Optical pickup apparatus and identification apparatus for identifying the type of optical record medium

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus (1) for an information reproducing apparatus is adapted to reproduce one (101) of at least first and second type optical record media which is loaded on the information reproducing apparatus. The first and second type optical record media have distances from surfaces to information record planes different from each other. The optical pickup apparatus is provided with: a light emission device (2) for emitting a reading light; an objective lens (9) for focusing the emitted reading light onto the information record plane of the loaded one of the first and second type optical record media such that a focus condition of the focused reading light is optimum with respect to the first type optical record medium; a correction device (6, 7, 8, 13) for correcting a spherical aberration of the focused reading light with respect to the second type optical record medium due to a difference in the distances from the surfaces to the information record planes between the first and second type optical record media when the second type optical record medium is loaded; and a light receiving device (11) for receiving a reflection light of the focused reading light from the information record plane of the loaded one of the first and second optical record media.

Description: The present invention generally relates to an optical pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an optical pickup apparatus for reproducing record information of optical record media of various types, which substrates have various thicknesses, which distances from their surfaces to their information record planes are different from each other or which information pits on record tracks have various sizes. There is a multi-disc player, which can reproduce a CD (Compact Disc) and a LD (Laser vision Disc) etc., as a reproducing apparatus able to reproduce a plurality of types of optical record media. In this kind of multi-disc player, in order to realize an optical system optimum for each of the optical discs, which thicknesses, refraction coefficients, etc., of their disc protection layers or their disc substrates are different from each other, a plurality of optical pickup apparatuses, each of which is exclusive for one of the optical discs of various types, are provided and are selectively used in accordance with the loaded optical disc to be reproduced. Thus, the optimum reproduction operation can be performed with respect to each of various types of optical discs by one multi-disc player. In this kind of multi-disc player, in case of identifying the types of optical discs which disc thicknesses are different from each other, a mechanical switch is provided so as to identify the type of the loaded optical disc on the basis of the fact that this mechanical switch is pressed or not by the loaded optical disc. Further, in case of identifying the types of optical discs which external shapes e.g. the external diameters are different from each other, an optical detection device such as a light sensor is equipped to detect the existence and non-existence of the reflection light reflected by the loaded optical disc. However, since a plurality of optical pickup apparatuses, each of which is exclusive for one of the optical discs of various types, are equipped in the above mentioned multi-disc player, the size and cost of the apparatus is increased, which is a serious problem in the practical sense. In order to overcome this problem, it may be proposed to use one optical pickup apparatus commonly for a plurality of optical discs of various types. However, once the thickness of the protection layer (substrate) is far off from the optimum thickness set for each of the optical pickup apparatus, a spherical aberration is generated in the focused light beam as the reading light beam at the information record plane of the optical disc, which is another serious problem to perform a precise reproduction operation. More concretely, assuming that the wavelength of the reading light beam emitted from a laser diode is λ, the refraction coefficient of the protection layer of the optical disc is n, the difference between the actual thickness of the protection layer of the optical disc and the optimum thickness of the protection layer set for the optical pickup apparatus is Δd, and the numerical aperture of the objective lens is NA, the spherical aberration W 40 is expressed by a following expression (1). W 40 = {(n 2 -1)/8n 3 }*Δd*(NA 4 /λ) Thus, as the difference Δd is increased, the spherical aberration W 40 is also increased and the signal quality of the read out signal of the optical pickup apparatus is degraded, which is the problem. Further, the above mentioned mechanical or optical identification apparatus for identifying the type of the loaded optical disc cannot identify the type of the loaded optical disc, if the thicknesses and refraction coefficients of the optical discs are substantially same to each other but only the distances from the surfaces of the protection layers to the information record planes are different from each other. In this case, a complicated identifying operation such as a comparison of record formats etc., will be necessary. More concretely, those identification apparatuses cannot differentiate a first optical disc of both sides recording type produced by bonding two discs each of which has a protection layer with 0.6 mm thickness, from a second optical disc of one side recording type, which has an external diameter same as the first optical disc and which has a protection layer with 1.2 mm thickness, which is the problem. By the way, in the above mentioned optical pickup apparatus, the spot diameter of the reading light beam is set to be a value optimum for the size of the information pit of the optical record medium to be reproduced. The spot diameter R of the reading light beam is proportional to the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens and the wavelength λ of the reading light beam. Namely, the spot diameter satisfies a following expression (2). R ∝ λ/NA Therefore, in case of reproducing the optical record medium which has an information pit of relatively small size, in order to make the spot diameter R of the reading light beam smaller correspondingly, the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens is increased assuming that the wavelength λ of the reading light beam is constant. In other words, assuming that the wavelength λ of the reading light beam is constant, as the numerical aperture NA is increased, the smaller information pit can be reproduced, while, as the numerical aperture NA is decreased, the larger information pit can be reproduced. The numerical aperture NA of the objective lens has a peculiar value for each objective lens. Thus, the optical pickup apparatus, which is adjusted to be optimum with respect to a first information pit having a certain size, is not suitable for a second information pit having a size different from that of the first information pit. Therefore, the distortion will be generated in the reproduction signal if this optical pickup apparatus is used with respect to an optical record medium formed with the second information pit, which is a problem in this case. In this manner, it is not possible for one optical pickup apparatus to reproduce optical discs which sizes of the information pits are different from each other. Even if the reproduction is performed in such a condition, the precise reproduction operation is not possible, which is the problem. