Abstract: A multi-layered optical disc having its recording unit comprised of plural information recording layers, in which two or more information recording layers are layered on a substrate 0.3 to 1.2 mm in thickness, with the interposition of a transparent layer, to from a recording unit, a light transmitting protective layer is formed on the recording unit to a thickness of 10 to 177 &mgr;m, and in which the light is illuminated from the side of the light transmitting protective layer to effect recording and/or reproduction of information signals. At least one of the information recording layers except the information recording layer formed at a remotest position from the light transmitting protective layer has a phase change material as a recording material.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is an optical disk formed by bonding a substrate to a light transparent cover layer smaller in thickness than the substrate, and the optical disk includes one or more recording layer between the substrate and the light transparent cover layer. The light transparent cover layer is smaller in diameter than the substrate. Further, it is desirable that an outer edge of the substrate be higher than a between-edge part of the substrate. With this arrangement, a bonding surface of the substrate and the light transparent cover layer is not exposed out of an outer curved surface. Accordingly, it is possible to protect the bonding surface between the outer edge and the inner edge so as to increase strength against exfoliation of the light transparent cover layer.

Abstract: A phase-change optical recording medium capable of implementing record and readout operations of information data through reversible phase transition between amorphous and crystalline states induced by light beam irradiation in a recording layer included in the recording medium, including at least a transparent substrate and contiguous layers formed on the substrate in order as follows, a lower dielectric protective layer, the recording layer, an upper dielectric protective layer, and a reflective/heat dissipating layer, in which the upper dielectric protective layer essentially consists of a mixture of ZrO2 and SiO2, having a composition of (ZrO2)100−x (SiO2)x, where 0<x<60 (mole %).

Abstract: A multilevel phase change optical recording medium comprises first to N-th (N≧2) phase change optical recording layers, wherein an i-th recording layer and a j-th recording layer, which are two recording layers arbitrarily selected from the first to N-th recording layers, meet the conditions of Ti>Tmi and &tgr;wi<&tgr;xi, and Tj<Tmj or &tgr;wj>&tgr;xj, with respect to a particular recording laser beam selected from recording laser beams having different power levels, where T is the maximum temperature of the recording layer in a recording operation, Tm is the melting point of the recording layer, Tx is the crystallizing temperature of the recording layer, &tgr;w is a time required for the recording layer to be cooled down from Tm to Tx after the laser beam irradiation, and &tgr;x is the crystallizing time of the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus accessing a recording layer of an optical rotating recording medium using an accessing means positioned a predetermined gap away from a surface of said optical rotating recording medium and mounted with an object lens, wherein a thickness of a protective transparent layer of said optical rotating recording medium, a ratio of a defect area with respect to a beam spot area, and the above predetermined gap are values determined by the conditions defined in the following inequalities: G 1 ≤ t · k ⁢   ⁢ π × tan ⁢ { sin - 1 ⁡ ( NA n )

Abstract: A phase-change optical information recording medium includes, on a transparent substrate, a recording layer in which an optically detectable reversible change between an amorphous phase and a crystalline phase can be caused by irradiation with an energy beam, a reflective layer, and a dielectric layer arranged between the recording layer and the dielectric layer. A main component of the reflective layer is Ag. A main component of the dielectric layer is at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide of Ta, nitride of Ta and a nitrooxide of Ta. An interface layer may be provided between the recording layer and the dielectric layer. Thus, an optical information recording medium with superior corrosion resistance, improved signal amplitude and high reliability can be provided, as well as a method for manufacturing the same and a method for recording/reproducing the same.

Abstract: A product for recording information by use of laser light includes a recording layer being able to change between an amorphous state and a crystalline state so as to record information, the recording layer having a thickness falling within a first range defined relative to a wavelength of the laser light, a protection layer having a thickness falling within a second range defined relative to the wavelength of the laser light, a heat releasing layer having a thickness falling within a third range defined relative to the wavelength of the laser light, and a transparent substrate supporting the layers. The first, second, and third ranges are selected such that a phase of the laser light reflected by the amorphous state and a phase of the laser light reflected by the crystalline state have a phase difference larger than a predetermined phase amount.

