Abstract: A holographic display apparatus includes a light guide plate including an input coupler and an output coupler, a holographic image generating assembly configured to generate a holographic image and provide the holographic image to the input coupler of the light guide plate, and an image processor configured to convert source image data based on a point spread function, which is obtained for each pixel of the holographic image on an image plane, to compensate for a blur of the holographic image output through the output coupler.

Abstract: A method for forming an embedded mirror structure is disclosed. The method includes preparing a structure that has a substrate and a waveguide layer on the substrate. The waveguide layer includes a core. Also, the waveguide has a top surface and a cavity side surface that defines a cavity opened at the top surface and aligned to the core. The method further includes coating metal particles on the cavity side surface inside the cavity of the waveguide layer to form a metal particle film on the cavity side surface.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a light source unit including a solid light emitting device which emits light source light, a diffuse plate which diffuses the light source light, and a light guiding device which diffuses light which exits from the diffuse plate, wherein the diffuse plate has a plurality of arc-shaped diffuse cells arranged along either of a first direction of an exit side surface thereof which lies opposite to an entrance side where the light source light enters and a second direction that intersects the first direction at substantially right angles, and wherein a diffuse angle in the first direction differs from a diffuse angle in the second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device comprising a waveguide and a near-field transducer (NFT) coupled to the waveguide. The NFT comprises a core layer comprising an insulator, a first metal layer adjacent to the core layer, and a second layer adjacent to the first metal layer, wherein the second layer comprises a material that is substantially mechanically and thermally stable and thereby functions as a hard jacket to mitigate deformation of the NFT. The first metal layer may comprise a plasmonic metal, such as gold. The second layer may comprise tungsten, chromium, or a dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated light emitting device. The integrated light emitting device comprises a substrate of semiconductor material, a light emitting unit integrated into the semiconductor material, and at least one cavity formed into the semiconductor material between the substrate and the light emitting unit. At least portions of the at least one cavity may be formed by Silicon-On-Nothing (SON) process steps.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image capturing apparatus is provided. The method comprises forming a structure which includes an interlayer insulation film having a plurality of opening portions above an imaging and a peripheral region, forming a first film so as to cover the structure arranged above the imaging and the peripheral region while filling the plurality of opening portions, planarizing the first film to form a waveguide member above the imaging and the peripheral region, forming a second film so as to cover the waveguide member above the imaging and the peripheral region after the planarizing the first film, polishing the second film to expose the waveguide member arranged above the imaging region and removing a portion of the waveguide member arranged above the peripheral region so as to expose the interlayer insulation film after the polishing the second film.

Abstract: A data storage media may have at least a multi-layer recording lamination with a predetermined coercivity. The multi-layer recording lamination can be configured to record at least one servo format mark for a plurality of data tracks with a solid immersion mirror and program a data bit on the multi-layer recording lamination with a near field transducer.

Abstract: A phase difference layer 12 and a reflection layer 13 are provided. Then, adjustment is performed such that the phase difference layer 12 and the reflection layer 13 impart a predetermined phase difference to light having a particular wavelength bandwidth or plural kinds of light of different wavelengths that enter in an oblique direction relative to the normal direction of the plane of the phase difference layer 12. By virtue of this, the light 16a that goes forward and backward through the phase difference layer 12 and then exits the layer has an ellipticity ? of 0.7 or greater. Thus, in particular, when this wave plate is employed in an optical head device, the function of reflection and the function of a ¼-wave plate are integrated. Thus, stable recording and reproduction of an optical disk are achieved, and size reduction is achieved in the optical head device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a slider having a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section thereon, the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section including a magnetic pole, an optical waveguide, and a plasmon generator, the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide both extending toward an air bearing surface, the plasmon generator being located between the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide; driving the laser diode to allow a light beam to be emitted therefrom, the light beam including both a TE polarization component and a TM polarization component; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a light intensity distribution of the TE polarization component in the light beam which has been emitted from the laser diode and then passed through the optical waveguide; and bonding the light source unit

