Magneto-optical recording method with switching and maintaining perpendicular magnetization light beam application modes

Claim 1

A magneto-optical recording method of forming a magnetic recording pattern in an overwriting mode, utilizing demagnetizing field, by directing a light beam onto a perpendicularly magnetized film layer of a magneto-optical recording medium, said method comprising: (a) applying a light beam onto said perpendicularly magnetized film layer for recording, while (b) switching the direction of magnetization for recording from downward to upward or from upward to downward, when required, with respect to the surface of said magnetized film layer, wherein the improvement comprises: (c) the applying step comprising applying said light beam to a portion in said magnetized film layer thereby to establish a light-beam applied portion in said film layer, applying said light beam to a portion in said magnetized film layer immediately after said light-beam applied portion whereby the second-mentioned portion itself becomes a light-beam applied portion, and continuing to apply the light beam to further portions in said magnetized film layer immediately after the second-mentioned portion and immediately after each other such that each of said further portions in turn becomes a light-beam applied portion, said light beam being applied to each of said portions either in a light-beam application mode for switching the direction of perpendicular magnetization between a light-beam applied portion and a portion immediately thereafter or in a light-beam application mode for maintaining the same direction of perpendicular magnetization, as that in a light-beam applied portion, in a portion immediately thereafter; (d) in switching the direction of perpendicular magnetization as aforesaid when recording is being carried out by the application of a light beam onto said film layer, using one of said light beam application modes for a light-beam applied portion in said magnetized film layer to which said light beam has been applied, and using said switching light beam application mode in a portion in said magnetized film layer immediately after said light-beam applied portion to which said light beam is yet to be applied, the light beam being applied to both of said portions, while changing the application mode between the two last-mentioned portions when the mode used for the light-beam applied portion is said mode for maintaining the same direction of perpendicular magnetization; and (e) in maintaining the same direction of perpendicular magnetization as aforesaid when recording is being carried out by the application of a light beam onto said film layer, using one of said light beam application modes for a light-beam applied portion in said magnetized film layer to which said light beam has been applied, and using said light beam application mode for maintaining the same direction of perpendicular magnetization in a portion in said magnetized film layer immediately after said light-beam applied portion to which said light beam is yet to be applied, the light beam being applied to both of said portions, while changing the application mode between the two last-mentioned portions when the mode used for the light-beam applied portion is said switching light beam application mode.