Abstract: A phase-change recording medium with Sb3Te compounds which are formed by initialization-less process steps is provided through the formation of recording media having layered structure including suitably selected materials together with methods for fabricating such recording media, thereby leading to DVD-ROM compatible recording media capable of achieving recording density of 2.6 GB or more on a disc of 120 mm in diameter. The recording medium includes an Sb3Te recording layer and a crystallization accelerating layer formed contiguously with the recording layer. The crystallization accelerating layer is formed to suitably include impurities as record stabilization agents. At least one additional impurity layer may be formed contiguous to said recording and/or crystallization accelerating layer.

Abstract: An optical disk and a method of fabricating the optical disk capable of improving the signal quality and the productivity are disclosed. The optical disk includes a plurality of reflective layers stacked on a substrate, amorphous layers formed among the reflective layers which include a small amount of oxide therein, a recording layer, formed on the reflective layer, for recording information, and a cover layer formed on the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical disk has a multi-layer tuned optical coating overlying both small bumps to store pre-recorded information and lands onto which information is written to and read. The optical coating includes a phase-change metal/alloy layer formed over the disk substrate and a dielectric layer formed over the phase-change layer. An optical disk according to the invention has specific topological features and sizes.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for copy protecting an optical disk records test data, including modified first signals, on an optical disk such that, when reproduced, random ones of these modified first signals are reproduced as second signals. Both the first and second signals represent data having at least two zeros between successive ones. The method and apparatus for optical disk authentication and reproduction creates a statistical version of the test data through repeated reproduction of the test data. If the test data matches references data, possibly recorded on the optical disk as well, the optical disk is authenticated. Once authenticated, reproduction of the optical disk is permitted. If the test data forms part of the data for reproduction, then the statistical data is output as the reproduced data.

Abstract: An optical disk having an improved structure is provided so that about 15 gigabytes or more can be recorded on each information recording surface. The optical disk includes at least one information substrate having an incident surface where light for recording/reproducing signals is input and a recording surface where information signals are recorded, and at least one reflection layer formed by being coated on the recording surface for reflecting at least a part of incident light. In the optical disk, assuming that the entire thickness of the optical disk is D and the distance between the incident surface and the recording surface of the information substrate is D1, the inequality 0.20≦D1/D≦0.38 is satisfied.

Abstract: Theft, distribution, and piracy of digital content on optical media (software, video, audio, e-books, any content of any kind that is digitally stored and distributed) is often accomplished by copying it directly to another disc using commonly available copy tools and recordable optical media, or the copying of media to another mass manufactured disc. Methods which cause the copy process to become lengthy and inconvenient, or which produce copies that are significantly measurably different from the original and therefore be recognizable as copies, may deter or prevent an unauthorized individual from making copies. This offers significant advantages to content creators who wish to protect their products.

Abstract: An optical information medium (20) for high speed erasable recording by means of a laser-light beam (10) is provided. A substrate (1) has a stack (2) of layers with a first dielectric layer (5) and a second dielectric layer (7), a phase-change recording layer (6) between the first dielectric layer (5) and the second dielectric layer (7), and a reflective layer (3). The recording layer (6) has a compound of Ge and Te, and at least the first dielectric layer (5) consists of oxides of Ta and Si, nitrides of Si and Al, or carbides of Si, and is in contact with the recording layer (6). The recording layer (6) additionally may contain O or N in an amount up to 5 at. %. A broad usable composition range for low CET values is obtained. Thus high data rates are achieved.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a dielectric layer of ZnS—SiO2 for use in a phase change type optical disk, a target, which is sintered with mixture of ZnS and SiO2, is prepared. The dielectric layer is deposited by the use of a sputtering method in mixed atmosphere of argon gas, oxygen gas, and hydrogen gas. The deposition is carried out such that formation of dangling bonds is suppressed.

