Abstract: An optical device molding die designing method measures a wavefront aberration amount (&Dgr;) of an optical device molded by a temporary die, calculates a correction wavefront aberration amount (−&Dgr;) compensating for the wavefront aberration amount (&Dgr;), optically designs the optical device again by optimizing its form so as to generate the correction wavefront aberration amount (−&Dgr;), and designs a normal die accordingly.

Abstract: A small-sized superimposed circuit module has reduced spurious electromagnetic wave emission and small variations in circuit parameters. A resonance circuit portion of an oscillator and a portion of a noise rejection filter are embedded in a multilayer ceramic substrate, and the remaining circuit components are mounted on the surface of the multilayer substrate. The upper surface of the multilayer substrate is covered with a metal case.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus includes first, second and third light sources; a light converging optical system including an objective optical element, converging a light flux emitted from the first to third light sources respectively onto first to third information recording surfaces, wherein the light converging optical system introduces the light flux emitted from the first light source as an infinite parallel light flux to be incident on the objective optical element; and a chromatic aberration correcting element suppressing a variation of a chromatic aberration based on a wavelength variation in a light flux emitted from the first light source. The light converging optical system includes a spherical aberration correcting structure to correct a spherical aberration caused by at least one of a difference in thickness among the first to third protective layers and a difference in wavelength among light fluxes from the first to third light sources.

Abstract: A high-speed, write-once type optical recording medium, which utilizes laser light that is either blue or an even shorter wavelength, as well as an optical recording method and an optical recording apparatus for recording onto this optical recording medium.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light emitting module, an optical detecting module, an optical pickup apparatus formed by coupling the ultra-minimized light emitting module and the optical detecting module, and manufacturing methods thereof. To this end, ultra-minimization, a micro machining technique fit to a mass production, and a semiconductor device assembly manufacturing process are applied, thereby reducing a component cost and increasing uniformity of components.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical head device and an optical disk apparatus in which characteristics are not changed even if the temperature changes. Change in light-emitting characteristics caused by heat generation is suppressed by connecting a pin of a semiconductor laser element to a land for heat radiation at a connecting area.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to record to and reproduce different types of optical disks using light beams with different wavelengths. In an optical head device for recording to and reproducing high-density optical disks using an objective lens with a large NA, a sawtooth-shaped hologram is used for recording to and reproducing conventional optical disks such as DVDs. For blue light, a sawtooth height is the light path length 2&lgr;, and second-order diffraction light is used. Red light generates first-order diffraction. The hologram is blazed and has convex lens function, and corrects chromatic aberration of the refractive lens.

Abstract: An objective lens for an optical head converges a first laser beam having a relatively short wavelength and a second laser beam having a relatively long wavelength on first optical disc (DVD) and a second optical disc (CD), respectively. A protective layer of the first disc is thinner than a protective layer of the second optical disc. The objective lens is compensated for astigmatism with respect to the first beam, which is incident on the objective lens as an off-axis beam at a predetermined incident angle, by providing on-axis astigmatism corresponding to wave front aberration greater than or equal to 0.01&lgr; (rms), and the objective lens is configured such that the coma is compensated better in a case where the first laser beam is converged on the first optical disc than in a case where the second laser beam is converged on the second optical disc.

Abstract: A laser source is located in a relatively cool accessible location. Because there is adequate heat dissipation for the laser source, changes in the laser wavelength that arise from laser temperature changes are minimized. The invention described here includes the use of optical fiber to deliver light from the laser source. The laser reliability is improved because of reduced temperature and temperature fluctuations are experienced by the laser source. Because the laser source can be placed outside the drives hermetic seal, the laser can be easily replaced in the field, if required.

Abstract: An optical element is for use in an optical pickup apparatus which comprises first, second and third light source having a wavelength &lgr;1, &lgr;2 (&lgr;1<&lgr;2), and &lgr;3 (1.6·&lgr;1≦&lgr;3≦2.0·&lgr;1 and &lgr;2<&lgr;3) and a light converging system including the optical element. The light converging system converges a light flux from the first light source onto a first optical information recording medium through a protective layer having a thickness t1, converges a light flux from the second light source onto a second optical information recording medium through a protective layer having a thickness t2 (0.8·t1≦t2≦1.2·t1), and converges a light flux from the third light source onto a third optical information recording medium through a protective layer having a thickness t3 (1.9·t1≦t3≦2.1·t1).

