Abstract: Disclosed are optical information recording layers to create recording marks upon irradiation with a laser beam, in which the recording layers are composed of: an indium alloy containing 0.1 to 15 atomic percent of one or more rare-earth elements; an indium alloy containing 0.1 to 50 atomic percent of one element selected from the group consisting of palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), platinum (Pt), and vanadium (V); an indium alloy containing 6 to 50 atomic percent of nickel (Ni); or an indium alloy containing 0.1 or more and less than 50 atomic percent of gold (Au). Also disclosed are information storage media provided with the recording layers, and sputtering targets for the deposition of the recording layers, which have the alloy compositions.

Abstract: The generation of a ski jump along a peripheral portion of an optical recording medium when a resin layer is formed by a spin coating method is suppressed. In particular, in order to suppress the ski jump in the optical recording medium, a cover layer is directly provided on an optical catalytic effect layer, which is provided at least along a peripheral portion of a substrate having a concavo-convex shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to an Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium, including Ag as a main component, at least one kind of Nd, Gd, Y and Sm in a total amount of more than 0.1 atomic percent and not more than 3.0 atomic percent and at least one kind of W, Mo, V, Zr, Nb and Cr in a total amount of 3.0 to 10.0 atomic percent; an Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium, including Ag as a main component, at least one kind of Nd, Gd, Y and Sm in a total amount of more than 0.1 atomic percent and not more than 3.0 atomic percent and at least one kind of Ti and Ta in a total amount of 5.0 to 10.0 atomic percent; an optical information recording medium including the Ag alloy reflective film; and an Ag alloy sputtering target having a composition same as that of the Ag alloy reflective film.

Abstract: To provide an optical recording medium in which error-causing short marks are produced in numbers small enough excellent high-recording characteristics and in which amorphous marks are uniform in shape. The optical recording medium includes: a first protective layer; a recording layer containing Sb as a main ingredient; a second protective layer; and a reflective layer, the first protective layer, the recording layer, the second protective layer and the reflective layer being provided in the order in which light passes through the medium for recording and reproduction of information, wherein the first protective layer and/or the second protective layer, both of which are in contact with the recording layer, are/is formed of a crystalline oxide.

Abstract: Optical information media that contain a data layer material that is substantially inert to oxidation and has a defined melting point range are disclosed. The inertness to oxidation and melting point range make the media particularly attractive for long-term information storage.

Abstract: An optical disc 10 includes a substrate. The substrate is formed by mixing polymethyl methacrylate and a polylactic acid-based resin composition. The polylactic acid-based resin composition contains polylactic acid-based resin in which the content of lactide is reduced to 1,000 ppm or less, and a mold release agent of 0.16 to 0.32 phr. The weight ratio of the polylactic acid-based resin to the polymethyl methacrylate is 70:30 to 50:50.

Abstract: The invention provides for modifications to conventional optical data storage media to reduce the amount of raw material necessary in the media construction. More particularly, a portion of a thermoplastic substrate is modified to create one or more substantial void areas compared to a conventional substrate that defines flat parallel surfaces without void areas. The configuration, number, and size of the voids may be modified in order to substantially reduce inherent raw material cost while maintaining the specified physical thickness, clamping area, and mechanical stability of the medium.

Abstract: A thin film for reflective film or semi-reflective film comprising a matrix of silver or silver alloy and, dispersed therein, a compound phase of at least one member selected from among aluminum, magnesium, tin, zinc, indium, titanium, zirconium, manganese and silicon nitrides, oxides, composite oxides, nitroxides, carbides, sulfides, chlorides, silicides (excluding silicon), fluorides, borides, hydrides, phosphides, selenides and tellurides. In this thin film, in addition to the above aluminum, etc., there may be dispersed at least one member selected from among silver, gallium, palladium and copper nitrides, oxides, composite oxides, nitroxides, carbides, sulfides, chlorides, silicides, fluorides, borides, hydrides, phosphides, selenides and tellurides.

Abstract: In an optical disc having N (N is an integer larger than or equal to 3) information recording layers of rewritable or recordable type, each of the information recording layers includes an test area to adjust conditions for recording and reproduction and the test areas are arranged so that the radial positions thereof overlap those of other layers. Recording test is performed only to an area smaller than or equal to 1/N of the test area of each layer and any other area is always unrecorded (write inhibited).

