Abstract: An information processor for performing at least one of recording information at a high density, reproducing and erasing information by applying the principle of a scanning tunnel microscope (STM) or an atomic force microscope (AFM) and an information processing method using the information processor. The information .processor is used with a recording medium comprising a recording layer having a characteristic of one of an insulator and a semiconductor. The processor includes a substrate electrode in the recording medium, at least one probe electrode disposed close to the recording medium, and at least one of a circuit for applying an information recording pulse voltage and a circuit for applying an information reproducing pulse voltage. A maximum difference in surface level of a 1.times.1 .mu.m surface region of the substrate electrode is 1 nm or less, and the radius of curvature of a tip of the probe electrode is in the range of 0.1 to 200 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning probe microscope for observing the surface of a sample therethrough by the use of a probe including a probe, means for causing the sample and the probe to scan relative to each other, means for applying an AC voltage between the sample and the probe, and means for detecting an electric current flowing between the sample and the probe at a predetermined phase point of the AC voltage, the surface of the sample being observed on the basis of the detected electric current. The specification also discloses an information recording-reproducing apparatus using such probe microscope.

Abstract: A method for positioning an information processing head at a predetermined position on a recording medium includes detecting a predetermined magnetization pattern on a magnetic material having a predetermined positional relation to a recording region of the recording medium by a magnetization detector having a predetermined positional relation to the information processing head, generating a signal indicative of a relative position of the information processing head with respect to the recording medium based on a result of the detecting step and moving the information processing head and the recording medium relatively to position the information processing head at the predetermined position with respect to the recording medium based on the generated signal, and a process for forming a cantilever-type probe capable of indicating a magnitude of a magnetic force between the probe and a recording medium and capable of performing at least one of a recording operation and a reproducing operation on the recording m

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is used to observe a sample. The same portion of a surface of the sample is scanned forward and backward using a probe. A first signal corresponding to a structure of the sample is detected from the probe during a period in which the probe scans the surface of the sample forward. A second signal corresponding to the structure of the sample is detected from the probe during a period in which the probe scans the surface of the sample backward. When a difference is caused in at least a portion between the first and second signals, the portion of one of the first and the second signals is replaced by a portion of the other signal to generate a corrected signal. An image of the sample is formed using the corrected signal.

Abstract: A recording medium includes a substrate electrode, a recording layer constituted of a monomolecular film of an organic compound or a built-up film thereof, and a photoconductive thin film, laminated in this order on a substrate. The photoconductive thin film may preferably be divided to a plurality of isolated sectors. The recording medium is used in an ultra high density information processing apparatus with a probe electrode disposed close to the medium, a power source for applying a voltage between the medium and the probe electrode, and a light source for irradiating the medium.

Abstract: An information carrier for performing information recording and/or reproducing through a probe provided in an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an information recording medium having a recording plane for recording and/or reproducing through the probe, and a frame which is formed detachably in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus to accommodate the information recording medium airtightly. A mechanism is provided in the frame which can be opened or closed to allow the recording plane of the information recording medium to be open when the frame is mounted in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: Information is recorded by providing a recording medium having a recording layer on an electroconductive substrate transmitting an electromagnetic wave and an electroconductive optical probe arranged proximate to the recording medium, and applying a voltage between the substrate and the optical probe. The recorded information is read by irradiating an electromagnetic wave, preferably with a plurality of wavelengths, on the recording layer from the substrate side, and detecting with the optical probe an electromagnetic wave oozed out on the surface of the recording layer.

Abstract: An information carrier for performing information recording and/or reproducing through a probe provided in an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an information recording medium having a recording plane for recording and/or reproducing through the probe, and a frame which is formed detachably in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus to accommodate the information recording medium airtightly. A mechanism is provided in the frame which can be opened or closed to allow the recording plane of the information recording medium to be open when the frame is mounted in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus includes a recording medium and a reproducing probe, and reproduces information from a signal between the recording medium and the probe. The apparatus further includes a unit for obtaining reproduced information from each of a plurality of data unit areas of the recording medium under different conditions. By obtaining a plurality of different kinds of information from scanning each recording region under the different conditions in a reproducing operation, it is possible to perform correction by discriminating a change in a tunnel current reflecting a recording bit from a tunnel current caused by projections and recesses of the surface and to remove a resulting error.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a recording medium, a magnetic material having a predetermined magnetization pattern with respect to the recording medium, a first device for detecting the magnetization pattern of the magnetic material, a second device for detecting a change of the recording medium and a third device for driving the recording medium and the second device relative to each other, based on a signal from the first device.

Abstract: An optical modulation element characterized in that a two-dimensional phase type diffraction gratings, whose refractive index changes for each predetermined period along two different directions in a predetermined plane, is adopted, and a changing state of the refractive index is controlled to change characteristics of the diffraction grating, so that a diffraction phenomenon of light incident on the element is controlled.

Abstract: An electrochromic device employing a metal oxide film as an oxidative-coloration layer is provided. The metal oxide film is a porous film comprising grains, 50% in number or more of which have a grain size of 1000 to 5000 .ANG. in diameter, and changes its optical density in a range of 0.3 to 0.65 between a bleached state and a colored state. The metal oxide film is prepared by an anodic oxidation process in which alternating potential is continuously applied to a metallic film initially with a smaller amplitude and subsequently with a larger amplitude.

Abstract: An optical modulation device for effecting optical modulation by controlling the diffraction phenomenon of light, which not only consumes a small amouhnt of the driving energy employed, such as a electric power, but which is also capable of improvements in reliability.