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes an objective lens portion which converges laser light at a first focal point and a second focal point; an actuator which positions the first focal point or the second focal point on a recording layer in a disc; an astigmatism element which sets a first focal line position and a second focal line position of the laser light reflected on the disc away from each other in a propagating direction of the laser light; a spectral element which disperses four light fluxes obtained by dividing the laser light reflected on the disc in four from each other; and a photodetector having a sensor group which receives the four light fluxes dispersed by the spectral element.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a planar substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and an inverted pyramidal hole extending through the first and second surfaces. The inverted pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and disposed in the first surface and having at least one curved slant surface. An optical waveguide extends into the inverted pyramidal hole of the planar substrate for propagating light along an optical path. A mirror is disposed in the optical waveguide for bending in the direction of the fine aperture the optical path of the light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes a waveguide, a plasmon generator, and a metal layer. The waveguide includes a core having an evanescent light generating surface. The plasmon generator includes a base part, and a protruding part that protrudes from the base part toward the evanescent light generating surface. The protruding part has: a front end face located at an end in a direction parallel to the evanescent light generating surface; a band-shaped flat surface facing toward the evanescent light generating surface; and two side surfaces connected to the flat surface. In at least a portion of the protruding part, the distance between the two side surfaces increases with increasing distance from the evanescent light generating surface. The flat surface includes a first portion contiguous with the front end face, and a second portion that is located farther from the front end face than is the first portion. The metal layer has an end face facing the first portion.

Abstract: Provided is a method for forming a near-field light generating element, which is capable of sufficiently suppressing the unevenness of a waveguide surface and the distortion within the waveguide. The forming method comprises the steps of: forming a first etching stopper layer on a lower waveguide layer; forming a second etching stopper layer; forming, on the second etching stopper layer, a plasmon antenna material layer; performing etching with the second etching stopper layer used as a stopper, to form a first side surface of plasmon antenna; forming a side-surface protecting mask so as to cover the first side surface; and performing etching with the first and second etching stopper layers used as stoppers, to form the second side surface. By providing the first and second etching stopper layer, over-etching can be prevented even when each etching process takes enough etch time, which allows easy management of etching endpoints.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a collimating lens configured to convert laser light emitted from a laser diode, from diffused light into parallel light; an objective lens; and a prism configured to guide the laser light emitted from the collimating lens to the objective lens, the prism including: a first face that the laser light emitted from the collimating lens enters; a second face that reflects the laser light entering the first face; and a third face that reflects the laser light reflected from the second face in a direction of the second face, and emits the laser light reflected again from the second face in a direction of the objective lens.

Abstract: A first laser source is arranged on a transmitting side of a polarizing beam splitter, while a second laser source is arranged on a reflecting side of the polarizing beam splitter. The splitting surface of the polarizing beam splitter has a film characteristic of substantially transmitting s-polarization component of the laser light having the first wavelength emitted by the first laser source and substantially reflecting s-polarization component of the laser light having the second wavelength emitted by the second laser source. A plate-like beam splitter serves to introduce laser light reflected off of a signal recording medium into an optical detector by directing the laser light away from the optical path in which the laser sources are located. The plate-like beam splitter includes a splitting surface which has a reflectance that is higher than its transmittance.

