Abstract: An optical head is driven in a tracking direction with respect to a rotating optical disc. The optical head includes a light source, an optical block, a condenser shifter, and a rotating mechanism. The light source is used to read and write data from/on the optical disc. The optical block supports the light source. The condenser shifter includes a condenser, a movable body, a base, a focus direction drive mechanism and a tracking direction drive mechanism. The condenser focuses light, emitted from the light source, toward the optical disc. The movable body supports the condenser. The base supports the movable body elastically such that the movable body is able to shift in a focus direction and in the tracking direction. The focus and tracking direction drive mechanisms are provided to shift the movable body in the focus and tracking directions, respectively.

Abstract: On a pit information surface (22d) of a read-only optical disk (22), a protective layer (22f) suited for a floating-type or a sliding-type magnetic head (3) used for a magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk is formed. A reproducing operation with respect to the optical disk (22) is performed while allowing the magnetic head (3) to slide on the protective layer (22f). Accordingly, a magnetic head does not need to be separated from a disk in reproduction. Thus, an optical disk device can be manufactured at lower cost and reduced in size, and a high-speed seek can be realized. Commonality of a disk cartridge (32) with the magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk also can be achieved. An optical disk system that is user-friendly thus can be obtained.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a withdrawal means for moving an objective lens (32) to a position distant from an optical disc (1) during an inactive duration of intermittent recording or reproducing operation. A means for regulating or fixing the objective lens (32) at the position distant from the optical disc (1) is further provided. Thus, even in a noncontrolled state during the inactive duration, it is possible to prevent collision of the objective lens (32) with the optical disc (1). As a result, both power saving and safety of the apparatus can be attained.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a compact and thin light-receiving device in a simple configuration, and provides a compact optical head on which this light-receiving device is mounted. The light-receiving device for receiving light reflected from an information recording medium includes a light-receiving chip having a plurality of electrodes and a flexible wiring board on which the light-receiving chip is mounted and fixed. The plurality of electrodes are connected electrically to the flexible wiring board by attaching directly or via a metal wire.

Abstract: A digital camera includes: an image capturing section; an image data generation section; a display section; a recording/reproducing section; a data communication section; and a control section. The image data generation section generates image data, which represents the image of the object that is captured by the image capturing section, and index data associated with the image data. The display section displays the image data and the index data. The recording/reproducing section records the image data and the index data in a memory section and reproduces the image data and the index data recorded in the memory section. The data communication section sends the image data and the index data, which are recorded in the memory section, to an external device, and receives image data and index data from the external device. The control section controls the image data generation section, the recording/reproducing section, and the data communication section.

Abstract: A collision preventive member that limits displacements of an objective lens in a focusing direction is provided. The collision preventive member includes a first limiting portion that limits displacements of the objective lens present within a first region while allowing a movable range of the objective lens in the focusing direction to overlap a deflection range of the optical disc within the first region, and a second limiting portion that limits displacements of the objective lens present within a second region in establishing a relation such that the movable range of the objective lens in the focusing direction does not overlap the deflection range of the optical disc within the second region. A controller that controls the objective lens in such a manner that the objective lens is located within the second region in a non-focusing state of the objective lens is provided.

Abstract: A light emitting module used for an optical head having a light source and a single or plural light receiving elements and for using record or reproduce information on information recording medium includes a tabular conductive multilayer substrate; and at least a surface mount component mounted on the conductive multilayer substrate; the light emitting module includes at least the light source as the surface mount component.

Abstract: This invention relates to a content distribution system, a content distribution method and a content receiving device and one of the objects thereof are to enable a higher investment efficiency regarding content of manufacturers. In order to achieve the object, the content distribution system includes a content receiving device (21A, 22A, 23A) for receiving and reproducing encrypted content created by using a budget provided by manufacturer, the content receiving device (21A, 22A, 23A) comprising a receiving means 91 for receiving the content, an input means (93) for inputting a decryption key given owing to purchase of a product made by the manufacturer, a decryption means (96) for decrypting, upon input of the decryption key by the input means (93), an encryption of the content received by the receiving means (93) by use of the decryption key; and a viewing means (92) for reproducing the content decrypted by the decryption means (96).

Abstract: A reflecting mirror and an optical bench are placed on an external jig provided with a mirror holding portion for maintaining the reflecting mirror, and then the reflecting mirror and the optical bench are bonded and fixed, thus obtaining an optical head. An adhesion reference plane for the reflecting mirror is no longer required in the optical bench, thus reducing the size and cost of the optical bench. The mounting precision is high and stable. Further, the reflecting mirror is bonded and fixed at the vicinities of the approximate centers of its two opposed side faces and therefore the variation in orientation of the reflecting mirror due to expansion or contraction of an adhesive is lessened, thus achieving a highly-reliable optical head excellent in environmental stability characteristics.

Abstract: In high-speed high-density recording, heat generation becomes a problem as high-frequency modulation and a strong magnetic field of a magnetic head are realized. A transducer supporting structure is provided including a thermally coupling contact portion extended from a part of a suspension and brought into contact with a magnetic core. Heat generated in a coil is dissipated to the suspension via the magnetic core and the thermally coupling contact portion.

