Optical pickup head

In an optical pickup head, a light source emits a light beam. A first reflecting section reflects the light beam emitted from the light source and changes a direction of a travel of the light beam emitted from the light source. A second reflecting section reflects the light beam and changes a direction of a travel of the light beam after the light beam is reflected by the first reflecting section. The light beam reflected by the second reflecting section is focused on the optical recording medium. The light beam is reflected and diffracted by the optical recording medium. The light beam reflected and diffracted by the optical recording medium is detected. A common support member is formed with both the first and second reflecting sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an optical pickup head for optically reproducing, 
recording, or erasing information from or on an optical or magneto-optical 
recording medium. 
An optical recording medium such as an optical disk is formed with a 
pattern of a groove or pits which represents recorded information. Some 
optical pickup heads are used in reproducing information from such an 
optical recording medium. In general, the optical pickup head applies a 
laser light beam to the optical recording medium and detects the laser 
light beam reflected back from the optical recording medium. Since the 
reflected laser light beam depends on a pattern on the optical recording 
medium, the reflected laser light beam represents information on the 
optical recording medium. Thus, the detection of the reflected laser light 
beam enables the reproduction of the information. 
Japanese published unexamined patent application 1-273238 discloses an 
optical pickup head. As will be described later, the optical pickup head 
of Japanese application 1-273238 has some problem. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,823 discloses an optical pickup head which has a 
holographic optical element disposed in an optical path among a light 
source, an optical recording medium, and a photodetector unit. The 
holographic optical element serves to generate reliable focusing and 
tracking error signals. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved optical pickup 
head. 
According to a first aspect of this invention, an optical pickup head 
operating on an optical recording medium comprises a light source emitting 
a light beam; a first reflecting section reflecting the light beam emitted 
from the light source and changing a direction of a travel of the light 
beam emitted from the light source; a second reflecting section reflecting 
the light beam and changing a direction of a travel of the light beam 
after the light beam is reflected by the first reflecting section; means 
for focusing the light beam reflected by the second reflecting section on 
the optical recording medium, wherein the light beam is reflected and 
diffracted by the optical recording medium; means for detecting the light 
beam reflected and diffracted by the optical recording medium; means for 
guiding the light beam reflected and diffracted by the optical recording 
medium to the detecting means; and a common support member formed with 
both the first and second reflecting sections. 
According to a second aspect of this invention, an optical pickup head 
operating on an optical recording medium comprises a light source emitting 
a light beam; a first reflecting section reflecting the light beam emitted 
from the light source and changing a direction of a travel of the light 
beam emitted from the light source; a second reflecting section reflecting 
the light beam and changing a direction of a travel of the light beam 
after the light beam is reflected by the first reflecting section; means 
for focusing the light beam reflected by the second reflecting section on 
the optical recording medium, wherein the light beam is reflected and 
diffracted by the optical recording medium, a holographic optical element 
diffracting the light beam reflected and diffracted by the optical 
recording medium, and generating a diffraction light beam from the light 
beam reflected and diffracted by the optical recording medium; means for 
detecting the diffraction light beam generated by the holographic optical 
element; and a common support member formed with both the first and second 
reflecting sections. 
According to a third aspect of this invention, an optical pickup head 
operating on an optical recording medium comprises a light source emitting 
a light beam; a common member having first and second reflecting surfaces, 
the first reflecting surface reflecting the light beam emitted from the 
light source and changing a direction of a travel of the light beam 
emitted from the light source, the second reflecting surface reflecting 
the light beam and changing a direction of a travel of the light beam 
after the light beam is reflected by the first reflecting surface; means 
for focusing the light beam reflected by the second reflecting surface on 
the optical recording medium, wherein the light beam is reflected and 
diffracted by the optical recording medium; and means for detecting the 
light beam reflected and diffracted by the optical recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a prior art optical pickup head disclosed in Japanese 
published unexamined patent application 1-273238. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the prior art optical pickup head includes 
a hybrid device 43. The hybrid device 43 has a semiconductor laser (a 
light source) 53, photodetectors 51 and 52, and a prism 55 which are 
housed in a common package 42 partially formed by a cover glass plate 47. 
