Abstract: In a multilayer disc has an increased number of recording layers) spaced by spacing from each other, a generation interval between focus error (FE) signals detected from the respective recording layers becomes small. This causes mutual interference between the FE signals and a resulting undesired offset and the like in the signals, leading to a significantly deteriorated quality of the FE signals. To avoid this, in an optical pickup device according to the present invention, detection surfaces are newly added at positions adjacent to the FE signal detection surfaces, a predetermined detection signal obtained from the newly-added detection surfaces is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient value depending on the spacing between the recording layers, and the multiplied signal is subtracted from the original FE signal. As a result, mutual interference between the FE signals can be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: In a small-sized optical pickup device for enabling to obtain a stable servo-signal, as well as, a focus error signal and a tracking error signal, without receiving ill influences of stray lights from other layers, when recording/reproducing a multi-layer optical disc, a reflection light from the multi-layer optical disc is divided into plural numbers of regions by a diffraction grating. And, it is divided into at least four (4) regions, by a division line in the tangential direction of the optical disc and a division line in the radial direction thereof. Light receiving parts, for detecting either one of grating diffraction lights, i.e.

Abstract: In the optical pickup device, while reflection light reflected from the optical multi-layer disc is divided into a plurality of regions so as to produce a plurality of divided optical beams, the divided optical beams are focused onto different positions on a photodetector, and a focus error signal is detected by employing a plurality of the divided optical beams by utilizing the knife edge method, and further, a tracking error signal is detected by employing a plurality of the divided optical beams. Furthermore, the dividing regions of the optical beam and light receiving parts are arranged in such a manner that stray light derived from other layers of the optical disc is not entered to a servo signal-purpose light receiving part of the photodetector when the divided optical beam is focused onto a target layer of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical pick-up which permits the relative position of a diffracting optical element and a photodetector to be adjusted by feedback control with signals which are generated when more than one kind of diffracted light differing in order is received, the diffracted light occurring as the reflected light from the optical disc is divided and diffracted by the diffracting optical element having multiple regions. The photodetector which detects the light beam passing through the central region of the diffracting optical element and generates RF signals is juxtaposed with sub-photodetectors, so that they receive reflected stray light from out-of-focus layers and perform computation to calculate the reflected stray light component which the RF signal detector receives, thereby detecting only the component of signals of the reflected light from a target layer.

Abstract: An optical pickup device including: a laser diode for emitting laser light; an objective lens which irradiates an optical beam emitted from the laser diode; an actuator which displaces the objective lens in a radius direction of the optical disc; a grating for branches an optical beam reflected by an information recording layer into plural regions; and one photodetector having plural light receiving parts for receiving the branched optical beams, wherein the photodetector has a first light receiving part which detects zero-th order grating diffracted light and plural second light receiving parts which detecting grating diffracted light having an order not less than that of ±first order grating diffracted light; a detected signal of the zero-th order grating diffracted light is defined as a reproduction signal; and a detected signal of the grating diffracted light is defined as a signal for servo controlling.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a semiconductor laser which emits a light beam, first and second objective lenses which focus the light beam onto a first and second optical disc, respectively, a grating which branches a light beam reflected from the second optical disc, an optical detector having a plurality of light receiving parts, which receives light beams branched by the grating, and an actuator which displaces the first and second objective lenses in a radial direction of the first optical disc and the second optical disc. The grating has a first area on which a 0-order diffraction light beam and a +1-order diffraction light beam upon reflection at the second optical disc enter, and a second area on which a 0-order diffraction light beam and a ?1-order diffraction light beam upon diffraction through the second optical disc enter.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus is provided with a dividing element having a plurality of regions. The dividing element is capable of dividing a light flux reflected by the optical disc into a plurality of light fluxes having different outgoing directions. Each region of the dividing element and light receiving parts of a light detector are structured such that when a target information recording layer of the optical disc is brought into focus, a light flux reflected from the target information recording layer is focused on the light receiving parts of the light detector, and a light flux reflected from other information recording layer than the target information recording layer is not irradiated onto the light receiving parts of the light detector.

Abstract: The server apparatus has a life log database storing life log data indicating user behavior history. The server apparatus receives the related information request from the navigation apparatus, and searches the life log database based on the related information request to obtain the related information including the place information. Then, the server apparatus transmits the related information to the navigation apparatus. On the other hand, the navigation apparatus sets the guiding route based on the user's input, and generates the route information. The navigation apparatus obtains the ID information from the user's mobile terminal, and transmits the related information request including the ID information and the route information to the server apparatus.

