Abstract: A optical pickup includes: a laser diode; a driver including a first output end of a laser diode drive current; a first line electrically connected to the first output end of the driver and a first port of the laser diode; a second line provided adjacent to the signal line at at least one location or more and electrically connected to a second port of the laser diode; a printed circuit board including the first and second lines; and a metal heat dissipation cover for the driver. The first and second lines form a two layer structure in which the first and second lines are vertically disposed. The line width of the line provided close to the heat dissipation cover is wider than the line width of the other line between the first and second lines in the two layer structure.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reading from a near-field optical recording medium are described. The apparatus includes: an optical system for generating a signal beam and a reference beam; a near-field lens for illuminating the signal beam onto the near-field optical recording medium, for collimating a reflected signal beam, and for reflecting the reference beam; and at least a first detector and a second detector for obtaining a homodyne detection signal from the reflected signal beam and the reflected reference beam.

Abstract: A method of generating a 1-beam tracking error signal (TES), an optical pickup device, and an optical disc drive device adopting the method. A light-receiving element receives a single reflection beam and detects an alternating current (AC) component and a direct current (DC) component from each of areas formed on two sides of a data track. A servo unit generates a TES by adding and subtracting the AC component and the DC component.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a recording layer in which a track is formed, the track having recording marks linearly arranged thereon. Each recording mark has a dimension corresponding to a reference mark length, which serves as a reference, in a track direction along which the track extends, the dimension being smaller than dimensions of the recording mark in two directions perpendicular to the track direction.

Abstract: A method for determining a type of an optical disk includes following steps. A laser beam of a first type is focused on a disk to generate a first optical reflection signal. A first spherical aberration estimate is generated according to the degree of dispersion and strength of the first optical reflection signal. A laser beam of a second type is focused on the disk to generate a second optical reflection signal. A second spherical aberration estimate is generated according to the degree of dispersion and strength of the second optical reflection signal. The type of the disk is determined based on the first spherical aberration estimate and the second spherical aberration estimate.

Abstract: There is provided a metal complex that is large in degree of a change in emission intensity, the change being caused by a change in molecular structure of a ligand through a photochromic reaction. The metal complex is arranged such that a diarylethene-based photochromic molecule coordinates to a metal ion via two groups directly bonded to respective reaction site carbons and that the groups are each independently a group selected from Formula Group (1) above.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a base, a light-emitting module, and a shielding case. The light-emitting module is fixed to the base via a curved flexible printed-circuit. The shielding case fixed to the base in such a manner that the light-emitting module is held in a position to resist a restoring force of the flexible printed-circuit which is generated by the curve of the flexible printed-circuit. The light-emitting module includes a heat source, and the shielding case includes a projection. The projection controls movement of the light-emitting module in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the light-emitting module is held by the shielding case. The projection and the light-emitting module are bonded to each other with silicone.

Abstract: In an optical head device which performs recording or reading of data in/from a high-density optical disc using an objective lens with a large NA, a saw-tooth shape diffraction element is used for also performing recording or reading of data in/from a conventional optical disc, such as DVD, CD, or the like. A step difference that produces an optical path length for blue light which is equal to or longer than the wavelength of the blue light and optical path lengths for red and infrared light which are shorter than the wavelengths of the red and infrared light is utilized so as to exert an inverse action on the blue light to those exerted on the red and infrared light. The effect of increasing the working distances for CD and DVD enables multiple compatibility. The above optical element is integrally combined with the objective lens to perform a tracking servo following operation.

Abstract: An objective optical system for information recording/reproducing, at least one of optical surfaces of the objective optical system comprising a diffraction surface including a first region contributing to converging first, second and third beams and including a diffraction structure formed such that use diffraction orders for the first, second and third beams are 1st-orders and a condition 0.03<(?B11??1)/?1<0.40 is satisfied; a second region contributing to converging only the first and second beams and including a diffraction structure formed such that the use diffraction orders are 1st-orders and a condition: ?0.35<(?B12??B11)/?1<0.35 is satisfied; and a third region contributing to converging only the first beam and including a diffraction structure formed such that the use diffraction order for the first beam is an odd order and a condition: ?0.23<m13×((?B13??1)/?1)<0.23 is satisfied.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus includes: a circuit board; a laser diode mounted on one face of the circuit board; and a high-frequency superimposition integrated circuit arranged on the other face of the circuit board, the high-frequency superimposition integrated circuit including a high-frequency signal generation circuit, the circuit board having an area greater than or equal to an area occupied by a lead pin of the laser diode and a region smaller than or equal to twice a region where the laser diode is mounted, a high-frequency signal generated from the high-frequency signal generation circuit being superimposed on a driving signal to be supplied to the laser diode, in order to take a measure against noise caused by return light of the laser diode.

