Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical recording medium such as a compact disc comprising: a laser device; one or more diffraction devices; and a photodetector receiving a laser beam diffracted by the diffraction device. The surfaces of the diffraction device are provided with an antireflection coating. When the apparatus is used for the three-beam method, the two photodetecting areas in the photodetector for producing the tracking error signal are different in size and in positional relation to the laser device.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image display apparatus which includes a plurality of display devices, a first optical arrangement for synthesizing a plurality of images from the image display devices, a second optical arrangement for changing a position where at least one of the images is projected, the first and second optical arrangement synthesizing a plurality of images formed at different positions.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for optically reading the data stored in a flat information carrier disc in the form of tiny pits. The pickup apparatus directs a beam of light from a light source to the disc surface. The impinging beam is modulated by the data pits and reflected back to a photodetector. A novel optical grating assembly is disposed between the light source and the information disc, and includes a diffraction grating for the light beam from the source and a holographic grating for directing part of the light beam reflected by the disc to the photodetector. The diffraction and holographic gratings are formed integral with each other into the grating assembly.

Abstract: An optical head comprising a diffracting element having two tracking diffracting regions separated by a division line extending in a direction corresponding to a track direction of a recording medium, and one focusing diffracting region separated from the tracking diffracting regions by a division line extending in a direction corresponding to a radial direction of the recording medium. The optical head further comprises a light receiving element having two tracking light receiving regions for receiving diffracted lights produced in the tracking diffracting regions, and two adjoining focusing light receiving regions for receiving a diffracted light produced in the focusing diffracting region. The diffracted light produced in the focusing diffracting region always has a substantially constant light intensity, even when a tracking error occurs. As a result, an offset can be prevented from occurring in a focus error signal by finely adjusting the diffracting element.

Abstract: An optical diffraction grating element comprising diffraction gratings having a configuration in which grooves and flat lands each positioned between the adjacent grooves are successively alternately formed, wherein the diffraction gratings have the same groove depth, groove width and groove tilt angle in order to obtain a constant 0th-order diffraction efficiency and first-order diffraction efficiency in the optical diffraction grating element while the pitches of the diffraction gratings are made different by setting a different land width for each diffraction grating.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing an optical diffraction grating element of the present invention is characterized in adopting an ion beam made from a gas chemically reacting with a glass substrate when forming a diffraction grating having a serrated profile upon the glass substrate through an ion beam etching method. Also, when manufacturing an optical diffraction grating element that is divided into a plurality of regions whereon diffraction gratings having different diffraction angles with respect to an incident light are provided, the method of the present invention is characterized in forming slits into a resist film disposed upon a transparent substrate such as a glass substrate, in accordance with the patterns of the diffraction gratings, such that the width of the slits is constant irrespectively of the regions.

Abstract: A polarization diffraction element comprising two diffraction gratings formed on both faces of a substrate respectively. Both the diffraction gratings have grating lines which are arranged at the same grating pitch, and whose directions mutually form a predetermined minute angle. The grating lines may also be arranged parallel to each other. In this case, the relationship between grating pitches D.sub.1, D.sub.2 of the respective diffraction gratings and the wavelength .lambda. of an incident light is expressed as:0<.vertline..lambda.(1/D.sub.1 -1/D.sub.2)(1-(.lambda./2D.sub.1).sup.2).sup.-(1/2) .vertline..ltoreq.0.35; or0<.vertline..lambda.(1/D.sub.1 -1/D.sub.2)(1-(.lambda./D.sub.1 -.lambda./2D.sub.2).sup.2).sup.-(1/2) .vertline..ltoreq.0.35In a polarization detector employing this polarization diffraction element, a single converging lens of a small effective diameter separates one polarization from another polarization and converges them separately on different photodetectors.

Abstract: The invention discloses an optical head device having a diffraction grating element divided into a plurality of diffraction gratings have a substantially equal diffraction angle, a substantially equal optical utilization efficiency, and different focal distances of first order diffracted lights, each of the first order diffracted lights being produced from a reflected light from the recording medium, at the respective diffraction gratings and a photodetector positioned at a mid-position between two focal points produced when there occurs no focusing error, the photo-detecting means having a plurality of photo-detecting parts juxtaposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to an average diffracting direction of the diffraction grating element. The above arrangement enables to produce a small size optical head device and improve the detecting of focusing errors and tracking errors.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus which includes display devices each having screens, an optical fiber bundle connected to the respective screens so as to transmit an image therethrough, wherein the optical fiber bundle includes optical fibers arranged side by side, fastened to each other, and bent so as to have a straight portion and branch portions, the straight portion being perpendicularly connected to an output end face, and the branch portions being connected to an input end face, and spacers interposed between adjacent optical fibers in a portion of the bundle at least toward the output end face of the display apparatus.