Abstract: Recording layer 12 is formed on substrate 11, ultraviolet-curing resin layer 13 is formed on recording layer 12, and light-transmissible layer 15 is attached to the ultraviolet-curing resin layer 13 through adhesive layer 14. It is preferable that the hardness of the ultraviolet-curing resin 13 is equal to HB or more, and the film thickness thereof is set to a value in the range from 2 &mgr;m to 40 &mgr;m. The total thickness of the ultraviolet-curing resin layer 13, the adhesive layer 14 and the light-transmissible layer 15 is set to a value in the range from 20 &mgr;m to 150 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An optical disc prepared so that, in bonding a disc substrate to a light transmitting sheet, an air bubble incidentally trapped on a bonding surface between the disc substrate and the light transmitting sheet may be reduced in size. An apparatus used for the preparation of the optical disc includes a sheet holding mechanism (32) for holding a light transmitting sheet (19) to be bonded to a signal recording surface (14) of a disc substrate (11), a disc holding mechanism (33) for holding the disc substrate (11) on the light transmitting sheet (19) held on the sheet holding mechanism (32) so that its signal recording surface (14) will face the light transmitting sheet (19), and a thrusting mechanism (34) for thrusting the disc substrate (11) held on the sheet holding mechanism (32) onto the light transmitting sheet (19). The thrusting mechanism (34) progressively thrusts the disc substrate (11) from its center side to its outer peripheral side to drive the air bubble towards the outer peripheral side.

Abstract: An optical disc comprises a first base plate having a surface in which a recess is formed and a multi-layer structure disposed over the surface. The multi-layer structure includes a reflection layer, a recording layer, and a transparent member. The reflection layer is disposed on the surface of the first base plate. The recording layer is formed on the reflection layer for substantially filling an inside of the recess. The transparent member is disposed for covering the recording layer, and is capable of transmitting writing/reading radiation.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium comprises a protective layer having a self-lubricating property formed at an uppermost layer on a side opposite to a substrate wherein a recording or reproducing light beam comes into a side of the protective layer. The thickness and the refractive index of the protective layer are selected under predetermined conditions depending on whether or not evanescent light is transmitted through the protective layer. It is possible to perform high density recording and reproduction thereof by utilizing the evanescent light. A protective layer having a self-lubricating property may be also formed on a bottom surface of an optical head opposing to the optical recording medium. Even when the optical head contacts with the surface of the optical recording medium, the sliding scratch scarcely occurs, because the optical head smoothly glides on the recording medium surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording medium including a recording layer and a light-transmitting layer successively formed on one side of a substrate, so that a light is applied from the side of this light-transmitting layer for performing an information recording and/or reproduction. On the opposite side of the substrate not having the light-transmitting layer, a water-proof film consisting of at least one layer is formed. This suppresses the skew, enabling to improve the information recording and/or reproduction characteristics for a higher recording density. Furthermore, if the light-transmitting layer has a thickness t=3 to 177 micrometers in an information signal section of the recording medium, and a thickness fluctuation &Dgr;t ≦±5.26 (&lgr;/NA4) micrometers (wherein NA is a numerical aperture and &lgr; is a wavelength of the recording/reproduction optical system), it is possible to realize a high NA and a high capacity.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium includes at least a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and a third magnetic layer which are layered in this order, the first magnetic layer being formed of a perpendicularly magnetized film having a relatively small wall coercivity and a relatively large wall mobility compared with the third magnetic layer in the vicinity of a predetermined temperature, and the magneto-optical recording medium satisfies conditions Tc2<Tcomp1<Tc1 and Tc2<Tcomp1<Tc3 where Tcomp1 is a compensation temperature of the first magnetic layer, Tc1, Tc2 and Tc3 are Curie temperatures of the first, second and third magnetic layers, respectively.

Abstract: An information recording medium which includes at least a recording layer, and first and second metallic layers disposed on an opposite side of an energy beam incident side of the recording layer and having different compositions, and in which the first one of the first and second metallic layers located closer to the recording layer contains Al, Ag, Au, Pt and Pd as its main components and a sum of contents of these atoms is 60% or more. Thereby recording and reproducing of information can be realized with a high reliability.

Abstract: A recording film has recording tracks that record information and separating regions that separate neighboring recording tracks. A recording film reflects light when performing recording, playback, and erasing of information. A protective film has a pattern of surface unevenness that corresponds with the recording tracks and separating regions, and has a thickness at a recording track whereby there is a change in the reflectivity of the reflective film depending upon whether or not there is information recorded, and a thickness at the separating regions such that the reflectivity does not depend upon whether information is recorded.