Abstract: An optical head according to the present invention includes: a first light source that emits light with a first wavelength; a beam splitter that splits the light emitted from the first light source into a first light beam traveling in a first direction and a second light beam traveling in a second direction different from the first direction; a first collimator lens for changing degrees of divergence of the first light beam; a first mirror that changes the traveling directions of the first light beam, of which the degrees of divergence have been changed; a first objective lens for converging the first light beam, which has had its traveling directions changed, toward a storage layer of a first optical disk; a mover that holds the first objective lens; a first photodetector that receives the first light beam reflected from the storage layer of the first optical disk and converts it into an electrical signal; a condenser lens for condensing the second light beam; and a second photodetector that receives the sec

Abstract: In an optical pickup apparatus, a major part of an optical path of a laser beam emitted from a first semiconductor laser device and an optical path of a laser beam emitted from a second semiconductor laser device 3 are shared. The first laser beam is transmitted through a quarter wavelength plate and a second reflecting mirror and is reflected by a first reflecting mirror. With this structure, the number of parts of optical systems disposed in the optical pickup apparatus is reduced, an attachment operation of the parts becomes easier, and a time required for adjusting an optical axis is reduced. Thus, an operational efficiency is greatly improved.

Abstract: An optical pickup device has a DVD/CD laser diode for emitting a DVD/CD laser beam as linear polarized light, and a BD laser diode for emitting a BD laser beam. The optical pickup device has a dichroic mirror that regularly reflects a part of the DVD/CD laser beam, transmits a part of the DVD/CD laser beam, and transmits return light of the BD laser beam. The dichroic mirror is formed so that a product of reflectance of outward light of the DVD/CD laser beam and transmittance of return light of the DVD/CD laser beam becomes 20% or more to 25% or less. A light receiving element receives the return light of the DVD/CD laser beam transmitted through the dichroic mirror or the return light of the BD laser beam transmitted through the dichroic mirror.

Abstract: A laminated half-wave plate includes: first and second wave plates having optical axes intersecting each other, wherein when phase differences of the first and second wave plates with respect to a wavelength ? are represented by ?1 and ?2, in-plane bearing angles formed by a polarization plane of a linearly-polarized beam incident on the laminated half-wave plate and the optical axes of the first and second wave plates are represented by ?1 and ?2, an angle formed by the polarization directions of the linearly-polarized beams incident on and emitted from the laminated half-wave plate is represented by ?, and an optical axis adjustment amount is represented by a, the following expressions are satisfied: ?1=180°+n×360°; ?2=180°+n×360° (where n in ?1 and ?2 is a non-negative integer); ?1=?/4+a; and ?2=3?/4?a.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beam shifting element and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical storage media using in such a beam shifting element. According to the invention, the beam shifting element has at least a first optical element for deflecting an incoming light beam by a first angle and a second optical element for deflecting the light beam coming from the first optical element by a second angle opposite to the first angle, wherein the first optical element and the second optical element are optical elements with an adjustable deflection angle.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device comprises a multi-aperture vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) operably coupled to a magnetic recording head and a plurality of waveguides disposed in the magnetic recording head. Each of the plurality of waveguides has a first end coupled to a different aperture of the multi-aperture VCSEL. The magnetic recording device further comprises a near field transducer disposed in the magnetic recording head. Each of the plurality of waveguides has a second end coupled to the near field transducer.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pick up and an optical component used for the optical pickup which are capable of preventing or restraining occurrence of deviation and unbalance which are caused by assembly errors during manufacturing of optical components, a temperature variation or the like. The optical pickup comprises a laser, a polarization changeover element for changing over a direction of polarization of an optical beam emitted from the laser, a beam splitting element for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of optical paths in accordance with a direction of a polarization, a plurality of objective lenses for focusing laser beams onto a recording layer of the optical disc, a rise-up mirror, and a plurality of coupling lenses arranged respectively intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head has a slider having a medium-facing surface, and a light source unit having a light source support substrate, and a light source disposed on the light source support substrate; the slider has a slider substrate and a magnetic head portion disposed on a side surface of the slider substrate; the magnetic head portion has a magnetic recording element for generating a magnetic field, first and second waveguides, for receiving light through an end face and guiding the light to the medium-facing surface, and a near-field light generator disposed on an end face; the light source support substrate is fixed to a surface of the slider substrate so that light emitted from the light source can enter the end face of the first waveguide.

