OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR AN OPTICAL MEMORY

Abstract: An optical system for use with an optical memory (48) including an optical arrangement (56) for separating light reflected from the surface of the optical memory (48) into a plurality of different resultant beams. This optical mechan­ ism (56) comprising four reflecting surfaces (56A, 56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3) each of which are inclined at a different angle relative the optical memory (48) to direct the resultant beams of light each in a different direction nor normal or parallel to each other. Preferably, at least three of these reflective surface (56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3) are contiguous to one another. The optical system further includes a photodetector (64) having a plurality of photosensitive regions aligned to receive the resultant beams from the aforementioned reflec­ tive surfaces (56A, 56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3).

Description: The present invention relates to an optical system for use with an optical memory in which information is stored or from which information is retrieved by light exposure and, more particularly, to an optical head for applying a focused laser beam on a magneto-optical disk memory to store information in or retrieve information from the magneto-optical disk memory utilizing a magnetic Kerr or magnetic Faraday effect. Magneto-optical disk memories are known which have an amphorous magnetic recording layer or film in which information is stored and from which that information may be read on the basis of the magnetic Kerr or Faraday effect. More specifically, the recording layer effectively comprises a plurality of small magnetics, the orientation of which indicates data bit information. To store such information, a laser beam is focused onto a predetermined memory track of the recording layer of a magneto-optical disk while the disk is exposed to a weak magnetic field of a predetermined direction. The laser beam forms information bits in the recording layer since the small magnet at the point of contact of the laser beam and recording layer will be aligned by the weak field, while outside that point of contact no such alignment occurs. Information stored in a magneto-optical disk may be read from the disk directly after the information is written into the disk. More specifically, when a laser beam is focused onto the recording layer of a disk in the read mode, light is reflected by that layer. An electromag netic vector of the resultant reflected light is rotated in correspondence with the direction of magnetization of the layer in accordance with the magnetic Kerr effect. The recorded information can thus be reproduced on the basis of the properties of this light. Stored information can also be erased from a magneto-optical disk. More specifically, when a laser beam is focused onto the recording layer of the disk while that layer is exposed to a magnetic field with a polarity opposite that used in the storing mode, any information bits stored in the recording layer are effectively erased. As noted above, light from a laser is focused onto the recording layer of a magneto-optical disk and resultant reflected light is detected by an optical head unit. A typical example of an optical head unit for storing information in or retrieving it from the magneto-optical disk is described by Nobutaka IMAMURA in "Magneto-Optical Disk Memory", Electronics in Japan '84 - 85 , pp.25-29. In the optical head of the IMAMURA article, light reflected from the recording layer of a magneto-optical disk is separated into two light beams by a half mirror. On light beam is guided to a first optical system for focusing and tracking the optical head. The other light beam is guided to a second optical system includes an analyzer for extracting a P (parallel) component or an S (Senkrecht) component from the light reflected by the magneto-optical disk. The extracted P or S component is guided to an information reading photodetector. In this example, however, the optical head includes a plurality of independent optical systems (i.e., the first and second optical systems), so the optical head configuration is complex. In addition, only one of the P and S components from the reflected light is utilized to read out the information. Therefore, the S/N ratio (Signal-to-Noise ratio) is low. Another example of a conventional optical head for storing information in or retrieving it from a magneto-optical disk is reported by T. DEGUCHI et al., in "Digital Magneto-Optical Disk Drive, " Proceedings of the Conference of Optical Data Storage , April 1984. In this conventional optical head, light reflected by a magneto-optical disk is split by a beam splitter into two light beams. One light beam is guided to a first optical system for focusing and tracking the optical head. The other light beam is guided to a second optical system for data information signal read out. The second optical system includes a polarizing beam splitter for splitting the light reflected by the magneto-optical disk into P and s components. The P and S components are detected by respective Si-Avalanche photodiodes. The information signal is then reproduced in accordance with a differential