit in one circumference of the disc at the respective intended radius.
At step S16 a track index n is set to the value 1, at steps S18 and S20 the capacity of track n and the number of frames to be contained in track n are determined. Steps S18 and S20 may be omitted where the capacity of the tracks is the same for all values of n. The track capacity is determined in the device for channel bit data file construction by the disc format unit. In a step S22 the channel bit data for track n are obtained and used in step S24 to build a channel bit data file for track n. The channel bit data file just generated is stored in a channel bit data memory in step S26. At step S28 a check is performed whether all channel bit data have been partitioned. If this is the case, the flow of the method branches to step S30, which ends the operation of the algorithm.
If there is still channel bit data to be allocated to new channel bit data files, step S32 is performed to increment the value of the track index by 1. From step S32 the algorithm branches back to step S18 or, optionally, step S22, if the capacity of the next track is known. The optional jumps from step S16 to S22 and from step S32 to step S22 are indicated by dashed arrows connecting the respective method step blocks in
The mastering device 60 comprises a disc holding unit in the form of a disc support 62, which is pivoted about an axis 64 indicated by a dashed line. The rotational motion of the disc support is driven by a disc motor 66. The angular phase in the rotation about axis 64 is monitored by angular position control unit 67. A writing unit 68 comprises a writing head 70, a radial translation stage 72 and a writing beam focussing unit in the form of a focussing stage 74. A writing beam generated by a writing head 70 is indicated by a cone 76.
The mastering machine 60 further contains a write control unit 78 which is connected to the disc motor 66, angular position control unit 67, the writing head 70, as well as to a channel bit data memory 80. A set 82 of channel bit data files is indicated by a similar graphical representation as in
In operation, a master disc substrate is positioned on disc support 62. Write control unit 78 provides control signals to disc motor 66 to rotate disc support 62 at a predetermined constant angular velocity. The angular position control unit, which is integrated into disc motor 66 periodically provides a PPR signal, indicating that a full turn has been performed relative to an angular reference position, which typically is the start position of the writing operation.
Write control unit 78 further instructs channel data memory 80 to open the first channel bit data file of set 82 and provide the channel bit data values contained therein at its output. Write control unit 78 uses the channel bit data received from channel data memory 80 to generate intensity control signals and transmits these intensity control signals to writing head 70. Writing head 70 receives the intensity control signals from write control unit 78 and controls the intensity of the writing beam 76 accordingly to generate data marks on the disc. While modulating the writing beam intensity, the writing head is moved in a radial direction indicated by double arrow R. The general direction of the radial motion of writing head 70 is directed away from the rotational axis 64. However, to produce a meta-spiral data pattern consisting of a number of parallel coplanar subspirals with a predetermined subspiral pitch and a predetermined meta-spiral track pitch, the write control unit controls the translation stage to perform a saw-tooth-shaped motion as described earlier with reference to another preferred embodiment of the invention. Writing head 70 and translation stage 72 exchange signals to control and maintain the correct radial position of the beam spot formed by writing beam 76 on the disc.
The distance of writing head 70 from the disc surface is controlled by a focus control unit 74, by driving a focussing actuator (not shown) to adjust the size of the writing beam spot on the disc. The writing head 70 contains focussing optics driven by a focussing actuator, which receives control signals from focus control unit 74.
Write control unit 78 switches the intensity of the writing beam spot on the disc from a higher level suitable for writing a data mark to a lower level, at which no data mark is written, when a guard band is to be produced on the disc. However, the intensity of the writing beam 76 is maintained high enough to allow a focus control detector (not shown) contained in writing head 70 to receive a reflected intensity fraction of the writing beam spot from the disc, allowing focus control unit 74 to keep the writing beam spot in focus.
Write control unit 78 switches from channel bit data file to channel bit data file with each PPR signal received from disc motor 66, until all channel bit data files contained in the set 82 have been written to the disc.
During the production of the guard bands on the disc, write control unit 78 drives disc motor 66 to adjust the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the disc support to accommodate the change of radial position of the writing beam spot on the disc so as to keep the linear velocity of the writing beam spot on the disc nearly constant.
This way, the mastering device 60 is able to produce a two-dimensional data pattern with a precise mutual alignment of data marks in adjacent sub-tracks over a full master disc.
The structure of the mastering machine of
The input unit 86 has a data input connected with an external data source (not shown) and a data selection and forwarding unit (not shown) connecting the input unit to the disc format unit 88 and to the partitioning unit 90.
Partitioning unit 90 has a buffer memory (not shown) providing intermediate storage capacity for received channel data bit values and received disc format data.
In operation, a sequence of channel bit data received from the external data source is forwarded to the partitioning unit 90. Control signals received from external sources indicating the disc format and further necessary mastering parameters, e.g., the initial radial position of the writing beam are also received by input unit 86 and forwarded to disc format unit 88.
Assuming for example that these control signals contain instructions to produce a master disc with a data pattern in the form of a meta-spiral data track with a given track pitch and having a certain number of sub-tracks in the form of parallel subspirals with a given sub-track pitch, disc format unit 88 provides respective storage capacity values of a number of full turns of the sub-tracks, in accordance with the storage capacity required to store the received channel bit data stream on the disc.
From the channel bit data value stream received partitioning unit 90 builds an ordered set of channel bit data files 96 to 108. Each channel bit data file contains an integer number of data frames, each with a predetermined number channel bit data values. The number of data frames corresponds to the storage capacity, neglecting a rest capacity corresponding to less than one frame size. A next channel bit data file in order continues the stream of channel bit data values where the foregoing file stopped. Depending on the particular design of the partitioning unit, the channel bit data files 96 to 108 can be built sequentially or in parallel. The partitioning unit 90 writes all channel bit data files to channel bit data memory 92. For producing a guard band, all channel data bits are set to “1”, corresponding to the formation of pits or holes, not land. At the same time, in a second channel contained by the channel bit data file intensity values are stored for controlling the intensity of the writing beam. For producing a guard band, the intensity channel values are set to a value that generating a low beam intensity, such that no data marks are produced. This embodiment has the advantage that the writing beam still produces enough intensity reflected from the disc to keep the writing beam in focus. This will be further explained in the context of the embodiment of
The format generator has a second output for delivering intensity values contained in the previously mentioned second channel of the channel bit data file. The intensity values are forwarded to an intensity controller 114 through an amplification and inversion element 116. It is noted that the amplification and inversion element 116 is specific to the set-up condition and might not be needed in another set-up.
When data marks are to be written, the intensity controller 114 receives “high” intensity values form format generator 110 and generates corresponding control signals for the writing head 70. When a guard band is to be produced, the intensity controller receives “low” intensity values from the format generator 110 and generates corresponding control signals for keeping the spot intensity generated by writing head 70 low. The spot intensity is chosen low enough not to produce any data mark, but high enough to derive a focus beam from the writing beam reflection on the disc.
It is noted that the invention is not restricted to the production of discs with two-dimensional data patterns arranged in tracks. Such data patterns as produced with the method and device of the invention can also be used for the development of a copy protection system for any optical disc or for enabling an optical drive to burn labels on any optical disc.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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04104923.0 | Oct 2004 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB05/53179 | 9/26/2005 | WO | 00 | 4/3/2007 |