Title:
Apparatus and method for recording optical information, apparatus and method for reproducing optical information, apparatus for recording/reproducing optical information, and optical information recording medium
Document Type and Number:
Kind Code:
A1

Abstract:
The present invention makes it possible to reduce the size of an optical system for multiplex recording or reproduction of information utilizing holography.

A pick-up (11) of an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus generates information light by spatially modulating laser light emitted by a light source device (25) with a spatial light modulator (18) depending on the information to be recorded and generates reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase by spatially modulating the phase of laser beam emitted by the light source device (25) with a phase-spatial light modulator (17). The information light and the reference light for recording are projected upon an optical information recording medium (1) such that they converge in different positions, and information is recorded in the hologram layer (3) in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light reflected by a reflecting film (5) and the reference light for recording. The positioning of the information light and the reference light for recording is carried out based on information recorded in address servo areas (6).

Representative Image:
Apparatus and method for recording optical information, apparatus and method for reproducing optical information, apparatus for recording/reproducing optical information, and optical information recording medium
Inventors:
Horimai, Hideyoshi (Shizuoka, JP)
Application Number:
10/285619
Publication Date:
04/03/2003
Filing Date:
11/01/2002
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Referenced by:
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Assignee:
OPTWARE CORPORATION (405, 22-23, EBISU 1-CHOME,, TOKYO, JP)
Primary Class:
359/22
International Classes:
(IPC1-7): G03H001/26
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC (P.O. BOX 19928, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22320, US)
Claims:

What is claimed is:



1. An optical information recording apparatus for recording information on an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which information is recorded utilizing holography, said apparatus comprising: input means for inputting individual information which is unique to an individual; information light generation means for generating information light carrying information to be recorded on said optical information recording medium; phase modulation pattern generation means for generating phase modulation pattern information based on said individual information inputted by said input means; recording reference light generation means, including phase modulation means for spatially modulating a phase of light, for generating reference light for recording having a phase spatially modulated based on said phase modulation pattern information by said phase modulation means; a recording optical system for illuminating said information recording layer with said information light and said reference light for recording so that said information is recorded in said information recording layer in a form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between said information light and said reference light for recording and so that an optical axis of said information light and an optical axis of said reference light for recording are located on the same line.

2. The optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information is recorded in said information recording layer, correlating said information to phase modulation pattern information generated by said phase modulation pattern generation means.

3. The optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording optical system applies said information light and said reference light for recording to said information recording layer from the same side of said optical information recording medium.

4. The optical information recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: issue means for issuing a verification recording medium having said phase modulation pattern information to verify said individual.

5. An optical information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which said information is recorded in a form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light carrying information to be recorded and reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase in accordance with a first phase modulation pattern generated based on first individual information which is unique to an individual, said apparatus comprising: phase modulation pattern information acquisition means for acquiring a second phase modulation pattern information; reproduction reference light generation means for generating reference light for reproduction by spatially modulating a phase of light based on said second phase modulation pattern information; a reproducing optical system for illuminating said information recording layer with said reference light for reproduction to collect reproduction light only when said second phase modulation pattern information is identical to said first phase modulation pattern information, wherein an optical axis of said reference light for reproduction and an optical axis of said reproduction light are located on the same line at least in part.

6. The optical information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said information recorded on said optical information recording medium is correlated to said phase modulation pattern information.

7. The optical information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said reproducing optical system collects said reproduction light from the same side of said information recording layer as the side to which said reference light for reproduction is applied.

8. The optical information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said phase modulation pattern information acquisition means comprises an input unit for inputting second individual information which is unique to an individual and means for generating said second phase modulation pattern information based on said second individual information inputted by said input unit.

9. The optical information reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said phase modulation pattern information acquisition means acquires said second phase modulation pattern information from a recording medium for verification on which said second phase modulation pattern information is recorded.

10. An optical information storage apparatus, comprising: an optical storage medium that stores information based on interactions between two beams of light; a first beam of the two beams that is modulated with an information; and a second beam of the two beams that is modulated with security information, wherein the information is replicated based on the storage medium in a read operation when the second beam is modulated by a security information that is substantially the same as a security information that modulated the second beam when the information was stored into the storage medium in a writing operation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a security information generator; and a security information modulator that modulates a phase of the second beam based on an output of the security information generator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the security information generator comprises security information input devices which includes one or more of: a fingerprint input device; a voice print input device; an iris pattern input device; a card reader that reads one or more cards carrying input security information; and a secret number input device, the security information generator generating the security information based on data input from one or more of the security information input devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the security information modulator modulates the second beam in two spatial dimensions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the security information is divided into spatial regions, each of the regions capable of being varied independently.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the writing operation is provided a writing security information that is different than the writing security information of other writing operations.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the security information generator further comprises a phase modulation encoder that receives one or more outputs from the security information input devices and encodes the received outputs into phase modulation parameters for modulating the second beam.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a card generator, the card generator storing security information on a card based on an output of the phase modulation encoder.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the security information generator comprises personal information input means for inputting personal information, the personal information capable of being used as the security information.

19. A method for securing stored information, comprising: storing first information using two light beams; modulating a first beam of the two light beams with the information; modulating a second beam of the two light beams with security information; and retrieving second information based on an input security information, the second information being the first information when the input security information is substantially the same as the security information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving the input security information; encoding the security information into phase modulation parameters; and modulating the second beam based on the phase modulation parameters.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: writing the phase modulation parameters onto a card.

22. The method of claim 19, modulating the second beam comprising: dividing a plane of the second beam into portions spanned by two spatial dimensions; and phase modulating each portion of the plane based on the security information.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: grouping the portions into regions; and assigning each of the regions to a separate security information.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: writing the first information using writing operations; and using a first security information in one writing operation that is different than a second security information in another writing operation.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical information recording apparatus and a method for the same for recording information in an optical information recording medium utilizing holography, an optical information reproducing apparatus and a method for the same for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium utilizing holography, an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium and reproducing information from an optical information recording medium utilizing holography and an optical information recording medium in which information is recorded utilizing holography.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In general, holographic recording for recording information in a recording medium utilizing holography is performed by overlapping light carrying image information and reference light in a recording medium and writing resultant interference fringes in the recording medium. When the recorded information is reproduced, the recording medium is illuminated with reference light to cause diffraction attributable to the interference fringes which reproduces the image information.