readout method. The S/N ratio is higher than in the former example, but a complex optical head is still required. The increased weight of such an optical head also hinders high-speed access to a desired memory track. Prior art document JP-A-58-121 141 discloses an optical system comprising a "focus detector of optical pickup" wherein a critical angle deflection prism is used for focus detection, but does not mention an optical system wherein a tracking guide is detected. In the optical system of this document, when a light beam is focused on the surface of an optical disk, the light beam reflected from the surface is totally reflected by reflecting surfaces of the critical angle reflection prism and is separated into light beam components, which are incident on photosensors. In the focusing state, therefore, detection signals of the same level are generated from photosensors. When the light beam is defocused, part of the light beam passes through one of the reflecting surfaces of the critical angle reflection prism. Therefore, the photodetector corresponding to the reflecting surface through which the part of the light beam passes detects a light beam having a lower level than that of the light beam detected by the other photodetector. As a result, signals having different levels are produced from the photodetectors. In this manner, the focus is detected in the system of this prior art document. Further, prior art document JP-A-60-59 545 discloses an optical system which is similar to that described in prior art document JP-A-58-121 141. To be more specific in the optical system of prior art document JP-A-60-59 545 a light beam is separated into two light beams. This separation is performed for improving the focus-detecting sensitivity, and the focus is detected on the basis of the size of a light beam spot formed on two photoelements of a photodetector. Prior art document JP-A-56-7248 describes a position detecting system in which a light beam is separated into four light beams by means of quadrangular pyramid prism. However, this document discloses only focus detection, like the above-noted documents JP-A-58-121 141 and JP-A-60-59 545, and it mentions nothing about track detection, nor does it mention means for deflecting and separating a light beam. Finally, prior art document JP-A-57-46 334 describes an optical information reproducer in which a reflected light beam is separated into four light beams by means of quadrangular prism after passing through a detector lens and wherein both a focus and a track are detected using the separated light beams. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved optical system for an optical memory wherein information may be optically stored and retrieved, wherein information can be read out with a high S/N ratio, and wherein high-speed information access can be performed. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an optical system for use with an optical memory as defined in claim 1. In an embodiment, the optical system comprises at least four light reflecting surfaces, three of which are contiguous to one another and are utilized to separate the resultant light from the optical memory into three resultant light beams for indicating focus and alignment of the means for directing, and one of which is employed for separating the resultant light into two polarized components which indicate the information stored in the optical memory. In a particular embodiment the separating means comprises a first surface for reflecting the first segment beam in a first direction and for transmitting the second segment beam therethrough, and a second surface for reflecting the second segment beam in a second direction, said separating means further comprising third, fourth and fifth surfaces for separating one of the first and second segment beams into third, fourth and fifth segment beams oriented in third, fourth and fifth directions, respectively, none of the third, fourth and fifth directions and said direction of said other of said first and second segment beams being parallel or normal to each other and each converging upon at least one of the regions of said detecting means; and further comprises means coupled to said detecting means to sense data stored in the tracking guide as a function the combined value of the third, fourth and fifth segment beams in comparison with the value of said first and second segment beams and orienting means for focussing and aligning the light beam on the tracking guide as a function of the third, fourth and fifth light beams. