U.S. patent application number 10/848299 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for record carrier and apparatus for scanning the record carrier.
Invention is credited to Drenten, Ronald R., Nijboer, Jakob G., Spruit, Johannes H.M., Van Vlerken, Johannes J.L.M., Weyenbergh, Paulus G.P..
Application Number | 20040213119 10/848299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26153247 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040213119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Vlerken, Johannes J.L.M. ;
et al. |
October 28, 2004 |
Record carrier and apparatus for scanning the record carrier
Abstract
A record carrier (1) is described comprising a servo track (4)
indicating an information track (9) intended for recording
information blocks represented by marks having lengths expressed in
channel bits, which servo track (4) has a periodic variation of a
physical parameter. The periodic variation is modulated for
encoding record carrier information, such as addresses. The
modulation is a bi-phase modulation in which a data bit of the
record carrier information is encoded by a first predetermined
number of variations of a first phase followed by the same number
of variations of a second phase inverse to the first phase. A
recording and/or playback device has a demodulator for retrieving
data bits of the record carrier information from a first
predetermined number of variations of a first phase followed by the
same number of variations of a second phase inverse to the first
phase.
Inventors: |
Van Vlerken, Johannes J.L.M.;
(Eindhoven, NL) ; Spruit, Johannes H.M.;
(Eindhoven, NL) ; Drenten, Ronald R.; (Eindhoven,
NL) ; Nijboer, Jakob G.; (Eindhoven, NL) ;
Weyenbergh, Paulus G.P.; (Eindhoven, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS
P.O. BOX 3001
BRIARCLIFF MANOR
NY
10510
US
|
Family ID: |
26153247 |
Appl. No.: |
10/848299 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10848299 |
May 18, 2004 |
|
|
|
10350939 |
Jan 24, 2003 |
|
|
|
6765861 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/59.2 ;
369/44.13; 369/47.19; G9B/20.039; G9B/27.027 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 2220/2562 20130101;
G11B 20/1403 20130101; G11B 2220/2545 20130101; G11B 27/3027
20130101; G11B 20/1419 20130101; G11B 27/24 20130101; G11B 7/24082
20130101; G11B 2220/218 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/059.2 ;
369/044.13; 369/047.19 |
International
Class: |
G11B 007/007 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 25, 1999 |
EP |
99200201.4 |
Feb 18, 1999 |
EP |
99200461.4 |
Claims
1. Record carrier comprising a servo track (4) indicating an
information track (9) intended for recording information blocks
represented by marks having lengths expressed in channel bits,
which servo track (4) has a periodic variation of a physical
parameter which periodic variation is modulated for encoding record
carrier information, characterized in that said modulation is a
bi-phase modulation in which a data bit of the record carrier
information is encoded by a first predetermined number of
variations of a first phase followed by the same number of
variations of a second phase inverse to the first phase.
2. Record carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the servo track is
subdivided in relatively small parts having said bi-phase
modulation and relatively large parts having not modulated periodic
variations.
3. Record carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the small parts
comprise a sync part and a data part, the sync part comprising at
least one variation of a phase inverse to the phase of the not
modulated periodic variations.
4. Record carrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein a word sync data
part comprises a second predetermined number of periodic variations
of the phase of the not modulated periodic variations and a word
sync part comprises the same number of periodic variations of a
phase inverse to the phase of the not modulated periodic variations
for indicating a record carrier information word.
5. Record carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first
predetermined number of variations of a first phase is 2.
6. Record carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the small parts
have 8 periodic variations and the large parts have 85 periodic
variations.
7. Record carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of one
periodic variation corresponds to a third predetermined number of
channel bits.
8. Record carrier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the third
predetermined number is 32.
9. Recording and/or playback device comprising means for writing
and/or reading information blocks represented by marks having
lengths expressed in channel bits in an information track (9) on a
record carrier that comprises a servo track (4) indicating the
information track (9), which device comprises means for scanning
the servo track (4) and retrieving record carrier information
encoded in a modulation of a periodic variation of a physical
parameter of the servo track, characterized in that the device
comprises bi-phase demodulation means for retrieving data bits of
the record carrier information from a first predetermined number of
variations of a first phase followed by the same number of
variations of a second phase inverse to the first phase.
10. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bi-phase demodulation
means are arranged for synchronizing to a sync part comprising at
least one variation of a phase inverse to the phase of the not
modulated periodic variations, the servo track being subdivided in
relatively small parts having said bi-phase modulation and sync
part, and relatively large parts having said not modulated periodic
variations.
11. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device comprises
address detection means for detecting an address of a part of the
track from a number of the data bits from a record carrier
information word, a word sync data part comprising a second
predetermined number of periodic variations of the phase of the not
modulated periodic variations and the sync part comprising the same
number of periodic variations of a phase inverse to the phase of
the not modulated periodic variations for indicating the record
carrier information word.
12. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the device comprises
recording positioning means for positioning an information block to
be recorded based on the physical location of one of the periodic
variations corresponding to an address of said information block by
calculating said physical location from the length of one periodic
variation corresponding to a third predetermined number of channel
bits.
13. Method of manufacturing a record carrier, in which the record
carrier is provided with a servo track (4) indicating an
information track (9) intended for recording information blocks
represented by marks having lengths expressed in channel bits,
which servo track (4) is provided with a periodic variation of a
physical parameter which periodic variation is modulated for
encoding record carrier information, characterized in that a data
bit of the record carrier information is encoded by a first
predetermined number of variations of a first phase followed by the
same number of variations of a second phase inverse to the first
phase.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a record carrier comprising a
servo-track indicating an information track intended for recording
information blocks represented by marks having lengths expressed in
channel bits, which servo track has a periodic variation of a
physical parameter which periodic variation is modulated for
encoding record carrier information.
[0002] The invention further relates to recording and/or playback
device comprising means for writing and/or reading information
blocks represented by marks having lengths expressed in channel
bits in an information track on the record carrier, which device
comprises means for scanning the servo track and retrieving the
record carrier information.
[0003] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing
the record carrier.
[0004] A record carrier and device of the type defined in the
opening paragraph, for reading and/or writing information, are
known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,300 (PHN 12.398). The information is
encoded into an information signal which includes time codes and
may be subdivided in accordance with this time codes into
information blocks, the time codes being used as addresses such as
with CD-ROM. The record carrier has a servo track, usually called
pregroove, for causing servo signals to be generated when scanning
the track. A physical parameter, e.g. the radial position, of the
pregroove periodically varies constituting a so-called wobble.
During the scanning of the track, this wobble leads to a variation
of the servo signals. The variation is modulated by record carrier
information, e.g. synchronization symbols and encoded position
information, which position information indicates the absolute
length of the track from the start. During recording, the position
of the information blocks is synchronized as much as possible with
the synchronization symbols, so that the information blocks are
written on the record carrier at a position corresponding to their
addresses.
[0005] A problem of such a system is that the pregroove wobble
signal is modulated with a relatively low frequency and that it is
hard to derive therefrom with great accuracy and little delay the
record carrier information, e.g. position of the read/write head or
the instants of occurrence of the synchronization symbols. In
addition, the pregroove wobble signal is modulated with little
intensity and, therefore, sensitive to disc flaws.
[0006] It is an object of the invention, for example, to provide a
record carrier and device in which the record carrier information
can be determined in a reliable, rapid and accurate manner.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention a record
carrier as defined in the opening paragraph is characterized in
that said modulation is a bi-phase modulation in which a data bit
of the record carrier information is encoded by a first
predetermined number of variations of a first phase followed by the
same number of variations of a second phase inverse to the first
phase. According to the invention, the recording and/or playback
device as described in the opening paragraph is characterized in
that the device comprises bi-phase demodulation means for
retrieving data bits of the record carrier information from a first
predetermined number of variations of a first phase followed by the
same number of variations of a second phase inverse to the first
phase. This has the effect, that data bits can be detected
independently from their value from a same number of inverted and
non-inverted periodic variations. Disturbances like offset,
asymmetry or cross talk can be compensated for by combining the
detection signals from the inverted and non-inverted variations,
e.g. by integration. This has the advantage, that the detection has
the same reliability for bits having the value 0 or 1. When
compared to modulating in a single phase (e.g. invert 4 wobbles for
bit=1), the bi-phase modulation has the advantage that the total
number of inverted wobbles is always the same (irrespective of the
data), and equal to the average number of wobbles inverted for
single phase, but in a worst case situation for single phase
modulation (for a series of bits=1) two time more wobbles would be
inverted. A further advantage is, that disturbance in detection of
the physical location of the periodic variations, which may be used
for positioning the marks when recording, is accurate, because
inverted variations in a neighboring track only have a low and
predictable influence when compared to random modulated variations
like in the frequency modulation in the known method.
