Abstract: A light converting device comprising: a light converter with a light entrance surface and a light emission surface, wherein the light converter is arranged to convert laser light scanned over the light entrance surface to converted light, wherein a peak emission wavelength of the converted light is in a longer wavelength range than a laser peak emission wavelength of the laser light, a confinement structure enclosing the light converter, wherein the confinement structure is arranged to preserve a geometric shape of the light converter in case of a mechanical failure of the light converter. A laser-based light source comprising such a light converting device and a vehicle headlight comprising such a laser-based light source.

Abstract: A lighting device comprises at least two groups of light-emitting diodes and an electronic circuit for controlling said light-emitting diodes. The electronic circuit is configured to control each group of light-emitting diodes separately. The beam characteristic of at least one of the groups of light-emitting diodes differs from the beam characteristic of at least one of the other groups of light-emitting diodes. As a result, the light distribution of the lighting device can be switched electronically.

Abstract: Provided is a light scanning apparatus, including: a light source emitting a light beam; a rotary polygon mirror deflecting the light beam so as to scan a photosensitive member with the light beam; an optical member guiding the light beam; an optical box on which the light source is mounted and which contains the rotary polygon mirror and the optical member; a cover mounted on a side wall of the optical box so as to cover an opening of the optical box, and the cover having a dust-proof member which is molded on the cover and sandwiched between the cover and the side wall of the optical box; and the dust-proof member including convex portions protruded toward the optical box and configured to contact with a top of the side wall opposed to the dust-proof member, and a concave portion provided between the convex portions and separated from the top.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording information in an optical-information recording media by holography includes a signal-light irradiation unit, a reference-light irradiation unit, a reference light angle adjustment unit, and a positioning unit for positioning irradiation positions of the signal light and the reference light. The optical-information recording media is divided into N (N?2) recording regions, M multiplexed information can be recorded in the respective recording regions by the reference light angle adjustment unit which changes the angle of the reference light at M angles (?1, ?2, . . . , and ?M) corresponding to a multiplexing number (M?2), management information for the M multiplexed information is multiplexed and recorded in the same recording region as a-th information (1?a?M) with a reference light angle ?a, and the management information on all the N recording regions are recorded at a common reference light angle.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a lens optical system having first to third regions, the first region transmitting light of a first wavelength band, the second region transmitting light of the first wavelength band and having optical characteristics for providing a different focusing characteristic from a focusing characteristic associated with rays transmitted through the first region, and the third region transmitting light of a second wavelength band; an imaging device on which light having passed through the lens optical system is incident, the imaging device having a plurality of first to third pixels; and a microlens array causing light having passed through the first region to enter the plurality of first pixels, light having passed through the second region to enter the plurality of second pixels, and light having passed through the third region to enter the plurality of third pixels.

Abstract: A holographic optical pickup device includes an image sensor that detects a diffracted beam generated from the region to be reproduced when irradiating an optical information recording medium with a reference beam, and sets the detected diffraction beam as a reproduction signal, and a photodetector that is different from the image sensor, which detects the diffracted beam generated from a recorded region in the recording medium when irradiating the recording medium with the reference beam. A light receiver of the photodetector is divided into a plurality of light receiving planes so as to generate the position error signal indicating the positional shifting of the region to be recorded/reproduced of the recording medium with respect to the objective lens from a differential signal of a plurality of signals derived from the respective light receiving planes.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus, to apply holograms of an angle multiplex recording method therein includes: a light source to emit a light beam; a divider unit to divide the light beam into a signal beam and a reference light; an angle variable unit to change an angle of the reference light incident upon an optical information recording medium; a spatial light modulator unit to add information to the signal beam; an objective lens to irradiate the signal beam on the medium; an image pickup unit to detect a diffracted light generating from a recording region, when the reference light is irradiated on the medium; and an optical element to shape a form of light flux of the reference light, so that a light flux diameter of the reference light in a multiplex direction becomes larger than the light flux diameter of the reference light in a pitch direction.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a galvanometer mirror that changes an incident angle of a reference beam to an optical information recording medium, an image sensor that detects a diffracted beam from a region to be reproduced upon irradiation of the recording medium with the reference beam, and sets the detected diffracted beam to a reproduction signal, and a photodetector that detects the diffracted beam generated from a plurality of recorded regions upon irradiation of the recording medium with the reference beam. The photodetector includes a plurality of light receivers, and generates an angular error signal indicating positional shifting of the incident angle of the reference beam from a differential signal of a plurality of signals derived from the respective light receivers so as to control the angle of the galvanometer mirror.

