Optical information storage medium, optical information storage medium playback apparatus, method of controlling optical information storage medium playback apparatus, control program of optical information storage medium playback apparatus, and storage medium storing the program therein

An optical information storage medium where information is recorded in a form of prepits each made up of at least either a concavity or a convexity, and the information is reproduced by irradiating light to the prepits in an optical information storage medium playback apparatus,

• the optical information storage medium comprising:
• an information signal region where a content is recorded;
• and
• a test read region where reproduction setting value adjustment information is recorded for adjusting a setting value for the reproduction performed by the optical information storage medium playback apparatus, wherein:
• the information signal region has a first prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits, and a shortest mark length on the first prepit row is shorter than a length of an optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• the test read region has a second prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits for the adjustment, and types of mark lengths on the second prepit row are the same as all types of mark lengths on the first prepit row;
• the second prepit row includes a prepit having a mark length shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• and
• each of the first and second prepit rows has each have at least three types of mark lengths,
• wherein a ratio of prepits having a longest mark length to total number of prepits on the second prepit row is higher than a ratio of prepits having the longest mark length to total number of prepits on the first prepit row.

An optical information storage medium where information is recorded in a form of prepits each made up of at least either a concavity or a convexity, and the information is reproduced by irradiating light to the prepits in an optical information storage medium playback apparatus,

• the optical information storage medium comprising:
• an information signal region where a content is recorded;
• and
• a test read region where reproduction setting value adjustment information is recorded for adjusting a setting value for the reproduction performed by the optical information storage medium playback apparatus, wherein:
• the information signal region has a first prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits, and a shortest mark length on the first prepit row is shorter than a length of an optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• the test read region has a second prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits for the adjustment, and types of mark lengths on the second prepit row are the same as all types of mark lengths on the first prepit row;
• the second prepit row includes a prepit having a mark length shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• and
• each of the first and second prepit rows has each have at least three types of mark lengths,
• wherein Di/2≦Dt<Di is satisfied, where Di represents a depth of a prepit on the first prepit row and Dt represents a depth of a prepit on the second prepit row.

An optical information storage medium where information is recorded in a form of prepits each made up of at least either a concavity or a convexity, and the information is reproduced by irradiating light to the prepits in an optical information storage medium playback apparatus,

• the optical information storage medium comprising:
• an information signal region where a content is recorded;
• and
• a test read region where reproduction setting value adjustment information is recorded for adjusting a setting value for the reproduction performed by the optical information storage medium playback apparatus, wherein:
• the information signal region has a first prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits, and a shortest mark length on the first prepit row is shorter than a length of an optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• the test read region has a second prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits for the adjustment, and types of mark lengths on the second prepit row are the same as all types of mark lengths on the first prepit row;
• the second prepit row includes a prepit having a mark length shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• and
• each of the first and second prepit rows has each have at least three types of mark lengths,
• wherein Wi<Wt≦TPt/2 is satisfied, where TPt represents the track pitch in the test read region, Wi represents a pit width of a prepit on the first prepit row, and Wt represents a pit width of a prepit on the second prepit row.

An optical information storage medium playback apparatus capable of reading an optical information storage medium where information is recorded in a form of prepits each made up of at least either a concavity or a convexity, and the information is reproduced by irradiating light to the prepits in an optical information storage medium playback apparatus, the optical information storage medium including:

• an information signal region where a content is recorded;
• and a test read region where reproduction setting value adjustment information is recorded for adjusting a setting value for the reproduction performed by the optical information storage medium playback apparatus, wherein:
• the information signal region has a first prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits, and a shortest mark length on the first prepit row is shorter than a length of an optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• the test read region has a second prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits for the adjustment, and types of mark lengths on the second prepit row is the same as all types of mark lengths on the first prepit row;
• the second prepit row includes a prepit having a mark length shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• and the first and second prepit rows each have at least three types of mark lengths,
• the optical information storage medium playback apparatus comprising:
• reproducing means for reproducing information recorded at a desired position in the optical information storage medium;
• and
• control means for obtaining an optimum setting value on a basis of a reproduction signal that has been read off a prepit of the test read region in the optical information storage medium by the reproducing means, and then for controlling the reproducing means in accordance with the optimum setting value,
• wherein a ratio of prepits having the shortest mark length to total number of prepits on the second prepit row is lower than a ratio of prepits having the shortest mark length to total number of prepits on the first prepit row.

A method of controlling an optical information storage medium playback apparatus capable of reading an optical information storage medium where information is recorded in a form of prepits each made up of at least either a concavity or a convexity, and the information is reproduced by irradiating light to the prepits in an optical information storage medium playback apparatus, the optical information storage medium including:

• an information signal region where a content is recorded;
• and a test read region where reproduction setting value adjustment information is recorded for adjusting a setting value for the reproduction performed by the optical information storage medium playback apparatus, wherein:
• the information signal region has a first prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits, and a shortest mark length on the first prepit row is shorter than a length of an optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• the test read region has a second prepit row which is made up of a plurality of prepits for the adjustment, and types of mark lengths on the second prepit row is the same as all types of mark lengths on the first prepit row;
• the second prepit row includes a prepit having a mark length shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit of the optical information storage medium playback apparatus;
• and the first and second prepit rows each have at least three types of mark lengths,
• the method comprising:
• a reproduction step of reproducing information recorded at a desired position in the optical information storage medium;
• and
• a control step of obtaining an optimum setting value on a basis of a reproduction signal that has been read off a prepit of the test read region in the optical information storage medium in the reproduction step, and then controlling the reproduction in the reproduction step in accordance with the optimum setting value, wherein a ratio of prepits having the shortest mark length to total number of prepits on the second prepit row is lower than a ratio of prepits having the shortest mark length to total number of prepits on the first prepit row.