Abstract:
A low-profile optical disk device which performs recording and reproducing using a plurality of laser light sources with different wavelengths, without thug need for additional components. It is used as a DVD-Ram, CD-R or the like. It comprises a plurality of neighboring laser light sources with different wavelengths: a beam-shaping prism for expanding the width of laser beams in a direction in which the plural laser light sources are arranged; and a focus lens which forms an optical spot on an optical disk, where laser light sources with longer wavelengths are positioned closer to an extension line of a refracted beam created by the beam-shaping prism. The above arrangement enables correction of optical spot coma aberrations caused by a laser light source positioned out of the optical axis of the focus lens, thereby realizing a low-profile optical disk device with high optical performance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an optical head and an optical disk using the same for recording or playing back information to and from an optical information medium such as an optical disk. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical head and an optical disk using the same that can record information using a laser module in which multiple semiconductor laser chips having different wavelengths are mounted. 
     In optical information recording/playback devices such as optical disk devices, various features are desired in addition to a compact and thin design. 
     For example, there is a significant demand for using a single compact optical head that can record and playback both CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable), which has seen widespread use as a writable optical disk medium, and DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disc/Digital Video Disc), which was developed recently as an optical disk medium allowing high-density recording. The wavelength of lasers used in recording and playback of CD-Rs is approximately 780 nm, while the wavelength of lasers used in recording and playback of DVDs is approximately 660 nm. Thus, there is a need to mount both a laser light source with a 780 nm wavelength and a laser light source with a 660 nm wavelength on a single optical head. 
     For example, Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-261240 and Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-289468 propose a compact optical head which integrates into a single unit a semiconductor laser chip with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm for CDs, a semiconductor laser chip with a wavelength of approximately 660 nm-for DVDs, and an optical detector element. 
     Laser beams emitted from light-emitting points at different positions generally pass through different positions of a lens system at different angles. In these optical heads, the laser beams emitted from the two semiconductor laser chips enter a focus lens at different positions and different angles. In the embodiments described in Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-261240 and Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-289468, a semiconductor laser chip with a 660 nm wavelength for DVDs is disposed on the optical axis of a lens system formed by a focus lens and a collimating lens. A semiconductor laser chip with a 780 nm wavelength for CDs is disposed away from the optical axis of the lens system. Since the laser beam for DVDs enters the focus lens directly from above, the DVD laser spotlight does not tend to generate aberration. On the other hand, the laser beam for CDs enters the focus lens at an angle, and therefore tends to generate aberration (especially coma aberration) in the laser spotlight for CDs. 
     In Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-261240, a holographic optical element is used. In Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-289468, an optical means using polarizing prism (a birefringent plate) or holograms allows just the optical path of the laser beam for CDs to be bent so that it enters straight into the focus lens. 
     To record information, there is also the need for beam-shaping means to take a laser beam with anisotropic optical intensity distribution emitted by a semiconductor laser and efficiently focus it to an optical spot that has an isotropic optical intensity distribution. 
     Furthermore, there is a great demand for compact design in optical heads. Although not described in the embodiments in Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-261240 and Japanese laid-open patent publication number Hei 10-289468, this generally requires optical components other than the focus lens to be arranged on a plane parallel to the disk surface and an upward projecting mirror to guide the beam to the focus lens. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, in the conventional technologies described above, it is necessary to provide special holographic optical elements, polarizing prisms (birefringent plate), and the like that can bend the optical path of the laser beam with a wavelength of 780 nm for CDs only while not affecting the laser beam with a wavelength of 660 nm for DVDs. This increases optical component costs in the optical head. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an optical head and optical disk device using the same for recording information or playing back information to or from an optical information medium using multiple laser light sources wherein: aberration of the laser beam from semiconductor lasers positioned outside the optical axis are prevented without using new, expensive optical components; information can be recorded; and a thin design can be provided. 
     In order to achieve this object, a first invention provides an optical head including: laser light sources emitting a plurality of laser beams with different wavelengths; means for converting beam width having dispersion characteristics so that the plurality of laser beams emitted from the laser light sources exit at different angles when the plurality of laser beams enter at identical angles, and converting beam widths of the plurality of laser beams; and means for optically focusing the plurality of laser beams exiting from beam width converting means to an optical spot on an optical information medium. The laser light sources corresponding to the laser beams are positioned in the vicinity of a path of a laser beam projected from an entrance side of the beam width converting means when the plurality of laser beams are entered into an exit side of the beam width converting means. 