[0008] An embodiment of the record carrier characterized in that
the servo track is subdivided in relatively small parts having said
bi-phase modulation and relatively large parts having not modulated
(also called monotone) periodic variations. Relatively large
indicates that at least 80% of the servo track has the not
modulated periodic variations, and preferably at least 90%. This
has the advantage, that detection of the periodic variations for
positioning information blocks is not disturbed by modulation in a
substantial part of the track.
[0009] A further embodiment of the record carrier is characterized
in that the length of one periodic variation corresponds to a third
predetermined number of channel bits. The effect is, that the
nominal position of the n.sup.th channel bit corresponds exactly to
the physical position of the n.sup.th periodic variation divided by
the third predetermined number, because of the fact that the
bi-phase modulation does not influence the length of the periodic
variations. This has the advantage, that the recording location can
be synchronized to the periodic variations. A relatively small
third predetermined number of channel bits per periodic variation
allows a high accuracy of positioning. In particular 32 is a
suitable number, because this is sufficiently longer than the
longest mark used in common channel coding, which are smaller than
16 channel bits, and allows easy address calculation in a binary
system.
[0010] Further preferred embodiments of the method, devices and
record carrier according to the invention are given in the
dependent claims.
[0011] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent
from and elucidated further with reference to the embodiments
described by way of example in the following description and with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a record carrier,
[0013] FIG. 2 shows bi-phase wobble modulation
[0014] FIG. 3 shows ADIP word data
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a bi-phase detector
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a playback device, and
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a recording device
[0018] Corresponding elements in different Figures have identical
reference numerals.
[0019] FIG. 1 a shows a disc-shaped record carrier 1 which
comprises a continuous track 9 intended for recording, which track
is arranged in a spiral pattern of windings 3. The windings may
also be arranged concentrically instead of spirally. The track 9 on
the record carrier is indicated by a servo track in which, for
example, a pregroove 4 enables a read/write head during scanning to
follow the track 9. A servo track may also be formed, for example,
by regularly spread sub-tracks which, in the servo track system,
periodically cause signals to occur. FIG. 1b shows a cross-section
along a line b-b of the record carrier 1, in which a transparent
substrate 5 is covered by a recording layer 6 and a protective
layer 7. The pregroove 4 may also be arranged as a land or be a
material property that differs from its environment. The recording
layer 6 may be deposited in optical manner, magneto-optical or
magnetic manner by an apparatus for reading and/or writing
information such as the known CD recordable or hard disc for
computer use. The drawing FIGS. 1c and 1d show two examples of a
periodic modulation (wobble) of the pregroove. This wobble causes
an additional signal to arise in a servo track recorder. In the
prior art the wobble is, for example, frequency modulated and disc
information is modulation encoded. A comprehensive description of
the inscribable CD system comprising disc information obtained in
such a manner can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,300 (PHN 12.398)
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,699 (PHQ 88.002).
[0020] FIG. 2 shows bi-phase wobble modulation. An upper trace
shows the wobble modulation for a word sync pattern, a second and
third trace show the wobble modulations for data bits (one out of
Data Bits 1 to 51). Predetermined phase patterns are used for
indicating a synchronizing symbol (ADIP bit sync) and a
synchronization of the full address word (ADIP word sync), and for
the respective data bits (ADIP Data=`0`, and ADIP data=`1`). The
ADIP bit sync is indicated by a single inverted wobble (wobble #
0). The ADIP word sync is indicated by three inverted wobbles
directly following the ADIP bit sync, whereas data bits have
non-inverted wobbles in this area (wobble # 1 to 3). An ADIP Data
area comprises a number of wobble periods assigned to represent one
data bit, in the Figure the wobble periods numbered 4 up to 7
(=wobble # 4 to 7). The wobble phase in first halve of the ADIP
Data area is inverse to the wobble phase in the second halve of the
area. As such each bit is represented by two sub-areas having
different phases of the wobble, i.e. called bi-phase. Data bits are
modulated as follows: ADIP Data=`0` is represented by 2
non-inverted wobbles followed by two inverted wobbles, and ADIP
data=`1` vice versa. In this embodiment the modulation for data
bits is fully symmetrical, giving equal error probability for both
data bit values. However other combinations of wobbles and inverted
wobbles, or other phase values may be used. In an embodiment a
predetermined modulation is used after a ADIP Word Sync, indicating
`empty`, instead of a data bit. Monotone wobbles may be used after
the first data bit, or further data bits may be encoded thereafter.