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of an optical system adopting a knife-edge method according to an embodiment of the present invention, for optically recording, reproducing and erasing information; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a polarizing beam splitter shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows paths of laser beams split by the polarizing beam splitter shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of an optical detector and its peripheral circuits shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a polarizing beam splitter according to a modification of the present invention; Figs. 6A and 6B are side and plan views showing an arrangement of an optical system adopting the knife-edge method according to another embodiment of the present invention, for optically recording, reproducing and erasing information; Fig. 7 is a side view showing an arrangement of an optical system adopting an astigmatism method, for optically recording, reproducing and erasing information; Fig. 8 is a plan view of an optical detector and its peripheral circuits shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a side view showing an arrangement of an optical system adopting the knife-edge method according to still another modified embodiment of the present invention, for optically recording, reproducing and erasing information; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a reflecting mirror shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a plan view of an optical detector and its peripheral circuits shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is a side view of an arrangement of an optical system adopting the knife-edge method according to still another modification of the present invention, for optically recording, reproducing and erasing information. Fig. 1 shows an optical system of an erasable optical head adopting a knife-edge method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this optical system, a laser beam with an elliptic section emitted from semiconductor laser 42 is converted into collimated beams by collimator lens 40, and are incident on beam splitter 44. The laser beams with the elliptic section are obliquely incident on the light incident surface of splitter 44, and converted into beams with a circular section within splitter 44. The laser beams passing through splitter 44 are reflected by reflecting surface 45-1, formed on a surface of prism 45 bonded to splitter 44, guided to objective lens 46, and converged on optical disk 48 by lens 46. Optical disk 48 has, for example, a recording layer made of an amorphous magnetic alloy. Tracking guide 39 is formed concentrically or spirally in a recessed or projecting manner on the surface of disk 48. Preparatory information such as track addresses or sector addresses, i.e., a preform signal, is preformed as recessed or projecting prepits in tracking guide 39. when information is not recorded on the recording layer of optical disk 48, directions of all the magnetic domains of the recording layer are aligned along a predetermined direction. when a magnetic field is applied to quickly heat the recording layer in a storing mode, the directions of magnetization of the magnetic domains in the heated region are reversed. Laser 42 is driven by a drive circuit (not shown). In the reproduction mode, a laser beam with a predetermined light intensity is emitted by laser 42. In the recording mode, a laser beam with a light intensity modulated in accordance with information to be recorded is emitted. In the erasure mode, a laser beam with a predetermined light intensity higher than that in the reproduction mode is emitted. In the recording mode, a static magnetic field generated by magnetic unit 50 is supplied to optical disk 48. When a recording laser beam traces tracking guide 39 on disk 48, a specific region on disk 48 is heated quickly to reverse the direction of magnetization, thereby recording information. In the reproduction mode, when a reproducing laser beam traces guide 39 on disk 48 so that the reverse-magnetized magnetic domain regions are irradiated with a converged laser beam, the plane of polarization of the laser beam is rotated slightly. In the erasure mode, the static magnetic field generated by unit 50 is supplied to disk 48. when the reverse-magnetized specific region is irradiated with the erasing laser beam, the region is heated slowly, and its direction of magnetization is again reversed, reverting it to be the same as the other regions. An optical disk of the type wherein information is recorded thereon or erased therefrom using this inversion of magnetization is called a magneto-optical type optical disk. The laser beam reflected by disk 48 is transmitted through objective lens 46, reflected by reflecting surface 45-1 of prism 45, and introduced in beam splitter 44 to be reflected therein. The reflected laser beam is then transmitted through 1/2 wave plate 54 to rotate its plane of polarization through substantially 45 degrees and to increase the S component. The laser beam is then introduced to polarizing beam splitter 56 as collimated beams. Splitter 56 is obtained by bonding wedge prism 56-2 to rectangular prism 56-1, as shown in Fig. 1. The bonding surface constitutes polarizing surface 56A of prism 56-1 and reflecting surface 56B of prism 56-2. Prism 56-2 is formed by cutting its inclined surface as a prospective reflecting surface such that surfaces 56B-2 and 56B-3 are formed to be inclined with respect to surface 56B-1, as shown in Fig. 2. The reflecting surfaces of prism 56-2 are separated by boundary 57-1 contacting surfaces 56B-2 and 56B-3, boundary 57-2 contacting surfaces 56B-1 and 56B-2, and boundary 57-3 contacting surfaces 56B-1 and 56B-3. Surface 56B can be a light-reflecting surface formed by coating, or can be a total reflecting surface. Boundary 57-1 must be substantially parallel to the extending direction of an image of a tracking guide of disk 48 on