     In the first invention, the laser light sources can be positioned so that the plurality of laser beams emitted from the plurality of laser light sources enter optical focussing means within an entry angle tolerance range. Beam width converting means can be a refraction-type beam width converting means converting beam widths through refraction. 
     A second invention provides an optical head including: laser light sources emitting a plurality of laser beams with different wavelengths; means for converting beam width converting beam widths of the plurality of laser beams; and means for optically focusing the plurality of laser beams exiting from beam width converting means to an optical spot on an optical information medium. Beam width converting means has dispersion characteristics so that the plurality of laser beams emitted from the laser light sources exit at different angles when the plurality of laser beams enter at identical angles. The laser light sources are arranged in a sequence determined by wavelength in order to reduce shifting in exit angles caused by the dispersion characteristics when the laser beams emitted from the plurality of laser light sources exit from beam width converting means. 
     In the second invention, beam width converting means can be a refraction-type beam width converting means converting beam widths through refraction. The plurality of laser light sources can be arranged so that the laser light sources with longer wavelengths are positioned closer to an extension line of a refracted beam created by the refraction of beam width converting means. The refraction-type beam-width converting means can be a prism. 
     In a third invention, an optical head includes: a plurality of semiconductor laser chips having different wavelengths; a collimating lens forming parallel beams from a plurality of laser beams emitted from the semiconductor laser chips; means for optically focusing the plurality of laser beams on the optical information medium as an optical spot; and a beam-shaping prism expanding a width of the laser beams in a direction in which the semiconductor laser chips are arranged. The semiconductor laser chips with longer wavelengths are positioned closer to an extension line of a beam exiting from the beam-shaping prism. 
     In the third invention, the beam-shaping prism can include a reflective surface, and semiconductor laser chips with longer wavelengths can be positioned toward a reflective side of said beam-shaping prism. Also, the beam-shaping prism can be positioned below optical focusing means. 
     A fourth invention provide an optical disk device in which a laser beam from an optical head is projected on an optical information medium. A laser beam reflected from the optical information medium is projected onto a plurality of optical detector elements. A signal electronically converted by the plurality of optical detector elements is used to provide a control signal and an information playback signal. The optical disk device includes an optical head as described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1   a-c  are a top-view drawing of an embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention, a side-view drawing as seen from arrow B, and a side-view drawing as seen from arrow C. 
         FIGS. 2   a-b  are a front-view drawing of an embodiment of a laser module according to the present invention and a cross-section drawing along the D 1 -D 2  line. 
         FIGS. 3   a-b  are a top-view drawing showing an example of a lens actuator used in this embodiment and a partial cross-section drawing along the E 1 -E 2  line. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan drawing showing an example of a diffraction grating pattern of a four-part diffraction grating of a compound element. 
         FIG. 5  is a front-view drawing of an embodiment of a semiconductor substrate in the laser module from FIG.  2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a signal arithmetic circuit for obtaining a focus offset detection signal, a track offset detection signal, and an information playback signal. 
         FIGS. 7   a-d  are perspective drawings of an optical system for the purpose of describing principles behind an optical head according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective drawing showing another embodiment of a semiconductor laser chip. 