Abstract: Multi-level recording is quite effective for attaining a larger capacity and a higher transfer rate in the case of an optical disk; however, with conventional technologies, a SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO of a signal deteriorates along with an increase in a multi-level degree, creating a factor for limitations to the multi-level degree. In order to solve problems, when optical information is recorded by use of a standing wave occurring due to interference between two light beams, at least one of the two light beams is modulated in multi-stages. Further, at the time of regeneration, a regeneration reference beam is caused to interfere with respective polarization components of a regeneration beam, the polarization components being orthogonal to each other, thereby concurrently generating not less than three interference beams differing in interference phase from each other before being detected.

Abstract: A holographic recording medium in which information can be reproduced by phase conjugate beam without requiring a mirror for obtaining the phase conjugate beam and its driving part and recording density is not reduced. The recording medium includes a recording layer in which an interference pattern is recorded and a light absorption/transmission layer which can be reversibly changed to be in a first state where signal beam and reference beam passed through the recording layer are absorbed at the time of recording of information and a second state where the reference beam is transmitted at the time of reproduction of information, and the reference beam transmitted through the light absorption/transmission layer is reflected by a reflection layer to produce the phase conjugate beam.

Abstract: In a system of detecting an interference light with a light not irradiated onto an optical disc to increase the S/N ratio, it is difficult to stably acquire a reproduced signal with a simple configuration. Since the recording density is not improved, an improvement in transfer rate is difficult. In an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus where two optical beams face each other and are focused at the same place of a recording medium to record a standing wave developed by interference of the two optical beams, a phase difference of the two optical beams is modulated in a multiple stage and recorded. During reproduction, an interference light of a reproduced light from the recording medium and another reproduction reference light is detected as a reproduced signal, and a phase servo control stabilizing the phase of interference during reproduction by using a low frequency component of the reproduced signal is conducted.

Abstract: An optical information device used with a grooveless multilayer disc including multiple recording layers used to record and reproduce information signals and a guide layer dedicated to detect tracking error signals (TES) can always stably detect the TESs when the distance between the recording layer and guide layer varies due to selection of a target recording layer. For example, a plurality of light spots for detecting the TESs are formed by a holographic grating on the guide layer, but are defocused with respect to each other. The TESs are detected individually from the respective light spots. The TESs are subjected to an addition operation to be a signal for tracking control, thereby extraordinarily increasing the defocus dynamic range of the TESs.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data reproducing apparatus includes a data recording medium, light source unit, light application unit, photodetector unit and control unit. An address mark string including address marks is formed on the data recording medium. The address marks are spaced from each other by a distance depending on address data. The light application unit is configured to split the light beam into a first branch light beam and a second branch light beam and apply the first and second branch light beams to the address mark string at different angles. The photodetector unit is configured to detect first reflected light beams and second reflected light beams from the address mark string to generate image data. The first and second reflected light beams result from the first and second branch light beams, respectively. The control unit is configured to reproduce address data based on the image data.

Abstract: In a method of recording and reading optical information in a recording medium using holography, a first recording operation is performed for recording optical information in a first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing a reference beam and a signal beam with data loaded to interfere with each other in the first recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed at predetermined intervals. Furthermore, a second recording operation is performed for recording optical information in a second recording region adjacent to the first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing the reference beam and the signal beam to interfere with each other in the second recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed between the predetermined intervals. Consequently, optical information can be recorded so as to easily detect and determine a selected reproducing beam, thus increasing the reading efficiency of the optical information.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, an objective lens for collecting the light beam emitted from the laser diode and irradiating an optical disc with the collected light beam, a diffraction element for making the light beam reflected from the optical disc diverge, and a detector having a plurality of detection parts for receiving the diverging light beams caused by the diffraction element. The diffraction element has first, second, and third divided areas, wherein a 0th-order diffracted light from the first divided area, the second divided area, and the third divided area is detected by at least four divided detection parts; and at least two detection parts for detecting the light beam diffracted at the first divided area into first or higher diffraction order are aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to the track of the optical disc.

