Patent ID: 6442125
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical pickup that reproduces information by applying a light beam onto one of information recording surfaces formed in a multi-layer recording medium, said optical pickup comprising:separating means for separating a first reflected light, which reflects from one information recording surface, and a second reflected light, which reflects from another information recording surface and converges in a different position than the first reflected light, wherein said first reflected light is reflected from a first converged point on said one information recording surface when first information is to be reproduced from said one information recording surface and said second reflected light is reflected from a second converged point on said other information recording surface when second information is to be reproduced from said other information recording surface; and a detector which comprises a first detecting area and a second detecting area, wherein said separating means converges said first reflected light from said one information recording surface on said first detecting area and converges said second reflected light from said other information recording surface on said second detecting area when said first information is to be reproduced, wherein said separating means converges said second reflected light on said first detecting area when said second information is to be reproduced, wherein said detector generates a reproduction signal corresponding to said first information based on an amount of light detected at said first detecting area when said first information is to be reproduced, and wherein said detector generates said reproduction signal corresponding to said second information based on an amount of light detected at said first detecting area when said second information is to be reproduced.