         FIG. 10  is a side-view drawing showing another embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan drawing showing another beam-shaping upward prism in an optical head according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An optical head and an optical disk device using the same will be described, with references to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows an architecture of an embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention. FIG.  1 ( a ) is a top-view drawing. FIG.  1 ( b ) is a side-view drawing of FIG.  1 ( a ) as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow B. FIG.  1 ( c ) is a side-view drawing of FIG.  1 ( a ) as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow C. In FIG.  1 ( a )-FIG.  1 ( c ), elements assigned the same numbers represent identical elements. The figures show an optical disk  2 , representing a CD-ROM disk or CD-R disk having a substrate thickness of 1.2 mm and using a laser wavelength of 780 nm for recording and playback. Alternatively, the optical disk  2  can be a DVD disk having a substrate thickness of 0.6 mm and using a laser wavelength of 660 nm for recording and playback. A motor  3  is secured to an optical disk device  1  and rotates the optical disk  2  using a rotation shaft  4 . An optical head  5  can be moved along the radial direction of the optical disk  2  over a rail  7  by an access mechanism  6 , formed from a voice coil motor, pulley, and the like. The optical head  5  is equipped internally with a two-laser module  8 , a collimating lens  9 , a beam-shaping upward prism  10 , and a lens actuator  11 . The two-laser module  8  is equipped with a semiconductor laser chip  13   a  projecting a 660 nm laser beam  12   a  and a semiconductor laser chip  13   b  projecting a 780 nm wavelength laser beam  12   b . A focus lens  15  and a compound element  14  formed from a quarter-wave plate and a polarized diffraction grating are attached to the lens actuator  11 . 
     Next, the structure of a laser module according to the present invention will be described using FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an architecture of an embodiment of a laser module according to the present invention. FIG.  2 ( a ) is a front-view drawing. FIG.  2 ( b ) is a cross-section along the D 1 -D 2  line in FIG.  2 ( a ). In the figures, a package  21  is molded from a material having good thermal conduction such as aluminum nitride. Multiple lead wires  22  are passed through the package  21  to transfer electronic signals. A semiconductor substrate  24  formed from silicon or the like is disposed inside the package  21  and is sealed by the package  21  and a light-transmissive glass plate  23 . An indentation  25  is formed on the semiconductor substrate  24  through etching or the like, and a sloped surface of the indentation  25  forms a mirror surface  26  at a 45-degree angle. The semiconductor laser chip  13   a  and the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  are mounted in the indentation  25  and the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  are emitted to the right in FIG.  2 ( b ), i.e., in the direction of the mirrored surface  26 . The laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  are reflected by the mirrored surface  26  and pass through the glass plate  23  and are projected out from the two-laser module  8 . The active layers of the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  and the semiconductor laser chip  13   b , i.e., the layers emitting the laser beams, are oriented roughly parallel to the flat surface of the indentation  25 . Thus, when viewed from a position facing FIG.  2 ( a ), i.e., from the direction opposite to the direction in which the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  are emitted in FIG.  2 ( b ), the optical intensity distribution of the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  forms a roughly elliptical shape narrow along the vertical axis and wide along the horizontal axis of FIG.  2 ( a ). The laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  shown in FIG.  2 ( b ) represent the beams before they enter the collimating lens  9 . 
     In FIG.  1 ( c ), the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  exiting from the two-laser module  8  are formed into parallel rays by the collimating lens  9  and are sent into the beam shaping upward prism  10 . The optical intensity distribution of the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  before they enter the beam shaping upward prism  10  is narrow along the vertical axis of the plane of the page of FIG.  1 ( c ) and wide along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the page of FIG.  1 ( c ). The beam shaping upward prism  10  is used to make the beam width of the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  wider along the vertical axis of the plane of the page, providing a more uniform optical intensity distribution. In other words, the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b , which are shaped narrow along the vertical axis of the plane of the page of FIG.  1 ( c ) and wide along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the page of FIG.  1 ( c ) before they enter the beam shaping upward prism  10 , pass through the beam shaping upward prism  10 . The vertical length of the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  varies according to the angle of the entry surface of the beam shaping upward prism  10  relative to the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b . Thus, by setting up the angle of the entry surface of the beam shaping upward prism  10 , the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  can be provided with isotropic intensity distribution. The laser beams  12   a ,  12   b , which now have isotropic intensity distribution, are reflected by the beam shaping upward prism  10  and enter the compound element  14  and the focus lens  15  of the lens actuator  11 . 
