Abstract: There are provided an optical element that comprises a polymer which has a structural unit derived from a specific dihydroxy compound typified by 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro propane (bisphenol AF) and in which the relationship between a refractive index nD and an Abbe number ?D satisfies the following formula (I): nD+0.0076×?D?1.78??(I) and that is used for correction of chromatic aberration, and an achromatic lens using the optical element.

Abstract: In an optical information medium having an information bearing surface having projections and depressions and/or capable of forming recorded marks, a functional layer is added. The information borne on the information bearing surface can be read by using reading light of a wavelength longer than 4NA·PL wherein PL is the minimum size of the projections and depressions or the recorded marks and NA is the numerical aperture of a reading optical system, setting the power of the reading light within such a range that the functional layer does not change its complex index of refraction, and irradiating the reading light to the information bearing surface constructed by the functional layer or to the information bearing surface through the functional layer or to the functional layer through the information bearing surface. The medium enables reading at a high resolution beyond the diffraction limit.

Abstract: In response to the trend toward the increase in the number of data layers of optical discs, the invention provides a data erasure method and its optical disc apparatus that enable faster data erasures with a simpler configuration. Test erasures are performed on the test areas T of data layers of an optical disc while the power level Pe of data erasure laser light and the defocus amount ?f of the data erasure laser light from a target data layer are changed. Based on the results of the test erasures, the optimal erasure condition that enables a simultaneous data erasure from the greatest number of data layers is determined. Based on the determined optimal erasure condition, then, the optimal erasure sequence that enables data erasure from all of the data layers with the fewest number of times is determined.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical information recording medium which is compatible with Blu-ray for recording a BCA signal by laser marking, in which the optical information recording medium has superior reading properties and is improved in recording properties and reliability in a BCA portion. A reflective film 7 includes Ag as a main component, and Nd, Gd, and Bi, in which Nd, Gd and Bi are effective for long-tem storage stability and inhibition of corrosion, and an addition of a small amount of Gd is effective for enhancing absorption of laser marking light. Accordingly, the invention can provide a highly-reliable optical information recording medium that exhibits a superior reading property of an information recording portion and a BCA portion, and that simultaneously exhibits a superior recording property of the BCA portion by selection of the composition at recording a BCA signal by laser marking.

Abstract: The cyanine compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (I) below and suitable as an optical recording material used in a recording layer of optical recording media on which recording and play-back are conducted with laser beam. The cyanine compound of the present invention particularly exhibits appropriate thermal decomposition behavior to attain sensitivity compatible with high-speed recording.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to achieve a recording medium more excellent in preservation resistance than conventional optical recording media. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical recording medium comprising a substrate and a reflective layer, a first dielectric layer, a recording layer, a second dielectric layer and a light-transmission layer formed in this order on the substrate, the recording layer being decomposable by heat at a time of recording to achieve recording of the optical recording medium, wherein the optical recording medium further comprises a third dielectric layer between the second dielectric layer and the light-transmission layer.

Abstract: Recordable DVD+R and DVD+R/W optical discs with two (or more) information layers are developed to double the data storage capacity and video recording time. A method and device are proposed to make dual layer DVD disc recordings compliant with the dual layer DVD-ROM standard Recording the data in a DVD-ROM compliant way on the dual layer DVD+R or DVD+R/W disc is obtained by shifting the middle zone area towards the inner radius of a disc in such a way that the data zones of both layers are filled up with data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with optical data storage media and related devices.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data into and/or from an optical disk. The apparatus includes a reference beam optical system to form a focus of a reference beam in an optical data storage layer of the optical disk and including an objective lens; a signal beam optical system to form a focus of a signal beam in the optical data storage layer and also including the objective lens; and a servo optical system to project a servo beam onto the optical disk, receiving a reflection servo beam which is reflected on the optical disk, and performing focusing and tracking control on the objective lens. The reference beam optical system includes a first focus mover to move the focus of the reference beam, and the signal beam optical system includes a second focus mover to move the focus of the signal beam.