Abstract: An optical device for holographic recording or reading is provided and includes: a light emission unit that emits light to be irradiated on an optical recording medium, the light being recording or reading light; a first prism unit that moves in accordance with a moving speed of the optical recording medium and refracts the light to move the light irradiated on the optical recording medium over a distance in a moving direction of the optical recording medium so that the light is irradiated on substantially the same position on the optical recording medium for a period of time; and a second prism unit that moves in accordance with the moving speed of the first prism unit to compensate for an optical path length of the light.

Abstract: A multiple wavelength-adaptive optical pickup according to the present invention enables to obtain stable signals by suppressing displacement of optical intensity distribution at a light receiving section. When an incident angle of a central beam of a zero-dimensional beam of a beam reflected at an optical disc into a half mirror is taken as ?, if variation in transmittance of the mirror become a maximum with respect to change in the incident angle from ? to a plus side in any one of the wavelengths corresponding to the respective optical discs, a ?1 dimensional beam generated on the minus side with respect to the zero-dimensional beam is received by the light receiving section, and if the variation in the transmittance of the mirror become the maximum with respect to change in the incident angle from ? to the minus side, a +1 dimensional beam generated on the plus side with respect to the zero-dimensional beam is received by the light receiving section.

Abstract: A transmitting/reflecting member for transmitting a laser beam of a first wavelength emitted from a first light source includes a first surface on which the laser beam of the first wavelength emitted from the first light source is incident and a second surface which faces the first surface and from which the laser beam of the first wavelength emerges, an angle ? defined between the first and second surfaces satisfies a condition of ??0, and a third-order astigmatism and a third-order coma aberration occurring when the laser beam of the first wavelength passes through the transmitting/reflecting member are both 5 m? or smaller. In this way, good recording performance or reproduction performance for various optical discs can be realized by focusing laser beams having different wavelengths on information recording surfaces of optical discs whose protective substrates differ in thicknesses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compact optical pickup for a micro optical drive, and to a micro optical drive using this compact optical pickup. According to the invention a pickup for optical recording media includes a light source for generating a light beam for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium, a flexible arm serving as a focus actuator, an objective lens situated on the flexible arm for focusing the light beam onto the optical recording medium, an optical bench for directing the light beam towards the optical recording medium one or more detectors for detecting the light beam reflected by the optical recording medium, and a mirror, which is arranged inclined with respect to a transparent block of the optical bench, for directing the light beam reflected by the optical recording medium towards a first detector.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a phase compensator and an optical condenser in communication with the phase compensator. The phase compensator provides for phase shifting a portion of an electromagnetic wave. The optical condenser is shaped to direct the electromagnetic wave to a focal region of the optical condenser.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes: a light source; a collimator lens for converting a light beam emitted from the light source into parallel light; an objective lens for converging the light beam to the optical disc; an extending portion in which a light flux transversal width as the width of the parallel direction with respect to the information recording face of the optical disc of the light beam converted into the parallel light by the collimator lens is extended until a final light flux diameter as the diameter of the light beam at an incident time to the objective lens; and a prism in which a light flux longitudinal width as the width of a direction perpendicular to the information recording face of the optical disc of the extended light beam is extended until the final light flux diameter, and the light beam is emitted to the objective lens.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an optical head and an optical disk device capable of suitably detecting tracking error signals for different types of optical discs. A polarizing hologram element includes a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area in an area where a beam reflected and diffracted by a BD passes. The first area includes a first transmission area for transmitting many 1st-order diffracted lights from the BD, a second transmission area adjacent to the first transmission area and closer to an optical axis than the first transmission area, and a third transmission area adjacent to the first and second transmission areas. The second area includes a fourth transmission area for transmitting many 1st-order diffracted lights from the BD, a fifth transmission area adjacent to the fourth transmission area and closer to the optical axis than the fourth transmission area, and a sixth transmission area adjacent to the fourth and fifth transmission areas.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide fabrication processes for the co-fabrication of microprobe arrays along with one or more space transformers wherein the fabrication processes include the forming and adhering of a plurality of layers to previously formed layers and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of layers are formed from at least one structural material and at least one sacrificial material that is at least in part released from the plurality of layers after formation and wherein the space transformer includes a plurality of interconnect elements that connect one side to the array of probes that has a first spacing to another side that has a second spacing where the second spacing is greater than the first spacing. In some embodiments, the fabrication process includes a plurality of electrodeposition operations.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a planar substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and an inverted conical or pyramidal hole extending through the first and second surfaces. The conical or pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and is disposed on the first surface of the planar substrate. An optical waveguide is disposed on the second surface of the planar substrate for propagating light. A light reflection film is disposed in the optical waveguide for reflecting in the direction of the fine aperture light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A diffraction grating with periodically arranged protrusions and grooves at a relatively narrow pitch and improved diffraction efficiency is disclosed. The protrusions of the grating are made of a material whose index of refraction is greater than that of the grooves, and the ratio of the width D of the protrusion to the pitch ? of the protrusion is set equal to or less than 0.4 (D/??0.4).

