Abstract: The present invention has an object, in a near-field optical probe having a microscopic aperture to generate and/or scatter a near field, to obtain a near-field optical probe easy to be made in an array which increases the intensity of a near field to be generated and/or scattered and is adapted for use as an optical memory head. This near-field optical probe is arranged with a planar lens having microscopic lens on a flat surface substrate having an inverted conical or pyramidal hole formed therethrough such that its apex is made as the microscopic aperture, wherein a light source is further arranged thereon to introduce light to the planar lens. Because the arrangement is made such that the planar lens has a focal point positioned at the microscopic aperture, the light given by the light source can be efficiently collected to the microscopic aperture. Also, the above structure can be arrayed and mass produced using a silicon process, thus being adapted for use as an optical memory head.

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: 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: The present invention has an object, in a near-field optical probe having a microscopic aperture to generate and/or scatter a near field, to obtain a near-field optical probe easy to be made in an array which increases the intensity of a near field to be generated and/or scattered and is adapted for use as an optical memory head. This near-field optical probe is arranged with a planar lens having microscopic lens on a flat surface substrate having an inverted conical or pyramidal hole formed therethrough such that its apex is made as the microscopic aperture, wherein a light source is further arranged thereon to introduce light to the planar lens. Because the arrangement is made such that the planar lens has a focal point positioned at the microscopic aperture, the light given by the light source can be efficiently collected to the microscopic aperture. Also, the above structure can be arrayed and mass produced using a silicon process, thus being adapted for use as an optical memory head.

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: A near-field optical probe has a planar substrate formed with a through-hole and a phase shifter layer translucent to light having a wavelength of illumination light used to illuminate the substrate for producing near-field light. The phase shifter layer is effective to cause a shift of phase in the illumination light by 180 degrees and is provided on the substrate so as to cover one opening of the through-hole to form a microscopic aperture for producing near-field light.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical switch consisting of a support substrate, a movable raw optical fiber, a fixed raw optical fiber, a magnetic member for the movable raw optical fiber, and a leaf spring. The fibers are disposed in a V-shaped groove formed in the substrate. The magnetic member is actuated by an electromagnet disposed above the substrate. The leaf spring pushes the movable raw optical fiber into the V-shaped groove. The structure of the switch is relatively simple. Since the movable raw optical fiber is pushed using the leaf spring, the switch is less affected by the assembly accuracy than conventional. It is easy to make adjustments during assembly. Consequently, high-performance, low-cost, optical switch that can be mass-produced can be offered.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever has an optical waveguide for propagating light. The optical waveguide has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a tip portion formed on the first side and at a free end of the optical waveguide. The tip portion has a microscopic aperture. A light blocking film is disposed on the first side of the optical waveguide. A reflecting film is disposed on the second side of the optical waveguide. A reflecting member forms part of the reflecting film and is disposed at the free end of the optical waveguide. The reflecting member has a generally planar surface for reflecting light propagated by the optical waveguide and for guiding the reflected light towards the microscopic aperture to generate near-field light at the microscopic aperture.

Abstract: A recording medium stores information that is reproducible utilizing near-field light. A phase shift arrangement layer is formed with alternately arranged phase shifter regions for shifting incident light by 180 degrees and transmission regions that are transparent to the incident light. A row of data marks is arranged above the phase shifter regions and transmission regions. As a result, the spread of near-field light due to incident light transmitted through the phase shifter regions and transmission regions is canceled, to provide a sharp distribution of near-field light over the data marks. light.

Abstract: A smart battery pack having an inexpensive, high-performance N-channel MOS transistor is provided. A level shift is conducted in communications between a remaining battery power detecting circuit of the smart battery pack and an electronic device such that the shifted level matches the signal level of the electronic device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mirror having high verticality and less surface roughness, comprising forming a mask material to the surface of a silicon substrate, applying anisotropic dry etching and anisotropic wet etching, thereby anisotropically dry etching the surface substantially parallel with the crystal face in perpendicular to the surface of the substrate and then forming a reflection surface by the anisotropic wet etching step.

Abstract: The invention equalizes the lengths of optical paths required in optical communication among optical paths constructed by plural optical fibers. Optical fibers parallel to each other at non-equal intervals are set to ADD, OUT, IN and DROP, and are used for add-drop. An ADD-OUT optical path of an optical path length A+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through a fixing mirror and a movable mirror, and an IN-DROP optical path of an optical path length C+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through a movable mirror and a fixing mirror are formed. When the movable mirrors are escaped, an ADD-DROP optical path of an optical path length A+B+C+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through the fixing mirrors, and an IN-OUT optical path of an optical path length B+2D+2E from the optical fiber to the optical fiber through fixing mirrors are formed. Three optical paths except for ADD-DROP are set to the same length by setting A=C=B+2D.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a light propagating probe comprises a step of sharpening a light-propagating body having a sharpened section formed on an optical fiber, a step of forming the light-propagating body into a hook shape close to the sharpened section, a metal film coating step for forming a transparent opening section in a tip section, a step of protecting the transparent opening section with a resist material, a step of forming a reflecting surface for a light lever method, a step for metal film coating a spring operating part to the rear from the hook-shaped section, and a step of removing the resist material protecting the transparent opening section.

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 cantilever for an SNOM has a base portion, a cantilever portion extending from the base portion and having a hole formed proximate a distal end thereof, a dielectric member extending through the hole and having a sharpened tip at a first end projecting outward of a first surface of the cantilever portion, and a light shielding film covering the first surface of the cantilever portion and the first end of the dielectric member except for a portion of the sharpened tip so as to form a very small aperture at the sharpened tip which is not covered by the light shielding film.

Abstract: There is disclosed a near-field optical head having an microscopic aperture whose size can be varied. The optical head comprises a substrate of silicon. A hole in the form of an inverted cone is formed in the substrate. The top portion of this hole forms the microscopic aperture. A support portion for supporting an actuator is formed on the substrate. The actuator holds a light-blocking film in such a way that the light-blocking film stays in the hole and that the bottom surface of the light-blocking film is flush with the bottom surface of the microscopic aperture. The light-blocking film is moved by the actuator to change the aperture to desired size.

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 switch of high performance excellent in insertion loss, the reproducibility of return loss and the temperature property and easily mechanically driven is provided by forming the end faces of optical fibers to be small, the optical fibers are mounted in the optical switch used for switching and cutting off optical transmission lines in optical fiber communications. In the optical switch in the invention, the optical fiber is configured in which the outer diameter of an end part continued to a transmission part for transmitting light is smaller than the outer diameter of the transmission part and greater than the diameter of a core.

Abstract: A near-field optical head comprises a slider body and a cantilever arm extending from the slider body and having a contact pad at an end portion thereof for contacting a surface of a recording medium. The slider body has an air bearing surface which interacts with a film of air moving in a direction adjacent to the surface of the record medium to generate a lift force to fly the slider body over the surface of the record medium and urge the contact pad of the cantilever arm into contact with the surface of the record medium.

Abstract: A recording medium and near-field optical probe utilizing near-field light to achieve high density of information recording and hence enhance resolution in reproducing.