     Next, the lens actuator will be described using FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a drawing showing the architecture of a sample lens actuator used in this embodiment. FIG.  3 ( a ) is a top-view drawing of the lens actuator as seen from the direction of the optical disk. FIG.  3 ( b ) is a partial cross-section drawing along the E 1 -E 2  line from FIG.  3 ( a ). In FIG.  3 ( b ), the optical disk  2  is drawn in for reference. The figures show a coil  34 , the focus lens  15 , and the compound element  14  below it. These are attached to a lens holder  31 , which is supported by a support base  33  using a spring  32 . The solid line  36  in FIG.  3 ( b ) shows the surface of a case for the optical head  5 , to which a magnet  35 , the support base  33 , and the like are secured. The lens actuator  11  provides focus control by driving the compound element  14  and the focus lens  15  vertically along the plane of the page in FIG.  3 ( b ) and also provides tracking control by driving the compound element  14  and the focus lens  15  vertically along the plane of the page in FIG.  3 ( a ) (along the radius of the optical disk  2 ). 
     In this embodiment, when the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  from the semiconductor laser chips  13   a ,  13   b  enter the compound element  14 , formed from a polarizing four-part diffraction grating and quarter-wave plate, the beams enter as ordinary rays. In this case, the laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  are passed through the polarizing diffraction grating without being diffracted and are formed into circular light by the quarter-wave plate in the compound element  14 . The laser beams  12   a ,  12   b  reflected by the optical disk  2  pass through the quarter-wave plate of the compound element  17  again to form extraordinary rays, which are then diffracted by the polarizing four-part diffraction grating. 
     The following is a description of the four-part diffraction grating. 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan drawing of a sample diffraction grating pattern of the four-part diffraction grating in the compound element. As the figure shows, a four-part diffraction grating  40  is divided into four regions by boundary lines  41 ,  42 . A circle  43  indicates the laser beam  12   a  or the laser beam  12   b . The beam is separated by the four-part diffraction grating  40  into four +1 spectral order beams and four −1 spectral order beams. The four regions in the diffraction grating have grating grooves formed in different directions, but the grooves are equally spaced. Thus, the eight +/−1 spectral order beams have different diffraction orientations but the absolute values of the diffraction angles are identical. These eight diffraction beams are focused by the collimating lens  9  into eight spotlights on the surface of the semiconductor substrate  24  in the laser module  8  containing the semiconductor laser chips  13   a ,  13   b.    
     The following is a detailed description of an embodiment of the semiconductor substrate  24  in the laser module, using FIG.  5 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front-view drawing of an embodiment of the semiconductor substrate in the laser module shown in FIG.  2 . The semiconductor laser chip  13   a  and the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  are mounted in the indentation  25  formed on the semiconductor substrate  24 . The semiconductor laser chip  13   a  beams the laser beam  12   a  to the right in the figure. The laser beam  12   a  is reflected at a position  51   a  of the mirrored surface  26  and exits the surface of the page perpendicularly. Similarly, the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  beams the laser beam  12   b  to the right in the figure. The laser beam  12   b  is reflected at a position  51   b  of the mirrored surface  26  and exits the surface of the page perpendicularly. 
     In the figure, the eight shaded quarter-circles indicate the spotlights  52   a  of the laser beam  12   a  reflected by the optical disk  2  and separated by the four-part diffraction grating  40 . The spotlights  52   a  lie on the perimeter of a circle having its center at the position  51   a . The eight white (unshaded) quarter-circles indicate spotlights  52   b  of the laser beam  12   b  reflected by the optical disk  2  and separated by the four-part diffraction grating  40 . The spotlights  52   b  lie on the perimeter of a circle having its center at the position  51   b.    
     Optical detection elements  53 - 1   a ,  53 - 1   b ,  53 - 2   a ,  53 - 2   b ,  53 - 3   a ,  53 - 3   b ,  53 - 4   a ,  53 - 4   b  are long, thin optical detection elements arranged in pairs of facing elements that provide focus offset detection signals. The optical detection elements  53 - 1   a ,  53 - 1   b , the optical detection elements  53 - 2   a ,  53 - 2   b , the optical detection elements  53 - 3   a ,  53 - 3   b , and the optical detection elements  53 - 4   a ,  53 - 4   b  form pairs. These four pairs receive the light from the four spotlights  52   a  or the four spotlights  52   b . Focus offset detection is performed with a knife-edge method (Foucault method) using the four-region beam. A focus detection signal could be provided by taking the differences of the output signals from the pairs of optical detection elements  53 - 1   a ,  53 - 1   b ,  53 - 2   a ,  53 - 2   b ,  53 - 3   a ,  53 - 3   b ,  53 - 4   a ,  53 - 4   b  to provide a focus offset detection signal. However, in this embodiment, the light-receiving elements are connected as shown in the figure by conductive films  54   a ,  54   b  formed from aluminum or the like. The difference between the output signals from an A terminal and a B terminal of a wire-bonding pad  55  is calculated to obtain a focus offset detection signal. Optical detection elements  56   a ,  56   b ,  56   c ,  56   d , which are used to provide a track offset detection signal and an information playback signal, are connected to a C terminal, α D terminal, an E terminal, and an F terminal of the pad  55 . 