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an optical pickup apparatus for an information reproducing apparatus, which can reproduce optical record media of different types. EP-A-0470807 discloses an optical pickup apparatus for an information reproducing apparatus adapted to reproduce one of at least first and second type optical record media which is loaded on said information reproducing apparatus, said first and second type optical record media having distances from surfaces to information record planes different from each other, the optical pickup apparatus comprising: a light emission means for emitting a reading light; an objective lens for focusing the emitted reading light onto the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second type optical record media such that a focus condition of the focused reading light is optimum with respect to said first type optical record medium; a correction means for correcting a spherical aberration of the focused reading light with respect to said second type optical record medium due to a difference in the distances from the surfaces to the information record planes between said first and second type optical record media when said second type optical record medium is loaded; and a light receiving means for receiving a reflection light of the focused reading light from the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media, wherein said optical pickup apparatus further comprises a first optical element for guiding the emitted reading light from said light emission means to said objective lens when said first optical element is placed at a predetermined optical position in an optical path between said light emission means and said objective lens, said correction means comprising: a second optical element for guiding the emitted reading light from said light emission means to said objective lens and for correcting the spherical aberration when said second optical element is placed at the predetermined optical position; and an exchanging means for exchanging said first and second optical elements to each other such that said first optical element is placed at the predetermined optical position when said first type optical record medium is loaded and that said second optical element is placed at the predetermined optical position when said second type optical record medium is loaded, in accordance with a disc identification signal, which is inputted from the external and indicates the type of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media. According to a first aspect of the present invention such a device is characterised in that said first optical element comprises a first collimator lens for collimating the emitted reading light, and said second optical element comprises a second collimator lens for collimating the emitted reading light and for correcting the spherical aberration. Accordingly, the reading light is emitted by the light emission device. Then, the emitted reading light is focused onto the information record plane of the loaded optical record medium by the objective lens, such that a focus condition of the focused reading light is optimum with respect to the first type optical record medium. Thus, when the first type optical record medium is loaded, the optimum focus condition can be obtained without the necessity of the correction device for correcting the spherical aberration. On the other hand, when the second type optical record medium is loaded, the spherical aberration of the focused reading light due to the difference in the distances from the surfaces to the information record planes between the first and second type optical record media is corrected by the second optical element (collimator lens), since the second optical element is placed in the optical path at this event by virtue of the exchanging device which exchanges the first and second optical element in accordance with the disc identification signal. Thus, on the basis of the disc identification signal, the optimum reproduction operation can be performed. Finally, the reflection light of the focused reading light from the information record plane of either one of the first and second optical record media is received by the light receiving device. Consequently, the optimum reproduction can be performed with respect to either one of the first and second type optical record media, according to the optical pickup apparatus of the present invention. The correction device may be provided with: correction element for correcting the spherical aberration when the correction element is placed in an optical path of the emitted reading light between the light emission device and the objective lens; and a moving device for selectively moving the correction element into the optical path and out of the optical path in accordance with a disc identification signal, which is inputted from the external and indicates the type of the loaded one of the first and second optical record media. Accordingly, the spherical aberration is corrected by the correction element when the second optical record medium is loaded, since the correction element is placed in the optical path at this event by virtue of the moving device which moves the correction element in accordance with the disc identification signal. The disc identification signal is inputted from the external e.g. from a disc identification apparatus of the present invention as described later. Thus, on the basis of the disc identification signal, the optimum reproduction operation can be performed. