Abstract:
An apparatus and a method are provided for compensating an aberration occurring in a reflected light beam from a recording medium. The apparatus includes a liquid crystal unit including a first electrode layer having divisional electrodes and a second electrode layer, and a liquid crystal element which provides a light beam with a phase change when an electric field is applied; a detector for receiving the reflected light beam through the liquid crystal unit to generate a detection signal; a voltage generator for generating voltages to be applied to the divisional electrodes; and a controller for performing aberration compensation control by changing the applied voltages to each of the divisional electrodes with reference to an applied reference voltage to a predetermined divisional electrode. The controller determines the applied reference voltage based on an amplitude change of the detection signal when the applied voltages to the divisional electrodes are changed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an aberration compensating apparatus for use with a recording and/or reproducing apparatus of an information recording medium such as an optical disc, and a driving method therefor. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     There are optical discs such as a CD (Compact Disc) and a DVD (Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) as well-known information recording media for optical recording and reproduction of information. Furthermore, the optical discs are of various types, for example, optical discs for reproduction only, write-once optical discs on which only additional recording can be done, and rewritable optical discs on which information can be erased and re-recorded. 
     Research and development are in progress for realizing high-density optical discs and optical pickups and information recording and/or reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as recording/reproducing apparatus) applicable to the high-density optical discs. In addition, research and development are also pursued for realizing optical pickups and information recording/reproducing apparatus having the capability to be used for optical discs of different types. 
     A method of coping with the high-density discs by increasing a numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens provided in the pickup apparatus has been considered. Another method is the use of a light beam having a shorter wavelength. 
     However, the aberration of the light beam caused by an optical disc is increased as the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens is increased or a light beam having a shorter wavelength is used. This makes it difficult to improve accuracy of the recording/reproduction performance of information. 
     For example, when an objective lens having a large numerical aperture is used, the amount of birefringence distribution, which depends on the incidence angle, is increased at the pupil surface of the optical disc, since the range of the incidence angle of the light beam to the optical disc is increased. This creates a problem of spherical aberration due to the birefringence becoming more influential. In addition, when using an objective lens having a large numerical aperture and a light beam having a shorter wavelength, the influence of coma aberration can not be negligible if the incident angle of the light beam to the normal direction (tilt angle) of the optical disc tilts at the time of recording or reproduction. 
     As described above, optical discs of different types, for example, CDs and DVDs, differ in structure such as substrate (i.e., transparent cover layer) thickness of the discs in recording density, and the like. Consequently, the influence of aberrations such as spherical aberration, coma aberration, or astigmatism differs according to the disc type, thus, making it difficult to develop a compatible optical pickup and an information recording/reproducing apparatus. In addition, the magnitudes of aberration are different even for optical discs of the same type, since the substrate thickness varies due to, for example, variations in the manufacturing process. 
     In order to reduce the effects of aberrations, a conventional pickup has been proposed which comprises a liquid crystal unit for aberration compensation. As such a liquid crystal unit, there is, for example, such a unit disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Kokai H10-20263. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of the liquid crystal unit. The liquid crystal unit is composed so that a liquid crystal element C is held between transparent electrode layers A and B opposing each other. The orientation state of the liquid crystal element C can be changed by adjusting the voltage applied between the transparent electrode layers A and B. It is designed so that incident light entering on the side of one transparent electrode layer A (or B) exits on the side of the other transparent electrode layer B (or A) and is provided with a birefringence change corresponding to the orientation state of the liquid crystal element C as the light passes therethrough. 
     Furthermore, the transparent electrode layers A and B are formed in a divided manner, for example, divided into a plurality of transparent electrodes a 1 , a 2 , and a 3 , and b 1 , b 2 , and b 3 . The transparent electrodes a 1 , a 2 , and a 3  are electrically separated from each other, and the transparent electrodes b 1 , b 2 , and b 3  are also electrically separated from each other. 
     Consequently, because the liquid crystal element C can be adjusted to have a plurality of variously oriented states by applying a different voltage between the transparent electrodes opposing each other, for example, between the transparent electrodes a 1  and b 1 , a 2  and b 2 , and a 3  and b 3  respectively, incident light can be provided with birefringence changes simultaneously corresponding to each of the oriented states. Thus, an aberration such as spherical aberration or coma aberration occurring in the optical path can be compensated by suitably adjusting the plurality of oriented states of the liquid crystal unit. As was mentioned above, a difference in substrate thickness can produce various cases, for example, one where the aberration is larger on the peripheral portion than in the central part of the optical path, or one where the aberration is smaller on the peripheral portion. 
