Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus

An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording information by allowing information light and reference light to interfere with each other and reproducing the information using the reference light, comprising:

• a light source;
• a spatial light modulator for generating at least an information light with respect to a light beam from the light source;
• an objective lens for irradiating a recording medium with the light beam from the spatial light modulator;
• a photodetector element for receiving a reproduction light from the recording medium,
• wherein the spatial light modulator and the photodetector element are formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and are arranged coaxially in a light incident direction,
• wherein the light beam from the light source is generated into the information light and the reference light having the same optical axis, based on the spatial light modulator;
• and
• further comprising a mask element provided between the semiconductor substrate and the light source,
• wherein the mask element transmits the light beam from the light source during recording of information, and blocks a light beam in a portion corresponding to the information light and transmits a light beam in a portion corresponding to the reference light during reproduction of information.

An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording information by allowing information light and reference light to interfere with each other and reproducing the information using the reference light, comprising:

• a light source:
• a spatial light modulator for generating at least an information light with respect to a light beam from the light source;
• an objective lens for irradiating a recording medium with the light beam from the spatial light modulator;
• a photodetector element for receiving a reproduction light from the recording medium,
• wherein the spatial light modulator and the photodetector element are formed on a same semiconductor substrate;
• and
• further comprising a beam splitter element for splitting a light beam from the light source,
• wherein the information light is generated from one of the split light beams based on the spatial light modulator, and the other of the split light beams is radiated to the recording medium as the reference light in an optical axis different from that of the information light, and
• wherein a pixel constituting the spatial light modulator and a pixel constituting the photodetector element are arranged alternately in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction on the semiconductor substrate.

An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording information by allowing information light and reference light to interfere with each other and reproducing the information using the reference light, comprising:

• a light source;
• a spatial light modulator for generating at least an information light with respect to a light beam from the light source;
• an objective lens for irradiating a recording medium with the light beam from the spatial light modulator;
• a photodetector element for receiving a reproduction light from the recording medium,
• wherein the spatial light modulator and the photodetector element are formed on a same semiconductor substrate;
• and
• further comprising a polarization beam splitter element for guiding the reproduction light to the photodetector element between the semiconductor substrate and the objective lens.