Abstract: When performing a read or write operation on an optical disc with information storage layers, this compatible optical head with a two-focus lens can reduce interference caused by an unnecessary diffracted light reflected from a non-target layer and not contributing to reading or writing. The head reads and/or writes information from/on storage media, including first and second media with different protective substrate thicknesses, by irradiating a given one with a laser beam and includes: a diffraction element that diffracts the beam to produce diffracted light of multiple orders; an objective lens for converging nth and mth order ones of the light on the respective storage layers of the first and second media; a photodetector that receives the beam reflected from the medium and condensed; and a light shielding portion for preventing a portion of the beam reflected from the storage layer of the second medium and including its optical axis from reaching the photodetector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control a position in which data is to be recorded on a holographic data recording medium by using interference between a reference light and a signal light, the method including: irradiating the reference light and the signal light on the holographic data recording medium; generating a focus error signal that indicates a distance difference between a first focus corresponding to a focus of the reference light on the holographic data recording medium and a second focus corresponding to a focus of the signal light on the holographic data recording medium, based on information about a reflective signal light generated when the irradiated signal light is reflected from a reflective transmission layer of the holographic data recording medium; and moving the second focus to a position of the first focus, based on the focus error signal.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus using holography comprises a signal generation unit that modulates input data, adds at least one control bit to each group of N bits, performs an NRZI-modulation on the modulated data, determines the at least one control bit such that a digital sum value of the NRZI-modulated data is 0, performs NRZI modulation on the data whose at least one control bit was determined, and rearranges the data to generate 2-dimensional data; a pickup that records the 2-dimensional data in a hologram disc and reproduces the 2-dimensional data from the hologram disc; and a signal processing unit that corrects the 2-dimensional data reproduced by the pickup, performs NRZI-modulation on the 2-dimensional data that has undergone a binarization operation, removes the at least one control bit added during the recording, and demodulates the data according to a modulation rule used during the recording.

Abstract: The optical information recording and reproducing device utilizing holography requires the optical system to generate the signal beam and the reference beam to be irradiated to the holographic storage medium as well as another optical system to generate the curing light beam to be irradiated to the holographic storage medium. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of backward compatibility, if the same device is used for recording or reproduction on the conventional optical discs represented by Blu-ray Disc, another optical system adaptable to recording and reproduction on these optical disks is required. This means the optical system configurations become complicated and larger in size. One solution for downsizing is to use the reference beam also as the curing light beam. Another way is sharing of optical path for curing light beam and for the reference beam. Furthermore, it is possible to share the light source for generating the curing light beam and for generating the recording or reproducing light beam.

Abstract: An optical recording apparatus comprises: a focusing section that focuses to a transmission type recording medium a recording light beam including a signal light beam and a reference light beam which are radiated from a same direction with a common optical axis; and a focused-position moving section that moves with respect to a direction of the optical axis a focused position where the recording light beam is focused to the transmission type recording medium by the focusing section, wherein an interference fringe formed by the recording light beam is recorded in the transmission type recording medium at each position which is moved by the focused-position moving section.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are provided for recording and reading optical information using holography in which a first recording operation is performed in a first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing a reference beam and a signal beam with data loaded to interfere with each other in the first recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed at predetermined intervals. And a second recording operation is performed in a second recording region located adjacent to the first recording region or overlapped with the first recording region by allowing the reference beam and the signal beam to interfere with each other in the second recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed between the predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing holographic data and a holographic information storage medium, wherein the apparatus for recording and/or reproducing holographic information includes an optical pickup emitting light onto a holographic information storage medium and receiving the emitted light. The optical pickup includes: a light source unit emitting a signal beam and a reference beam in a recording mode; and a focusing optical system focusing the signal beam and the reference beam on one focal point in the holographic information storage medium so that information can be recorded by using an interference pattern formed along a depth direction of the holographic information storage medium in the vicinity of the focal point, wherein the numerical aperture of the focusing optical system for the signal beam is different from the numerical aperture of the focusing optical system for the reference beam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recording and reproducing device including: a light source; an intensity modulating section; a polarization beam splitter; a selective polarization direction controlling section; a linearly polarized light/circularly polarized light converting section; and a driving controlling section.

Abstract: An objective lens includes a diffraction structure for distributing much of a quantity of an incident light beam into two diffracted lights having different diffraction orders from each other, wherein recording or reproduction of information on an optical disk is performed by converging the diffracted light having a longer focal length of the two diffracted lights onto an information recording surface through a protective layer of the optical disk, and a distance from the objective lens to a surface of the protective layer along an optical axis is longer than a distance between focuses of the two diffracted lights along the optical axis when the diffracted light having the longer focal length is converged onto the information recording surface of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a first laser beam light source 1 for emitting a light flux of a first wavelength, a diffraction grating 5 and an optical device 6 having a second laser beam light source 7 for emitting a light flux of a second wavelength and a hologram element 8. In operation, the diffraction grating 5 diffracts the backward light of the first wavelength at a predetermined angle. The hologram element 8 diffracts the backward light of the second wavelength by a first area 8a and also diffracts the backward light of the first wavelength at a reversed-polarity angle to the first area 8a by a second area 8b.