     The liquid crystal unit having concentrical electrodes as shown in FIG. 1 is discussed as an example and a detailed description will be given by referring to FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 shows the phase difference caused by a liquid crystal element depending upon the applied voltage. For example, incident light is provided with a phase difference by making the electrodes b 1 -b 3  equipotential, by setting the electrode a 1  as a reference voltage V 1  (for example, V 1 =2 V), and by applying the voltages to the electrodes a 2  and a 3  different from that of the electrode a 1 . In order to increase the phase difference along the outer direction against the central part of an optical path, voltages V 2  and V 3  applied to the electrodes a 2  and a 3  are increased (for example, V 2 =2.2 V and V 3 =2.4 V when V 1 =2 V). In order to decrease the phase difference along the outer radius direction, the voltages V 2  and V 3  applied to the electrodes a 2  and a 3  are decreased (for example, V 4 =1.8 V and V 5 =1.6 V when V 1 =2 V). 
     However, the conventional liquid crystal units are required to generate a large amount (range) of phase difference for increasing or decreasing the phase difference in the other areas against the reference compensatory area. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to overcome the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-performance aberration compensating apparatus capable of decreasing the required amount of phase difference, and a method thereof. 
     To achieve the object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aberration compensating apparatus for compensating an aberration occurring in a light beam, the light beam being applied to a recording medium and reflected by the recording medium through an optical path of an optical system, which comprises a liquid crystal unit including a first electrode layer having a plurality of divisional electrodes electrically separated from each other in the same plane and a second electrode layer, and a liquid crystal element provided between the first and second electrode layer which provides a light beam passing therethrough with a phase change when an electric field is applied; a detector for receiving the reflected light beam through the liquid crystal unit to generate a detection signal; a voltage generator for generating voltages to be applied to each of the plurality of divisional electrodes; and a controller for performing compensation control for the aberration by changing the applied voltages to each of the divisional electrodes with reference to an applied reference voltage to a predetermined divisional electrode of the first electrode layer, wherein the controller determines the applied reference voltage based on an amplitude change of the detection signal when the applied voltage to each of the plurality of the divisional electrodes are changed. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of compensating an aberration occurring in a light beam, the light beam being applied to a recording medium and reflected by the recording medium through an optical path of an optical system, which comprises the steps of providing a liquid crystal unit including a first electrode layer having a plurality of divisional electrodes electrically separated from each other in the same plane and a second electrode layer, and a liquid crystal element provided between the first and second electrode layer which provides a light beam passing therethrough with a phase change when an electric field is applied; receiving the reflected light beam through the liquid crystal unit to generate a detection signal; generating voltages to be applied to each of the plurality of divisional electrodes; and performing compensation control for the aberration by changing the applied voltages to each of the divisional electrodes with reference to an applied reference voltage to a predetermined divisional electrode of the first electrode layer, wherein the step of performing compensation control determines the applied reference voltage based on an amplitude change of the detection signal when the applied voltage to each of the plurality of the divisional electrodes are changed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of a liquid crystal unit; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the phase difference characteristics for the liquid crystal element of a liquid crystal unit having concentrically divided electrodes against the applied voltage; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of an aberration compensating apparatus provided in an information recording/reproducing apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a configuration of an aberration-compensation optical unit; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the distribution of spherical aberration in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating a configuration of the electrodes of the aberration-compensation optical unit; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the aberration-compensation optical unit shown in FIG. 6 taken along line X—X; 
     FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the setup procedure performed by a controller at the time when an optical disc starts recording or reproduction; 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure of an aberration determination routine; 
     FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the procedure of an aberration compensation routine; 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing the relation between the applied voltage for compensation to aberration-compensation area and the phase difference caused by a liquid crystal element; and 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the procedure of aberration compensation performed in an aberration compensation routine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the attached figures, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a configuration of an aberration compensating apparatus provided in an information recording/reproducing apparatus. 