     The signals output from the terminals A-F of the pad  55  are sent to the block shown in  FIG. 6  to provide the necessary signals. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a signal arithmetic circuit providing a focus offset detection signal, a track offset detection signal, and an information playback signal. In the figure, a differential circuit  61  calculates the difference between the output signals from the A terminal and the B terminal of the wire-bonding pad  55  shown in FIG.  5 . The differential circuit  61  outputs a focus offset detection signal  62 . An adder  63 - 1  adds the output signals from the C terminal and the D terminal, and an adder  63 - 2  adds the output signals from the E terminal and the F terminal. A differential circuit  63 - 3  takes the difference between the output signal from the adder  63 - 1  and the output signal from the adder circuit  63 - 2  and outputs a push-pull track offset detection signal  64  for cases when an optical disk having guide grooves or the like is used. An adder  63 - 4  adds the output signal from the adder  63 - 1  and the output signal from the adder  63 - 2  and outputs an information playback signal  65 . An adder  66 - 1  adds the output signals from the C terminal and the E terminal. An adder  66 - 2  adds the output signals from the D terminal and the F terminal. A differential circuit  66 - 3  takes the difference between the output signal from the adder  66 - 1  and the output signal from the adder  66 - 2 . An output signal  67  thereof is used to provide a phase-difference track offset detection signal for optical disks that use guide pits or the like. The focus offset detection signal and the track offset detection signal are sent to a coil  34  of a lens actuator  11  shown in  FIG. 3  to drive the focus lens  15  attached to the lens actuator in the direction of the optical axis as well as along the disk radius, thus providing automatic focus control and tracking. As a result, the optical intensity of the laser beam  12   a  or the laser beam  12   b  from the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  or the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  can be modulated by an information recording signal to allow information to be recorded to the optical disk  2 . Also, by keeping a constant optical intensity for the laser beam  12   a  or the laser beam  12   b  from the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  or the semiconductor laser chip  13   b , information recorded on the optical disk  2  can be played back using the information playback signal  65 . 
     The following is a description of the principles behind the optical head of the present invention, with references to FIG.  7 . 
       FIG. 7  shows perspective drawings of optical systems for the purpose of describing examples of optical head principles in the present invention. FIG.  7 ( a ) shows an optical system of an optical head having a beam-shaping prism. A semiconductor laser chip  71   a  beams a laser beam  72   a  with a wavelength of, for example, approximately 660 nm. The laser beam  72   a  is made to form parallel rays by a collimating lens  73  and is refracted by the beam-shaping prism  74 , causing the beam width to be wider along the axis going into the plane of the page. This beam then enters a focus lens  75 . If the semiconductor laser chip  71   a  is replaced at the same position with a semiconductor laser chip  71   b  having a wavelength of approximately 780 nm, the laser beam with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm will exit at an offset from the beam-shaping prism  74 , as indicated by a dotted line  76 , and the beam will enter the focus lens  75  diagonally. This happens because the refraction index will decrease for longer wavelengths in standard optical materials. 