Abstract: An optical recording material for use in an optical recording layer of an optical recording medium comprising the optical recording layer provided on a substrate, the optical recording material comprising a cyanine compound represented by general formula (I): wherein rings A and B each represent a substituted or unsubstituted benzene or naphthalene ring; X represents O, S, Se, CR3R4 or NY; one of R1 and R2 represents a specific group of formula (II) or (III), with the other representing a C1 to C30 organic group; R3 and R4 each represent a C1 to C30 organic group; Y, Y1, and Y2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C30 organic group; Z represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a cyano group; Anm? represents an m-valent anion; m represents an integer of 1 or 2; and p represents a coefficient maintaining charge neutrality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new solvent composition useful in the process of manufacturing an optical recording medium. The invention provides a new liquid composition comprising from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a dye having a solid state absorption band maximum in the spectral region from 300 to 800 nm, from 0.5 to 99.9% by weight of a compound of formula (I), wherein R1 to R8 are H, CH3 or C2H5, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in R1 to R8 is 0, 1 or 2, and optionally from 0 to 99.4% by weight of one or more further components, all based on the weight of the solution. The instant solvent composition enables to manufacture an optical recording medium of a single recording layer type capable of recording and playing a large volume of information using commercially available compact disc recorders and players and of superior performance in an amazing wide range of drive speeds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses and processes for recording dye-based recordable DVD media in higher quality at higher linear recording velocity, and provides an apparatus for recording a dye-based recordable DVD medium comprising a shortest mark recording unit, a second mark recording unit, and a cooling pulse irradiating unit, wherein the dye-based recordable DVD medium comprises a substrate and a recording layer formed on the substrate, the substrate comprises a guide groove to which wobble is formed, and the recording layer comprises at least an organic dye, the shortest mark recording unit is configured to record each of the shortest marks by use of one pulse beam of which the rear edge is more energized than the front edge, the second mark recording unit is configured to record each of the marks other than the shortest marks by use of one pulse beam of which the two sites of front and rear edges are energized, the cooling pulse irradiating unit is configured to irradiate cooling pulse laser

Abstract: The azo-metal chelate dye to which the present invention is applied is a compound formed as follows: for example, 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring is selected as the diazo component; the diazo component is combined with a coupler component having condensed rings including a fluorine-substituted alkylsulfonylamino group and an amino group, to form an azo dye compound; and the azo dye compound forms chelate bonds with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu and Pd. Here, two absorption bands (OD1 and OD2) are seen in the absorption spectrum, which is measured in a range of 400 to 800 nm wavelengths. The azo-metal chelate dye is characterized in that the optical density ratio (OD2/OD1) of the two absorption bands is greater than 1.25. By using this azo-metal chelate dye, an optical recording medium capable of high-speed recording is provided.

Abstract: A photosensitized composite material and a material, an element, a device, and the like, which employ the photosensitized composite material, are provided. In the photosensitized composite material, multiphoton absorption compounds are highly sensitized for practical use by utilizing an enhanced plasmon field. The photosensitized composite material has a structure where the multiphoton absorption compounds are linked to the surface of a fine metal particle through linking groups. The fine metal particle generates an enhanced surface plasmon field in resonance with a multiphoton excitation wavelength. The multiphoton absorption compounds have a molecular structure enabling multiphoton absorption.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus is disclosed that includes a control unit that controls operations of recording user data on an information recording medium having plural recording layers. When a second layer following a first layer of the recording layers remains unrecorded at the time user data recording performed in response to a user data recording request is completed, the control unit records temporary lead-out information after the recorded user data.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical disc (100) including a first substrate (10), an image-recording layer (20), a second substrate (50), an information-recording layer (60), and a cover layer (70) disposed in this order, wherein the thickness of the first substrate (10) is 0.5 to 0.7 mm, the thickness of the second substrate (50) is 0.4 to 0.7 mm, and grooves or pits are formed on the second substrate (50) at the side at which the information-recording layer is formed. The invention also provides an optical recording method of recording on an optical disc having at least an image-recording layer and an information-recording layer, the method including irradiating the optical disc with an information-recording laser beam from one side thereof to record information and irradiating the optical disc with an image-recording laser beam from the other side thereof to record an image, wherein the wavelength of the information-recording laser beam is smaller than that of the image-recording laser beam.