Abstract: Systems and methods for scanning a beam of light over a specimen are provided. A system may include a pre-scan acousto-optical deflector (AOD) configured to deflect a beam of light, a second AOD configured as a traveling lens to focus the scanning beam, a relay lens, and an objective lens. The relay lens may be centered on the scan line produced by the second AOD, while the objective lens may be substantially de-centered with respect to the relay lens to produce a telecentric scanning spot with no field tilt. The system may modulate the amplitude of the sound wave in the first AOD to compensate for attenuation in the second AOD. The system may pre-fill one chirp packet in the second AOD while another chirp packet is scanning to substantially reduce a delay between consecutive scans.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to stably manufacture a semiconductor laser element having a plurality of wavelengths without split of a wafer in a wafering step while preventing a tracking error due to the returning light of three beams in one semiconductor laser. The present invention provides a semiconductor laser element, which comprises a plurality of emitting regions formed on one substrate, each region having different wavelength, wherein at least one side portion of at least one emitting region is opposed to a part of the substrate.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a laser beam emitting element having a rectangular type body frame in which a semiconductor laser chip is accommodated, a light-emitting element holder having a first holder member and a second holder member, and a base portion to which the light-emitting element holder is mounted. The first holder member and the second holder member are fixed to each other so as to respectively about within part of the laser beam emitting element from both sides to hold the laser beam emitting element.

Abstract: An initialization method of an optical recording medium having a plurality of optical recording layers capable of reducing initialization unevenness due to light interference caused at the time of initialization without deteriorating information recording/reproducing signal characteristics of the optical recording layers is provided.

Abstract: An optical recording and pickup head having a flat plate lens of a staircase type diffraction grating structure is compatible with a DVD and a CD-RW.

Abstract: A drive chip integrated laser diode module including a laser diode module main body to generate and emit laser light, a plurality of first leads protruding outwardly from the laser diode module main body to receive electric power, a drive chip, a plurality of coupling holes in the drive chip in which each of the first leads is inserted, respectively, a plurality of inner connectors in the drive chip, electrically connected to each of the first leads, respectively, a plurality of second leads protruding outwardly from the drive chip, a main board, a plurality of lands provided on the main board, electrically connected to the second leads, and a through hole in the main board through which the laser diode module main body passes, wherein the drive chip and the main board are integrally formed with respect to the laser diode module main body.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, is provided with a first light source for emitting first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive portion, and a photo detector; wherein in case that the first light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux, and in case that the second light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted

Abstract: First and second light sources, an objective optical element, a photo-detector, first and second coupling elements and a beam splitter are arranged such that a first light flux emitted from the first light source comes into the objective optical element through the first coupling element and the beam splitter and forms a converged light spot on an information recording plane of a first optical information recording medium, a second light flux emitted from the second light source comes into the objective optical element through the second coupling element and the beam splitter and forms a converged light spot on an information recording plane of a second optical information recording medium, and the first and second light fluxes forming the respective converged light spots are reflected from the respective information recording planes and thereafter pass through the objective optical element, the beam splitter and the second coupling element and come into the photo-detector.

Abstract: An optical head device includes a first laser light source that emits a first laser beam with a first wavelength, a second laser light source that emits a second laser beam with a second wavelength which is different from that of the first laser beam, a common objective lens that converges the first laser beam on a recording surface of a first optical recording medium and the second laser beam on a recording surface of a second optical recording medium, a refraction surface that is formed on the common objective lens so as to be divided into a center side refraction surface region around an optical axis of the common objective lens and an outer peripheral side refraction surface region surrounding the center side refraction surface region and a center side diffraction grating that is formed all over the center side refraction surface region and is provided with a number of minute steps in a concentrically circular shape.

Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate unit comprising a light emitting element attachment surface for attaching a light emitting element which emits laser light substantially in parallel to the attachment surface, a light reflecting surface for changing the direction of the light axis of the laser light emitted from the light emitting element by a predetermined angle by reflection, and a light detecting element attachment surface, formed on the same two-dimensional plane as a plane of the light emitting element attachment surface, for attaching a light detecting element which receives light incident from the outside.

Abstract: An optical head and optical disc apparatus according to the present invention can guide each of optional light rays of different wavelength from a plurality of light sources to a recording medium through a single optical system, and can play back the signal from the reflected light from the recording medium through a single light receiving system.