Abstract: A pickup device splits and detects a light beam reflected from a disc with the use of a grating. The grating has first to six areas, wherein the first area and the second area, the third area and the fifth area, and the fourth area and the sixth area are arranged in point symmetry with respect to the center of the grating, respectively. The first area is interposed between the fourth area and the fifth area and the second area is interposed between the third area and the sixth area. Further, the centers of the first area and the second area are arranged to be spaced by a distance d in a direction perpendicular to the displacement direction of the optical pickup device. Even though the center of an optical disc is not located on a straight line in the displacement direction of the optical pickup device, objective lens can obtain a stable servo signal.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus includes a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser light, an objective lens for irradiating the light flux emitted from the semiconductor laser onto an optical disc, and a light detector for receiving the light flux reflected from the optical disc. The light detector has a light receiving part that comprises five regions of a region 1, a region 2, a region 3, a region 4 and a region 5.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a polarization diffraction grating to diverge an optical beam reflected from an optical disc and an optical detector to receive the optical beam diverged by the polarization diffraction grating, a polarization of 0 order diffracted light diffracted through the polarization diffraction grating is substantially perpendicular to that of a +1 order diffracted light diffracted therethrough, and a polarization filter having a plurality of domains is mounted between the polarization diffraction grating and the optical detector.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element having a diffraction region for diffracting a part of a luminous flux is mounted and an unwanted luminous flux generated in a multi-layer optical disc is suppressed from entering a photodetector surface. Using the above-described structure, fluctuation of a tracking error signal can be suppressed from being caused by the unwanted luminous flux and preferable recording or reproduction quality can be obtained also in the multi-layer optical disc.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus includes a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser light, an objective lens for irradiating the light flux emitted from the semiconductor laser onto an optical disc, and a light detector for receiving the light flux reflected from the optical disc. The light detector has a light receiving part that comprises a region 1, a region 2, a region 3, a region 4, a region 5, a region 6 and a region 7.

Abstract: An optical pick-up which permits the relative position of a diffracting optical element and a photodetector to be adjusted by feedback control with signals which are generated when more than one kind of diffracted light differing in order is received, the diffracted light occurring as the reflected light from the optical disc is divided and diffracted by the diffracting optical element having multiple regions. The photodetector which detects the light beam passing through the central region of the diffracting optical element and generates RF signals is juxtaposed with sub-photodetectors, so that they receive reflected stray light from out-of-focus layers and perform computation to calculate the reflected stray light component which the RF signal detector receives, thereby detecting only the component of signals of the reflected light from a target layer.

Abstract: There is provided a method for modifying a high-k dielectric thin film provided on the surface of an object using a metal organic compound material. The method includes a preparation process for providing the object with the high-k dielectric thin film formed on the surface thereof, and a modification process for applying UV rays to the highly dielectric thin film in an inert gas atmosphere while maintaining the object at a predetermined temperature to modify the high-k dielectric thin film. According to the above constitution, the carbon component can be eliminated from the high-k dielectric thin film, and the whole material can be thermally shrunk to improve the density, whereby the occurrence of defects can be prevented and the film density can be improved to enhance the specific permittivity and thus to provide a high level of electric properties.

Abstract: A disclosed substrate processing method in a single wafer substrate processing device including a first process position for introducing nitrogen atoms to a high-dielectric film and a second process position for performing heat treatment on the high-dielectric film includes: successively conveying plural substrates to be processed to the first process position and the second process position one by one; and successively performing the introduction of nitrogen atoms and the heat treatment on the high-dielectric film on the substrates to be processed, wherein the treatment on the substrate to be processed is started within 30 seconds at the second process position after the process at the first position.

Abstract: In a multilayer disc has an increased number of recording layers) spaced by spacing from each other, a generation interval between focus error (FE) signals detected from the respective recording layers becomes small. This causes mutual interference between the FE signals and a resulting undesired offset and the like in the signals, leading to a significantly deteriorated quality of the FE signals. To avoid this, in an optical pickup device according to the present invention, detection surfaces are newly added at positions adjacent to the FE signal detection surfaces, a predetermined detection signal obtained from the newly-added detection surfaces is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient value depending on the spacing between the recording layers, and the multiplied signal is subtracted from the original FE signal. As a result, mutual interference between the FE signals can be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: A film forming method for forming an oxide film on a surface of a substrate to be processed in a processing vessel at a predetermined processing temperature, wherein the method includes a temperature elevating step of elevating a temperature of said substrate to a predetermined processing temperature, the step of elevating the temperature including a step of holding the substrate in an atmosphere containing oxygen before the substrate reaches a temperature of 450° C. The film forming method further comprises, after the step of elevating the temperature, a film forming step of forming a radical oxide film by irradiating the substrate surface with energy capable of exciting an oxygen gas.

Abstract: In the optical pickup device, while reflection light reflected from the optical multi-layer disc is divided into a plurality of regions so as to produce a plurality of divided optical beams, the divided optical beams are focused onto different positions on a photodetector, and a focus error signal is detected by employing a plurality of the divided optical beams by utilizing the knife edge method, and further, a tracking error signal is detected by employing a plurality of the divided optical beams. Furthermore, the dividing regions of the optical beam and light receiving parts are arranged in such a manner that stray light derived from other layers of the optical disc is not entered to a servo signal-purpose light receiving part of the photodetector when the divided optical beam is focused onto a target layer of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical pickup device and an optical recording/reproduction device are provided that can suppress a tracking error signal offset generated in the boundary between an unrecorded area and a recorded area. A three-beam diffraction grating is divided into two areas. A division line that divides the diffraction grating into two areas has a step in the direction almost vertical to a groove period structure, and the part of the division line in the step has a staircase shape. The phase difference in the groove period structures between one area and the other area, separated by the division line, is about 180 degrees.