Abstract: An optical article for playback in a player includes a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article; wherein the plurality of optically detectable marks are in a pre-determined combination of a first state and a second state; and at least one first control logic comprising at least one sector; wherein each optically detectable mark is associated with a particular first control logic; wherein each first control logic is executed only when its associated optically detectable mark is in a pre-determined state; and wherein a customized player-readable code is determined using a combination of the plurality of optically detectable marks and their associated first control logic. A method of making the optical article, a method of customizing the optical article, a method and a system for the playback of the optical article are also included.

Abstract: An information handling system optical medium disc is labeled by removing portions of disc's polycarbonate material from the non-storage side of the disc to form an image. Formed images define a label in various forms including letters, Braille, dot-matrix holes or bas-relief. Another material fills in the removed polycarbonate to reinforce the image with visual effects, such as raising the image or providing color to the image, and to maintain the balance of the disc for rotation in an optical disc drive.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method of initializing a recording layer used in manufacturing a phase-change optical disk for storing information. The optical disk is initialized using a UV lamp in order to initialize the recording layer of the phase-change optical disk capable of repeatedly writing information, without a separate optical head, whereby it is possible to increase productivity by remarkably reducing an initialization time of the optical disk since a large area is initialized using a UV beam.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium has at least an optical reflective layer, an optical recording layer, an protective layer, and an optical transparency layer formed in that order on the main surface of a disc-shaped substrate. An area in which the protective layer is formed is made wider than an area in which the reflective layer is formed, and made narrower than an area in which the optical transparency layer is formed.

Abstract: An information recording medium has an excellent jitter characteristic with a considerable difference in reflectance between prior to and subsequent to recording. The information recording medium includes a recording layer which contains a material having a reflectance which varies by irradiation of a light beam, on which information is recorded as reflectance variations, and a substrate for supporting the recording layer, the recording layer including a metal nitride as a major component.

Abstract: An optical article with a plurality of optically detectable marks on a first surface of the optical article, wherein a mark of the plurality of marks has a thickness of less than or equal to about 1 micrometer, and wherein the plurality of optically detectable marks have uniform thickness.

Abstract: The azo-metal chelate dye of the present invention is formed, for example, from zinc (divalent) as a center metal ion and an azo compound bonded with a coupler component having an amino group and a fluorine-substituted alkylsulfonylamino group subjected to condensed ring-formation to have a 1,3,4-thiazole ring as a diazo component.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium containing a substrate having provided thereon a recording layer capable of recording information by laser beam irradiation, wherein the recording layer contains a dye represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent group; R5 and R6 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent group; and B represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, which are derivable from a diazonium salt.

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 Si, Ge, C, Sn, Zn and Cu as a primary component, and a second recording layer located in the vicinity of the first recording layer and containing Al as a primary component, the optical recording medium being constituted to be irradiated by a laser beam projected onto the side opposite from the substrate and the total thickness of the first recording layer and the second recording layer being equal to or thinner than 40 nm. According to the thus constituted optical recording medium, it is possible to decrease a noise level and improve a C/N ratio in a reproduced signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester film produced by melt-extruding a polyester composed of a dicarboxylic acid unit and a diol unit, wherein 1 to 80 mol % of the diol unit is a unit containing a cyclic acetal skeleton, and the polyester film has an in-plane retardation of 20 nm or less at a wavelength of 550 nm. The polyester film is an optically isotropic polyester film which is easily produced by an extrusion-molding method and has an economical advantage. The polyester film is useful for production of optical members or optical products such as phase difference films, protective films for polarizing plates, light diffusion films, lens sheets, anti-reflection films and optical information recording media.

