Abstract: A magneto-optical storage medium includes an interference layer, a magnetic domain expansion layer, an intermediate layer, a magnetic masking layer, a recording layer, and a protection layer which are sequentially formed on a substrate. The magnetic domain expansion layer produces a smaller frictional force due to wall coercivity than do the other magnetic layers. The intermediate layer has the Curie temperature TC2 which is lower than those of the other magnetic layers. The magnetic masking layer is in a perpendicular magnetization state at temperatures that are in a proximity of TC2, and changes into an in-plane magnetization state at temperatures that are higher than the proximity of TC2. The recording layer produces a higher coercive force than those produced by the magnetic domain expansion layer at room temperature.

Abstract: A method for forming micropatterns includes forming a thin film consisting of a single layer or of plural layers on a substrate, irradiating an energy beam to the thin film to elevate the temperature of a region to a predetermined temperature or higher to thereby modify the region of the thin film, and patterning the thin film at least in such a manner to leave over the modified region.

Abstract: A magneto-optical storage medium includes an interference layer, a magnetic domain expansion layer, an intermediate layer, a magnetic masking layer, a recording layer, and a protection layer which are sequentially formed on a substrate. The magnetic domain expansion layer produces a smaller frictional force due to wall coercivity than do the other magnetic layers. The intermediate layer has the Curie temperature TC2 which is lower than those of the other magnetic layers. The magnetic masking layer is in a perpendicular magnetization state at temperatures that are in a proximity of TC2, and changes into an in-plane magnetization state at temperatures that are higher than the proximity of TC2. The recording layer produces a higher coercive force than those produced by the magnetic domain expansion layer at room temperature.

Abstract: A reproduction layer, a magnetic domain extending layer, an intermediate layer, and a recording layer are formed in this order. The magnetic domain extending layer, the intermediate layer, and the recording layer are exchange-coupled. The intermediate layer has a Curie temperature lower than that of any other magnetic layer. A non-magnetic intermediate layer is formed between the reproduction layer and the magnetic domain extending layer. Upon reproduction, magnetization information in the recording layer is transferred to and extended in the magnetic domain extending layer, where an extended magnetic domain is formed. The reproduction layer is magnetostatically coupled with the magnetic domain extending layer, so that the extended magnetic domain is transferred to the reproduction layer.

Abstract: An optical disk has address recording sections each of which has a wobbled part of one of side walls of a groove. Each address recording section is formed by providing convexes of a groove in an adjacent land so as to widen the groove. With the wobbles thus provided in a concavo-convex form, address information is recorded. Besides, the address recording sections thus provided in the grooves are linearly disposed in radial directions of the optical disk. By thus arranging the optical disk on whose grooves and/or lands information is recorded, mixing of wobble frequency components in reproduced information signals does not occur, the sector method is applicable to the optical disk, and information signals of high quality can be obtained.

Abstract: A magneto-optical memory medium according to the present invention comprises a reproducing layer, which has in-plane magnetization at room temperature and perpendicular magnetization when heated to above a predetermined temperature by a reproducing light beam; a recording layer, which is magnetostatically coupled to the reproducing layer; and an in-plane magnetized layer, provided adjacent to the recording layer, which has a Curie temperature at the above-mentioned predetermined temperature. In this medium, at temperatures below the predetermined temperature, signals recorded at high density in the recording layer are masked, and the above-mentioned magnetostatic coupling is suppressed, by magnetic masking by the in-plane magnetized layer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical memory medium according to the present invention comprises a reproducing layer, which has in-plane magnetization at room temperature and perpendicular magnetization when heated to above a predetermined temperature by a reproducing light beam; a recording layer, which is magnetostatically coupled to the reproducing layer; and an in-plane magnetized layer, provided adjacent to the recording layer, which has a Curie temperature at the above-mentioned predetermined temperature. In this medium, at temperatures below the predetermined temperature, signals recorded at high density in the recording layer are masked, and the above-mentioned magnetostatic coupling is suppressed, by magnetic masking by the in-plane magnetized layer.

Abstract: An optical disk of the present invention includes a transparent dielectric film formed on a light incident side of the disk on an opposite side of an optical recording film so as to sandwich the transparent substrate therebetween, for suppressing bimetallic effects caused by a difference in thermal expansion between an optical recording film formed on an optical recording surface and the transparent substrate, whereby changes in tilt against temperature changes can be suppressed. Further, by an optimal selection of a reflectance of the transparent dielectric film, unwanted reflection due to multi-interference can be reduced at the same time.

Abstract: In an optical disk, grooves and lands serving as recording tracks are provided, the grooves are shaped so as to have virtually the same width, and in a first region, the two side walls of each groove wind in accordance with address information. The first region of the groove is formed with its leading portion located at the same angular position as the leading portion of at least one of the first regions of the adjacent grooves. Moreover, the winding portions corresponding to respective bits of the address information are formed in a manner so as to synchronize to the adjacent grooves. With this arrangement, it becomes possible to easily detect address information from the grooves and lands, and consequently to obtain an information reproducing signal with high quality.

Abstract: An optical disc having a recording film formed on one surface of a plastics substrate transparent to light, a first protection film formed on the recording film, a moisture proof film formed on the other surface of the substrate, and a second protection film formed on the moisture proof film.

Abstract: Grooves and lands are provided to a magneto-optical disk so as to be alternately arranged, and recording bit strings are formed on the grooves and lands respectively so that information is recorded. Moreover, pit rows are formed on boundary sections between the adjoining grooves and lands so that address information of a recording/reproducing track is recorded, and the pit rows are formed every other boundary section. When the grooves and the lands are scanned as the recording/reproducing track by a light, an address of the recording/reproducing track is read out from the pit rows, and successively, discrimination is made whether the recording/reproducing track which is scanned by an optical spot is the groove or the land. This prevents crosstalk which causes inclusion of address information in the next pit rows, thereby, making it possible to obtain accurate address information.