wedge prism 56-2, or the extending direction of an image of a tracking guide projected onto an optical detector. When the collimated laser beams including P and S components are incident on splitter 56, the S component is reflected by surface 56A, and the P component is transmitted through surface 56A to reach surface 56B and to be reflected thereby. Surface 56B and 56A are not parallel to each other and constitute a small angle. Laser beams of P and S components are thus directed in different directions. When laser beams of P component are reflected by surface 56B, split laser beams of S component and first, second and third P components are converged by projection lens 58 and incident on optical detector 64. Therefore, when the objective lens is in the in-focus state, the convergence points of the laser beams of S component and the first, second and third P components are formed on different regions of the light-receiving surface of detector 64. As shown in Fig. 4, detector 64 has first, second, and third detecting sections 66, 68 and 70. Section 66 has a detecting region on which the convergence point of a laser beam of the S component is formed when lens 46 is in the in-focus state. Section 68 consists of two detecting regions 68-1 and 68-2, at the midpoint between which the convergence point of a laser beam of the first p component reflected by surface 56B-1 is formed when lens 46 is in the in-focus state. Section 70 consists two detecting sections 70-1 and 70-2, on each of which the point of convergence of the laser beam of the second or third P component reflected by surface 56B-2 or 56B-3 is formed. Detection regions 68-1 and 68-2 of second section 68 are separated along the direction of boundary 57-1, and detection regions 70-1 and 70-2 of third section 70 are separated along a direction perpendicular to the direction of boundary 57-1, with a gap therebetween. Signals produced by first and second regions 70-1 and 70-2 of third detecting section 70 are amplified by amplifiers 101 and 102, and their difference is obtained by subtracter 103, thereby generating a tracking error signal. Signals from first and second regions 68-1 and 68-2 of second detecting section 68 are amplified by amplifiers 104 and 105, and their difference is obtained by subtracter 106, thereby generating a focusing error signal. The signals from first and second regions 68-1 and 68-2 of second detecting section 68, and from first and second regions 70-1 and 70-2 of third detecting section 70 are also added by adder 107. The difference between the addition output and a signal generated by first detecting section 66 and amplified by amplifier 108 is obtained by subtracter 109, thereby reproducing information. Signals from first detecting section 66, from first and second regions 68-1 and 68-2 of second detecting section 68, and from first and second regions 70-1 and 70-2 of third detecting section 70 are added by adders 110 and 107, thereby reproducing a preform signal. Objective lens 46 is shifted by voice coil driver 38 along its optical axis in response to the focusing error signal so as to be maintained in the in-focus state. Objective lens 46 is also shifted by linear actuator 37 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis in response to the tracking error signal, so that the tracking guide is traced with a correctly focused laser beam. As a result, recorded information is read from the optical disk 48, and preform signals and recorded information are reproduced. In the same manner, in the recording mode, information is written correctly, and in the erasure mode, recorded information is reliably erased. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment but can be modified in various ways. For example, surface 56B need not be divided into three surfaces having different angles with respect to each other, but polarizing surface 56A can be divided into three surfaces 56A-1, 56A-2 and 56A-3 having different angles with respect to each other, and wedge prism 56 can be bonded thereto, as shown in Fig. 5. In addition, mirror 80 can be arranged between projection lens 58 and optical detector 64, as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, so that the laser beam is reflected and then introduced in detector 64. With the arrangement of mirror 80, a space within frame 82 can be used effectively. Fig. 7 shows an optical system using an astigmatism method, In Fig. 7, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or equivalent portions in Figs. 1 to 6, and a detailed description thereof is omitted. In Fig. 7, the astigmatism method is adopted in place of the knife-edge method as the focus detecting method. With the astigmatism method, cylindrical lens 60 is arranged between projection lens 58 and optical detector 64 having an optical detecting region shown in Fig. 8, polarizing beam splitter 56 is obtained by bonding a wedge prism to a rectangular prism, polarizing surface 56A or reflecting surface 56B of polarizing beam splitter 56 have not a plurality of surfaces unlike in Fig. 2, and surfaces 56A and 56B are formed into continuous and flat surfaces, respectively. Therefore, when collimated laser beams including P and S components are incident on splitter 56, the S component is reflected by surface 56A, and the P