Abstract: An apparatus includes a near-field transducer at or near an air bearing surface of the apparatus. A write pole is disposed at or near the air bearing surface and proximate the near-field transducer, respectively. A thermal sensor is disposed at the air bearing surface and within a protrusion region of the air bearing surface defined relative to at least one of the near-field transducer and the write pole. The thermal sensor is configured to produce a signal indicative of a temperature at the protrusion region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasmon generator, in which a surface plasmon is excited by application of light. The plasmon generator extends along one direction. The plasmon generator includes a first end surface that is positioned on one end in the one direction and at which near-field light is generated along with the excitation of the plasmon; and a second cross section that is substantially parallel to the first end surface and is away from the first end surface. The first end surface has a polygonal shape that does not have a substantially acute inner angle. The second cross section has an upper part that has a shape substantially the same as or similar to that of the first end surface and a flare shaped lower part that is connected to the upper part and has a width that increases as it is far from the upper part.

Abstract: A system for determining a cleanliness of a lens of an optical disc drive. The system includes a controller configured to control movement of the lens of the optical disc drive between a first position and a second position relative to the optical disc. The first position is located a first distance from an outer surface of the optical disc and corresponds to a position causing the lens to focus light on a data layer of the optical disc. The second position is located a second distance, different than the first distance, from the outer surface and corresponds to a position causing the lens to focus light on the outer surface. The controller is further configured to receive a measurement of light reflected by the optical disc while the lens is in the second position and determine the cleanliness of the lens based on the measurement of the light.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a near-field transducer at or near an air bearing surface of the apparatus. A write pole is disposed at or near the air bearing surface and proximate the near-field transducer, respectively. A thermal sensor is disposed at the air bearing surface and within a protrusion region of the air bearing surface defined relative to at least one of the near-field transducer and the write pole. The thermal sensor is configured to produce a signal indicative of a temperature at the protrusion region.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for inspecting a thermally assisted magnetic recording head element, a specimen is mounted on a table movable in a plane of a scanning probe microscope device, evanescent light is generated from a portion of light emission of evanescent light of the specimen, scattered light of the evanescent light is detected by moving the table in the plane while a cantilever of the scanning probe microscope having a probe is vertically vibrated in the vicinity of a surface of the specimen, and an intensity distribution of the evanescent light emitted from the portion of light emission of evanescent light or a surface profile of the portion of light emission of evanescent light of the specimen is inspected using position information of generation of the evanescent light based on the detected scattered light.

Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise: a light source configured to produce light; a lens configured to focus the light on an optical disc; a photo detector configured to obtain a measurement of the light reflected by the optical disc; and a controller configured to determine a cleanliness of the lens based on the measurement of the light reflected by the optical disc responsive to the lens focusing the light on a surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: A holographic optical pickup device includes an optical axis split element for splitting a reference beam into two light beams in different propagation directions having polarized states substantially orthogonal to each other, angular variable elements for changing incident angle of the reference beam for irradiating an optical information recording medium, an image sensor for detecting a diffracted beam generated from a recorded region upon irradiation of the optical information recording medium with the reference beam to form a reproduction signal, and photodetectors for detecting the diffracted beam generated from the recorded region upon irradiation of the optical information recording medium with the reference beam. An angular error signal is generated for controlling the angular variable element using signals detected by the photodetectors.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for inspecting a thermally assisted magnetic recording head element, a specimen is mounted on a table movable in a plane of a scanning probe microscope device, evanescent light is generated from a portion of light emission of evanescent light of the specimen, scattered light of the evanescent light is detected by moving the table in the plane while a cantilever of the scanning probe microscope having a probe is vertically vibrated in the vicinity of a surface of the specimen, and an intensity distribution of the evanescent light emitted from the portion of light emission of evanescent light or a surface profile of the portion of light emission of evanescent light of the specimen is inspected using position information of generation of the evanescent light based on the detected scattered light.

