JP4393505B2 - Photodetector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a photodetector mounted on an optical pickup device in an optical information storage / reproduction device , and in particular, a photodetector (or a light receiving element with an amplifier) mounted on an optical pickup device mounted with a semiconductor laser having two or more wavelengths. About.

  The current optical pickup device is disclosed in a photodetector, a signal processing circuit, an optical information reproducing device using the same (Japanese Patent Application No. 11-171844), an optical head (Patent Document 1), etc. A semiconductor laser that emits light of two or more wavelengths is composed of two or more packages, and accordingly, one or more photodetectors or light receiving elements with amplifiers are mounted. Recently, however, there has been proposed a technique for simplifying a semiconductor laser that emits light of two or more wavelengths into a single package with the emission point position somewhat shifted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a light receiving pattern of a photodetector according to a conventional example. The light receiving portions A, B, C, and D are irradiated with the main spot, and the light receiving portions E and F are irradiated with the sub-spots. With this photodetector, the light from the optical disc protrudes from the light receiving pattern as shown in the figure. End up. Thus, two or more photodetectors or light receiving elements with amplifiers are required.

JP-A-8-55363

  As described above, conventionally, a semiconductor laser that emits light of two wavelengths or more from one package in parallel while shifting the emission point position is used, and two or more semiconductor lasers are simplified in one package. Requires a photodetector or a light receiving element with an amplifier. As a result, the number of optical components (specifically, prisms, lenses, mirrors, etc.) cannot be reduced, and a semiconductor laser that emits light of two wavelengths or more from one package in parallel by shifting the emission point position is mounted. It was difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the optical pickup device.

  An object of the present invention is to propose a light-receiving pattern that eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art, and to integrate a photodetector, and thus to reduce the size and thickness of an optical pickup device and an optical head device.

In order to achieve the above object, the photodetector according to the first aspect of the present invention is a photodetector for an optical pickup that detects light of a plurality of wavelengths, and is divided into four substantially in a square shape. It has at least two main spot light receiving parts and two sub spot light receiving parts, and the at least two main spot light receiving parts are arranged in a predetermined direction, and the two sub spot light receiving parts Are arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the predetermined direction and sandwiching the light receiving part for main spots.

In order to achieve the above object, the photodetector of the second aspect of the present invention is a photodetector for an optical pickup that detects light of a plurality of wavelengths, and is divided into four substantially in a square shape. And at least two main spot light-receiving portions and two sub-spot light-receiving portions arranged in a predetermined direction, and the at least two main spot light-receiving portions are the two sub-spot light-receiving portions. They are arranged side by side so as to follow a virtual straight line orthogonal to the predetermined direction through a substantially middle position of the part.

  The present invention is configured as described above, and the photodetector itself, the optical pickup device incorporating the photodetector, and the optical head device can be reduced in size and thickness.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a light receiving pattern of a photodetector according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a light receiving pattern of a photodetector according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an optical pickup device according to the second embodiment.

  First, the configuration and operation of the optical pickup device shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Of the light emitted from the semiconductor laser 16 that emits light of two wavelengths or more from one package in parallel while shifting the emission point position, one is H1 wavelength light (specifically, a CD laser having a wavelength of 780 nm), and One is H2 wavelength light (specifically, a DVD laser having a wavelength of 650 nm).

  When the H1 wavelength light is emitted, the H1 wavelength light passes through the diffraction grating 18 while being diffracted into 0th order light and ± 1st order light, is reflected by the half mirror 9, and passes through the collimating lens 6. Further, the light is reflected by the reflection mirror 5, passes through the objective lens 13, and forms a light spot on the optical disk.

  Then, the light spot formed on the optical disk is reflected, and this light spot passes through the objective lens 13, is reflected by the reflection mirror 5, passes through the collimator lens 6, passes through the half mirror 9, and further passes through the concave lens 10. Then, the light enters the photodetector 17. The light spot reflected by the optical disc enters the photodetector 17, whereby the information stored on the optical disc is read by the photodetector 17.

  Here, the operation when the photodetector 17 is the light receiving pattern of FIG. 1 will be described. On the photodetector 17, the light receiving parts A 1, B 1, C 1, and D 1 are irradiated with a main spot, and the light receiving parts E and F are irradiated with a sub spot. Each of the light receiving units A1, B1, C1, D1, E, and F converts incident light into current, and performs I (current) -V (voltage) conversion in a circuit such as an operational amplifier.

  The voltage from each light receiving unit is calculated according to the following formula, the objective lens 13 mounted on the optical pickup device is operated, and the information stored on the optical disk is read.

Focus error signal: (An + Cn)-(Bn + Dn) (1)
Tracking error signal: 3-spot system (EF) or (FE)
... (2)
In the case of the time difference method (An + Bn)-(Cn + Dn)
Or (Cn + Dn)-(An + Bn) (3)
Output signal (HF signal): (An + Bn + Cn + Dn) (4)
The time when n = 1 indicates the time when the H1 wavelength light is received, and the time when n = 2 indicates the time when the H2 wavelength light is received.

