Patent ID: 7403458

Claim:
An optical pickup, which is compatible with a first recording medium having a first format and a second recording medium having a second format different from the first format, the optical pickup comprising: a first light source which emits a first light beam, the first light beam having a wavelength suitable for the first recording medium; a first photodetector which detects an information signal associated with the first recording medium and based upon the first light beam; a second light source which emits a second light beam, the second light beam having a wavelength suitable for the second recording medium; and a second photodetector which detects an information signal associated with the second recording medium and based upon the second light beam, wherein the first photodetector monitors the amount of light emitted from the second light source by detecting a part of the second light beam that is emitted from the second light source and is incident on the first photodetector through a reflection process, and/or the second photodetector monitors the amount of light emitted from the first light source by detecting a part of a first light beam that is emitted from the first light source and is incident upon the second photodetector through a reflection process.