Abstract: An optical pickup device is provided, in which, supposing that an angle formed by the meeting of a straight line connecting a center of an optical disk and an accessing position of an HD objective lens with a diameter L of the optical disk is a track angle ?1, an oscillation angle ? of an optical system including an HD laser, an HD half mirror, and an HD sensor, and a distance z of the HD objective lens are set so as to satisfy ??(?1max+?1min)/2=±45°, where ?1max is the track angle ?1 when the HD objective lens is positioned at an innermost circumference of the optical disk, and ?1min is the track angle ?1 when the HD objective lens is positioned at an outermost circumference of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optical pickup device that emits laser light beams having different wavelengths to a recording medium is disclosed. A semiconductor laser includes three laser elements having emitting wavelengths of ?1, ?2, and ?3 (?1<?2<?3), respectively. A plurality of diffraction gratings substantially align optical axes of the laser light beams emitted from the laser elements with one another by diffracting action. The diffraction gratings are separately provided for corresponding laser light beams having wavelengths of ?2 and ?3. Diffracting action for aligning ±n-order diffraction light (n is an integer equal to or greater than 1) of each of the laser light beams having the wavelengths of ?2 and ?3 with an optical axis of a laser light beam having a wavelength of ?1 is provided for the laser light beams having the wavelengths of ?2 and ?3.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts and complication of an optical system while a diffraction grating is used as an optical axis correcting element. Three kinds of blue, red, and infrared laser light beams are emitted from laser element provided in the same CAN package. A blue light emitting point (wavelength: 405 nm) and an infrared light emitting point (wavelength: 780 nm) are arranged in a layer forming direction of the laser elements such that an interval (d2) between the light emitting points becomes shorter than an interval (d1) between each of the light emitting points and a red light emitting point. An optical axis of the laser light beam emitted from the red light emitting point (wavelength: 650 nm) is aligned with an optical axis of the laser light beam emitted from the blue or infrared light emitting point by using the diffraction grating.

Abstract: An optical-pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode to emit laser light forward and backward; an objective lens to focus the laser light emitted forward from the laser diode onto a signal-recording layer of an optical disc; a spherical-aberration correction element that is arranged on an optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens, and is so movable in an optical-axis direction of the laser light as to correct spherical aberration; a movement-position detection unit to detect a movement position of the spherical-aberration correction element, and output a detection signal indicating the movement position of the spherical-aberration correction element; a photodetector to receive the laser light emitted backward from the laser diode, and output a monitor signal corresponding to a light-receiving level of the laser light; and a control unit to control intensity of the laser light emitted from the laser diode based on the monitor and detection signals.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device capable to suppress an occurrence of an aberration on a recording medium and a decrease of power of laser beams while employing a diffraction grating as an optical axis correction element. The laser element emitting the laser beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength) is disposed between the laser element emitting the laser beam for next-generation DVD (405 nm in wavelength) and the laser element emitting the laser beam for DVD (650 nm in wavelength). Only the laser beam for DVD is aligned by a diffraction effect of the optical axis correction element (diffraction grating) with the optical axis of the laser beam for next generation DVD. It is possible that a decrease of laser power due to diffraction efficiency is suppressed as much as possible because only the optical axis of the laser beam for DVD is aligned with the optical axis of the laser beam for next-generation DVD.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device in which the deterioration of optical characteristics of a laser light beam due to a deviation of an optical axis can be smoothly suppressed with a simple structure. An objective lens becomes a finite system for only a laser light beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength). A three-wavelength laser is disposed such that an optical axis of the laser light beam for CD is aligned with an optical axis of an optical system including a polarization BS to an optical axis correcting element. In this case, the large deterioration of the optical properties of the laser light beam for CD, which cannot be sufficiently compensated even if the objective lens is tilted, does not occur. A stable recording and reproducing operation using the laser light beam for CD can be performed.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device whose optical axis adjustment can be performed while an increase in cost is suppressed and whose optical axis correction can be accurately performed even when a variation in arrangement between laser elements occurs. The optical pickup device includes a semiconductor 101 that houses at least three laser elements having at least three different emission wavelengths in a single package, and first and second diffraction gratings 102 and 111 for substantially matching optical axes of lasers emitted from the laser elements with the optical axis of the reference laser beam by a diffraction effect. The first diffraction grating 102 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect. The second diffraction grating 111 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for DVD (655 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect.