[0003] Recently, volume holography and, more particularly, digital volume holography has been developed and is attracting attention in practical fields for high density optical recording. Volume holography is a method for writing interference fringes on a three-dimensional basis by actively using a recording medium even in the direction of the thickness thereof, which is characterized in that diffracting efficiency is improved by an increased thickness and in that an increased storage capacity can be achieved utilizing multiplex recording. Digital volume holography is a computer-oriented method for holographic recording in which image information to be recorded is limited to binary digital patterns in spite of the fact that the same recording media and recording method as the volume holography are used. According to the digital volume holography, for example, analog image information such as a picture is once digitized to develop two-dimensional digital pattern information which is in turn recorded as image information. When reproduced, the digital pattern information is read and decoded to restore and display the original image information. Since this makes it possible to perform differential detection and error correction on encoded binary data, the original information can be reproduced with extremely high fidelity even with a somewhat poor SN ratio (signal-to-noise ratio) during reproduction.

[0004] FIG. 75 is a perspective view of a schematic configuration of a prior-art recording/reproducing system for digital volume holography. The recording/reproducing system has: a spatial light modulator 101 for generating information light 102 based on two-dimensional digital pattern information; a lens 103 for collecting the information light 102 from the spatial light modulator 101 to illuminate a hologram recording medium 100 with the same; reference light illumination means (not shown) for illuminating the hologram recording medium 100 with reference light 104 in a direction orthogonal to the information light 102 ; a CCD (charge-coupled device) array 107 for detecting reproduced two-dimensional digital pattern information; and a lens 106 for collecting reproduction light 105 emerging from the hologram recording medium 100 to illuminate the CCD array 107 with the same. Crystals of LiNbO 3 or the like are used for the hologram recording medium 100 .

[0005] In the recording/reproducing system shown in FIG. 75 , recording is performed by digitizing information of an original image or the like to be recorded and by arranging the resultant signals having a value of 1 or 0 on a two-dimensional basis to generate two-dimensional digital pattern information. One piece of two-dimensional digital pattern information is referred to as “page data”. Let us assume here that page data #1 through #n are recorded in the same hologram recording medium 100 on a multiplex basis. In this case, the spatial light modulator 101 first chooses to transmit or block light for each pixel based on the page data #1 to generate spatially modulated information light 102 with which the hologram recording medium 100 is illuminated through the lens 103 . Simultaneously, the hologram recording medium 100 is illuminated with reference light 104 in a direction θ1 substantially orthogonal to the information light 102 to record interference fringes resulting from overlap between the information light 102 and the reference light 104 inside the hologram recording medium 100 . In order to improve diffracting efficiency, the reference light 104 is transformed by a cylindrical lens or the like into flat beams to record the interference fringes in the hologram recording medium 100 even in the direction of the thickness thereof. To record the next page data #2, the reference light 104 is projected at an angle θ2 different from θ1 and is overlapped with the information light 102 to perform multiplex recording of information in the same hologram recording medium 100 . Similarly, to record the other page data #3 through #n, the reference light 104 is projected at respective different angles θ3 through θn to record information on a multiplex basis. Such a hologram having information recorded therein on a multiplex basis is referred to as “stack”. In the example shown in FIG. 75 , the hologram recording medium 100 has a plurality of stacks (stack 1 , stack 2 , . . . , stack m, . . . ).

[0006] Arbitrary page data can be reproduced from a stack by illuminating the stack with reference light 104 at the same incident angle as that for the recording of the page data. As a result, the reference light 104 is selectively diffracted by interference fringes associated with the page data to generate reproduction light 105 . The reproduction light 105 impinges upon the CCD array 107 through the lens 106 , and the CCD array 107 detects a two-dimensional pattern of the reproduction light. The detected two-dimensional pattern of the reproduction light is decoded conversely to the process performed during recording so that information such as an original image is reproduced.

[0007] While the configuration shown in FIG. 75 allows multiplex recording of information in the same hologram recording medium 100 , in order to record information with a high density, the positioning of the information light 102 and reference light 104 in the hologram recording medium 100 is important. In the configuration shown in FIG. 75 , however, since the hologram recording medium 100 itself carries no information for positioning, there is only a mechanical way to position the information light 102 and reference light 104 on the hologram recording medium 100 , which makes it difficult to perform the positioning with high accuracy. This has resulted in problems in that removability (the ease of performing recording and reproduction of a hologram recording medium on a recording/reproducing apparatus after moving it from another recording/reproducing apparatus with the same results as on the previous apparatus) is poor; random access is difficult; and high density recording is difficult. The configuration shown in FIG. 75 has another problem in that it involves a large optical system for recording or reproduction because the optical axes of the information light 102 , reference light 104 and reproduction light 105 are located in different spatial positions.

[0008] Various methods for multiplex recording have been proposed in an attempt to increase the recording capacity of holographic recording by improving the recording density. One of such methods is angle multiplexing as shown in FIG. 75 . However, such angle multiplexing has a problem particularly in that it involves a large and complex optical system for recording or reproduction because the angle of the reference light must be varied.

[0009] In addition to the above-described angle multiplex, proposed prior-art methods for multiplex recording for holographic recording include: phase-encoding multiplexing as disclosed, for example, in an article of J. F. Heanue et al., “Recall of linear combinations of stored data pages based on phase-code multiplexing in volume holography”, Optics Letters, Vol. 19, No. 14, pp. 1079-1081, 1994 and an article of J. F. Heanue et al., “Encrypted holographic data storage based on orthogonal-phase-encoding multiplexing”, Applied Optics, Vol. 34, No. 26, pp. 6012-6015, 1995; and hole burning type wavelength multiplexing as disclosed, for example, in an article by Eiji YAGYU et al., “A study on novel recording and reproduction of wavelength multiplex type holograms utilizing PHB”, Technical Report of IEICE, EDI93-87, HC93-54, pp. 1-5, 1993.

