Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus relating to the invention employs a two-beam interference method. In the optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, a moving device moves an information recording medium between a recording and reproducing position and a retracting position, and a mirror moves together with the information recording medium. When the information recording medium moves to the recording and reproducing position, the mirror moves to a position which is displaced from the at least one of the reference beam and the information beam. When the information recording medium moves to the retracting position, the mirror moves to a position where the mirror can reflect the at least one of the reference beam and the information beam toward a detector for detecting a deviation of the at least one of the reference beam and the information beam.

Abstract: A lens driving device according to the present invention includes a mounting base; a collimation lens that is engaged with the mounting base and movable in optical axis directions; and a driving source that moves the collimation lens in the optical axis directions, and the mounting base includes a fulcrum section with which, when the driving device is mounted on a base, a pitch angle and a roll angle of the driving device are adjusted with respect to the base and the optical axis.

Abstract: The adverse influence of reflected light from adjacent layers as stray light on a control signal or data signal is reduced when tracking a multilayered optical disc using differential push-pull method. The reflected light from the optical disc including stray light from an adjacent layer is once condensed with a condenser lens having little aberration and is then reflected by a reflecting mirror having a partial reflecting region. The resultant reflected light, which has the influence of stray light reduced, passes through a polarization beam splitter and becomes incident on a four-quadrant detector (for main beam) and a split detector (for sub beam) via a condenser lens having astigmatic aberration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical system for extracting signal light components from a beam including the signal light components and stray light components. The optical system includes a condensing optical element situated on an optical path of the beam for condensing the beam, a polarization changing unit for changing the state of polarization of at least one of the signal light components and the stray light components included in the incident beam transmitted through the condensing optical element, and an extracting element for extracting the signal light components included in the beam transmitted through the polarization changing unit.

Abstract: An optical system (20) for efficiently collimating an elliptical light beam includes a light source (21), a first lens (22), a second lens (23), and a third lens (24). The light source is adapted for providing an elliptical light beam defining different diverging angles in different directions, wherein any cross-section of the elliptical light beam emitted from the light source defines a long axis and a short axis which are perpendicular to each other. The first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are used for reconfiguring the elliptical light beam, thus obtaining a round light beam having equivalent short axis and long axis, and equivalent diverging angles in both horizontal direction and vertical direction. Optical centers of the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens commonly define a common optical axis along which the elliptical light beams travels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reading data from or writing data to a stationary optical storage medium. A light beam redirecting mechanism is rotatable about an axis through a stationary dish mirror that faces a stationary optical storage medium from which data may be read or to which data may be written.

Abstract: An optical pickup device using a laser beam comprising: a light-emitting element; a collimating lens; an objective lens; and a light-receiving element, wherein the laser beam emitted from the light-emitting element is converged on a recording surface of an optical disc to be disposed through a path related to the collimating lens and the objective lens, and the converged laser beam is entered to the light-receiving element reversely passing through the path after being reflected on the recording surface of the optical disc, the optical pickup device comprising: a front monitor light-receiving element for receiving a part of the laser beam emitted from the light-emitting element and detecting the amount of the laser beam; and an optical guiding member for guiding a part of the laser beam to the front monitor light-receiving element.

Abstract: The optical head device includes a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser beam having an elliptical beam shape; a collimator lens for collimating the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser; a reflector including pair of belt-like pieces one of the surfaces of which is used as a reflecting face formed in a curved face having a curvature along their longitudinal direction, the pair of belt-like pieces being formed to be arranged in a major axis direction of an elliptical beam flux to sandwich the optical axis of the laser beam, and an optical sensor equipped with a condenser lens for detecting the strength of the beam reflected from the pair of belt-like pieces of the reflector.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprising: an objective lens focusing laser light emitted from a laser diode to a signal recording layer of an optical disc; a photodetector including a substantially square light-receiving region made of first to fourth sensors divided by boundaries in a first direction corresponding to a tracking direction and a second direction crossing the first direction, the light-receiving region being irradiated with reflected light of the laser light which is reflected from the signal recording layer thereof; and a half mirror reflecting the laser light in a direction of the objective lens and allowing the reflected light to pass therethrough in a direction of the photodetector, the boundary in the second direction for dividing the first to fourth sensors in the light-receiving region being set according to a shape of a spot of the reflected light directly applied from the half mirror to the light-receiving region.