Preferably a large majority of the wobbles is not modulated (i.e.
has the nominal phase) for ensuring an easy lock and a stable
output of a PLL in a detector (see FIG. 4); in this embodiment the
8 possibly modulated wobbles are followed by 85 not modulated (i.e.
monotone) wobbles (wobble # 8 to 92). The output frequency of the
PLL has to be as stable as possible, because during writing the
write clock is derived from the PLL output.
[0021] By applying the bi-phase modulation the following ADIP
detection results are found experimentally. Good bit
synchronization can be done, and attainable ADIP Bit error rates
are sufficiently low. The decision level is zero, in spite of the
fact that inverted wobbles may have a different (e.g. lower)
average amplitude, because the detection is symmetrical for bit=0
and bit=1, i.e. the integration interval covers in both cases a
number of non-inverted wobbles and a number of inverted wobbles. By
applying 2.times.2 wobbles and bi-phase modulation the detection
margins for the data bits are sufficient in worst case situations.
ADIP word sync uses 3 inverted wobbles followed by an empty area of
4 wobbles (no data bit modulated after the word sync), which
results in reliable word sync. The results indicate that the
bi-phase modulation improves detection of the address from the
servo track.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows ADIP word data. An ADIP word comprises 52 bits,
which corresponds to 52*93 wobbles, and 1 wobble=32 channel bits.
For the DVD format an channel code EFM+ is used, and channel bits
are clustered in EFM sync frames of 1488 channel bits. Hence one
ADIP bit corresponds to 2 EFM sync frames, and the ADIP word
corresponds to 4 sectors in the DVD format. An ECC block in the DVD
format comprises 16 sectors, hence an ECC block corresponds to 4
ADIP words. So one ADIP Word Sync is used every fourth sector to
indicate the start of a new address (i.e. a new full ADIP word).
The table shows the use of the data bits for the full address word
for indicating a sector addresses, e.g. a DVD sector address. The
address is given by the actual DVD sector addresses on that
position (i.e. the 22 Most Significant Bits of the 24 bit address).
Hence the lowest two bits of the address are always fixed can be
used for different purposes. Bit 0 is always set to 0, and not
actually modulated as indicated in FIG. 2 by the `empty` area after
the ADIP Word Sync. Bit 1 is reserved for future use. Further it is
to be noted, that Error Correction Code (ECC) symbols are added
(bits 32-51) based on nibbles (=4 bit words) according to a Reed
Solomon (RS) error code as follows: 8 data nibbles have 5 parity
nibbles. This further improves the reliability of the address
detection. In an embodiment the parity nibbles are inverted after
calculation (and again inverted when used). This prevents long
sequences of zeroes when data nibbles are zero.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a detector for bi-phase modulation. The
detector constitutes an example of bi-phase demodulation means for
retrieving data bits of the record carrier information from a first
predetermined number of variations of a first phase followed by the
same number of variations of a second phase inverse to the first
phase, and may be part of the address detector 50 as described
below for the writing and/or reading device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
An input signal 41 that corresponds to the modulated wobble of the
track, is derived from an optical detector in a read head which
detects the lateral position of the track. An upper loop
constituted by multiplier 43, a loop filter 44 (LF) and a voltage
controlled oscillator 45 (VCO) operates like a phase locked loop
(PLL). The loop filter 44 comprises an integrating element and a
proportional element as in a conventional PLL. The output of the
VCO is 90 degrees out of phase with the nominal wobble phase (i.e.
without modulation), and is coupled to a phase shifter of -90
degrees 46. So, when the input signal is a sine corresponding to
the wobble, the output of VCO 45 is a cosine, and the phase shifter
output is a sine again. The output of the phase shifter 46 and the
input signal 41 are coupled to multiplier 47 for multiplying to a
quadrature signal coupled to a controllable integrator 48. The
output of the integrator 48 is coupled to a bit detector 49, which
provides a bit output signal 42. For synchronous detection the
output of phase shifter 46 is also coupled to the bit detector 49
to allow determination of the nominal position of zero crossings of
the input signal and control the integrator at the begin and end of
the wobbles. The function of the bit detector 49 is as follows.
