Wavelength selective optical recording and reproducing method

• US 5,231,626 A
• Filed: 03/26/1992
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo, Tadokoro, Michihiro, Yoshimura, Motomu, Maeda, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Weinhardt, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US07/859,249
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 365/119, 365/215, 365/216, 365/234, 369/121, 369/100, 369/102, 369/103, 369/108, 235/454, 235/470, 235/487, 235/457, 346/762
• US Class Current: 369/121
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0033 with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00453 involving spectral or photochemical hole burning
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00745 Sectoring or header formats within a track formats in general G11B20/12

Abstract

A wavelength selective optical recording and reproducing method includes an optical recording and reproducing step of information composed of time series signals on a recording medium having recording tracks as position series signals with light having a variable wavelength while switching the wavelength between predetermined values.

Claims

1. A method of optically recording and reproducing desired information by condensing a light beam from a wavelength variable light source on a plurality of recording track sections of a recording medium capable of being wavelength-selectively recorded and reproduced at any of a predetermined number of wavelengths, said track sections being arranged as spiral track sections on said recording medium, the wavelength of said light beam being varied by an external control signal, comprising the steps of:

a step of recording or reproducing information at only a first predetermined wavelength such that the recorded or reproduced information corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track section length of said recording medium;

switching said first predetermined wavelength to another predetermined wavelength by said external control signal after recording or reproducing information at the first predetermined wavelength;

a step of recording or reproducing information at only said another predetermined wavelength which is different from the first predetermined wavelength such that the recorded or reproduced information corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track section length of said recording medium; and

continue switching the wavelength of said light beam to other predetermined wavelengths not previously used, and recording or reproducing information at said other wavelengths such that the recorded or reproduced information at each of said other wavelengths corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track section length of said recording medium until the desired information is recorded on or reproduced from the recording medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said recording or reproducing of information at said first, another and other predetermined wavelengths is conducted on a single track section of the recording medium.

3. A method of optically recording and reproducing desired information by condensing a light beam from a wavelength variable light source on a plurality of linear recording tracks of a recording medium capable of being wavelength-selectively recorded and reproduced at any of a predetermined number of wavelengths, the wavelength of said light beam being varied by an external control signal, comprising the steps of:

a step of recording or reproducing information at only a first predetermined wavelength such that the recorded or reproduced information corresponds to more than one bit length, but not more than one track length of said recording medium;

switching said first predetermined wavelength to another predetermined wavelength by said external control signal after recording or reproducing information at the first predetermined wavelength;

a step of recording or reproducing information at only another predetermined wavelength which is different from the first predetermined wavelength such that the recorded or reproduced information corresponds to more than one bit length, but not more than one track length of said recording medium; and

continue switching the wavelength of said light beam to other predetermined wavelengths not previously used and recording or reproducing at said other predetermined wavelengths such that the recorded or reproduced information at each of said other wavelengths corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track length of said recording medium until the desired information is recorded on or reproduced from the recording medium.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said recording or reproducing of information at said first, another and other predetermined wavelengths is conducted on a single track of the recording medium.

5. A method of optically recording and reproducing desired information by condensing a light beam from a wavelength variable light source on recording tracks of a recording medium capable of being wavelength-selectively recorded and reproduced at any of a predetermined number of wavelengths, said tracks being arranged as coaxial circular tracks on said recording medium, the wavelength of said light beam being varied by an external control signal, comprising the steps of:

a step of recording or reproducing information at only a first predetermined wavelength such that the recorded or reproduced information corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track length of said recording medium;

switching said first predetermined wavelength to another predetermined wavelength by said external control signal after recording or reproducing information at the first predetermined wavelength;

a step of recording or reproducing information at only said another predetermined wavelength which is different from the first predetermined wavelength such that the recorded or reproduced information corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track length of said recording medium; and

continue switching the wavelength of said light beam to other predetermined wavelengths not previously used and recording or reproducing information at said other wavelengths such that the recorded or reproduced information at each of said wavelengths corresponds to more than one bit length but not more than one track length of said recording medium until the desired information is recorded on or reproduced from the recording medium.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said recording or reproducing of information at said first, another and other predetermined wavelengths is conducted on a single track of the recording medium.