The hybrid device 43 is attached to an upper surface of a holding member 
(a holder) 22. 
The hybrid device 43 has an integrated structure including the 
semiconductor laser (the light source) 53, the photodetectors 51 and 52, 
and the prism 55. Specifically, the photodetectors 51 and 52 are formed on 
a semiconductor substrate 50. The semiconductor laser (the light source) 
53 is located on a surface of the semiconductor substrate 50 which is 
covered with a protective film 54. The prism 55 is located on the region 
of the protective film 54 which opposes the photodetectors 51 and 52. The 
prism 55 has a semitransparent surface 55a which obliquely opposes an 
output face of the semiconductor laser (the light source) 53. The laser 
light beam 140 emitted from the semiconductor laser (the light source) 53 
is reflected by the semitransparent surface 55a of the prism 55 toward a 
reflecting section (a reflector) 44. 
Reflecting sections (reflectors) 44 and 45 are supported by the holding 
member 22. The reflecting section 44 extends below the hybrid device 43. 
The reflecting section 45 is placed on the optical axis of an objective 
lens 11 which extends above the holding member 22. The objective lens 11 
is supported on the holding member 22. The reference plane of the 
attachment of the hybrid device 43 to the holding member 22 and the 
reference plane of the attachment of the objective lens 11 to the holding 
member 22 are composed of a common plane Pr. The optical axis of the 
objective lens 11 extends perpendicular to the reference plane of the 
attachment of the hybrid device 43 to the holding member 22. 
The laser light beam 140 emitted from the light source 53 is reflected by 
the semitransparent surface 55a of the prism 55 and travels to the 
reflecting section 44 through the cover glass plate 47, being reflected by 
the reflecting section 44 and then being reflected by the reflecting 
section 45 toward the objective lens 11. The laser light beam is incident 
to the objective lens 11, being focused by the objective lens 11 on an 
optical disk D. In an interior of the holding member 22, the direction of 
the travel of the laser light beam 140 is changed twice by the reflecting 
sections 44 and 45. This design enables the whole of the optical pickup 
head to be small and thin. The optical pickup head can be moved by 
actuators 38 and 39 for focusing and tracking control purposes. 
The laser light beam is reflected back from the optical disk D. The 
reflected laser light beam 141 passes through the objective lens 11, being 
guided to the hybrid device 43 while being reflected by the reflecting 
sections 45 and 44. The reflected laser light beam 141 enters the prism 55 
via the semitransparent surface 55a of the prism 55, and then reaches the 
photodetector 51. Approximately a half intensity of the reflected laser 
light beam 141 is received by the photodetector 51, and the remainder of 
the reflected laser light beam 141 is reflected by the photodetector 51. 
Then, the laser light beam 141 is reflected within the prism 55 toward the 
photodetector 52 and is received by the photodetector 52. The hybrid 
device 43 is designed so that a focal point with respect to the laser 
light beam 141 will be present on the optical path between the 
photodetectors 51 and 52. The photodetectors 51 and 52 convert the 
received laser light beams 141 into corresponding electric signals. A 
radio-frequency information signal, a tracking error signal, and a 
focusing error signal are generated on the basis of the output signals 
from the photodetectors 51 and 52. 
