Abstract: A surface luminous body including at least a surface luminous element arid a light regulating sheet, wherein the light regulating sheet includes a plurality of projections on at least one side, the ends of the projections are each in contact with the light outgoing surface of the surface light-emitting element via an adhesion layer, and a portion of the end of the projection is embedded in the adhesion layer, and wherein the adhesion layer includes a first pressure-sensitive adhesion layer A in contact with the surface luminous element, at least one resin layer, and a second pressure-sensitive adhesion layer B in contact with the light regulating sheet and a prism embedding load Fa of a pressure-sensitive adhesive used for the pressure-sensitive adhesion layer A, and a prism embedding load Fb of a pressure-sensitive adhesive used for the pressure-sensitive adhesion layer B are in a relationship of Fb/Fa?1.

Abstract: To improve the front brightness of the light emitted from a surface light emitter having a surface light emitting device. In the surface light emitter to which a light control sheet having depressions is provided, the surface of the light control sheet having the depressions is adhered to a light emitting side surface of a surface light emitting device, and the transparent material whose refractive index is lower than the refractive index of the light control sheet is arranged in the spaces formed between the depressions and the light emitting side surface of the surface light emitting device.

Abstract: An optical head having: a graded index lens which receives incident light radiated from a linear optical guide at one end surface of the graded index lens and transmits the incident light from the other end surface of the graded index lens, the graded index lens is adapted to form a light spot at a position that is away from the other end surface from which the incident light is transmitted; a light path deflection section which deflects light transmitted from the graded index lens, the light path deflection section is arranged between the other end surface from which the incident light is transmitted and the position where the light spot is formed; and a slider which floats on a recording medium while moving relative to the recording medium, wherein at least the graded index lens and the light path deflection section are installed on the slider.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording head which uses light for information recording to a recording medium. The recording head has a slider and an optical waveguide. The slider moves relative to the recording medium while floating thereon. The optical waveguide is provided in the slider and has a refractive index difference of 20% or more between a core and a cladding.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording medium for information recording, a light source, an optical system, a slider, and an optical waveguide. To the optical system, light from the light source enters, and the slider moves relative to the recording medium while not in contact therewith. The optical waveguide is arranged at position facing the recording medium in the slider so that light entering from the optical system is irradiated on the recording medium. Where the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide on the light output side is d and the mode field diameter thereof on the light input side is D, the mode field diameter is converted by smoothly changing the diameter of the optical waveguide to satisfy D>d.

Abstract: To improve the front brightness of the light emitted from a surface light emitter having a surface light emitting device. In the surface light emitter to which a light control sheet having depressions is provided, the surface of the light control sheet having the depressions is adhered to a light emitting side surface of a surface light emitting device, and the transparent material whose refractive index is lower than the refractive index of the light control sheet is arranged in the spaces formed between the depressions and the light emitting side surface of the surface light emitting device.

Abstract: A thermal-assisted magnetic recording head which heats a magnetic bit of a magnetic disk by light radiation in recording magnetic data into the magnetic disk with a magnetic writing element. The magnetic recording head has a reflecting converging element with a surface emitting laser incorporated therein, and a transparent plate serving as a slider. A laser beam emitted from the surface emitting laser is reflected by a mirror surface of the reflecting converging element and is converged on a plasmon probe formed on a bottom surface of the transparent plate. Thereby, near-field light effuses from the plasmon probe into a very small area and heats the magnetic bit of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: An optical head which has a prism with an incident section, an internal reflective surface and an emergent surface, and an optical head device which employs the optical head. Light emitted from a light source is incident to the prism through the incident section, reflects at least once on the internal reflective surface and is converged in the vicinity of the emergent surface. Then, the light effuses through the emergent surface as near field light.

Abstract: An optical bidirectional module 10 having therein light emitting element 11 which transmits optical signal to the end facet of the optical fiber, light receiving element 12 which receives optical signal from the end facet of the optical fiber and stair-shaped multi-level grating 15, wherein the stair-shaped multi-level grating separates the first light path between the end facet of optical fiber and the light emitting element and the second light path between the end facet of optical fiber and the light receiving element by a different wavelength of each optical signal, when the module mixes and separates optical signal with different wavelengths traveling in opposite directions related to the end facet of the optical fiber 1, used for bidirectional optical fiber communication by means of a wavelength multiplex system.