Abstract: A high density optical disc that can be driven changeably with the existent optical disc by the same driving apparatus. On the recording surface of the optical disc, a light transmissive layer with a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.4 mm is formed. The recording face is accessed by allowing a light beam with a wavelength of 395 to 425 nm in a spot shape to be irradiated onto it. Also, the light beam is converged in a spot shape by an objective lens having the numerical aperture of about 0.62 to 0.68.

Abstract: An information recording medium which includes at least a recording layer, and first and second metallic layers disposed on an opposite side of an energy beam incident side of the recording layer and having different compositions, and in which the first one of the first and second metallic layers located closer to the recording layer contains Al, Ag, Au, Pt and Pd as its main components and a sum of contents of these atoms is 60% or more. Thereby recording and reproducing of information can be realized with a high reliability.

Abstract: An optical recording medium comprises a recording layer containing, as a photoresponsive material, metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, wherein the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles have an average particle size of 1 to 20 nm and have a surface modified with an adsorbable compound.

Abstract: A multilevel phase change optical recording medium comprises first to N-th (N≧2) phase change optical recording layers, wherein an i-th recording layer and a j-th recording layer, which are two recording layers arbitrarily selected from the first to N-th recording layers, meet the conditions of Ti>Tmi and &tgr;wi<&tgr;xi, and Tj<Tmj or &tgr;wj>&tgr;xj, with respect to a particular recording laser beam selected from recording laser beams having different power levels, where T is the maximum temperature of the recording layer in a recording operation, Tm is the melting point of the recording layer, Tx is the crystallizing temperature of the recording layer, &tgr;w is a time required for the recording layer to be cooled down from Tm to Tx after the laser beam irradiation, and &tgr;x is the crystallizing time of the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium is ccccosed of a transparent substrate, a recording dye layer on which information is recordable by irradiation with a laser beam, a light-reflecting layer, a protective layer, and a water-absorbing layer overlaid in order, in which the water-absorbing layer is made of water-absorbing particles and a UV curing resin and has a surface having no wave whose period and height are less than 500 &mgr;m and more than 25 &mgr;m, respectively, and having a contact angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium having a multilayer structure comprising at least a lower protective layer, a phase-change type optical recording layer, an upper protective layer and a reflective layer, on a substrate, wherein the phase-change type optical recording layer has a composition of Zn&ggr;1In&dgr;1Sb&zgr;1Te&ohgr;1, where 0.01≦&ggr;1≦0.1, 0.03≦&dgr;1≦0.08, 0.5≦&zgr;1≦0.7, 0.25≦&ohgr;1≦0.4, and &ggr;1+&dgr;1+&zgr;1+&ohgr;1=1, whereby overwrite recording is carried out by modulation of light intensity of at least strong and weak two levels, so that a crystalline state is an unrecorded state, and an amorphous state is a recorded state.

Abstract: A ridgy resin film made of a resin is formed. On a flat substrate, a first concave and a second concave are formed such as to be spaced a given distance apart from each other. Then, a resin liquid is supplied onto a land being part of the substrate exposed between the first and second concaves. Due to its surface tension, the resin liquid supplied onto the land bulges, and a ridgy resin film even in width is formed by curing the resin liquid in this state. Along the edges of the openings of the first concave and the second concave, ridges are formed. Since the resin liquid is supplied onto the land between the ridges, it does not drip nor overflow.

Abstract: A recording layer formed between a first substrate and a second substrate. The recording layer has recording surfaces on both sides thereof. A reflecting film is formed on an outside surface of the first substrate. The first and second substrates adjacent the recording layer have different refractive indexes from each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information medium having excellent weather resistance and repeating characteristics. The optical information medium has a barrier layer between a protective layer and a recording layer. The barrier layer includes GeN or GeON, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, B, Ba, Bi, C, Ca, Ce, Cr, Dy, Eu, Ga, H, In, K, La, Mn, N, Nb, Ni, Pb, Pd, S, Si, Sb, Sn, Ta, Te, Ti, V, W, Yb, Zn and Zr.