[0010] In any of the methods for multiplex recording, optical systems for recording or reproduction proposed in prior art have a problem in that their size is increased by the fact that the optical axes of information light, reference light and reproduction light are located in spatially different positions and in that a dramatic improvement in the recording density is not achievable because the hologram recording media themselves have no information for positioning and it is therefore difficult to position light for recording or reproduction on the hologram recording media with high accuracy.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention has been conceived taking such problems into consideration, and it is a first object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for recording optical information capable of performing multiplex recording of information in an optical information recording medium in which information is recorded utilizing holography and an apparatus and a method for reproducing optical information to reproduce information from an optical information recording medium carrying information recorded in such a manner, in which an optical system for recording or reproducing can be compactly configured.

[0012] In addition to the above-described first object, it is a second object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for recording optical information and an apparatus and a method for reproducing optical information, in which light for recording or reproduction can be accurately positioned relative to an optical information recording medium.

[0013] It is a third object of the invention to provide an optical information recording apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium utilizing holography, an optical information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium utilizing holography and an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording information in and reproducing information from an optical information recording medium utilizing holography, in which an optical system for recording or reproduction can be compactly configured and in which random access to the optical information recording medium is facilitated.

[0014] It is a fourth object of the invention to provide an optical information recording medium for recording information utilizing holography with which random access and high density recording can be easily achieved.

[0015] A first optical information recording apparatus according to the invention is an optical information recording apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the apparatus comprising: information light generation means for generating information light carrying information; recording reference light generation means including phase modulation means for spatially modulating the phase of light, for generating reference light for recording whose phase has been spatially modulated by the phase modulation means; and a recording optical system for illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light generated by the information light generation means and the reference light for recording generated by the recording reference light generation means such that the information is recorded in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0016] A first method for recording optical information according to the invention is a method for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the method comprising the steps of: generating information light carrying information; spatially modulating the phase of light to generate reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase; and illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light and the reference light for recording to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0017] In the first apparatus or method for recording optical information according to the invention, the information recording layer is illuminated on the same side thereof with the information light carrying information and the reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0018] A first optical information reproducing apparatus according to the invention is an optical information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which the information is recorded in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light carrying the information and reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase, the apparatus comprising: reproduction reference light generation means including phase modulation means for spatially modulating the phase of light, for generating reference light for reproduction having a phase spatially modulated by the phase modulation means; a reproducing optical system for illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction generated by the reproduction reference light generation means and for collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and detection means for detecting the reproduction light collected by the reproducing optical system.

[0019] A first method for reproducing optical information according to the invention is a method for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which the information is recorded in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light carrying the information and reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase, the method comprising the steps of: spatially modulating the phase of light to generate reference light for reproduction having a spatially modulated phase; illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction and collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction: and detecting the collected reproduction light.

[0020] In the first apparatus or method for reproducing optical information according to the invention, the information recording layer is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction having a spatially modulated phase; reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction is collected on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and the collected reproduction light is detected.

[0021] A second optical information recording apparatus according to the invention is an optical information recording apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which a change in absorbance occurs in an absorption spectrum thereof in the position of a wavelength of incident light and in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the apparatus comprising: wavelength selection means for selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; information light generation means for generating information light having the wavelength selected by the wavelength selection means and carrying information; recording reference light generation means for generating reference light for recording having the wavelength selected by the wavelength selection means; and a recording optical system for illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light generated by the information light generation means and the reference light for recording generated by the recording reference light generation means such that the information is recorded in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0022] A second method for recording optical information according to the invention is a method for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which a change in absorbance occurs in an absorption spectrum thereof in the position of a wavelength of incident light and in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; generating information light having the selected wavelength and carrying information; generating reference light for recording having the selected wavelength; and illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light and the reference light for recording to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0023] In the second apparatus or method for recording optical information according to the invention, the information recording layer is illuminated on the same side thereof with the information light having the selected wavelength and carrying information and the reference light for recording having the selected wavelength to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0024] A second optical information reproducing apparatus according to the invention is an optical information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which the information is recorded in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light having a wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths and carrying the information and reference light for recording having the wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths, the apparatus comprising: wavelength selection means for selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; reproduction reference light generation means for generating reference light for reproduction having the wavelength selected by the wavelength selection means; a reproducing optical system for illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction generated by the reproduction reference light generation means and for collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and detection means for detecting the reproduction light collected by the reproducing optical system.

[0025] A second method for reproducing optical information is an optical information reproducing method for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which the information is recorded in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light having a wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths and carrying the information and reference light for recording having the wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; generating reference light for reproduction having the selected wavelength; illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction and collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and detecting the collected reproduction light.

[0026] In the second apparatus or method for reproducing optical information according to the invention, the information recording layer is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction having the selected wavelength; reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction is collected on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and the collected reproduction light is detected.

[0027] A third optical information recording apparatus according to the invention is an optical information recording apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which a change in absorbance occurs in an absorption spectrum thereof in the position of a wavelength of incident light and in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the apparatus comprising: wavelength selection means for selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; information light generation means for generating information light having the wavelength selected by the wavelength selection means and carrying information; recording reference light generation means including phase modulation means for spatially modulating the phase of light, for generating reference light for recording having the wavelength selected by the wavelength selection means and having a phase spatially modulated by the phase modulation means; and a recording optical system for illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light generated by the information light generation means and the reference light for recording generated by the recording reference light generation means such that the information is recorded in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0028] A third method for recording optical information according to the invention is an optical information recording method for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which a change in absorbance occurs in an absorption spectrum thereof in the position of a wavelength of incident light and in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; generating information light having the selected wavelength and carrying information; spatially modulating the phase of light to generate reference light for recording having the selected wavelength and a spatially modulated phase; and illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light and the reference light for recording to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0029] In the third apparatus or method for recording optical information according to the invention, the information recording layer is illuminated on the same side thereof with the information light having the selected wavelength and carrying information and the reference light for recording having the selected wavelength and a spatially modulated phase to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0030] A third optical information reproducing apparatus according to the invention is an optical information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which the information is recorded in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light having a wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths and carrying the information and reference light for recording having the wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths and having a spatially modulated phase, the apparatus comprising: wavelength selection means for selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; reproduction reference light generation means including phase modulation means for spatially modulating the phase of light, for generating reference light for reproduction having the wavelength selected by the wavelength selection means and having a phase spatially modulated by the phase modulation means; a reproducing optical system for illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction generated by the reproduction reference light generation means and for collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and detection means for detecting the reproduction light collected by the reproducing optical system.

