Patent · US Expired

Laser emission unit, optical head and optical memory device

US5581523A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
6References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 16, 1993
Grant dateDec 3, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/0683
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A laser emission unit for use in an optical head performs a plurality of functions which are integrated. A laser beam from the laser emission unit mounted in a lens holder is emitted through an objective lens and is focused on an optical medium. A reflected beam from the optical medium returns through the objective lens and a diffraction grating to a signal detection circuit in the laser emission unit. Since the laser emission unit performs a plurality of functions, the space for various elements otherwise required in the optical head can be eliminated. The space for an additional light path for the reflected beam is also eliminated. Therefore, the size of the optical head is very small. Since the optical head can be assembled by using a small number of parts, the production costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the optical head can shield the noises by using the housing and/or the lens holder itself.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.