Abstract: An optical-pickup apparatus includes: a laser diode having a first-laser element, which emits a first-laser beam, and a second-laser element, which emits a second-laser beam having a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of the first-laser beam, arranged in the same package; an objective lens to condense the first- and second-laser beams emitted from the laser diode to signal-recording layers of first- and second-optical discs, respectively, the second-optical disc being of a standard different from a standard of the first-optical disc; and a collimating lens arranged in an optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens, the collimating lens configured to change the first- and second-laser beams from divergent light to parallel light, the collimating lens being inclined with respect to optical axes of the first- and second-laser beams so that astigmatism in the first- and second-laser beams is corrected.

Abstract: A focus error amplitude obtaining device is configured to obtain amplitudes of a focus error signal. An error amplitude difference calculation device is configured to calculate an error amplitude difference which is a difference between the amplitudes of the focus error signal obtained at two different positions in a moving range of a spherical aberration correction device. An appropriate position search control device is in charge of overall control of structural elements; spherical aberration correction device movement control device, focus error amplitude obtaining device, and error amplitude difference calculation device. The appropriate position search control device decides an appropriate position of the spherical aberration correction device based on the error amplitude difference.

Abstract: A method for determining a phase difference of a tracking error signal is provided. The method includes: predetermining a plurality of phase differences, measuring MPP and SPP signals, establishing a phase difference curve by use of an amplitude ratio between (MPP+SPP) and (MPP?SPP), measuring MPP and SPP signals for a tracking error signal under test, calculating the amplitude ratio (MPP+SPP)/(MPP?SPP), and comparing with the phase difference curve to promptly determine the phase difference.

Abstract: A movement speed of a lens included in an optical pickup is calculated by differentiating a total reflection return light quantity that is detected by emitting laser light and near-field light onto a signal recording surface of a rotationally driven optical disc. On the basis of the calculated movement speed, processing for driving the optical pickup or the lens included in the optical pickup is controlled. For example, in a case where the calculated movement speed exceeds a permissible speed set in advance, retreat processing is performed for moving the optical pickup or the lens included in the optical pickup apart from a surface of the optical disc.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an optical disk drive that includes an embedded test medium for testing the optical performance of an optical head in the optical disk drive.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a tilt angle of an objective lens with respect to one of a multilayer optical disc having a plurality of recording layers and an optical axis of an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus, wherein a use wavelength ? and a numerical aperture NA are defined by conditions: 390<?<420 and 0.75<NA<0.90. The method includes determining the tilt angle of the objective lens such that a spot quality defined through a predetermined transparent parallel flat plate matches a predetermined standard, and tilting the objective lens to have the determined tilt angle. When t1 represents a thickness of the predetermined transparent parallel flat plate and t2 represents a design protective layer thickness at which a coma caused when off-axis light is incident on the objective lens becomes smallest, t1 and t2 satisfy a following condition: ?0.015<t1?t2<0.005.

Abstract: In an optical element feeding device and an optical pickup unit using the same, in order to make the device compact and light and achieve a stable operation, the device has a main shaft and a sub shaft supporting a movable frame in which an optical element is arranged in such a manner as to be movable in a direction of an optical axis, a stepping motor, a lead screw rotating on the basis of a rotation of the stepping motor, a resin nut engaging with the lead screw and being movable in the direction of the optical axis on the basis of the rotation of the lead screw, and a spring pressing the movable frame in the direction of the optical axis so as to bring the movable frame into contact with the nut, and a cushioning material is provided between the nut and the movable frame so as to connect the nut and the movable frame.

Abstract: In an optical disk apparatus, the same signal path is used to both reduce an interchannel phase shift in write strategy signals and also to perform the actual writing to the disk. The optical disk apparatus includes a laser diode, a laser diode driver, and a semiconductor integrated circuit. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a write strategy circuit and a control unit for controlling the operation of the write strategy circuit. Information collection for interchannel delay adjustment is performed through the use of the same signal path as that used for transmitting pulse signals from a pulse generation circuit to the laser diode driver for actual writing to an optical disk. Based thereon, an interchannel delay amount for applying laser light to the optical disk is set, thereby reducing the interchannel phase shift in the write strategy signals.

