Distinction method for optical disk type, optical disk device, and integrated circuit

An optical disc device for reading information recorded on one of a plurality of types of optical discs having recording densities different from each other, or for recording information on the optical disc by irradiating a light beam onto the optical disc, the optical disc having a user data area and a physical information area having formats different from each other, the optical disc device comprising:

• a first seeking section which performs a seek operation to a predetermined reference address in the user data area;
• a second seeking section which performs a seek operation from the reference address sought by the first seeking section to a predetermined target address in the physical information area;
• an address reading section which reads a current address at a position sought by the second seeking section;
• and
• an optical disc type determination section which determines the type of the optical disc loaded in the optical disc device, based on the current address read by the address reading section.

An integrated circuit for discriminating, from a plurality of types of optical discs having recording densities different from each other, the type of an optical disc loaded in an optical disc device for reading information from the optical disc or for recording information on the optical disc by irradiating a light beam onto the optical disc, the optical disc having a user data area and a physical information area having formats different from each other, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a first seeking circuit which performs a seek operation to a predetermined reference address in the user data area;
• a second seeking circuit which performs a seek operation from the reference address sought by the first seeking circuit to a predetermined target address in the physical information area;
• an address reading circuit which reads a current address at a position sought by the second seeking circuit;
• and
• an optical disc type determination circuit which determines the type of the optical disc loaded in the optical disc device, based on the current address read by the address reading circuit.