Laser power setting method and optical recording device

A laser power setting method comprising:

• a first identification step for identifying whether recording medium identification information assigned to an optical recording medium is stored in storage means of an optical recording apparatus, said recording medium identification information being unique to said optical recording medium;
• a second identification step for identifying whether said recording medium identification information recorded in said optical recording medium, if it is identified that said recording medium identification information has been stored in said first identification step, agrees with recording medium identification information stored in said storage means;
• a first processing step for performing first processing when a first identification result is obtained which includes a result of a case where it is identified in said first identification step that said recording medium identification information is not stored and a case where it is identified in said second identification step that said recorded recording medium identification information does not agree with said recording medium identification information assigned to said optical recording medium;
• and
• a second processing step for performing second processing under at least one condition that a second identification result is obtained, said second identification result including a result of a case where it is identified in said first identification step that said recording medium identification information is stored and a result of a case where it is identified in said second identification step that said stored recording medium identification information agrees with said recording medium identification information assigned to said recording medium,
• wherein said first processing step includes a creation step for creating power calibration information by performing power calibration processing and a first setting step for setting laser light power based on the power calibration information created in said creation step;
• and
• wherein said second processing step includes a second step for setting laser light power based on the power calibration information stored in said storage means.

An optical recording apparatus comprising:

• an optical pickup for irradiating an optical recording medium with laser light to record or reproduce a signal;
• drive means for driving said optical pickup to emit said laser light;
• storage means for storing apparatus identification information unique to said apparatus;
• and
• control means for controlling operations of said optical pickup and said drive means,
• wherein said control means allows for:
• identifying whether said apparatus identification information is recorded in said optical recording medium;
• when it is determined that said apparatus identification information is recorded, identifying whether said apparatus identification information recorded in said optical recording medium agrees with apparatus identification information unique to said apparatus;
• performing first processing when a first identification result is obtained which includes a result of a case where it is identified that said apparatus identification information is not stored and a result of a case where it is identified that said recorded apparatus identification information does not agree with said apparatus identification information assigned to said optical recording apparatus;
• and
• performing second processing under at least one condition that a second identification result is obtained, said second identification result including a result of a case where it is identified that said apparatus identification information is recorded and a result of a case where it is identified that said recorded apparatus identification information agrees with said apparatus identification information assigned to said optical recording apparatus;
• wherein in said first processing, power calibration information is created performing power calibration processing and, based on said created power calibration information, laser light power is set;
• and
• wherein in said second processing, laser light power is set based on power calibration information recorded in said optical recording medium.

An optical recording apparatus comprising:

• an optical pickup for irradiating an optical recording medium with laser light to record or reproduce a signal;
• drive means for driving said optical pickup to emit said laser light;
• storage means for storing recording medium identification information unique to said optical recording medium;
• and
• control means for controlling operations of said optical pickup and said drive means,
• wherein said control means allows for:
• identifying whether said recording medium identification information is stored in said storage means;
• when it is determined that said recording medium identification information is recorded, identifying whether said recording medium identification information recorded in said optical recording medium agrees with said recording medium identification information stored in said storage means;
• performing first processing when a first identification result is obtained which includes a result of a case where it is identified that said recording medium identification information is not recorded and a result of a case where it is identified that said stored recording medium identification information does not agree with said recording medium identification information assigned to said optical recording medium;
• and
• performing second processing under at least one condition that a second identification result is obtained, said second identification result including a result of a case where it is identified that said recording medium identification information is stored and said stored recording medium identification information agrees with said recording medium information assigned to said optical recording medium;
• and
• wherein in said first processing, power calibration information is created performing power calibration processing and, based on said created power calibration information, laser light power is set;
• and
• wherein in said second processing, laser light power is set based on power calibration information stored in said storage means.