Abstract: A method of adjusting gain balance of an optical transducer includes the following steps. First, two external gains are predetermined. Next, the projection position of a reflection spot is adjusted toward one side of the optical transducer, and the current output values of the optical transducer each corresponding to one of the external gains are measured, respectively. Next, the projection position of the reflection spot is adjusted toward the other side of the optical transducer, and the current output values of the optical transducer each corresponding to one of the external gains are measured, respectively. Then, a gain balance value of the optical transducer is adjusted, and is set as the external gain. Next, the projection position of the reflection spot is adjusted. Finally, the projection position of the reflection spot, where the current output value of the transducer is equal to 0, is locked to complete the adjustment rapidly.

Abstract: An optical information apparatus according to the present invention includes: an optical system that includes a solid immersion lens (SIL) 11 and that produces near-field light to be incident on an optical disc 10; a first actuator for displacing the SIL 11; a second actuator 29 for varying the distance between the optical disc 10 and the first actuator 12 by moving the first actuator 12; a gap detecting section 18 for outputting a gap signal 19 representing the magnitude of the gap 17 between the SIL 11 and the optical disc 10; and a gap control system for controlling the first actuator 12 in response to the gap signal 19 such that the gap is maintained at a predetermined setting. The gap control system works so as to control the second actuator 29 in accordance with a signal representing the magnitude of displacement of the SIL 11 caused by the first actuator 12.

Abstract: A highly reliable optical pickup which is not likely to collide with an optical disk is provided. Relative positions of two objective lenses 100 and 101 (along a focus direction) on a lens holder 102 are determined so that, while the objective lens 101 having a longer working distance is focused on an optical disk 200, the objective lens 100 having a shorter working distance and a protective member 103 are at positions which are more distant from the optical disk 200 than a height h of a protrusion which is present in an inner peripheral region of the optical disk optical disk 200.

Abstract: An optical reproducing apparatus connectable to optical pickups and a method of controlling an optical pickup thereof are provided. The optical reproducing apparatus measures resistance of an optical pickup on a port of a connection unit to which the optical pickup is connected, and determines the type of the optical pickup according to the measured resistance. Accordingly, optical reproducing apparatuses may be controlled according to the type of optical pickups, and manufactured using various optical pickups without checking the type of optical pickups, which allows convenient manufacturing of optical reproducing apparatuses.

Abstract: A method for calibrating the offset of a micro actuator includes: setting a reference reflective plane with different focus voltage levels; focusing on test points on the reference reflective plane and recording the tracking voltages; selecting a standard focus voltage level; calculating the offset of the tracking voltage for each test point; curve-fitting the offsets into a tracking voltage curve for each focus voltage level; and acquiring an offset of a selected tracking voltage by interpolation or extrapolation to calibrate the selected tracking voltage.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an actuator is provided. A reflective reference surface is set. An objective lens is shifted to several calibration positions along the tracking direction in the actuator, focusing is performed at each position, and the shift volt and the focus volt are recorded. The focus volt at a calibration position is set as a standard focus volt, and the focus volt bias at the other calibration position with respect to the standard focus volt is calculated. A focus volt bias curve is formed by curve-fitting the focus volt bias and the shift volt at each calibration position, and a focus volt bias is obtained to compensate the volt along the focusing direction.

Abstract: When an image is formed on an optical disk, an optical disk image forming device reads information written in an information area of the optical disk. When a reflection preventing process is applied to an image forming area of the optical disk, the optical disk image forming device corrects at least one of a laser power or a focus gain in accordance with information about the image forming area written in the information area. Thus, the optical disk image forming device can form the image with a clear brightness and a good visibility on the image forming area of the optical disk without allowing a rainbow-color to appear or a face or a background to be reflected due to the interference of light.

Abstract: A recording device including a beam deflection section for relatively moving an irradiation position of an exposure beam with respect to a substrate on which a resist layer is formed; a substrate velocity adjustment section for adjusting a moving velocity of the substrate based on a deflection amount of the exposure beam; and a deflection control section for controlling to change a deflection velocity of the exposure beam during exposure of the recording signals according to the moving velocity of the substrate.