     In FIG.  7 ( b ), the collimating lens  73  and the focus lens  75  from FIG.  7 ( a ) are omitted for convenience. The laser beam  72   a  is the beam with the wavelength of approximately 660 nm from the semiconductor laser chip  71   a . The dotted line  76  shows the exit direction of the laser beam when the semiconductor chip  71   b  with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm is put in the place of the semiconductor laser chip  71   a . When the semiconductor laser chip  71   b  with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm is put in the place of the semiconductor laser chip  71   a  with a wavelength of approximately 660 nm, the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping prism  74  cause the exit angle of the laser beam with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm to be offset as indicated by the dotted line  76 . As shown in the figure, the semiconductor laser chip  71   b  is rotated to the right (clockwise) from the position of the semiconductor laser chip  71   a  or is shifted to a position close to a line extending from the exit beam  72   a  of the beam-shaping prism  74 . With this arrangement, the laser beam  72   b  with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm is shifted so that the offset caused by the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping prism  74  is canceled out, and the offset in the entry angle to the focus lens is reduced. Conversely, if the semiconductor laser chip with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm is placed at the position indicated by the dotted line  71   c , the laser beam will be offset as shown in the dotted line  72   c  in a direction where the exit angle offset caused by the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping prism  74  is increased, and the offset in the entry angle to the focus lens is increased. 
     Based on the above, it is possible to make both laser beams have roughly the same exit angles from the beam-shaping prism  74  by shifting the semiconductor laser chip  71   b  having the wavelength of approximately 780 nm appropriately from the semiconductor laser chip  71   a  having the wavelength of approximately 660 nm. 
     FIG.  7 ( c ) shows an optical system of an optical head equipped with the beam-shaping prism  74 . As in FIG.  7 ( b ), the collimating lens  73  and the focus lens  75  are omitted to simplify the discussion. The laser beam  72   a  is the beam with the wavelength of approximately 660 nm from the semiconductor laser chip  71   a . The dotted line  76  shows the exit direction of the laser beam when the semiconductor chip  71   b  with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm is put in the place of the semiconductor laser chip  71   a . When the semiconductor laser chip  71   b  is shifted to a position closer to a line extending from the exit beam  72   a  from the beam-shaping prism  74  than the position of the semiconductor laser chip  71   a , i.e., its position is rotated counterclockwise to the position  71   b  in FIG.  7 ( c ), the laser beam  72   b  with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm is shifted in a direction that cancels out the exit angle offset generated by the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping prism  74 . As a result, the shift in the entry angle to the focus lens can be reduced. Conversely, placing the semiconductor laser chip with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm at the position indicated by the dotted line  71   c  causes the shift in exit angle of the laser beam to increase due to the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping prism  74 , and the shift in the entry angle to the focus lens increases. 
     FIG.  7 ( d ) shows an optical system of an optical system equipped with the same beam-shaping upward prism  10  as in the embodiment from FIG.  1 . The collimating lens  9  and the focus lens  15  from  FIG. 1  are not shown in this figure. As with FIG.  7 ( c ), the laser beam  72   a  is the beam with the wavelength of approximately 660 nm from the semiconductor laser chip  71   a . The dotted line  76  shows the exit direction of the laser beam when the semiconductor chip  71   b  with a wavelength of approximately 780 nm is put in the place of the semiconductor laser chip  71   a . When the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  is disposed at a position closer to the extension line of the refracted beam refracted inside the beam-shaping upward prism  10  compared to the semiconductor laser chip  13   a , i.e., at the position  13   b  in the figure, the laser beam  12   b  with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm is shifted in a direction that cancels the exit angle offset generated by the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping upward prism  10 , and the offset in the entry angle to the focus lens can be reduced. Conversely, if the semiconductor laser chip with the wavelength of approximately 780 nm is positioned at dotted line  13   c , the laser beam will travel as shown in dotted line  12   c . The offset in the exit angle generated by the dispersion characteristics of the beam-shaping upward prism  10  will be increased and the offset of the entry angle to the focus lens will be increased. 
     As described above, the position of semiconductor laser chips having different wavelengths can be set up as appropriate so that the entry angles to the focus lens  75  are roughly identical. 
     Also, the above points show that the semiconductor laser chips with different wavelengths should be placed at positions near the exit beam positions when the beams from the semiconductor laser chips travel from the exit side of the beam-shaping prism  74  or the beam-shaping upward prism  10  to the collimating lens  73 , i.e., when the laser beams are projected in reverse. 
