Kimihiro Saito

Gap Servo System for a Biaxial Device Using an Optical Gap Signal in a Near Field Readout System

A readout method using a near field optical head has been proposed as a technique to read out over 30 Gbytes on a 12 cm disc. For the purpose of reading out the RF signal in the system, a gap servo is required to maintain a constant air gap between the solid immersion lens (SIL) and the disc. In this paper, we propose a practical near field readout system with a similar system to an ordinary optical disc, where a biaxial device is used as an optical head actuator and the gap error is detected optically. First, we explain the gap servo system by which it is possible to control the air gap from a far field initial position to a near field target position at a relatively high speed without a head colliding with a disc. Second, we report the result of applying this gap servo system to a 30 Gbyte and a 50 Gbyte ROM disc. Finally, its performance is confirmed by comparing simulated signal with an observed signal.

Proposal for a multilayer read-only-memory optical disk structure

Coherent interlayer cross talk and stray-light intensity of multilayer read-only-memory (ROM) optical disks are investigated. From results of scalar diffraction analyses, we conclude that layer separations above 10 microm are preferred in a system using a 0.85 numerical aperture objective lens in terms of signal quality and stability in focusing control. Disk structures are optimized to prevent signal deterioration resulting from multiple reflections, and appropriate detectors are determined to maintain acceptable stray-light intensity. In the experiment, quadrilayer and octalayer high-density ROM disks are prepared by stacking UV-curable films onto polycarbonate substrates. Data-to-clock jitters of < or = 7% demonstrate the feasibility of multilayer disk storage up to 200 Gbytes.

High-Density Near-Field Optical Disc Recording

We developed a high-density near-field optical recording disc system using a solid immersion lens. The near-field optical pick-up consists of a solid immersion lens with a numerical aperture of 1.84. The laser wavelength for recording is 405 nm. In order to realize the near-field optical recording disc, we used a phase-change recording media and a molded polycarbonate substrate. A clear eye pattern of 112 GB capacity with 160 nm track pitch and 50 nm bit length was observed. The equivalent areal density is 80.6 Gbit/in2. The bottom bit error rate of 3 tracks-write was 4.5×10-5. The readout power margin and the recording power margin were ±30.4% and ±11.2%, respectively.

Near-Field Phase-Change Optical Recording of 1.36 Numerical Aperture.

A bit density of 125 nm was demonstrated through near-field phase-change (PC) optical recording at the wavelength of 657 nm by using a supersphere solid immersion lens (SIL). The lens unit consists of a standard objective and a 2.5 mm SIL. Since this lens size still prevents the unit from being mounted on an air-bearing slider, we developed a one-axis positioning actuator and an active capacitance servo for precise gap control to thoroughly investigate near-field recording. An electrode was fabricated on the bottom of the SIL, and a capacitor was formed facing a disk material. This setup realized a stable air gap below 50 nm, and a new method of simulating modulation transfer function (MTF) optimized the PC disk structure at this gap height. Obtained jitter of 8.8% and a clear eye-pattern prove that our system successfully attained the designed numerical-aperture (NA) of 1.36.

High Density Near-Field Optical Disc System

Key technologies for near-field recording/readout systems using a solid immersion lens (SIL) are summarized in this paper. Our system employing a SIL of 1.84 numerical aperture (NA) and a laser diode (LD) of 405 nm wavelength has realized the capacity of a 112 GB in a 12 cm diameter phase-change disc along with a write-power margin of ±11.2% and a data transfer rate of 36 Mbps. Such a larger-capacity data storage system should provide a high data transfer rate. A preliminary result of 1.84 NA dual-channel near-field recording/readout using a monolithic dual-beam LD with 412 nm wavelength is presented.

High-density near-field readout using diamond solid immersion lens

We investigated high-density near-field readout using a diamond solid immersion lens (SIL). A synthetic single-crystal chemical vapor deposition diamond provides a high refractive index and a high transmission for a wide wavelength range. Since the refractive index at a wavelength of 405 nm is 2.458, we could design a solid immersion lens with an effective numerical aperture of 2.34. Using the diamond SIL, we observed the eye pattern of a 150-GB-capacity (104.3 Gbit/in.2) disk with a track pitch of 130 nm and a bit length of 47.6 nm.

High-Density Recording with a Near-Field Optical Disk System Using a Medium with a Top Layer of High Refractive Index

A near-field optical technology using a solid immersion lens (SIL) has been actively studied to expand the storage capacity higher than 100 Gbytes per layer in a 12-cm-sized optical disk. However, the working distance of an objective lens in a near-field optical disk system should only be 25 nm or less. Therefore, from the practical viewpoint, a topcoat layer is required to protect the recording layer when the SIL collides with a disk surface because of disturbances such as dust, shock and vibration. From a mechanical viewpoint, the topcoat should have the mechanical toughness to protect the disk surface. Moreover, from an optical viewpoint, it should have refractive index higher than the numerical aperture of an SIL to achieve a sufficient evanescent couple between the SIL and disk surface. In this study, we describe a topcoat for a near-field optical recording. First, we investigate the topcoat performance from the optical viewpoint. Second, we evaluate the topcoat performance from a mechanical viewpoint. Finally, we report the results of recording experiments for a disk with the topcoat and discuss its performance.

Recording Capacity Enhancement of Micro-Reflector Recording

Micro-reflector recording is a potential candidate for sub-terabyte optical storage systems. In this paper, the latest progress on increasing storage capacity and on improving recording transfer rate of micro-reflector recording is presented. With our dynamic tester, we successfully recorded ten signal layers dynamically in a monolithic recording material. For every signal layer, moderate bit error rate was obtained by employing readout signal processing. Our experimental results indicate the potential for increasing recording transfer rate and recording density.

High-Density Near-Field Readout over 50 GB Capacity Using Solid Immersion Lens with High Refractive Index

We have investigated high-density near-field readout using a solid immersion lens with a high refractive index. By using a glass material with a high refractive index of 2.08, we developed an optical pick-up with the effective numerical aperture of 1.8. We could observe a clear eye pattern for a 50 GB capacity disc in 120 mm diameter. We confirmed that the near-field readout system is promising method of realizing a high-density optical disc system.

Readout Method for Read Only Memory Signal and Air Gap Control Signal in a Near Field Optical Disc System

We describe a method of obtaining an optical air gap control signal for near-field optical disc systems. Because of the total reflection on the surface of a solid immersion lens (SIL), the polarization state of the reflected light differs from that of the incident light. However, when the SIL is close to a disc surface, the polarization state difference between the reflected and the incident light becomes small. We used this difference to obtain an air gap control signal. Both observed and calculated results show that this signal is negligibly affected by the pits on the disc. Thus, our air gap servo system is stable. We show the observed readout signals of a 40 GB ROM disc (with a 12 cm diameter) obtained by an optical head with a 1.4 NA objective lens and a 405nm wavelength GaN LD. Comparisons between observed and calculated results are made.