Abstract: A memory cell having a configuration completely different from that of a memory cell of a conventional memory and having various excellent characteristics, and also a method for manufacturing the same, are provided. A memory having various excellent characteristics is provided as well by use of the memory cell. Furthermore, a method for recording/reading information in/from the memory is provided. The memory cell includes a memory medium for holding information, a controlling part for recording information in the memory medium, and a detecting element for reading information from the memory medium, where the detecting element is provided independently of the memory medium.

Abstract: In an foreign body detection apparatus, an optical signal detection unit irradiates a light spot onto a surface of an object to be inspected while scanning the surface by employing the light spot in a predetermined direction, and receives a reflected beam from the surface of the inspected object to generate a photodetection signal corresponding to the light intensity of the reflected beam. A foreign body detection unit generates a foreign body detection signal appearing with respect to a leader and a trailer in the scanning direction of a foreign body adhering to the inspected object from the photodetection signal. The foreign body detection signal is obtained, for example, as a difference signal between the photodetection signal and a delayed photodetection signal with a predetermined delay time. A foreign body discrimination unit generates a foreign body discriminating signal indicating a region in which the foreign body is present from the foreign body detection signal.

Abstract: A memory cell having a configuration completely different from that of a memory cell of a conventional memory and having various excellent characteristics, and also a method for manufacturing the same, are provided. A memory having various excellent characteristics is provided as well by use of the memory cell. Furthermore, a method for recording/reading information in/from the memory is provided. The memory cell includes a memory medium for holding information, a controlling part for recording information in the memory medium, and a detecting element for reading information from the memory medium, where the detecting element is provided independently of the memory medium.

Abstract: In an foreign body detection apparatus, an optical signal detection unit (1) irradiates a light spot onto a surface of an object to be inspected while scanning the surface by the light spot in a predetermined direction, and receives a reflected beam from the surface of the inspected object to generate a photodetection signal (HF) corresponding to the light intensity of the reflected beam. A foreign body detection unit (2a to 2h) generates a foreign body detection signal (C) appearing with respect to a leader and a trailer in the scanning direction of a foreign body adhering to the inspected object from the photodetection signal (HF). The foreign body detection signal is obtained for example as a difference signal between the photodetection signal (HF) and the delayed photodetection signal (HF) with a predetermined delay time.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an existence range of a foreign substance which is present on a surface of an object, includes: an optical system including a light source for emitting a light beam on to the surface of the object; a movement section for relatively moving the object with respect to the light beam; a light detection section for detecting a light quantity of the light beam reflected by the surface of the object to generate a light detection signal which indicates the light quantity; a difference signal generation section for generating a difference signal; a perimeter signal generation section for comparing the difference signal with a reference value to generate a perimeter signal; and a foreign substance determination section for determining an existence range of the foreign substance using the perimeter signal.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium according to the present invention includes at least one groove track and at least one land track allowing information to be recorded on or reproduced from the groove track and the land track, the groove track and the land track adjoining each other. The optical information recording medium further includes: an identification signal region including a pre-pit array, the pre-pit array indicating identification information concerning the groove track and the land track; and a servo control region disposed ahead of the identification signal region along the groove track and the land track, the servo control region including wobble pits positioned so as to shift to opposite sides of a center line of either the groove track or the land track.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium according to the present invention includes at least one groove track and at least one land track allowing information to be recorded on or reproduced from the groove track and the land track, the groove track and the land track adjoining each other. The optical information recording medium further includes: an identification signal region including a pre-pit array, the pre-pit array indicating identification information concerning the groove track and the land track; and a servo control region disposed ahead of the identification signal region along the groove track and the land track, the servo control region including wobble pits positioned so as to shift to opposite sides of a center line of either the groove track or the land track.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an existence range of a foreign substance which is present on a surface of an object, includes: an optical system including a light source for emitting a light beam on to the surface of the object; a movement section for relatively moving the object with respect to the light beam; a light detection section for detecting a light quantity of the light beam reflected by the surface of the object to generate a light detection signal which indicates the light quantity; a difference signal generation section for generating a difference signal; a perimeter signal generation section for comparing the difference signal with a reference value to generate a perimeter signal; and a foreign substance determination section for determining an existence range of the foreign substance using the perimeter signal.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium according to the present invention includes at least one groove track and at least one land track allowing information to be recorded on or reproduced from the groove track and the land track, the groove track and the land track adjoining each other. The optical information recording medium further includes: an identification signal region including a pre-pit array, the pre-pit array indicating identification information concerning the groove track and the land track; and a servo control region disposed ahead of the identification signal region along the groove track and the land track, the servo control region including wobble pits positioned so as to shift to opposite sides of a center line of either the groove track or the land track.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium according to the present invention includes at least one groove track and at least one land track allowing information to be recorded on or reproduced from the groove track and the land track, the groove track and the land track adjoining each other.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium according to the present invention includes at least one groove track and at least one land track allowing information to be recorded on or reproduced from the groove track and the land track, the groove track and the land track adjoining each other. The optical information recording medium further includes: an identification signal region including a pre-pit array, the pre-pit array indicating identification information concerning the groove track and the land track; and a servo control region disposed ahead of the identification signal region along the groove track and the land track, the servo control region including wobble pits positioned so as to shift to opposite sides of a center line of either the groove track or the land track.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberations have respectivley been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/ closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus for recording, reproducing or erasing an information signal by converging a light flux onto a recording layer through a transparent substrate. The apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical heads having a plurality of objective lenses whose aberrations have respectively been corrected for a plurality of disc substrates of different thicknesses, a cartridge for enclosing the optical disc, a discrimination hole which is formed on the cartridge, and a sensor for detecting the opening/closing state of the discrimination hole and for generating a discrimination signal. In accordance with the result of the discrimination as to the thickness of the loaded optical disc, the objective lens, in which the occurrence of the aberration is smallest, is used, so that the information signal can preferably be recorded, reproduced or erased onto/from the optical discs having different substrate thicknesses.