Provided is an optical recording medium capable of shortening tact time. The optical recording medium includes at least one recording layer. The recording layer contains an oxide of Bi.

An optical information storage medium includes a substrate and a multilayer polymeric film. The multilayer polymeric film has a first surface and an opposite second surface that extend the length of the multilayer polymeric film. The second surface is adhered to a surface of the substrate. The multilayer polymeric film includes a plurality of coextruded alternating polymeric active data storage layers and polymeric buffer layers.

An optical information storage medium includes a substrate and a multilayer polymeric film. The multilayer polymeric film has a first surface and an opposite second surface that extend the length of the multilayer polymeric film. The second surface is adhered to a surface of the substrate. The multilayer polymeric film includes a plurality of coextruded alternating polymeric active data storage layers and polymeric buffer layers.

An information recording medium includes three or more information layers. The three or more information layers include a first information layer including a first dielectric film, a recording film, and a second dielectric film in this order. The first dielectric film contains an oxide of D1. The D1 represents at least one element selected from a first group consisting of Nb, Mo, Ta, W, Ti, Bi, and Ce. The recording film contains at least W, Cu, Mn, and oxygen and M. The M represents at least one element selected from a second group consisting of Nb, Mo, Ta, and Ti. The W, the Cu, the Mn, and the M except the oxygen in the recording film satisfy a following formula (1):

W.sub.xCu.sub.yMn.sub.zM.sub.100-x-y-z (atom %)(1) wherein x, y, and z satisfy 15x60, yz, 0<z40, and 60x+y+z98.

In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

An information recording medium according to the present disclosure is an information recording medium of a write-once-read-many type and records or reproduces information when irradiated with laser light. The information recording medium includes: a substrate; a plurality of information layers at least one information layer of which includes a recording film that is a WO-based recording film comprising at least tungsten (W) and oxygen (O); and a dielectric film A in contact with the WO-based recording film, the dielectric film A comprising at least 30 mol % tin oxide.

An information recording medium according to the present disclosure is an information recording medium of a write-once-read-many type and records or reproduces information when irradiated with laser light. The information recording medium includes: a substrate; a plurality of information layers at least one information layer of which includes a recording film that is a WO-based recording film comprising at least tungsten (W) and oxygen (O); and a dielectric film A in contact with the WO-based recording film, the dielectric film A comprising at least 30 mol % tin oxide.

A device for manufacturing an n-layered optical information carrier having an injection molding unit for manufacturing a carrier body with a first information layer, and furthermore, a first embossing unit for manufacturing a second information layer. The second information layer has an input via which information carriers can be received in the embossing unit. The embossing unit moreover has an output unit via which the coated information carriers are output. (n2) additional embossing units are associated with the device, for manufacturing in each case an additional information layer, wherein n is greater than two. The respective units are linked to one another so that the n-layered information carrier is manufactured in an inline manufacturing. The (n2) additional embossing units can be coupled to and uncoupled from the device, wherein the additional embossing units in each case have an input and an output unit.

A device for manufacturing an n-layered optical information carrier having an injection molding unit for manufacturing a carrier body with a first information layer, and furthermore, a first embossing unit for manufacturing a second information layer. The second information layer has an input via which information carriers can be received in the embossing unit. The embossing unit moreover has an output unit via which the coated information carriers are output. (n2) additional embossing units are associated with the device, for manufacturing in each case an additional information layer, wherein n is greater than two. The respective units are linked to one another so that the n-layered information carrier is manufactured in an inline manufacturing. The (n2) additional embossing units can be coupled to and uncoupled from the device, wherein the additional embossing units in each case have an input and an output unit.