     In FIG. 3, an optical pickup PU includes a light source  1  for emitting a laser beam H 1 , a beam splitter  3 , an aberration-compensation optical unit  4 , an objective lens  5 , a condenser lens  6 , and a photo detector  7 . The optical elements  1 - 7  are arranged along optical axis OA. 
     The light beam H 1  emitted from the light source  1  in the optical pickup is reflected by an optical disc  9 , and the reflected light is detected by the photo detector  7 . The detected RF signal is transmitted to an RF amplitude detector  11 . The RF amplitude detector  11  detects the envelope of the received RF signal, and transmits the envelope signal to a controller  12  as an RF amplitude signal. The controller  12  supplies a control signal to a drive unit  14  for driving the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  according to the received RF amplitude signal. The drive unit  14  generates a control voltage (Vi) to be applied to the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  in response to the control signal, and supplies the control voltage (Vi) to the aberration-compensation optical unit  4 . 
     The aberration-compensation optical unit  4  includes an electro-optic element which generates an electro-optic effect by the electric field. More specifically, it includes a liquid-crystal optical element which causes birefringence changes corresponding to the magnitude of control voltage Vi applied by the drive unit  14 . The aberration-compensation optical unit  4 , as shown in FIG. 4, is configured so that a liquid crystal element  19  (hereinafter, simply referred to as “liquid crystal”) is held between two insulating substrates  15  and  16 , such as transparent glass substrates, so as to be enclosed therein. More particularly, formed on the liquid crystal  19  are liquid-crystal orientation layers  21  and  22 , insulating layers  23  and  24 , and electrode layers  17  and  18 . 
     When the control voltage Vi is applied between the electrode layers  17  and  18 , the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal  19  changes corresponding to the electric field Ei generated by the control voltage Vi. As a result, the phase of light passing through the liquid crystal  19  changes due to the birefringence of the liquid crystal  19 . That is, the polarized state (phase) can be controlled by the control voltage Vi applied to the liquid crystal  19 . 
     In addition, any side of the insulating substrates  15  and  16  can be arranged to face the objective lens  5  because the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  has a bidirectional capability. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a distribution of spherical aberration, which is the major part of the aberration caused by the substrate (or transparent cover layer) thickness of an optical disc, in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The aberration is small in the central part of the optical path when the substrate is thick, and increases as the radial position increases except at the innermost peripheral part. In contrast, when the substrate is thin, the aberration decreases as the radial position increases. 
     The schematic configuration of the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  for compensating for variation in the spherical aberration is shown in FIG.  6 . The aberration-compensation optical unit  4  is divided into a plurality of aberration-compensation areas AR 1 -ARi determined correspondingly to the distribution of aberration generated by the optical disc  9 . The aberration-compensation areas AR 1 -ARi are realized by transparent electrode (ITO: indium tin oxide) layers formed on the electrode layers  17  and  18 . A typical example of the aberration-compensation areas AR 1 -ARi for compensating the spherical aberration caused by the optical disc  9  is shown in FIG.  6 . The electrode layers  17  and  18  can be divided so as to form various shapes corresponding to the distribution of aberration caused by the optical disc  9 . 
     A description will be given below, as an example, for the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  which has the concentric aberration-compensation areas AR 1 -ARi provided in the manner as shown in FIG.  6 . FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the configuration along line X—X in FIG.  6 . As is shown in the figure, the electrode layer  17  has a configuration consisting of divisional transparent electrodes (hereinafter, referred to as “divisional electrodes” or simply as “electrodes”) A 1 -Ai formed electrically separated from each other, and a plurality of gaps W 1 -Wi existing between each of the divisional electrodes A 1 -Ai. 
     The divisional electrode A 1  is formed so as to have a shape fitting that of the aberration-compensation area AR 1  (a circular shape in FIG.  6 ), and the divisional electrode A 2  is shaped so as to fit the aberration-compensation area AR 2  (ring-shaped in FIG.  6 ). Similarly, the shapes of the remaining divisional electrodes A 3 -Ai are also suited to those of the aberration-compensation areas AR 3 -ARi. The gaps W 1 -Wi separating the transparent electrode layers A 1 -Ai are ring-shaped. 
     In the same manner, the electrode layer  18  comprises divisional electrodes C 1 -Ci formed so as to be electrically separated from each other, and a plurality of gaps W 1 -Wi existing between each of the divisional electrodes C 1 -Ci. 
     If one electrode layer, for example, the electrode layer  17 , is formed so as to have a plurality of separated electrodes, the electrode layer  18  does not have to be separated. For instance, it may be formed as an “overall” electrode which extends over the entire surface, or formed in a required shape or separated into a required number according to the characteristic and/or the distribution of aberration to be compensated. 