Abstract: To provide an optical recording medium of which mechanical properties and storage stability will not be impaired, and which will show little deterioration in signal properties even after being left to stand at high temperature under high humidity. An optical recording medium to perform recording/reading by means of blue laser, which has a value of 10 or less as obtained by “error rate after its environmental resistance test/error rate before its environmental resistance test” in error rates obtained before and after its environmental resistance test carried out by leaving the medium to stand for 500 hours at a temperature of 80° C. under a relative humidity of 80%.

Abstract: A recording medium and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. More particularly, a recording medium having a high density and high energy transfer efficiency and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The recording medium includes a substrate, a recording layer formed on the substrate, a first cover layer having a first hardness formed on the recording layer, and a second cover layer having a second hardness arranged on the first cover layer.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate, a protective layer and a plurality of information recording layers between the substrate and the protective layer and capable of recording data in the plurality of information recording layers and reproducing data recorded in the plurality of information recording layers by projecting a laser beam via a light incidence plane constituted by one of the surfaces of the substrate and protective layer onto the plurality of information recording layers, each of the information recording layers other than a farthest information recording layer from the light incidence plane including two recording films, a first dielectric film located on the side of the light incidence plane with respect to the two recording films and containing an oxide as a primary component and added with nitrogen, and a second dielectric film located on the opposite side of the light incidence plane with respect to the two recording films and having a lower thermal conductivity than that of the

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical storage medium using nanoparticles, and more specifically to a multi-layer optical storage medium. According to the invention, the optical storage medium has two or more storage layers with nanoparticles, each storage layer being made of a dielectric material, wherein the dielectric materials of at least two storage layers have a different dielectric permittivity.

Abstract: In order to realize (A) an optical information recording medium in which information is stored in high density and can be precisely and securely reproduced, (B) a method for reproducing the optical information recording medium, and (C) an optical information processing apparatus using the optical information recording medium, an optical information recording medium 1, 2, or 3 of the present invention includes: (a) a substrate 12, having pits and/or grooves, each of which is made up of a rise and a recess, and each of which corresponds to recorded information that is optically reproduced by irradiation of a light beam; and (b) at lease one super resolution reproducing film 13, which has an optical property to be changed in response to a temperature increase caused by the irradiation of the light beam, the optical property of the super resolution reproducing film being reversibly changed depending on a temperature change in the super resolution reproducing film.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes: a supporting substrate; a light-transmitting protective layer which becomes a layer on the incident side of recording and reproducing laser light; and an information recording layer intervening between the supporting substrate and the light-transmitting protective layer, wherein the information recording layer includes a phase-change material layer, a dielectric layer and a metal layer in this order from the incident side of laser light; and the dielectric layer is constituted of, as a main component, (In2O3)x(SnO2)1-x wherein x is satisfied with the relationship of (0.4<x?0.7).

Abstract: An optical data storage medium comprises at least one active layer of inorganic material, that is able to undergo local deformations during write operations. The active layer presents a front face which is designed to receive an optical radiation at least during read operations. The support also comprises a thin tin and tellurium based alloy layer forming a semi-reflective layer disposed on the front face of the active layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical recording medium, including: a substrate; and an information recording layer formed on the substrate, an information signal being recorded and reproduced in and from the information recording layer by radiation of a light; wherein the information recording layer includes a reflecting layer, a dielectric layer formed on the reflecting layer, and a recording layer formed on the dielectric layer, the dielectric layer includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, and a thermal conductivity of the second dielectric layer located on the reflecting layer side is higher than that of the first dielectric layer located on the recording layer side.

Abstract: In a light transmission layer, the elasticity modulus at 25 deg C. is in the range from 1*107 Pa to 5*108 Pa, the elasticity modulus at ?20 deg C. is in the range from 4*108 Pa to 5*109 Pa, and the glass transition point temperature is from ?20 deg C. to 0 deg C. both inclusive. The Martens hardness of the light transmission layer is 10 N/mm2 or less. The indentation creep of the light transmission layer is 2% or less. The return value of the indentation depth of the light transmission layer is in the range from 0.2 to 2.0 microns. Therefore, both decreasing disc warp and decreasing creep in a light transmission layer can be realized.

Abstract: Optical data storage media containing a “dark” layer structure are disclosed. Layered metals and metal oxides provide a dark background that enhances detection of changes in the data layer of the storage media. Combinations such as chromium metal and chromium oxide, and molybdenum metal and molybdenum oxide are offered as examples of suitable materials.

