Abstract: An optical transducer comprises an optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave to a focal region and a metallic nano-structure having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to an electric field of the electromagnetic wave, the metallic nano-structure being positioned outside of the optical element, wherein the electromagnetic wave produces surface plasmons on the metallic nano-structure. A cladding material having a refractive index differing from the refractive index of the optical element can be positioned adjacent to a surface of the metallic nano-structure. Magneto-optical recording heads that include the transducers and disc drives that include the magneto-optical recording heads are also included.

Abstract: An air bearing design enables a slider to fly at a higher fly height when the rotational speed of the disk is reduced to about one-third of its operational velocity. In addition, the slider has a flat profile as it scans the disk surface at a low fly height sigma, and low fly height loss during track seek and high altitude operation. This design also provides write protrusion compensation and thereby mitigates spacing losses due to the write current swelling of the write element protrusion. The leading region of the rear pad of the air bearing is mildly concave. This design produces unexpected results by compressing incoming air flow in such a way that, even under two very different velocities, good air bearing lift is generated while compensating for write element protrusion.

Abstract: To make a magneto-optical disk to have higher track density and enable stable tracking servo to be performed thereon. On an magneto-optical disk, a first groove Gv1, a second groove Gv2, and a third groove Gv3 are formed so as to be adjacently arranged. The first groove Gv1 and the second groove Gv2 are deep grooves, and the third groove Gv3 is a shallow groove. Data is recorded on six recording tracks of these three grooves and three lands between respective grooves. A CTS signal is obtained by a sum signal (A+B+C+D) of a photo-detector 6, and a push-pull signal is obtained by a difference signal (A+D)?(B+C) of a photo-detector 8.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc which is constituted by a substrate, a recording layer, and a protection layer and is irradiated with a laser beam from the protection layer side. The optical disc has the substrate whose diameter is greater than 50 mm, the recording layer provided on the substrate, and the protection layer which is layered on the recording layer and thinner than the substrate and on which a recording or reproducing laser beam is incident. The total thickness of the optical disc is 0.7 mm or more.

Abstract: An optical disc player such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) player and a play control method thereof can include setting a reproduction mode for a disc loaded in the digital versatile disc player, storing the set reproduction mode, and reading out and reproducing information recorded on the disc and subsequent discs in accordance with the stored reproduction mode. In accordance with this method, it is possible to carry out play operations of optical discs of different types in the DVD player in accordance with the set and stored reproduction modes. The reproduction modes can include subtitle languages, audio languages, audio formats and the like recorded on each optical disc. According to preferred embodiments it is unnecessary to set desired reproduction modes for each optical disc subsequently used in the DVD player.

Abstract: A conventional mechanical precision measuring device is used effectively in the measurement of the eccentricity of a high density optical disc. A DVR optical disc 2 comprises a pattern 4 of fine depressions and protrusions conformed to the intended format of the disc (a first depressions and protrusions: pits and/or grooves) formed within an information recording area 6 of the disc, as well as a pattern 8 of fine depressions and protrusions for measuring the eccentricity (a second depressions and protrusions), which is formed in an area other than the information recording area 6, and is formed in accordance with a CD format having lower recording density than that of the format defined for the DVR optical disc 2. By using this pattern 8 of fine depressions and protrusions for mechanical detection, conventional mechanical precision measuring devices designed for the CD family can be used as it is, for measuring the eccentricity (mechanical precision) of the DVR optical disc 2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for locking a tray to prevent a tray from being broken by an abnormal operation are provided. The tray-locking apparatus for a disc drive comprising a motor, a power supply unit, and a control unit. The motor is driven to move the tray into or out of the disc drive. The power supply unit supplies power supply to the motor. The control unit controls the power supply unit to cut off the power supply supplied to the motor, if a tray-locking command is input. The tray can be prevented from being opened and broken by carelessness of a user. Further, a current consumption of the disc drive is reducable by cutting off the power supply supplied to the loading motor.

Abstract: A tape-shaped switch (500) is provided on a base part (410). Coil springs (460) support a ring-shaped rotational drive section (450) on the position opposed to the switch (500), biasing the same away from the base part (410), so that the rotational drive section (450) may move toward and from the base part (410). First buffers are provided in association with the switches (501) of the tape-shaped switch (500), respectively. A flange (313) extends outward from the disc-shaped table plate (311) of a jog table unit (310) and is mounted on the rotational drive section (450). When the user depresses the jog table unit (310), moving the same downward, at least one of the switches (501) is closed. The motion of the jog table unit (310) is reliably detected because it is detected at a position outside that part of the jog table unit (310), which is depressed so that good feeling of the operation can be obtained.

Abstract: A clamper guider in a slot-in drive comprises a sheet body, a lower section at the lower side of the sheet body is disposed at the front end of the sheet body; a rear section pivotally connected to a ceiling plate of a chassis is disposed at the rear end of the sheet body; an arm is extended at the flank side of the sheet body, the flank side of the arm is connected to the ceiling plate of the chassis; a round hole combined with said clamper is disposed at the lower section. Whereby, the clamper guider has a smaller volume and the matching design of each component in the whole chassis is more convenient. And, a shorter pivoting end is disposed between the clamper guider and the ceiling plate of the chassis and the end that the clamper guider is combined with the clamper is more stable rather not to yield a shaking in the level direction.

Abstract: A method of searching a new writable address (NWA) for an optical recordable medium includes providing an optical pickup head and setting a first search starting point thereof; determining if NWA is located at the latest track and setting a search finishing point of the optical pickup head; setting a second search starting point as the distance between the search finishing point and the first search starting point is less than a first predetermined block time duration; decoding the stored digital information and lasting the step of decoding for a third predetermined block time from the first search starting point; and detecting whether a run-out block has been decoded during an N block time duration, wherein said N block time duration is less than said third predetermined block time duration, and determining said new writable address.

Abstract: In guide grooves formed at both side edges of a lower face of a tray and fitted to a pair of left and right guide members of a cabinet, the guide groove substantially in a U-like shape on one side is inserted with a front end portion of an elastic plate integrally projected at a front portion of the cabinet, a recess portion is formed at a portion of one side face of the guide groove 12 opposed to the elastic plate in a state of containing the tray into the cabinet, and formed such that by bringing the one side face of the guide groove 12 into elastic contact with the elastic plate opposed to the recess portion in moving the tray forward, other side face of the guide groove is brought into contact with reference guide faces of the guide member on one side to thereby prevent the tray from being inclined.