Abstract: A near-field optical head has a minute structure formed in the support member for interacting with a recording medium via near-field light. An optical waveguide is provided on the support member for guiding light between a light source and the minute structure. The optical waveguide has a core, a clad and a reflective surface, the core having an end face facing the reflective surface and being spaced therefrom so that light traveling through the optical waveguide is projected from the end face of the core onto the reflective surface and is reflected by the reflective surface toward the minute structure. Information is recorded to and/or read from the recording medium based on the scattering of near-field light between the recording medium and the minute structure while the near-field optical head is positioned over the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: A near-field light-generating element has a support member and a minute aperture having a size smaller than the wavelength of incident light provided on the support member so as to produce near-field light in response to incident light directed thereto. The minute aperture has a contour in a given plane with one side lying along a line perpendicular to a direction of polarization of the incident light and an opposite side in the given plane defining an apex.

Abstract: In a method of producing an optical aperture, there is provided an object having a substrate, at least one conical- or pyramidal-shaped tip disposed on the substrate, at least one stopper disposed on the substrate in the vicinity of the tip and having a height substantially equal to a height of the tip, and an opaque film disposed at least on the tip. A pressing body is disposed relative to the object so that a surface of the pressing body is disposed over the tip and at least a portion of the stopper. The pressing body is then displaced to bring the surface of the pressing body into contact with the object so that a force component is directed to a front end of the tip to form an optical aperture at the front end of the tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an optical aperture comprises an object having a tip with a pointed end. Stoppers are disposed adjacent the tip. A pressing body applies a loading force to press the pointed end of the tip and at least a part of each of the stoppers to form an optical aperture at the pointed end of the tip. A load controller controls the loading force applied by the loader.

Abstract: An optical aperture is fabricated by providing a pressing body and object having a substrate, at least one conical- or pyramidal-shaped tip disposed on the substrate, at least one stopper disposed on the substrate at a vicinity of the tip, and an optical shielding film disposed on at least a portion of each of the stopper and the tip. A surface of the pressing body is then disposed in confronting relation to the object. The pressing body is then displaced to bring the surface of the pressing body in contact with the object so that a force component is directed to a front end of the tip to form an optical aperture at the front end of the tip.

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: It is an optical information recording and reading apparatus for recording and/or reading information at a high density by using a near-field light-generating device as a near-field optical head. The end surface of the core of a flexible optical waveguide is formed in an intermediate position in the optical waveguide and in a portion fixed to the near-field optical head. Light for recording and reading information is spread within the clad. The spread light flux is reflected toward the near-field optical head by a reflective surface formed on the side of one end of the optical waveguide. The reflected light flux is collected by light-collecting structures and then is made to enter an optical minute aperture formed in the near-field optical head. Near-field light is created near the minute aperture. Light scattered by the surface of the recording medium is received. Thus, information on the recording medium can be recorded and read.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing optical aperture is disclosed. A pressing body has a plane covering a tip and at least a part of stoppers. An opaque film formed on the tip. The pressing body is displaced toward the tip for forming an aperture on a point of the tip. According to the apparatus, the amount of displacement of the plate can be controlled excellently by the stopper and can be made very small. Thus, the aperture having a uniform and small size can be produced on the point of the tip easily.

