An optical encoder is provided. The encoder includes an optical disc mounted on a shaft, the optical disc containing pit and land markings; an optical pickup unit for an optical disc that receives light from the optical disc and supplies as an output an electrical signal representative of the received light, comprising: a reading head objective lens, and dynamic steering actuators that control the focus and tracking of the reading head objective lens; a processor that receives as an input the electrical signal from the optical pickup unit and reports motion of the substrate based on the received at least one electrical signal.

An optical encoder is provided. The encoder includes an optical disc mounted on a shaft, the optical disc containing pit and land markings; an optical pickup unit for an optical disc that receives light from the optical disc and supplies as an output an electrical signal representative of the received light, comprising: a reading head objective lens, and dynamic steering actuators that control the focus and tracking of the reading head objective lens; a processor that receives as an input the electrical signal from the optical pickup unit and reports motion of the substrate based on the received at least one electrical signal.

An optical disk reproducing device includes a division element that divides a reflected light reflected and diffracted by an optical disk into a light flux in a central region and light fluxes in end regions; a photodetector that has a central light receiver that receives the light flux in the central region and at least two end light receivers that receive the light fluxes in the end regions, and outputs a light amount signal corresponding to a light amount of each of the received light fluxes; a non-linear processor that receives each of the light amount signals from the central light receiver and the end light receivers, and outputs linear signals and non-linear signals obtained by processing the light amount signals by linear and non-linear arithmetic operations; an equalization processor that receives the linear signals and the non-linear signals and outputs signals each amplified with a predetermined gain; an adder that adds the amplified signals and outputs an equalization signal; a reproduction signal processor that processes the equalization signal and outputs a reproduction signal and an equalization error signal; and a gain controller that receives the equalization error signal and controls an amplification gain of the non-linear signals.

An optical disk reproducing device includes a division element that divides a reflected light reflected and diffracted by an optical disk into a light flux in a central region and light fluxes in end regions; a photodetector that has a central light receiver that receives the light flux in the central region and at least two end light receivers that receive the light fluxes in the end regions, and outputs a light amount signal corresponding to a light amount of each of the received light fluxes; a non-linear processor that receives each of the light amount signals from the central light receiver and the end light receivers, and outputs linear signals and non-linear signals obtained by processing the light amount signals by linear and non-linear arithmetic operations; an equalization processor that receives the linear signals and the non-linear signals and outputs signals each amplified with a predetermined gain; an adder that adds the amplified signals and outputs an equalization signal; a reproduction signal processor that processes the equalization signal and outputs a reproduction signal and an equalization error signal; and a gain controller that receives the equalization error signal and controls an amplification gain of the non-linear signals.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical disk having at least a cover layer, a first information recording surface, a first intermediate layer, a second information recording surface, a second intermediate layer, and a third information recording surface in order from a surface irradiated with a light beam on at least one side, wherein a numerical aperture of an objective lens that converges the light beam on any of the recording surface of the optical disk when information recording or information reproduction of the optical disk is performed is 0.91, standard value dk of each thickness from the surface to the first to third information recording surfaces is set on the premise of standard refractive index no, where k is 1, 2, 3, and a target value of each actual thickness from the surface to the first to third information recording surfaces is determined by a product of conversion coefficient g(n) depending on refractive index n from the first to third information recording surfaces, and standard value dk.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical disk having at least a cover layer, a first information recording surface, a first intermediate layer, a second information recording surface, a second intermediate layer, and a third information recording surface in order from a surface irradiated with a light beam on at least one side, wherein a numerical aperture of an objective lens that converges the light beam on any of the recording surface of the optical disk when information recording or information reproduction of the optical disk is performed is 0.91, standard value dk of each thickness from the surface to the first to third information recording surfaces is set on the premise of standard refractive index no, where k is 1, 2, 3, and a target value of each actual thickness from the surface to the first to third information recording surfaces is determined by a product of conversion coefficient g(n) depending on refractive index n from the first to third information recording surfaces, and standard value dk.

This objective lens has a single lens that has a numerical aperture of 0.85 or more. A base material thickness th and a base material thickness tm differ from each other. The base material thickness th is a thickness where third-order spherical aberration is minimized when a light beam that is substantially parallel is input to the objective lens, and the base material thickness tm is a thickness where total aberration is minimized when third-order spherical aberration is minimized by changing parallelism of the light beam input to the objective lens from a parallel state.

Provided is an objective lens which is used so that more information can be accumulated in a large-capacity optical disk and which has a further enhanced numerical aperture NA. The objective lens is a single lens having the numerical aperture NA and a refractive index n, and is configured so as to satisfy: NA≥0.91 and 1.61≤n<1.72.

Provided is an objective lens which is used so that more information can be accumulated in a large-capacity optical disk and which has a further enhanced numerical aperture NA. The objective lens is a single lens having the numerical aperture NA and a refractive index n, and is configured so as to satisfy: NA≥0.91 and 1.61≤n<1.72.

For irradiating a layer a radiation beam is directed and focussed to a spot on the layer, relative movement of the layer relative to the lens is caused so that, successively, different portions of the layer are irradiated and an interspace between a surface of the lens nearest to the layer is maintained. Furthermore, at least a portion of the interspace through which the radiation irradiates the spot on the layer is maintained filled with a liquid, the liquid being supplied via a supply conduit. At least a portion of the liquid fills up a recess through which the radiation irradiates the spot.