Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprising a first objective lens that focuses first laser light on an information recording layer of a first optical disc in a first mounting state where the first optical disc is mounted on a turntable; a second objective lens that focuses second laser light on an information recording layer of a second optical disc in a second mounting state where the second optical disc is mounted on the turntable, the second optical disc having an information recording format different from that of the first optical disc; and a lens holder that integrally holds the first objective lens and the second objective lens in an adjacent manner on the outside and inside, respectively, along a radial direction of the first optical disc in the first mounting state and of the second optical disc in the second mounting state, the lens holder being shiftable along the radial direction, a disc surface of the first optical disc in the first mounting state and of the second optical disc in the second mounting

Abstract: An optical pickup for performing data recording and reproduction with respect to both CDs and DVDs and a disk apparatus incorporating the optical pickup. The optical pickup comprises a CD laser diode and a DVD laser diode, and creates a composite CD/DVD laser beam using a composite prism. An optical film is formed on a composite plane of the composite prism to reduce concentration of the DVD laser beam in its central portion relative to that in its peripheral portion to thereby obtain characteristics of concentration distribution which is flatter than that of Gaussian distribution. For a composite prism of a type which transmits a CD laser beam and reflects a DVD laser beam, the optical film is adjusted such that a reflection rate of a DVD laser beam is minimized for a DVD laser beam incoming at an optical axis incident angle.

Abstract: An objective lens holding device includes a first objective lens, a second objective lens, and a lens holder, wherein an axis-to-axis distance between a central axis of the first objective lens and a central axis of the second objective lens is set to a distance, depending on a first length and a second length, which distance prevents a second edge portion from butting against a turntable when the first objective lens focuses light from a first laser on an innermost circumference of the information recording layer of an optical disc.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus comprising: a first lens-barrel having a lens built thereinto; a second lens-barrel; an electromechanical conversion element that applies a driving force f1 to the first lens-barrel and a driving force f2 to the second lens-barrel; and a housing that supports the lateral surfaces of the first lens-barrel and the second lens-barrel such that a lens-barrel body is mounted slidably on the housing in the light axis direction of the lens, the lens barrel body being the first lens-barrel and the second lens-barrel connected via the electromechanical conversion element therebetween, wherein the electromechanical conversion element generates deformation which results in displacement in the light axis direction of the lens by applying a drive voltage, and wherein the first lens-barrel generates an inertia force IF1 and a friction force FF1 with the support surface of the housing by applying the driving force f1, and wherein the second lens-barrel generates an inertia force IF2 and a friction f

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a suitable method for identifying depression/protrusion information in a design data; and a program and an apparatus for the same; for example, even in the case that similar portions are arranged, to provide a method for enabling a pattern matching with high precision between the design data and an image obtained by an image formation apparatus or the like; and a program and an apparatus for the same. To attain the above object, a pattern matching method, wherein, using information concerning a depression and/or a protrusion of the pattern on the design data, or a pattern portion and/or a non-pattern portion on the design data, pattern matching is executed between the pattern on the design data and the pattern on said image; and a program for the same are provided.

Abstract: A projector includes an image forming device, a projection lens for projecting an image produced by the image forming device, and an external case which accommodates the image forming device and at least a part of the projection lens and has an opening through which a light emission end of the projection lens is exposed. The projection lens has a lens barrel and a plurality of lenses equipped within the lens barrel. The lens barrel has a fixed part and a movable part. A turn table for shifting the movable part of the lens barrel in the direction of the optical axis of the projection lens is provided. The direction of the rotation axis of the turn table is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the projection lens. The top surface of the turn table is exposed through the outer surface of the external case.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which records/reproduces data on/from a plurality of types of optical disks. The optical disk apparatus has a plurality of laser diodes. Two laser light rays emanating from two laser diodes are coupled together by means of a coupling prism. The thus-coupled laser light is radiated onto an optical disk. A photodetector is disposed in close proximity to the coupling prism. The coupling prism guides, to the photodetector, a laser light component of at least one laser light ray of the two laser light to be coupled together, the component having not been radiated onto the optical disk on an optical path. Laser light which is not radiated onto the optical disk on the optical path includes diffracted light other than a main beam emanating from the laser diode or laser beam which has not been subjected to coupling at the coupling surface of the coupling prism.

Abstract: A scanning electron microscope comprises an image processing system for carrying out a pattern matching between a first image and a second image. The image processing system comprises: a paint-divided image generator for generating a paint divided image based on the first image; a gravity point distribution image generator for carrying out a smoothing process of the paint divided image and generating a gravity point distribution image; an edge line segment group generation unit for generating a group of edge line segments based on the second image; a matching score calculation unit for calculating a matching score based on the gravity point distribution image and the group of edge line segments; and a maximum score position detection unit for detecting a position where the matching score becomes the maximum.

Abstract: An illuminator includes a polarization converter that converts source light into first polarized light, a polarization separation member that separates the first polarized light of from the polarization converter and second polarized light different from the first polarized light, by reflection and transmission, a polarization switch member that reflects the first polarized light passed through the polarization separation member and changes same into the second polarized light, and a light guide having a first rod arranged between the polarization converter and the polarization separation member, a second rod arranged between the polarization separation member and the polarization switch member, and a third rod arranged on an optical path of the second polarized light separated by the polarization separation member.