Abstract: A hologram optical device, and a compatible optical pickup having the hologram optical device and an information storage medium system employing the hologram optical device. The hologram optical device includes a hologram having a pattern having a period in a 4-step stairway shape. At least one of first, second, third, and fourth steps of the 4-step stairway shape is formed in a different width from at least one other step.

Abstract: In a beam applying method, recording and reproducing operations are performed on an optical recording medium, in which a signal is recorded and reproduced by applying a beam thereto and which has a recording layer on which the signal is recorded, a quarter-wavelength plate formed below the recording layer, a polarizing plate formed further below the quarter-wavelength plate, and a reflecting film formed below the quarter-wavelength plate. The beam applying method includes the steps of; emitting a beam to be applied to the optical recording medium; and driving a quarter-wavelength plate inserted into an optical system serving to guide the emitted beam to the optical recording medium so that the optical axis direction thereof has a predetermined angle difference at the time of performing a recording operation and reproduction.

Abstract: An optical-pickup hologram element has six regions on an x-y plane, divided as follows: the first region with a first line (an x-axis) and a second line that connects points (?xa, 0) and (?xb, yb); the second region with the first and second lines and a third line connecting points (xa, 0) and (xb, yb); the third region with the first and third lines; the fourth region with the first line and a fourth line connecting the point (xa, 0) and a point (xb, ?yb); the fifth region with the first and fourth lines and a fifth line connecting the point (?xa, 0) and a point (?xb, ?yb); and the sixth region with the first and fifth lines (xa<xb and ?xb<?xa). The second and fifth, and the other regions are given astigmatism at different angles to the second line.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical disk, includes: a semiconductor laser applying a beam to an optical disk having two recording layers through an objective lens; and a light receiving device to which light reflected from the optical disk is directed through the objective lens and a beam splitting device, wherein: the beam splitting device has two first light receiving areas for detecting a push-pull signal and a second light receiving area for detecting a focus error signal, and a configuration is provided such that the center of the optical axis of the reflected light in the beam splitting device is made to lie within the second light receiving area for detecting the focus error signal.

Abstract: When first-order diffracted beams leak into a region, which is for receiving only a zeroth-order diffracted beam from an optical disc, due to positional displacement between an objective lens and a hologram element, an offset compensation signal includes an AC component, the offset compensation signal preferably including a DC component only. Accordingly, there may be caused deterioration in a modulation degree of the tracking error (TE) signal. A partial light shielding element 110 is formed on a hologram surface 112a along boundaries between a light receiving region (121a), which receives a zeroth-order diffracted beam, and light receiving regions (121b, 121c), which receive the zeroth-order diffracted beam and first-order diffracted beams, so as to cover the light receiving region (121a). Further, the partial light shielding element 110 shifts phases of transmitted light beams by ?, whereby the TE signal is offset-compensated, and the modulation degree can be improved.

Abstract: A method to store information in a holographic data storage medium, wherein the method supplies a holographic data storage medium comprising an encoded focusing hologram and one or more encoded data holograms. The method disposes the holographic data storage medium in a holographic data storage system, and disposes a rotatable imaging lens at an (i)th orientation. The method illuminates the encoded focusing hologram to generate an (i)th reconstructed focusing image, projects that (i)th reconstructed focusing image through the rotatable imaging lens, and onto at optical detector array. The method then calculates an (i)th measured focusing metric, and determines if the (i)th measured focusing metric is greater than or equal to the threshold focusing metric. If the (i)th measured focusing metric is greater than or equal to the threshold focusing metric, then the method decodes the one or more encoded data holograms.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a collimator lens having a diverging lens and a converging lens, such that it maintains a constant focal length and has a short optical path length. The collimator lens of the optical pickup device includes a diverging lens located at the side of a light source and a converging lens located at the side of generating parallel light or gentle oscillation light. In addition, the diverging lens and the converging lens of the collimator lens may be integrated, or may also be formed of a hologram optical element. As a result, the optical pickup device can be configured in the form of a slim structure using the collimator lens having a short optical path length.