component is transmitted through surface 56A to surface 56B, and is then reflected thereby. Surfaces 56B and 56A are not parallel to each other but constitute a small angle. The laser beams of the P and S components are thus directed in different directions. The laser beams of the P and S components emerging from splitter 56 are converged by astigmatism lens system 62 of convex lens 58 and cylindrical lens 60, at angles slightly different from each other, and are incident on detector 64. Therefore, when objective lens 46 is in the in-focus state, the points of convergence of the laser beams of P and S components are formed on different regions of the light-receiving surface of detector 64. Optical detector 64 of this embodiment has first and second detecting sections 66 and 68, as shown in Fig. 8. Section 66 has four detecting regions 66-1, 66-2, 66-3 and 66-4, at a center on which the laser beam of the S component is converged when lens 46 is in the in-focus state. Section 68 has four detecting regions 68-1, 68-2, 68-3 and 68-4, at a center on which the the laser beam of the P component is converged when lens 46 is in the in-focus state. Signals from regions 66-1, 66-2, 66-3 and 66-4 of first detecting section 66 are added by first adder 70. Signals from regions 68-1, 68-2, 68-3 and 68-4 of second detecting section 68 are added by second adder 72. Addition outputs from first and second adders 70 and 72 are supplied to subtracter 74, which generates an information reproduction signal. More specifically, the difference of the S and P components, which changes in accordance with rotation of polarization plane of the laser beam, is generated by subtracter 74 as the information reproduction signal. The added outputs of first and second adders 70 and 72 are supplied to adder 76, which generates a reproduction component of a preform signal. In other words, the light intensity of the laser beam having an intensity modulated by a prepit is generated by adder 76 as the reproduction component of the preform signal. In addition, the signals from first and second regions 66-1 and 66-2 of first section 66, and from first and second regions 68-1 and 68-2 of second section 68 are added by third adder 78. The signals from third and fourth regions 66-3 and 66-4 of first section 66, and from third and fourth regions 68-3 and 68-4 of second section 68 are added by fourth adder 80. Addition signals from third and fourth adders 78 and 80 are supplied to subtracter 82, which generates a tracking error signal. The signal from first and third regions 66-1 and 66-3 of first section 66, and from first and third regions 68-1 and 68-3 of second section 68 are also added by fifth adder 84. The signals from second and fourth regions 66-2 and 66-4 of first section 66, and from second and fourth regions 68-2 and 68-4 of second section 68 are also added by sixth adder 86. Addition signals from fifth and sixth adders 84 and 86 are supplied to subtracter 88, and a focusing error signal is generated therefrom. Lens 46 is shifted along its optical axis in accordance with the focusing error signal and is constantly maintained in the in-focus state. Lens 46 is also shifted in a direction perpendicular to its optical axis in accordance with the tracking error signal, so that the tracking guide is traced with a correctly focused laser beam. As a result, recorded information is read out from the optical disk, and the preform signal and recorded information are reproduced. Simultaneously, in the recording mode, information is written correctly, and in the erasure mode, recorded information is reliably erased. The above embodiment exemplifies an optical system for recording, reproducing and erasing information on a magneto-optical disk. However, the present invention can also be applied to an optical system for recording and reproducing information on and from an unerasable optical disk for recording information in the form of a pit. Such an optical system will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The same reference numerals in Fig. 9 denote the same or equivalent portions in Figs. 1 to 8, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the optical system of Fig. 9, 1/4 plate 154 is arranged between polarizing beam splitter 44 and objective lens 46, and reflecting mirror 156 is arranged between splitter 44 and projecting lens 58. In this optical system, information is written as a pit on optical disk 48 by a laser beam converged by lens 46 in the in-focus state, and information is read out from a written pit with a laser beam. More specifically, in the write mode, a pit is formed in a track on a recording layer of disk 48 by laser beam L of a modulated light intensity. In the read mode, a laser beam of a predetermined light intensity is modulated by the pit formed in the track of the recording layer, and is reflected thereby. Divergent laser beam L reflected by the recording layer of disk 48 is converted into collimated beams by lens 46 in the in-focus state, transmitted through plate 154, and returned to splitter 44. Since laser beam L passes plate 154 twice, its plane of polarization is rotated through 90 degrees from the beam which is transmitted through splitter 44. Laser beam L with the plane of polarization rotated through 90 degrees