Abstract: Optical information is stored in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer utilizing holography with an optical information recording apparatus which includes security features. An input device is used to input individual information which is unique to an individual. An information light carries information to be recorded on the optical information recording medium. A phase modulation pattern is generated based on the individual information. A recording reference light is generated including a phase modulator for spatially modulating a phase of the reference light, for generating reference light for recording having a phase spatially modulated based on the phase modulation pattern information. A recording optical system illuminates the information recording layer on the same side with both the information light and the reference light.

Abstract: A method for extra appending data in a multiple layer disc is provided. The capacity of the data zone in the multiple layer disc is fixed, and each layer comprises a plurality of appended sessions. When multiple layer disc is mounted, it is determined whether data is appended in zones following a middle zone. If the data is appended in the zones following the middle zone, a first jump address is obtained from a table of extended contents to serve a start address of appending the data. Data is appended to the multiple layer disc. An end address of appending the data is recorded in the table of extended contents to serve a second jump address for a next appending operation.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a plurality of recording layers, a reflectance of at least one of the plurality of the recording layers in a non-initialized state with respect to a light beam for initialization being smaller than a reflectance of the same in an initialized state with respect to the light beam for initialization. The recording layers are initialized by irradiating, among the plurality of recording layers, the recording layer positioned farther from a light beam irradiation side with the light beam prior to irradiating the recording layer positioned closer to the light beam irradiation side, so that the initialized recording layers have no initialization irregularities.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical recording material comprising: a polymeric matrix; a dewarbenzene derivative reactant capable of undergoing isomerization to a benzene product upon triplet excitation, thereby causing a change in optical properties; and a sensitizer capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause triplet energy transfer to said reactant, wherein the algebraic sum of the excitation energy of said sensitizer and its reduction potential is at least 0.05 eV less than the oxidation potential of said reactant, thereby precluding one-electron oxidation of said reactant. The invention further relates to an optical device comprising regional variations in concentrations of reactants and products produced by triplet chain isomerization, thereby providing a pattern of intelligence.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optical recording medium which includes a substrate, a first information layer and a second information layer, the first information layer and the second information layer are disposed on the substrate through an intermediate layer in a laminar structure; recording and reproducing is performed on each of the two information layers by laser beam irradiation from the first information layer side; the second information layer is provided with at least a reflective layer, a dielectric layer, and a second dye recording layer formed in this order; and the dielectric layer is formed from any one of materials selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides, sulfides, carbides or mixtures thereof from any one of elements which are not same as metal elements and semi-metal elements used for forming the reflective layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical recording medium having a plurality of recording layers having different uses. The optical recording medium includes a first light transmitting layer (32); a layer (31) composed of an organic dye for recording and reading data by an optical beam of a first wavelength incident through the first light transmitting layer (32) and transmitting an optical beam of a second wavelength incident through the first light transmitting layer (32); a second light transmitting layer (34) for transmitting the optical beam of the second wavelength incident through the layer (31) composed of the organic dye; and a reflecting layer (331) for reflecting the optical beam of the second wavelength incident through the second light transmitting layer (34).

Abstract: A phase change recording medium comprising an as-deposited first recording layer configured to undergo a reversible phase change between an amorphous state and a crystalline state due to light irradiation and thereby change an optical characteristic. The as-deposited first recording layer includes a plurality of fine nuclei having an average size of 0.5 nm to 4 nm in the amorphous state.

