Abstract: A light wavefront measuring apparatus (2, 2a, 42) includes a separating element (7a, 47a) for separating a flux of light which exits from an optical head (1, 31) into a first beam and a second beam, a first interference fringe display section (21, 21a) for displaying interference fringes formed from the first beam, a Dove prism (13, 53) for rotating a wavefront of the second beam around its optical axis (AX2), and a second interference fringe display section (22, 22a) for displaying interference fringes formed from the second beam which passed through it. In adjustment of the light source device, position of a collimator (5) in the optical head (1, 31) is adjusted in optical axis direction so as to approximate the interference fringe patterns displayed in the interference fringe display sections (21, 22, 21a, 22a) each other.

Abstract: A light wavefront measuring apparatus (2, 2a, 42) includes a separating element (7a, 47a) for separating a flux of light which exits from an optical head (1, 31) into a first beam and a second beam, a first interference fringe display section (21, 21a) for displaying interference fringes formed from the first beam, a Dove prism (13, 53) for rotating a wavefront of the second beam around its optical axis (AX2), and a second interference fringe display section (22, 22a) for displaying interference fringes formed from the second beam which passed through it. In adjustment of the light source device, position of a collimator (5) in the optical head (1, 31) is adjusted in optical axis direction so as to approximate the interference fringe patterns displayed in the interference fringe display sections (21, 22, 21a, 22a) each other.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a plurality of light emission sources, a drive circuit for pulse-driving the plurality of light emission sources in order in a predetermined period, a moving reflecting mirror for swinging in order in an incidence direction of light from each of the light emission sources in response to the pulse driving timing of each of the light emission sources and reflecting light beams from the light emission sources in order approximately in the same direction, and a combining optical system for guiding the light reflected by the moving reflecting mirror into a light valve.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a plurality of light emission sources, a drive circuit for pulse-driving the plurality of light emission sources in order in a predetermined period, a moving reflecting mirror for swinging in order in an incidence direction of light from each of the light emission sources in response to the pulse driving timing of each of the light emission sources and reflecting light beams from the light emission sources in order approximately in the same direction, and a combining optical system for guiding the light reflected by the moving reflecting mirror into a light valve.

Abstract: Light reflected from an information recording surface is branched into first and second substantially parallel beams. The first beam is directed to a focus error detection system and the second beam is directed to a tracking error detection system. The photodetector includes light receiving sections for the two detection systems. The light receiving sections include Light receiving surfaces and are housed in a single package. A substantially flat plate is placed either in the focus error detection system or in the tracking error detection system, serving to shorten the optical path so as to create a difference in optical path length to the light receiving surfaces between the two detection systems, thereby enlarging the light spot on the light receiving sections for the tracking error detection system.

Abstract: To achieve a tracking error detection, a device for use in a simple optical system is disclosed which reduces offset resulting from the lateral movement of an objective lens or a tilt of an information recording medium. The disclosed device maintains the maximum amplitude of a tracking error signal irrespective of variations in track pitch of the information recording medium. The device produces a light beam having substantially-half portions about 180 degrees out of phase with each other, and another light beam which are directed and focused via an objective lens to an information recording medium. The light spots formed by the two light beams are disposed on the information recording medium with a spacing of substantially an integral multiple of the track pitch in the direction perpendicular to the tracks on the information recording medium.

Abstract: In an optical disk device for recording or playing back information on or from an optical information recording medium having land parts forming information tracks and groove parts interposed between adjacent land parts, the land part is illuminated with a first light spot, and the groove part is illuminated a second light spot, a first focus error signal is produced in accordance with the reflected light beam of the first light spot, and a second focus error signal is produced in accordance with the reflected light beam of the second light spot, and focus control is performed in accordance with the first and second focus error signals. In another aspect of the invention, each of the light receiving sections of a photodetector used for receiving the reflected light has an array of tapered projections along in a region between main parts the light receiving sections, and the tapered projections of the light receiving sections are interdigitated with each other.

Abstract: An optical device inclination angle adjuster for adjusting an optical axis of an optical device. The optical device has an optical axis and a peripheral portion, and is held by a holder. The adjuster includes an annular plate inserted between the optical device and the holder. The annular plate is in alignment with the peripheral portion of the optical device, and has an opening with an axis in alignment with the optical axis of the optical device to permit passage of light through the opening of the annular plate and through the optical device. A first pair of projections are formed between the annular plate and the optical device. The first pair of projections are disposed diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the optical axis and project in a direction parallel to the optical axis. A second pair of projections are formed between the annular plate and the holder.

Abstract: A focus error detecting device includes a reflected beam obscurer and a two-division photodetector. The observer obscures a part of the reflected beam. The two-division photodetector includes first and second light receiving sections separated from each other by a division band region which receive the reflected light beam not obscured by the obscurer. A focus error signal is produced based on the output of each light receiving section. Each light receiving section has an array of tapered projections along its edge in the division band region. Alteratively, the light receiving sections have a main part with an edge coincident with an edge of the division band region, and groups of light receiving stripes extending in a direction parallel with the edges of the main part.

Abstract: A focus error detecting device includes a reflected beam splitter and at least two two-division photodetectors. The reflected beam splitter includes a diffraction grating part and a non-diffraction grating part separated by a line dividing a reflected beam. The dividing line projects to a line orthogonal to a guide groove on the information recording medium. The diffraction grating part produces a first split beam, and non-diffraction grating part produces a second split beam. Each two-division photodetector receives one of the first and second split beams incident and their light receiving sections, and produces a signal for effecting focus control.