Abstract: A phase-change optical recording medium has a recording film that brings about reversible phase-change between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase upon irradiation with light and an interface film formed in contact with at least one surface of the recording film and comprising hafnium (Hf), silicon (Si), oxygen (O) and carbon (C).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optical recording medium which comprises a substrate, and a first information layer and a second information layer disposed on the substrate, and an intermediate layer disposed between the first information layer and the second information layer, wherein any one of recording and reproducing is performed in the first information layer and the second information layer by irradiating a laser beam from the first information layer side, the second information layer comprises a protective layer, a second dye layer which comprises an organic dye, an oxidized layer, and a reflective layer in this order from the laser beam irradiation side, and the oxidized layer comprises an oxide which is a material constituting the reflective layer.

Abstract: The optical storage medium according to the invention uses a mask layer as a super resolution near field structure, which comprises a doped semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is n-doped particularly such that the reflectivity of the semiconductor material is increased, when irradiated with a laser beam. As a semiconductor material advantageously an indium alloy and as a doping material selenium or tellurium can be used. For the manufacturing of a respective optical storage medium a sputtering method for depositing the doped semiconductor material as the mask layer can be used, wherein the dopant is included already in the semiconductor sputtering target.

Abstract: A write-once optical recording medium includes an inorganic recording layer and a protective layer provided on at least one surface of the inorganic recording layer. This protective layer contains indium oxide and tin oxide as main components.

Abstract: The invention allows two-photon absorption to occur in response to a short-wavelength light beam. The recording layer (101) of the optical information recording medium (100) of the invention contains, as a two-photon absorbing material, a compound represented by general formula (1) having a hexadiyne structure that includes in the center thereof two acetylene groups connected by a ?-bond. At the time of information recording where a recording mark (RM) is formed in the recording layer (101), two-photon absorption occurs in response to a condensed, short-wavelength recording light, whereby the recording mark (RM) is formed.

Abstract: A first substrate is formed to include a surface on which a first record layer is formed, and which includes an inner circumferential portion on which a ring-shaped member is provided. Ultraviolet curing resin is dropped onto part of the surface which is located inward of the ring-shaped member, and the first substrate is then spun to coat the first record layer with the ultraviolet curing resin. Furthermore, a second substrate is formed to include a surface on which a second record layer is formed, and the second substrate is spun to coat the second record layer with ultraviolet curing resin. Then, the first and second record layers are made to face each other, and the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the ultraviolet curing resin.

Abstract: An information storage medium and an apparatus for recording/reproducing the same are provided. The information storage medium is provided in which repetitive recording is performed by using nanorods formed of a material capable of repeatedly changing light absorption.

Abstract: A silver-based alloy thin film is provided for the semi-reflective coating layer of optical discs. Alloy additions to silver include copper and a rare earth metal. These alloys have moderate to high reflectivity and reasonable corrosion resistance in the ambient environment.

Abstract: An optical disc having at least two metal-containing layers with different compositions and partially overlapping areal extents in the plane of the disc and method of forming the disc are described. The optical disc with dual metallization exhibits visually distinct regions suitable for use for identification purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disk producing sheet 1, obtained by laminating a stamper-receiving layer 11 that is energy rays-curable and whose storage elastic modulus prior to curing is from 103 to 107 Pa, and an adhesive layer 12 whose adhesive strength to polycarbonate is at least 200 mN/25 mm, and whose storage elastic modulus during the curing of the stamper-receiving layer 11 is from 103 to 107 Pa. With the optical disk producing sheet 1, separation that occurs during the production of an optical disk, or during the storage of the finished product, is prevented, and warpage in the resulting optical disk is reduced.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium comprises a super-resolution (SR) layer consisting of thermoelectric material, said SR layer having light absorption, transmittance and reflectance at the wavelength of an incident light and maintaining a crystalline single phase without a structural or chemical change below the melting temperature of the material. SR readout of data from and/or SR writing of data onto the medium is carried out by way of thermoelectrically induced optical changes within a local area of the SR layer under laser irradiation.

Abstract: Improved structures of optical medium are disclosed. According to one embodiment, multiple reflective layers are used. These reflective layers are in different materials. At least one of the reflective layers allowing a significant amount of a laser beam to transmit is used to protect another reflective layer with superior reflectivity from moisture on one side. An additional reflective layer may also be used to protect the high reflective layer from moisture on the other side.