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical pickup apparatus for an information reproducing apparatus adapted to reproduce one of at least first and second type optical record media which is loaded on said information reproducing apparatus, said first and second type optical record media having distances from surfaces to information record planes different from each other, characterized in that said optical pickup apparatus comprises: a light emission means for emitting a reading light; an objective lens for focusing the emitted reading light onto the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second type optical record media such that a focus condition of the focused reading light is optimum with respect to said first type optical record medium; a correction means for correcting a spherical aberration of the focused reading light with respect to said second type optical record medium due to a difference in the distances from the surfaces to the information record planes between said first and second type optical record media when said second type optical record medium is loaded; and a light receiving means for receiving a reflection light of the focused reading light from the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media; characterised in that said light emission means comprises at least first and second light sources for emitting first and second reading lights respectively, in that said optical pickup apparatus further comprises a first optical element for guiding the first reading light from said first light source to said objective lens, and in that said correction means comprises: a second optical element for guiding the second reading light from said second light source to said objective lens and for correcting the spherical aberration; and a driving means for selectively driving said first and second light sources to emit the first and second reading lights respectively such that said first light source emits the first reading light when said first type optical record medium is loaded and that said second light source emits the second reading light when said second type optical record medium is loaded, in accordance with a disc identification signal, which is inputted from the external and indicates the type of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media. Accordingly, the spherical aberration is corrected by the second optical element when the second optical record medium is loaded, since the second light source is driven to emit the second reading light at this event by virtue of the driving device which selectively drives the first and second light sources in accordance with the disc identification signal. Thus, on the basis of the disc identification signal, the optimum reproduction operation can be performed. In this aspect, the driving device may be provided with: a first driving circuit for driving the first light source; a second driving circuit for driving the second light source; and a driving control circuit for controlling the first and second light sources to selectively emit the first and second reading lights respectively, in accordance with the disc identification signal. Thus, a reliable operation of driving the light sources can be performed. Alternatively, the driving device may be provided with: a driving circuit for driving one of the first and second light sources, which is electrically connected with the driving circuit; and a switching device for electrically connecting the driving circuit to the first light source when the first type optical record medium is loaded and electrically connecting the driving circuit to the second light source when the second type optical record medium is loaded, in accordance with the disc identification signal. Thus, by use of just one driving circuit, a plurality of light sources can be driven, so that the size and cost of the optical pickup apparatus can be reduced. In this aspect, the optical pickup apparatus may be further provided with a beam splitter disposed between the light emission device and the objective lens for combining optical paths of the first and second reading lights respectively emitted from the first and second light sources. Thus, two optical paths can be exactly combined by use of a relatively simple construction. Alternatively, the optical pickup apparatus may be further provided with a half mirror disposed between the light emission device and the objective lens for combining optical paths of the first and second reading lights respectively emitted from the first and second light sources. Further, in this aspect, the first optical element may be provided with a first collimator lens for collimating the first reading light, and a second collimator lens for collimating the second reading light and for correcting the spherical aberration. Thus, the spherical aberration can be certainly corrected by use of the collimator lens. In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical pickup apparatus as a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a disc identifying sensor used for the optical pickup apparatus of FIG.1, FIG. 2B is a diagram explaining a stroke with respect to the DVD in the optical pickup apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2C is a diagram explaining a stroke with respect to the CD in the optical pickup apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a table for explaining an operation of the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an optical pickup apparatus as a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a table for explaining an operation of the second embodiment; FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an optical pickup apparatus as a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7A is a block diagram of an optical system of the third embodiment in one state, and FIG. 7B is a block diagram of the optical system of the third embodiment in another state; FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an optical pickup apparatus as a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 9A is a block diagram of an optical system of a fifth embodiment of the present invention in one state, and FIG. 9B is a block diagram of the optical system of the fifth embodiment in another state. Referring to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be now explained. (1) First Embodiment: FIG. 1 shows a construction of an optical pickup apparatus as a first embodiment, which is equipped in an optical disc player, of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an optical pickup apparatus 1 is provided with: a semiconductor laser diode 2 for emitting a reading light; a grating 3 for separating the reading light into three beams; a half mirror 4 for reflecting and guiding the reading light from the laser diode 2 toward the side of an objective lens 9, and transmitting the reading light from the side of the objective lens 9 toward a light receiving element 11; a collimator lens 5 for converting the reading light which is a diffused light to a