     By arranging the semiconductor laser chips with different wavelengths in this manner, the laser beams from the semiconductor laser chips can be beamed to the focus lens within an entry angle tolerance range. The entry angle tolerance range of the focus lens will vary according to focus lens, so the semiconductor laser chips will have to be positioned so that they fall within the tolerance range of the focus lens used. 
     The following is a description of a specific shape of the beam-shaping upward prism  10  used in this embodiment, with references to FIG.  8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a plan drawing showing the structure of a beam-shaping upward prism of an optical head according to the present invention. The material of the beam-shaping upward prism  10  shown in the figure is a standard vitreous material referred to as “BK7”. The vertex angle θ formed between an entry/exit surface  10   a  and a reflection surface  10   b  is 13.410 degrees. The angle φ formed between the reflection surface  10   b  and a surface  36  of the optical head case is 31.768 degrees. The laser beam  12   a  with 660 nm wavelength from the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  enters the entry surface  10   a  of the beam-shaping upward prism  10  from a horizontal direction parallel to the case surface  36 . Then, the laser beam  12   a  enters the beam-shaping upward prism  10  at an angle of 71.641 degrees relative to the normal to the entry/exit surface  10   a , and is refracted and travels downward. It is then reflected by the reflection surface  10   b  and travels upward and exits the beam-shaping upward prism  10  at an angle of 18.359 degrees relative to the normal of the entry surface  10   a . Thus, the direction of the laser beam  12   a  is perpendicular to the optical head case surface  36 . At the same time, the width of the laser beam, which is 1.5 mm when it enters the entry surface  10   a , is increased by a factor of approximately 2.4, to 3.6 mm, after it exits. If a laser beam with a wavelength of 780 nm is projected horizontally and parallel to the case surface  36 , the path of the imaginary laser beam corresponding to the dotted line  76  from  FIG. 7  would be titled 0.106 degrees to the left of the page from the exit angle of the laser beam  12   a  due to dispersion. 
     If the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  and the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  disposed on the semiconductor substrate  24  in the two-laser module  8  shown in  FIG. 5  are disposed so that the light-emitting points are separated by 350 microns, the focal distance of the collimating lens  9  shown in FIG.  1 ( c ) is 7 mm, and the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  is positioned above the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  as shown in FIG.  7 ( d ), then the laser beam  12   b  from the semiconductor laser chip  13   b , having a 780 nm wavelength, enters the beam-shaping upward prism  10  from approximately 2.86 degrees above the horizontal direction parallel to the surface  36 , as shown by the dotted line in FIG.  8 . The laser beam  12   b  will be offset by 1.17 degrees to the right in the figure from the exit angle of the laser beam  12   a . Conversely, if the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  is positioned downward from the semiconductor laser chip  13   a , the laser beam with wavelength 780 nm will enter the beam-shaping upward prism  10  at an angle of 2.86 degrees below the horizontal direction parallel to the surface  36 , and the exit angle will be offset by 1.22 degrees to the left from the exit angle of the laser beam  12   a  (not shown in the figure). 
     Thus, as shown in FIG.  7 ( d ), positioning the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  above the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  will reduce the offset in the exit angles between the laser beam  12   a  and the laser beam  12   b.    
     In the embodiment described above, the laser light source is formed by arranging multiple semiconductor laser chips in a row or packaging semiconductor laser chips in the same manner. However, it would also be possible to have multiple laser oscillator regions with different wavelengths disposed on a single semiconductor laser chip as shown in FIG.  9 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective drawing showing another embodiment of a semiconductor laser chip. In the figure, a laser chip  91  is formed with a semiconductor process to have two laser oscillator regions. The laser oscillator regions project a laser beam  92   a  with a short wavelength and a laser beam  92   b  with a long wavelength. The two-laser chip  91  can be used in place of the two semiconductor laser chips  13   a ,  13   b  shown in FIG.  5 . For example, the laser beam  92   a  can have a wavelength of 660 nm, the laser beam  92   b  can have a wavelength of 780 nm, the interval between the light-emitting points  93   a ,  93   b  can be 100 microns, and the light-emitting point  93   b  can be positioned above the light-emitting point  93   a , i.e., the laser beam  93   a  with the 660 nm wavelength is projected parallel to the case surface  36 . In this case, the laser beam  92   b  with the 780 nm wavelength projected from the light-emitting point  93   b  enters the beam-shaping upward prism  10  from an angle of approximately 0.818 degrees above the horizontal direction parallel to the surface  36 , as shown in the dotted line  12   b  in FIG.  8 . The laser beam  92   b  exiting from the beam-shaping upward prism  10  will be tilted at an angle of 0.242 degrees to the right from the direction perpendicular to the surface  36 . 
