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: An anti-reflection coating layer is formed on the surface portion of a recording medium. This enables to obtain a margin for the air gap thickness change when recording/reproducing an information signal using the “near-field technique” as well as minimize a data loss caused by a collision. Furthermore, the present invention provides a film configuration which can easily be produced.

Abstract: An optical system capable of reducing trouble in assembly and skew adjustment, comprising first and second optical lenses arranged so that their optical axes coincide or substantially coincide, wherein the first optical lens has a substrate comprised of an optical material, the substrate has a convex portion serving as a convex lens, a flat portion positioned around the convex portion, and an outer circumference portion positioned around the flat portion, a thickness of the substrate at the outer circumference portion is greater than a thickness of the substrate at the convex portion, and the outer circumference portion of the first optical lens and that of the second optical lens are fixed in place by an adhesive so that the convex portion of the first optical lens faces the convex portion of the second optical lens.

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, 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 recording medium for at least one of recording and reproduction of information by focusing of light from an optical system on a recording layer, comprising a substrate, a recording layer formed on the substrate, a first protective layer formed on the recording layer, and an antireflection multilayer film, designed to be positioned at a near field distance from the optical system, formed on the first protective layer for preventing reflection of the light at the surface of the first protective layer and having predetermined optical characteristics for moderating a change of a reproduced signal intensity along with fluctuation of a distance between the antireflection multilayer film and the optical system, a method of producing the medium, and an optical recording and reproduction device including the medium.

Abstract: An anti-reflection coating layer is formed on the surface portion of a recording medium. This enables to obtain a margin for the air gap thickness change when recording/reproducing an information signal using the “near-field technique” as well as minimize a data loss caused by a collision. Furthermore, the present invention provides a film configuration which can easily be produced.

Abstract: A position control apparatus of an optical system capable of positioning a lens at a high accuracy in a near-field optical system using a solid immersion lens. An objective lens 2 and a solid immersion lens are fixed to a lens holder 4. The lens holder 4 is moved by a tracking actuator 5 in the tracking direction of an optical disk 51 and is moved by a focus actuator 8 in the focus direction. The focus actuator 8 is controlled on the basis of the electrostatic capacitance occurring between the solid immersion lens 3 and the optical disk 51.

Abstract: An optical recording medium to which light for recording and/or reproducing is emitted, comprising one or a plurality of inorganic deelectric layers provided at an incident side to which light from an optical system is converged, and an amplitude transmittance, which is a ratio of the light reached to a recording layer in the optical recording medium to said converged light passed through outer circumference area of said optical system, being equal or greater than 30%.

Abstract: In a recording medium manufacturing method for obtaining a recording medium by effecting a surface smoothing treatment on a surface smoothing treatment surface of a surface of a medium, the surface smoothing treatment surface of the medium is locally pressed by a polishing work tape having a pressure area less than 1 mm, more preferably, less than 0.5 mm with respect to both radial direction and tangential direction relative to rotation of the medium. In a polishing work of recording medium manufacturing process, a problem of occurrence of defects such as scratches on the surface layer can be improved, whereby yield can be increased and mass-productivity can be improved.

Abstract: An optical recording medium for at least one of recording and reproduction of information by focusing of light from an optical system on a recording layer, comprising a substrate, a recording layer formed on the substrate, a first protective layer formed on the recording layer, and an antireflection multilayer film, designed to be positioned at a near field distance from the optical system, formed on the first protective layer for preventing reflection of the light at the surface of the first protective layer and having predetermined optical characteristics for moderating a change of a reproduced signal intensity along with fluctuation of a distance between the antireflection multilayer film and the optical system, a method of producing the medium, and an optical recording and reproduction device including the medium.

Abstract: An optical switching system is disclosed which can achieve high speed optical switching with a simple configuration. Light from a light irradiation section is irradiated into an optical transmission line made of a material having a nonlinear optical effect and disposed on the upstream side with respect to an optical switch provided for performing switching of a transmission line to cause the nonlinear optical effect to occur. Thereupon, light is emitted externally from the optical transmission line by the nonlinear optical effect between the light irradiated by the light irradiation section and light propagating in the optical transmission line. The light emitted is received by a light reception section to acquire intensity information of the light propagating in the optical transmission line. The intensity information is used as driving signal for driving the optical switch.

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: 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 recording medium for at least one of recording and reproduction of information by focusing of light from an optical system on a recording layer, comprising a substrate, a recording layer formed on the substrate, a first protective layer formed on the recording layer, and an antireflection multilayer film, designed to be positioned at a near field distance from the optical system, formed on the first protective layer for preventing reflection of the light at the surface of the first protective layer and having predetermined optical characteristics for moderating a change of a reproduced signal intensity along with fluctuation of a distance between the antireflection multilayer film and the optical system, a method of producing the medium, and an optical recording and reproduction device including the medium.

Abstract: An optical coupling device capable of reducing a production cost thereof and enhancing a utilization factor of light is provided. The optical coupling device includes: a light outgoing member, having an array of a plurality of light outgoing portions, for allowing light to go out of each of the light outgoing portions; a light incoming member having a plurality of light incoming portions arrayed so as to correspond to the light outgoing portions; and an optical lens array having a plurality of optical lens portions arrayed on a lens substrate so as to correspond to the light outgoing portions, wherein a light ray having gone out of each light outgoing portion is coupled to the corresponding light incoming portion by the optical lens array. As one example, the light outgoing member is a light emitting device array and the light incoming member is an array of optical fibers.

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 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: A position controller of an optical system comprising an optical system for forming a near-field with an optical recording medium and focusing converged light to the optical recording medium; an actuator for moving the optical system in a focal direction perpendicularly intersecting a recording surface of the optical recording medium; and a control circuit for controlling the actuator so as to shorten the distance between the optical system and the optical recording medium from outside to inside the range where the near-field is formed and further maintain it inside the range; a position control method of an optical system; and a recording/reproducing apparatus and driving method thereof.