collimated light; a correcting element 6 for correcting the spherical aberration consisting of a spherical lens, a Fresnel lens, etc.; a driving mechanism 7 for moving the correction element 6; a driving circuit 8 for driving the driving mechanism 7 to move the correction element 6 into the optical path and move the correction element 6 out of the optical path, by outputting a driving control signal Sdr on the basis of a control signal Sc to the driving mechanism 7; the objective lens 9 for condensing and focusing the reading light onto an optical disc 101; a concave lens 10 for shaping the reading light, which is transmitted from the objective lens 9 through the half mirror 4; and the light receiving element 11 for receiving the reading light shaped by the concave lens 10, converting it to an electrical signal and outputting it as a detection signal Sdet. The optical disc player is provided with a disc identifying sensor 12, as one example of a disc identification apparatus, for identifying the type of the optical disc 101 and outputting a disc identification signal Sd indicating the identified type of the optical disc 101. The optical pickup apparatus 1 is further provided with a control circuit 13 for generating the control signal Sc for controlling the moving in and out operation of the correction element 6 on the basis of the disc identification signal Sd. The optical disc player is further provided with: a signal process unit 14 for performing a predetermined signal process of the detection signal Sdet from the light receiving element 11, and a servo control unit 15 for performing servo controls such a focus servo control, a tracking servo control, a spindle servo control, etc., by generating servo control signals Sser on the basis of the signal processed by the signal process unit 14. The three lights separated by the grating 3 are applied onto one record track of the optical disc 101 to form three light spots arranged along one record track and slightly spaced from each other so as to allow the optical pickup apparatus 1 to use one of the reflection lights from those three light spots which is in the best optical condition among the three reflection lights. Here, a construction of the disc identifying sensor 12 is explained with referring to FIG. 2. The disc identifying sensor 12 is provided with: a low pass filter 12A for passing only a low frequency component of the electric current flowing through a focus coil, which drives the objective lens 9 in the direction of focusing, and outputting it as a low frequency component signal having a voltage Vdc; and a comparator 12B for comparing the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal with a standard voltage Vref, and generating the disc identification signal Sd based on the result of the comparison. In case of identifying two types of optical discs, one of which is the DVD (Digital Video Disc) made by bonding two discs each having the protection layer (substrate) thickness of 0.6 mm as shown in FIG. 2B, and the other of which is the CD (Compact Disc) having the protection layer thickness of 1.2 mm as shown in FIG. 2C, the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal corresponding to the protection layer thickness of 0.9 mm (=(0.6 + 1.2)/2 mm) is set as the standard voltage Vref in the disc identifying sensor 12, for example. Since the protection layer of the optical disc has a refraction coefficient n, a stroke (driving distance) d of the objective lens 9 is substantially proportional to "t/n" in case that the incident angle of the light beam is relatively small, wherein t represents the thickness of the protection layer. Thus, assuming that the focus position is at the surface of the protection layer when the focus servo is not performed, the driving distance d of the objective lens 9 when the focus servo is closed with respect to the DVD as shown in FIG. 2B, and the driving distance 2d of the objective lens 9 when the focus servo is closed with respect to the CD as shown in FIG. 2C, are different from each other by two times (= 1.2 / 0.6 times). Therefore, by adjusting the focus position to be at the surface of the protection layer when the focus servo is not performed, the disc identifying sensor 12 outputs the disc identification signal Sd, which indicates that the identified disc type is the CD, if the voltage Vmdc obtained as the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal exceeds the standard voltage Vref, and outputs the disc identification signal Sd, which indicates that the identified disc type is the DVD if the voltage Vmdc does not exceeds the standard voltage Vref. In the explanations hereinbelow, the standard voltage Vref is set as the above explained manner. Nextly, the operation of the optical pickup apparatus 1 will be described with referring to FIGs. 1 to 3. In advance of the information reproduction operation, the optical pickup apparatus 1 closes the focus servo to get the reading light focused on the information record plane of the optical disc 101. By this, the low pass filter 12A passes only the low frequency component of the voltage signal corresponding to the electric current flowing through the focus coil for driving the objective lens 9 in the focusing direction, and outputs it as the low frequency component signal having the voltage Vdc to the comparator 12B in FIG. 2A. By this, the comparator 12B compares the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal with the standard voltage Vref and outputs the disc identification signal Sd corresponding to the identified type of the optical disc 101, which is loaded on the optical disc player in FIG. 2A. More concretely, if the voltage Vmdc obtained as the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal exceeds the standard voltage Vref, the disc identifying sensor 12 outputs the disc identification signal Sd, which indicates that the identified disc type is the CD, to the control circuit 13. If the voltage Vmdc does not exceeds the standard voltage Vref, the disc identifying sensor 12 outputs the disc identification signal Sd, which indicates that the identified disc type is the DVD, to the control circuit 13. By this, the control circuit 13 outputs the control signal Sc to the driving circuit 8 to control the moving in and out operation for the correction element 6 on the basis of the disc identification signal Sd in FIG. 1. As a result, the driving circuit 8 outputs the driving control signal Sdr to the driving mechanism 7 on the basis of the control signal Sc, so as to move the correction element 6 into or out of the optical path in accordance with the disc identification signal Sd. More concretely, it is assumed that the optical system of the optical pickup apparatus 1 is set to be suitable for