Abstract: On a pit information surface (22d) of a read-only optical disk (22), a protective layer (22f) suited for a floating-type or a sliding-type magnetic head (3) used for a magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk is formed. A reproducing operation with respect to the optical disk (22) is performed while allowing the magnetic head (3) to slide on the protective layer (22f). Accordingly, a magnetic head does not need to be separated from a disk in reproduction. Thus, an optical disk device can be manufactured at lower cost and reduced in size, and a high-speed seek can be realized. Commonality of a disk cartridge (32) with the magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk also can be achieved. An optical disk system that is user-friendly thus can be obtained.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes a withdrawal means for moving an objective lens (32) to a position distant from an optical disc (1) during an inactive duration of intermittent recording or reproducing operation. A means for regulating or fixing the objective lens (32) at the position distant from the optical disc (1) is further provided. Thus, even in a noncontrolled state during the inactive duration, it is possible to prevent collision of the objective lens (32) with the optical disc (1). As a result, both power saving and safety of the apparatus can be attained.

Abstract: This invention provides a speaker apparatus that outputs sound having smooth frequency characteristics. To solve the inconvenience with the prior art, this invention is a speaker apparatus comprising a diaphragm and a cylindrical-shaped coil bobbin, and not comprising a center cap that covers the coil bobbin, and where the diaphragm is located such that it rests on the coil bobbin, and the coil bobbin and diaphragm are located such that sound from the coil bobbin and diaphragm is not reflected.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a compact and thin light-receiving device in a simple configuration, and provides a compact optical head on which this light-receiving device is mounted. The light-receiving device for receiving light reflected from an information recording medium includes a light-receiving chip having a plurality of electrodes and a flexible wiring board on which the light-receiving chip is mounted and fixed. The plurality of electrodes are connected electrically to the flexible wiring board by attaching directly or via a metal wire.

Abstract: A converter that records or reproduces information to or from a recording medium while making a movement relative to the recording medium is mounted on a slider. The slider has at least a pair of openings on a side face thereof, and airflow generated by the movement relative to the recording medium flows in via one of the paired openings, passes in a vicinity of a surface of the converter other than a surface thereof facing the recording medium, and thereafter flows out via the other one of the paired openings. With this, the ability to cool the converter is improved.

Abstract: A digital camera includes: an image capturing section; an image data generation section; a display section; a recording/reproducing section; a data communication section; and a control section. The image data generation section generates image data, which represents the image of the object that is captured by the image capturing section, and index data associated with the image data. The display section displays the image data and the index data. The recording/reproducing section records the image data and the index data in a memory section and reproduces the image data and the index data recorded in the memory section. The data communication section sends the image data and the index data, which are recorded in the memory section, to an external device, and receives image data and index data from the external device. The control section controls the image data generation section, the recording/reproducing section, and the data communication section.

Abstract: An information recording medium 101 includes: a transparent substrate 109 having a first surface A and a second surface B opposite to the first surface A; reflectance reduction means 110 provided on the first surface A of the transparent substrate 109; and an information recording layer 120 provided on the second surface B of the transparent substrate 109.

Abstract: The invention has now found out why ghost light occurs in an imaging optical system using a decentered reflecting prism for the purpose of reducing ghost light. The invention provides an imaging optical system comprising at least one decentered prism 10 having a rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface, at least located on an image side of an aperture stop. The prism 10 comprises three or more surfaces including an entrance surface 11, a reflecting surface 12 and an exit surface 13. The reflecting surface has an effective area A+B+C, and a reflection-enhancing member is applied onto an area B+C except a sub-area A at which an effective light beam is totally reflected.

Abstract: A collision preventive member that limits displacements of an objective lens in a focusing direction is provided. The collision preventive member includes a first limiting portion that limits displacements of the objective lens present within a first region while allowing a movable range of the objective lens in the focusing direction to overlap a deflection range of the optical disc within the first region, and a second limiting portion that limits displacements of the objective lens present within a second region in establishing a relation such that the movable range of the objective lens in the focusing direction does not overlap the deflection range of the optical disc within the second region. A controller that controls the objective lens in such a manner that the objective lens is located within the second region in a non-focusing state of the objective lens is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a content distribution system, a content distribution method and a content receiving device and one of the objects thereof are to enable a higher investment efficiency regarding content of manufacturers. In order to achieve the object, the content distribution system includes a content receiving device (21A, 22A, 23A) for receiving and reproducing encrypted content created by using a budget provided by manufacturer, the content receiving device (21A, 22A, 23A) comprising a receiving means 91 for receiving the content, an input means (93) for inputting a decryption key given owing to purchase of a product made by the manufacturer, a decryption means (96) for decrypting, upon input of the decryption key by the input means (93), an encryption of the content received by the receiving means (93) by use of the decryption key; and a viewing means (92) for reproducing the content decrypted by the decryption means (96).

Abstract: In high-speed high-density recording, heat generation becomes a problem as high-frequency modulation and a strong magnetic field of a magnetic head are realized. A transducer supporting structure is provided including a thermally coupling contact portion extended from a part of a suspension and brought into contact with a magnetic core. Heat generated in a coil is dissipated to the suspension via the magnetic core and the thermally coupling contact portion.