[0031] A third method for reproducing optical information according to the invention is an optical information reproducing method for reproducing information utilizing holography from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which the information is recorded in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light having a wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths and carrying the information and reference light for recording having the wavelength selected from among a plurality of wavelengths and having a spatially modulated phase, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a wavelength of light illuminating the information recording layer from among a plurality of wavelengths; spatially modulating the phase of light to generate reference light for reproduction having the selected wavelength and a spatially modulated phase; illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction and collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and detecting the collected reproduction light.

[0032] In the third apparatus or method for reproducing optical information, the information recording layer is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction having the selected wavelength and spatially modulated phase; reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction is collected on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and the collected light is detected.

[0033] A fourth optical information recording apparatus according to the invention is an optical information recording apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which information is recorded utilizing holography, the apparatus comprising a pick-up device provided in a face-to-face relationship with the optical information recording medium, the pick-up device having: a light source for emitting beams of light; information light generation means for spatially modulating the beams of light emitted by the light source to generate information light carrying information; recording reference light generation means for generating reference light for recording using the beams of light emitted by the light source; and a recording optical system for illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light generated by the information light generation means and the reference light for recording generated by the recording reference light generation means such that the information is recorded in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0034] In the fourth optical information recording apparatus according to the invention, the pick-up device provided in a face-to-face relationship with the optical information recording medium illuminates the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light and the reference light for recording to record the information in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interface between the information light and the reference light for recording.

[0035] A fourth optical information reproducing apparatus according to the invention is an optical information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer with information recorded therein utilizing holography, the apparatus comprising a pick-up device provided in a face-to-face relationship with the optical information recording medium, the pick-up device having: a light source for emitting beams of light; reproduction reference light generation means for generating reference light for reproduction using the beams of light emitted by the light source; a reproducing optical system for illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction generated by the reproduction reference light generation means and for collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and detection means for detecting the reproduction light collected by the reproducing optical system.

[0036] In the fourth optical information reproducing apparatus according to the invention, the pick-up device provided in a face-to-face relationship with the optical information recording medium illuminates the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction; reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction is collected on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and the collected reference light is detected.

[0037] An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording information in an optical information recording medium having an information recording layer in which information is recorded utilizing holography and for reproducing the information from the optical information recording medium, the apparatus comprising a pick-up device provided in a face-to-face relationship with the optical information recording medium, the pick-up device having: a light source for emitting beams of light; information light generation means for generating information light carrying information by spatially modulating the beams of light emitted by the light source; recording reference light generation means for generating reference light for recording using the beams of light emitted by the light source; reproduction reference light generation means for generating reference light for reproduction using the beams of light emitted by the light source; a recording/reproducing optical system for illuminating the information recording layer on the same side thereof with the information light generated by the information light generation means and the reference light for recording generated by the recording reference light generation means such that the information is recorded in the information recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording, for illuminating the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction generated by the reproduction reference light generation means and for collecting reproduction light generated at the information recording layer when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction: and detection means for detecting the reproduction light collected by the reproducing/reproducing optical system.

[0038] In the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the invention, during recording, the pick-up device provided in a face-to-face relationship with the optical information recording medium projects the information light and the reference light for recording upon the information recording layer on the same side thereof to record information in the information recording layer using an interference pattern as a result of interference between the information light and the reference light for recording. During reproduction, the pick-up device illuminates the information recording layer with the reference light for reproduction; reproduction light generated at the information recording light when illuminated with the reference light for reproduction is collected on the same side of the information recording layer that is illuminated with the reference light for reproduction; and the collected reproduction light is detected.

[0039] An optical information recording medium according to the invention comprises: a first information layer for recording information in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light and reference light for recording utilizing holography and for generating reproduction light associated with the recorded information when illuminated with reference light for reproduction; and a second information layer which is provided in a position different from the position of the first information layer in the direction of the thickness and in which information is recorded using means different from that for the recording of information in the first information layer.

[0040] In the optical information recording medium according to the invention, information is recorded in the first recording layer in the form of an interference pattern as a result of interference between information light and reference light for recording utilizing holography, and information is recorded in the second recording layer using means other than that for recording of information in the first information layer.

[0041] Other objects, features and objectives of the invention will become sufficiently clear from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a configuration of a pick-up of an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment and a configuration of an optical information recording medium.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a general configuration of the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a configuration of the detection circuit in FIG. 2 .

[0045] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up shown in FIG. 1 during servo.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an illustration for explaining polarized beams used in the first embodiment of the invention.

[0047] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up shown in FIG. 1 during recording.

[0048] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a state of light in the pick-up in the state shown in FIG. 6 .

[0049] FIG. 8 is an illustration of a state of light in the pick-up in the state shown in FIG. 6 .

[0050] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up shown in FIG. 1 during reproduction.

[0051] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a state of light in the pick-up in the state shown in FIG. 9 .

[0052] FIG. 11 is an illustration of a state of light in the pick-up in the state shown in FIG. 9 .

[0053] FIGS. 12A and 12B are illustrations for explaining a method for recognizing a reference position in a pattern of reproduction light from data detected by the CCD array in FIG. 1 .

[0054] FIGS. 13A and 13B are illustrations for explaining a method for recognizing a reference position in a pattern of reproduction light from data detected by the CCD array in FIG. 1 .

[0055] FIGS. 14A and 14B are illustrations of a pattern of information light and a pattern of reproduction light in the pick-up shown in FIG. 1 .

[0056] FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate the contents of data determined from a pattern of reproduction light detected by the pick-up shown in FIG. 1 and an ECC table associated with the data.

[0057] FIG. 16 is a characteristics diagram showing a state of the absorption spectrum of a hole burning material in which a reduction of absorbance has occurred in a plurality of wavelength positions as a result of illumination with light having a plurality of wavelengths.

[0058] FIG. 17 is an illustration of a configuration of a pick-up according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0059] FIG. 18 is a plan view of a configuration of an optical unit including various elements that form the pick-up according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0060] FIGS. 19A and 19B are-illustrations of an example of the rotating optical element in FIG. 17 .

[0061] FIG. 20 is an illustration of a configuration of a pick-up which can use laser light in three colors according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0062] FIG. 21 is a plan view of a slide-feed mechanism of the optical unit shown in FIG. 18 .

