Abstract: An optical device used for converging a light beam on a signal recording surface of an optical disc includes an optical lens for converging the light beam on a signal recording surface of the optical disc and a light barrier portion provided on a surface of the optical lens facing the optical disc. The light barrier portion includes a light transmitting aperture through which is transmitted the light beam converged by the optical lens. The light beam illuminated on the optical disc has its diameter controlled by this light transmitting aperture. The light radiated by a light source so as to be incident to the optical device is converged by the optical lens. The light converged by the optical lens is transmitted through the light transmitting aperture and illuminated on the signal recording surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical device used for converging a light beam on a signal recording surface of an optical disc includes an optical lens for converging the light beam on a signal recording surface of the optical disc and a light barrier portion provided on a surface of the optical lens facing the optical disc. The light barrier portion includes a light transmitting aperture through which is transmitted the light beam converged by the optical lens. The light beam illuminated on the optical disc has its diameter controlled by this light transmitting aperture. The light radiated by a light source so as to be incident to the optical device is converged by the optical lens. The light converged by the optical lens is transmitted through the light transmitting aperture and illuminated on the signal recording surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical recording medium and an optical recording and reproduction device including the same, wherein the optical recording medium comprises a substrate, a reflective layer formed on the substrate, a recording layer formed on the reflective layer, a first protective layer formed on the recording layer and a transparent heat radiating layer formed on the first protective layer for promoting dispersion of heat from the recording layer, and light is focused on the recording layer from an optical system via a side at which the first protective layer is formed to prevent heat buildup, erasure of recorded signals and damage to the optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical recording medium and an optical recording and reproduction device including the same, wherein the optical recording medium comprises a substrate, a reflective layer formed on the substrate, a recording layer formed on the reflective layer, a first protective layer formed on the recording layer and a transparent heat radiating layer formed on the first protective layer for promoting dispersion of heat from the recording layer, and light is focused on the recording layer from an optical system via a side at which the first protective layer is formed to prevent heat buildup, erasure of recorded signals and damage to the optical recording medium.

Abstract: When manufacturing a recording medium, a material layer 12 formed on a substrate 11 that composes the recording medium is exposed to a laser beam in accordance with a recording pattern. The material layer 12 has a predetermined reflectivity for the laser beam 13 so as to produce return light for the laser beam 13. By detecting this return light, the focusing of the laser beam on the material layer is adjusted. By doing so, a laser beam can be easily and accurately focused on a material layer during a process in which a laser beam is shone, in accordance with a recording pattern, onto a material layer formed on a recording medium or a production plate used when manufacturing a recording medium.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face and has a convex curved face so as to have a function as an optical lens is shaped such that the curvature on a first cross section including an axis in a focus direction of the optical lens and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to the first cross section and intersecting with the first cross section along the axis in the focus direction are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections perpendicular to each other are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device capable of giving a phase distribution to transmitted light without the need for complicated calculations, thereby making it possible to easily perform manufacturing of liquid crystal devices and device evaluations thereof. A liquid crystal layer (120) sealed between glass substrates (100) and (110) has a given thickness distribution owing to the unevenness of a sub-substrate (111) provided inwardly of the glass substrate (110). Electrodes (130) and (140) disposed on the opposite sides of this liquid crystal layer (120) have planar shapes and are disposed in parallel. Accordingly, the distance between the two electrodes (130) and (140) is constantly uniform, and an electric field distribution applied to the liquid crystal layer (120) is uniform.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element, which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face, has a convex curved face that functions as an optical lens and is shaped such that the curvature on a first cross section and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to and intersecting with the first cross section are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element, which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face, has a convex curved face that functions as an optical lens and is shaped such that the curvature on a first cross section and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to and intersecting with the first cross section are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.

Abstract: A method for splitting a piezoelectric device used in substitution for dicing for shortening the processing time as compared to a case of using the dicing to improve productivity to enable the shape of the piezoelectric device more suited to the emission shape of a solution to be achieved, and a method for manufacturing a printer device whereby a narrower nozzle pitch may be achieved. A resist 201 is formed at a pre-set position on a major surface of the piezoelectric device 43 bonded to a vibrating plate. Using this resist 201 as a mask, powders or particles are sprayed onto the piezoelectric device 43 for removing the portion of the piezoelectric device 43 not carrying the resist 201 to form the piezoelectric device 35 of a desired shape at a pre-set position.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face, has a convex curved face that functions as an optical lens and is shaped such that the curvature on a first cross section and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to and intersecting with the first cross section are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element, which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face, has a convex curved face that functions as an optical lens and is shape such that the curvature on a first cross section and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to and intersecting with the first cross section are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.