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 optical pickup device comprises a light emitting element which emits laser light, a photodetector which monitors a state of the laser light emitted from the light emitting element and applies feedback to a control of the light emitting element, and a reflect mirror which allows a portion of the laser light emitted from the light emitting element to be irradiated to the photodetector, wherein a rough surface portion is provided on a surface of the reflect mirror to avoid an erroneous operation of the optical pickup device.

Abstract: An optical pickup device according to the present invention is constituted so that a laser beam emitted from a light receiving and emitting integral-type element is transmitted or reflected by a beam splitter, transformed to a parallel beam by a collimator lens, introduced into an objective lens, transmitted through the objective lens, and collected on a recording surface of an optical disc and the laser beam thus collected is returned to the light receiving and emitting integral-type element via a reverse path after the laser beam is reflected by the recording surface of the optical disc. The optical pickup device includes a front monitor light receiving element that is arranged between the light receiving and emitting integral-type element and the collimator lens, receives a part of the laser beam emitted from the light receiving and emitting element, and detects a quantity of the received laser beam.

Abstract: A light source emits light with a first wavelength and light with a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength toward an optical disk from adjacent positions. An optical receiver detects light reflected from the optical disk. An astigmatism-generating element generates light used for focus control in a condition where a focusing position on one of two perpendicular cross sections including an optical axis of the light reflected from the optical disk is located ahead of the optical receiver and a focusing position on the other cross section is located behind the optical receiver are included. The astigmatism-generating element is a Fresnel mirror configured to include a plurality of reflecting mirrors.

Abstract: A deformable mirror apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible member having a mirror on a surface and having a part having a different section form to form a convex on the opposite surface of the mirror such that a predetermined strength distribution is imparted to the flexible member; a base substrate; a strength securing member provided between the base substrate and the flexible member to support the flexible member from the base substrate side; and a driving section that deforms the form of the mirror by applying driving force to the opposite surface of the mirror of the flexible member.

Abstract: In an optical head operable to record to and read from an optical recording medium, a beam emitted by a light-emitting element is reflected toward the light-emitting element by a first reflective mirror, and this reflected beam is reflected toward the optical recording medium by a second reflective mirror and focused on a recording surface of the optical recording medium. In this case, the first reflective mirror blocks a principal ray of the beam traveling toward the optical recording medium from the second reflective mirror, and the second reflective mirror consists of a plurality of concentric annular mirrors centered on the principal ray of the beam and separated from each other by a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An interference type optical head and an optical disk device that can easily adjust an optical path length difference of a couple of lights, ensure higher signal amplification effect, and are suitable for reduction in size are provided in order to improve a regeneration signal quality with amplification of signal in the case where reflectivity of each layer must be lowered and relative noise for the signal increases because read speed is high in a multilayer optical disk. In view of essentially improving an S/N ratio of the regeneration signal in high-speed rotation of a multilayer disk, a plurality of interference phases are generated and an optical system for differential calculation has been reduced in size with an angular selective polarization conversion element in the optical disk device for amplifying the signal with interference of the light not radiated to the disk with the reflected light from the disk.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an aberration correcting mirror which has a small size, power saving, a low voltage, a low price and high precision. In particular, it is an object to provide a practical mirror for correcting a spherical aberration.

Abstract: An optical disk device in which the laser beam emitted from a laser light source and deflected by a movable mirror is focused on an optical recording medium by an optical head section. Tracking control is carried out by a drive control section based on the laser beam reflected from the optical recording medium. A micro electrical mechanical system incorporating the movable mirror is housed in a package accommodating the laser light source. The movable mirror is driven by electrostatic force at a frequency of 0.5 KHz or higher.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device comprising at least one micromirror array lens. The micromirror array lens enables focusing, tracking, and/or tilt compensation in the optical pick-up device without macroscopic motions. The micromirror array lens provides the device with a simple structure, which can reduce the size, weight, and cost of the recording/reproducing system. The device is also durable for vibration. Optical pick-up devices using an array of micromirror array lenses can increase the recording/reading speed without macroscopic motions. The recording/reading speed can be increased by adding more micromirror array lenses to the lens array. The present invention can also be used to record/read information on/from a multi-layered optical disc.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus and an information recording/reproduction apparatus that can reduce flare light generated by an objective lens and reduce stray light are provided. An erecting mirror is provided on an optical path between a light source and an objective lens. An incident face on the erecting mirror is provided with a wavelength selective film having a first region that reflects a light beam having a first wavelength emitted from a first semiconductor laser device and that transmits a light beam having a second wavelength emitted from a second semiconductor laser device, and a second region that reflects light beams emitted from the first and the second semiconductor laser devices.