Abstract: An optical head includes the following: a light beam separator (35) that includes substantial interference regions for light that is reflected from an information recording medium and travels in a straight path and ±first-order diffracted light produced by information tracks of the information recording medium, and diffracts each of plural light beams in regions (32a, 32b) of the substantial interference regions, where the amount of light is changed by a change in the relative angle between the information recording medium and the objective lens and by a shift of the objective lens in the radial direction of the information recording medium; a light-receiving element (36a, 36b) for receiving the light beam that is reflected by the information recording medium and separated by the light beam separator (35); and an arithmetic circuit that corrects a value of an electrical signal detected by the light-receiving element (36a, 36b) in accordance with a radial position signal corresponding to the amount of shift of

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a focusing optical system for focusing light from a light source on an information recording medium as a light spot and an error signal generation system for generating an error signal that represents the positional deviation between an information track and the light spot on the information recording medium from the light reflected by the information recording medium. The apparatus further includes a tilt measurement system for measuring the amount of relative inclination between the focusing optical system and the information recording medium and an offset application system for performing off-track of the light spot by applying an electric offset corresponding to the measured amount of inclination to the error signal.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an optical information recording medium including a substrate (1) and an optical information layer in one of the layers the substrate (1) and having a light incident surface on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate side and the opposite side. The optical information recording medium also includes a magnetic clamp layer (2) at a position not disturbing the incident light into the optical information layer from the light incident surface and covering optical information layer partially or entirely. The magnetic clamp layer (2) is pulled by and fixed to the magnet of an optical information recording/reproduction apparatus. The pulling force between the clamp layer and the magnet is preferably in a range from 0.1 N to 5 N. Thus, it is possible to provide an optical information recording medium and an optical information recording/reproduction apparatus in which recording/reproduction can be performed up to the vicinity of the center of the substrate (1).

Abstract: An optical-disk drive device is provided which is capable of executing recording or reproduction at a plurality of numerical apertures and keeping constant the quantity of light which is emitted by a light-emitting element.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a compact and thin light-receiving device in a simple configuration, and provides a compact optical head on which this light-receiving device is mounted. The light-receiving device for receiving light reflected from an information recording medium includes a light-receiving chip having a plurality of electrodes and a flexible wiring board on which the light-receiving chip is mounted and fixed. The plurality of electrodes are connected electrically to the flexible wiring board by attaching directly or via a metal wire.

Abstract: In an optical head for performing the reproduction or recording of information for two or more types of different optical disks, the damage caused to an optical disk or an objective lens by collision between the optical disk and the objective lens is avoided. An optical heads device for reproducing or recording two or more types of information recording mediums different from each other comprises a first optical system, a second optical system, and a control unit for avoiding the collision between an optical disk and a second objective lens when a first optical system is in operation.

Abstract: A reflecting mirror and an optical bench are placed on an external jig provided with a mirror holding portion for maintaining the reflecting mirror, and then the reflecting mirror and the optical bench are bonded and fixed, thus obtaining an optical head. An adhesion reference plane for the reflecting mirror is no longer required in the optical bench, thus reducing the size and cost of the optical bench. The mounting precision is high and stable. Further, the reflecting mirror is bonded and fixed at the vicinities of the approximate centers of its two opposed side faces and therefore the variation in orientation of the reflecting mirror due to expansion or contraction of an adhesive is lessened, thus achieving a highly-reliable optical head excellent in environmental stability characteristics.

Abstract: A reflecting mirror and an optical bench are placed on an external jig provided with a mirror holding portion for maintaining the reflecting mirror, and then the reflecting mirror and the optical bench are bonded and fixed, thus obtaining an optical head. An adhesion reference plane for the reflecting mirror is no longer required in the optical bench, thus reducing the size and cost of the optical bench. The mounting precision is high and stable. Further, the reflecting mirror is bonded and fixed at the vicinities of the approximate centers of its two opposed side faces and therefore the variation in orientation of the reflecting mirror due to expansion or contraction of an adhesive is lessened, thus achieving a highly-reliable optical head excellent in environmental stability characteristics.

Abstract: When the tilt of an optical disk is detected using a light source of an optical head, the optical head cannot be simplified enough and an optical-disk tilt cannot be detected adequately. The optical head includes: an LED chip; a light-converging element that converges the light which is emitted from the LED chip upon an optical disk; a light-converging element driving means which drives the light-converging element; and a sensor which detects a tilt or a positional shift of the optical disk. In the sensor, the LED chip is placed on a semiconductor substrate which is provided with a plurality of light-receiving chips; the light emitted from the LED chip irradiates the optical disk; the light which is reflected from the optical disk is received by the plurality of light-receiving chips; and based upon the quantity of light which is received at the plurality of light-receiving chips, a tilt or a positional shift of the optical disk is detected.

Abstract: An optical head including a light source for emitting luminous energy recordable on a recording medium, a heat radiating section, in contact with the light source, for radiating heat which accompanies the light emission thereof, and a resin-made bench for mounting and fixing the aforementioned elements, or an optical head having a light source for generating luminous energy required for recording on a disk-shaped information recording medium or reproducing information recorded on the disk-shaped information recording medium; a radiator plate, in contact with the light source either directly or indirectly, for guiding heat which accompanies the emission of light by the light source; an objective lens for focusing light on the disk-shaped information recording medium; an objective lens drive unit for driving the objective lens in the focal and radial direction of the medium; a light receiving element for receiving light reflected from the medium; a sheet-shaped flexible circuit for feeding power to the light so