Abstract: A diffracting portion is disposed in an optical path between a light source and an optical disc. The diffracting portion diffracts the reflected light from recording layers of the optical disc toward a light receiving portion. The diffracting portion includes a first diffraction region having a first diffraction efficiency and a second diffraction region having a second diffraction efficiency lower than the first diffraction efficiency. The first diffraction region includes a FES diffracting portion and first to fourth TES diffracting portions. The second diffraction region includes fifth and sixth TES diffracting portions. First-order diffraction lights from the non-light-collecting recording layer enter on the fifth and the sixth TES diffracting portions, and are diffracted toward the light receiving portion by the fifth and the sixth TES diffracting portions.

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: An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a photo detector configured to receive light reflected from a medium; a housing mounted with the photo detector; and a projecting portion projecting from the housing, the projecting portion including a displacement preventer configured to prevent displacement of the photo detector or an adhesive relative to the housing, the displacement preventer including a fixing portion formed to extend along a plurality of directions, the photo detector being provided on the housing by applying the adhesive to the displacement preventer.

Abstract: A complex objective lens composed of a hologram and an objective lens, capable of realizing stable and high-precision compatible reproducing/recording of a BD with a base thickness of about 0.1 mm for a blue light beam (wavelength ?1) and a DVD with a base thickness of about 0.6 mm for a red light beam (wavelength ?2). In an inner circumferential portion of the hologram, a grating is formed. The hologram transmits a blue light beam as 0th-order diffracted light without diffracting it, and disperses a red light beam passing through an inner circumferential portion as +1st-order diffracted light and allows it to be condensed by an objective lens. Because of this, the focal length of the red light beam becomes longer than that of the blue light beam, whereby a working distance is enlarged.

Abstract: A diffraction optical element is provided to reduce harmful lights and also suppress deterioration in the optical characteristics of the element. The diffraction optical element 22 is formed with a plurality of diffraction gratings 17?, 18?, 19? and 20?. From these diffraction gratings, there are selected the diffraction gratings 18?, 19? and 20? whose groove apex angles are less than a predetermined angle. The diffraction gratings 18?, 19? and 20? has chamfer surfaces 18c?, 19c? and 20c? formed on the lower side of respective slanted surfaces 18a?, 19a? and 20a?. The chamfer surfaces 18c?, 19c? and 20c? are slanted to the slanted surfaces 18a?, 19a? and 20a?, respectively.

Abstract: An optical system for spatially controlling light polarization, and method for manufacturing the same, includes a light source for generating a light beam of a designated wavelength, a beam shaper for splitting the light beam generated from the light source into a plurality of partial beams, and a polarization controller controlling the polarization states of the partial beams. The polarization controller may be formed on the beam shaper or separate from the beam shaper.

Abstract: A signal, which is derived from the relationship between the lens shift amount of an objective lens and the amount of the positional-deviation, of a received light beam with respect to a light-receiving plane, which occurs in the tangential direction on a photodetector, is corrected by an offset caused by asymmetry in the intensity distribution of reflected light; a multiplication value is obtained by multiplying the corrected signal by a predetermined constant; based on a focus error signal obtained by subtracting the calculated value from the calculation expression according to the conventional astigmatism method, the focusing servo control is performed.

Abstract: An optical device diffracts incident light with a hologram element and receives the diffracted light with light receiving faces 20A to 29 on a light receiving element. Reflected sub-beams used for a tracking operation are received with different ones of the light receiving faces depending on the wavelengths of the reflected sub-beams. When first light receiving faces 22, 23, 26, and 27 are receiving an incident beam of a first wavelength, output signals from the first light receiving faces and output signals from the other light receiving faces 24, 25, 28, and 29 are processed to detect an unnecessary light component. The optical device can record and/or reproduce information signals to and/or from optical discs such as DVDs and CDs which need light sources of different wavelengths, without the influence of unnecessary reflected light from the optical discs or without complicating operation of output signals.

Abstract: An optical pickup device in which a hologram element has a plurality of different diffraction directions. In the tracking standard state, the hologram element is divided into six areas by a straight line connecting two strength center points of two light beams, and by two straight lines that are perpendicular to the straight line. By adding the amount of light received by an area demarcated by two straight lines that pass the two strength center points, to the amount of light received by one of two outer areas sandwiching the area depending on the type of the light beam, it is possible to obtain a well-balanced tracking error signal for each of the two light beams.