[0063] FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway side view of the slide-feed mechanism shown in FIG. 21 in a stationary state.

[0064] FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway side view of the slide-feed mechanism shown in FIG. 21 with the optical unit displaced slightly.

[0065] FIGS. 24A through 24C are illustrations of an operation of the actuator shown in FIG. 21 .

[0066] FIG. 25 is an illustration showing a moving direction of an objective lens of the pick-up shown in FIG. 17 during a seek and a moving direction of the same during in-field access.

[0067] FIGS. 26A and 26B are illustrations for explaining the positioning of reference light and information light in a third embodiment of the invention.

[0068] FIG. 27 is an illustration of an example of a locus of the center of the objective lens in the case of access to a plurality of locations of an optical information recording medium utilizing a seeking movement and in-field access in combination in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0069] FIG. 28 is a plan view of a cartridge for containing the optical information recording medium in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0070] FIG. 29 is a plan view of the cartridge shown in FIG. 28 with a shutter thereof opened.

[0071] FIG. 30 is a plan view showing an example wherein two optical units are provided in a face-to-face relationship with one side of the optical information recording medium in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0072] FIG. 31 is a plan view showing an example wherein four optical units are provided in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0073] FIG. 32 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A′ in FIG. 31 .

[0074] FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B′ in FIG. 31 .

[0075] FIG. 34 is a plan view showing an example wherein sixteen optical units are provided in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0076] FIG. 35 is a sectional view of one half of an air gap type optical information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0077] FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view of the one half of the air gap type optical information recording medium in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0078] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the one half of the air gap type optical information recording medium in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0079] FIG. 38 is a sectional view of one half of a transparent substrate gap type optical information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0080] FIG. 39 is an exploded perspective view of the one half of the transparent substrate gap type optical information recording medium in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0081] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the one half of the transparent substrate gap type optical information recording medium in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0082] FIG. 41 is a sectional view of a single-sided 1.2 mm thickness type optical information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0083] FIG. 42 is a sectional view of a single-sided 0.6 mm thickness type optical information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0084] FIG. 43 is an illustration of how to illuminate a single-sided optical information recording medium as shown in FIG. 41 or 42 with reference light for recording and information light.

[0085] FIG. 44 is a sectional view of a double-sided transparent substrate gap type optical information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0086] FIG. 45 is a sectional view of a double-sided air gap type optical information recording medium according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0087] FIG. 46 is an illustration of how to illuminate a double-sided optical information recording medium as shown in FIG. 44 or 45 with reference light for recording and information light.

[0088] FIG. 47 is an illustration of a single-sided type optical disk.

[0089] FIG. 48 is an illustration of the use of the optical disk shown in FIG. 47 in the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0090] FIG. 49 is an illustration of a double-sided type optical disk.

[0091] FIG. 50 is an illustration of the use of the optical disk shown in FIG. 49 in the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0092] FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a common recording/reproducing system that performs phase-encoding multiplexing showing a schematic configuration thereof.

[0093] FIGS. 52A through 52C are illustrations showing how interference fringes are formed in a hologram recording medium as a result of interference between information light and reference light.

[0094] FIG. 53 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up of the third embodiment of the invention during a servo operation.

[0095] FIG. 54 is an illustration of a state of light in the vicinity of an optical disk in the case of recording and reproduction using a normal optical disk with the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0096] FIG. 55 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up of the third embodiment of the invention during recording.

[0097] FIG. 56 is an illustration of a state of light in the vicinity of the optical information recording medium of the third embodiment of the invention during recording.

[0098] FIG. 57 is an illustration of a state of light in the vicinity of the optical information recording medium of the third embodiment of the invention during recording.

[0099] FIG. 58 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up of the third embodiment of the invention during fixing.

[0100] FIG. 59 is an illustration of a state of light in the vicinity of the optical information recording medium of the third embodiment of the invention during fixing.

[0101] FIG. 60 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up of the third embodiment of the invention during reproduction.

[0102] FIG. 61 is an illustration of a state of light in the vicinity of the optical information recording medium of the third embodiment of the invention during reproduction.

[0103] FIG. 62 is an illustration of a state of light in the vicinity of the optical information recording medium of the third embodiment of the invention during reproduction.

[0104] FIG. 63 is an illustration for explaining a direct read after write function and a write power control function during multiplex recording of the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus of the third embodiment of the invention.

[0105] FIG. 64 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration required for performing verification in the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0106] FIG. 65 is an illustration of an example of a distributed recording method in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0107] FIG. 66 is an illustration of another example of a distributed recording method in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0108] FIG. 67 is an illustration of still another example of a distributed recording method in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0109] FIG. 68 is an illustration of an example of an arrangement of a plurality of interference regions used in the distributed recording methods in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0110] FIG. 69 is an illustration of another example of an arrangement of a plurality of interference regions used in the distributed recording methods in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0111] FIG. 70 is an illustration for explaining a distributed recording method in recording a plurality of items of data on a multiplex basis utilizing shift multiplexing in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0112] FIG. 71 is an illustration for explaining a distributed recording method in recording a plurality of items of data on a multiplex basis utilizing phase-encoding multiplexing and shift multiplexing in combination in the third embodiment of the invention.

[0113] FIG. 72 is a perspective view of the exterior of a juke apparatus as an example of application of the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0114] FIG. 73 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the juke apparatus shown in FIG. 72

[0115] FIG. 74 is a block diagram of an example of a configuration of major parts in a case in which a phase modulation pattern for reference light is created based on information specific to a person in the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the invention.