the CD when the correction element 6 is not in the optical path. When the disc identification signal Sd indicates the CD, the correction element 6 is not moved if it is not in the optical path, and is moved out of the optical path if it is in the optical path, as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand, when the disc identification signal Sd indicates the DVD, the correction element 6 is moved into the optical path if it is in the optical path, and is not moved out if it is already in the optical path. As described above in detail, according to the first embodiment, the type of the loaded optical disc is detected just by the difference in the thickness of the protection layer, and the optimum aberration correction is performed for the identified type of the optical disc, so that the optimum reproduction operation for the loaded optical disc can be easily performed. In the above first embodiment, the explanation has been made for the case of identifying two types of the optical discs which protection layer thicknesses are different from each other (i.e. the CD and the DVD). However, it is possible to construct the optical pickup apparatus 1 such that a plurality of standard voltages may be set for the comparator 12B, more than two types of the optical discs may be identified and a plurality of correction elements are exchanged in accordance with the identified types of the optical discs. (2) Second Embodiment: FIG. 4 shows a construction of an optical pickup apparatus as a second embodiment, which is equipped in an optical disc player, of the present invention. In FIG. 4, constitutional elements same as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 carry the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof are omitted. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that two types of optical discs i.e. the CD and the DVD are loaded on the optical disc player. In FIG. 4, an optical pickup apparatus 20 is provided with: a semiconductor laser diode 2 for emitting a reading light; a grating 3 for separating the reading light into three beams; a half mirror 4 for reflecting and guiding the reading light from the laser diode 2 toward the side of an objective lens 9, and transmitting the reading light from the side of the objective lens 9 toward a light receiving element 11; a first collimator lens 5A having an optical parameter suitable for the CD for converting the reading light which is a diffused light to a collimated light; a second collimator lens 5B having an optical parameter suitable for the DVD for converting the reading light which is a diffused light to a collimated light; a driving mechanism 7A for the first and second collimator lenses 5A and 5B; a driving circuit 8A for driving the driving mechanism 7A to exchange the first and second collimator lenses 5A and 5B with respect to the optical path, by outputting a driving control signal Sdr on the basis of a control signal Sc to the driving mechanism 7A; the objective lens 9 for condensing and focusing the reading light onto an optical disc 101; a concave lens 10 for shaping the reading light, which is transmitted from the objective lens 9 through the half mirror 4; a light receiving element 11 for receiving the reading light shaped by the concave lens 10, converting it to an electrical signal and outputting it; and a control circuit 13 for generating the control signal Sc for controlling the exchanging operation of the first and second collimator lenses 5A and 5B on the basis of the disc identification signal Sd. The optical disc player is provided with: a disc identifying sensor 12 for identifying the type of the optical disc 101 and outputting a disc identification signal Sd indicating the identified type of the optical disc 101, which has the same construction as that explained in the first embodiment by use of FIGs. 2A to 2C. Next the operation of the optical pickup apparatus 20 will be described with referring to FIGs. 2A, 4 and 5. In advance of the information reproduction operation, the optical pickup apparatus 20 closes the focus servo to get the reading light focused on the information record plane of the optical disc 101. By this, the low pass filter 12A passes only the low frequency component of the voltage signal corresponding to the electric current flowing through the focus coil for driving the objective lens 9 in the focusing direction, and outputs it as the low frequency component signal having the voltage Vdc to the comparator 12B in FIG. 2A. By this, the comparator 12B compares the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal with the standard voltage Vref and outputs the disc identification signal Sd corresponding to the identified type of the optical disc 101, which is loaded on the optical disc player in FIG. 2A. By this, the control circuit 13 outputs the control signal Sc to the driving circuit 8A to control the exchanging operation for the first and second collimator lenses 5A and 5B on the basis of the disc identification signal Sd in FIG. 4. As a result, the driving circuit 8A outputs the driving control signal Sdr to the driving mechanism 7A on the basis of the control signal Sc, so as to exchange the first and second collimator lenses 6A and 6B in accordance with the disc identification signal Sd. More concretely, it is assumed that the optical system of the optical pickup apparatus 20 is set to be suitable for the CD when the first collimator lens 5A is placed in the optical path. When the disc identification signal Sd indicates the CD, the first collimator lens 5A is not exchanged and remains as it is if the first collimator lens 5A is already placed in the optical path, and the second collimator lens 5B is exchanged to the first collimator lens 5A if the second collimator lens 5B is placed in the optical path, as shown in FIG. 5. On the other hand, when the disc identification signal Sd indicates the DVD, the first collimator lens 5A is exchanged to the second collimator lens 5B if the first collimator lens 5A is placed in the optical path, and the second collimator lens 5B is not exchanged and remains as it is if the second collimator lens 5B is already placed in the optical path. As described above in detail, according to the second embodiment, the type of the loaded optical disc is detected just by the difference in the thickness of the protection layer, and the first or second collimator lens 5A or 5B, which is optimum for the loaded optical disc, is placed in the optical path, so that the optimum reproduction operation for the loaded optical disc can be easily performed. In the above second embodiment, the explanation has been made for the case of identifying two types of the optical discs which protection layer thicknesses are different