Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprises an orbicular zone forming lens group 14 for forming the section of the laser beam, which is irradiated to an optical disc DK having plural recording layers, into an annular shape, a condenser lens 35 that converges the reflected beam from the optical disc DK, and a pinhole plate 36 having formed thereto a pinhole 36a with a size corresponding to a flux diameter of the reflected beam converged by the condenser lens 35. The orbicular zone forming lens group 14 refracts the laser beam irradiated to the optical disc DK so as to form the section of the laser beam into an annular shape in order that the internal diameter of the annular converged flux formed on the pinhole plate 36a by the reflected beam from the recording layers other than the recording layer having an optical spot formed thereon becomes greater than the diameter of the pinhole 36a.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprises an orbicular zone forming lens group 14 for forming the section of the laser beam, which is irradiated to an optical disc DK having plural recording layers, into an annular shape, a condenser lens 35 that converges the reflected beam from the optical disc DK, and a pinhole plate 36 having formed thereto a pinhole 36a with a size corresponding to a flux diameter of the reflected beam converged by the condenser lens 35. The orbicular zone forming lens group 14 refracts the laser beam irradiated to the optical disc DK so as to form the section of the laser beam into an annular shape in order that the internal diameter of the annular converged flux formed on the pinhole plate 36a by the reflected beam from the recording layers other than the recording layer having an optical spot formed thereon becomes greater than the diameter of the pinhole 36a.

Abstract: An optical disc initialization apparatus includes a table on which an optical disc is placed. The table is guided on a base for linear motion and is moved back and forth by an electric motor. A light source and an optical system are disposed above the table. The light source consists of a plurality of semiconductor laser arrays, each including a plurality of emitters arranged in a row and each emitting a laser beam. The optical system introduces the laser beams from the light source and forms an elongated elliptical laser spot on the optical disc. The major axis of the elliptical laser spot has a length substantially equal to the diameter of a recording area of the optical disc. The table is moved linearly under the optical system in order to initialize the entire recording area of the optical disc through a single scanning operation.

Abstract: An optical disc initialization apparatus includes a table on which an optical disc is placed. The table is guided on a base for linear motion and is moved back and forth by an electric motor. A light source and an optical system are disposed above the table. The light source consists of a plurality of semiconductor laser arrays, each including a plurality of emitters arranged in a row and each emitting a laser beam. The optical system introduces the laser beams from the light source and forms an elongated elliptical laser spot on the optical disc. The major axis of the elliptical laser spot has a length substantially equal to the diameter of a recording area of the optical disc. The table is moved linearly under the optical system in order to initialize the entire recording area of the optical disc through a single scanning operation.

Abstract: An objective lens supporting device having its tracking sensitivity in the focusing direction improved by separating the center of gravity of the moving portion for the objective lens at the time when it moves in the focusing direction from each other and having vibration of the objective lens occurring when the device is subjected to an external force due to an acceleration accompanying a movement of the optical pickup suppressed, the objective lens supporting device, further, being quite excellent in the optical disk tracking characteristic of the optical pickup device and capable of achieving cueing of an information signal on an optical disk in a very short time.