Near-field optical recording/reading apparatus
AssigneeMinolta Co., Ltd.
InventorTakayuki Hoshino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A near-field optical recording or reading apparatus has at least a tip portion of an optical fiber probe covered by a conductive layer. A recording medium is provided with another conductive layer. The conductive layer of the recording medium is connected to a high frequency power source, and this conductive layer is grounded. The electrostatic capacity between the conductive layers of the optical filer probe and recording layer is detected as a voltage value at a connector pin between the power source and a resistor; this voltage value is fed back to control the gap between the tip of the optical fiber probe and the recording medium.
Claims16
A near-field optical recording apparatus comprising:
- an optical fiber probe for generating near-field light;
- a driver for supporting an optical head having the probe therein and maintaining a gap between a recording medium and the probe;
- a first conductive layer covering at least a tip portion of the probe;
- a second conductive layer provided on the recording medium;
- a detector for detecting electrostatic capacitance between the first layer and the second layer;
- and
- a controller for controlling the driver based on a detection result of the detector.
A near-field optical recording apparatus comprising:
- a driver for supporting an optical head having a probe therein and maintaining a gap between a recording medium and the probe;
- a first conductive layer covering at least a tip portion of the probe;
- a second conductive layer provided on the recording medium;
- a third conductive layer covering the first conductive layer through an insulation layer;
- a detector for detecting electrostatic capacitance between the first layer and the second layer;
- and
- a controller for controlling the driver based on a detection result of the detector.
A near-field optical reading apparatus comprising:
- an optical fiber probe for generating near-field light;
- a driver for supporting an optical head having the probe therein and maintaining a gap between a recording medium and the probe;
- a first conductive layer covering at least a tip portion of the probe;
- a second conductive layer provided on the recording medium;
- a detector for detecting electrostatic capacitance between the first layer and the second layer;
- and
- a controller for controlling the driver based on a detection result of the detector.
A near-field optical reading apparatus comprising:
- a driver for supporting an optical head having a probe therein and maintaining a gap between a recording medium and the probe;
- a first conductive layer covering at least a tip portion of the probe;
- a second conductive layer provided on the recording medium;
- a third conductive layer covering the first conductive layer through an insulation layer;
- a detector for detecting electrostatic capacitance between the first layer and the second layer;
- and
- a controller for controlling the driver based on a detection result of the detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.