Abstract: A near-field optical head capable of rapid recording and/or reproducing of the information is provided. The near-field optical head condenses the light from the light source and irradiates the light on the minute opening 1. Then, by means of detecting the reflected light from the light condensing mark 501 provided on the circumference of the minute opening 1, the relative position between the light condensing point condensed by the lens and the light condensing mark 501 is detected so that the light condensing point is controlled to follow the light condensing mark 501. Thus, intensive and constant near-field light can be generated in the minute opening 1 and a signal having high S/N can be obtained even by a rapid scanning of the minute opening 1 over the recording medium so that rapid recording and/or reproducing of the information is made possible.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an information recording/reproduction device for implementing high-density information recording and reading using mutual interaction of a recording medium with near field light, and particularly to a near field optical head with a high optical efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. This is achieved by enabling an energy propagation mechanism via a plasmon by forming a layer dispersed with metal particulate at a microscopic opening generating near field light, and therefore increase optical efficiency.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a slider having a minute aperture for emitting near-field light. The minute aperture has a diameter equal to or less than a wavelength of visible light. The slider is supported by a suspension arm for exerting a load, receiving a floating force due to relative movement with a recording medium, and forming a gap between the slider and the recording medium through a balance between the load and the floating force. A light propagating medium has an output end for emitting light. An optical path length shortening structure shortens an optical path length between the output end of the light propagating medium and the minute aperture of the slider. A mirror is disposed over the slider for guiding light emitted from the light propagating medium to the minute aperture of the slider.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a vibrating body and a piezoelectric element disposed on the vibrating body for generating a vibration wave to vibrate the vibrating body. The vibration wave has a vibration node disposed on a diagonal line of the vibrating body. At least one protrusion is connected to the vibrating body for vibration therewith. The protrusion is disposed on the vibrating body at a position which does not correspond to the position of the vibration node. A moving body is disposed in contact with and driven by the protrusion during vibration thereof.

Abstract: A recording medium for recording and reproducing information utilizing near field light has a transparent substrate and a data mark arrangement layer disposed over a surface of the transparent substrate. A metal particulate is dispersed only in the data mark arrangement layer so that a surface plasma is generated upon interaction of the data mark arrangement layer with near field light generated by incident light or irradiating light to thereby amplify the intensity of scattered light generated as a result of the interaction between the data mark arrangement layer and the near field light.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a near-field light-generating element having a minute scattering body inside an aperture, the scattering body producing plasmons by being illuminated with light, includes a step of forming minute scattering bodies periodically arranged on a substrate, a step of selecting the periodically arranged minute scattering bodies except for only one minute scattering body, and a step of forming the aperture such that the single minute scattering body is placed inside the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing optical aperture is disclosed. A pressing body has a plane covering a tip and at least a part of stoppers. An opaque film formed on the tip. The pressing body is displaced toward the tip for forming an aperture on a point of the tip. According to the apparatus, the amount of displacement of the plate can be controlled excellently by the stopper and can be made very small. Thus, the aperture having a uniform and small size can be produced on the point of the tip easily.

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: 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: When constituting an optical device using an optical fiber having end face slanted with respect to a vertical plane of a core axis, the optical fiber is simply rotation-positioned such that a direction of the end face becomes constant, thereby inexpensively producing the optical device and realizing a miniaturization of the optical device. In the optical fiber having the end face formed at an angle slanted with respect to a plane perpendicular to a core, a plane structure or a concave structure is formed in the optical fiber itself at a predetermined position with respect to a slant direction of the end face, or a holding structure is provided in the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a near-field light-generating element having a minute scattering body inside an aperture, the scattering body producing plasmons by being illuminated with light, includes a step of forming minute scattering bodies periodically arranged on a substrate, a step of selecting the periodically arranged minute scattering bodies except for only one minute scattering body, and a step of forming the aperture such that the single minute scattering body is placed inside the aperture.

Abstract: It is an optical information recording and reading apparatus for recording and/or reading information at a high density by using a near-field light-generating device as a near-field optical head. The end surface of the core of a flexible optical waveguide is formed in an intermediate position in the optical waveguide and in a portion fixed to the near-field optical head. Light for recording and reading information is spread within the clad. The spread light flux is reflected toward the near-field optical head by a reflective surface formed on the side of one end of the optical waveguide. The reflected light flux is collected by light-collecting structures and then is made to enter an optical minute aperture formed in the near-field optical head. Near-field light is created near the minute aperture. Light scattered by the surface of the recording medium is received. Thus, information on the recording medium can be recorded and read.