Abstract: A blue-violet emission point, an infrared emission point, and a red emission point in a semiconductor laser apparatus are arranged so as to be arranged in this order on a substantially straight line along a first direction. A blue-violet laser beam emitted from the blue-violet emission point and a red laser beam emitted from the red emission point are incident on an optical disk by an optical system comprising a polarizing beam splitter, a collimator lens, a beam expander, a ?/4 plate, an objective lens, a cylindrical lens, and an optical disk, is returned from the optical disk, and is introduced into an photodetector. The infrared laser beam emitted from the infrared emission point is incident on the optical disk by the optical system, is returned from the optical disk, and is introduced into the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is provided, in which, supposing that an angle formed by the meeting of a straight line connecting a center of an optical disk and an accessing position of an HD objective lens with a diameter L of the optical disk is a track angle ?1, an oscillation angle ? of an optical system including an HD laser, an HD half mirror, and an HD sensor, and a distance z of the HD objective lens are set so as to satisfy ??(?1max+?1min)/2=±45°, where ?1max is the track angle ?1 when the HD objective lens is positioned at an innermost circumference of the optical disk, and ?1min is the track angle ?1 when the HD objective lens is positioned at an outermost circumference of the optical disk.

Abstract: A wavefront of a laser light is adjusted using a phase correcting element. The phase correcting element includes an electrode layer, an electrode layer arranged facing the former electrode layer, orientation films arranged on a surface facing the electrode layers, and a liquid crystal layer filled between the orientation films. One of the two electrode layers is formed with an electrode pattern (ring shaped electrode) for providing a spherical aberration correcting effect to the laser light within a constant distance from a center of a beam incident diameter, and a continuous electrode is arranged on an outer side thereof. Occurrence of the aberration by a lens shift is effectively suppressed by omitting electrodes arranged slightly on an inner side of the conventional beam incident diameter.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pickup device, which is capable of detecting and correcting spherical aberration while suppressing an increase in the number of construction elements and without increasing outer dimensions of a pickup device main body, and a recording and/or reproducing device having the optical pickup device built therein. A lens is designed such that when the thickness of a disk protective layer is greater than an optimum value, returning light (reflection light) from a disk is condensed on a sensor. The sensor is arranged at a condensing point and has a shape with which around 50% of the returning light is received when the thickness of the protective layer assumes the optimum value. With this construction, the quantity of light received by the sensor is increased when the thickness of the protective layer is greater than the optimum value, and is conversely reduced when the thickness of the protective layer is smaller than the optimum value.

