Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus utilizing a plurality of recording light spots

An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an information pit on and from an information track of an optical information recording medium by irradiating a light beam focused into fine spots to the information track, said apparatus comprising:

• a recording light source for generating a light beam;
• spot forming means arranged in a path of the light beam generated form said recording light source for forming a plurality of recording light spots transversely to the information track on the information recording medium, said spot forming means comprising a Faraday cell disposed in the light path, means for applying a magnetic field to the Faraday cell to change a direction of polarization of the light beam from said light source, and means for causing a predetermined phase difference in one of the polarized components of the light beam transmitted through the Faraday cell;
• and
• means for reproducing a record domain formed by the recording light spots.

A method of recording an information pit onto an information track of an optical information recording medium by irradiating an information track with light beams each focused into a fine spot, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a light beam from a recording light source;
• forming two light spots form the light beam generated from the recording light source by a focusing objective lens disposed in a path of the light beam from the recording light source, and a phase shift device facing a pupil plane of the objective lens and having a split line arranged in a direction of the information track;
• and
• transversely irradiating the information track with the two light spots to record an information pit onto the information track.

A method of recording an information pit onto an information track of an optical information recording medium by irradiating an information track with light beams each focused into a fine spot, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a light beam from a recording light source;
• forming two light spots from the light beam generated from the recording light source by a focusing objective lens disposed in a path of the light beam from the recording light source, and a phase shift device facing a pupil plane of the objective lens and having a split line arranged in a direction of the information track;
• forming a light spot from a light beam generated from a light source separately provided, at a substantial center portion between the two light spots;
• and
• transversely irradiating the information track with the two light spots to record an information pit onto the information track.

A method of recording an information pit onto an information track of an optical information recording medium by irradiating an information track with light beams each focused into a fine spot, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a light beam from a recording light source;
• and
• forming a plurality of recording light spots transversely to the information track on the information recording medium, from the light beam generated form the recording light source by:
• (i) disposing a Faraday cell in a path of the light beam form the recording light source, (ii) applying a magnetic field to the Faraday cell to change a direction of polarization of the light beam form the recording light source, and (iii) causing a predetermined phase difference in one of the polarized components of the light beam transmitted through the Faraday cell.