In order to obtain a good radio-frequency information signal, it is 
necessary that the laser light beam 140 travels along the optical axis of 
the objective lens 11. As described previously, the direction of the 
travel of the laser light beam 140 is changed twice by the reflecting 
sections 44 and 45 before the laser light beam 140 enters the objective 
lens 11. In order to ensure that the laser light beam 140 travels along 
the optical axis of the objective lens 11, a high accuracy in position and 
angle is required of each of the reflecting sections 44 and 45. This 
causes a decrease in the efficiency of the production of the optical 
pickup head. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an optical pickup head includes a 
semiconductor laser light source 1 for emitting a coherent light beam 70 
having a wavelength of, for example, 780 nm. A photodetector unit 5 
includes a group of photodetectors 501, 502, and 503, and a group of 
photodetectors 504, 505, and 506. A prism 3 has a semitransparent surface 
3a which obliquely opposes an output face of the laser light source 1. The 
laser light beam 70 emitted from the laser light source 1 is reflected by 
the semitransparent surface 3a of the prism 3. The laser light beam 70 
reflected back from an optical recording medium 4 enters the prism 3 via 
its semitransparent surface 3a. The light source 1, the photodetector unit 
5, and the prism 3 are housed in a package 2. The light source 1, the 
photodetector unit 5, the prism 3, and the package 2 compose a hybrid 
device mounted on a holding member (a holder) 23. 
After the laser light beam 70 is reflected by the semitransparent surface 
3a of the prism 3, it reaches a reflecting section (a reflector) 13 and is 
then successively reflected by the reflecting section 13 and another 
reflecting section (another reflector) 14 toward a condenser lens or an 
objective lens 8. The laser light beam 70 is incident to the lens 8, being 
focused by the lens 8 on the optical recording medium 4. The lens 8 is 
mounted on the holding member 23. The reflecting sections 13 and 14 are 
formed on a common support member (a common supporter) 15 fixed to the 
holding member 23. The formation of the reflecting sections 13 and 14 on 
the support member 15 is realized by a suitable known method such as 
aluminum vapor deposition or aluminum electric gilding. 
Actuators 91 and 92 serve to move the holding member 23 and thus to move 
the lens 8 relative to the optical recording medium 4. Specifically, the 
actuator 91 functions to move the lens 8 along the optical axis of the 
lens 8 for focusing control. The actuator 92 functions to move the lens 8 
in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 8 for 
tracking control. 
The laser light beam 70 emitted from the semiconductor laser (the laser 
light source) 1 is successively reflected by the semitransparent surface 
3a of the prism 3 and the reflecting sections 13 and 14, being incident to 
the lens 8 and being focused by the lens 8 on the optical recording medium 
4. The optical recording medium 4 includes a substrate or a base plate 20 
coated with a protective film 21. The substrate 20 is formed with a 
pattern of a groove or pits which represents recorded information. The 
laser light beam 70 is reflected and diffracted back from the optical 
recording medium 4, returning to the lens 8 and passing through the lens 
8. Then, the laser light beam 70 is guided to the semitransparent surface 
3a of the prism 3 while being reflected by the reflecting sections 13 and 
14. The laser light beam 70 enters the prism 3 via its semitransparent 
surface 3a and is then incident to the group of the photodetectors 501-503 
within the photodetector unit 5. Approximately a half intensity of the 
laser light beam 70 is received by the photodetectors 501-503, and the 
remainder of the laser light beam 70 is reflected by the photodetectors 
501-503. Then, the laser light beam 70 is reflected within the prism 3 
toward the group of the photodetectors 504-506 of the photodetector unit 5 
and is received by the photodetectors 504-506. The hybrid device is 
designed so that a focal point with respect to the laser light beam 70 
will be present on the optical path between the group of the 
photodetectors 501-503 and the group of the photodetectors 504-506. The 
photodetectors 501-506 convert the received laser light beams 70 into 
corresponding electric signals. A radio-frequency information signal, a 
tracking error signal, and a focusing error signal are generated on the 
basis of the output signals from the photodetectors 501-506. 