Abstract: A recording layer including a novel dye for a high density optical recording medium, employing short wavelength laser source with a wavelength not longer than 530 nm for recording high density information and reproduction/playback of the high density information recordings, is provided.

Abstract: Recording marks are formed in a recording layer by irradiation with a laser beam. The recording layer is made of an In-base alloy containing Ni and/or Co in a content in the range of 20 to 65 at %. Another recording layer is made of an In-base alloy containing Ni and/or Co, and containing at least one of Sn, Bi, Ge and Si in a content of 19 at % or below excluding 0 at %. An optical recording medium is provided with either of the foregoing recording layers. A sputtering target is used for forming the recording layer. The recording layer of the optical recording medium has a high reflectivity (initial reflectivity), a high C/N ratio and a low jitter.

Abstract: An information recording medium (100) of the present invention is an information recording medium that allows information to be recorded thereon by being irradiated with an optical beam or by being applied with electrical energy, and includes at least a recording layer (115) whose phase can change. The recording layer (115) contains antimony (Sb), carbon (C), and a light element (L) having an atomic weight of less than 33. The light element (L) preferably is at least one element selected from B, N, O, Mg, Al, and S. For example, the recording layer (115) may be composed of a material represented by a composition Sb100-x-yCxLy, where the subscripts 100-x-y, x, and y denote composition ratios of Sb, C, and the L in atomic percentage, respectively, and x and y satisfy x+y?50.

Abstract: The invention accordingly relates to an optical recording medium comprising a substrate, a reflecting layer and a recording layer, wherein the recording layer comprises a compound of formula (I) or a mesomeric or a tautomeric form thereof, wherein M1 is a metal cation in the oxidation state +3, a hydroxy or halogeno metal group wherein the metal is in the oxidation state +4, or an oxo metal group wherein the metal is in the oxidation state +5; (III) and (IV)are each independently of the other (V), (VI) or (VII); (VIII) is (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), or (XIV); (XV) is (XVI) or C2-C8heteroaryl unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by R10, R11, R12 and/or R13; Q1 is N or CR18, Q2 is N or CR19, Q3, Q5 and Q7 are each independently of the other CR20R21, O, S or NR22, Q4 is CR16 or N and Q6 is CR17 or N; and R2 and/or R6 are O, S or NR33. Please see the disclosure for the other substituents which are less relevant.

Abstract: One inventive aspect relates to an optical information recording medium which has a high gloss and ensures, even after printing, a gloss substantially equal to that before the printing, and which can increase quality of a printed image. The optical information recording medium has an ink absorbing layer made of a porous film, which is formed on an outermost layer on a surface thereof on the side opposed to a recording/reproducing surface of the optical information recording medium. The optical information recording medium has a surface gloss of the ink absorbing layer is about 25 or more in terms of 60° specular gloss before printing and has a level after the printing which is equal to or higher than a level before the printing.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains silver as a main component, a total of 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb, and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn. The silver alloy reflective film preferably further contains 0.1 to 3 atomic percent of yttrium. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A sputtering target for depositing the silver alloy reflective film contains silver as a main component, 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of Sb (or 0.03 to 10 atomic percent of Bi), and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn.

Abstract: An optical disk comprising a first substrate, a first reflective layer for reflecting laser beams for information reading formed on the first substrate, and a resin layer made of a cured film of an ultraviolet curable composition formed on the first reflective layer, wherein the first reflective layer is a reflective layer made of silver or an alloy containing silver as a main component, and the ultraviolet curable composition contains (a) a radical polymerizable compound, (b) a compound represented by the following formula (1) and (c) a radical photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: An information recording medium comprises a substrate, a second recording layer, a second light transmitting layer, a first recording layer for recording different information from that to be recorded in the second recording layer, and a first light transmitting layer. The second recording layer is formed with a continuous second microscopic pattern of grooves. The first recording layer is formed with a continuous first microscopic pattern of grooves that is different from the second microscopic pattern. Both sidewalls of raised portions of the first and second microscopic patterns are formed with wobbling so as to be parallel with each other. Auxiliary information and a reference clock is recorded on these sidewalls alternately and continuously.