from each other (i.e. the CD and the DVD). However, it is possible to construct the optical pickup apparatus 20 such that more than two collimator lenses may be prepared, more than two types of the optical discs may be identified and the collimator lenses are exchanged in accordance with the identified types of the optical discs. Further, in the above second embodiment, the explanation has been made for the case of exchanging the collimator lenses. However, it is also possible to construct the optical pickup apparatus 20 such that other optical elements having different optical parameters may be exchanged. (3) Third Embodiment: In the first and second embodiments, the number of the reading light emitting optical system is just one. In a third embodiment, two reading light emitting optical systems are provided. FIG. 6 shows a construction of an optical pickup apparatus as a third embodiment, which is equipped in an optical disc player, of the present invention. In FIG. 6, constitutional elements same as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 carry the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof are omitted. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that two types of optical discs i.e. the CD and the DVD are loaded on the optical disc player. In FIG. 6, an optical pickup apparatus 30 is provided with: a first semiconductor laser diode 2A for emitting a reading light; a first driving circuit 31A for driving the first laser diode 2A; a first grating 3A for separating the reading light from the first laser diode 2A into three beams; a first collimator lens 32A for converting the reading light, which is a diffused light from the first laser diode 2A and has optical parameters suitable for the CD, to a collimated light; a second semiconductor laser diode 2B for emitting a reading light; a second driving circuit 31B for driving the second laser diode 2B; a second grating 3B for separating the reading light from the second laser diode 2B into three beams; a second collimator lens 32B for converting the reading light, which is a diffused light from the second laser diode 2B and has optical parameters suitable for the DVD, to a collimated light; a first beam splitter 33 for transmitting the reading light from the first collimator lens 32A and reflecting the reading light from the second collimator lens 32B; a second beam splitter 34 for transmitting the reading light from the first beam splitter 33 toward the objective lens 9 and reflecting the reading light from the objective lens 9 toward a light receiving element 11; the objective lens 9 for condensing and focusing the reading light onto an optical disc 101; a concave lens 10 for shaping the reading light, which is transmitted from the objective lens 9 and reflected by the second beam splitter 34; the light receiving element 11 for receiving the reading light shaped by the concave lens 10, converting it to an electrical signal and outputting it; and a control circuit 13 for generating the control signal Sc to selectively control the first and second driving circuits 31A and 31B to drive the respective laser diodes 2A and 2B on the basis of the disc identification signal Sd. The optical disc player is provided with a disc identifying sensor 12 for identifying the type of the optical disc 101 and outputting a disc identification signal Sd indicating the identified type of the optical disc 101, which has the same construction as that explained in the first embodiment by use of FIGs. 2A to 2C. Next the operation of the optical pickup apparatus 30 will be described with referring to FIGs. 2A and 6 to 7B. In advance of the information reproduction operation, the optical pickup apparatus 30 closes the focus servo to get the reading light focused on the information record plane of the optical disc 101. By this, the low pass filter 12A passes only the low frequency component of the voltage signal corresponding to the electric current flowing through the focus coil for driving the objective lens 9 in the focusing direction, and outputs it as the low frequency component signal having the voltage Vdc to the comparator 12B in FIG. 2A. By this, the comparator 12B compares the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal with the standard voltage Vref and outputs the disc identification signal Sd corresponding to the identified type of the optical disc 101, which is loaded on the optical disc player in FIG. 2A. By this, the control circuit 13 selectively outputs the control signal Sc to either one of the first and second driving circuits 31A and 31B on the basis of the disc identification signal Sd in FIG. 6. As a result, the selected driving circuit 31A or 31B drives the laser diode 2A or 2B on the basis of the control signal Sc, so as to enable the reproduction operation. More concretely, it is assumed that the optical system of the optical pickup apparatus 30 is set to be suitable for the CD when the reading light is emitted from the first laser diode 2A and that the optical system of the optical pickup apparatus 30 is set to be suitable for the DVD when the reading light is emitted from the second laser diode 2B. When the disc identification signal Sd indicates the CD, the first driving circuit 31A is driven by the control circuit 13, so that the first laser diode 2A is driven to emit the reading light to perform the reproduction operation as shown in FIG. 7A. When the disc identification signal Sd indicates the DVD, the second driving circuit 31B is driven by the control circuit 13, so that the second laser diode 2B is driven to emit the reading light to perform the reproduction operation as shown in FIG. 7B. As described above in detail, according to the third embodiment, the type of the loaded optical disc is detected just by the difference in the thickness of the protection layer, and the reading light emitting optical system is exchanged to be optimum one for the loaded optical disc, so that the optimum reproduction operation for the loaded optical disc can be easily performed. In the above third embodiment, the explanation has been made for the case of identifying two types of the optical discs which protection layer thicknesses are different from each other (i.e. the CD and the DVD). However, it is possible to construct the optical pickup apparatus 30 such that more than two reading light emitting optical systems may be prepared, more than two types of the optical discs may be identified and the reading light emitting optical systems may be exchanged in accordance with the identified types of the optical discs. (4) Fourth Embodiment: In the third embodiment, two reading light emitting optical systems, each of which is provided with the driving circuit, are provided. In a fourth embodiment, the