Optical disk recorder optimizing laser power for initial writing and overwriting

A method of recording data on a recordable area of an optical disk by irradiating thereto an optical beam having a writing power effective to write the data in the recordable area including a non-recorded area which is blank and a recorded area which is recorded with old data, the method comprising the steps of:

• performing a trial writing operation such as to irradiate the optical beam onto a predetermined area of the optical disk for test recording of data to determine an optimal writing power of the optical beam;
• performing either of an initial writing operation or an overwriting operation for recording of new data on the optical disk, the initial writing operation irradiating the optical beam onto the non-recorded area to initially write the new data, the overwriting operation irradiating the optical beam onto the recorded area to write the new data over the old data;
• and
• controlling an actual writing power of the optical beam based on the determined optimal writing power in a different manner between the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation so as to secure the recording of the new data in either of the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation.

An apparatus for recording data on an optical disk by an optical beam, comprising:

• a spindle motor that is provided for rotating the optical disk having a recordable area including a non-recorded area where data is not yet recorded and a recorded area where old data is already recorded;
• an optical pickup that is provided to irradiate the rotated optical disk with the optical beam having a writing power effective to write the data in the recordable area;
• and
• a controller that controls the spindle motor and the optical pickup to control the recording of data, wherein the controller comprises:
• a trial section that performs a trial writing operation such as to irradiate the optical beam onto a predetermined area of the optical disk for test recording of data to determine an optimal writing power of the optical beam;
• a selecting section that selects either of an initial writing operation or an overwriting operation for recording of new data on the optical disk, the initial writing operation irradiating the optical beam onto the non-recorded area to initially write the new data, the overwriting operation irradiating the optical beam onto the recorded area to write the new data over the old data;
• and
• a setting section that sets an actual writing power of the optical beam based on the determined optimal writing power for the overwriting operation greater than another actual writing power of the optical beam for the initial writing operation so as to secure the recording of the new data in either of the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation.

A program for use in a disk drive apparatus having a processor for recording data on a recordable area of an optical disk by irradiating thereto an optical beam having a writing power effective to write the data in the recordable area including a non-recorded area which is blank and a recorded area which is recorded with old data, the program being executable by the processor for causing the disk drive apparatus to perform a process comprising the steps of:

• performing a trial writing operation such as to irradiate the optical beam onto a predetermined area of the optical disk for test recording of data to determine an optimal writing power of the optical beam;
• performing either of an initial writing operation or an overwriting operation for recording of new data on the optical disk, the initial writing operation irradiating the optical beam onto the non-recorded area to initially write the new data, the overwriting operation irradiating the optical beam onto the recorded area to write the new data over the old data;
• and
• controlling an actual writing power of the optical beam based on the determined optimal writing power in a different manner between the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation so as to secure the recording of the new data in either of the initial writing operation and the overwriting operation.