The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 20, 2001
Nobuyuki Kasama, Chiba, JP;
Norio Chiba, Chiba, JP;
Yasuyuki Mitsuoka, Chiba, JP;
Manabu Oumi, Chiba, JP;
Kenji Kato, Chiba, JP;
Takashi Niwa, Chiba, JP;
Kunio Nakajima, Chiba, JP;
Seiko Instruments Inc., , JP;
Abstract
In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light is illuminated to the recording medium to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium . The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture formed in the aperture element so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture and the recording medium . Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture is brought into proximity to the recording medium