Patent ID: 7342868
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A compatible optical pickup apparatus comprising: a first light source for generating and emitting a first light having a predetermined wavelength; a second light source for generating and emitting a second light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the first light; a beam shaping beam splitter provided in paths of the first and second lights for shaping the first and second lights that are incident in order to change a shape of a profile of each of the first and second lights to a circular shape and changing the proceeding paths of the first and second lights that are incident; an objective lens for focusing the first and second lights incident from the first and second light sources and forming light spots on an optical recording medium; a main photodetector for receiving the first and second lights that are incident by being reflected from the optical recording medium and passing through the objective lens and the beam shaping beam splitter, and detecting an information signal and an error signal; wherein the beam shaping beam splitter comprises: a first surface arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to optical axes of the first and second lights emitted from the first and second light sources and refracting most of incident light and reflecting the first and second lights incident from the optical recording medium toward the main photodetector; and a second surface for transmitting in a straight direction the first light and reflecting most of the second light such that the first and second lights emitted from the first and second light sources proceed toward the first surface along the same optical path.