Abstract: A magnetic recording medium (1a) includes: a plurality of magnetic dots (13), provided on a substrate (11), in each of which information is stored by heating of the magnetic body; and separator layers (50). Each of the separator layers (50) is structured such that a metallic body layer (52) and two dielectric body layers (51) are alternately stacked in an in-plane direction of the substrate (11). Each of the separator layers (50) separates two magnetic dots from each other in the in-plane direction. Both sides of each of the magnetic dots (13) in the in-plane direction of the substrate (11) have contact with two dielectric body layers (52), respectively. This provides a magnetic recording medium (1a) whose magnetic dots (13) can be entirely heated with a reduction in the amount of power that is consumed by a recording head.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical source and a near-field light generating unit. The near-field light generating unit includes two conductors facing to each other at a predetermined distance and generating near-field light between the two conductors by irradiation of light from the optical source. These two conductors are arranged so that a direction along which the two conductors face to each other is substantially in parallel with the longitudinal direction of a recording mark region. Here, the recording mark region is prepared from a predetermined recording material and having shape anisotropy when information is recorded on a recording medium on which the recording mark is independently formed.

Abstract: A display device includes: a screen unit; a drive unit; and a signal processing unit, wherein the screen unit includes rows of scanning lines, columns of signal lines, matrix-state pixel circuits and a light sensor, the drive unit includes a scanner supplying a control signal to the scanning lines and a driver supplying a video signal to the signal lines, the pixel circuit emits light in accordance with the video signal, the light sensor outputs a luminance signal in accordance with the light emission, and the signal processing unit corrects the video signal in accordance with the luminance signal and supplies the signal to the driver.

Abstract: In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a substrate, gate lines that extend in a first direction, data lines that cross the gate lines and extend in a second direction, and unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a first subpixel electrode connected to an ith gate line by a first switching device, a second subpixel electrode connected to the ith gate line by a second switching device, and a third switching device including a drain electrode capacitively coupled to the second subpixel electrode and a source electrode connected to the first subpixel electrode. The third switching device is connected to an (i+1)th gate line, the first and second subpixel electrodes between the ith gate line and the (i+1)th gate line are arranged in an order opposite that of the first and second subpixel electrodes between the (i+I)th gate line and an (i+2)th gate line.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction apparatus includes: a light source; and a near-field light production section that includes two conductor sections disposed opposite each other with a predetermined gap therebetween and that produces near-field light between the two conductor sections upon light irradiation from the light source, the two conductor sections being disposed such that when information is recorded on a recording medium using the near-field light, a direction from one of the two conductor sections to the other of the two conductor sections is generally perpendicular to a line direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: The presently disclosed technology teaches a transducer head with a read sensor, a write pole, and one or more waveform sensors attached to the transducer head. Further, a waveform propagates in the direction of a BPM and the waveform sensor is configured to detect the waveform after it is reflected from the BPM. Additionally, a spin-polarized current is influenced by the BPM and a spin angular momentum sensor detects changes in spin angular momentum of the current. Further, a processor relates at least one property of the reflected waveform and/or current with positions of patterned bits on the BPM. The processor may then modify a timing signal and/or transducer head position to ensure that data bits are accurately written to the BPM. The end result is the ability to more quickly and accurately detect the patterned bits and synchronize a position of the transducer head with the patterned bits.

Abstract: A pixel capable for compensating for the degradation of an organic light emitting diode. The pixel includes an organic light emitting diode; a pixel circuit including a driving transistor for controlling an electric current capacity flowing from a first power source to a second power source via the organic light emitting diode; and a compensation unit for controlling a voltage of a gate electrode of the driving transistor to correspond to a degradation of the organic light emitting diode. The compensation unit includes first and second feedback capacitors coupled in series between an anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode and the gate electrode of the driving transistor and a switching transistor coupled between a common node of the first and second feedback capacitors and a reset power source and for turning on when a control signal is supplied to a control line coupled to the switching electrode.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of reading an image data from an optical record carrier with a visually detectable pattern comprising a visually detectable pattern of pixels comprising at least one pattern element comprising an area of size s1 with a relatively low value v1 for an optical property and an area with size s2 with a relatively high value v2 for said optical property, wherein the data representative for a structure of the visually detectable pattern is embedded by variations in one or more of the parameters s1, v1, s2, v2 of the pattern elements. The method comprising the steps of scanning the visually detectable pattern and generating a detection signal representative for a visual property of the pattern as a function of position, retrieving the image data from the signal, retrieving an embedded data from the signal, generating an address data using said embedded data, storing image data values at addresses indicated by said address data.

Abstract: Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor unit, primarily including storage means for storing inter alia in digital form the visual and sound information to be used, and associated, through a number of interfaces, with display means for sound playback which provide a multimedia environment. The unit is controlled by a multitask operating system including a library of integrated tools and services in the storage means. The system is also associated, through an interface, with a telecommunications modem and is connectable to an audiovisual information distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, the telecommunications functions also being managed by the multitask operating system.

Abstract: An optical disk includes a first information recording layer, and second to N-th information recording layers (with N being an integer of two or greater) that are arranged further toward the side from which laser light is irradiated than the first information recording layer and which are arranged in order from the side near the first information recording layer. The first information recording layer includes a read-only control data region, a first recording learning region for learning recording parameters to record data, and a first user data recording region for recording user data. When taking at least one of the second to N-th information recording layers as an i-th information recording layer (with i being an integer satisfying 2?i?N), that i-th information recording layer includes an i-th recording learning region for learning recording parameters to record data in the i-th information recording layer, and an i-th user data recording region for recording user data.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head capable of a satisfying thermally-assisted magnetic recording without depending on the use of a near-field light generator is provided. The head comprises a waveguide and a main magnetic pole having a main pole tip. Further, at least a portion of the main pole tip is embedded in a groove provided in the upper surface of the waveguide. Further, a second clad layer is provided on the first clad layer and on a rear side from the main pole tip. This configuration of the first and second clad layers suppresses the absorption of the light propagating through the waveguide by the main magnetic pole. Further, the configuration in which at least a portion of the main pole tip is embedded in the groove can cause the distance between the light spot center of the waveguide and the main magnetic pole to be sufficiently small.