is not transmitted through splitter 44, but is reflected thereby and guided to mirror 156. Mirror 156 has three adjacent light-reflecting surfaces with predetermined inclinations in respect to each other, as shown in Fig. 10. More specifically, mirror 156 has one focusing error detection light-reflecting surface 156A and two tracking error detection light-reflecting surfaces 156B and 156C. Assume that the intersection of ridges of three surfaces 156A, 156B and 156C coincides with the optical axis extending from splitter 44, and an image of a track is formed on a boundary tangent between surfaces 156B and 156C. Surfaces 156A, 156B and 156C are arranged such that they are substantially parallel to the extending direction of the track, an incident laser beam is split into a focusing error detecting laser beam component and a tracking error detecting laser beam component, which propagate in different directions, and are projected onto single detector 64 through single focusing lens 58. Detector 64 is arranged at a converging point of the laser beam components focused by lens 58 and comprises a pair of adjacent light-detecting regions 164A and 164B for detecting a focus error signal, and a pair of light-detecting regions 164C and 164D for detecting a tracking error signal, with a gap therebetween, as shown in Fig. 11. The laser beam component reflected by surface 156A is focused at a midpoint between regions 164A and 164B in the in-focus state, and irradiates either region 164A or 164B in an out-of-focus state. Thus, a difference between outputs from regions 164A and 164B is produced as a focusing error signal from subtracter 106. In other words, an out-of-focus state is detected by the knife-edge method. The laser beam components reflected by surfaces 156B and 156C are focused on regions 164C and 164D, respectively. The beam spot of laser beam L returned from a track on disk 48 by reflection thereby constitutes a far field pattern, reflecting disk 48 on detector 64, and forms an asymmetrical intensity distribution if there is a tracking error. Therefore, when a change in ratio in the amount of light from the laser beam component reflected by surface 156B to that reflected by surface 156C is detected, i.e., a difference between detected signal amounts is obtained, a tracking error is detected by, e.g., the push-pull method. Note that an informa- tion signal and a preform signal are obtained by amplifying the signals from regions 164A, 164B, 164C and 164D with amplifiers 101, 102, 104, 105, 108A and 108B, and by processing with adders 107A and 107B and subtracter 109. In the above arrangement, the laser beam is split into a focusing error detecting laser beam component and a tracking error detecting laser beam by mirror 156 having three adjacent light-reflecting surfaces inclined at predetermined angles with respect to each other, i.e., one focusing error detection surface 156A and two tracking error detection surfaces 156B and 156C. Therefore, focusing and tracking errors can be detected by single detector 64 without using a half prism or the like for splitting laser beam L. In addition, three laser beam components can be focused by single focusing lens 58. Therefore, the number of optical components and the price of the product are reduced, the size of the overall product is considerably reduced, and assembly and adjustment thereof become easy. As is apparent from Fig. 12, mirror 156 of the optical system of Fig. 9 can be removed, and polarizing beam splitter 44 of Fig. 9 can be replaced by polarizing beam splitter 144, wherein polarizing surface 145 is divided into three surface regions, as shown in Fig. 10, and two surface regions are inclined in different directions with respect to the remaining surface region. In the optical system of Fig. 12, the laser beam travelling toward disk 48 is transmitted through polarizing surface 145 of splitter 144 and focused by lens 46 on disk 48. In contrast to this, the laser beam from disk 48 is reflected by surface 145 to be split by the three surface regions, into three laser beams, which are then directed in different directions. The laser beams are then focused by lens 58, and are incident on detector 64 having detecting regions as shown in Fig. 11. Therefore, a focusing error signal, a tracking error signal, an information signal and a preform signal can be obtained from detector 64. As described above, according to the present invention, signals to be converted into a focusing error signal, a tracking error signal, a preform signal or recorded information can be obtained by a single optical detector of an optical system in an optical head. In addition, since the laser beam reflected by the optical disk is directed to the optical detector, the optical detector can be made compact, resulting in a compact device. Since the travel path of the laser beam is not divided into a plurality of paths, the number of components can be reduced, and the device can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, since collimated laser beams are incident on the polarizing beam splitter of the optical system of the present invention, the beams are incident on the polarizing surface at identical angles. As a result, the separation ratio of the P and S components can be maintained constant.