Abstract: An aberration detection device of the present invention is such that an absolute value of detection sensitivity of an aberration error signal is increased, and variation in detection sensitivity of the aberration error signal is little even when displacement between the center of light beam dividing means and the center of a bundle of light beams occurs due to a shift of a condensing optical system at the time of tracking control. A hologram element (2) divides light beams reflected from an information storage medium into at least two positive first order diffracted light beams. The hologram element (2) has a line (D1) extending in a radial direction and passing through an optical axis (OZ) and a division line (D2) having segments at least both ends thereof and a bulge in a center thereof, wherein the segments are substantially parallel to the line (D1), and the bulge (44) bulges toward the periphery of the hologram element (2) so that a top (D5) of the bulge (44) is substantially parallel to the line (D1).

Abstract: There is provided an optical pickup apparatus and a beam splitter which are capable of suppressing an adverse effect resulting from light reflected by a non-light-condensed layer that is different from a light-condensed layer. In respective TES light-receiving sections, interposed light-receiving elements are disposed so as to be adjacent to first sub beam-receiving elements. The interposed light-receiving elements are disposed away from both of positions where a main beam reflected by a light-condensing recording layer is condensed and where respective sub beams reflected by the light-condensing recording layer are condensed, and disposed so as to be adjacent to the first sub beam-receiving elements. The interposed light-receiving elements receive the main beam reflected by a non-light-condensing recording layer In a compensating section, results of light received by the first sub beam-receiving elements are compensated based on results of light received by the interposed light-receiving elements.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: On an optical path between a light source and an objective lens, there is provided an optical path changing section for changing a predetermined optical path of undesired light passing through, from the predetermined optical path to another optical path. The optical path changing section includes a plate having an aperture portion for allowing a laser beam emitted from the light source to pass through, and an aperture wall which defines the aperture portion of the plate includes a taper portion which is formed in a tapered-shape and slants so as to come close to an optical axis L1 of the light source in association with movement toward a laser beam outgoing direction. The undesired light from the light source is reflected by the taper portion to change the predetermined optical path of the undesired light passing through, from the predetermined optical path to another optical path.

Abstract: There is provided a hologram recording method, including generating a signal light which is spatially modulated such that digital data is represented by an image of intensity distribution, irradiating the signal light on an optical recording medium after a Fourier transformation of the signal light such that a zero-order component of the signal light comes into focus at a point removed from the optical recording medium, forming a diffraction grating in the optical recording medium by interference between the zero-order component of the signal light and a high-order component thereof, and recording digital data represented by the signal light as a hologram.

Abstract: An optical integrated unit of the present invention includes: a semiconductor laser that is a light source; at least one light receiving element; a light dividing section which divides outgoing light from the semiconductor laser and returning light from an optical disc, and reflects the returning light so as to guide it to the light receiving element; and a support substrate, and a second support substrate is concave, the light dividing section includes at least three prisms, the prisms on both sides of the light dividing section are respectively adhered to two protrusions of the concave second support substrate, and the light receiving element is adhered to the light dividing section via a cover glass. With this, it is possible to solve a problem of a conventional technology, that is, such a problem that the light receiving element cannot be adjusted highly accurately because of the thickness errors of the support substrate and the relay substrate.

Abstract: An optical-information recording medium includes a substrate that includes a servo surface having a servo pattern thereon; an information recording layer laminated on the servo surface of the substrate capable of recording information as a hologram produced by interference between an information beam containing the information and a reference beam; an address servo area that is formed as a part of the servo pattern, and that records therein address information and clock information for aligning a beam, emitted from an optical-information recording apparatus for recording information in the information recording layer, to a target position in the information recording layer; and a following up servo area that is formed as a part of the servo pattern, and that is to be irradiated by the beam to make the beam follow a rotation of the optical-information recording medium.

Abstract: An optical head includes a blue color laser beam sources, a red color laser beam sources, a dichroic prism, a collimator lens, a beam splitter, an objective lens, a photo detector element, a detection lens, and a hologram element having a first hologram and a second hologram and the first hologram changes a phase of a +1st order diffraction light of a blue color laser beam so that its condensing point falls on a second photo detecting portion and the second hologram changes a phase of a ?1st order diffraction light of a red color laser beam so that its condensing point falls on a third photo detecting portion.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus compatible with at least two types of optical recording media, using light beams having respective different wavelengths for recording and reading information, the optical pickup apparatus including two laser light sources to emit light beams having the different wavelengths, a holographic lens including a holographic ring to transmit the light beams incident in an inner region of the holographic ring, and to diffract a specific light beam among the light beams emitted from the laser light sources incident in an outer region relative to the inner region, an objective lens to focus the light beams passed through the holographic ring lens on the respective information recording surfaces of the two types of the optical recording media, optical elements to alter optical paths of the light beams reflected from the information recording surfaces of the optical recording media to corresponding photodetectors.