Abstract: A super-resolution material is formed in only a data pit, in a low temperature state of the super-resolution material, reflectivity of each of a pit portion and a space portion and an optical phase difference therebetween are set to be sufficiently small, in a high temperature state, and at least the optical phase difference between the pit and the space is set to be larger than the aforementioned value in an absolute value. Accordingly, by conducting irradiation with an appropriate read power by which substantially only one data track width can be heated to a high temperature state, a good push-pull signal can be obtained even with a track pitch being less than a diffraction limit.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium including a substrate in which at least one of a groove and a pit is formed; a recording layer located overlying the substrate and including a dye; and a reflection layer located overlying the recording layer, wherein the optical information recording medium has an absorbance curve with an absorbance L of from 10 to 40% against light having a wavelength ? of from 645 nm to 670 nm, a ratio (Lmax/Lmin) of a maximum absorbance Lmax of the absorbance curve to a minimum absorbance Lmin of from 1.0 to 2.0 at the wavelength range of from 645 nm to 670 nm, and a reflectance of from 45 to 85% against the light having a wavelength ? of from 645 nm to 670 nm.

Abstract: A multilayer optical recording medium including a first recording layer for recording or reproducing information by using a first light beam having a center wavelength ?1, a first photochromic layer provided on the first recording layer, and a first optical waveguide layer provided on the first photochromic layer for guiding to the first photochromic layer a second light beam having a center wavelength ?2 different from the center wavelength ?1. The multilayer optical recording medium further includes a second recording layer provided on the first optical waveguide layer for recording or reproducing information by using the first light beam, a second photochromic layer provided on the second recording layer, and a second optical waveguide layer provided on the second photochromic layer for guiding the second light beam to the second photochromic layer. The first and second photochromic layers become transparent to the first light beam by irradiation with light or by application of heat.

Abstract: An optically-readable disk includes a device that disrupts readability of the disk when the disk is spun at an angular velocity substantially greater than required to play the disk in its intended playing device, or for when a defined integral of velocity and time is exceeded. The device may include a fluid container that disperses a data-disruptive fluid. The device may include a membrane or layer that is disrupted when the disk is rotated above a defined angular velocity, or when a defined integral of velocity and time is exceeded.

Abstract: An information processing device (225) is a device for processing specific information recorded to a recording medium (100), and has a characteristic identification unit (204) and a processing unit (226). The characteristic identification unit (204) identifies the reflection characteristic of the recording medium (100). The processing unit (226) processes the specific information recorded to the recording medium (100) according to the identified reflection characteristic. The reflection characteristic is either a first characteristic such that the reflectance of light reflected by a recorded region of the recording medium (100) (referred to as first reflectance) is greater than the reflectance of light reflected by an unrecorded region of the recording medium (100) (referred to as second reflectance), or a second characteristic such that the first reflectance is less than the second reflectance.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a substrate having a through-hole provided at the central portion thereof and a guiding groove provided on a surface at the light-incident side; a reflective layer provided on the surface of the substrate having the guiding groove; a recording layer provided on the reflective layer and made of an organic substance containing a dye; and a light-transmissive cover layer provided on the recording layer, wherein the cover layer is made of a curable resin, and a modulus of elasticity of at least a portion of the cover layer facing the recording layer is in the range of about 34 MPa to about 96 MPa at 25° C.

Abstract: A multilayer phase change information recording medium including plural information layers containing at least a first information layer and a last information layer, each of which includes a recording layer in which information is recorded utilizing a phase change between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. At least one of the plural information layers other than the last information layer includes a first lower protective layer, a first recording layer located overlying the lower protective layer, a first upper protective layer located overlying the first recording layer, a first reflective layer located overlying the first upper protective layer, and a heat diffusion layer located overlying the first reflective layer and which mainly contains In, Zn and O.

Abstract: A dual-path optical recording medium and an apparatus for accessing such are disclosed. The dual-path optical recording medium includes a substrate, an intermediate recording layer, a holographic recording layer and a dichronic mirror layer. The intermediate recording layer is a rewritable data storage layer with a relatively low storage capacity. The holographic recording layer is a write-once data storage layer with a relatively high storage capacity. The dichronic mirror layer is located between the holographic recording layer and the intermediate recording layer. The apparatus for accessing the dual-path optical recording medium includes a first light module capable of generating a first laser light, and a second light module capable of generating a second laser light.