Claims: An optical system for use with an optical memory (48) having a tracking guide (39), wherein said optical system comprises: means (40, 42, 44, 45, 46) for transferring a light beam and directing the light beam onto said optical memory (48); means (56) for separating the light beam reflected from said optical memory (48) into a plurality of light segment beams; and means (64) for detecting the light segment beams to generate focusing, tracking, and retrieving signals; characterized in that: said separating means (56) includes a light reflecting surface (56A, 56B) which is constituted by first, second, and third surface portions (56A-1, 56A-2, 56A-3, 56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3), which are mutually inclined relative to one another, the light beam reflected from the optical memory (48) being reflected in different directions and separated into first, second, and third segment beams by the first, second, and third surface portions (56A-1, 56A-2, 56A-3, 56B-1, 56B-2), respectively, and the first, second and third segment beams being directed to different sensitive regions of said detecting means (64). An optical system of claim 1, characterized in that said first, second and third surface portions (56B1, 56B-2, 56B-3) are contiguous to one another. An optical system of claim 1, characterized by including converging means (58, 60) for converging said light segment beams onto different regions of said detecting means (64). An optical system of claim 3, characterized in that said converging means (58, 60) includes a lens through which all said light segment beams pass. An optical system of anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said detecting means (64) comprises a plurality of photosensitive regions (66, 68, 70) formed on a surface of a photodetector unit (64). An optical system of claim 1, characterized in that said light reflecting surface comprises at least three portions (56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3). An optical system of claim 1, characterized in that said separating means (56, 90, 146) comprises a first surface (56A, 146A) for reflecting the first segment beam in a first direction and for transmitting the second segment beam therethrough, and a second surface (56B, 146B) for reflecting the second segment beam in a second direction, said separating means (56, 90, 146) further comprising third, fourth and fifth surfaces (56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3, 90A, 90B, 90C) for separating one of said first and second segment beams into third, fourth and fifth segment beams oriented in third, fourth and fifth directions, respectively, none of said third, fourth and fifth directions and said direction of said other of said first and second segment beams being parallel or normal to each other and each converging on at least one of the regions (66, 68, 70, 94, 96, 98) of said detecting means (64); and further characterized by means (101, 102, 104, 108A, 108B, 107B, 103, 109, 110), coupled to said detecting means (64) to sense data stored in said tracking guide as a function of the combined value of said third, fourth and fifth segment beams in comparison with the value of said first and second segment beams and orienting means (37, 38) for focussing and aligning said light beam on said tracking guide as a function of said third, fourth and fifth light beams. An optical system of claim 7, characterized in that said second surface (56B, 146B) comprises said third, fourth and fifth surfaces (56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3). An optical system of claim 8, characterized in that said third, fourth and fifth surfaces (56B-1, 56B-2, 56B-3), 90A, 90B, 90C) are contiguous to one another. An optical system of claim 7, characterized in that said first surface (56A, 146A) is a half mirror surface.

Inventors: ANDO, HIDEO PATENT DIVISION
Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G02B27
IPC codes: G02B27, G11B7