It is now assumed that an error occurs in the angle between the support 
member 15 and the holding member 23 during the assembly of the optical 
pickup head. Since both the reflecting sections 13 and 14 are formed on 
the common support member 15, the reflecting sections 13 and 14 have equal 
angular errors responsive to the error in the angle between the support 
member 15 and the holding member 23. The angular errors of the reflecting 
sections 13 and 14 cancel each other with respect to the directions of the 
travel of the laser light beam 70 inputted into and outputted from the 
combination of the reflecting sections 13 and 14. Specifically, the 
angular error of the reflecting section 13 causes an angular deviation of 
the path of the laser light beam 70 reflected by the reflecting section 
13. The angular deviation of the path of the laser light beam 70 is 
cancelled when the laser light beam 70 is reflected by the reflecting 
section 14 which has the angular error equal to the angular error of the 
reflecting section 13. Thus, the path of the laser light beam 70 incident 
to the lens 8 can be aligned with the optical axis of the lens 8 
independent of the error in the angle between the support member 15 and 
the holding member 23, and a certain error is allowed in the angle between 
the support member 15 and the holding member 23 during the assembly of the 
optical pickup head. This causes an increased efficiency of the production 
of the optical pickup head. 
The reflecting sections 13 and 14 will be further described. As shown in 
FIG. 5, there is a right angle between the surfaces of the reflecting 
sections 13 and 14. It is now assumed that the laser light beam 70 is 
incident to a point A of the reflecting section 13 at an angle 
.theta..sub.1. According to the reflection law, the angle of the 
reflection of the laser light beam 70 at the point A is equal to the angle 
.theta..sub.1. The character .theta..sub.2 is now introduced to represent 
the angle between the surface of the reflecting section 13 and the 
direction of the travel of the laser light beam 70 reflected by the 
reflecting section 13. The angles .theta..sub.1 and .theta..sub.2 have the 
relation as ".theta..sub.1 +.theta..sub.2 =90 degrees". The character B is 
now introduced to represent a point of the reflecting section 14 which is 
exposed to the laser light beam 70 reflected by the point A of the 
reflecting section 13. Extended planes of the surfaces of the reflecting 
sections 13 and 14 intersect with each other at a point C. The angle 
between the surface of the reflecting section 14 and the direction of the 
travel of the laser light beam 70 incident to the point B of the 
reflecting section 14 is equal to the angle .theta..sub.1 (.theta..sub.1 
=180 degrees-90 degrees-.theta..sub.2) which agrees with the angle of the 
corner B of the right-angled triangle ABC. Thus, the incident angle of the 
laser light beam 70 applied to the reflecting section 14 is equal to the 
angle .theta..sub.2 (.theta..sub.2 =90 degrees-.theta..sub.1), and the 
reflection angle of the laser light beam 70 reflected by the reflecting 
section 14 is also equal to the angle .theta..sub.2. The laser light beam 
70 is subjected by the reflecting sections 13 and 14 to angular changes 
".theta..sub.1 +.theta..sub.1 " and ".theta..sub.2 +.theta..sub.2 " in the 
direction of the travel respectively. Thus, the laser light beam 70 
receives a resultant angular change "2(.theta..sub.1 +.theta..sub.2)" by 
the combination of the reflecting sections 13 and 14. The resultant 
angular change of the laser light beam 70 corresponds to an angle of 180 
degrees since the sum of the angles .theta..sub.1 and .theta..sub.2 equals 
90 degrees. The 180-degree angular change of the laser light beam 70 is 
independent of the angle .theta..sub.1 at which the laser light beam 70 is 
incident to the reflecting section 13, and the direction of the travel of 
the laser light beam 70 incident to the reflecting section 13 and the 
direction of the travel of the laser light beam 70 reflected by the 
reflecting section 14 are kept parallel but opposite to each other. 
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show the relation between the laser light beam 70 and the 
photodectors 501-506 in the photodetector unit 5 under different 
conditions of the focusing of the laser light beam 70 on the optical 
recording medium 4. When the laser light beam 70 is accurately focused on 
the recording medium 4 (see FIG. 3), the group of the photodetectors 
501-503 and the group of the photodectors 504-506 are illuminated by equal 
intermediate-size circles of the laser light beam 70 as shown in FIG. 7. 