driving circuit is commonly used by two reading light emitting optical systems, so that the whole circuit construction be simplified. FIG. 8 shows a construction of an optical pickup apparatus as a fourth embodiment, which is equipped in an optical disc player, of the present invention. In FIG. 8, constitutional elements same as those in the third embodiment of FIG. 6 carry the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof are omitted. In the fourth embodiment, it is assumed that two types of optical discs i.e. the CD and the DVD are loaded on the optical disc player. In FIG. 8, an optical pickup apparatus 40 is provided with: a first semiconductor laser diode 2A for emitting a reading light; a first grating 3A for separating the reading light from the first laser diode 2A into three beams; a first collimator lens 32A for converting the reading light, which is a diffused light from the first laser diode 2A and has optical parameters suitable for the CD, to a collimated light; a second semiconductor laser diode 2B for emitting a reading light; a driving circuit 41 for driving the first laser diode 2A or the second laser diode 2B; a second grating 3B for separating the reading light from the second laser diode 2B into three beams; a second collimator lens 32B for converting the reading light, which is a diffused light from the second laser diode 2B and has optical parameters suitable for the DVD, to a collimated light; a first beam splitter 33 for transmitting the reading light from the first collimator lens 32A and reflecting the reading light from the second collimator lens 32B; a second beam splitter 34 for transmitting the reading light from the first beam splitter 33 toward the objective lens 9 and reflecting the reading light from the objective lens 9 toward a light receiving element 11; the objective lens 9 for condensing and focusing the reading light onto an optical disc 101; a concave lens 10 for shaping the reading light, which is transmitted from the objective lens 9 and reflected by the second beam splitter 34; the light receiving element 11 for receiving the reading light shaped by the concave lens 10, converting it to an electrical signal and outputting it; and a switching circuit 42 for selectively connecting the driving circuit 41 to the first laser diode 2A or the second laser diode 2B in accordance with the disc identification signal Sd. The optical disc player is provided with a disc identifying sensor 12 for identifying the type of the optical disc 101 and outputting a disc identification signal Sd indicating the identified type of the optical disc 101, which has the construction same as that explained in the first embodiment by use of FIGs. 2A to 2C. Next the operation of the optical pickup apparatus 40 will be described with referring to FIGs. 2A and 8. In advance of the information reproduction operation, the optical pickup apparatus 40 closes the focus servo to get the reading light focused on the information record plane of the optical disc 101. By this, the low pass filter 12A passes only the low frequency component of the voltage signal corresponding to the electric current flowing through the focus coil for driving the objective lens 9 in the focusing direction, and outputs it as the low frequency component signal having the voltage Vdc to the comparator 12B in FIG. 2A. By this, the comparator 12B compares the voltage Vdc of the low frequency component signal with the standard voltage Vref and outputs the disc identification signal Sd corresponding to the identified type of the optical disc 101, which is loaded on the optical disc player in FIG. 2A. By this, the switching circuit 42 selectively supplies a laser driving signal from the driving circuit 41 to the first laser diode 2A or the second laser diode 2B in accordance with the disc identification signal Sd in FIG. 8. As a result, the selected laser diode 2A or 2B is driven so as to enable the reproduction operation. More concretely, it is assumed that the optical system of the optical pickup apparatus 40 is set to be suitable for the CD when the reading light is emitted from the first laser diode 2A and that the optical system of the optical pickup apparatus 40 is set to be suitable for the DVD when the reading light is emitted from the second laser diode 2B. When the disc identification signal Sd indicates the CD, the driving circuit 41 drives the first laser diode 2A through the switching circuit 42 to emit the reading light to perform the reproduction operation. When the disc identification signal Sd indicates the DVD, the driving circuit 41 drives the second laser diode 2B through the switching circuit 42 to emit the reading light to perform the reproduction operation. As described above in detail, according to the fourth embodiment, the type of the loaded optical disc is detected just by the difference in the thickness of the protection layer, and the reading light emitting optical system, which is optimum for the loaded optical disc, is driven through the switching circuit 42, so that the optimum reproduction operation for the loaded optical disc can be easily performed. In the above fourth embodiment, the explanation has been made for the case of identifying two types of the optical discs which protection layer thicknesses are different from each other (i.e. the CD and the DVD). However, it is possible to construct the optical pickup apparatus 40 such that more than two laser diodes may be prepared, more than two types of the optical discs may be identified and the laser diodes may be switched over in accordance with the identified types of the optical discs. (5) Fifth Embodiment: Each of FIGs. 9A and 9B shows a construction of a reading light emitting optical system of an optical pickup apparatus 50 as a fifth embodiment, which is equipped in an optical disc player, of the present invention. In FIGs. 9A and 9B, constitutional elements same as those in the third embodiment of FIGs. 7A and 7B carry the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof are omitted. The point of the optical pickup apparatus 50 of FIGs. 9A and 9B different from the third embodiment of FIGs. 7A and 7B is that a half mirror 51 is provided in place of the first beam splitter 33. Other constitutional elements and the operation of the optical pickup apparatus 50 are the same as those of the third embodiment. According to the fifth embodiment, the type of the loaded optical disc is detected just by the difference in the thickness of the protection layer, and the reading light emitting optical system is exchanged to be optimum for the loaded optical disc, so that the optimum reproduction operation for the loaded optical disc can be easily performed in the same manner as the third embodiment.

