Patent · US Expired

Optical pickup device

US6552317B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
3References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 2000
Grant dateApr 22, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 23, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B7/1365
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A phase difference plate (12) converts states of polarization of emergent light form a laser light source (13) and return light form an optical recording medium (5). A diffractive element (21) separates the return light from an optical axis leading from the laser light source (13) to the optical recording medium (5), and guides the return light to a photodetector (14) on the basis of a difference between the states of polarization of the emergent light and the return light. The polarization direction of emergent light from the laser light source (13) is arranged so as to be oriented in the radial direction of the optical recording medium (5) (in the direction of birefringence of the optical recording medium). The azimuth and the amount of phase of the phase difference plate (12) are set so that a peak of a signal in tensity detected by the photodetector (14) appears while an amount of birefringence of the optical recording medium changes from 0 to a quarter wavelength of the laser light when the amount of birefringence of the optical recording medium (5) is changed.

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