Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has a light source for generating linearly polarized light, a medium having linear marks disposed in overlapping relation to one another, and an optical head disposed between the light source and the medium and having a fine aperture. A polarized light control portion in the light source controls the linearly polarized light to pass through the fine aperture of the optical head to generate near-field light having a preselected polarization direction and to irradiate the linear marks of the medium with the near-field light so that the preselected polarization direction of the near-field light is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the linear marks. A detector detects light scattered by the linear mark irradiated with the near-field light.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever for a scanning near field microscope comprises a support section, a cantilever-shaped optical waveguide, and a light blocking wall. The optical waveguide has a free end, a fixed end fixed to the support section and terminating in a light input/output end, and a tip formed at a side of the free end of the cantilever and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof. The light blocking wall blocks the transmission of light scattered from a region of the light input/output end in the direction of the tip of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The invention is a near-field optical head that generates near-field light to heat a predetermined area of a medium and applies a magnetic field to the predetermined area to record information, the head including an optical waveguide 103 having a path for propagating a pencil of light, and a tip 117 having an optical minute opening 118 at the position facing against the predetermined area and collecting the pencil of light emitted from the optical waveguide 103 and simultaneously propagating the collected pencil of light to the optical minute opening 118 to generate the near-field light. The optical minute opening 118 is formed by a magnetic pole that applies a magnetic field to the predetermined area.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a main surface confronting a recording medium during use of the near-field optical head. A sharpened tip is disposed on the main surface and has an optical aperture at a front end thereof. An opaque film covers the sharpened tip and has a plastically deformed portion in the vicinity of the optical aperture. The front end of the sharpened tip projects from the plastically deformed portion of the opaque film. At least one stopper is disposed in the vicinity of the sharpened tip and has a height substantially equal to a height of the sharpened tip. At least one air-bearing surface is disposed on the main surface.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever 10 comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3, a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed at the end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7 for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 towards the microscopic aperture 6.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever 10 comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3, a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed at the end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7 for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 towards the microscopic aperture 6.

Abstract: In an EL element including a light emitting layer sandwiched between upper and lower electrodes, of light emitted therefrom, light totally reflected at a light emitting layer interface is not taken out, so there is a problem in that light emission efficiency reduces. Therefore, a light scattering layer in which metal particles are dispersed is provided between an electrode and the light emitting layer. According to such a structure, the light from the light emitting layer can be scattered by the metal particles and taken out, thereby improving the light emission efficiency. When plasmon is excited in the metal particles, light confined in the light emitting layer or each layer adjacent thereto can be used, thereby improving light use efficiency.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever 10 comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3, a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed at the end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7 for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 towards the microscopic aperture 6.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of, and an apparatus for, producing a near field optical head that can control a height of an optical aperture or a protuberance and an air bearing surface. A substrate and a protuberance formed on the substrate are covered with a shielding film. The shielding film is covered with an parent film for air bearing having a thickness greater than the sum of a height of the protuberance and a thickness of the shielding film. When the parent film for air bearing is etched, the shielding film covering the protuberance is exposed. Etching is stopped as soon as exposure of the shielding film is detected. Since detection of the exposure of the shielding film can be made electrically, for example, a height difference between the aperture and the surface of the air bearing can be controlled highly precisely.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever for a scanning near field microscope has an optical waveguide for propagating light. The optical waveguide has a longitudinal axis, a light input/output end, a free end opposite to the light input/output end, and a tip formed at the free end of the cantilever and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof. A support section has a first portion supporting the optical waveguide, a second portion and a third portion. The second portion has an optical element guide channel formed in the support section for supporting an optical element acting on light entering the optical waveguide or on light exiting from the optical waveguide and for determining a position of the optical element. The third portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion and has a surface disposed at an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an information recording/reproduction device for implementing high-density information recording and reading using mutual interaction of a recording medium with near field light, and particularly to a near field optical head with a high optical efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. This is achieved by enabling an energy propagation mechanism via a plasmon by forming a layer dispersed with metal particulate at a microscopic opening generating near field light, and therefore increase optical efficiency.

