Abstract: A floating particle detection device 1 is capable of accurately identifying the type of a floating particle while achieving simplification of a configuration of the device, the device includes: a laser light irradiator (10) that includes a laser light emitting element (11) and a back-monitor-use light receiving element (12); a scattered light receiver (20) that selectively receives light of a predetermined polarization component among scattered light generated when a floating particle (50) is irradiated and that generates a second detection signal; and an identification processor (30) that identifies the type of the floating particle on the basis of a first detection signal and the second detection signal. Incident light entering the back-monitor-use light receiving element (12) includes: a back-monitor-use laser beam (L0); and backscattered light (Lbs) travelling toward the laser light irradiator (10) among the scattered light (Ls).

Abstract: An optical module includes a high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate on which is mounted a planar lightwave circuit as well as at least one device component. The high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate may be used in conjunction with a high-thermal-expansion metal in order to reduce thermal stress produced from the mismatch of thermal properties within the optical module. The high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate may also be part of an optical module package which includes a die attach area, on which at least one device can be mounted, and a circuit pattern which electrically connects the at least one device to other at least one device components. A high-thermal-expansion metal may also be used with the high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate in order to reduce the thermal stress that would otherwise exist in the optical module package.

Abstract: An image projection device includes: a light source for emitting a light beam; a mirror unit that includes a mirror for reflecting the beam and projects an image onto a surface by rotating the mirror about a rotational axis to scan the beam; and a controller for determining, according to a function representing a relationship between a shift amount, an emitting time of the beam, a position on the surface irradiated by the beam emitted at the emitting time, and a shift angle of the mirror from its position when it is not driven, the emitting time corresponding to a target position. The shift amount is a shift amount of a position of the beam incident on the mirror or a shift amount of a position of the source relative to an optical axis of light incident on the mirror without the shift amount and perpendicularly intersecting the rotational axis.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a first scanning driving unit and a second scanning driving unit. The first scanning driving unit includes a scanning mirror and a frame structure supporting the scanning mirror. The first scanning driving unit is configured to cause the scanning mirror to rotate about a first rotation axis by means of deformation of the frame structure. The second scanning driving unit includes a rotation holder supporting the first scanning driving unit and a supporting shaft. The second scanning driving unit is configured to cause the rotation holder to rotate about the second rotation axis. The frame structure includes a pair of beams provided so as to sandwich the scanning mirror in a direction of the first rotation axis, and a pair of base portions provided on sides of respective beams of the pair of beams opposite to the scanning mirror. Each of the pair of base portions has an elongated shape elongated in a direction of the second rotation axis, and is deformable.

Abstract: A laser scanning device includes: a plurality of laser light sources, each of the plurality of laser light sources emitting a laser light having a light intensity distribution having an elliptical shape; an aperture through which the laser lights emitted from the plurality of laser light sources pass; and a scanning mirror for reflecting the laser lights from the aperture to a scan position. A position of the aperture is adjustable in a first adjustment direction. The plurality of laser light sources are oriented so that long axis directions of the light intensity distributions of the laser lights emitted by the plurality of laser light sources are parallel to the first adjustment direction at positions at which the laser lights emitted by the plurality of laser light sources enter the aperture.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes: a unit that radiates light onto an optical disc and detects the reflected light to output a reproduced signal; a unit that corrects spherical aberration of the light; a unit that adjusts a focus position of the light based on a focus adjustment value; and an adjustment unit that measures a characteristic of the reproduced signal at each of at least three positions on each of at least three straight lines on a plane with coordinate axes representing an amount of spherical aberration correction and focus adjustment value, obtains, from the measurements, as estimated positions, at least five positions on the plane at which the characteristic has substantially the same value, performs an ellipse approximation on the estimated positions, obtains a center of the ellipse, and determines the amount of spherical aberration correction and focus adjustment value based on the center of the ellipse.

Abstract: A tracking control device includes a signal detector that detects a tracking error signal, and a crossing direction, a crossing period and a crossing velocity of an objective lens from a detection signal of an optical detector, a tracking drive signal generator that generates a tracking drive signal on the basis of the tracking error signal, a velocity-reduction drive signal generator that generates a velocity reduction drive signal for converging the crossing velocity into a vicinity of zero on the basis of the crossing direction and the crossing period, a loop switch, and a system controller that causes to executes velocity reduction driving for driving the objective lens actuator on the basis of the velocity reduction drive signal and that controls each of the members so as to switch from the velocity reduction driving to driving for driving the objective lens actuator on the basis of the tracking drive signal.

Abstract: A laser scanning device includes: a plurality of laser light sources, each of the plurality of laser light sources emitting a laser light having a light intensity distribution having an elliptical shape; an aperture through which the laser lights emitted from the plurality of laser light sources pass; and a scanning mirror for reflecting the laser lights from the aperture to a scan position. A position of the aperture is adjustable in a first adjustment direction. The plurality of laser light sources are oriented so that long axis directions of the light intensity distributions of the laser lights emitted by the plurality of laser light sources are parallel to the first adjustment direction at positions at which the laser lights emitted by the plurality of laser light sources enter the aperture.

