Abstract: A laser diode driving apparatus detects the laser power output of a semiconductor laser diode (13), irradiating a laser bean on a write-once or overwrite optical disk (11), by a detector (14), compares the resulting detection output signal by a comparator (17) with a laser power setting signal, modulates the resulting comparison output signal with record data by a modulating device (19), and drives the laser diode (13) by a driving device (22) with the resulting modulation output signal. By providing the modulation device (19) in the APC circuit adapted for controlling the output of the semiconductor laser diode (13), it becomes possible to automatically set the laser power necessary for recording to an optimum value, as well as to widen the temperature range and the working characteristics of the semiconductor laser diode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tracking error detecting apparatus for an optical head, which includes a semiconductor laser apparatus, a diffraction grating, a beam splitter, an objective lens and a photo-detector, in which a laser beam from the semiconductor laser apparatus is divided into a main beam and two side beams at both sides of the main beam by the diffraction grating, the three beams are introduced through the beam splitter and the objective lens to an optical recording medium, beams reflected on the optical recording medium are introduced through the objective lens to the beam splitter and reflected thereon, the reflected beams are made incident on the photo-detector and detected outputs of at least two beams of the three beams from the photo-detector are used to produce a tracking error signal corresponding to the tacking state of the main beam on the optical recording medium.

Abstract: An optical pickup of the invention has an objective lens holder holding an objective lens, a support shaft which supports the objective lens holder such that the holder is slidable along the axial direction and pivotable about its axis, and a press member for pressing the objective lens holder against the support shaft.