Abstract: In order to provide a method of manufacturing a bow tie antenna by using a photolithography of a comparatively low level, a truncated quadrangular pyramid is formed by forming on a substrate an etching mask of a shape similar to a top face of the truncated quadrangular pyramid, and isotropy-etching the substrate with the etching mask being made a mask material. Thereafter, metal films are formed on two opposite side faces of the truncated quadrangular pyramid by injecting a vacuum deposition source from a front of each of the faces and a direction parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: In a method of producing a near field optical head, a transparent substrate has a surface and at least one protuberance extending from the surface. A shielding film is formed on the surface of the transparent substrate so that the shielding film covers the protuberance. A parent film for an air bearing surface is formed so as to cover the shielding film and the protuberance. A surface of the parent film is etched until an apex of the shielding film covering the protuberance and the surface of the parent film lie substantially on a common plane and the apex of the shielding film is exposed from the surface of the parent film while monitoring the existence/absence of an exposed portion of the apex. An optical aperture is formed at the apex of the shielding film by separately etching the shielding film using the parent film as a mask. The parent film is etched to form an air bearing surface.

Abstract: In order to provide a near field light head capable of guiding light efficiently to a near field light generating element, capable of being fabricated easily and at low cost and in correspondence with small-sized formation and thin-sized formation, the near field light head of the present invention has a transparent board including a near field light generating element at a lower face thereof. An upper face or the interior of the transparent board is formed with a lens to be opposed to the near field light generating element. The upper face of the transparent board is mounted with a single mode fiber. The single mode fiber is successively connected with a graded index (GI) fiber and a coreless fiber. An end face of the coreless fiber which is not connected to the GI fiber constitutes a reflecting face disposed at 45 degrees relative to the upper face of the transparent board. The reflecting face is arranged right above the lens.

Abstract: An insulated gate transistor has a semiconductor thin film having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first gate insulating film formed on the first main surface of the semiconductor thin film, a first conductive gate formed on the first gate insulating film, first and second confronting semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type insulated from the first conductive gate and disposed in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type disposed in contact with the semiconductor thin film. A gate threshold voltage of the first conductive gate is controlled by a forward bias of the third semiconductor region with respect to one of the first and second semiconductor regions.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.

Abstract: A near-field optical head applied for a head of an information recording/reading apparatus for realizing information recording and reading with high density recording medium at high speed and with reliability through interaction between a near-field light and a recording medium using a slider having a near-field optical probe. A slider (1) having a near-field optical probe is put into proximity to a recording medium (3). Further, a distance is reduced between a light emitting element (2) and a microscopic aperture (7). The microscopic aperture is controlled in protrusion amount from the recording medium (3) by a piezoelectric element. Due to this, the light intensity in the probe or light detecting section is increased to increase interaction with the recording medium (3). This realizes information recording and reading apparatus with high sensitivity and accuracy.

Abstract: An information recording medium comprises a read-out track having a data region forming data bits for reproduced data and a servo pattern region forming servo bits for tracking control. The servo bits have a first groove that is deep in a direction perpendicular to both a length of the read-out track and a depth of the information recording medium, and a second groove that is deep in a direction opposite to the first groove and having a depth gradually increasing along the read-out track.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a minute structure formed in the support member for interacting with a recording medium via near-field light. An optical waveguide is provided on the support member for guiding light between a light source and the minute structure. The optical waveguide has a core, a clad and a reflective surface, the core having an end face facing the reflective surface and being spaced therefrom so that light traveling through the optical waveguide is projected from the end face of the core onto the reflective surface and is reflected by the reflective surface toward the minute structure. Information is recorded to and/or read from the recording medium based on the scattering of near-field light between the recording medium and the minute structure while the near-field optical head is positioned over the surface of the recording medium.