When the laser light beam 70 is defocused in a first direction, the group 
of the photodectors 501-503 and the group of the photodetectors 504-506 
are illuminated by large and small circles of the laser light beam 70 
respectively as shown in FIG. 6. When the laser light beam 70 is defocused 
in a second direction, the group of the photodetectors 501-503 and the 
group of the photodetectors 504-506 are illuminated by small and large 
circles of the laser light beam 70 respectively as shown in FIG. 8. 
The focusing error signal is generated on the basis of the difference 
between the output signals from the photodetectors 502 and 505 according 
to a well-known spot size detection technique. The focusing error signal 
may be generated on the basis of the difference between the sum of the 
output signals from the photodectors 502, 504, and 506 and the sum of the 
output signals from the photodetectors 501, 503, and 505. The focusing 
error signal is subjected to various signal processings such as 
amplification, phase compensation, and band limiting. The focusing control 
actuator 91 (see FIG. 3) is controlled in response to the focusing error 
signal by a control circuit (not shown) so that the laser light beam 70 
can remain accurately focused on the optical recording medium 4. 
The tracking error signal is generated on the basis of the difference 
between the output signals from the photodetectors 501 and 503 or the 
difference between the output signals from the photodetectors 504 and 506, 
provided that the longitudinal direction of the photodetectors 501-506 
extends parallel to the images of a track or a pit sequence on the optical 
recording medium 4 which are represented by far field patterns 110 and 111 
within the circles of the laser light beam 70 on the photodetectors 
501-506. The tracking error signal is subjected to various signal 
processings such as amplification, phase compensation, and band limiting. 
The tracking control actuator 92 (see FIG. 3) is controlled in response to 
the tracking error signal by a control circuit (not shown) so that the 
laser light beam 70 can remain at a predetermined correct position 
relative to the track or the pit sequence on the optical recording medium 
4. 
The radio-frequency information signal is generated on the basis of the sum 
of the output signals from the photodetectors 501-506. The radio-frequency 
information signal is processed by a signal processing circuit (not shown) 
so that the recorded information can be extracted from the radio-frequency 
information signal. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, an optical pickup head includes a 
semiconductor laser (a laser light source) 1 for emitting a coherent light 
beam 70 having a wavelength of, for example, 780 nm. A photodetector unit 
6 includes a group of photodetectors 507, 508, and 509, a group of 
photodetectors 510, 511, and 512, and separate photodetectors 513 and 514. 
The semiconductor laser (light source) 1 and the photodetector unit 6 are 
housed in a package 9. The semiconductor laser 1, the photodetector unit 
6, and the package 9 compose a hybrid device mounted on a holding member 
18. The semiconductor laser (the light source) 1 and the photodetector 
unit 6 are mounted on the surface of a block 7 which enables heat to 
escape from the semiconductor laser 1. 
The laser light beam emitted from the light source (the semiconductor 
laser) 1 is successively reflected by reflecting sections 16 and 17, being 
incident to a lens 8 and being focused by the lens 8 on an optical 
recording medium 4. The reflecting section 17 is compose of a blazed 
reflection holographic optical element, and a 0-order diffraction light 
beam generated by the reflecting section 17 is focused on the optical 
recording medium 4. The lens 8 is mounted on the holding member 23. The 
reflecting sections 16 and 17 are formed on a common support member 
composed of the holding member 18. 
Actuators 91 and 92 serve to move the holding member 18 and thus to move 
the lens 8 relative to the optical recording medium 4. Specifically, the 
actuator 91 functions to move the lens 8 along the optical axis of the 
lens 8 for focusing control. The actuator 92 functions to move the lens 8 
in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 8 for 
tracking control. 
As described previously, the laser light beam 70 emitted from the laser 
light source (the semiconductor laser) 1 is successively reflected by the 
reflecting sections 16 and 17, being incident to the lens 8 and being 
focused by the lens 8 on the optical recording medium 4. Specifically, the 
0-order diffraction light beam generated by the reflecting section 17 is 
focused on the optical recording medium 4. The optical recording medium 4 
includes a substrate or a base plate 20 coated with a protective film 21. 
