Optical disk comprising a positional information section and a sync mark section each having a wobble pattern

A method for reading out positional information from an optical disk, said optical disk comprising a track groove, on which positional information indicating a physical location on the track groove is represented by a wobble shape of the track groove,

• wherein the optical disk includes a plurality of positional information units that are arranged on the track groove, and
• wherein each said positional information unit includes:
• a positional information section that represents the positional information by a combination of wobble patterns selected from multiple types of wobble patterns that have been defined so as to correspond to respective signal waveforms that rise and fall mutually differently;
• a sync mark section having a wobble pattern in a shape distinguishable from the wobble patterns of the positional information section;
• and
• a precision positioning mark section provided ahead of the positional information section, and
• wherein the precision positioning mark section includes an identification mark for use in precision positioning, and
• wherein at least the positional information section includes a plurality of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove and
• wherein a sub-block identification mark is provided within each said sub-block,
• the method comprising steps of:
• detecting the sync mark section that has been formed on the optical disk;
• detecting the precision positioning mark section;
• establishing a bit synchronization for the positional information using the sync mark section detected and/or the precision positioning mark section detected;
• and
• reading out the positional information in accordance with the bit synchronization established in the step of establishing the bit synchronization for the positional information.

A method for writing data on an optical disk, said optical disk comprising a track groove on which positional information indicating a physical location on the track groove is represented by a wobble shape of the track groove,

• wherein the optical disk includes a plurality of positional information units that are arranged on the track groove, and
• wherein each said positional information unit includes:
• a positional information section that represents the positional information by a combination of wobble patterns selected from multiple types of wobble patterns that have been defined so as to correspond to respective signal waveforms that rise and fall mutually differently;
• a sync mark section having a wobble pattern in a shape distinguishable from the wobble patterns of the positional information section;
• and
• a precision positioning mark section provided ahead of the positional information section, and
• wherein the precision positioning mark section includes an identification mark for use in precision positioning, and
• wherein at least the positional information section includes a plurality of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove and
• wherein a sub-block identification mark is provided within each said sub-block,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• detecting the sync mark section that has been formed on the optical disk;
• detecting the precision positioning mark section base don the sync mark section detected;
• performing positioning using the precision positioning mark section detected;
• and
• starting to write the data based on a positioning result obtained in the positioning step.

An optical disk drive for reading out positional information from an optical disk, the optical disk comprising a track groove on which positional information indicating a physical location on the track groove is represented by a wobble shape of the track groove,

• wherein the optical disk includes a plurality of positional information units that are arranged on the track groove, and
• wherein each said positional information unit includes:
• a positional information section that represents the positional information by a combination of wobble patterns selected from multiple types of wobble patterns that have been defined so as to correspond to respective signal waveforms that rise and fall mutually differently;
• a sync mark section having a wobble pattern in a shape distinguishable from the wobble patterns of the positional information section;
• and
• a precision positioning mark section provided ahead of the positional information section, and
• wherein the precision positioning mark section includes an identification mark for use in precision positioning, and
• wherein at least the positional information section includes a plurality of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove and
• wherein a sub-block identification mark is provided within each said sub-block,
• the optical disk drive comprising:
• means for detecting the sync mark section that has been formed on the optical disk;
• means for generating a first detection window with a predetermined time width after a predetermined time has passed since a timing at which the sync mark section was detected by the sync mark section detecting means;
• means for detecting the identification mark, which has been formed on the optical disk, by using the first detection window;
• means for establishing a bit synchronization for the positional information, which is recorded on the optical disk, by reference to the timing at which the sync mark section has been detected and/or a timing at which the identification mark has been detected;
• and
• means for reading out the positional information at a timing at which the bit synchronization has been established by the means for establishing the bit synchronization for the positional information.

An optical disk drive for writing data on an optical disk, the optical disk comprising a track groove on which positional information indicating a physical location on the track groove is represented by a wobble shape of the track groove,

• wherein the optical disk includes a plurality of positional information units that are arranged on the track groove, and
• wherein each said positional information unit includes:
• a positional information section that represents the positional information by a combination of wobble patterns selected from multiple types of wobble patterns that have been defined so as to correspond to respective signal waveforms that rise and fall mutually differently;
• a sync mark section having a wobble pattern in a shape distinguishable from the wobble patterns of the positional information section;
• and
• a precision positioning mark section provided ahead of the positional information section, and
• wherein the precision positioning mark section includes an identification mark for use in precision positioning, and
• wherein at least the positional information section includes a plurality of sub-blocks that are arranged along the groove and
• wherein a sub-block identification mark is provided within each said sub-block,
• the optical disk drive comprising:
• means for detecting the sync mark section that has been formed on the optical disk;
• means for generating a first detection window with a predetermined time width after a predetermined time has passed since a timing at which the sync mark section was detected by the sync mark section detecting means;
• means for detecting the identification mark, which has been formed on the optical disk, by using the first detection window;
• and
• data writing means for setting a data writing start point or end point by reference to a timing at which the identification mark has been detected.