Abstract: An optical pickup using a two-wavelength light source module includes a light source module, a collimating lens, and a first optical element. The light source module includes first and second light sources which emit first and second light beams of different wavelengths and are formed in a single package. The collimating lens directs the first and/or second light beams into convergent light or divergent light so that the convergent light or the divergent light is incident on the objective lens. The optical pickup is a finite optical system due to the collimating lens. The first optical element is disposed on the traveling paths of the first and second light beams, operates as a lens only for one of the first and second light beams, and corrects a position difference between the first and second light sources along a traveling direction of light.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus is provided with a first laser element, a second laser element and a polarized beam splitter. The first laser element emits a laser beam having a first wavelength. The second laser element emits a laser beam having a second wavelength. The second wavelength may be equivalent to the first wavelength, alternatively, it may be different from the first wavelength. The polarized beam splitter enables the laser beams of the first and second laser elements to be simultaneously radiated to the recording layer of an optical disk. When information are recorded in the optical disk, the laser beams of the first and second laser elements are used at the same time. At least one of the laser elements emits a laser beam having such a wavelength as enables the recording layer of the optical disk to absorb the largest possible amount of energy.

Abstract: In an optical head device, a light emission source for emitting a plurality of laser beams with different wavelengths and an optical system including an objective lens and a collimator are provided. With respect to the optical system to be used in common for a plurality of optical recording media of different kinds, the RIM intensity is set to be not less than 0.1 and the magnification is set in the range of 4 to 6. With these conditions applied to the RIM intensity and the magnification of the optical system, light utilization efficiency at the time of CD recording is ensured, while preventing this from adversely affecting DVD reproduction or recording and while ensuring a beam spot quality.

Abstract: An optical head for reproducing information contained on an optical information disk includes a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light receiving elements in correspondence with the plurality of laser light sources. There is constructed a constitution in which one laser light source in the plurality of laser light sources is constituted by an individual laser diode and which includes a laser module constituted by other laser light sources and the plurality of light receiving elements to thereby enable to realize the small size of the optical head.

Abstract: A CD-DVD compatible optical pickup in which both on-axis and off-axis light form a circular light spot on a recording surface of an optical recording medium, and an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus using the same. The CD-DVD compatible optical pickup includes an optical output module, an objective lens, an optical path conversion unit, a photodetector, and an actuator. The optical output module has a mount and light sources emitting light of different wavelengths. The objective lens focuses the emitted light onto two types of optical recording media. The optical path conversion unit between the optical output module and objective lens, converts incident light. The photodetector receives beams emitted from the light sources, reflected from the optical recording media, and then passed through the optical path conversion unit, detecting data and error signals. The actuator has a movable member, moving the objective lens and compensating focusing and tracking error signals.

Abstract: An optical pickup having a plurality of objective lenses. At least one of the plurality of objective lenses is configured so that a type of wavefront error mainly generated by a tilt of the at least one of the plurality of objective lenses is the same as a type of a wavefront error mainly generated by an angle at which light is incident upon the at least one of the plurality of objective lenses.

Abstract: An optical writing head in which the number of bus lines to be derived may be decreased by using a self-scanning light-emitting element array is provided. A &PHgr;1 bonding pad of each SLED chip is connected to &PHgr;1 bus line via a resistor R1, and a &PHgr;2 bonding pad of each SLED chip is connected to &PHgr;2 bus line via a resistor R2. &PHgr;S bonding pad is connected to a &PHgr;S bus line via resistor RS, and VGA bonding pad is connected to VGA bus line. &PHgr;I bonding pad of each SLED chip is connected to a corresponding one of terminal &PHgr;I(1)-&PHgr;I(56) of a connector.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device is provided which can carry out recording and reproduction with respect to optical disks with different formats. In this semiconductor laser device, a receiving/emitting optics integrated substrate, in which two semiconductor laser elements with different emission wavelengths and a plurality of receiving optics are integrated, is disposed in a case and is sealed with a hologram element. A composite prism is placed on the hologram element. The distances, when measured in air, from the two semiconductor laser elements to a focusing means, for example, a collimator lens are set to be substantially equal. Thus, a small and inexpensive semiconductor laser device can be obtained. In addition, a single collimator lens can be employed, and thus the optical configuration is facilitated.

Abstract: An optical device wherein an optical component and a plurality of light emitting elements are mounted on an identical substrate, a level of a surface on which the optical component is mounted is different from that of a surface on which the light emitting elements are mounted by a step provided on the substrate, at least one plane vertical to the surface on which the optical component is mounted and located on a periphery of the substrate is opened, a reflecting surface, a transmitting surface or a diffraction grating surface of the optical component is provided along sides generated by the step provided in the substrate, optical axes of the plurality of light emitting elements of which polarization axes are in parallel with each other intersect with each other on the surface, and an exit light beam of the light emitting elements is emitted from the opened plane.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, is provided with a first light source for emitting first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive portion, and a photo detector; wherein in case that the first light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux, and in case that the second light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, is provided with a first light source for emitting first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive portion, and a photo detector; wherein in case that the first light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux, and in case that the second light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted

Abstract: An optical head unit is provided including a first light source emitting a light with a first wavelength, a second light source emitting a light with a second wavelength, and a third light source emitting a light with a third wavelength. The optical head unit also includes a first objective lens irradiating the light emitted from the first light source onto an optical recording medium, a second objective lens irradiating the light emitted from the second light source or the light emitted from the third light source onto an optical recording medium, and a photodetector receiving a reflected light from the optical recording medium.

