Information recording medium and recording/reproduction apparatus

A recording apparatus for recording a data sequence, including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks, on an information recording medium based on a recording condition recorded on the information recording medium, the recording apparatus comprising:

• a reproduction signal processing section for irradiating the information recording medium with laser light to reproduce the recording condition;
• and
• a recording control section for recording information on the information recording medium based on the recording condition;
• wherein:
• where a recording mark which is included in the data sequence and is to be formed on the track based on the recording condition is a first recording mark,
• when a length of the first recording mark is longer than a prescribed length, the recording condition is classified using a combination of the length of the first recording mark and a length of a first space located adjacently previous or subsequent to the first recording mark;
• and
• when the length of the first recording mark is equal to or shorter than the prescribed length, the recording condition is classified using a combination of the length of the first recording mark, the length of the first space, and a length of a second space not located adjacent to the first space and located adjacent to the first recording mark.

An evaluation apparatus for evaluating an information recording medium having a recording parameter recorded thereon, the recording parameter being for recording a data sequence including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks;

• wherein:
• where a recording mark which is included in the data sequence and is to be formed on the track based on the recording condition is a first recording mark,
• when a length of the first recording mark is longer than a prescribed length, the recording parameter is classified using a combination of the length of the first recording mark and a length of a first space located adjacently previous or subsequent to the first recording mark, and
• when the length of the first recording mark is equal to or shorter than the prescribed length, the recording parameter is classified using a combination of the length of the first recording mark, the length of the first space, and a length of a second space not located adjacent to the first space and located adjacent to the first recording mark;
• and
• the evaluation apparatus comprises a reproduction signal processing section for generating a digital signal from a signal reproduced from the information recording medium using a PRML signal processing system, decoding a binary signal from the digital signal, calculating a differential metric, which is a difference of the reproduction signal from each of a most likely first state transition sequence and a most likely second state transition sequence, from the binary signal and detecting each differential metric as an edge shift, and determining whether or not the information recording medium fulfills a prescribed quality based on the edge shifts.

An information recording medium which includes a recording condition recording area in which recording conditions are recordable, and on which a data sequence including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks is recordable;

• wherein:
• the recording conditions are classified by a length of the recording mark;
• where the recording conditions are each a parameter for adjusting a position of a leading edge of the recording mark, at least one of the recording conditions classified by the length of the recording mark is further classified into two in accordance with whether a length of a space adjacently subsequent to the recording mark is equal to or shorter than a prescribed length or longer than the prescribed length;
• and
• where the recording conditions are each a parameter for adjusting a position of a trailing edge of the recording mark, at least one of the recording conditions classified by the length of the recording mark is further classified into two in accordance with whether a length of a space adjacently previous to the recording mark is equal to or shorter than the prescribed length or longer than the prescribed length.

A recording apparatus for recording a data sequence, including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks, on an information recording medium based on a recording condition recorded on the information recording medium, the recording apparatus comprising:

• a reproduction signal processing section for irradiating the information recording medium with laser light to reproduce the recording condition;
• and
• a recording control section for recording information on the information recording medium based on the recording condition;
• wherein:
• the recording conditions are classified by a length of the recording mark;
• where the recording conditions are each a parameter for adjusting a position of a leading edge of the recording mark, at least one of the recording conditions classified by the length of the recording mark is further classified into two in accordance with whether a length of a space adjacently subsequent to the recording mark is equal to or shorter than a prescribed length or longer than the prescribed length;
• and
• where the recording conditions are each a parameter for adjusting a position of a trailing edge of the recording mark, at least one of the recording conditions classified by the length of the recording mark is further classified into two in accordance with whether a length of a space adjacently previous to the recording mark is equal to or shorter than the prescribed length or longer than the prescribed length.

An evaluation apparatus for evaluating an information recording medium having recording conditions recorded thereon, the recording conditions being for recording a data sequence including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks;

• wherein:
• the recording conditions are classified by a length of the recording mark;
• where recording conditions are each a parameter for adjusting a position of a leading edge of the recording mark, at least one of the recording conditions classified by the length of the recording mark is further classified into two in accordance with whether a length of a space adjacently subsequent to the recording mark is equal to or shorter than a prescribed length or longer than the prescribed length;
• where the recording conditions are each a parameter for adjusting a position of a trailing edge of the recording mark, at least one of the recording conditions classified by the length of the recording mark is further classified into two in accordance with whether a length of a space adjacently previous to the recording mark is equal to or shorter than the prescribed length or longer than the prescribed length;
• and
• the evaluation apparatus comprises a reproduction signal processing section for generating a digital signal from a signal reproduced from the information recording medium using a PRML signal processing system, decoding a binary signal from the digital signal, calculating a differential metric, which is a difference of the reproduction signal from each of a most likely first state transition sequence and a most likely second state transition sequence, from the binary signal and detecting each differential metric as an edge shift, and determining whether or not the information recording medium fulfills a prescribed quality based on the edge shifts.

An information recording medium, comprising:

• a track on which a data sequence including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks is recordable;
• and
• at least one of a PIC area in which a recording condition for recording the data sequence on the track is recorded, and wobbling of the track by which the recording condition is recorded;
• wherein:
• the recording condition includes a parameter for adjusting a position of a trailing end of a cooling pulse in a recording pulse waveform for forming the recording mark;
• and
• the parameter is classified using a combination of a length of the recording mark and a length of a space located adjacently previous or subsequent to the recording mark.

A recording apparatus for recording a data sequence, including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks, on an information recording medium based on a recording condition recorded on the information recording medium, the recording apparatus comprising:

• a reproduction signal processing section for irradiating the information recording medium with laser light to reproduce the recording condition;
• and
• a recording control section for recording information on the information recording medium based on the recording condition;
• wherein:
• the recording condition includes a parameter for adjusting a position of a trailing end of a cooling pulse in a recording pulse waveform for forming the recording mark;
• and
• the parameter is classified using a combination of a length of the recording mark and a length of a space located adjacently previous or subsequent to the recording mark.

An evaluation apparatus for evaluating an information recording medium having a recording parameter recorded thereon, the recording parameter being for recording a data sequence including a plurality of recording marks and a plurality of spaces provided between the plurality of recording marks;

• wherein:
• the recording condition includes a parameter for adjusting a position of a trailing end of a cooling pulse in a recording pulse waveform for forming the recording mark;
• the parameter is classified using a combination of a length of the recording mark and a length of a space located adjacently previous or subsequent to the recording mark;
• and
• the evaluation apparatus comprises a reproduction signal processing section for generating a digital signal from a signal reproduced from the information recording medium using a PRML signal processing system, decoding a binary signal from the digital signal, calculating a differential metric, which is a difference of the reproduction signal from each of a most likely first state transition sequence and a most likely second state transition sequence, from the binary signal and detecting each differential metric as an edge shift, and determining whether or not the information recording medium fulfills a prescribed quality based on the edge shifts.