Abstract: A camera module 1 of the present invention includes a moving magnet type mechanical shutter 2 and a lens unit 3 (lens drive section) for driving a lens by electromagnetic force. A magnetic field for driving the lens is set so that a light path is closed by a shutter fin while a magnetic field leaked from the lens unit 3 is acting on a drive mechanism of the mechanical shutter 2. With the configuration, the leak magnetic field leaked from the lens unit 3 causes the light path to be closed at a faster speed by the shutter fin of the mechanical shutter 2. Accordingly, generation of a smear can be prevented by the camera module including the lens drive section and the moving magnet type mechanical shutter, which are driven by the electromagnetic force.

Abstract: In a camera module 1 of the present invention, a mechanical shutter 2 is provided above a top surface of a lens unit 3, and a protrusion section formed to an end of a lens 31 is held in a depression section formed on a back surface of the mechanical shutter 2. With the arrangement, it is possible to cause the camera module 1 employing the mechanical shutter 2 to be smaller and thinner at the same time.

Abstract: In a micro-lens array substrate (12) that includes first and second micro-lens arrays (6, 7) respectively having a plurality of lenses, the first micro-lens array (6) is sandwiched between two inorganic dielectric substrates (21, 24), and the second micro-lens array (7) is formed on one of the two inorganic dielectric substrates (21, 24).

Abstract: In an objective lens driving device for an optical disk, a plurality of elastic supporting members supporting an objective lens have bent portions bent approximately in the focus direction and are arranged in parallel approximately in the focus direction to cause expansion/contraction of the elastic supporting members in the direction offsetting a moment M. With this structure, a tilt correction method of the movable portion, a tilt correction method of an objective lens for an optical disk, and an objective lens driving device for an optical disk can be provided capable of reducing the size of the movable portion, minimizing tilt of the objective lens in the focus direction to provide enhanced optical performance, and restraining a resonance peak by the elastic supporting members.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a microlens array and a projection-type liquid crystal display apparatus which can increase the efficiency of use of light, facilitate a method of manufacturing a microlens array and reduce the cost of equipment. By an operation of only irradiating a first lens with parallel light which has an intensity distribution corresponding to the shape of a second lens and irradiating an ultraviolet curing resin layer with transmission light, the first and second lenses are placed with a high alignment accuracy in a mutual positional relation thereof. By irradiating the first lens with the parallel light, it becomes possible to uniformly expose a broad area, and it becomes possible to expose by the wafer.

Abstract: In a micro-lens array substrate (12) that includes first and second micro-lens arrays (6, 7) respectively having a plurality of lenses, the first micro-lens array (6) is sandwiched between two inorganic dielectric substrates (21, 24), and the second micro-lens array (7) is formed on one of the two inorganic dielectric substrates (21, 24).

Abstract: An exposing apparatus for a microlens array allows for easy alignment and attains high accuracy. An exposing method for a microlens array attains high accuracy and high light efficiency. The exposing apparatus for a microlens array includes a micro fly-eye lens for converting a light beam from a light source into a secondary point light source, a transmittance distribution mask for adjusting the luminance of the light of the secondary point light source, and a collimator lens for converting the light of adjusted luminance into a parallel light beam and for guiding the parallel light beam, via a first microlens array which is formed in advance, to a photosensitive resin layer to be a second microlens array. The light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the micro fly-eye lens, the transmittance distribution mask, and the collimator lens. The light is then adjusted to a desired luminance to expose the photosensitive resin of a microlens substrate.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a microlens array and a projection-type liquid crystal display apparatus which can increase the efficiency of use of light, facilitate a method of manufacturing a microlens array and reduce the cost of equipment. By an operation of only irradiating a first lens with parallel light which has an intensity distribution corresponding to the shape of a second lens and irradiating an ultraviolet curing resin layer with transmission light, the first and second lenses are placed with a high alignment accuracy in a mutual positional relation thereof. By irradiating the first lens with the parallel light, it becomes possible to uniformly expose a broad area, and it becomes possible to expose by the wafer.

Abstract: An exposing apparatus for a microlens array allows for easy alignment and attains high accuracy. An exposing method for a microlens array attains high accuracy and high light efficiency. The exposing apparatus for a microlens array includes a micro fly-eye lens for converting a light beam from a light source into a secondary point light source, a transmittance distribution mask for adjusting the luminance of the light of the secondary point light source, and a collimator lens for converting the light of adjusted luminance into a parallel light beam and for guiding the parallel light beam, via a first microlens array which is formed in advance, to a photosensitive resin layer to be a second microlens array. The light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the micro fly-eye lens, the transmittance distribution mask, and the collimator lens. The light is then adjusted to a desired luminance to expose the photosensitive resin of a microlens substrate.

Abstract: A reproducing light quantity control method for an optical memory device includes the steps of (1) recording test data on an optical recording medium; (2) reproducing the test data recorded on the optical recording medium by changing a reproducing light quantity in a plurality of light quantity values; (3) measuring a quality value and a signal quantity of each of a plurality of reproducing signals from the test data; (4) selecting an optimum reproducing signal quantity from a plurality of reproducing signal quantities in accordance with quality values of the plurality of reproducing signals so as to decide a target value of reproducing signal quantity; and (5) recording the target value on a target value recording region of the optical recording medium. This method reduces the time required to obtain a target value of a reproducing signal quantity and speeds up an operation from installing of the optical recording medium to finishing of preparation for recording and reproducing.