Abstract: The optical disk recording apparatus has the function of correcting the timing shift of the write strategy signal caused by the change in the operating environment of the digital signal processing circuit including the write strategy generating circuit, the laser drive circuit for driving the laser at the time of recording and the flexible printed board for electrical connection between the digital signal processing circuit and the laser drive circuit. Upon determination that the timing shift correction is required, the timing shift is reduced by operating the timing shift correcting function.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing device includes a liquid optical element containing a liquid crystal polymer layer in an optical head. A liquid crystal optical element drive unit drives a liquid crystal optical element having a first pattern electrode divided into a plurality of region at one side of the liquid crystal polymer layer in the optical axis direction. The first pattern electrode includes a first region arranged to surround the optical axis and second to ninth regions arranged outside the first regions in such a manner that the circumference is divided eight portions. The liquid crystal optical element drive unit applies a first effective voltage to the first region, a second effective voltage to the second and the sixth region, a third effective voltage to the third and the seventh region, a fourth effective voltage to the fourth and the eighth region, and a fifth effective voltage to the fifth and the ninth region.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus for correcting astigmatism that influences the read/write. If there is astigmatism, and auto-focus and tracking control are in operation, then a push-pull signal amplitude and a 2T signal amplitude vary with the variation of an amount of spherical aberration, resulting in two cases. In one case, the amount of spherical aberration to give the maximum value of push-pull signal amplitude agrees with the amount of spherical aberration to give the maximum value of 2T signal amplitude, and in the other case the two amounts do not agree. If there is no astigmatism, two amounts agree each other. If there in no agreement, then correction is made by using an astigmatism correcting element until the agreement is reached between the two. In the case where two amounts agree, specification is made for the existence and angle of astigmatism, and correction is made by using focus error signals from adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical head having a laser beam emitting device that emits a light beam of a predetermined wavelength, an objective lens that focuses the light beam on an optical recording medium and a parallelism adjusting lens that is disposed on an optical path between the laser beam emitting device and the objective lens, wherein the parallelism adjusting lens is configured to change parallelism of the laser beam, is disclosed. The method comprise the step of adjusting the parallelism of the light beam that has passed through the parallelism adjusting lens by adjusting a distance between the laser beam emitting device and the parallelism adjusting lens while causing the laser beam emitting device to emit the light beam and causing the light beam to pass through the parallelism adjusting lens.

Abstract: When a light-receiving element receives a first laser beam, an output power detection unit detects a differential quantum efficiency value of the first laser beam. A control unit judges whether or not an intensity filter and a filter driving unit are operated in accordance with a control signal output from the control unit by using the differential quantum efficiency value from the output power detection unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for adjusting the pitch of an array of light spots (103) in an information carrier reading apparatus so as to correspond with the size of the macro-cells in which data is stored. A degree of mismatch between the pitch of the array of light spots (103) and the size of the macro-cells is determined when the probe array generation device (102) is illuminated with an input light beam, and the pitch adjusted accordingly by adjusting the distance of the focus of the light source (12) so as to converge or diverge the input light beam (104) to the probe array generation device (102), thereby to create a non-collimated input light beam (104) and magnify the pitch of the array of light spots (103) accordingly.

Abstract: A method used in an optical storage device having a pickup head. The pickup head includes an object lens, a first and a second light source. The object lens focuses the laser light generated by the first or the second light source onto a first or a second focal point. A driving control effort is used to change the location of the object lens. The method includes the following steps: providing the driving control effort to move the object lens; measuring a first parameter when the first focal point passes through a predetermined layer of an optical disc; measuring a second parameter when the second focal point passes through the predetermined layer of the optical disc; and (d) determining the relationship between the difference of object lens location and the driving control effort according to the predetermined distance, the first parameter, and the second parameter.

Abstract: An optical pickup device has a spherical aberration correction mechanism and a control part performing a process for determining setting of the spherical aberration correction mechanism.