Abstract: An optical head device having an optical system provided with at least a light source, a shaping prism, a diffracting element and a photodetector. The light source emits light whose cross-sectional intensity distribution has an elliptic shape. The shaping prism directs the light to a recording medium after shaping the intensity distribution thereof into a circular shape. The diffracting element has diffracting regions formed by at least one division line parallel to a reference direction. The light reflected from the recording medium forms an elliptic bright portion on the diffracting element. The photodetector is divided by a plurality of division lines, at least one of which is parallel to the reference direction. When there is no focus error, the diffracting element diffracts the reflected light so as to converge it on the division line substantially parallel to the reference direction in the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical pickup device having an optical system provided with at least a light source, a shaping prism, a diffracting element and a photodetector. The light source projects light whose intensity distribution has an elliptical shape in its cross section orthogonal to the optical axis. The shaping prism directs the light to a recording medium after shaping the intensity distribution thereof into a circular shape. The diffracting element has diffraction regions formed by at least one division line substantially parallel to a reference direction. The light reflected from the recording medium forms an elliptical bright portion on the diffracting element. The photodetector is divided by a plurality of division lines, at least one of which is substantially parallel to the reference direction. The diffracting element diffracts the reflected light so as to converge it on the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprising a diffraction device in which a laser beam from a light source is diffracted by the diffraction device to produce a main beam and two sub-beams which are focused on a recording medium, the beams reflected from the recording medium aare diffracted by the diffraction device to be directed to at least one photodetector, whereby a tracking error signal can be detected from output signals of the photodetector by the three-spot method that is so highly reliable that an offset never arises in the tracking error signal even when the optical axis of the optical system is displaced from a given position.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device for focusing a laser beam emitted from a light emitting element through an optical system onto a recording medium. The beam is reflected from the recording medium and redirected through the same optical system on to a photodetector. A tracking error signal and a focusing error signal are produced from the output signals of the photo-detector. A diffracting element positioned before the light emitting element and the photo-detector and produces two sub-spots in two directions for applying the so-called 3-spots method from the laser beams that were projected from the light emitting element toward the recording medium. The diffracting element is divided into a first sub-region and a second sub-region formed in the same place and defined by a parting line aligned substantially perpendicular to the track direction. The first sub-region includes a diffraction grating for diffracting three beams that comprise a main beam toward the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical element comprises a polarization diffraction element that is provided with diffraction gratings that are respectively mounted on different faces of a transparent substrate of a flat plate shape, which grating pitches are equal to each other and approximately equal to the wavelength of an incident light, and which grating lines are parallel. The thickness of the substrate is set such that the difference that occurs between the phases of the P and S polarizations of a light due to the grating, and the difference that occurs between the phases of the two polarizations when the light propagates through the substrate cancel out.

Abstract: An optical pickup device in which a main beam and a pair of sub-beams are used and a diffraction device is disposed between a recording medium and a light receiving device such as a photodetector is disclosed. The diffraction device comprises first to third diffraction regions. The second and third regions receive light beams from the recording medium which are substantially identical in amount to each other. The light receiving device comprises a first to a fourth light receiving regions. The first and second light receiving regions are juxtaposed, and separated by a line. The main beam which has been diffracted by the first diffraction region is focused onto said line. The main beam which has been diffracted by the second diffraction region is focused onto the first light receiving region. The main beam which has been diffracted by the third diffracting region is focused onto the second light receiving region.

Abstract: A pick-up device which includes a light source and a condenser lens for effecting recording and reproduction of information by projecting a light beam as collected by the condenser lens onto a recording medium. A diffraction grating is provided between the light source and the condenser lens for dividing light returning from the recording medium by a diffraction grating so as to be directed to a photo-detector, to thereby obtain an optical detection signal.

Abstract: A process for preparing blazed holograms suitable for mass-production which includes fabricating a glass or metal plate having a surface of serrated cross section, disposing the glass or metal plate in an injection mold to allow the surface of serrated cross section to constitute an inner surface of the mold. Then injecting an acrylic resin in molten form into the mold under a specific molding pressure, and removing a molded acrylic resin from the glass plate or metal plate to obtain an acrylic blazed hologram.

Abstract: This image reading apparatus includes a light source for illuminating an object, a lens array for focusing reflected light from the object into a predetermined position, and an image sensor for reading an image formed by the focused light. The lens array includes a transparent base and a diffraction element provided on at least an incident plane and an emission plane of the base. The lens array includes an array having a plurality of lens areas. The employment of the diffraction element renders a shorter imaging distance of light from the object and thus a reduction in the size of the apparatus.

Abstract: An object lens driving device causes partial rotation of movable members holding an object lens on an X-Y frame perpendicular to the optical axis of the object lens about a resilient hinge member as a fulcrum. The movable members are supported by base members. The hinge member interconnects the movable members and the base members. Electro-magnetic coils and magnets effectuate relative rotation of the movable members with respect to the base members about the hinge member. A rotational axis passing through the hinge member also passes through the position of center of gravity of the movable members and the balanced position of moment of inertia of the movable members.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for optically reading the data stored in a flat information carrier disc in the form of tiny pits. The pickup apparatus directs a beam of light from a light source to the disc surface. The impinging beam is modulated by the data pits and reflected back to a photodector. A novel optical grating assembly is disposed between the light source and the information disc, and includes a diffraction grating for the light beam from the source and a holographic grating for directing part of the light beam reflected by the disc to the photodetector. The diffraction and holographic gratings are formed integral with each other into the grating assembly.