Abstract: An image projection apparatus (1) joins a plurality of display images displayed by scanning a plurality of light beams, as if there is no seam between them, thereby displaying a large-sized high-quality image. The image projection apparatus (1) includes a MEMS mirror device (11), a MEMS mirror control unit (13), and a laser beam detector (19).

Abstract: A tracking control device includes a signal detector that detects a tracking error signal, and a crossing direction, a crossing period and a crossing velocity of an objective lens from a detection signal of an optical detector, a tracking drive signal generator that generates a tracking drive signal on the basis of the tracking error signal, a velocity-reduction drive signal generator that generates a velocity reduction drive signal for converging the crossing velocity into a vicinity of zero on the basis of the crossing direction and the crossing period, a loop switch, and a system controller that causes to executes velocity reduction driving for driving the objective lens actuator on the basis of the velocity reduction drive signal and that controls each of the members so as to switch from the velocity reduction driving to driving for driving the objective lens actuator on the basis of the tracking drive signal.

Abstract: In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a first scanning driving unit and a second scanning driving unit. The first scanning driving unit includes a scanning mirror and a frame structure supporting the scanning mirror. The first scanning driving unit is configured to cause the scanning mirror to rotate about a first rotation axis by means of deformation of the frame structure. The second scanning driving unit includes a rotation holder supporting the first scanning driving unit and a supporting shaft. The second scanning driving unit is configured to cause the rotation holder to rotate about the second rotation axis. The frame structure includes a pair of beams provided so as to sandwich the scanning mirror in a direction of the first rotation axis, and a pair of base portions provided on sides of respective beams of the pair of beams opposite to the scanning mirror. Each of the pair of base portions has an elongated shape elongated in a direction of the second rotation axis, and is deformable.

Abstract: In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

Abstract: An optical head device (11) provided with: an optical element (36) for transmissively diffracting a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser (34), generating a zero-order diffracted light beam and ±1-order diffracted light beams; and a photodetector (40) for receiving the zero-order diffracted light beam and the +1-order diffracted light beam after reflection from an optical disc (2). The photodetector (40) includes a primary light receiving section (400) for receiving the zero-order diffracted light beam, and a first secondary light receiving section (401) disposed outward from the primary light receiving section (400). The first secondary light receiving section (401) is positioned to detect an outer portion of the received light spot of the +1-order diffracted light beam, performs photoelectric conversion of this portion, and outputs a secondary detected signal.

Abstract: A tracking control method relates to an optical pickup 11 including an object lens 11a for focusing laser light on an information recording surface of an optical disc 40, and a light receiving element 11b that receives reflected light from the information recording surface of the optical disc 40 and converts the light to an electric signal. The tracking control method includes a lens middle point control step (S4) of controlling a position of the object lens 11a so as to suppress vibration of the object lens 11a based on a signal obtained by feedback of a lens error signal generated from the electric signal, a tracking pull-in step (S9) of performing tracking pull-in processing to control a position of the object lens 11a to follow a track of the optical disc 40, and a step (S7) of lowering a loop gain of the feedback of a lens middle point control in the lens middle point control step before the tracking pull-in step is started.

Abstract: In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes: a unit that radiates light onto an optical disc and detects the reflected light to output a reproduced signal; a unit that corrects spherical aberration of the light; a unit that adjusts a focus position of the light based on a focus adjustment value; and an adjustment unit that measures a characteristic of the reproduced signal at each of at least three positions on each of at least three straight lines on a plane with coordinate axes representing an amount of spherical aberration correction and focus adjustment value, obtains, from the measurements, as estimated positions, at least five positions on the plane at which the characteristic has substantially the same value, performs an ellipse approximation on the estimated positions, obtains a center of the ellipse, and determines the amount of spherical aberration correction and focus adjustment value based on the center of the ellipse.

Abstract: In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.

Abstract: An optical component, a hologram, and a photodetector are configured in an optical head device of an optical disc device such that a +1-order beam or a ?1-order beam of diffracted light generated from light reflected from an information track in the intended information recording layer strikes the interior of the light-receiving surfaces of the tracking error detection light-receiving sections, a +1-order beam or a ?1-order beam of diffracted light generated from light reflected from an information track in an information recording layer one layer deeper than the intended information recording layer strikes outside the light-receiving sections, and a +1-order beam or a ?1-order beam of diffracted light that is generated from light reflected from an information track in an information recording layer one layer shallower than the intended information recording layer strikes outside the light-receiving sections.

Abstract: An optical head device (11) provided with: an optical element (36) for transmissively diffracting a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser (34), generating a zero-order diffracted light beam and ±1-order diffracted light beams; and a photodetector (40) for receiving the zero-order diffracted light beam and the +1-order diffracted light beam after reflection from an optical disc (2). The photodetector (40) includes a primary light receiving section (400) for receiving the zero-order diffracted light beam, and a first secondary light receiving section (401) disposed outward from the primary light receiving section (400). The first secondary light receiving section (401) is positioned to detect an outer portion of the received light spot of the +1-order diffracted light beam, performs photoelectric conversion of this portion, and outputs a secondary detected signal.