Abstract: A mirror fixing structure includes a substantially C-shaped flat plate disposed rearward to hold a half mirror, a single first leg provided rearward of the flat plate to extend downward and inserted between a rear surface of the half mirror and a rear wall of a mount recess, a pair of second right and left legs extended downward from a front of the flat plate and pressed against a front surface of the half mirror to fix the half mirror, and a pair of right and left arms extended forward from the front of the flat plate to a position, in which a total reflection mirror is set, and shaped such that front portions thereof are bent obliquely downward, tip ends thereof are bent in a manner to warp forward, and bent portions thereof are pushed against a front surface of the total reflection mirror.

Abstract: The hinge (13) should preferably be formed to have a higher resistance than ever against the pivoting of the mirror body (12) to effectively prevent the hinge (13) from being damaged. By adopting a suitable one of a variety of production steps as necessary, the hinge (13) can be formed more finely and with a higher precision and thus the micro mirror unit can be produced more easily in a shorter time. To this end, the hinge (13) is formed from a different material, such as SiNx, from the mirror substrate material from which the frame (11) and mirror body (12) are formed.

Abstract: An optical pickup having a light-emitting element, an objective lens unit, a reflecting mirror and a light-receiving element, emits a beam onto an optical recording medium and uses a reflected beam to read recorded information. In the objective lens unit, a central part of a surface, facing the light-emitting element, of an objective lens disposed so that an optical axis is substantially aligned with a chief ray of the beam emitted by the light-emitting element, is a transmissive diffraction grating, and a central part of a surface of the objective lens that will face the optical recording medium is a convex mirror which bulges toward the light-emitting element. The reflecting mirror, which is annular and encompasses the optical axis of the objective lens, reflects toward the objective lens the beam from the light-emitting element that has passed through the transmissive diffraction grating and been reflected by the convex mirror.

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: While supporting an optical disc having a recording density that is higher than conventional optical discs by shortening the wavelength of the emitted light and increasing the numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens, a reduction in the size of an optical pickup apparatus relative to the size of a disc cartridge that houses the optical disc is achieved. The present invention includes a fixed optical system having a built-in light source, and a movable optical system having an objective lens. A parallel light beam that enters the movable optical system from the fixed optical system enters the movable optical system via a light path that is parallel to the direction in which the objective lens is movable and from the side on which a spindle motor is provided.

Abstract: An optical pickup in which a substantially L-shaped retaining seat having an inclined side surface and an inclined end surface which are orthogonal to each other is formed on one side surface of a light passage hole formed in a housing, a groove is formed between the inclined side surface and the inclined end surface, while a positioning seat is formed on the other side surface of the light passage hole. An adhesive agent is injected between each of both end portions of a half mirror, which is disposed in an inclined state on the both seats, and each of the seats and into the groove. The width of an opening portion of the groove is set to be larger than the width of an depth portion of the groove.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical pickup apparatus appropriate for the notebook PC that can prevent structural resonance of the lens holder by arranging the focus coil and the tracking coil in a way to stabilize the weight balance, enable the tilt servo, and be composed in an extremely reduced thickness. An optical pickup apparatus composed to adjust the irradiation position of light beam to an optical disk by displacing an objective lens through a driving control of a lens holder holding the objective lens with a moving coil method, wherein an objective lens driving section is composed by arranging and fixing focus coils 7a, 7b so that a pair of coil main bodies be symmetrical about the objective lens 4 arranged at the middle of the lens holder 4, and arranging a pair of tracking coils 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d at both sides of the respective focus coils.