Abstract: A disk medium includes a substrate and a designed topography of individually magnetizable features formed on the surface of the substrate. At least a portion of the topography is formed from an etched layer of magnetizable material deposited on the surface of the substrate. An information system records information on the disk medium magnetically and reads the recorded information optically or magnetically.

Abstract: The optical recording medium (20) has a substrate (1) and a stack (2) of layers provided thereon. A phase change recording layer (5), having a melting point Tmp is sandwiched between a first (3) and a second (7) dielectric layer. A crystallization-accelerating layer (4, 6) is being interposed in contact with the recording layer (5). Further a reflective layer (8) is present and an optional cover layer (9).

Abstract: Phase-change type rewritable optical recording media, such as optical discs, optical cards, and optical tapes, where recorded data can be erased or overwritten and where data can be recorded with high speed and high density by applying a light beam can include an optical recording medium is one that includes a laminate member, which in various embodiments contains a transparent substrate, a first dielectric layer, a recording layer, a second dielectric layer, a light absorbing layer, and/or a reflecting layer. In various embodiments of the invention, the shortest distance between recorded marks in the recording direction along the track is less than &lgr;/NA, with &lgr; and NA denoting the wavelength of the light used and the numerical aperture of the objective lens of the optical head, respectively.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium having a multilayer structure comprising at least a lower protective layer, a phase-change type optical recording layer, an upper protective layer and a reflective layer, on a substrate, wherein the phase-change type optical recording layer has a composition of Gef(SbdTe1−d)1−f, where 0.65≦d≦0.85, and 0.01≦f≦0.20, whereby overwrite recording is carried out by modulation of light intensity of at least strong and weak two levels, so that a crystalline state is an unrecorded state, and an amorphous state is a recorded state.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided, in which there are few warps, and no corrosion in the recording film, even when the protective film of the optical recording medium is made thick. The optical recording medium includes a substrate 2, a recording film 3 formed on the substrate 2, and a protective film 4 formed on the recording film 3, and recording signals can be reproduced optically from the side of the protective film 4. The protective film 4 is a film obtained by curing with UV light irradiation a composition including a cationic polymerizable resin (A) and a cationic polymerization catalyst (B) at a ratio of 100:0.2 to 1.5 by weight. The protective film 4 has a thickness of 20 to 200 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A layer arrangement for an optical component or an optical data storage element such as a CD, a DVD, a hybrid disk or a super audio disk, has at least one layer which is at least predominantly Si(1-x)Ge(x)Hy as a spectrally selective layer for a predominant reflection of light in a lower part of a spectral range of 600 nm to 800 nm and for a predominant transmission of light in an upper part of said spectral range. The values for x and y are 0.1<x≦0.9 and 0≦y≦0.5.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical disc comprising a circular glass substrate (2) having information-carrying means (3) on one major surface. A protective member (4) of a resin includes a circular flat portion (42) and an annular rim (41) extending perpendicular from the periphery of the flat portion (42). The glass substrate (2) is integrally joined to the protective member (4) such that the information-carrying means (3) of the glass substrate (2) may face the covering portion (42) of the protective member (4). The outer side of the glass substrate (2) is surrounded by the protective member rim (41) to leave a shock absorbing space therebetween. The invention prevents the glass substrate from failure at its corner when impact is applied to the disc.

Abstract: An information storage medium includes a substrate, a thin film formed on the substrate and having a reflectance changed by a phase change caused by irradiation of an energy beam irradiated via the substrate and a first reflective layer and a second reflective layer on the film directly or via an intermediate layer. The thin film includes one of In3SbTe2, In35Sb32Te33, In31Sb26Te43 and Ag—In—Sb—Te. The first reflective layer and the second reflective layer are piled up in the recited order from a thin film side with the first reflective layer consisting of a material having an attenuation factor k of 2 or less and selected from a group of silicon based materials and the second reflective layer consisting of a material having an attenuation factor k of at least 3.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a substrate with guide grooves thereon, a recording layer provided on the substrate, including a recording material of which phase is reversibly changeable from a stable state to a semistable state and vice versa, a heat-resistant dielectric protective layer provided on the recording layer, including a protective material which includes Zn, Si, S and O, and a light reflection and heat dissipation layer provided on the heat-resistant dielectric protective layer.