Optical Playback Device Media Type Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional playback devices incorrectly identify normal media as super-resolution media due to inability to properly play back medium information regions, leading to incorrect playback settings and potential damage from higher playback power.

Innovation Solution

The information recording medium employs distinct address data formats for the medium information and data regions, allowing the playback device to differentiate between normal and super-resolution media by using normal medium playback power for the medium information region and super-resolution playback power for the data region, preventing incorrect identification and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a super-resolution medium uses the same address data format as normal media in the medium information region, then compatibility with normal media is maintained, but the playback device cannot distinguish between normal and super-resolution media, leading to incorrect playback settings

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidmedium type identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different address data formats to different regions of the recording medium. Specifically, the medium information region uses a first address data format compatible with normal media, while the data region uses a second address data format specific to super-resolution media. This local differentiation allows the playback device to identify the medium type by reading the data region's address format while maintaining compatibility during initial access to the medium information region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the playback device uses higher playback power for the data region to achieve super-resolution playback, then recording density is improved, but normal media may be damaged due to excessive power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording densityVSAvoidmedia damage from excessive playback power
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The playback device performs preliminary identification by reading the address data format in the data region before initiating playback. By detecting whether the address format corresponds to super-resolution media, the device can determine the appropriate playback power level in advance, preventing excessive power application to normal media while enabling high-power playback for super-resolution media.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the address data format detection to control playback power. The playback device reads the address format, determines the medium type based on this information, and then adjusts the playback power accordingly - using higher power for super-resolution media and normal power for standard media, thus preventing damage while achieving optimal playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the playback device assumes normal medium settings initially, then compatibility is maintained, but super-resolution media cannot be properly played back

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownward compatibilityVSAvoidplayback performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The playback device dynamically adjusts its playback settings based on the detected address data format. Initially, the device is configured for normal medium playback to ensure compatibility. Upon reading the address format from the data region, the device dynamically switches to super-resolution playback settings if the format matches, thereby maintaining downward compatibility while ensuring reliable playback for both medium types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4068286B1Method for playing back information recording medium
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 SHARP KK
  • EP4068286B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4068286B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068286B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for playing back an information recording medium, the information recording medium (300) comprising: a first region (301) in which type identification information for identifying a type of the information recording medium (300) is recorded by recesses and/or protrusions which are formed by a given modulation method and whose lengths are longer than a length of an optical system resolution limit of a playback device (1), a second region (302) in which content data is recorded by recesses and/or protrusions which are formed by the given modulation method and which include a recess and/or a protrusion whose length is shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit, and a blank region (303) between the first region and the second region. Here, the first region (301) contains first address information recorded therein in a first address data format, the second region (302) contains second address information recorded therein in a second address data format that differs from the first address data format, the blank region (303) is constituted by a group of recesses and/or protrusions in which no significant information other than an address is recorded, wherein a region of the blank region (303) which is closer to the first region (301) is provided with recesses and/or protrusions which are formed by the given modulation method, whose lengths are longer than the length of the optical system resolution limit, and which are suited to the first address data format, and a region of the blank region (303) which is closer to the second region (302) is provided with recesses and/or protrusions which are formed by the given modulation method, which include a recess and/or a protrusion whose length is shorter than the length of the optical system resolution limit, and which are suited to the second address data format, and said method comprises determining playback setting of the second region (302) based on type identification information obtained by irradiating the first region (301) with playback light.