Abstract: An electrochromic element is provided that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to oppose each other, a first transparent electrode that is formed on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, a second transparent electrode that is formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, and a coloration layer that is arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. The coloration layer includes an electrochromic material and an electrolyte, and a pattern or a concentration gradient of the electrochromic material is formed in at least a part of the coloration layer.

Abstract: An electrochromic device reversibly and controllably colored and decolored by electricity is provided. The electrochromic device is configured to control at least one of the following functions f1 and f2 based on at least one of an operating environment temperature of the electrochromic device, a continuous elapsed time of a colored state or a decolored state, and an illuminance around the electrochromic device: a function f1 of transiting to a colored state and/or limiting transition to a decolored state; and a function f2 of transiting to a decolored state and/or limiting transition to a colored state.

Abstract: An optical element using an electrochromic material capable of switching between a transparent state and a coloring state, includes a spectrum assisting visual functions or visual perception ability, the spectrum being used for visual recognition of the optical element in the coloring state.

Abstract: An electrochromic device reversibly and controllably colored and decolored by electricity is provided. The electrochromic device is configured to control at least one of the following functions f1 and f2 based on at least one of an operating environment temperature of the electrochromic device, a continuous elapsed time of a colored state or a decolored state, and an illuminance around the electrochromic device: a function f1 of transiting to a colored state and/or limiting transition to a decolored state; and a function f2 of transiting to a decolored state and/or limiting transition to a colored state.

Abstract: An electrochromic element is provided that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to oppose each other, a first transparent electrode that is formed on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, a second transparent electrode that is formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, and a coloration layer that is arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. The coloration layer includes an electrochromic material and an electrolyte, and a pattern or a concentration gradient of the electrochromic material is formed in at least a part of the coloration layer.

Abstract: A write-only-read-many type optical recording medium includes a substrate, an organic material layer having a light absorption function that is sufficient for recording in the recording/reproduction wavelength range, the organic material layer being situated on the substrate, and a reflection layer being situated on the organic material layer. The recording medium is configured to have a Low-to-High recording property and record with a laser having a wavelength that is no greater than 500 nm.

Abstract: A write-only-read-many type optical recording medium includes a substrate, an organic material layer having a light absorption function that is sufficient for recording in the recording/reproduction wavelength range, the organic material layer being situated on the substrate, and a reflection layer being situated on the organic material layer. The recording medium is configured to have a Low-to-High recording property and record with a laser having a wavelength that is no greater than 500 nm.

Abstract: An optical recording medium containing a substrate and a recording layer over the substrate, wherein the recording layer primarily contains Bi and O, and further contains B and at least one element X selected from Ge, Li, Sn, Cu, Fe, Pd, Zn, Mg, Nd, Mn and Ni, and a sputtering target containing Bi, B and at least one element X selected from Ge, Li, Sn, Cu, Fe, Pd, Zn, Mg, Nd, Mn and Ni.

Abstract: The present invention provides a write-once-read-many optical recording medium comprising a substrate, a recording layer comprising any one of bismuth and an oxide of bismuth, an overcoat layer and a reflective layer in this order from a laser beam incident plane, wherein the write-once-read-many optical recording medium has a reflectivity of 35% or less when a laser is applied to the flat part of the substrate or a write-once-read-many optical recording medium comprising a substrate, an undercoat layer, a recording layer comprising any one of bismuth and an oxide of bismuth, an overcoat layer and a reflective layer in this order from a laser beam incident plane, wherein the write-once-read-many optical recording medium has a reflectivity of 35% or less when a laser is applied to the flat part of the substrate.

Abstract: A write-once-read-many optical recording medium is disclosed that includes a support substrate; a recording layer on the support substrate, the recording layer containing an oxide of one of a metal and a metalloid as a principal component; and a layer adjacent to the recording layer. The recording layer includes a region where a constituent element of the adjacent layer is dispersed. Recording and reproduction are performable with laser light of a blue wavelength region.