Abstract: An optical bidirectional module 10 having therein light emitting element 11 which transmits optical signal to the end facet of the optical fiber, light receiving element 12 which receives optical signal from the end facet of the optical fiber and stair-shaped multi-level grating 15, wherein the stair-shaped multi-level grating separates the first light path between the end facet of optical fiber and the light emitting element and the second light path between the end facet of optical fiber and the light receiving element by a different wavelength of each optical signal, when the module mixes and separates optical signal with different wavelengths traveling in opposite directions related to the end facet of the optical fiber 1, used for bidirectional optical fiber communication by means of a wavelength multiplex system.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information stored in an optical recording medium which comprises marks or pits which are arranged at a pitch less than ?/2NA, wherein ? is a wavelength of light used for reproduction and NA is an numerical aperture of an objective lens. The apparatus generally comprises a laser diode, a polarization beam splitter, an objective lens, beam splitters, a low-frequency light detecting system with a photodetector, a high-frequency light detecting system with a photodetector, and a signal processing circuit for combining detection signals from the photodetectors. In the high-frequency light detecting system, before a convergent lens, a shielding band is provided so as to shield the middle of a bundle of rays of reproduction light.

Abstract: An optical head which has a prism with an incident section, an internal reflective surface and an emergent surface, and an optical head device which employs the optical head. Light emitted from a light source is incident to the prism through the incident section, reflects at least once on the internal reflective surface and is converged in the vicinity of the emergent surface. Then, the light effuses through the emergent surface as near field light.

Abstract: A reflecting microoptical system is formed of only two optical surfaces having a continuous configuration, and has a simple configuration suitable for glass molding. Different combinations of convex, planar and concave surfaces are disclosed for the two optical surfaces, to provide different advantageous properties. In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one, and in some cases both, of the optical surfaces have an aspherical shape to correct for aberrations.

Abstract: An optical head which has a prism with an incident section, an internal reflective surface and an emergent surface, and an optical head device which employs the optical head. Light emitted from a light source is incident to the prism through the incident section, reflects at least once on the internal reflective surface and is converged in the vicinity of the emergent surface. Then, the light effuses through the emergent surface as near field light.

Abstract: A spectral image input device has an image forming optical system for forming an image of image light on an image forming surface and a phase difference generating unit disposed anterior to the image forming surface in the direction of image light travel. The phase difference generating unit constitutes, sequentially in the direction of image light travel, a polarizer for transmitting only polarized light in a specific direction, an optical element formed of a solid material having a birefringence, and arranged such that the principal refraction index axis is inclined 45° relative to the polarization angle of the analyzer, the optical element generating a phase difference in accordance with the wavelength of the image light based on the difference in the physical thickness of the optical element in the direction of image light travel and an analyzer for transmitting only the image light of a polarization angle of 90° relative to the direction of the polarized light of the polarizer.

Abstract: A spectral image input device has an image forming optical system for forming an image of image light on an image forming surface and a phase difference generating unit disposed anterior to the image forming surface in the direction of image light travel. The phase difference generating unit constitutes, sequentially in the direction of image light travel, a polarizer for transmitting only polarized light in a specific direction, an optical element formed of a solid material having a birefringence, and arranged such that the principal refraction index axis is inclined 45° relative to the polarization angle of the analyzer, the optical element generating a phase difference in accordance with the wavelength of the image light based on the difference in the physical thickness of the optical element in the direction of image light travel and an analyzer for transmitting only the image light of a polarization angle of 90° relative to the direction of the polarized light of the polarizer.

Abstract: An optical memory head for guiding beams of light to an optical memory to be recorded using beams of light. The optical memory head guides beams to an optical memory and includes light sources for emitting beams with different wavelengths. The optical memory head further includes a prism, a collimator lens and a solid immersion lens.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information stored in an optical recording medium which comprises marks or pits which are arranged at a pitch less than &lgr;/2NA, wherein &lgr; is a wavelength of light used for reproduction and NA is an numerical aperture of an objective lens. The apparatus generally comprises a laser diode, a polarization beam splitter, an objective lens, beam splitters, a low-frequency light detecting system with a photodetector, a high-frequency light detecting system with a photodetector, and a signal processing circuit for combining detection signals from the photodetectors. In the high-frequency light detecting system, before a convergent lens, a shielding band is provided so as to shield the middle of a bundle of rays of reproduction light.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical head having a near-filed light generating element that condenses a luminous flux on an exit surface. The generating element has a reflecting or light intercepting film formed on the exit surface and is fixed to a holding member to form an optical head. A minute opening is then formed in the reflecting or light intercepting film by use of light emitted from a first or second light source.

Abstract: Dimensional data representing the actual dimension of a display subject is added to two-dimensional image data representing cross-sectional images, and upon displaying a three-dimensional image, the dimensional data is referred so that in the case of equal magnification, a variable magnification process is carried out by using a zoom optical system on a display subject; thus, an image is projected onto a screen with its display size having virtually the actual dimension of the display subject, and a character “magnification×1” is displayed on a liquid crystal display. In the same manner, when the user sets a magnification of ½, an image is projected onto the screen with its display size reduced to ½ of the actual dimension, and a character “magnification×½” is displayed on the liquid display.