Abstract: A reflecting mirror and an optical bench are placed on an external jig provided with a mirror holding portion for maintaining the reflecting mirror, and then the reflecting mirror and the optical bench are bonded and fixed, thus obtaining an optical head. An adhesion reference plane for the reflecting mirror is no longer required in the optical bench, thus reducing the size and cost of the optical bench. The mounting precision is high and stable. Further, the reflecting mirror is bonded and fixed at the vicinities of the approximate centers of its two opposed side faces and therefore the variation in orientation of the reflecting mirror due to expansion or contraction of an adhesive is lessened, thus achieving a highly-reliable optical head excellent in environmental stability characteristics.

Abstract: An optical pickup device has a first combination reception and emission device (1) which emits laser beams (10) to an optical disk, and a second combination reception and emission device (2) which emits laser beams (11) having a wavelength different from that of the laser beams (10) to an optical disk. A DBS (3) is disposed on a path of the laser beams for making axes (12, 13) of the laser beams coincident with each other at an output side. A monitoring light detection element (9) is disposed near and above the DBS such that a light-receiving surface of the monitoring light detection element is substantially parallel with the optical axes (12, 13) of the laser beams (10, 11). The monitoring light detection element (9) receives laser beams outside of an effective region emitted by the first and second combination reception and emission devices (1, 2).

Abstract: In an optical pickup device, reliability of a holding structure for an optical component (a half mirror) with respect to a pair of mounting frames is intended to be enhanced. A half mirror (5) is arranged so as to bridge a first frame (11) and a second frame (12). A side face (5C) positioned in a part in which one side of an emitting face (5B) (a mounting face) of this half mirror 5 and the first frame (11) are overlapped is fixed to the first frame (11) by adhesives (13A) of two contact points. On the other hand, a side face (5) positioned in a part in which the other side of the emitting face (5B) and the second frame (12) are overlapped is fixed to the second frame (12) by an adhesive (13B) of one contact point. In this manner, even in case where the frames (11, 12) have been displaced due to thermal expansion, the adhesives (13A, 13B) will not be flaked off, and bonding strength of the half mirror will be enhanced.

Abstract: In an optical pickup device with a defocus adjustor used for adjusting a position of a photo-sensor against an optical system, the photo-sensor is mounted on a flexible printed circuit board, and the flexible printed circuit board is fixed on a plate spring. A first end of the plate spring with the flexible printed circuit board is fixed on a fixing face of a holder. Since the fixing face of the holder is inclined and the plate spring is formed flat with no bending portion, the plate spring is warped for generating a stress when the second end of the plate spring is fixed on the holder by an adjusting screw. The position of a photo-sensing face of the photo-sensor can be fine adjusted by tightening or loosening the adjusting screw.

Abstract: A probe for detecting light or irradiating light comprises a cantilever supported at an end thereof by a substrate, a hollow tip formed at a free end of the cantilever, a microaperture formed at the end of the tip, and a hollow waveguide formed inside the cantilever. A method for producing a probe for light detection or light irradiation which comprises the steps of working a substrate to form a groove therein, forming a flat plate-shaped cover portion on the groove to form a hollow waveguide having an opening in a part thereof, forming a hollow tip having a microaperture on the opeining, and removing a part of the substrate by etching, to form a cantilever.

Abstract: A pickup apparatus 1 is directed to an apparatus for optically reading-out information on a disk 3 arranged in a disk player, and comprises a pickup 11, an LD 13, a half mirror 15, a photo detector 17, and a pickup frame 19. The 11 is for irradiating a light on the 3 and for receiving the light reflected from the 3. The 13 is for transmitting the light to the 11. The 15 is a plate shape member for reflecting the light outputted from the 13 and for transmitting the light to the 11, that the light from the 11 permeate. The light permeating through the 15 incidents on the 17. The 11, the 13, and the 17 are fixed on the 19 at predetermined positions. A side part of the 15 is fixed to the 19 at three points by using an adhesive agent.

Abstract: A MEMS mirror device includes a rectangular frame, a mirror unit having a reflecting portion on one face thereof and connected via the hinges inside the frame, and a drive unit for tilting the mirror unit around the hinges as the axis, wherein the frame has two protruding portions spaced at a regular interval and extending into the frame on both sides of a connected portion with the hinge, and an elastic member is provided to bridge the hinge between two protruding portions.