Abstract: An optical disk has address recording sections each of which has a wobbled part of one of side walls of a groove. Each address recording section is formed by providing convexes of a groove in an adjacent land so as to widen the groove. With the wobbles thus provided in a concavo-convex form, address information is recorded. Besides, the address recording sections thus provided in the grooves are linearly disposed in radial directions of the optical disk. By thus arranging the optical disk on whose grooves and/or lands information is recorded, mixing of wobble frequency components in reproduced information signals does not occur, the sector method is applicable to the optical disk, and information signals of high quality can be obtained.

Abstract: A magneto-optical memory medium is provided, on a substrate, with a first magnetic layer, which shows in-plane magnetization at room temperature and perpendicular magnetization above a certain temperature, and a second magnetic layer, which shows perpendicular magnetization within a range from room temperature up to its Curie temperature. The first magnetic layer is made up of alternating films of rare earth metals and transition metals. As a result, a magneto-optical memory medium can be provided which has a wide reproducing power margin, and which is able to prevent deterioration of characteristics due to repeated laser projection.

Abstract: An optical disk substrate in which a winding groove, which is winding in accordance with address information, and a normal groove, which is not winding, are placed alternately in the radial direction as tracking guides used for tracking control. With respect to this optical disk substrate, a laser beam, which is used for forming patterns for the tracking guides, is applied while being switched alternately between the first mode that exerts oscillations in the disk radial direction in accordance with the address information and the second mode that does not exert oscillations. An optical disk has a construction in which at least a recording layer is formed on the optical disk substrate.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium with a reproducing layer that exhibits in-plane magnetization at room temperature and that comes to exhibit perpendicular magnetization as temperature rises. The second shielding layer is used to block the magnetization of record bits other than a record bit to be reproduced from being copied on a signal reproducing area in the reproducing layer. Consequently, even in the case of high-density record bits in the recording layer, only the magnetization of the record bit to be reproduced is copied on the reproducing layer. Therefore, the application of the magneto-optical recording medium makes it possible to produce superior reproducing signals even in the case where the records bits with high density are formed on the recording layer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium includes first, second, and third magnetic layers laminated in this order. The first magnetic layer, made of a rare earth-transition metal alloy, has a great coercive force at room temperature and is transition metal rich in a temperature range between room temperature and a Curie temperature of the first magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer, made of a rare earth-transition metal alloy, has a Curie temperature higher than that of the first magnetic layer and is rare-earth metal rich at room temperature. The third magnetic layer, made of a rare earth-transition metal alloy, has a Curie temperature higher than that of the first magnetic layer, and a compensation temperature falling in a temperature range between room temperature and the Curie temperature of the third magnetic layer. A magnetization of the third magnetic layer is transferred to the first magnetic layer at a temperature higher than room temperature. A perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Ku3 satisfies 0.3.

Abstract: The invention features an apparatus and method for reproducing recorded bits from a magneto-optical recording medium. The medium includes a base, a readout layer formed on the base, a transfer layer formed on the readout layer and a recording layer formed on the transfer layer. The readout and recording layers each exhibit perpendicular magnetization in a temperature range between room temperature and, respectively, the readout layer's Curie temperature and the recording layer's Curie temperature. The transfer layer is predominant in-plane magnetization at room temperature and an in-plane to perpendicular magnetization transition occurs at a temperature above room temperature. Also, the recording layer Curie temperature is lower than the Curie temperature of the transfer layer. The reproducing method includes the steps of projecting a light beam, applying a subsidiary magnetic field and reproducing information based on reflected light from the readout layer while applying the subsidiary magnetic field.

Abstract: If the Curie points of the first magnetic layer, second magnetic layer, third magnetic layer and fourth magnetic layer of alloys of rare-earth metal and transition metal as ferrimagnetic materials showing perpendicular magnetization from room temperature to their Curie points are indicated as Tc1, Tc2, Tc3 and Tc4, respectively, the Curie points and room temperature are related by: room temperature<Tc3<Tc4<Tc1<Tc2. If the sublattice magnetization of transition metal is indicated as .alpha. and the sublattice magnetization of rare-earth metal is .beta., .alpha. is stronger than .beta. in the second magnetic layer at temperatures between Tc1 and Tc2, and .beta. is stronger than .alpha. in the fourth magnetic layer at temperatures between room temperature and Tc4.

Abstract: An optical disk has address recording sections each of which has a wobbled part of one of side walls of a groove. Each address recording section is formed by providing convexes of a groove in an adjacent land so as to widen the groove. With the wobbles thus provided in a concavo-convex form, address information is recorded. Besides, the address recording sections thus provided in the grooves are linearly disposed in radial directions of the optical disk. By thus arranging the optical disk on whose grooves and/or lands information is recorded, mixing of wobble frequency components in reproduced information signals does not occur, the sector method is applicable to the optical disk, and information signals of high quality can be obtained.

Abstract: In a method for reproducing an optical disk of the present invention, address information of an optical disk, provided with tracking guides composed of (1) a wobbling groove wobbled in accordance with address information and (2) a normal groove which is not wobbled, is reproduced. The wobbling groove and the normal groove are alternately provided in a radius direction of the optical disk. When carrying out recording and reproducing of the optical disk, three beams composed of one main beam and two sub beams are used. The three beams are projected so that (a) the sub beams are respectively on the wobbling groove and the normal groove and (b) the main beam is on a land between the wobbling groove and the normal groove. The address information is found from reflected light of one of the sub beams. The above arrangement allows respective central portions of the sub beams to track the tracking guides.