Method of forming visual image on optical disk by laser beam

A method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of an optical disk by using an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto the surface of the optical disk to form pits, the optical disk being capable of recording information on the surface thereof by the optical writing process, the method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information associated to a visual image to be formed;
• forming the visual image on the surface of the optical disk based on the acquired image formation information by using the optical writing process;
• and
• recording the image formation information together with the formed visual image on the surface of the same optical disk by using the optical writing process.

A method applicable when duplicating an original optical disk for forming a visual image on a surface of a duplicate optical disk by using an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto the surface of the duplicate optical disk to form pits, the method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information useable for forming a visual image;
• embedding the acquired image formation information on a surface of the original optical disk;
• copying the image formation information embedded in the origin optical disk to the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process;
• and
• reproducing the visual image on the surface of the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process based on the copied image formation information.

A program designed for use in an optical recording apparatus which performs an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of an optical disk to form pits for recording information, the program being executable by the optical recording apparatus to carry out a method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of an optical disk by using the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• checking a recording state of an optical disk to confirm that the optical disk is left unrecorded or is capable of additionally recording information;
• placing the optical disk in a recording end state while an available area is left on the surface of the optical disk, so that the optical disk is made unable to additionally record information on the available area any more;
• and
• forming the visual image in the available area of the optical disk by using the optical writing process.

A program designed for use in an optical recording apparatus which performs an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of an optical disk to form pits for recording information, the program being executable by the optical recording apparatus to carry out a method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of an optical disk by using the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information associated to a visual image to be formed;
• forming the visual image on the surface of the optical disk based on the acquired image formation information by using the optical writing process;
• and
• recording the image formation information together with the formed visual image on the surface of the same optical disk by using the optical writing process.

A program designed for use in an optical recording apparatus which performs an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of an optical disk to form pits for recording information, the program being executable by the optical recording apparatus to carry out a method applicable when duplicating an original optical disk for forming a visual image on a surface of a duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information useable for forming a visual image;
• embedding the acquired image formation information on a surface of the original optical disk;
• copying the image formation information embedded in the origin optical disk to the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process;
• and
• reproducing the visual image on the surface of the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process based on the copied image formation information.

An optical recording apparatus comprising a mechanical drive for mounting and rotating an optical disk, an optical pickup for performing an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of the optical disk to form pits for recording information, and a controller for controlling the mechanical drive and the optical pickup to carry out a method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of an optical disk by using the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• checking a recording state of an optical disk to confirm that the optical disk is left unrecorded or is capable of additionally recording information;
• placing the optical disk in a recording end state while an available area is left on the surface of the optical disk, so that the optical disk is made unable to additionally record information on the available area any more;
• and
• forming the visual image in the available area of the optical disk by using the optical writing process.

An optical recording apparatus comprising a mechanical drive for mounting and rotating an optical disk, an optical pickup for performing an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of the optical disk to form pits for recording information, and a controller for controlling the mechanical drive and the optical pickup to carry out a method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of an optical disk by using the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information associated to a visual image to be formed;
• forming the visual image on the surface of the optical disk based on the acquired image formation information by using the optical writing process;
• and
• recording the image formation information together with the formed visual image on the surface of the same optical disk by using the optical writing process.

An optical recording apparatus comprising a mechanical drive for mounting and rotating an optical disk, an optical pickup for performing an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto a surface of the optical disk to form pits for recording information, and a controller for controlling the mechanical drive and the optical pickup to carry out a method applicable when duplicating an original optical disk for forming a visual image on a surface of a duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information useable for forming a visual image;
• embedding the acquired image formation information on a surface of the original optical disk;
• copying the image formation information embedded in the origin optical disk to the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process;
• and
• reproducing the visual image on the surface of the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process based on the copied image formation information.

An optical disk produced by a method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of the optical disk by using an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto the surface of the optical disk to form pits, the optical disk being capable of recording information on the surface thereof by the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• checking a recording state of the optical disk to confirm that the optical disk is left unrecorded or is capable of additionally recording information;
• placing the optical disk in a recording end state while an available area is left on the surface of the optical disk, so that the optical disk is made unable to additionally record information on the available area any more;
• and
• forming the visual image in the available area of the optical disk by using the optical writing process.

An optical disk produced by a method of forming a visual image having a specified shape on a surface of the optical disk by using an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto the surface of the optical disk to form pits, the optical disk being capable of recording information on the surface thereof by the optical writing process, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information associated to a visual image to be formed;
• forming the visual image on the surface of the optical disk based on the acquired image formation information by using the optical writing process;
• and
• recording the image formation information together with the formed visual image on the surface of the optical disk by using the optical writing process.

A duplicate optical disk produced by a method applicable when duplicating an original optical disk for forming a visual image on a surface of the duplicate optical disk by using an optical writing process of irradiating a laser beam onto the surface of the duplicate optical disk to form pits, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• acquiring image formation information useable for forming a visual image;
• embedding the acquired image formation information on a surface of the original optical disk;
• copying the image formation information embedded in the origin optical disk to the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process;
• and
• reproducing the visual image on the surface of the duplicate optical disk by using the optical writing process based on the copied image formation information.