Abstract: A semiconductor laser source optical head for reading reflecting information carriers. The information is recorded on a track carried by the carrier in the form of a relief modulation. The device comprises a laser and an optical projection device for forming a reading spot which is an image of the source on the carrier. The laser is positioned on the optical axis of the optical device in such a way that the beam from the laser substantially illuminates half the entrance pupil of the optical system. The return beam reflected by the support emerges on the other half of the pupil. A deviating member is placed on the path of the return beam in order to displace the beam relative to the outward beam. Detection cells are conveniently placed in a detection plane parallel to the supports.

Abstract: An optical device for forming a stigmatic image of a laser source positioned at a predetermined point is intended to illuminate a reflecting surface while also providing a separation between the beam emerging from the source and the beam reflected from the surface. The device comprises a cube placed against a converging lens, the dimensions of the assembly thus formed being such that the cube face remote from the lens passes through a Weierstrass point of the spherical refracting surface formed by the lens. The laser source is positioned at the Weierstrass point. The cube is formed by two prisms cemented together, the interface being treated so as to have a polarization-separating effect.

Abstract: An optical information processor comprising a semiconductor laser device which has a rectangular light emitting region, a disk, and an optical system which includes a prism for converting a non-circular beam emergent from the laser device into a circular beam, the circular beam being projected onto the disk by the optical system thereby to record or play back predetermined information.

Abstract: A record carrier is disclosed having an optically readable information structure comprising trackwise arranged information areas, as well as an apparatus for reading said record carrier. By using two mutually perpendicularly polarized beams components for reading and by giving the information areas of adjacent track portions a different geometries such that areas of one geometry can be read in an optimum manner by only one of the beam components and is virtually not observed by the other beam component, the track distance can be reduced without increasing the crosstalk, so that the information content of the record carrier is increased.

Abstract: The optical density and/or the reflectivity of a recording layer included in an optical disk is selectively changed to record information by irradiation with a semiconductor laser beam, while the recording layer may be covered with a suitable protective film. The thickness of the recording layer is so determined that it is able to record information by means of a continuous wave type semiconductor laser beam, while the optical absorption rate of the recording layer is adjusted by setting the percentages of particular additives. The recorded information may be reproduced by the application of a laser beam, the incident power of which is lower than that of the recording beam, to detect the reflected light.

Abstract: An optical head comprising a lens disposed at a position for forming spot images of a semiconductor laser having a plurality of lasing points, in which beams from the semiconductor laser are focused on a disc on which predetermined information is recorded by light.

Abstract: An optical head comprising a semiconductor laser array which is used as a light source, and an optical system which guides laser beams from the array to a predetermined recording medium. The beam from one lasing point of the array is modulated by predetermined information and is used as a recording beam, while the beam from another lasing point is continuously oscillated and is used as a playback beam.

Abstract: An optical system for an optical data recording and reproducing apparatus such as an optical video disc apparatus comprising a diode laser light source, a condenser lens disposed adjacent to the diode laser, a cylindrical lens assembly arranged to exhibit different magnifications to light beams emitted by the diode laser in the direction perpendicular to a junction plane thereof and in the direction parallel to the junction plane, and a concentrating lens for constricting the resulting light beam into a light spot of a small size for projection on a recording medium. Recording of information is attained by the constricted light beam of a substantially circular cross-section with a high recording density at a low energy consumption. When reproducing the recorded information, the constricted beam is laterally enlarged in the transverse direction of the information recording track thereby to assure generation of a signal utilized for tracking control.