Abstract: A laser converging apparatus is disclosed that comprises a polarizing hologram element having a first area defined by a numerical aperture corresponding to a thickness of a first protective layer of a first disk medium and a second area inside the first area, the second area defined by a numerical aperture corresponding to a thickness of a second protective layer (>the thickness of the first protective layer) of a second disk medium, the second area having a hologram pattern for transmitting first laser light linearly polarized in a first direction without diffracting the first laser light while diffracting and transmitting second laser light that is linearly polarized in a second direction crossing the first direction at right angles, the second laser light having the same wavelength as the first laser light; an objective lens having the numerical aperture corresponding to the thickness of the first protective layer, the objective lens converging the first laser light having passed through the first area

Abstract: A method of treating a gas sensor element for improving measurement characteristics thereof, including: heating the gas sensor element at a temperature of 600-1000° C. for 3-24 hours in a treatment atmosphere in which an oxygen concentration is regulated to be not higher than 0.2% and in which are included: (A) not lower than 1000 ppm of an adsorptive gas component wherein an adsorptive capable of being adsorbed on the measuring electrode is bound to oxygen; and (B) a combustible gas in an amount that can be substantially stoichiometrically oxidized by oxygen that is generated upon reduction or decomposition of the adsorptive gas component, so that the adsorptive gas component is reduced or decomposed for permitting the adsorptive in the adsorptive gas component to be adsorbed on the measuring electrode, and so that the noble metal material of the measuring electrode is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical pick-up apparatus. The apparatus for recording and reproducing information by radiating first or second laser lights onto first and second discs, respectively, the first disc for recording and reproducing information using the first laser light, the second disc for recording and reproducing information using the second laser light having a band of wavelengths different from that of the first laser light, includes a first liquid crystal display for correcting spherical aberration by acting on the first laser light, a second liquid crystal display for correcting coma aberration by acting on the second laser light having a polarization direction perpendicular to that of the first laser light, and an object lens. The first and second liquid crystal displays and the object lens are movably supported. Accordingly, a BD can be compatible with a DVD or CD in the optical pick-up apparatus.

Abstract: An optical pickup device as integrated into a disk device which drives optical disks is described. To provide a highly-reliable optical pickup device: without attenuation of the power of the laser beam used to form a laser spot on the optical disk, accurately monitoring the amount of light emission from the semiconductor laser element, and unaffected by the nonuniform reflectance and permeability of the reflection film and by variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which records/reproduces data on/from a plurality of types of optical disks. The optical disk apparatus has a plurality of laser diodes. Two laser light rays emanating from two laser diodes are coupled together by means of a coupling prism. The thus-coupled laser light is radiated onto an optical disk. A photodetector is disposed in close proximity to the coupling prism. The coupling prism guides, to the photodetector, a laser light component of at least one laser light ray of the two laser light to be coupled together, the component having not been radiated onto the optical disk on an optical path. Laser light which is not radiated onto the optical disk on the optical path includes diffracted light other than a main beam emanating from the laser diode or laser beam which has not been subjected to coupling at the coupling surface of the coupling prism.

Abstract: An optical pickup for performing data recording and reproduction with respect to both CDs and DVDs and a disk apparatus incorporating the optical pickup. The optical pickup comprises a CD laser diode and a DVD laser diode, and creates a composite CD/DVD laser beam using a composite prism. An optical film is formed on a composite plane of the composite prism to reduce concentration of the DVD laser beam in its central portion relative to that in its peripheral portion to thereby obtain characteristics of concentration distribution which is flatter than that of Gaussian distribution. For a composite prism of a type which transmits a CD laser beam and reflects a DVD laser beam, the optical film is adjusted such that a reflection rate of a DVD laser beam is minimized for a DVD laser beam incoming at an optical axis incident angle.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device includes a light emitting unit for directing a laser beam onto a storage medium; a reflecting member that reflects the laser beam emitted from the light emitting unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to a storage surface of the storage medium; and a focusing member that focuses the laser beam reflected from the reflecting member onto the storage surface of the storage medium, the light emitting unit being mounted at an angle such that an axis of the laser beam directed onto the reflecting member from the light emitting unit and an axis of the laser beam reflected onto the storage medium form an angle of less than 90 degrees, a position from which the laser beam is emitted from the light emitting unit being provided in a direction closer to the storage surface of the storage medium from a center of the light emitting unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sintered body is provided. A molding powder, a gel-forming material powder and a solvent are mixed at a temperature not higher than a dissolving point of the gel-forming material. A treatment of pulverizing agglomerates containing the molding powder, gel-forming material powder and solvent absorbed in the gel-forming material powder is carried out. The mixture is then heated to a temperature not lower than the dissolving point thereby forming a sol. The sol is then cooled to a temperature not higher than the gel point, thereby forming a molding material. The molding material is used for producing a sintering body.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device includes a light emitting unit for directing a laser beam onto a storage medium; a reflecting member that reflects the laser beam emitted from the light emitting unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to a storage surface of the storage medium; and a focusing member that focuses the laser beam reflected from the reflecting member onto the storage surface of the storage medium, the light emitting unit being mounted at an angle such that an axis of the laser beam directed onto the reflecting member from the light emitting unit and an axis of the laser beam reflected onto the storage medium form an angle of less than 90 degrees, a position from which the laser beam is emitted from the light emitting unit being provided in a direction closer to the storage surface of the storage medium from a center of the light emitting unit.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a light source which emits a light beam. A beam converting system converts the light beam emitted by the light source into a main beam and four side beams so that a main spot and first through fourth side spots are provided on the disk by the main beam and the side beams. The first and the second side spots are at preceding positions to the main spot and the third and the fourth side spots are at following positions to the main spot. The first and the fourth side spots are symmetrical about the main spot and the second and the third side spots are symmetrical about the main spot. A photodetector receives reflection beams of the first through the fourth side spots and outputs signals indicating intensities of the reflection beams of the first through the fourth side spots. A tracking error detector outputs a tracking error signal in response to the signals output from the photodetector.