Patent ID: 7054255

Claim:
An information recording/reproduction apparatus utilizing near-field light, comprising: a light source for generating light; a suspension arm; a flexure fixed to the suspension arm; a near-field optical head fixed to the flexure and having a minute aperture formed therein; a substantially rod-like optical waveguide having a core and a clad for conveying the light emitted by the light source through the core; a reflection surface comprised of a terminal end of the clad located beyond a terminal end of the core of the optical waveguide opposite the light source for irradiating light projected from the terminal end of the core to the near-field optical head; and a light reception portion for receiving scattered light caused by an interaction between the minute aperture and a recording medium disposed proximate the near-field optical head; wherein the near-field optical head has a lens formed on a surface thereof different from a surface on which the minute aperture is formed for focusing light received from the reflection surface onto the minute aperture; and wherein the terminal end of the core is located at an intermediate part of the optical waveguide so that the clad extends beyond the terminal end of the core and terminates at the reflection surface.