Abstract: The invention has now found out why ghost light occurs in an imaging optical system using a decentered reflecting prism for the purpose of reducing ghost light. The invention provides an imaging optical system comprising at least one decentered prism 10 having a rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface, at least located on an image side of an aperture stop. The prism 10 comprises three or more surfaces including an entrance surface 11, a reflecting surface 12 and an exit surface 13. The reflecting surface has an effective area A+B+C, and a reflection-enhancing member is applied onto an area B+C except a sub-area A at which an effective light beam is totally reflected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning disk and a magneto-optical disk drive apparatus being simple in structure, adaptable to cleaning disks having various specifications, low in power consumption, low in electromagnetic noise, and preventing damage to the magnetic head and the optical head; the cleaning disk comprises a magneto-optical disk having an information layer, and a head-cleaning member, provided on the magneto-optical disk, for cleaning the magnetic head of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus, wherein information regarding a magnetic head cleaning condition for setting the operation condition of the magneto-optical disk drive apparatus during cleaning of the magnetic head has been recorded in advance on the information layer of the magneto-optical disk. The magneto-optical disk drive apparatus reads the information regarding the magnetic head cleaning condition so as to set the operation condition properly.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a focusing optical system for focusing light from a light source on an information recording medium as a light spot and an error signal generation system for generating an error signal that represents the positional deviation between an information track and the light spot on the information recording medium from the light reflected by the information recording medium. The apparatus further includes a tilt measurement system for measuring the amount of relative inclination between the focusing optical system and the information recording medium and an offset application system for performing off-track of the light spot by applying an electric offset corresponding to the measured amount of inclination to the error signal.

Abstract: An observation optical system comprises an image display element 5 and an eyepiece optical system which introduces an image formed by the image display element 5 to a center of an eye of an observer without forming an intermediate image, so as to allow the observer to observe the image as a virtual image. The eyepiece optical system is constructed and arranged to bend the optical axis using reflecting surfaces so as to be compact. The optical axis lies in a plane, with respect to which the optical system is formed symmetric. The optical system includes a prism 3 having an entrance surface 33, a plurality of curved reflecting surfaces 31, 32 and an exit surface 31. The reflecting surface 32 is provided with a volume hologram (HOE) 4.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a compact and thin light-receiving device in a simple configuration, and provides a compact optical head on which this light-receiving device is mounted. The light-receiving device for receiving light reflected from an information recording medium includes a light-receiving chip having a plurality of electrodes and a flexible wiring board on which the light-receiving chip is mounted and fixed. The plurality of electrodes are connected electrically to the flexible wiring board by attaching directly or via a metal wire.

Abstract: An optical disk medium (20), comprising an optical disk medium body (1) having a first layer (2), a second layer (2b) thinner than the first layer (2), a recording layer (2a) between the first layer (2) and the second layer (2b) and a center hold (3) at the center thereof and a hub (10) formed of a magnetic substance material, wherein the hub (10) is fixed to the optical disk medium body (1) so as to close the center hole (3) in the movable state relative to the optical disk medium body (1) within a specified range, the surface of the optical disk medium body (1) on the second layer (2b) side forms a light input surface, and a projection is not substantially formed on the surface of the optical disk medium body (1) on the light input surface side including the peripheral edge of the center hole (3), whereby since the second layer (2b) can be thinly and accurately formed, the optical disk medium suitable for high-density recording can be provided at a low cost.

Abstract: A disk cartridge includes a substantially box-shaped outer case that has an opening on one end face, and an inner case that is housed in the outer case such that the inner case can be pulled out and has a concave portion for an optical disk to be placed therein. In an end portion on a side of the opening of each of an upper side plate and a lower side plate of the outer case, a substantially V-shaped cutout formed by a substantially circular arc and an inclined substantially straight line is formed. In the inner case, a substantially U-shaped cutout formed by a substantially circular arc and two inclined substantially straight lines is formed. The substantially straight line forming the substantially V-shaped cutout and the two substantially straight lines forming the substantially U-shaped cutout are virtually parallel to each other.

Abstract: When the tilt of an optical disk is detected using a light source of an optical head, the optical head cannot be simplified enough and an optical-disk tilt cannot be detected adequately. The optical head includes: an LED chip; a light-converging element that converges the light which is emitted from the LED chip upon an optical disk; a light-converging element driving means which drives the light-converging element; and a sensor which detects a tilt or a positional shift of the optical disk. In the sensor, the LED chip is placed on a semiconductor substrate which is provided with a plurality of light-receiving chips; the light emitted from the LED chip irradiates the optical disk; the light which is reflected from the optical disk is received by the plurality of light-receiving chips; and based upon the quantity of light which is received at the plurality of light-receiving chips, a tilt or a positional shift of the optical disk is detected.

Abstract: A magnetic head is configured so that an aspect ratio w0/h0 of a cross section of a coil (11) is set to be 1 to 4, or preferably, approximately 1.5. This configuration suppresses the heat generation in the magnetic head that performs the magnetic field modulation, without impairing the efficiency, thereby making the magnetic head suitable for high-frequency modulation.