First the ADIP bit sync is detected from the quadrature signal for
bit synchronization. The bit detector may control integrator 48 (or
may have a separate synchronous detector) for detecting an inverted
wobble after a relatively long sequence of non-inverted wobbles
preceding each ADIP bit sync. In an embodiment the bit detector may
be provided with a confidence counter, which is incremented each
time an ADIP bit sync is detected on an expected location (i.e. one
out of every 93 wobbles, see FIG. 2) up to a maximum count value,
e.g. 16. If no ADIP bit sync is detected on such location, the
counter is decreased. As soon as a predefined level (e.g. the
maximum level) is achieved a bit synchronization is assumed. Then
the integrator 48 is controlled by the bit detector 49 to integrate
the quadrature signal over the ADIP Data interval, and to invert
the sign of the integration halfway. This results in a maximum
integrator output for a data bit 0, and a maximum inverse output
for a data bit 1. For word synchronization the ADIP word sync is
detected by detecting the 3 inverted wobbles after the ADIP bit
sync, and preferably also the `empty` area. In an embodiment the
integrator may be controlled to start integrating at the ADIP bit
sync, and after 4 wobbles, if the integrated value indicates the
ADIP word sync, integrate the empty area with inverted sign. As
such the ADIP word sync together with the `empty` area constitute a
bi-phase modulated area, resulting in a robust detection of the
word sync. Alternatively a second integrator may be used just for
detecting the word sync.
[0024] It can be seen that modulated bits do not contribute or even
disturb the PLL phase, as the PLL has to lock on the nominal phase
of the wobble. In a PLL for the above bi-phase modulation (using
phase=zero or 180 degrees) such disturbance may ignored, because
the disturbance of an inverted wobble is small as the zero
crossings are on the same location (although inverted). In a
digital embodiment of the PLL it may be limited by just processing
the signal around the zero crossing of the wobble. In an embodiment
of the detector the PLL is also controlled by the bit detector 49
via control signal 40 to constitute a decision directed PLL. The
control signal 40 may be coupled to the multiplier 43 (as shown) or
may be coupled to a controllable switch or inverter before the loop
filter 44. The control signal may indicate to skip the signal of
modulated wobbles, or to actually invert the modulated wobbles so
as to have the right sign for contributing in a constructive way to
the phase error signal generation of the PLL. A delay element, e.g.
of a few wobble periods, may be included before the PLL loop to
allow some time for the bit detector to actually detect the
modulated wobbles and generate the control signal 40.
[0025] FIGS. 5 and 6 show apparatuses according to the invention
for scanning a record carrier 1. Writing and reading of information
on optical discs and formatting, error correcting and channel
coding rules, are well-known in the art, e.g. from the CD system.
The apparatus of FIG. 5 is arranged for reading the record carrier
1, which record carrier is identical to the record carriers shown
in FIG. 1. The device is provided with a read head 52 for scanning
the track on the record carrier and read control means comprising
drive unit 55 for rotating the record carrier 1, a read circuit 53
for example comprising a channel decoder and an error corrector,
tracking unit 51 and a system control unit 56. The read head
comprises optical elements of the usual type for generating a
radiation spot 66 focused on a track of the recording layer of the
record carrier via a radiation beam 65 guided through optical
elements. The radiation beam 65 is generated by a radiation source,
e.g. a laser diode. The read head further comprises a focusing
actuator for focusing the radiation beam 65 on the recording layer
and a tracking actuator 59 for fine positioning of the spot 66 in
radial direction on the center of the track. The apparatus has a
positioning unit 54 for coarsely positioning the read head 52 in
the radial direction on the track. The tracking actuator 59 may
comprise coils for radially moving an optical element or may be
arranged for changing the angle of a reflecting element on a
movable part of the read head or on a part on a fixed position in
the case part of the optical system is mounted on a fixed position.