Abstract: In the invention herein a recordable optical disc is provided with embossed windings of a spiral track or circular tracks in a recording layer of phase change material and with embossed address/timing information located between adjacent windings. User data is received for recording on the disc. The data is written by controlling a laser beam scanning the winding to form marks of different phases of the phase change material at a higher disc speed while reading an address from the disc. The writing is occasionally interrupted in order to calibrate write parameters in order to improve the write quality. After the calibration linking is performed by jumping to a position just before the writing was interrupted, and determining the current position depending on an address read from the disc, and tracking to the position that the writing was interrupted.

Abstract: There is provided an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers (layer L0, layer L1) for recording information. At least one of the recording layers (layer L0, layer L1) has a management information area where recording speed management information defining the maximum possible recording speed when recording information is recorded.

Abstract: The magnitude (Ga) of an impact applied to a lens holder is constantly monitored based on an output of an impact sensor. When it is determined that Ga exceeds Gth, focus servo is released, and the lens holder is provided with a force to make it move away from a disk. Upon recheck of Ga, when it is determined that Ga is now equal to or less than Gth, the force having been provided to the lens holder is cancelled, and the focus servo is resumed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a data recording method of notifying degree of deterioration of recording medium thus to perform stable recording operation. Even in the case where uncorrectable address read error does not exist, deterioration information is displayed in accordance with generated and stored deterioration information. Whether or not address read error of ATIP is detected over successive two frames or more, or whether or not four errors or more are detected on the average at 75 frames is discriminated. In the case where error detecting state is adapted to affirmative discrimination condition, warning is displayed. In the case where 200 errors or more detected from deterioration information generated in processing with respect to random missing with respect to written data exist on the average with respect to successive 750 frames, or in the case where one error or more detected in processing with respect to random missing exist, disc deterioration warning display is similarly performed.

Abstract: An optical disk includes a first area, a second area having time information undistinguishable from time information of the first area and a third area having unique time information. The third area is divided into a plurality of sub-areas. Peculiar zone numbers are assigned to zones each representing the first area, the second area or any of the sub-areas and recorded in an associative-relation table memory for a management purpose. A zone number assigned to a zone of the present position of an optical pickup or a zone number assigned to a zone of a target position serving as a seek destination of the optical pickup is stored in a zone-number-storing memory for the purpose of managing the position of the optical pickup.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is applied to DVD recorders and includes a beam expander unit. A drive coil wound around a lens holder within the beam expander unit, is located in a magnetic field formed by a magnet. When an electric current is passed through the drive coil, the drive coil moves an expander second lens in a direction of an optical axis, receiving a force based on interaction between the electric current and the magnetic field. This changes a distance between an expander first lens and the expander second lens, and thus light emitted from the beam expander unit toward an object lens becomes diffused light or converged light. Consequently, the objective lens generates a spherical aberration in a reverse direction of a spherical aberration that has occurred owing to a deviation of a cover layer in film thickness from a reference value, which cancels the latter spherical aberration.

Abstract: An information medium apparatus for performing at least one of a recording operation and a reproduction operation for the information medium, includes: a determination section for determining whether or not a cartridge for accommodating the information medium has been previously opened; and a control section for performing a start processing procedure corresponding to the information medium. When it is determined that the cartridge has not been previously opened, the control section performs a first start processing procedure for starting the information medium by using a blue laser. When it is determined that the cartridge has been previously opened, the control section determines whether or not the information medium is an information medium for which a start processing procedure is to be performed by using a laser other than the blue laser.

Abstract: A method for controlling a stepping motor in an optical storage system and for achieving a short seek with the stepping motor is disclosed. The optical storage system comprises a pick-up head and object lens, wherein the object lens is movably installed on the pick-up head. The method includes determining a number of steps that the stepping motor should rotate; moving the object lens toward a target track; and utilizing the stepping motor to move the pick-up head toward a target position according to the number of steps that the stepping motor should rotate.

Abstract: A laser imagible apparatus includes a lens, a media tray, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is configured to determine a voice coil gain for substantially all locations on a media.