Abstract: An optical head, able to reduce thermal stress generated in an optical lens mounted on a bobbin, having a bobbin formed with a center hole and an optical lens mounted on the bobbin via a thermal expansion adjustment member 40 formed with an opening. The optical lens has a substrate formed by an optical material different from the bobbin in coefficient of thermal expansion. The substrate has a convex part functioning as a convex lens and a flat part positioned around the convex part. The flat part is fixed to the thermal expansion adjustment member so that the convex part fits in the opening. The optical lens is placed so that a center axis of the convex part or an extension thereof passes through the center hole of the bobbin and the center axis of the convex part coincides with a center hole of the bobbin.

Abstract: An optical element having a substrate formed by an optical material and able to improve mechanical strength, wherein the substrate has a convex part functioning as a convex lens, a flat part positioned around the convex part, and an outer circumference part positioned around the flat part. The thickness of the substrate at the outer circumference part is greater than that of the substrate at the flat part.

Abstract: An optical recording medium including two or more recording layers which are capable of transmitting at a high transmittance recording light or reproducing light for performing recording/reproducing of a first recording layer (3) without having to make the thickness of a second recording film (5) positioned towards the side from which the recording light or the reproducing light enters. An optical recording medium including two or more recording layers, and which includes the first recording layer (3), the second recording layer (5) positioned further towards, with an intermediate layer (4) in between, the side from which the recording light or the reproducing light enters than is the first recording layer (3), and includes, between the above-mentioned intermediate layer (4) and the above-mentioned second recording layer (5), a dielectric layer (7) for increasing the transmittance for light passing through the above-mentioned second recording layer as the incident angle of the light becomes greater.

Abstract: A recording medium manufacturing method comprises a process for forming a thermosensitive material layer 12 on a substrate comprising a recording medium or a recording medium manufacturing master, a process for forming a denatured portion 12s of a pattern corresponding to target very small concavities and convexities on the thermosensitive material layer by irradiating laser light on the thermosensitive material layer with patterns corresponding to target very small concavities and convexities and a process for forming target very small concavities and convexities by patterning the thermosensitive material layer by developing the thermosensitive material layer 12. In particular, in the laser light irradiation, there can be formed patterns independent of the length of the very small concavities and convexities by irradiation of laser light modulated by a frequency higher than a period of very small concavities and convexities.

Abstract: A method for splitting a piezoelectric device used in substitution for dicing for shortening the processing time as compared to a case of using the dicing to improve productivity to enable the shape of the piezoelectric device more suited to the emission shape of a solution to be achieved, and a method for manufacturing a printer device whereby a narrower nozzle pitch may be achieved. A resist 201 is formed at a pre-set position on a major surface of the piezoelectric device 43 bonded to a vibrating plate. Using this resist 201 as a mask, powders or particles are sprayed onto the piezoelectric device 43 for removing the portion of the piezoelectric device 43 not carrying the resist 201 to form the piezoelectric device 35 of a desired shape at a pre-set position.

Abstract: To solve the problem of reliability of a flat film in an optical recording medium due to repelling, and a problem of the yield. An optical recording medium for executing at least one of recording and reproduction of information by light irradiation, comprising a film formation layer having at least a recording layer, with the surface on the light irradiation side provided as a minute rugged surface, on a substrate with a minute concave-convex portion formed on the surface on the light irradiation side, wherein a light transmissible flat film having a transmissivity with respect to the irradiation light is formed on the film formation layer via a hydrophilic material film having a hydrophilic property, filling the minute rugged surface of the film formation layer surface so as to have a flat surface, is provided.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face and has a convex curved face so as to have a function as an optical lens is shaped such that the curvature on a first cross section including an axis in a focus direction of the optical lens and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to the first cross section and intersecting with the first cross section along the axis in the focus direction are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections perpendicular to each other are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.

Abstract: An optical lens whose focal length is different on first and second planes perpendicular to each other is provided. The optical lens is configured such that a convex element which is formed integrally with a substrate having a flat face and has a convex curved face so as to have a function as an optical lens is shaped such that the curvature on a first cross section including an axis in a focus direction of the optical lens and the curvature on a second cross section perpendicular to the first cross section and intersecting with the first cross section along the axis in the focus direction are different from each other, whereby the focal lengths on the first and second cross sections perpendicular to each other are different from each other. A groove of a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially rectangular shape is formed along the boundary between the substrate and the convex element. The optical lens is used to produce a focus error signal or is incorporated into an optical pickup apparatus.