     The aberration compensation according to the present invention will be described in detail referring to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 8-10 and FIGS. 11,  12 . 
     The flow chart in FIG. 8 shows the setup procedure performed by the controller  12  at the time, for example, when recording or reproduction of the optical disc  9  is started. 
     The controller  12  controls rotation of the loaded optical disc  9  (step S 11 ) and performs focus servo control (step S 12 ). The controller  12 , then, starts the aberration determination/compensation routine, determines the aberration to be compensated for, and performs aberration compensation according to the determination result (step S 13 ). 
     After the aberration determination/compensation routine is performed following the procedures described below, the control returns to the present routine, and performs tracking servo control (step S 14 ). Tracking servo control is followed by reading of TOC information from the optical disc  9  (step S 15 ), and the setup procedure is terminated. The procedures of aberration determination/compensation are described below. 
     FIG. 9 shows the procedures of the aberration determination routine for determining the aberration to be compensated. As described referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, it is determined whether the phase difference in aberration-compensation areas other than the reference aberration-compensation area of the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  should be increased or decreased in order to compensate for the aberration of incident light. The description will be made for the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  wherein the aberration-compensation areas are formed circularly (or ring-shaped) as an example. For simplification, the description is made in which the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  comprises three aberration-compensation areas. However, the number of areas and the shapes may be changed or modified. 
     In FIG. 9, an RF amplitude value (Rs) is received from the RF amplitude detector  11  (step S 21 ), and the value is stored. Then, setting the aberration-compensation area (A 1 ) in the center of the aberration-compensation optical unit  4  as the reference, a reference voltage V 1  (V 1 =V L1 , for example, V L1 =2.0 V) is applied to the aberration-compensation area A 1 . Voltages V 2  and V 3  (e.g. V 2 =V L2 , V 3 =V L3 ), which are larger than the reference voltage V 1  (for example, V L2 =2.1 V, V L3 =2.2 V), are applied to the aberration-compensation areas A 2  and A 3  respectively (step S 22 ). The RF amplitude values (Rf) are fetched at the time when the compensation voltages are applied (step S 23 ). 
     It is determined whether or not the RF amplitude is increased by applying the compensation voltages. In other words, whether the change amount ΔR (=Rf−Rs) of the RF amplitude value before and after the application of the compensation voltage is larger than or equal to 0 (step S 24 ). If the change amount ΔR≧0, it indicates that the RF amplitude is increased by applying the compensation voltages. It shows that the values of the compensation voltages are selected so as to cancel the aberration of an incident light beam. On the contrary, if the change amount ΔR&lt;0, it indicates that the compensation voltages are applied so as to enhance the aberration of the incident light beam. 
     At step S 24 , if the change amount ΔR≧0, an indicator (IND) is set to 0 (i.e., IND=0, step S 25 ). The indicator is used for indicating whether or not a compensation voltage value is selected so as to cancel aberration. The value (IND) is supplied to the aberration-compensation routine as an argument. If the change amount ΔR&lt;0 at step S 24 , the indicator is set to 1 (IND=1, step S 26 ), and the value is supplied to the aberration-compensation routine as the argument. The aberration-compensation routine optimizes aberration compensation on the basis of the argument IND (step S 27 ). 
     In the description above, the RF amplitude value before the application of the compensation voltage (i.e., the voltages for all compensation areas are 0 or the same) is used as the initial RF amplitude value (Rs). However, any method may be adopted so long as the change of the RF amplitude value can be determined when the applied voltages for compensation are changed. The aberration-compensation operation of the aberration-compensation routine will be described below. 
     The procedure of aberration compensation performed in the aberration-compensation routine is shown in FIG.  10 . 
     The setup procedure (step S 31 ) is performed as follows. The RF amplitude value Rf after the application of the compensation voltage obtained in the aberration-determination routine shown in FIG. 9 is set to R 1 , a parameter k (an integer) is set to 1, and the step-like change amount of the compensation voltage ΔV (hereinafter referred to as “voltage step”) is given a predetermined value (for example, 0.1 V). 
     Then, it is determined whether the indicator IND is zero or not (step S 32 ). Aberration compensation is performed on the basis of the indicator IND. 
     As described above, when indicator IND is zero, the reference voltage V 1  which is applied to the reference compensation area A 1  is set as a first reference voltage V 1 =V L1  (for example, V L1 =2.0 V). The compensation voltages V 2  and V 3 , having values larger than that of the first reference voltage V 1 , are applied to the compensation areas other than the reference compensation area A 1  (in this case, A 2  and A 3 ) (step S 33 ). A first compensation mode is performed by changing V 2  and V 3 . In the present invention, aberration compensation is optimized by changing the compensation voltages V 2  and V 3  in a step-like manner using the voltage step ΔV (&gt;0). A more specific description will be given below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. 
     As is shown in FIG. 11A, a voltage 
     
