Optical information recording apparatus

An apparatus for recording information on a rewritable optical disc having a laminate of recording layers including first and second recording layers each with a trial write area, the apparatus comprising:

• first means for sequentially using sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer in an order accorded with a radial direction from an outer disc edge toward an inner disc edge while recording test signals thereon;
• second means for sequentially using sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer in an order accorded with a radial direction from the inner disc edge toward the outer disc edge while recording test signals thereon;
• third means for calculating a radial distance between an innermost one of used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer and an outermost one of used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer;
• fourth means for deciding whether or not the radial distance calculated by the third means is greater than a preset threshold value;
• fifth means for calculating a size of a used zone defined by the used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer;
• sixth means for calculating a size of a used zone defined by the used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer;
• seventh means for deciding which of the sizes calculated by the fifth and sixth means is greater;
• eighth means for erasing the recorded test signals from the used ones among the sections of the trial area in the first recording layer when the fourth means decides that the radial distance is not greater than the preset threshold value and the seventh means decides that the size calculated by the fifth means is greater;
• and
• ninth means for erasing the recorded test signals from the used ones among the sections of the trial area in the second recording layer when the fourth means decides that the radial distance is not greater than the preset threshold value and the seventh means decides that the size calculated by the sixth means is greater.

An apparatus for recording information on a rewritable optical disc having a laminate of recording layers including first and second recording layers each with a trial write area, the apparatus comprising:

• first means for using a first zone in the trial write area of the first recording layer for trial write;
• second means for recording dummy data on a second zone in the trial write area of the first recording layer, the second zone being separate from the first zone;
• and
• third means for using the trial write area of the second recording layer for trial write while applying a laser beam to the trial write area of the second recording layer through either the first zone in the trial write area of the first recording layer which has been used by the first means or the second zone in the trial write area of the first recording layer on which the dummy data has been recorded by the second means.

A method of recording information on a rewritable optical disc having a laminate of recording layers including first and second recording layers each with a trial write area, the method comprising the steps of:

• sequentially using sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer in an order accorded with a radial direction from an outer disc edge toward an inner disc edge while recording test signals thereon;
• sequentially using sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer in an order accorded with a radial direction from the inner disc edge toward the outer disc edge while recording test signals thereon;
• calculating a radial distance between an innermost one of used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer and an outermost one of used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer;
• deciding whether or not the calculated radial distance is greater than a preset threshold value;
• and
• erasing the recorded test signals from the used ones among the sections of the trial areas in the first and second recording layers when it is decided that the calculated radial distance is not greater than the preset threshold value.

A method of recording information on a rewritable optical disc having a laminate of recording layers including first and second recording layers each with a trial write area, the method comprising the steps of:

• sequentially using sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer in an order accorded with a radial direction from an outer disc edge toward an inner disc edge while recording test signals thereon;
• sequentially using sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer in an order accorded with a radial direction from the inner disc edge toward the outer disc edge while recording test signals thereon;
• calculating a radial distance between an innermost one of used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer and an outermost one of used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer;
• deciding whether or not the calculated radial distance is greater than a preset threshold value;
• calculating a first size of a used zone defined by the used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the first recording layer;
• calculating a second size of a used zone defined by the used ones among the sections of the trial write area in the second recording layer;
• deciding which of the calculated first and second sizes is greater;
• erasing the recorded test signals from the used ones among the sections of the trial area in the first recording layer when it is decided that the calculated radial distance is not greater than the preset threshold value and that the calculated first size is greater;
• and
• erasing the recorded test signals from the used ones among the sections of the trial area in the second recording layer when it is decided that the calculated radial distance is not greater than the preset threshold value and that the calculated second size is greater.