Patent ID: 7764585
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An optical head for recording and/or reproducing information by irradiating an optical recording medium with light, comprising: a light source for emitting light; an objective lens for converging outgoing light which has been emitted by the light source, on the optical recording medium; a light-receiving element for receiving return light which has been emitted by the light source and then reflected by the optical recording medium; and an optical element provided on a light path of the return light between the objective lens and the light-receiving element, the optical element comprising a light separating section for separating the outgoing light and return light integrally formed with a phase compensation section for imparting phase compensation to light incident thereon, the phase compensation section being disposed closer to the light-receiving element than the light separating section is, being configured so that a face of the phase compensation section which faces the light-receiving element is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the return light between the objective lens and the light-receiving element, and having a plurality of divisions, wherein a direction in which the plurality of divisions of the phase compensation section are arranged is parallel to a radial direction of the optical recording medium in a recording or reproducing state.