Abstract: In an optical head device for recording/reproducing information on/from an optical recording medium, at least one laser light source emits a laser light beam provided with a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component which are perpendicular to each other. A plurality of optical elements transmit a return light beam reflected by the optical recording medium passes to the light receiving element. A transmission efficiency for the first polarized light component and a transmission efficiency for the second polarized light component in each optical element is made different. A total transmission efficiency for the first polarized light component and a total transmission efficiency for the second polarized light component, which are defined by the respective transmission efficiencies of all the optical elements, are made substantially identical.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus has an optical head that is provided with a laser light source for emitting light and a reflection converging optical system. The reflection converging optical system reflects light emitted from the laser light source, and converges the light on one point of a bottom surface of a solid immersion lens. Here, the reflection converging system has a first reflection surface for reflecting incident light; and a second reflection surface for further reflecting the light reflected by the first reflection surface and for converging the light onto the bottom the solid immersion lens.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixing a half mirror of an optical pickup includes a pair of left-hand-side and right-hand-side presser plate portions 12b, which are respectively extended from both side edge portions of the fastening device body 12a and caused to elastically abut against a surface of the half mirror 3. This apparatus further comprises a pair of left-hand-side and right-hand-side engaging claw portions 12c respectively bent from both side edge portions of the fastening device body 12a in a direction opposite to a direction, wherein the left-hand-side and right-hand-side presser plate portions 12b are extended, to thereby engage with the inner surface 5c, and a catch piece portion 12d bent from a central portion of the fastening device body 12a and extended to a peripheral edge of the opening portion 2a of the light passing hole 2.

Abstract: The hinge (13) should preferably be formed to have a higher resistance than ever against the pivoting of the mirror body (12) to effectively prevent the hinge (13) from being damaged. By adopting a suitable one of a variety of production steps as necessary, the hinge (13) can be formed more finely and with a higher precision and thus the micro mirror unit can be produced more easily in a shorter time. To this end, the hinge (13) is formed from a different material, such as SiNx, from the mirror substrate material from which the frame (11) and mirror body (12) are formed.

Abstract: A pocket 10 is formed in a bottom surface 2a of a groove portion 2 in such a manner as to oppose a rear surface 3a of a half mirror 3, and an adhesive-injecting recessed passage 11 extending from the pocket 10 to an open end of the groove portion 2 is formed in the bottom surface 2a of the groove portion 2. Further, the bottom of the pocket 10 is closed by a positioning base 12 which is formed on the bottom surface 2a of the groove portion 2 to abut against the rear surface 3a of the half mirror 3, and a pair of protrusions 14 are formed which extend from the open end of the groove portion 2 to the positioning base 12 along both side edges of the adhesive-injecting recessed passage 11.

Abstract: Holographic data is stored in a cylindrical crystal by directing a signal beam with data encoded therewith axially through an end face of the crystal, which signal beam interferes with a reference beam directed radially through the cylindrical side surface of the crystal. By rotating the crystal about its axis, numerous holograms are recorded therein an annular layer and by indexing the crystal axially the annular layers are stacked to further increase the storage capacity of the crystal. The holograms are read from the crystal by focusing a reference beam therethrough in a radial director for diffraction with the stored holograms to produce a defracted reference beam which emerges axially from the crystal. The diffracted reference beam is then read with a detector in the form of a CCD camera.

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: A reflecting mirror and an optical bench are placed on an external jig provided with a mirror holding portion for maintaining the reflecting mirror, and then the reflecting mirror and the optical bench are bonded and fixed, thus obtaining an optical head. An adhesion reference plane for the reflecting mirror is no longer required in the optical bench, thus reducing the size and cost of the optical bench. The mounting precision is high and stable. Further, the reflecting mirror is bonded and fixed at the vicinities of the approximate centers of its two opposed side faces and therefore the variation in orientation of the reflecting mirror due to expansion or contraction of an adhesive is lessened, thus achieving a highly-reliable optical head excellent in environmental stability characteristics.

Abstract: An optical head which has a prism with an incident section, an internal reflective surface and an emergent surface, and an optical head device which employs the optical head. Light emitted from a light source is incident to the prism through the incident section, reflects at least once on the internal reflective surface and is converged in the vicinity of the emergent surface. Then, the light effuses through the emergent surface as near field light.

