Patent ID: 6631227
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: B82Y,G02B,G11B

Abstract:
An information recording and reproducing apparatus for at least one of recording and reproducing information on a recording medium utilizing near-field light, the information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:a suspension arm; a flexure connected to the suspension arm; a near-field light head connected to the flexure, the near-field light head having a minute aperture, an optical waveguide for propagating light flux from a light source, and a reflection film for reflecting the light flux propagated by the optical waveguide and for irradiating the reflected light flux to the minute aperture to generate near-field light at the minute aperture for interaction with a recording medium; a light guiding structure for guiding light flux from the light source to the optical waveguide, the light guiding structure having an optical propagating portion connected to the suspension arm, an optical coupling portion connected to the near-field light head, and an optical connecting portion for optically connecting the optical propagating portion to the optical coupling portion; and a light receiving head for receiving scattered light generated as a result of the interaction between near-field light generated at the minute aperture of the near-field light head and the recording medium.