Claims: An optical pickup apparatus (1,20,30,40,50) for an information reproducing apparatus adapted to reproduce one (101) of at least first and second type optical record media which is loaded on said information reproducing apparatus, said first and second type optical record media having distances from surfaces to information record planes different from each other, the optical pickup apparatus comprising: a light emission means (2,2A,2B) for emitting a reading light; an objective lens (9) for focusing the emitted reading light onto the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second type optical record media such that a focus condition of the focused reading light is optimum with respect to said first type optical record medium; a correction means (6,7,8,13,5B,7A,8A,31B,32B,41,42) for correcting a spherical aberration of the focused reading light with respect to said second type optical record medium due to a difference in the distances from the surfaces to the information record planes between said first and second type optical record media when said second type optical record medium is loaded; and a light receiving means (11) for receiving a reflection light of the focused reading light from the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media, wherein said optical pickup apparatus further comprises a first optical element (5A) for guiding the emitted reading light from said light emission means to said objective lens when said first optical element is placed at a predetermined optical position in an optical path between said light emission means and said objective lens, said correction means (5B,7A,8A,13) comprising: a second optical element (5B) for guiding the emitted reading light from said light emission means to said objective lens and for correcting the spherical aberration when said second optical element is placed at the predetermined optical position; and an exchanging means (7A,8A,13) for exchanging said first and second optical elements to each other such that said first optical element is placed at the predetermined optical position when said first type optical record medium is loaded and that said second optical element is placed at the predetermined optical position when said second type optical record medium is loaded, in accordance with a disc identification signal, which is inputted from the external and indicates the type of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media; characterised in that said first optical element comprises a first collimator lens (5A) for collimating the emitted reading light, and said second optical element comprises a second collimator lens (5B) for collimating the emitted reading light and for correcting the spherical aberration. An optical pickup apparatus (1,20,30,40,50) for an information reproducing apparatus adapted to reproduce one (101) of at least first and second type optical record media which is loaded on said information reproducing apparatus, said first and second type optical record media having distances from surfaces to information record planes different from each other, characterized in that said optical pickup apparatus comprises: a light emission means (2,2A,2B) for emitting a reading light; an objective lens (9) for focusing the emitted reading light onto the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second type optical record media such that a focus condition of the focused reading light is optimum with respect to said first type optical record medium; a correction means (6,7,8,13,5B,7A,8A,31B,32B,41,42) for correcting a spherical aberration of the focused reading light with respect to said second type optical record medium due to a difference in the distances from the surfaces to the information record planes between said first and second type optical record media when said second type optical record medium is loaded; and a light receiving means (11) for receiving a reflection light of the focused reading light from the information record plane of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media; characterised in that said light emission means comprises at least first and second light sources (2A,2B) for emitting first and second reading lights respectively, in that said optical pickup apparatus further comprises a first optical element (32A) for guiding the first reading light from said first light source to said objective lens, and in that said correction means comprises: a second optical element (32B) for guiding the second reading light from said second light source to said objective lens and for correcting the spherical aberration; and a driving means (31A, 31B, 13) for selectively driving said first and second light sources to emit the first and second reading lights respectively such that said first light source emits the first reading light when said first type optical record medium is loaded and that said second light source emits the second reading light when said second type optical record medium is loaded, in accordance with a disc identification signal, which is inputted from the external and indicates the type of said loaded one of said first and second optical record media. An optical pickup apparatus (30) according to claim 2, wherein said driving means comprises: a first driving circuit (31A) for driving said first light source; a second driving circuit (31B) for driving said second light source; and a driving control circuit (13) for controlling said first and second light sources to selectively emit the first and second reading lights respectively, in accordance with the disc identification signal. An optical pickup apparatus (40) according to claim 2, wherein said driving means comprises: a driving circuit (41) for driving one of said first and second light sources, which is electrically connected with said driving circuit; and a switching means (42) for electrically connecting said driving circuit to said first light source when said first type optical record medium is loaded and electrically connecting said driving circuit to said second light source when said second type optical record medium is loaded, in accordance with the disc identification signal. An optical pickup apparatus (30,40) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said optical pickup apparatus further comprises a beam splitter (33) disposed between said light emission means and said objective lens for combining optical paths of the first and second reading lights respectively emitted from said first and second light sources. An optical pickup apparatus (50) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said optical pickup apparatus further comprises a half mirror (51) disposed between said light emission means and said objective lens for combining optical paths of the first and second reading lights respectively emitted from said first and second light sources. An optical pickup apparatus (30,40,50) according to claim 2, wherein said first optical element comprises a first collimator lens (32A) for collimating the first reading light, and a second collimator lens (32B) for collimating the second reading light and for correcting the spherical aberration.

Inventors: AKIBA TAICHI, MIURA AKIRA, AKIBA, TAICHI, MIURA, AKIRA, Akiba, Taichi, c/o Pioneer Electronic Corp., Miura, Akira, c/o Pioneer Electronic Corp.
Applicants: PIONEER ELECTRONIC CORP, PIONEER ELECTRONIC CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G11B7
IPC codes: G11B7, G11B19