     Conversely, if the two-laser chip  91  is formed so that the light-emitting point  93   b  is positioned below the light-emitting point  93   a , the laser beam  92   b  projected from the beam-shaping upward prism  10  will be offset by 0.440 degrees to the left from the direction perpendicular to the surface  36 . 
     Thus, even with the two-laser chip  91 , the exit angle offset between the laser beam  92   a  and the laser beam  92   b  will be smaller if the light-emitting point  93   b  is positioned above the light-emitting point  93   a.    
       FIG. 10  shows a side-view of an architecture of another embodiment of an optical disk device according to the present invention.  FIG. 10  differs from  FIG. 1  in the two-laser module  102  and the beam-shaping upward prism  101 . 
     Unlike the semiconductor laser chip  8  from  FIG. 1 , the two-laser module  102  is arranged so that the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  is positioned above and the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  is positioned below in the figure. 
       FIG. 11  shows a plan drawing of the structure of the beam-shaping upward prism  101 . The material used in the beam-shaping upward prism  101  is a standard vitreous material referred to as “BK7”. The angle formed between a surface  101   a  and a surface  101   b  is 29.526 degrees and the angle formed between a surface  101   b  and a surface  101   c  is 20.962 degrees. A reflective film is deposited on the surface  101   c . The laser beam  12   a  emitted from the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  has a wavelength of 660 nm and enters the surface  101   a  of the beam-shaping upward prism  101  from a horizontal angle and is refracted. The refracted laser beam  12   a  hits the surface  101   b  at an entry angle of 59.052 degrees relative to the normal of the surface  101   b . The refraction index of the BK7 material at a wavelength of 660 nm is 1.51374 and its critical angle is 41.347 degrees. Since the entry angle of the laser beam  12   a  is greater than the critical angle, it is reflected by the surface  101   b . The laser beam  12   a  is then reflected by the surface  101   c  and hits the surface  101   b  again. However, this time it enters at a perpendicularly so that it passes through the surface  101   b  and exits the beam-shaping upward prism  101 . The beam-shaping upward prism  101  allows the path of the laser beam  12   a  to be bent at a right angle while also increasing the width of the laser beam by a factor of approximately 2.2. If, with the beam-shaping upward prism  101  shown in  FIG. 11 , a laser beam with a wavelength of 780 nm is projected at the same horizontal angle as the laser beam  12   a , the dispersion of the beam-shaping upward prism  101  will cause the laser beam to be shifted to the left on the figure by 0.14 degrees compared to the exit angle of the laser beam  12   a . If a laser beam  12   b  with a wavelength of 780 nm is projected at an angle shifted upward in the figure by 0.306 degrees from the horizontal angle of the laser beam  12   b , as shown in  FIG. 11 , it can exit the surface  101   b  perpendicularly as in the laser beam  12   a . Thus, as in  FIG. 10 , the semiconductor laser chips  13   a ,  13   b  in the two-laser module  102  should be arranged so that the semiconductor laser chip  13   a  is positioned upward in the figure and the semiconductor laser chip  13   b  is positioned downward in the figure. 
     As described above, the present invention uses the different dispersion characteristics of a beam-shaping prism for different laser beam wavelengths to prevent coma aberrations in the laser spotlights for the laser beam for at least one of the wavelengths. 
     Also, according to the present invention, in optical heads that record or playback information from or to an optical information medium using multiple laser light sources, an optical head and an optical disk device using the same can be provided that does not require new, expensive optical parts, that tends not to generate aberration in laser beams from semiconductor lasers disposed away from the optical axis, that allows information to be recorded, and that can be formed with a thin design. 
     According to the present invention, aberration generated by laser beams can be reduced in cases where laser light sources with multiple wavelengths are used.