Abstract: An optical element supporting device has one ends of two parallel plate springs, which are extended in a tangential direction, fixed to a holder, has the other ends thereof fixed to a fixture member, and has a collimator lens locked in an opening of the holder. A base fixed to the bottom of the fixture member has two yokes formed thereon. Magnets each polarized in two directions are fixed to the insides of the yokes. Coils are fixed to two surfaces of the holder opposed to the magnets. A target is fixed to the holder, and a sensor is fixed to the bottom of the base. When a current flows into the coils, electromagnetic force is produced along an optical axis due to the interaction between the coils and the magnets opposed to the coils. This causes the parallel plate springs to loosen. Consequently, the holder, target, collimator lens, and coils move as a whole along the optical axis.

Abstract: The optical pickup apparatus 100 uses a semiconductor laser element 50 integrated a first light emission source 36 for emitting a first laser beam with a second light emission source 40 for emitting a second laser beam, of which wavelength is different from that of the first laser beam. The optical pickup apparatus 100 is constructed so that a first half mirror functional surface 52b and a second half mirror functional surface 52c are provided in a beam splitter 52 to match an optical path in which the first laser beam passes through the first half mirror functional surface 52b of the beam splitter 52 and then is reflected at the second half mirror functional surface 52c and again is emitted from the first half mirror functional surface 52b to be directed toward a bifocal lens 54 with an optical path in which the second laser beam is reflected at the first half mirror functional surface 52b to be directed toward the bifocal lens 54.

Abstract: A reflective mirror 14 is inclined and placed with respect to an objective lens 16 and a photoelectric conversion element 15 for monitor is placed in the back side of the reflective mirror 14. The reflective mirror 14 is formed into a structure in which a semi-transmission film HM having predetermined reflectance and transmittance is formed on one surface of a substrate of a transparent medium. When a laser beam for information record or information reproduction is launched from semiconductor lasers 2a, 3 to the reflective mirror 14, the semi-transmission film HM splits the laser beam into a reflected beam and a transmitted beam and the reflected beam is emitted to the side of the objective lens 16 and the transmitted beam is emitted to the side of the photoelectric conversion element 15.

Abstract: An optical pickup with a simple configuration can be provided, by which an amount of astigmatism generated by a temperature change can be suppressed, recording and reproducing qualities can be maintained stably and its light efficiency can be enhanced. The optical pickup includes a mirror that is secured to a supporter so as to generate astigmatism due to deformation caused by a temperature change. This deformation caused by the temperature change is generated due to a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the mirror that generates the astigmatism and the supporter. This astigmatism is equal in size and is opposite in polarity to astigmatism that occurs when the parallel light passes through the beam shaping element.

Abstract: High-speed pick-up mechanisms operable for reading data from and/or writing data to an optical storage medium are disclosed. These mechanisms comprise a pivotable structure, a reflective element, a light source, a light receiving device, and an actuation device. The light source and the light receiving device are remotely located from the reflective element via the pivotable structure, and only the reflective element and a portion of the pivotable structure are positioned adjacent the surface of an optical storage medium. High-speed optical read/write devices and systems comprising these high-speed pick-up mechanisms are also disclosed. Additionally, high-speed methods for reading data from and/or writing data to an optical storage medium are disclosed.

Abstract: High-capacity pick-up mechanisms operable for selectively reading data from and/or writing data to one or more surfaces of one or more optical storage media are disclosed. These mechanisms comprise a first pivotable structure, a second pivotable structure, a first reflective element, a second reflective element, a light source, and a light receiving device. The light source and the light receiving device are remotely located from the reflective elements via the pivotable structures, and only the reflective elements and a portion of the pivotable structure are positioned adjacent the surface of an optical storage medium. High-capacity optical read/write devices and systems comprising these high-capacity pick-up mechanisms are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a laser module holding a semiconductor laser chip and a reflecting surface, to perform positioning on the semiconductor laser chip with high precision, and reduce the period of production, so as to realize downsizing and cost reduction, reflecting surfaces provided on a silicon substrate has a step portion, and the reflecting surfaces are used as reflecting surface for laser emission light and laser chip positioning surface, for high precision positioning. Further, in a laser module which requires a high level power for recording, slopes opposite to side surfaces of the semiconductor laser chip in a lengthwise direction have a step portion, and in wiring of lower electrodes of the laser chip from the bottom of the sink to an upper portion of the silicon substrate, a slope having an angle with respect to the laser chip lengthwise direction is formed as a gentle slope, then wiring is made via the slope, thus mitigating occurrence of migration.