Abstract: An optical recording apparatus which reduces light loss by expanding the laser beam diameters irradiated from a plurality of beam sources, and reducing the expanded beam diameters immediately before focusing the beams onto an information recording medium to make the beams circular, thereby minimizing deviation of the laser beam from the optical axis. An optical system for use in recording apparatus with a multi-beam optical head provided with a plurality of laser beam sources in a fixed unit which reduces light loss by minimizing deviation of the laser beam from the optical axis, and also by maintaining the laser power of each laser beam at a predetermined intensity independent of changes in distance between the fixed unit half and the moving unit half of the optical system by detecting intensities of the laser beams focused on a recording medium.

Abstract: An optical head for recording, reproducing or erasing data by emitting a light beam irradiated from a light source onto a recording medium. To reduce the height of the optical head, an optical axis shifting device is disposed between a light beam emitting device and a condensing device for condensing the light beam onto the recording medium. This optical axis shifting device shifts the first optical axis of the light beam from the light beam emitting device to a second optical axis positioned in parallel and spaced apart from each other. As the optical axis shifting device, there is preferable employed a prism having two reflecting faces lying in parallel, and the optical axis, after shifting is to be positioned downwardly of the position of the optical axis before shifting, thereby reducing the height of the optical head.

Abstract: An optical read/write apparatus includes an optical device for directing a main scanning spot and a pair of satellite spots, one on either side of the main scanning spot, onto a recording. It further includes a wobbling device for moving the satellite spots in relation to the main scanning spot. The satellite spots are moved with an oscillatory motion in a direction perpendicular to tracks on the recording medium. A tracking control device detects light reflected from the satellite spots, generates a tracking error signal, and moves the main scanning spot according to the tracking error signal in a direction perpendicular to the. This keeps the main scanning spot accurately centered on a track without offset and without wobbling the main scanning spot.

Abstract: An optical read-write apparatus for reading and writing information in tracks on an optical medium such as an optical disk has two or more beam sources for producing light beams with different wavelengths, and corresponding dichroic mirrors mounted in the path of the beams. Each of the dichroic mirrors reflects light of the wavelength of one of the beams and transmits light of other wavelengths. Piezoelectric transducers are provided for tilting one or more of the dichroic mirrors to adjust the tracking of the beams. An objective lens receives the beams after reflection from the dichroic mirrors and focuses them onto the optical medium.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus which includes a multibeam system optical head extremely reducible of generation of tracking offset caused by the inclination of a disc or track follow-up, so that the twin-spot method and the push-pull method are used to fetch a tracking error signal with respect to one reproducing light beam, the reproducing light beam being tracking-controlled by use of the tracking error signal obtained by the twin-spot method, and then the tracking control for other light beams is performed by use of both the tracking error signal obtained by the push-pull method and the tracking error signal obtained by the push-pull method with respect to the reproducing light beam.

Abstract: The present is to provide an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus which includes a multi-beam optical head extremely reducible of generation of a tracking offset caused by the inclination of a disc or track follow-up, so that the spot-wobbling method and the push-pull method are used to fetch a tracking error signal with respect to one reading light beam, the reading light beam being tracking-controlled by use of the tracking error signal obtained by the spot-wobbling method and then the tracking control for other light beams is performed by use of both the tracking error signal obtained by the push-pull method and that obtained by the push-pull method with respect to the reproducing light beam.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a focus sensor or tracking sensor for an optical recording and reproducing device, which has a simplified optical system whose adjustment is much facilitated. The operational principle of this device is to produce a focusing error signal or tracking error signal by vibrating light spot on an optical disc with a small amplitude to scan interference fringes produced in the far field on an optical disc on the basis of a periodicity of information tracks of the optical disc and processing output signals of an optical sensor arranged in the far field.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a focus sensor or tracking sensor for an optical recording and reproducing device, which has a simplified optical system whose adjustment is much facilitated. The operational principle of this device is to produce a focusing error signal or tracking error signal by vibrating light spot on an optical disc with a small amplitude to scan interference fringes produced in the far field on an optical disc on the basis of a periodicity of information tracks of the optical disc and processing output signals of an optical sensor arranged in the far field.

Abstract: An optical head assembly for recording information on an optical disc or for taking out information already recorded, the optical head assembly including a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric light conducting layer formed on the substrate, the light conducting layer being internally formed with optical elements for converging laser beam from a laser beam source onto the optical disc and directing the reflected beam from the optical disc surface toward a photo detector. Output signal from the photo detector is used for reading information and also for allowing the optical head assembly to trace a track on the optical disc.

Abstract: A focusing error detecting device used in a head assembly for recording information to a recording surface of an optical disc or reading out information already recorded, the focusing error detecting device including a diffraction grating for focusing light which has been introduced from a light source into a thin-film waveguide layer, onto the recording surface, and two light receiving diffraction gratings for conducting the light reflected by the recording surface again into the waveguide layer. The two light receiving diffraction gratings have optical characteristics which differ from each other, depending the position of a focused spot of the light focused on the recording surface by the focusing diffraction grating. Therefore, by comparing the intensity of light from one light receiving diffraction grating with that from the other light receiving diffraction grating, there can be seen a positional relationship between the focused spot and the recording surface.