Abstract: An integrated optical head is provided. In the integrated optical head, a light source emits light. A waveguide guides the light. An input coupler is located at one edge of the waveguide, and couples light emitted from the light source and transmits the coupled light to the waveguide. An output coupler is located at another edge of the waveguide, and couples light emitted from the waveguide and focuses the coupled light on an optical disc. A light path changing unit is installed on the waveguide, and changes the light path of light that has been reflected by the optical disc and then passed through the output coupler. An optical detector receives the light passed through the light path changing unit and converts the received light into an electrical signal in order to detect information from the optical disc. Accordingly, an input coupling efficiency and an output coupling efficiency are improved, such that light loss is reduced.

Abstract: An optical system including a light source that generates light, a mirror changing an optical path of the light generated by the light source and an aberration correcting element that corrects aberrations generated in the light reflected from the mirror due to an error in the surface shape of the mirror.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is provided which includes a double-wavelength objective lens (34) that collects a light beam selectively emitted from a light-emitting/-detecting element (31) that selectively emits a plurality of light beams different in wavelength from each other, and also return light from an optical disk (2), a first diffraction grating (45) that splits the light beam emitted from a light-emitting/-detecting element (31) into three beams including a zero-order light beam and positive and negative first-order light beams, a second diffraction grating (46) that diffracts the return light for traveling along a light path separate from that of the outgoing light, and a third diffraction grating (47) that corrects a light-path deviation by diffracting the positive first-order light beam diffracted by the second diffraction grating (46).

Abstract: A compatible optical pickup apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus and method include a first light source for generating and emitting a first light having a predetermined wavelength, a second light source for generating and emitting a second light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the first light, a beam shaping beam splitter provided in paths of the first and second lights for shaping the first and second lights in order to change a shape of a profile of each of the first and second lights to a circular shape and change the paths of the first and second lights, an objective lens for focusing the first and second lights and forming light spots on an optical recording medium, and a main photodetector for receiving the first and second lights by being reflected from the optical recording medium and passing through the objective lens and the beam shaping beam splitter, and detecting an information signal and an error signal.

Abstract: An optical pickup for performing data recording and reproduction with respect to both CDs and DVDs and a disk apparatus incorporating the optical pickup. The optical pickup comprises a CD laser diode and a DVD laser diode, and creates a composite CD/DVD laser beam using a composite prism. An optical film is formed on a composite plane of the composite prism to reduce concentration of the DVD laser beam in its central portion relative to that in its peripheral portion to thereby obtain characteristics of concentration distribution which is flatter than that of Gaussian distribution. For a composite prism of a type which transmits a CD laser beam and reflects a DVD laser beam, the optical film is adjusted such that a reflection rate of a DVD laser beam is minimized for a DVD laser beam incoming at an optical axis incident angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical pickup and a disc drive for preventing aberrations of laser light due to variations in temperature and humidity to ensure satisfactory characteristics of the laser light. A compound lens (14) is disposed in the optical path of the laser light, which is emitted by a light-emitting device (11) to be incident on a beam splitter (15), and in the optical path of the laser light, which exits from the beam splitter to be incident on a photodetector (13). The compound lens includes a diffractive section (23) for diffracting the laser light and a lens section (24) having a predetermined function for the laser light. The compound lens is formed by integrating individual sections including the diffractive section and the lens section. The compound lens is provided with a passage hole (14c) that lets in the laser light emitted by the light-emitting device to be incident on the beam splitter.