Abstract: In an objective lens driving device for an optical disk, a plurality of elastic supporting members supporting an objective lens have bent portions bent approximately in the focus direction and are arranged in parallel approximately in the focus direction to cause expansion/contraction of the elastic supporting members in the direction offsetting a moment M. With this structure, a tilt correction method of the movable portion, a tilt correction method of an objective lens for an optical disk, and an objective lens driving device for an optical disk can be provided capable of reducing the size of the movable portion, minimizing tilt of the objective lens in the focus direction to provide enhanced optical performance, and restraining a resonance peak by the elastic supporting members.

Abstract: An optical disk having thereon intermittent spiral guiding grooves composed of a pit array, wherein each guiding groove has a wobbling side wall at either side, so that the pit array is used as a data reproduce-only area and spaces between adjacent guiding grooves are used as a data recordable area, thereby realizing a high-density optical disk having both the data reproduce-only area and data recordable area.

Abstract: A light sensor is divided into two light receiving sections which receive light reflected by an optical disk. A first intermediate address signal is generated from a difference signal of outputs of the light receiving sections. A second intermediate address signal is generated from a sum signal of outputs of the light receiving sections. An address generating circuit generates an address signal by using the first and second intermediate address signals. An optical disk device stably generating an address signal regardless of a displacement of an objective lens and a change in reflectance of the optical disk is thus provided.

Abstract: An optical pickup for irradiating a first recording medium and a second recording medium with light, at least one of the substrate thickness and the refractive index of the first recording medium being different from that of the second recording medium, where the optical pickup includes: a light source for emitting the light; a polarized beam splitter for receiving the light and for transmitting at least a portion of the light while reflecting the remaining portion of the light depending on the polarization direction of the light; a first objective lens for focusing the portion of the light reflected by the polarized beam splitter onto the first recording medium; and a second objective lens for focusing the portion of the light transmitted through the polarized beam splitter onto the second recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording-reproduction method wherein: upon reproducing, recorded information corresponding to a predetermined number of sectors from the leading sector of each of a plurality of information tracks on an optical disk is preliminarily stored on a buffer memory, and during a period in which the optical pickup is shifted to another information track, the recording information, stored in the buffer memory, is reproduced; and upon recording, during a period in which the optical pickup is shifted to another information track, recording information is temporarily stored in the buffer memory, and after completion of the recording, the recording information is recorded on the optical disk. In this method, information tracks, which are formed on the optical disk discontinuously with one .another, are regarded as if they were continuous tracks, and the apparent recording and reproducing operation is carried out continuously.

Abstract: In an objective lens driving apparatus used in an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like, a vibration is suppressed and a resonance peak on transfer function is suppressed when movable portions are moved in focusing and tracking directions and when these portions are turned around focusing and tracking directions. An elastic body which supports the movable portions movably in two directions, i.e., focusing direction and tracking direction to a fixed portion includes a bent portion in an intermediate portion between the side of movable portion and the side of fixed portion. A damper member is adhered to bridge a gap between a branched arm portion branching from a linear portion extending from the side of movable portion, and a fixed portion. The bent portion couples two linear portions and which are not on the same line.

Abstract: An inclination adjusting device for an objective lens used for an optical information recording and reproduction apparatus with a reduced number of components for a small size and light weight is provided. An objective lens is held at an end portion of a plate spring. The other end portion of the plate spring is fixed to an adjusting board, which is supported in a manner so that it can tilt against a base on a spherical element as a support. The adjusting board is properly positioned with regard to the base by use of one guide pin. The adjusting board is tilted in the longitudinal direction of the plate spring and in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction by use of a first and second adjusting screws, respectively.

Abstract: An optical head, for an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus, for irradiating a recording medium by a light beam emitted from a light source and introducing an information light formed by a light beam reflected from the recording medium to a photo detector, a shift of an optical axis of the information light being minimized. The optical head includes a unit for receiving the information light which is reflected from the recording medium, a first reflecting unit for reflecting such information light, a second reflecting unit for reflecting the information light reflected by the first reflecting unit and for directing the reflected information light toward the photo detecting system, and a unit for emerging the information light reflected by the second reflecting unit to the photo detecting system.

Abstract: An objective lens-driving unit comprising a lens supporting means for supporting the objective lens having an optical axis vertical to a recording medium on which light beams converge through the objective lens so as to attain optical recording, optical playing and optical erasing of information on the recording medium; at least one driving means for driving said lens supporting means in the tracking direction; a driving means for driving said intermediate supporting means in the focusing direction, wherein said tracking direction-driving means comprises a magnetic circuit that produces magnetic flux in the circumferential direction of the recording medium, and a tracking direction-driving coil that is positioned to cross a gap formed in the magnetic circuit to thereby receive an electro-magnetic force due to an interaction between the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit and the current passing through said coil, said tracking direction-driving coil being positioned within the excitation area of the magnet

Abstract: An improved three-dimensional driving arrangement of an objective lens or the like, which is so arranged that coils for focusing control, tracking control and tangential control in three directions re disposed in one magnetic gap for compact size, while the coils for the tracking control and tangential control are each formed to have a V-shaped cross section, with going passage arms of the coils being disposed in the magnetic gap, but returning passage arms of them being disposed outside the magnetic gap through four slit-like notches formed in a yoke, thus making it possible to drive the objective lens independently in three directions.