Abstract: The present techniques provide methods and systems for alignment of a read head with data tracks on an optical data disk. In embodiments, a multi-pixel detector that is segmented into multiple areas, or detector segments, may be used to detect a pattern in the light reflected from an optical data disk. The detector system may then combine the quantized values from each of the detector segments mathematically to determine the alignment of the read head with a target data track. If the read head drifts to one side or the other, detectors to the side of a center detector may start to pick up energy from the adjacent tracks. If this energy is continuously summed for the detectors on each side, the read head may be centered by balancing the sums from the detectors on each side.

Abstract: A method for determining a focus height of an optical disc drive is provided. A disc is placed into the optical disc drive. An objective lens is moved to lock a focus on a data layer of the disc. The objective lens is radially moved from inner tracks to outer tracks, and at the same time the focus voltages at the radial position are recorded. A focus voltage curve is curve-fitted based on the recorded focus voltages. A corresponding refocus voltage is obtained from the focus voltage curve according to the radial position where a focus drop occurs. The objective lens is moved to the focus height by the refocus voltage for refocusing.

Abstract: An optical drive includes: an optical pickup; a preprocessing circuit which processes an optical signal detected by the optical pickup; nonvolatile memory having stored therein relation information which represents the relation of a signal balance with respect to a signal difference between a TE signal and an FE signal at the time of a predetermined operation of the optical pickup; and a central processing circuit which performs focus control of the optical pickup. The preprocessing circuit generates the signal balance of the optical pickup. The preprocessing circuit also obtains the FE signal and the TE signal with respect to the optical disc. The central processing circuit derives a phase difference and an amplitude difference from the signal balance and the relation information, and calculates, based on the differences and the TE signal, a FE signal suitable for the predetermined operation.

Abstract: An optical head for recording or reproducing a signal on or from an optical recording medium including a light source, an objective lens for condensing light emitted from the light source to the optical recording medium, and a light-separating device arranged between the light source and the objective lens in order to separate the light reflected from the optical recording medium from the light emitted from the light source. The light-separating device includes a first glass, a multilayer film formed on the first glass, and an adhesive layer arranged on the multilayer film in order to bond a second glass onto the multilayer film. The majority of the light emitted from the light source enters into the light-separating device through the first glass and is reflected by the multilayer film.

Abstract: In order to provide an optical recording condition setting method which reduces effects from uneven properties of a rewritable or recordable optical disk and an optical recording/reproducing device, and to provide an optical recording/reproducing device which executes the method, (i) a test writing is carried out with respect to an optical disk under various settings of recording-power parameters for use in forming a shortest record-mark (S1 to S3), (iii) a test pattern used in the test writing is reproduced (S4), and then (iv) recording-power parameters that result in a good quality of reproduced signals are selected (S5).

Abstract: An optical unit includes: a first light emitting device configured to emit a first beam; and a second light emitting device configured to emit a second beam in a direction the same as a direction of the first beam where the second beam is different in wavelength from the first beam. An emission surface of the second light emitting device is arranged at a distance from an emission surface of the first light emitting device in an opposite direction to the direction of the first beam.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium reproducing apparatus 1 includes: a signal detecting/extracting section 15 extracting, from reproduction signal data, extracted reproduction signal data corresponding to a predetermined data pattern; a calculating circuit 10 calculating, from the extracted reproduction signal data, a reproducing power control value for controlling laser light reproducing power; and a reproducing power control section 16 controlling the reproducing power based on the reproducing power control value. The predetermined data pattern is obtained from a space which is sandwiched between marks of ?/2NA or longer and is shorter than ?/4NA and/or a mark which is sandwiched between spaces of ?/2NA or longer and is shorter than ?/4NA.