Abstract: The refractive index of a light transmission layer of an optical disk is set within the range of 1.45 to 1.75, the numerical aperture of a lens emitting laser light which is incident onto the light transmission layer is set to 0.65, and the wavelength range of the laser light is set within the range of 395 to 415 nm. Further, in order that aberrations fall within the range of certain acceptable values, the thickness t of the light transmission layer is set within the range of f(n)−t1≦t≦f(n)+t2, employing constants t1, t2 determined based on an acceptable value of aberration and function f(n) of the refractive index n.

Abstract: A light beam encoded with data simultaneously reads out data stored in tracks on an optical disk and produces a reflected beam directed to a detector array. The data stored on the optical disk and the encoded data may be components of vector arrays. As the light beam illuminates the rotating optical disk, the data stored on the disk is multiplied by the encoded data. The products of the multiplication are encoded in the reflected beam. A multiplicity of data is read out in parallel from the optical disk and simultaneously correlated with the encoded data. This comparison or correlation operation is performed on digitally encoded data utilizing convolution, or with analog encoding. The present invention can be utilized in pattern matching.

Abstract: The invention relates to a three-dimensional optical memory medium capable of recording and reading a large quantity of information therein and therefrom, and a process for producing the same. A recording pulsed laser beam is applied to an arbitrary position in a luminescent-ion-containing solid medium as the solid medium is three-dimensionally moved relative to a converging point of the pulsed laser beam.

Abstract: Light from a light source is led to a condensing lens by a light leading unit and is condensed onto an optical recording medium by the condensing lens. Light reflected from the optical recording medium is led to a light sensing device through a spot adjustment lens facing the light sensing device. Between the spot adjustment lens and the light sensing device, a cylindrical dustproof member is provided. The full periphery of an optical path extending between the spot adjustment lens and the light sensing device is covered with the dustproof member. It can prevent intrusion of a foreign matter such as dusts into the optical path extending between the spot adjustment lens and the light sensing device.

Abstract: An optical pickup assembly includes an optical pickup unit (OPU), a thermally conductive plate, and a flex circuit. The flex circuit is mounted atop the plate. The OPU is also mounted atop the plate through a cutout of the flex circuit. Alternatively, the flex circuit is mounted below the plate and the OPU is mounted atop the plate. The optical pickup assembly further includes an actuator arm. The OPU is mounted on the actuator arm with a portion of the plate contacting the actuator arm.

Abstract: An optical disc drive compatible with optical discs of different types, for example, is provided. For focusing, through an optical system used in common with the different types of optical discs, a laser beam emitted from a selected one of a plurality of light sources disposed apart from each other radially of the optical disc, the optical system is moved radially of the optical disc correspondingly to the selection of the light source for emitting the laser light. Namely, it is possible to prevent the optical property from being deteriorated when a single optical pickup is used in common with such optical discs of different types.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a frame F in which an integrated optical unit equipped with a semiconductor laser diode is incorporated and a flexible substrate F having a short-circuit wiring pathway connecting two connectors and a driving circuit. The short-circuit wiring pathway is connected to the integrated optical unit and the driving circuit at a minimum distance through the connector in such a manner that the flexible substrate F is incorporated so as to be wound along the frame F. Consequently, recording processing and the like can be stably performed.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a first information layer and a second information layer. The first information layer includes a first recording layer in which a reversible phase change is caused between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase by irradiation of a laser beam or application of current. The second information layer includes a second recording layer in which a reversible phase change is caused between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase by the irradiation of the laser beam or the application of the current. The first recording layer is made of a first material, the second recording layer is made of a second material, and the first material is different from the second material.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprises first, second and third light sources to emit light fluxes of wavelength &lgr;1, &lgr;2 and &lgr;3 for conducting recording and/or reproducing information for first, second and third optical information recording mediums having respective protective substrates of thickness t1, t2 and t3 and a diffractive optical element located on a common optical path for the first, second and third light sources. A converged-light spot is formed on the first optical information recording medium with m-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength &lgr;1, on the second optical information recording medium with n-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength &lgr;2, and on the third optical information recording medium with k-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength &lgr;3 generated by the diffractive optical element respectively, wherein one of m, n and k is different from one of other two numbers.