The radiation reflected by the recording layer is detected by a
detector of a usual type, e.g. a four-quadrant diode, for
generating a detector signals 57 including a read signal, a
tracking error and a focusing error signal. The tracking unit 51 is
coupled to the read head for receiving the tracking error signal
from the read head and controlling the tracking actuator 59. During
reading, the read signal is converted into output information,
indicated by arrow 64, in the read circuit 53. The apparatus is
provided with an address detector 50 for detecting and the
retrieving address information from the detector signals 57 when
scanning the servo track of the record carrier. The device is
further provided with a system control unit 56 for receiving
commands from a controlling computer system or from a user and for
controlling the apparatus via control lines 58, e.g. a system bus
connected to the drive unit 55, the positioning unit 54, the
address detector 50, the tracking unit 51 and the read circuit 53.
To this end, the system control unit comprises control circuitry,
for example a microprocessor, a program memory and control gates,
for performing the procedures described below. The system control
unit 56 may also be implemented as a state machine in logic
circuits. The read device is arranged for reading a disc having
tracks having a periodic variation, e.g. a continuous wobble. The
read control unit are arranged for detecting the periodic
variations and for reading in dependence thereon a predetermined
amount data from the track. In an embodiment the read clock is
synchronized to the periodic variations and the read circuit 53
reads a fixed number of channel bits for each instance of the
periodic variations. In an embodiment the read control means are
arranged for retrieving the data from an area of the track
following an unrecorded area. In the read circuit 53 the read clock
is synchronized to the periodic variations in the unrecorded area
and the reading speed is adjusted during scanning the unrecorded
area. Hence at the start of the recorded area the read circuit 53
is locked in to the speed of the recorded data. In particular the
address detector 50 is arranged for reading record carrier
information, e.g. position information and recording control data,
from the bi-phase modulated servo signals. A suitable embodiment of
the address detector is described above with reference to FIG. 4,
but other demodulators for the bi-phase modulated servo signals may
be used. The address detector further has a word detection unit for
retrieving the words of record carrier information, as described
with reference to FIG. 3. The beginning of such a word is detected
from a predetermined number of inverted wobbles as shown in the
upper trace of FIG. 2, after a long sequence of non modulated
wobbles. The occurrence of a data bit is detected based on one
inverted wobble followed by three not modulated wobbles.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a device for writing information on a record
carrier according to the invention of a type which is (re)writable
in, for example a magneto-optical or optical manner (via phase
change or dye) by means of a beam 65 of electromagnetic radiation.
The device is also equipped for reading and comprises the same
elements as the apparatus for reading described above with FIG. 5,
except that it has a write/read head 62 and recording control means
which comprise the same elements as the read control means, except
for a write circuit 60 that comprises for example a formatter, an
error encoder and a channel encoder. The write/read head 62 has the
same function as the read head 52 together with a write function
and is coupled to the write circuit 60. The information presented
to the input of the write circuit 60 (indicated by the arrow 63) is
distributed over logical and physical sectors according to
formatting and encoding rules and converted into a write signal 61
for the write/read head 62. The system control unit 56 is arranged
for controlling the write circuit 60 and for performing the
position information recovery and positioning procedure as
described above for the reading apparatus. During the writing
operation, marks representing the information are formed on the
record carrier. The recording control means are arranged for
detecting the periodic variations, for example by locking a phase
locked loop to the periodicity thereof. A predetermined, fixed
number of channel bits is recorded corresponding to each instance
of the periodic characteristics, e.g. 32 channel bits for a wobble.
Hence, during recording of a block, the recording of the marks
representing the information is synchronized exactly to the
corresponding wobble. In an embodiment of the writing device the
positioning unit is arranged for positioning of blocks to be
recorded based on the exact correspondence of the length of the
wobble to a predetermined number of channel bits, and comprises a
calculation unit arranged for calculating said position based on
the relation between the ADIP word and the address of the
information block, e.g. according to the DVD format as described
with reference to FIG. 3.
[0027] In an embodiment the reading and/or writing device comprises
a phase locked loop, for example accommodated in the address
detector, which phase locked loop is locked to the periodic
variations of the track, such as the wobble, during scanning. After
a jump of the head 52, 62 to a new scanning location the phase
locked loop may be preset to the data clock value at the new
location, or the bandwidth of said phase locked loop may be
increased to lock quickly to the new wobble frequency.
[0028] Although the invention has been explained by embodiments
using a wobble modulation, any other suitable parameter of the
track may be modulated, e.g. the track width. Also for the record
carrier an optical disc has been described, but other media, such
as a magnetic disc or tape, may be used. Further, the invention
lies in each and every novel feature or combination of features
described above.
* * * * *