The substrate 20 is formed with a pattern of a groove or pits which 
represents recorded information. The laser light beam 70 is reflected and 
diffracted back from the optical recording medium 4, returning to the lens 
8 and passing through the lens 8. Then, the laser light beam 70 is 
incident to the reflecting section 17. The incident laser light beam 70 is 
converted and separated by the diffracting effect of the reflecting 
section 17 into diffraction light beams 71, 72, 73, and 74. The 
diffraction light beams 71 and 72 are used for generating a focusing error 
signal. The diffraction light beams 73 and 74 are used for generating a 
tracking error signal. The diffraction light beams 71-74 are incident to 
the reflecting section 16, being reflected by the reflecting section 16 
toward the photodetector unit 6 and being incident to the photodetector 
unit 6. The diffraction light beam 71 is received by the group of the 
photodetectors 507-509. The diffraction light beam 72 is received by the 
group of the photodetectors 510-512. The diffraction light beam 73 is 
received by the photodetector 513. The diffraction light beam 74 is 
received by the photodetector 514. The photodetectors 507-514 convert the 
received laser light beams 71-74 into corresponding electric signals. A 
radio-frequency information signal, a tracking error signal, and a 
focusing error signal are generated on the basis of the output signals 
from the photodetectors 507-514. 
Since the reflecting sections 16 and 17 are formed on the common support 
member 18, a certain error is allowed in the angle and the position of the 
support member 18 during the assembly of the optical pickup head as in the 
embodiment of FIGS. 3-8. Thus, an increased efficiency of the production 
of the optical pickup head can be obtained. 
FIG. 11 shows a pattern formed on the holographic optical element 17. The 
holographic optical element 17 has divided hologram regions 100, 101, and 
102. The region 100 is formed with an inclined lattice pattern, being 
capable of generating two diffraction light beams of different wave 
surfaces and different focal points. The region 100 functions to generate 
the diffraction light beams 71 and 72 for the focusing error signal. The 
regions 101 and 102 are formed with patterns of parallel lines oblique to 
the lines of the region 100, serving to generate the diffraction light 
beams 73 and 74 for the tracking error signal respectively. When far field 
patterns 110 and 111 of the light beam 70 reflected and diffracted by the 
optical recording medium 4 are applied to good places in the holographic 
optical element 17 as shown in FIG. 11, a reliable tracking error signal 
can be obtained. 
FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 show the relation between the diffraction light beams 
71-74 and the photodetectors 507-514 in the photodetector unit 6 under 
different conditions of the focusing of the laser light beam 70 on the 
optical recording medium 4. When the laser light beam 70 is accurately 
focused on the recording medium 4 (see FIG. 9), the group of the 
photodetectors 507-509, the group of the photodetectors 510-512, the 
separate photodetector 513, and the separate photodetector 514 are exposed 
to an intermediate-size circle of the diffraction light beam 71, an 
intermediate-size circle of the diffraction light beam 72, a small circle 
of the diffraction light beam 73, and a small circle of the diffraction 
light beam 74 respectively as shown in FIG. 13. When the laser light beam 
70 is defocused in a first direction, the group of the photodetectors 
507-509, the group of the photodetectors 510-512, the separate 
photodetector 513, and the separate photodetector 514 are exposed to a 
large circle of the diffraction light beam 71, a small circle of the 
diffraction light beam 72, an intermediate-size circle of the diffraction 
light beam 73, and an intermediate-size circle of the diffraction light 
beam 74 respectively as shown in FIG. 12. When the laser light beam 70 is 
defocused in a second direction, the group of the photodetectors 507-509, 
the group of the photodetectors 510-512, the separate photodetector 513, 
and the separate photodetector 514 are exposed to a small circle of the 
diffraction light beam 71, a large circle of the diffraction light beam 
72, an intermediate-size circle of the diffraction light beam 73, and an 
intermediate-size circle of the diffraction light beam 74 respectively as 
shown in FIG. 14. 