       
           V   2 = V   L2   +ΔV  (=2.1+0.01×1=2.11  V ) 
       
     
     is applied to the compensation area A 2 . Similarly, a voltage 
     
       
           V   3 = V   L3   +ΔV  (=2.2+0.01×1=2.21  V ) 
       
     
     is applied to the compensation area A 3 . The change in the applied voltage causes a change in aberration-compensation amount (this corresponds to the change from starting point S to point P 1  in FIG.  12 ). 
     The RF amplitude value (R 2 ) after the alteration of the compensation voltage is fetched (step S 34 ). It is determined whether or not the RF amplitude is increased by the change of compensation voltage (step S 35 ). If the change amount of RF amplitude 
     
       
         Δ R=R   2 − R   1 ≧0, 
       
     
     it indicates that compensation is performed so as to cancel aberration. If the change amount ΔR&lt;0 at step S 35 , it means that compensation is excessive. In this case, the voltage step is made negative (−ΔV) so as to reduce the compensation voltage (step S 36 ). It is determined whether the absolute value of the change amount ΔR is below a threshold, that is, whether it is below a predetermined small value (ε) or not (step S 37 ). If the change amount ΔR is not below the threshold, parameter k is incremented by 1 (step S  38 ), and the compensation voltage is increased by one voltage step (ΔV) so as to replace the past RF amplitude value (R 1  ) with the present RF amplitude value (R 2 ) (step S 39 ). Then, returning to step S 33 , the compensation voltages after the changes have been made are applied to the compensation areas other than the reference compensation area A 1 . The procedures at step s S 33 -S 39  are repeated (corresponding to P 2 , P 3 , . . . in FIG.  12 ). If the change amount ΔR of the RF amplitude is determined to be below the threshold (point T in FIG. 12) at step S 37 , it is determined that the optimal compensation amount has been obtained, and the aberration-compensation routine is terminated. 
     When the indicator IND does not indicate zero at step S 32 , a second reference voltage V 1 =V H1  (for example, V H1 =2.5 V), which is a voltage higher than the first reference voltage, is used as the reference voltage V 1  to be applied to the reference compensation area A 1 . The compensation voltages V 2  and V 3  having values smaller than that of the reference voltage are applied to the compensation areas A 2  and A 3  other than the reference compensation area A 1  (step S 40 ). A second compensation mode is carried out by changing V 2  and V 3 . For example, as is shown in FIG. 11B, a voltage 
     
       
           V   2 = V   H2   −ΔV  (=2.4−0.01×1=2.39  V ) 
       
     
     is applied to the compensation area A 2 . In the same way, a voltage 
     
       
           V   3 = V   H3   −ΔV  (=2.3−0.01×1=2.29  V ) 
       
     
     is applied to the compensation area A 3 . The aberration-compensation amount is changed by changing the applied voltages. Step S 42  and the steps thereafter are performed in the similar manner as the case when the indication IND=0. Steps S 40 -S 46  are repeated until the change amount of the RF amplitude is below the threshold (ε). The aberration-compensation routine is terminated when the change amount of RF amplitude falls below the threshold at step S 44 , determining that the optimal compensation amount has been obtained. Aberration compensation is optimized through the procedures described above. 
     The first and second reference voltages are set so that the range of each voltage to be applied for compensation in the first and the second compensation modes overlaps. It is most desirable to set the second reference voltage to nearly the maximum value of the applied voltage for compensation in the first compensation mode. 
     As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the range of the applied voltage for compensation can be reduced, thus making it possible to decrease phase difference as required. This makes it possible for the liquid crystal element to be thinner and the response speed to be faster, realizing an apparatus having higher performance. It also realizes an aberration compensating apparatus which is smaller in size, lighter in weight, and lower in manufacturing cost. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of alterations and modifications may be made from the embodiments described above. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims encompass all such alterations and modifications.