Abstract: Laser beams respectively emitted from a SHG blue laser unit and a red semiconductor laser unit that have photo detectors respectively are turned into parallel lights by a collimator lens and then coupled by a dielectric multi-layer film mirror so as to be propagated on the same optical axis. The dielectric multi-layer film mirror is configured so as to transmit light with a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter and reflect light with a wavelength of 500 nm or longer for both P wave and S wave. The lights that are transmitted and reflected by the dielectric multi-layer film mirror pass through a polarizing hologram and a phase variable wave plate and are focused on an optical disk by an objective lens. In this manner, a simple configuration can realize a compatibility with many types of optical disks and a stable signal detection even when using a polarizing optical detection system.

Abstract: An integrated optical head is provided. In the integrated optical head, a light source emits light. A waveguide guides the light. An input coupler is located at one edge of the waveguide, and couples light emitted from the light source and transmits the coupled light to the waveguide. An output coupler is located at another edge of the waveguide, and couples light emitted from the waveguide and focuses the coupled light on an optical disc. A light path changing unit is installed on the waveguide, and changes the light path of light that has been reflected by the optical disc and then passed through the output coupler. An optical detector receives the light passed through the light path changing unit and converts the received light into an electrical signal in order to detect information from the optical disc Accordingly, an input coupling efficiency and an output coupling efficiency are improved, such that light loss is reduced.

Abstract: This invention is an optical pickup device having a composite optical element (32) which has a first diffraction grating (45) for splitting a light beam emitted from a light source (31) into zeroth-order light, plus-first-order light and minus-first-order light, a second diffraction grating (46) for diffracting the optical path of a return light beam from an optical disc (2), and a split prism (47) arranged at a position where the minus-first-order light diffracted by the second diffraction grating (46) is incident and adapted for splitting the minus-first-order light into a plurality of light beams. It also has a light receiving unit (35) for acquiring a focusing error signal FE by receiving each return light beam split by the split prism (47) and for acquiring a tracking error signal by receiving return light beams from the optical disc (2) of the plus-first-order light and the minus-first-order light split by the first diffraction grating (45).

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus used in an optical data recording/reproducing apparatus for reading/reproducing data on an optical recording medium, including a light source, a diffracting device configured to transmit a light beam and to diffract a light beam reflected from the optical recording medium, an optical device having a reflecting portion and a transmitting portion configured to reflect one part of the light beam emitted from the light source and to transmit another part of the light beam to the optical recording medium and from the optical recording medium, and a photodetecting device to detect the light beam from the optical recording medium for signal light detection, and the light beam reflected by the reflecting portion of the optical device for monitor light detection of the light source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-speed optical memory element. In order to increase speed of a memory element, optical pulse is recorded and read all-optically without conversion into electrical signal at very high speed. Optically-induced spin accumulation is used for recording the ferromagnetic metal embedded into optical waveguide operates as a high speed memory element. The ferromagnetic metal is sandwiched between a conductor on one side and a tunnel barrier followed by a conductor on the other side. The voltage is applied between two conductors. For data recording, the optically induced spin-polarized tunneling and spin accumulation is used. The optically induced spin-polarized tunneling occurs due to absorption of circularly polarized light. The torque of accumulated spin reverses magnetization of ferromagnetic metal. For reading Faraday rotation or non-reciprocal loss/gain in semiconductor-ferromagnetic-metal hybrid is used.