The focusing error signal is generated on the basis of the difference 
between the output signals from the photodetectors 508 and 511. The 
focusing error signal may be generated on the basis of the difference 
between the sum of the output signals from the photodetectors 508, 510, 
and 512 and the sum of the output signals from the photodetectors 507, 
509, and 511. The focusing error signal is subjected to various signal 
processings such as amplification, phase compensation, and band limiting. 
The focusing control actuator 91 (see FIG. 9) is controlled in response to 
the focusing error signal by a control circuit (not shown) so that the 
laser light beam 70 can remain accurately focused on the optical recording 
medium 4. 
The tracking error signal is generated on the basis of the difference 
between the output signals from the photodetectors 513 and 514. The 
tracking error signal is subjected to various signal processings such as 
amplification, phase compensation, and band limiting. The tracking control 
actuator 92 (see FIG. 9) is controlled in response to the tracking error 
signal by a control circuit (not shown) so that the laser light beam 70 
can remain at a predetermined correct position relative to a track or a 
pit sequence on the optical recording medium 4. 
The radio-frequency information signal is generated on the basis of the sum 
of the output signals from the photodetectors 507-514. The radio-frequency 
information signal is processed by a signal processing circuit (not shown) 
so that the recorded information can be extracted from the radio-frequency 
information signal. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE THIRD PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A third embodiment of this invention is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 
9-14 except that the reflection holographic optical element 17 (see FIG. 
9) is replaced by a simple reflector (a mirror) and that a transmission 
holographic optical element is disposed in the optical path between the 
hybrid device and the recording medium 4. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOURTH PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIGS. 15 and 16 show portions of a fourth embodiment of this invention 
which is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 9-14 except for design changes 
indicated hereinafter. 
The holographic optical element 17 (see FIG. 9) is replaced by a 
holographic optical element 19. As shown in FIG. 15, the holographic 
optical element 19 has divided hologram regions 103 and 104. The region 
103 is formed with a pattern of parallel lines curved slightly with a 
curvature which depends on the design of the optical pickup head. The 
region 104 is formed with a pattern of parallel lines oblique to the lines 
of the region 103. The regions 103 and 104 are capable of generating 
diffraction light beams having different wave surfaces respectively. The 
pattern on the holographic optical element 19 is designed so that 
first-order diffraction light beams 75 and 76 will be focused on a 
photodetector unit (described later). 
The photodetector unit 6 (see FIG. 9) is replaced by a photodetector unit 
12. As shown in FIG. 12, the photodetector unit 12 has a group of 
photodetectors 515 and 516, and a group of photodetectors 517 and 518. The 
group of the photodetectors 515 and 516, and the group of the 
photodetectors 517 and 518 are exposed to the diffraction light beams 75 
and 76 generated from the regions 103 and 104 of the holographic optical 
element 19 respectively. 
The photodetectors 515-518 convert the received diffraction light beams 
into corresponding electric signals. A radio-frequency information signal, 
a tracking error signal, and a focusing error signal are generated on the 
basis of the output signals from the photodetectors 515-518. When far 
field patterns 110 and 111 of a light beam 70 reflected and diffracted by 
an optical recording medium 4 are applied to good places in the 
holographic optical element 19 as shown in FIG. 15, a reliable tracking 
error signal and a reliable focusing error signal can be obtained 
according to a well-known double knife edge method. Specifically, the 
focusing error signal is generated on the basis of the difference between 
the sum of the output signals from the photodetectors 515 and 518 and the 
sum of the output signals from the photodetectors 516 and 517. The 
tracking error signal is generated on the basis of the difference between 
the sum of the output signals from the photodetectors 515 and 516 and the 
sum of the output signals from the photodetectors 517 and 518. The 
radio-frequency information signal is generated on the basis of the sum of 
the output signals from the photodetectors 515-518.