Abstract: An optical disk drive capable of detecting occurrence of tooth jump in a mechanism for transferring an optical pickup. The optical pickup is transferred in a radial direction of an optical disk by means of a stepping motor. A control section having received a seek operation command from a host machine drives the stepping motor by way of a controller, to thus cause the optical pickup to perform seek up to a target address. The amount of displacement between a current address achieved after seek operation and a target address is computed. When the amount of displacement is equal to or greater than a pitch P of the transfer mechanism; namely, the pitch P of a lead screw, the tooth jump is determined to have arisen. Seek conditions are changed, and seek is reperformed.

Abstract: An optical element feeding device driving method and an optical disk apparatus capable of detecting biting in a stepping motor and conducting restoration. The optical disk apparatus includes an optical element feeding device including a movable frame for supporting a spherical aberration correcting lens to move the lens in optical axis direction, a spring for applying force to the frame in the direction, a sensor for detecting a lens reference position, a stepping motor, and a lead screw and a nut for converting motor rotation into the direction, a motor driving circuit, a decision circuit for judging abnormality when an output of the sensor does not change even if the driving circuit outputs a driving signal to the motor after reference position detection, and a changeover circuit for lowering a driving frequency than in ordinary operation, based on an abnormality signal.

Abstract: An optical pickup control apparatus including a pickup unit to apply an optical signal to an optical disc, to receive an optical signal from the optical disc, and to convert the optical signal into an electric signal; a collimating lens in the pickup unit to correct a spherical aberration of the optical signal; a detecting unit to detect an opening/closing operation of a tray on which the optical disc is placed, and to output a corresponding detection signal; a first controller to perform a first initialization process that causes the pickup unit to move to a first initial location upon receiving the detection signal; and a second controller to perform a second initialization process that causes the collimating lens to move to a second initial location upon receiving the detection signal, wherein the first and second initialization processes are simultaneous.

Abstract: An optical disc cutting apparatus capable of suppressing an unnecessary deflection component and unnecessary light intensity variation component and manufacturing a optical disc suitable for a high definition, high precision and high density optical disc.

Abstract: In order to compensate for so-called clipping effects, it is proposed, in an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium in which the light power of a laser diode (1) is to be set to a plurality of light power levels,to perform a calibration to a specific light power level (LP2) before the actual regulation of the light power. On account of the calibration, the instantaneous gradient of the characteristic curve which describes the dependence of the laser light power on the laser diode current can be inferred in order, on the basis of this information, to take account f a change—caused, for example, by ageing r clipping effects—in the characteristic curve gradient in the course of the subsequent regulation of the light power of the scanning beam generated by the laser diode (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for an optical disc such as a DVD which can keep proper edge position of a recording pulse to record data of high quality without depending on a fluctuation in a supply voltage and a fluctuation in a temperature. The optical disc device according to the present invention comprises a laser driver for driving a laser to record data on an optical disc, a recording pulse generator for generating a recording pulse signal by using a predetermined delay circuit, to control the switching of the laser power of the laser driver, a delay amount measuring section for measuring the delay amount of a delay circuit in the recording pulse generator, and a recording pulse position correction section for correcting the predetermined edge position of the recording pulse based on the result of the measurement.

Abstract: A method for driving a movable component of a hardware device includes the steps of: (1) driving the movable component to move the driving distance by the former force to determine a base time; (2) setting a reference time, wherein the reference time is smaller than the base time; (3) determining a former period according to the reference time, and determining the former distance and the latter distance according to the former time, the former force and the base time; and (4) determining a latter period according to the latter force and the latter distance, wherein the movable component is driven by the former force for the former period and then is driven by the latter force for the latter period.

Abstract: There are provided: an optical pickup feed mechanism (12) that detects a disk signal; a disk loading mechanism (11) that feeds a disk D by means of a loading roller (11b) that is driven by a loading motor (11a); a mechanism control section (20) that controls drive of the loading motor (11a); and an authentication control section (30) that authenticates the authorized user and outputs a disk ejection instruction to the mechanism control section (20) if the registered password and disk ejection instruction are input.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reading, or a recording apparatus for writing, data from or to a disc having pre-formed thereon a pair of concentrical or spiral tracks adjacent to each other and to which a common address is given, is adapted to control the time at which a read or write head is moved from one to the other of the pair of tracks or vice versa.