Abstract: Laser beams respectively emitted from a SHG blue laser unit and a red semiconductor laser unit that have photo detectors respectively are turned into parallel lights by a collimator lens and then coupled by a dielectric multi-layer film mirror so as to be propagated on the same optical axis. The dielectric multi-layer film mirror is configured so as to transmit light with a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter and reflect light with a wavelength of 500 nm or longer for both P wave and S wave. The lights that are transmitted and reflected by the dielectric multi-layer film mirror pass through a polarizing hologram and a phase variable wave plate and are focused on an optical disk by an objective lens. In this manner, a simple configuration can realize a compatibility with many types of optical disks and a stable signal detection even when using a polarizing optical detection system.

Abstract: A light source device can attain a stable output of a harmonic even when there occurs a change in the ambient temperature or fluctuation in the output power. The light source device is provided with a semiconductor laser source (4), an optical waveguide-type QPM-SHG device (5) for generating a second harmonic from light emitted from the semiconductor laser source (4), a wavelength control means (7) for controlling a wavelength of light emitted from the semiconductor laser source (4), a means for slightly fluctuating wavelength (8) for changing a wavelength of light emitted from the semiconductor laser source (4) and a means for detecting a change in output light power of the optical waveguide-type QPM-SHG device (5) that occurs when a wavelength of light emitted from the semiconductor laser source (4) is changed.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing device reproduces digital data recorded in a form of interference fringes produced by two coherent beams in a hologram disk, by projecting a coherent beam to the hologram disk and receiving a reproduction signal beam obtained by diffraction by means of a two-dimensional photodetector array. The holographic optical information recording/reproducing device includes a tunable coherent light source that emits the coherent beam, and a control section controls and optimizes a wavelength of the tunable coherent light source according to position information of the reproduction signal beam on the two-dimensional photodetector array.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a light source for emitting light; a collection optical system for collecting the light emitted by the light source to an information memory medium including at least one of a track having a mark or a space selectively arranged, and a track having a prescribed groove; a light detector having a plurality of detection areas for receiving the light reflected by the information memory medium and outputting a signal in accordance with a light amount of the light received; a division element for dividing the light reflected by the information memory medium and allowing the light to be received by the light detector; a switch element for receiving a first signal and a second signal, which are respectively obtained in accordance with the reflected light incident on a first prescribed area and a second prescribed area of the division element and outputting either one of the first signal or the second signal, the first and second prescribed areas being obtained by dividing the division e

Abstract: Laser beams respectively emitted from a SHG blue laser unit and a red semiconductor laser unit that have photo detectors respectively are turned into parallel lights by a collimator lens and then coupled by a dielectric multi-layer film mirror so as to be propagated on the same optical axis. The dielectric multi-layer film mirror is configured so as to transmit light with a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter and reflect light with a wavelength of 500 nm or longer for both P wave and S wave. The lights that are transmitted and reflected by the dielectric multi-layer film mirror pass through a polarizing hologram and a phase variable wave plate and are focused on an optical disk by an objective lens. In this manner, a simple configuration can realize a compatibility with many types of optical disks and a stable signal detection even when using a polarizing optical detection system.

Abstract: Laser beams respectively emitted from a SHG blue laser unit and a red semiconductor laser unit that have photo detectors respectively are turned into parallel lights by a collimator lens and then coupled by a dielectric multi-layer film mirror so as to be propagated on the same optical axis. The dielectric multi-layer film mirror is configured so as to transmit light with a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter and reflect light with a wavelength of 500 nm or longer for both P wave and S wave. The lights that are transmitted and reflected by the dielectric multi-layer film mirror pass through a polarizing hologram and a phase variable wave plate and are focused on an optical disk by an objective lens. In this manner, a simple configuration can realize a compatibility with many types of optical disks and a stable signal detection even when using a polarizing optical detection system.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a short-wavelength coherent light source that includes a semiconductor laser and a wavelength converting device and is controlled to have a desired wavelength. The coherent light source includes the following: a semiconductor laser having a first wavelength; an optical waveguide-type QPM-SHG device used as a wavelength converting device for converting the wavelength of the semiconductor laser by half; a wavelength separating function; a diffraction grating; and a photo-detector. The semiconductor laser beam acting as fundamental light is separated with the wavelength separating function, and the wavelength is controlled with the diffraction grating. Thus, the wavelength of harmonic light generated by wavelength conversion is controlled to a desired wavelength.

Abstract: A driving method of a semiconductor laser having an active layer region, a phase adjustment region and a distributed Bragg reflector region includes the steps of: calculating an average value of multipulse modulation currents modulated between a peak current and a bottom current input to said active layer region; calculating a difference between the average value of the multipulse modulation currents and a bias current input to the active layer region; and applying a first compensation current to the phase adjustment region when the multipulse modulation current is input to the active layer region, and applying a second compensation current corresponding to the difference to the phase adjustment region when the bias current is input to the active layer region.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device is provided that can reduce external interference noise. The optical waveguide device includes a substrate, an optical waveguide formed on the substrate, a periodic polarization inversion region formed on the optical waveguide, and an optical thin film formed in a portion of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide (refractive index: N2) and the optical thin film (refractive index: N1) differ in refractive index dispersion, and the magnitude relationship between the refractive indexes is reversed depending on wavelength. The relationship N1>N2 is established for light having a shorter wavelength, while the relationship N2>N1 is established for light having a longer wavelength.

