Optical information recording apparatus and method

• US 20040062178A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optware Corporation
• Original Assignee: Optware Corporation
• Inventors: Horimai, Hideyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/103
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/12 Spatial modulation, e.g. ghost imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0065 Recording, reproducing or erasing by using optical interference patterns, e.g. holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00745 Sectoring or header formats within a track formats in general G11B20/12
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/08523 with both tracking and focusing pull-in
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/08529 Methods and circuits to control the velocity of the head as it traverses the tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0857 Arrangements for mechanically moving the whole head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/08582 Sled-type positioners
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0901 for track following only G11B7/0925, G11B7/094, G11B7/0941, G11B7/0943, G11B7/0945, G11B7/0946, G11B7/0948 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0912 by push-pull method
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0932 Details of sprung supports
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0933 Details of stationary parts
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0935 Details of the moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0938 servo format, e.g. guide tracks, pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0956 to compensate for tilt, skew, warp or inclination of the disc, i.e. maintain the optical axis at right angles to the disc
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/123 Integrated head arrangements, e.g. with source and detectors mounted on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/128 Modulators G11B7/1245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1356 Double or multiple prisms, i.e. having two or more prisms in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1374 Objective lenses optical objectives per se G02B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1376 Collimator lenses collimators per se G02B27/30

Abstract

It is an object of the invention to allow the use of a practical light source to record information in each information recording area of a recording medium having a plurality of information recording areas through the use of holography while moving the recording medium.

When recording information in the information recording areas (7) of the recording medium, the irradiating position (101) of information light and recording-specific reference light is moved such that the irradiating position (101) follows a single moving information recording area (7) for a predetermined period. Consequently, the single information recording area (7) keeps being irradiated with the information light and the recording-specific reference light for the predetermined period. Information is thus recorded in this information recording area (7) in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the recording-specific reference light.

Claims

1. An optical information recording apparatus for recording information through the use of holography in each information recording area of a recording medium having a plurality of information recording areas, comprising:

irradiating means for irradiating the recording medium with information light and reference light such that information is recorded in the information recording areas in the form of interference patterns resulting from interference between the information light and the reference light;

recording medium moving means for moving the recording medium; and

irradiating position moving means for moving an irradiating position of the information light and the reference light such that the irradiating position of the information light and the reference light follows a single moving information recording area for a predetermined period.

2. An optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium moving means rotates the recording medium.

3. An optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiating position moving means moves the position of emission of the information light and the reference light in the irradiating means.

4. An optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium contains identification information for identifying the individual information recording areas,

the optical information recording apparatus further comprising means for detecting the identification information.

5. An optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium contains positioning information for adjusting the irradiating position of the information light and the reference light with respect to the individual information recording areas,

the optical information recording apparatus further comprising means for detecting the positioning information.

6. An optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiating means applies the information light and the reference light to the same side of the information recording layer coaxially such that they converge to become minimum in diameter at an identical position.

7. An optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the irradiating means applies the information light and the reference light to opposite sides of the information recording layer coaxially such that they converge to become minimum in diameter at an identical position.

8. An optical information recording method for recording information through the use of holography in each information recording area of a recording medium having a plurality of information recording areas, comprising the steps of:

moving the recording medium;

irradiating the recording medium with information light and reference light such that information is recorded in the information recording areas in the form of interference patterns resulting from interference between the information light and the reference light; and

moving an irradiating position of the information light and the reference light such that the irradiating position of the information light and the reference light follows a single moving information recording area for a predetermined period.