Abstract: A magneto-optical device (MOD) with optically induced magnetization for use in magnetic field sensors as a magnetic element pinning a magnetization in a preferred direction of a ferromagnetic layer as well as a magnetic memory cell for magneto-optical recording. The MOD comprises the Mg—Mg—Co ferrite film deposited on a magnesium oxide (MgO) substrate. The ferrite film is illuminated at room temperature with a circularly polarized light (CPL) in a static magnetic H-field (about of 3 kOe) normal to the illuminated ferrite film surface. At certain (“writing”) combinations of H, sigma (CPL helicity), the long-lived optically induced magnetization with a unidirectional anisotropy, stable to a conventional demagnetization occurs. For readout of information, conventional magnetoresistive sensors and MFM can be used. To erase information, the ferrite film should be illuminated with two field-light combinations, other than “writing”, or annealed at temperature higher than 530 degrees C.

Abstract: An information recording medium (100), provided with: a first recording layer (L0 layer) and a second recording layer (L1 layer) in each of which record information can be alternately recorded, at least one of the first recording layer and the second recording layer provided with: an anchor area (AP#1 to 4) which is to record therein anchor information (VRS, AVDP, VAT_ICB) and which is referred to in reading file system information (101, 111) for controlling at least one of recording and reproduction of the record information; and an update area to update and record therein the anchor information.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (200) is provided with: a recording device (353) for recording data onto an information recording medium (100) being provided with a first recording layer (L0) and a second recording layer (L1); a first controlling device (354) for controlling the recording device to record the data into each of the first recording layer and the second recording layer; a forming device (354) for forming a compatibility area (106, 109, 116, 119) for realizing reproduction compatibility of the information recording medium on an information recording apparatus, following the data recorded in each of the first recording layer and the second recording layer; and a second controlling device (354) for controlling the recording device to record the data into the formed compatibility area if the data is recorded after the compatibility area is formed.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. A media for storing data and a slider are provided. The slider has a back side, a trailing face, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite to the back side. At least one laser is coupled with the trailing face of the slider, and has an optic axis substantially parallel to the trailing face. The laser(s) provide energy substantially along the optic axis. Optics are coupled with the trailing face of the slider and receive the energy from the laser(s) via free space. At least one EAMR transducer coupled with the slider. At least part of the EAMR transducer resides in proximity to the ABS. The optics direct the energy from the laser(s) to the EAMR transducer(s). The EAMR transducer(s) receive the energy from the optics and write to the media using the energy.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a main-information area in which a metal reflection film is formed on a substrate where a row of pits is formed as main data, and a sub-information area in which is recorded medium identification information, which is used to identify the optical recording medium individually, by removing the metal reflection film partially and forming a plurality of reflection-film removed areas. Information is reproduced by irradiating the metal reflection film with a beam of light. In the sub-information area, a row of pits or a guide groove is formed on the substrate, and a track pitch of the row of pits or the guide groove is at least 0.24 ?m wide and at most 0.45 ?m wide.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. The EAMR disk drive includes a media, a slider having a trailing face, at least one EAMR head on the slider, and at least one vertical surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The VCSEL(s) includes a plurality of quantum wells and an extended resonance cavity. The VCSEL(s) provides energy to the EAMR disk drive. The extended resonance cavity extends into the slider and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the trailing face of the slider. The EAMR head(s) include grating(s), waveguide(s), a write pole, and coil(s) for energizing the write pole. At least a portion of the grating(s) reside in the extended resonance cavity and couple energy from the VCSEL to the waveguide(s). The waveguide(s) direct the energy from the grating(s) toward the media.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic recording medium includes a substrate and at least two, i.e., first and second magnetic recording layers. These layers are hard magnetic layers and contain magnetic grains and a non-magnetic substance magnetically segregating the magnetic grains at grain boundaries. The first magnetic recording layer has a magnetic anisotropy energy Ku1, a grain volume v1, and energy for maintaining its recording magnetization Ku1v1; the second magnetic recording layer has a magnetic anisotropy energy Ku2, a grain volume v2, and energy for maintaining its recording magnetization Ku2v2; and the ratio Ku1v1/kBT of Ku1v1 to a thermal fluctuation energy kBT, where kB represents a Boltzmann constant and T represents an absolute temperature, and the ratio Ku2v2/kBT of Ku2v2 to kBT satisfy the following conditions: Ku1v1/kBT is larger than Ku2v2/kBT at room temperature, but is smaller than Ku2v2/kBT at temperatures around the Curie temperature of the first magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical device is disclosed that includes a non-magnetic support body and a fine particle arrangement layer on the non-magnetic support body. The fine particle arrangement layer includes multiple regularly arranged fine metal magnetic particles. In the magneto-optical device, magnetization is generated by applying an external magnetic field to the fine metal magnetic particles, and linearly polarized light is made incident on the fine metal magnetic particles, so that a magneto-optical effect is increased by the interaction between the incident light on the fine metal magnetic particles and the surface plasmon oscillation of the fine metal magnetic particles.