Abstract: Laser beams respectively emitted from a SHG blue laser unit and a red semiconductor laser unit that have photo detectors respectively are turned into parallel lights by a collimator lens and then coupled by a dielectric multi-layer film mirror so as to be propagated on the same optical axis. The dielectric multi-layer film mirror is configured so as to transmit light with a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter and reflect light with a wavelength of 500 nm or longer for both P wave and S wave. The lights that are transmitted and reflected by the dielectric multi-layer film mirror pass through a polarizing hologram and a phase variable wave plate and are focused on an optical disk by an objective lens. In this manner, a simple configuration can realize a compatibility with many types of optical disks and a stable signal detection even when using a polarizing optical detection system.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a light source for emitting light; a collection optical system for collecting the light emitted by the light source to an information memory medium including tracks having prescribed grooves; a light detector having a plurality of detection areas for receiving the light reflected by the information memory medium and outputting a signal in accordance with a light amount of the light received; a tracking error signal generator for receiving the signals output from the light detector and generating a tracking error signal based on the signals; and a light division element for dividing a reflected light reflected by the information memory medium.

Abstract: When information is reproduced in an optical disk of high recording density or of low recording density, a main beam and sub-beams are emitted onto adjacent tracks. The main beam has a shape longer in a direction perpendicular to the tracks. When the optical disk of high recording density is reproduced, cross talk components from adjacent tracks included in signals reproduced from reflection light of the main beam is canceled by using signals reproduced from reflection lights of the sub-beams. When the optical disk of low recording density is reproduced, information is reproduced with a beam. Thus, two types of optical disks can be reproduced with a simple structure in a compatible way. In the cross talk canceling, discrimination marks formed along the tracks at constant distances are reproduced, and a time difference between the main beam and the sub-beams is corrected precisely by using track jump and detection of discrimination marks.

Abstract: The present invention aims to simplify a mass production process of an optical waveguide device and to reduce cost as well as noise. The optical waveguide device includes an optical waveguide whose entrance end face and exit end face are substantially parallel to each other. A SHG device is mass-produced by optically polishing an optical material substrate with a large area and then cutting the substrate. This method can mass-produce the optical waveguide devices having a uniform device length. The angle between the exit end face of the optical waveguide and the direction of an optical axis of the optical waveguide at the exit end face is not 90°, thereby reducing return light from the exit end face.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a light source for emitting light; a collection optical system for collecting the light emitted by the light source to an information memory medium including at least one of a track having a mark or a space selectively arranged, and a track having a prescribed groove; a light detector having a plurality of detection areas for receiving the light reflected by the information memory medium and outputting a signal in accordance with a light amount of the light received; a division element for dividing the light reflected by the information memory medium and allowing the light to be received by the light detector; a switch element for receiving a first signal and a second signal, which are respectively obtained in accordance with the reflected light incident on a first prescribed area and a second prescribed area of the division element and outputting either one of the first signal or the second signal, the first and second prescribed areas being obtained by dividing the division e

Abstract: When information is reproduced in an optical disk of high recording density or of low recording density, a main beam and sub-beams are emitted onto adjacent tracks. The main beam has a shape longer in a direction perpendicular to the tracks. When the optical disk of high recording density is reproduced, cross talk components from adjacent tracks included in signals reproduced from reflection light of the main beam are canceled by using signals reproduced from reflection lights of the sub-beams. When the optical disk of low recording density is reproduced, information is reproduced with a beam. Thus, two types of optical disks can be reproduced with a simple structure in a compatible way. In the cross talk canceling, discrimination marks formed along the tracks at constant distances are reproduced, and a time difference between the main beam and the sub-beams is corrected precisely by using track jump and detection of discrimination marks.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a light source for emitting light; a collection optical system for collecting the light emitted by the light source to an information memory medium including at least one of a track having a mark or a space selectively arranged, and a track having a prescribed groove; a light detector having a plurality of detection areas for receiving the light reflected by the information memory medium and outputting a signal in accordance with a light amount of the light received; a division element for dividing the light reflected by the information memory medium and allowing the light to be received by the light detector; a switch element for receiving a first signal and a second signal, which are respectively obtained in accordance with the reflected light incident on a first prescribed area and a second prescribed area of the division element and outputting either one of the first signal or the second signal, the first and second prescribed areas being obtained by dividing the division e

Abstract: An optical head according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting light with a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting light with a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength; and an objective lens for focusing the lights with the first and second wavelengths on information recording surfaces of information recording media corresponding to the lights with the respective wavelengths. The objective lens is designed so as to reduce aberration with respect to the light with the first wavelength. An optical-path length from the second light source to the objective lens is allowed to be shorter than that from the first light source to the objective lens so that aberration caused by the objective lens due to chromatic dispersion caused by a material of the objective lens is reduced with respect to the light with the second wavelength.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes a dielectric substrate; and an optical waveguide formed in the dielectric substrate, the optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis and an outgoing surface disposed at an angle other than a right angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In a crosstalk canceling system for use in an optical disk signal reproducing apparatus, rough delay units roughly adjust a delay amount of reproduction signals and fine delay units finely adjust a delay amount with high precision, and a delay amount control unit controls the delay amounts of the rough and fine delay units so that the jitter of the reproduction signal is minimized.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a light source for emitting at least one of a coherent beam and a quasi-monochromatic beam; a collection optical system for collecting the beam to an information memory medium having a track which has at least one mark and at least one space; a light detector having a plurality of detection areas for receiving the beam reflected by the information memory medium and outputting a signal in accordance with a light amount of the beam received; and a tracking error signal generator for receiving the signals output from the light detector and generating a tracking error signal based on the signals. The tracking error signal generator reduces a difference between a first signal amplitude and a second signal amplitude. The first signal amplitude is an absolute value of a difference between first and second signal levels. The second signal amplitude is an absolute value of a difference between the first and third signal levels.