Patent ID: 6831887
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A near-field recording medium for storing information reproducible utilizing near-field light, comprising:a base member transparent to light having a wavelength of illumination light used to illuminate the base member to produce the near-field light; a phase shifter arrangement layer provided on a first surface of the base layer and arranged alternately, in a direction parallel with a surface of the base member and in a reproducing direction of the information, with transmission regions transparent to light having the wavelength of the illumination light and phase shifter regions transparent to light having the wavelength of the illumination light to cause a shift of phase in the illumination light by 180 degrees; and a data mark arrangement layer provided on the phase shifter arrangement layer and having data marks as units of information respectively corresponding one by one to the transmission regions and the phase shifter regions; wherein light incident on a second surface of the base member opposite the first surface at an angle of incidence sufficient to achieve total internal reflection produces the near-field light at the first surface of the base member to enable reading of the information represented by the data marks without the presence of a shading film on a surface of the data mark arrangement layer.