Abstract: An optical recording medium containing a cyanine dyes of formula: Where at least one pair of R1 & R2 and R3 & R4 are benzyl moieties, rings A and B are each a benzene or naphthalene ring, Y1 and Y2 are C 1-30 organic groups and Anm? is an m valent anion, present in an integer p.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of writing information on an optical recording medium (10 to 38), the optical recording medium having at least one data layer (40) for storing data readable by use of an optical readout device and at least one label layer (42) for storing visible information, the method comprising the steps of: focusing a first wavelength laser beam (44 to 58) onto the at least one data layer for writing data on the data layer, and focusing a second wavelength laser beam (60 to 78) onto the at least one label layer for writing visible information on the label layer, thereby a laser spot size being usable that is also employable when using the second wavelength laser beam for writing data on a data layer for storing data readable by use of an optical readout device. The present invention further relates to an optical recording medium and to a method of manufacturing an optical recording medium.

Abstract: A media can comprise: a reflective layer, an oxygen penetrable UV coating, and a reactive layer disposed between the UV coating and the reflective layer. The reactive layer can comprise a reactive material that oxidizes with exposure to oxygen.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing device 1 irradiates initialization light L1 to an optical information recording medium 100 having a recording layer 101 made of photopolymerization-type photopolymer in advance to bring about the photopolymerization or the photocrosslinking to perform the initialization processing, and condenses a recording light beam L2c having a comparatively strong light intensity to a target position in the recording layer 101 and increases the temperature thereof to transubstantiate the target position to record a recording mark RM at the time of recording information, and condenses a reading light beam L2d having a comparatively weak light intensity to the target position and receives a returned light beam L3 having a sufficient light amount reflected by the recording mark RM at the time of reproducing information, which makes it possible to reliably record the recording mark RM and stably read out the recording mark RM.

Abstract: An optical information carrier comprises a data layer for carrying the information, an outer surface for receiving a light beam for reading the information, and a transparent layer for transmitting the light beam to the data layer. The transparent layer comprises a pattern of physical damages for locally deforming the light beam. The physical damages are embedded in the transparent layer at a depth between the outer surface and the data layer. In the pattern of physical damages additional information is encoded. The additional information may be used for the purpose of copy protection.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a device which identifies the types of recording media different in recording density including, a light source which outputs light at a predetermined wavelength, a photodetector which detects reflected light from one information recording layer of a recording medium having at least two information recording layers provided with a first recording density or a second recording density higher than the first recording density, a lens which condenses the light from the light source to present a minimum spot on one of the information recording layers of the recording medium, and a signal processing circuit which acquires a component containing characteristics peculiar to the information recording layer of the recording medium having the second recording density out of the reflected light detected by the photodetector.

Abstract: A composition of matter for a recording medium in atomic force data storage devices. The composition includes one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers including (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a hydrogen bonding cross-linking moiety, the moiety capable of forming two or more hydrogen bonds at room temperature, each of the one or more poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety. The covalent and hydrogen bonding cross-linking of the poly(aryl ether ketone) oligomers may be tuned to match thermal and force parameters required in read-write-erase cycles.

Abstract: The present invention provides organic dye compounds having their absorption maxima in a region ranging from the ultraviolet region to a relatively short wavelength visible region and uses thereof. The present invention provides specific monomethine cyanine dyes, light absorbents and optical recording media comprising the monomethine cyanine dyes, and a process for producing the monomethine cyanine dyes which comprises a step of reacting a quaternary ammonium salt of nitrogen atom-containing heterocyclic compound having a reactive methyl group with a quaternary ammonium salt of nitrogen atom-containing heterocyclic compound having an appropriate leaving group.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a multi-layer structure recording layer portion including plural recording layers provided with tracks for guiding a recording light and being adapted to record data, where recording condition information and recording layer identification information for the recording layers are recorded on the tracks as information signals. Test writing is conducted on a recording layer that is subject to recording to derive a suitable recording condition based on recording condition information that is recorded on the recording layer, and direct recording is conducted according to a direct recording condition.