Patent ID: 6785201
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
Optical information recording and reading apparatus making use of near-field light, comprising:a light source; a near-field optical head; a rodlike optical waveguide for transmitting light from said light source, the waveguide supporting said near-field optical head and having flexibility; a core formed within said optical waveguide; a reflective surface formed in a surface of said optical waveguide opposite to an end surface on the side of said light source, the reflective surface acting to reflect at least a part of light propagating inside said optical waveguide toward said near-filed optical head; light-collecting structures for collecting light reflected by said reflective surface; an optical minute aperture portion formed in said near-field optical head; a recording medium; a light-receiving portion; a suspension arm that supports said optical waveguide; and an actuator for moving relative positions of said minute aperture portion and said recording medium; wherein an end surface perpendicular to the direction of propagation of light in said core is formed in an intermediate position in said optical waveguide, and wherein said end surface is located in a portion fixed to said near-field optical head.