Patent attributes
In an optical information medium comprising an information recording layer having a mark train of marks and spaces, the mark train is read out by scanning it with a laser beam and detecting a light intensity change pattern of reflected laser beam. Provided that the reflected laser beam includes polarized light components which define an angle θ with the mark train, a polarized light component giving θ=0 is x0 component, and a polarized light component giving θ=90° is y0 component, the mark train is read out utilizing at least a light intensity change of x0 component. When pits or recorded marks having a size approximate to or below the resolution limit are read out, the present invention allows high read outputs to be obtained and prevents omission of readout signals.