Abstract: In an exposure apparatus and an exposure method, a disc master to be used in the preparation of an optical disc is applied to an exposure device, making it possible to perform exposure on a disc master for an optical disc which is substantially improved in recording density. An exposure laser beam by SHG having a wavelength of 300 nm or less is modulated by a modulator, and applied by near field effect to a disc master by using an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 1.0 or more.

Abstract: An optical system for an optical disc drive includes a light source, an objective lens and a collimator lens. The light source emits first and second light beams. The first light beam is for reproducing data from a digital versatile disc while the second light beam is for a compact disc. The objective lens is provided with a diffraction structure which is designed to focus the first light beam on a recording layer of the digital versatile disc and the second light beam on a recording layer of the compact disc. The collimator lens is disposed between the light source and the objective lens. The collimator lens adjusts the diverging/converging angle of the first and second light beams entering the objective lens. The change in spherical aberration of the first light beam caused by wavelength deviation from a design wavelength due to individual specificity of the light source is corrected by adjusting the diverging/converging angle of the first light beam emerging from the collimator lens.

Abstract: The medium of a disk for CD-R is a pigmentation material so readout by a 650-nm laser diode (LD) is not possible. Since CD-R is becoming popular in the marketplace, there are demands for a DVD readout device that is capable of reading CD-R format disks. An integrated semiconductor laser element is created by forming a two-wavelength LD monolithically on a GaAs substrate, and that laser element emits a laser beam that is reflected by a 45° mirror incorporated in a flat package. If a three-part holographic element is used, and the light-receiving element and an amplification circuit are integrated on a silicon substrate, it is possible to implement a small, light-weight optical pickup with fewer components.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate, a first recording layer formed on the substrate and containing an element selected from the group consisting of C, Si, Ge and Sn as a primary component, and a second recording layer located in the vicinity of the first recording layer and containing an element selected from the group consisting of C, Si, Ge and Sn and different from the element contained as a primary component in the first recording layer as a primary component. According to thus constituted optical recording medium, it is possible to optically record data therein and reproduce data therefrom by projecting a laser beam having a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm thereonto, which includes two or more recording layers and is capable of decreasing noise level and improving C/N ratio of a reproduced signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a three-dimensional memory apparatus for storing information in a volume comprising of an active medium. The active medium is capable of changing from a first to a second isomeric form as a response to radiation of a light beam having an energy substantially equal to a first threshold energy. The concentration ratio between a first and a second isomeric form in any given volume portion represents a data unit. The active medium in the memory apparatus comprises of diarylalkene derivatives, triene derivatives, polyene derivatives or a mixture thereof. The invention is further directed to means for reading the data units from the isomeric states of the active medium in different portions of said active medium where the two isomeric forms have a substantially different absorption coefficient for absorbing energy of a second threshold energy. Reading may also be carried out by measuring the scattering pattern of the two isomeric forms.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes: a light source for emitting a first light beam having a predetermined light power Ppre; a determination section for determining the number of recording layers included in the information recording medium; a light beam transmission adjustment section for adjusting the quantity of the first light beam transmitted therethrough; and a light condensing section for condensing the first light beam on the information recording medium. When the information recording medium has one recording layer, the adjustment section adjusts the predetermined light power Ppre so as to be a first light power P1. When the information recording medium has two recording layers, the adjustment section adjusts the predetermined light power Ppre so as to be a second light power P2. The predetermined light power Ppre, the first light power P1, and the second light power P2 satisfy the relationship of P1<P2≦Ppre.

Abstract: An optical head with a plurality of semi-conductor laser chips for use in reducing inclination or gradient of more than one beam presently falling onto a focusing lens is disclosed. To this end, a double mirror or alternatively beam reshaping means is disposed which has different reflection planes for permitting reflection of a plurality of laser beams incoming from the semiconductor laser chips.

Abstract: A laser drive integrated circuit and an optical disk apparatus using the laser drive integrated circuit for forming high-density marks. The optical disk apparatus includes a drive waveform information storage unit for storing at least one information of a drive waveform for driving a laser diode in response to a binary recording signal to be recorded in a recording medium, and a drive waveform decoder for decoding the drive waveform based on the information stored in the drive waveform information storage unit. A recording strategy can be changed in accordance with variations and fluctuations of recording media or characteristics of the recording media, while at the same time reducing a number of signal lines in flexible wiring and alleviating effects of signal distortion in the signal lines.