Abstract: An optical disk drive for preventing the splashed oil is provided. The optical disk drive comprises an optical pickup for reading an optical disk; a transmission apparatus and a stepping motor. The transmission apparatus comprises a rack, a connecting element and a connecting base. The connecting element connects the rack with the connecting base and the connecting base is connected to the optical pickup. The stepping motor is connected to a lead screw and the lead screw is meshed with the rack for moving the optical pickup. Lubricating oil is added between the rack and the lead screw. The transmission apparatus further comprises a blocking plate connected to the connecting element and the blocking plate is extended above the lead screw for blocking the splashed oil.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus in which, regarding mutually adjacent recording layers, a focus offset of an optical system to a guide groove formed in a recording surface of the recording layer is learned based on a signal based on reflected light from the guide groove, and a focus offset for recording or reproduction is calculated and set based on the learned focus offsets for the respective recording layers. As the focus offset of the optical system for recording or reproduction, a mean value of the learned focus offsets for the respective recording layers is set as a focus offset common to the both recording layers. Otherwise, a focus offset when a difference between the focus offset and the learned focus offsets for the respective recording layers is a value corresponding to a characteristic of the optical system is set. This structure reduces processing time and ensures processing precision upon focus offset processing for plural recording layers.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus and a tracking control method which can perform data processing for reliably recording or reproducing data on or from a recording medium are disclosed. Tracking error signal (TE) is generated using difference signal (A?B) produced from reflected light from a recording medium and an offset included in the difference signal is compensated for using another reflected light received separately from the reflected light. Offset-compensated tracking error signal ((A?B)?k(C?D)) is obtained by subtracting another difference signal (C?D) produced from the separately received reflected light according to gain (k) from difference signal (A?B). Different gains may be used for areas on the recording medium having different reflectances. Thus, the tracking error signal can be compensated for an optical offset caused by lens movement and an offset caused by different reflectances and light radiated to the recording medium can accurately follow its track to perform reliable data processing.

Abstract: An optical head unit is configured as an optical head unit corresponding to an optical recording medium of BD standard, and an optical recording medium of HD DVD standard. A magnification-variable lens includes convex lens, concave lens, and convex lens. The magnification-variable lens allows each lens to be movable along the optical axis direction, and has the function of changing the ratio of diameter of light incident from the convex lens to the diameter of light that exits from the convex lens within a specific ratio. The magnification-variable lens emits light having a diameter corresponding to the numerical aperture, 0.85, of the objective lens towards the objective lens upon recording/reproducing on a disk of BD standard, and emits light having a diameter corresponding to the numerical aperture, 0.65, of the objective lens upon recording/reproducing on a disk of HD DVD standard.

Abstract: In a device for controlling a focus to an optical disc having a land section and a groove section, the control is performed so as to avoid a focus step difference at a land-area/groove-area switching point. When performing write-in or readout of data to an optical disc on which a land area and a groove area are continuously formed, using an optical pickup, there are provided a land learning unit (1) for determining a focus position in the land area, a groove learning unit (2) for determining a focus position in the groove area, and a focus position calculation unit (3) for determining a focus position in an area where the land area and the groove area are switched, and the focus position of the optical pickup is moved so that it is located at the third focus position when the switching signal is inverted according to the switching between the land area and the groove area.

Abstract: An automatic power control system, a down sampling circuit and a down sampling method. The automatic power control system is incorporated in an optical disc drive comprising a laser diode for receiving a control signal to generate a laser beam; and a photodetector for detecting the laser beam to generate an analog input signal. The automatic power control system comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a down sampling circuit, a comparator, and a digital-to-analog converter. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog input signal to digital data. The down sampling circuit, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, comprises a down sampler, a counter, and a controller. The down sampler receives a predetermined amount of digital data to generate representation data. The counter, coupled to the down sampler, calculates the amount of digital data, and resets the down sampler when the amount equals or exceeds the predetermined count.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a rotary driving unit rotating an optical disk which is flexible, an optical pickup irradiating light upon a recording surface of the optical disk on which writing/reading of information is performed, a stabilizing unit stabilizing vibration of the optical disk in a rotary axial direction by using pressure difference of air flow at least on a portion where writing/reading is performed, and being disposed on a side of the optical disk opposite to a side on which the recording surface is provided, and a control-adjustment unit analyzing a value of a tracking error signal of the optical disk obtained by scanning along a groove of the optical disk with use of the optical pickup, comparing the analyzed value of the tracking error signal of the optical disk and a value priorly obtained by scanning along a groove of a standard disk prepared beforehand, and adjusting a positional relation between the optical disk and the stabilizing member in a three dimensional space according to t