Abstract: To provide an optical recording medium including a substrate and over the substrate at least a recording layer that can record and reproduce with laser light in a blue wavelength region, wherein the recording layer includes Bi and O as main components, further includes at least any of C and N, and does not include Fe; or an optical recording medium including a substrate and over the substrate at least a recording layer that contains, as main components, Bi oxide, and a simple substance of each of one or more elements M (except Bi, C, and N) that enhance a light absorption function for a recording and reproducing laser light, wherein the optical recording medium can record and reproduce with laser light in a blue wavelength region, is provided.

Abstract: To provide a sputtering target for preparing a recordable optical recording medium characterized by comprising Bi and B and a manufacturing method thereof, a recordable high density optical recording medium using the sputtering target, and a sputtering target which is capable of improving a speed of the film formation for the improvement of productivity, which has a high intensity at the time of the film formation and which has a heightened packing density.

Abstract: A method of recording data in a multilayered recordable optical recording medium is disclosed. When test recording is executed in a multilayered recordable optical recording medium having N recording layers (N is an integer of 2 or more), a test recording range in a test recording area of an (m+1)th recording layer is shifted relative to a test recording range in a test recording area of an mth recording layer by an amount greater than a difference of decentration amounts between the mth and the (m+1)th recording layers or a maximum decentration amount in the N recording layers. The shifting direction is inverse to a test recording range adding direction in a radius direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: To provide a sputtering target for preparing a recordable optical recording medium characterized by comprising Bi and B and a manufacturing method thereof, a recordable high density optical recording medium using the sputtering target, and a sputtering target which is capable of improving a speed of the film formation for the improvement of productivity, which has a high intensity at the time of the film formation and which has a heightened packing density.

Abstract: A write-only-read-many type optical recording medium includes a substrate, an organic material layer having a light absorption function that is sufficient for recording in the recording/reproduction wavelength range, the organic material layer being situated on the substrate, and a reflection layer being situated on the organic material layer. The recording medium is configured to have a Low-to-High recording property and record with a laser having a wavelength that is no greater than 500 nm.

Abstract: To provide a sputtering target for preparing a recordable optical recording medium characterized by comprising Bi and B and a manufacturing method thereof, a recordable high density optical recording medium using the sputtering target, and a sputtering target which is capable of improving a speed of the film formation for the improvement of productivity, which has a high intensity at the time of the film formation and which has a heightened packing density.

Abstract: To provide an optical recording medium including a substrate and over the substrate at least a recording layer that can record and reproduce with laser light in a blue wavelength region, wherein the recording layer includes Bi and O as main components, further includes at least any of C and N, and does not include Fe; or an optical recording medium including a substrate and over the substrate at least a recording layer that contains, as main components, Bi oxide, and a simple substance of each of one or more elements M (except Bi, C, and N) that enhance a light absorption function for a recording and reproducing laser light, wherein the optical recording medium can record and reproduce with laser light in a blue wavelength region, is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a recordable optical recording medium that comprises a substrate, a recording layer, and a reflective layer, wherein the recording layer and the reflective layer are formed on the substrate, the recording layer is formed of an inorganic material, and information is recorded on the recordable optical recording medium by use of an irreversible change at the recording layer caused by irradiating blue laser light.

Abstract: A recording method including: recording on a write-once-read-many optical medium capable of recording and reproducing with a blue laser by CAV, ZCLV, or PCAV, wherein a laser emission pattern including a recording pulse comprises two or more different levels of recording power, and a laser emission time standardized by the laser emission pattern and reference clock is fixed regardless of a recording linear velocity.

Abstract: An optical recording medium containing a substrate and a recording layer over the substrate, wherein the recording layer primarily contains Bi and O, and further contains B and at least one element X selected from Ge, Li, Sn, Cu, Fe, Pd, Zn, Mg, Nd, Mn and Ni, and a sputtering target containing Bi, B and at least one element X selected from Ge, Li, Sn, Cu, Fe, Pd, Zn, Mg, Nd, Mn and Ni.