[0116] FIG. 75 is a perspective view of a prior-art recording/reproducing system of digital volume holography to show a schematic configuration of the same.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0117] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A first embodiment of the invention is an example in which multiplex recording is realized using phase encoding multiplexing. FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a configuration of a pick-up of an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus as an optical information recording apparatus and an optical information reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment and a configuration of an optical information recording medium according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is-a block diagram of a general configuration of the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[0118] First, the configuration of the optical information recording medium according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . The optical information recording medium 1 is configured by forming: a hologram layer 3 as an information recording layer for recording information utilizing volume holography; a reflecting film 5 ; and a protective film 4 in the order listed on one surface of a disk-shaped transparent substrate 2 formed from polycarbonate or the like. A plurality of address servo areas 6 as positioning regions extending linearly in the radial direction are provided at predetermined angular intervals at the interface between the hologram layer 3 and the protective layer 4 . Sections in the form of sectors between the adjoining address servo areas 6 are data areas 7 . Information for performing focus servo and tracking servo using a sampled servo system and address information are recorded in advance in the form of emboss pits in the address servo areas 6 . Focus servo can be performed using a reflecting surface of the reflecting film 5 . For example, wobble pits may be used as the information for performing tracking servo. For example, the transparent substrate 2 has an appropriate thickness of 0.6 mm or less, and the hologram layer 3 has an appropriate thickness of 10 μm or more. The hologram layer 3 is formed of a hologram material whose optical characteristics such as a refractive index, permittivity and reflectivity change depending on the intensity of light when illuminated with the light. For example, photopolymer HRF-600 (product name) manufactured by DuPont or the like is used as such a hologram material. For example, the reflecting film 5 is formed of aluminum.

[0119] The configuration of the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 2 . An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus 10 has: a spindle 81 to which the optical information recording medium 1 is mounted; a spindle motor 82 for rotating the spindle 81 ; and a spindle servo circuit 83 for controlling the spindle motor 82 to keep the rotating speed of the optical information recording medium 1 at a predetermined value. The optical information recording/reproducing apparatus 10 further has: a pick-up 11 for recording information in the optical information recording medium 1 by illuminating it with information light and recording reference light and for reproducing the information recorded in the optical information recording medium 1 by illuminating the optical information recording medium 1 with reference light for reproduction and by detecting reproduction light; and a driver 84 for allowing the pick-up 11 to move in the radial direction of the optical information recording medium 1 .

[0120] The optical information recording/reproducing apparatus 10 further has: a detection circuit 85 for detecting a focus error signal FE, a tracking error signal TE and a reproduction signal RF from a signal output by the pick-up 11 ; a focus servo circuit 86 for performing focus servo by driving an actuator in the pick-up 11 based on the focus error signal FE detected by the detection circuit 85 to move an objective lens in the direction of the thickness of the optical information recording medium 1 ; a tracking servo circuit 87 for performing tracking servo by driving the actuator in the pick-up 11 based on the tracking error signal TE detected by the detection circuit 85 to move the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical information recording medium 1 ; and a slide servo circuit 88 for performing slide servo by controlling the driver 84 based on the tracking error signal TE and a command from a controller to be described later to move the pick-up 11 in the radial direction of the optical information recording medium 1 .

[0121] The optical information recording/reproducing apparatus 10 further has: a signal processing circuit 89 for reproducing data recorded in the data areas 7 of the optical information recording medium 1 by decoding data output by a CCD array to be described later in the pick-up 11 and for reproducing a basic clock and determining an address from the reproduction signal RF from the detection circuit 85 ; a controller 90 for controlling the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus 10 as a whole; and an operating portion 91 for supplying various instructions to the controller 90 . The controller 90 receives input of the basic clock and address information output by the signal processing circuit 89 and controls the pick-up 11 , spindle servo circuit 83 , slide servo circuit 88 and the like. The basic clock output by the signal processing circuit 89 is input to the spindle servo circuit 83 . The controller 90 has a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (random access memory), and the CPU executes programs stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area to realize the functions of the controller 90 .

[0122] The detection circuit 85 , focus servo circuit 86 , tracking servo circuit 87 and slide servo circuit 88 correspond to the position control means according to the invention.

[0123] A configuration of the pick-up 11 of the present embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 . The pick-up 11 has: an objective lens 12 which faces the transparent substrate 2 of the optical information recording medium 1 when the optical information recording medium 1 is secured to the spindle 81 ; an actuator 13 capable of moving the objective lens 12 in the direction of the thickness of the optical information recording medium 1 and the radial direction of the same: and a double optically rotating plate 14 and a prism block 15 which are disposed on the side of the objective lens 12 opposite to the optical information recording medium 1 in the order listed which is the order of their closeness to the objective lens 12 . The double optically rotating plate 14 has: an optically rotating plate 14 L provided on the left side of the optical axis in FIG. 1 ; and an optically rotating plate 14 R provided on the right side of the optical axis in FIG. 1 . The optically rotating plate 14 L optically rotates a polarizing direction at +45°, and the optically rotating plate 14 R optically rotates a polarizing direction at −45°. The prism block 15 has a half-reflecting surface 15 a and a reflecting surface 15 b which are arranged in the order listed which is the order of their closeness to the double optically rotating plate 14 . The normal directions of both of the half-reflecting surface 15 a and the reflecting surface 15 b are at 45° to the direction of the optical axis of the objective lens 12 and are in parallel with each other.

[0124] The pick-up 11 further has a prism block 19 provided on a side of the prism block 15 . The prism block 19 has: a reflecting surface 19 a which is provided in a position associated with the half-reflecting surface 15 a of the prism block 15 and which is in parallel with the half-reflecting surface 15 a ; and a half-reflecting surface 19 b which is provided in a position associated with the reflecting surface 15 b and which is in parallel with the reflecting surface 15 b.

[0125] The pick-up 11 further has a convex lens 16 and a phase-spatial light modulator 17 which are provided between the prism blocks 15 and 19 in positions associated with the half-reflecting surface 15 a and reflecting surface 19 a , and has a spatial light modulator 18 provided between the prism blocks 15 and 19 in a position associated with the reflecting surface 15 b and the half-reflecting surface 19 b.

[0126] The phase-spatial light modulator 17 has a multiplicity of pixels arranged in the form of a grid and is capable of spatially modulating the phase of light by selecting a phase for light emitted by each of the pixels. A liquid crystal element may be used as the phase-spatial light modulator 17 . The phase-spatial light modulator 17 corresponds to the phase modulation means according to the invention.

[0127] The spatial light modulator 18 has a multiplicity of pixels arranged in the form of a grid and is capable of generating information light carrying information by spatially modulating light in terms of intensity by selecting a light transmitting state or a light blocking state for each of the pixels. A liquid crystal element may be used as the spatial light modulator 18 . The spatial light modulator 18 constitutes the information light generation means according to the invention.

[0128] The pick-up 11 further has a CCD array 20 as detection means provided in a direction in which return light from the optical information recording medium 1 is reflected by the half-reflecting surface 19 b of the prism block 19 after being transmitted by the spatial light modulator 18 .