Abstract: A sputtering target is provided that has a relative density of 80% or more and contains a compound having as its principal component zinc oxide satisfying AXBYO(KaX+KbY)/2(ZnO)m, 1<m, X?m, 0<Y?0.9, X+Y=2, where A and B are respectively different positive elements of trivalence or more, and the valencies thereof are respectively Ka and Kb. A ZnO based sputtering target is obtained which does not contain ZnS and SiO2, and, upon forming a film via sputtering, is capable of reducing the affect of heating the substrate, of performing high speed deposition, of adjusting the film thickness to be thin, of reducing the generation of particles (dust) and nodules during sputtering, of improving the productivity with small variation in quality, and which has fine crystal grains and a high density of 80% or more, particUlarly 90% or more.

Abstract: The invention is principally to provide an archival optical recording medium of high quality which has satisfactory recording/reading characteristics when used in high-speed recording and high-density recording. The invention accomplishes the object with an optical recording medium comprising a resin substrate, a recording layer comprising an organic dye, and a reflective layer, wherein the reflective layer has a first reflective layer and a second reflective layer in this order from the side close to the recording layer, the second reflective layer has a thermal conductivity lower than the thermal conductivity of the first reflective layer, and the first reflective layer has a film thickness larger than the thickness of the second reflective layer.

Abstract: Compositions for protective films include inorganic microparticles dispersed in an acrylic radical-based binder resin. Binder resins are formed from binder monomers including base components, scratch-resistant components and diluent components. Diluent components include diluent monomers having principal chain structures including a functional group having a cyclic structure or a branched carbon chain structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a multilayer information recording medium including at least two information recording portions and a resin layer interposed between the information recording portions, both of which are disposed on a signal substrate. The method includes a first process of forming a predetermined information recording portion on one principal surface of the signal substrate and a second process of passing a part of a resin-containing coating, which is supplied on a screen having an application region with a plurality of first pores and a removal region with a plurality of second pores, through the first pores by sliding a squeegee on the screen so as to form a coating layer on the predetermined information recording portion, and curing the resin contained in the coating layer so as to form the resin layer. The first process and the second process are carried out respectively a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium (9) of the present invention is an optical information recording medium including: N information layers, where N is a natural number of 2 or more; and an intermediate layer for separating the N information layers optically from each other. With the N information layers being referred to as a first information layer (10) to an N-th information layer (7) sequentially from an optical beam incident side, a first information layer (10) corresponding to an L-th information layer included in the N information layers includes a recording layer (104) on which information can be recorded by irradiation with an optical beam, a reflective layer (108), and a transmittance adjusting layer (109) in this order from the optical beam incident side, where L is an at least one natural number that satisfies 1?L?N?1. The transmittance adjusting layer (109) contains tungsten (W) and oxygen (O).

Abstract: Provided herein is an optical disc having: an optical plotting layer which is formed at a label surface side and on which an image is formed by heat change with a laser beam emitted from a recording surface side; a protective layer which is formed at the label surface side of the optical plotting layer, protects the optical plotting layer, and through which the image can be viewed from the label surface side; a reflective layer which is formed at the recording surface side of the optical plotting layer and reflects the laser beam; and a substrate which supports the reflective layer, the protective layer and the optical plotting layer.

Abstract: In each of at least two information layers (1, 2) which constitute a information recording medium having a plurality of information layers on its one side, the compositions of the recording layer (7) and the dielectric layers (6, 8) adjacent to the recording layer (7) in one information layer (1) are common to the compositions of the corresponding layers (12, 11, 13) in the other information layer, so that the recording layers (7, 12) and the dielectric layers (6, 11) and (8, 13) in the two information layers (1, 2) can be formed in common sputtering firm-forming chambers without the replacement of targets, which makes it possible to produce a multi-layer single-sided recording medium with a decreased time loss in the production.

Abstract: An optically detectable information recording medium is at least comprised of a substrate and a recording layer, wherein a surface of the recording layer opposite to another surface of the recording layer in contact with the substrate has a Root Mean Square roughness R? of less than 5 nm, and wherein the recording layer has highly reflective recording material selected from aluminum, silver, silicon, titanium, nickel, tantalum, molybdenium, iron, gold, copper, and their alloys.

Abstract: In a single-sided, recordable/rewritable phase change optical recording medium having one or more layers, an interface layer adjacent to a phase change optical recording film contains at least Zr (zirconium), O (oxygen), and N (nitrogen), and further contains one or both of Y (yttrium) and Nb (niobium).