Abstract: An optical pickup device including a lead frame and a board attached to the lead frame is provided. The lead frame includes optical components, such as a laser diode and an optical element, which are disposed within a lead frame. A photo diode is mounted on the board to receive a beam transmitted through the optical element. The board is adjusted with respect to the lead frame using the beam before attached to the lead frame. An upper opening and a lower opening are formed on an upper side and a lower side of the lead frame, respectively. An optical element installation space formed within the lead frame and defined by an upper side walls and an optical element support. A hole is formed in a central portion of the optical element support and communicates with the optical element installation space and a photo diode installation space which is defined by the optical element support and a lower side wall of lead frame.

Abstract: In an optical scanning device for scanning both a high-density, HD, record carrier (38) and a low-density, LD, record carrier (18), a two-wavelength diode laser (50) is used for generating the HD scanning beam and the LD scanning beam. By arranging a composite diffraction element (60) close to the diode laser (50), which element has a first diffraction structure (63), for combining the HD beam and the LD beam, and a second diffraction structure (64), which acts as a lens for either the LD beam or the HD beam only, a compact device is obtained, which is suitable for writing the LD information layer (40).

Abstract: This invention is an optical pickup device having a composite optical element (32) which has a first diffraction grating (45) for splitting a light beam emitted from a light source (31) into zeroth-order light, plus-first-order light and minus-first-order light, a second diffraction grating (46) for diffracting the optical path of a return light beam from an optical disc (2), and a split prism (47) arranged at a position where the minus-first-order light diffracted by the second diffraction grating (46) is incident and adapted for splitting the minus-first-order light into a plurality of light beams. It also has a light receiving unit (35) for acquiring a focusing error signal FE by receiving each return light beam split by the split prism (47) and for acquiring a tracking error signal by receiving return light beams from the optical disc (2) of the plus-first-order light and the minus-first-order light split by the first diffraction grating (45).

Abstract: A low-profile optical disk device which performs recording and reproducing using a plurality of laser light sources with different wavelengths, without thug need for additional components. It is used as a DVD-Ram, CD-R or the like. It comprises a plurality of neighboring laser light sources with different wavelengths: a beam-shaping prism for expanding the width of laser beams in a direction in which the plural laser light sources are arranged; and a focus lens which forms an optical spot on an optical disk, where laser light sources with longer wavelengths are positioned closer to an extension line of a refracted beam created by the beam-shaping prism. The above arrangement enables correction of optical spot coma aberrations caused by a laser light source positioned out of the optical axis of the focus lens, thereby realizing a low-profile optical disk device with high optical performance.

Abstract: An optical irradiation head including a trapezoidal prism having a pair of trapezoidal principal surfaces parallel to each other, a rectangular bottom surface, a rectangular top surface parallel to the rectangular bottom surface, and a pair of oblique side surfaces connecting the top surface, the bottom surface, and the principal surfaces, and a cover member for covering the principal surfaces and the oblique side surfaces. The trapezoidal prism is formed of a first material, and the cover member is formed of a second material. Linearly polarized light having a polarization direction perpendicular to the principal surfaces is incident on the bottom surface. For example, the first material is a dielectric transparent to the incident light, and the second material is metal such as Al, Au, or Ag.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus used in an optical data recording/reproducing apparatus for reading/reproducing data on an optical recording medium, including a light source, a diffracting device configured to transmit a light beam and to diffract a light beam reflected from the optical recording medium, an optical device having a reflecting portion and a transmitting portion configured to reflect one part of the light beam emitted from the light source and to transmit another part of the light beam to the optical recording medium and from the optical recording medium, and a photodetecting device to detect the light beam from the optical recording medium for signal light detection, and the light beam reflected by the reflecting portion of the optical device for monitor light detection of the light source.