[0129] The pick-up 11 further has a beam splitter 23 , a collimator lens 24 and a light source device 25 which are provided on the side of the prism block 19 opposite to the spatial light modulator 18 in the order listed which is the order of their closeness to the prism block 19 . The beam splitter 23 has a half-reflecting surface 23 a whose normal direction is tilted at an angle of 45° to the direction of the optical axis of the collimator lens 24 . The light source device 25 emits coherent linearly polarized light and may be, for example, a semiconductor laser.

[0130] The pick-up 11 further has: a photodetector 26 provided in a direction in which light from the light source device 25 is reflected by the half-reflecting surface 23 a of the beam splitter 23 ; and a convex lens 27 , a cylindrical lens 28 and a quadruple photodetector 29 which are provided on the side of the beam splitter 23 opposite to the photodetector 26 in the order listed which is the order of their closeness to the beam splitter 23 . The photodetector 26 receives light from the light source device 25 , and the output of the same is used to adjust the output of the light source device 25 automatically. As shown in FIG. 3 , the quadruple photodetector 29 has four light-receiving portions 29 a through 29 d divided by a division line 30 a in parallel with a direction corresponding to the direction of tracks of the optical information recording medium 1 and a division line 30 b orthogonal thereto. The cylindrical lens 28 is provided such that the central axis of the cylindrical surface thereof is at an angle of 45° to the division lines 30 a and 30 b of the quadruple photodetector 29 .

[0131] The phase-spatial light modulator 17 , the spatial light modulator 18 and the light source device 25 in the pick-up 11 are controlled by the controller 90 in FIG. 2 . The controller 90 has information of a plurality of modulation patterns for spatially modulating the phase of light with the phase-spatial light modulator 17 . The operating portion 91 allows selection of any one of the plurality of modulation patterns. The controller 90 supplies information of a modulation pattern selected by itself or by the operating portion 91 to the phase-spatial light modulator 17 in accordance with predetermined conditions, and the phase-spatial light modulator 17 spatially modulates the phase of light, in accordance with the modulation pattern information supplied by the controller 90 , in the modulation pattern associated therewith in accordance with the information.

[0132] The reflectivity of each of the half-reflecting surfaces 15 a and 19 b in the pick-up 11 is appropriately set, for example, such that information light and reference light for recording incident upon the optical information recording medium 1 have the same intensity.

[0133] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the detection circuit 85 for detecting the focus error signal FE, the tracking error signal TE and the reproduction signal RF based on the output of the quadruple photodetector 29 . The detection circuit 85 has: an adder 31 for adding the output of each of the diagonal light-receiving portions 29 a and 29 d of the quadruple photodetector 29 ; an adder 32 for adding the output of each of the diagonal light-receiving portions 29 b and 29 c of the quadruple photodetector 29 ; a subtracter 33 for calculating the difference between the outputs of the adders 31 and 32 to generate the focus error signal FE based on an astigmatic method; an adder 34 for adding the output of each of the light-receiving portions 29 a and 29 b of the quadruple photodetector 29 which are adjacent to each other in the direction of tracks thereof; an adder 35 for adding the output of each of the light-receiving portions 29 c and 29 d of the quadruple photodetector 29 which are adjacent to each other in the direction of the tracks thereof; a subtracter 36 for calculating the difference between the outputs of the adders 34 and 35 to generate the tracking error signal TE based on a push-pull method; and an adder 37 for adding the outputs of the adders 34 and 35 to generate the reproduction signal RF. In the present embodiment, the reproduction signal RF is a signal which is the reproduction of the information recorded in the address servo areas 6 of the optical information recording medium 1 .

[0134] Servo, recording and reproducing operations of the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment will now be separately described in that order. In any of the servo, recording and reproducing operations, the optical information recording medium 1 is rotated by the spindle motor 82 under control to maintain a predetermined rotating speed.

[0135] A servo operation will now be described with reference to FIG. 4 . During a servo operation, all pixels of the spatial light modulator 18 are in a transmitting state. The output of the emission of light from the light source device 25 is set at a low output for reproduction. The controller 90 predicts the timing at which light that has exited the objective lens 12 passes through the address servo areas 6 based on a basic clock reproduced from a reproduction signal RF and maintains the above-described setting while the light from the objective lens 12 passes through the address servo areas 6 .

[0136] Light emitted by the light source device 25 is collimated by the collimator lens 24 to impinge upon the beam splitter 23 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 23 a and another part is reflected thereby. The light reflected by the half-reflecting surface 23 a is received by the photodetector 26 . The light transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 23 a impinges upon the prism block 19 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 19 b . The light transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 19 b passes through the spatial light modulator 18 to be reflected by the reflecting surface 15 b of the prism block 15 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 15 a , passes through the double optically rotating plate 14 , and is collected by the objective lens 12 to be projected upon the optical information recording medium 1 such that it converges at the interface between the hologram layer 3 and the protective layer 4 of the optical information recording medium 1 . This light is reflected by the reflecting film 5 of the optical information recording medium 1 , modulated by embossed pits in the address servo areas 6 while being reflected, and then returned to the objective lens 12 .

[0137] The return light from the optical information recording medium 1 is collimated by the objective lens 12 and passes through the double optically rotating plate 14 again to impinge upon the prism block 15 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 15 a . The return light transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 15 a is reflected by the reflecting surface 15 a and is transmitted by the spatial light modulator 18 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 19 b of the prism block 19 . The return light transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 19 b impinges upon the beam splitter 23 , and a part of the quantity of light is reflected by the half-reflecting surface 23 a , passes through the convex lens 27 and cylindrical lens 28 sequentially, and is then detected by the quadruple photodetector 29 . Based on the output of the quadruple photodetector 29 , the detection circuit 85 shown in FIG. 3 generates the focus error signal FE, tracking error signal TE and reproduction signal RF based on which focus servo and tracking servo is performed; the basic clock is generated; and addresses are determined.

[0138] In the above-described setting for servo, the pick-up 11 is configured similarly to a configuration of a pick-up for recording on or reproduction from normal optical disks such as CDs (compact disks), DVDs (digital video disks or digital versatile disks) and HSs (hyper storage disks). It is therefore possible to configure the optical information recording/reproducing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment to be compatible with normal optical disk devices.

