Abstract: A scanning device is designed for optically scanning a first record carrier (1) having a first information plane (3) and a first transparent layer (2) of a first thickness and for scanning a second record carrier (18) having a second information plane (20) and a second transparent layer (19) of a second thickness different from the first thickness. The device comprises a radiation source (5, 22) for generating a radiation beam (6, 23) and an objective lens (9) for focusing the radiation beam through one of the transparent layers on one of the information layers. The radiation source comprising means for adapting the vergency of the radiation beam to a first value for scanning the first record carrier and to a second value for scanning the second record carrier. The objective lens has a convex surface (28) and a concave surface (29), the convex surface facing towards the radiation source.

Abstract: An optical scanning device can scan two types of record carriers each having a transparent layer with a different thickness, in which a radiation beam scans an information layer of the record carrier through the transparent layer. When scanning a first type of record carrier the best focus of a scanning radiation beam is positioned on the information layer and when scanning a second type of record carrier the paraxial focus of the radiation beam is positioned on the information layer.