Abstract: A blue-violet emission point, an infrared emission point, and a red emission point in a semiconductor laser apparatus are arranged so as to be arranged in this order on a substantially straight line along a first direction. A blue-violet laser beam emitted from the blue-violet emission point and a red laser beam emitted from the red emission point are incident on an optical disk by an optical system comprising a polarizing beam splitter, a collimator lens, a beam expander, a ?/4 plate, an objective lens, a cylindrical lens, and an optical disk, is returned from the optical disk, and is introduced into an photodetector. The infrared laser beam emitted from the infrared emission point is incident on the optical disk by the optical system, is returned from the optical disk, and is introduced into the photodetector.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts and complication of an optical system while a diffraction grating is used as an optical axis correcting element. Three kinds of blue, red, and infrared laser light beams are emitted from laser element provided in the same CAN package. A blue light emitting point (wavelength: 405 nm) and an infrared light emitting point (wavelength: 780 nm) are arranged in a layer forming direction of the laser elements such that an interval (d2) between the light emitting points becomes shorter than an interval (d1) between each of the light emitting points and a red light emitting point. An optical axis of the laser light beam emitted from the red light emitting point (wavelength: 650 nm) is aligned with an optical axis of the laser light beam emitted from the blue or infrared light emitting point by using the diffraction grating.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device in which the deterioration of optical characteristics of a laser light beam due to a deviation of an optical axis can be smoothly suppressed with a simple structure. An objective lens becomes a finite system for only a laser light beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength). A three-wavelength laser is disposed such that an optical axis of the laser light beam for CD is aligned with an optical axis of an optical system including a polarization BS to an optical axis correcting element. In this case, the large deterioration of the optical properties of the laser light beam for CD, which cannot be sufficiently compensated even if the objective lens is tilted, does not occur. A stable recording and reproducing operation using the laser light beam for CD can be performed.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device capable to suppress an occurrence of an aberration on a recording medium and a decrease of power of laser beams while employing a diffraction grating as an optical axis correction element. The laser element emitting the laser beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength) is disposed between the laser element emitting the laser beam for next-generation DVD (405 nm in wavelength) and the laser element emitting the laser beam for DVD (650 nm in wavelength). Only the laser beam for DVD is aligned by a diffraction effect of the optical axis correction element (diffraction grating) with the optical axis of the laser beam for next generation DVD. It is possible that a decrease of laser power due to diffraction efficiency is suppressed as much as possible because only the optical axis of the laser beam for DVD is aligned with the optical axis of the laser beam for next-generation DVD.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device whose optical axis adjustment can be performed while an increase in cost is suppressed and whose optical axis correction can be accurately performed even when a variation in arrangement between laser elements occurs. The optical pickup device includes a semiconductor 101 that houses at least three laser elements having at least three different emission wavelengths in a single package, and first and second diffraction gratings 102 and 111 for substantially matching optical axes of lasers emitted from the laser elements with the optical axis of the reference laser beam by a diffraction effect. The first diffraction grating 102 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for CD (780 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect. The second diffraction grating 111 matches an optical axis of a laser beam for DVD (655 nm in wavelength) with the reference optical axis by a diffraction effect.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes: a semiconductor laser that has three laser elements for emitting a laser light beam for DVD (wavelength: 655 nm), a laser light beam for CD (wavelength: 780 nm), and a laser light beam for next-generation DVD (wavelength: 408 nm), respectively, which are housed in the same case; and first and second diffraction gratings that substantially align optical axes of the laser light beams emitted from the laser elements with one another by diffracting action. The first diffraction grating aligns the optical axis of the laser light beam for DVD with the optical axis of the laser light beam for next-generation DVD, serving as a reference optical axis by diffracting action. The second diffraction grating aligns the optical axis of the laser light beam for CD with the optical axis of the laser light beam for next-generation DVD, serving as the reference optical axis by diffracting action.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pickup device, which is capable of detecting and correcting spherical aberration while suppressing an increase in the number of construction elements and without increasing outer dimensions of a pickup device main body, and a recording and/or reproducing device having the optical pickup device built therein. A lens is designed such that when the thickness of a disk protective layer is greater than an optimum value, returning light (reflection light) from a disk is condensed on a sensor. The sensor is arranged at a condensing point and has a shape with which around 50% of the returning light is received when the thickness of the protective layer assumes the optimum value. With this construction, the quantity of light received by the sensor is increased when the thickness of the protective layer is greater than the optimum value, and is conversely reduced when the thickness of the protective layer is smaller than the optimum value.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk apparatus includes a magnetic head in a position opposed to an objective lens included in an optical head with a magneto-optical record medium therebetween. The magneto-optical disk apparatus includes a magnet for cancelling a first magnetic field emitted toward the magnetic head from a magnet for focus servo-control or tracking servo-control of the objective lens. The magnet emits a second magnetic field in a direction toward the magnetic head. The second magnetic field is opposite in direction to the first magnetic field, and has the same intensity as the first magnetic field. Consequently, the signal can be accurately reproduced from the magneto-optical record medium while removing a magnetic influence from the magnet included in the optical head.

Abstract: In an optical pickup device (10) including a laser light source (1) and an objective lens (7), an optical device (6) is provided that transmits a laser beam of 635 nm in wavelength emitted from a first semiconductor laser (1A) straightforwardly into the objective lens (7) while maintaining its incident intensity, and that selectively diffracts a laser beam of 780 nm in wavelength emitted from a second semiconductor laser (1B) to a desired direction while maintaining its incident intensity and directs only the predetermined center portion of the laser beam into the objective lens (7). The optical pickup device (10) records or reproduces a signal onto or from a plurality of types of optical disks differing in substrate thickness while directing a laser beam of sufficient intensity onto a signal recording plane.