[0139] A definition will now be given to terms “A-polarized lights” and “B-polarized lights ” which will be used in the following description. As shown in FIG. 10 , A-polarized light is linear polarized light obtained by rotating the polarizing direction of S-polarized light at −45° or by rotating the polarizing direction of P-polarized light at +45°, and B-polarized light is linear polarized light obtained by rotating the polarizing direction of S-polarized light at +45° or by rotating the polarizing direction of P-polarized light at −45°. The polarizing directions of the A-polarized light and B-polarized light are orthogonal to each other. S-polarized light is linear polarized light whose polarizing direction is perpendicular to the plane of incidence (plane of FIG. 1 ), and P-polarized light is linear polarized light whose polarizing direction is in parallel with the plane of incidence.

[0140] A recording operation will now be described. FIG. 6 is an illustration of a state of the pick-up 11 during recording. During recording, the spatial light modulator 18 generates information light by selecting a transmitting state (hereinafter also referred to as “on”) or a blocking state (hereinafter also referred to as “off”) for each pixel depending on the information to be recorded to spatially modulate the light that is passing through it. According to the present embodiment, two pixels represent information of one bit, and one of two pixels associated with information of one bit is always on and the other is always off.

[0141] The phase-spatial light modulator 17 generates reference light for recording having a spatially modulated phase by selectively applying a phase difference of 0 (rad) or π (rad) from a predetermined reference phase to each pixel according to a predetermined modulation pattern to spatially modulate the phase of light passing therethrough. The controller 90 supplies information of a modulation pattern selected by itself or by the operating portion 91 in accordance with predetermined conditions to the phase-spatial light modulator 17 which in turn spatially modulates the phase of light passing therethrough according to the modulation pattern information supplied by the controller 90 .

[0142] The output of light emitted by the light source device 25 is set at a high output to be used for recording in terms of the pulse thereof. Based on the basic clock reproduced from the reproduction signal RF, the controller 90 predicts timing at which light that has exited the objective lens 12 passes through the data areas 7 and maintains the above-described setting while the light from the objective lens 12 is passing through the data areas 7 . While the light from the objective lens 12 is passing through the data areas 7 , neither focus servo nor tracking servo is performed, and the objective lens 12 is fixed. The following description is on an assumption that the light source device 25 emits P-polarized light.

[0143] As shown in FIG. 6 , P-polarized light emitted by the light source device 25 is collimated by the collimator lens 24 to impinge upon the beam splitter 23 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 23 a to impinge upon the prism block 19 . A part of the light incident upon the prism block 19 is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 19 b , and another part of the quantity of light is reflected by the half-reflecting surface 19 b . The light transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 19 b passes through the spatial light modulator 18 in which it is spatially modulated into information light according to the information to be recorded. The information light is reflected by the reflecting surface 15 b of the prism block 15 , and a part of the quantity of light is transmitted by the half-reflecting surface 15 a to pass through the double optically rotating plate 14 . The polarizing direction of light passing through the optically rotating plate 14 L of the double optically rotating plate 14 is rotated at +45° to provide A-polarized light, and the polarizing direction of light passing through the optically rotating plate 14 R is rotated at −45° to provide B-polarized light. The information light having passed through the double optically rotating plate 14 is collected by the objective lens 12 and is projected upon the optical information recording medium 1 such that it converges on the interface between the hologram layer 3 and the protective layer 4 , i.e., on the reflecting film 5 of the optical information recording medium 1 .

[0144] The light reflected by the half-reflecting surface 19 b of the prism block 19 is reflected by the reflecting surface 19 a to pass through the phase-spatial light modulator 17 in which the phase of light is spatially modulated according to a predetermined modulation pattern to provide reference light for recording. The reference light for recording passes through the convex lens 16 to become convergent light. A part of the reference light for recording is reflected by the half-reflecting surface 15 a of the prism block 15 to pass through the double optically rotating plate 14 . The polarizing direction of light which has passed through the optically rotating plate 14 L of the double optically rotating plate 14 is rotated at +45° to provide A-polarized light, and the polarizing direction of light which has passed through the optically rotating plate 14 R is rotated at −45° to provide B-polarized light. The reference light for recording which has passed through the double optically rotating plate 14 is collected by the objective lens 12 to be projected upon the optical information recording medium 1 . The light temporarily converges to a minimum diameter before the interface between the hologram layer 3 and the protective layer 4 , and thereafter divergingly passes through the hologram layer 3 .

[0145] FIGS. 7 and 8 are illustrations of states of light during recording. In those figures, the reference number 61 represents P-polarized light; the reference number 63 represents A-polarized light; and the reference number 64 represents B-polarized light.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 7 , information light 51 L which has passed through the optically rotating plate 14 L of the double optically rotating plate 14 becomes A-polarized light which illuminates the optical information recording medium 1 through the objective lens 12 , passes through the hologram layer 3 , converges to a minimum diameter on the reflecting film 5 and passes through the hologram layer 3 again after being reflected by the reflecting film 5 . Reference light 52 L for recording which has passed through the optically rotating plate 14 L of the double optically rotating plate 14 becomes A-polarized light which illuminates the optical information recording medium 1 through the objective lens 12 , temporarily converges to a minimum diameter before the interface between the hologram layer 3 and the protective layer 4 and divergingly passes through the hologram layer 3 . Interference occurs in the hologram layer 3 between the A-polarized information light 51 L reflected by the reflecting film 5 and the A-polarized reference light 52 L for recording traveling toward the reflecting film 5 , so that an interference pattern is formed, and the interference pattern is volumetrically recorded in the hologram layer 3 when the light emitted by the light source device 20 is at the high output.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 8 , information light 51 R which has passed through the optically rotating plate 14 R of the double optically rotating plate 14 becomes B-polarized light which illuminates the optical information recording medium 1 through the objective lens 12 , passes through the hologram layer 3 , converges to a minimum diameter on the reflecting film 5 and passes through the hologram layer 3 again after being reflected by the reflecting film 5 . Reference light 52 R for recording which has passed through the optically rotating plate 14 R of the double optically rotating plate 14 becomes B-polarized light which illuminates the optical information recording medium 1 through the objective lens 12 , temporarily converges to