  The same applies to the case where the H2 wavelength light is emitted (the main spot of the H2 wavelength light is emitted to the light receiving portions A2, B2, C2, and D2), but when the H1 wavelength light is emitted, the H2 wavelength is emitted. Wavelength light is not emitted.

  Here, when there are three or more spots, the subsequent light receiving section is irradiated. Note that the interval between the H1 wavelength light and the H2 wavelength light on the photodetector 17 is the difference between the emission point position of the semiconductor laser 16 that emits light of two wavelengths or more from one package in parallel while shifting the emission point position. Are the same.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the optical pickup device of FIG. 4 will be described. The H1 wavelength light from the semiconductor laser 16 passes through the diffraction grating 18 while being diffracted into 0th order light and ± 1st order light, is reflected by the half mirror 9, passes through the collimator lens 6, and passes through the objective lens 13. Pass through and form a light spot on the optical disc.

  The reflected light from the optical disk passes through the objective lens 13, the collimating lens 6, the half mirror 9, and the concave lens 10 in this order, and enters the photodetector 17 to read the information stored on the optical disk. The operation when the photodetector 17 is the light receiving pattern of FIG. 1 is as described above.

  Here, the photodetector 17 in FIG. 1 will be further described. The photodetector 17 is divided into eight or more parts in one package, and the operation power supply input pins are 3 pins and the signal output pins are within 7 pins. Moreover, it has two light-receiving parts for the sub-spots and two or more light-receiving parts divided into four in the shape of a square for the main spot. Furthermore, it has two light receiving parts for sub-spots sandwiching the light receiving part for main spots, and has two or more light receiving parts divided into four shapes for the main spot, and the two or more The light receiving parts divided into four are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the upper left, the upper right, the lower left, and the lower right of the two or more four light receiving parts are connected, and a signal output pin from the light receiving part for the main spot In 5 pins.

  Next, the operation of the photodetector 17 when the photodetector 17 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has the light receiving pattern of FIG. 2 will be described. In the case of the light receiving pattern shown in FIG. 2, the H1 wavelength light irradiates the light receiving parts A1, A2, B1, and B2 with the main spot and the light receiving parts E and F with the sub spot. Each of the light receiving units A1, A2, B1, B2, E, and F converts incident light into current, and performs I (current) -V (voltage) conversion in a circuit such as an operational amplifier.

  The voltage from each light receiving unit is calculated according to the following formula, the objective lens 13 mounted on the optical pickup device is operated, and the information stored on the optical disk is read.

Focus error signal: {(An + B (n + 1)) − (A (n + 1) + Bn)} × (−1) (n + 1) (5)
Tracking error signal: 3-spot system (EF) or (FE)
... (6)
In the case of the time difference method (A (n + 1) + B (n + 1)) − (An−Bn) or (An + Bn) − (A (n + 1) + B (n + 1))
... (7)
Output signal (HF signal): (An + Bn + A (n + 1) + B (n + 1))
... (8)
The time when n = 1 indicates the time when the H1 wavelength light is received, and the time when n = 2 indicates the time when the H2 wavelength light is received.

  The same applies to the case where the H2 wavelength light is emitted (the main spot of the H2 wavelength light is irradiated to the light receiving portions A2, A3, B2, and B3), but when the H1 wavelength light is emitted, the H2 wavelength is emitted. Wavelength light is not emitted.

  Note that the interval between the H1 wavelength light and the H2 wavelength light on the photodetector 17 is the difference between the emission point position of the semiconductor laser 16 that emits light of two wavelengths or more from one package in parallel while shifting the emission point position. Are the same.

  The photodetector 17 shown in FIG. 2 has two light receiving parts for sub-spots and two or more light receiving parts divided into a square shape for the main spot arranged side by side. The light receiving pattern is divided into six or more in the form of connecting the two. In addition, there are two sub-spot light-receiving parts sandwiching the main-spot light-receiving part, and two or more light-receiving parts that are divided into four square shapes for the main spot, and the two or more When the four light receiving parts are arranged in the horizontal direction, the light receiving pattern is divided into six or more in the form of connecting adjacent light receiving parts, and every other light receiving part is adjacent to the horizontal direction of the light receiving part. Each light receiving part is connected, and the signal output pins from the main spot light receiving part are within 5 pins.

It is a figure which shows the light reception pattern of the photodetector which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the light reception pattern of the photodetector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical pickup device according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram of the optical pick-up apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the light reception pattern of the photodetector which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

5 Reflecting mirror 6 Collimating lens 9 Half mirror 10 Concave lens 13 Objective lens 16 Semiconductor laser 17 Photo detector 18 Diffraction grating

Claims (2)

A photodetector for an optical pickup that detects light of a plurality of wavelengths emitted from a semiconductor laser that emits light of a plurality of wavelengths from within one package,
For at least two main spots having a light receiving surface that is divided into four light receiving areas of a first light receiving area, a second light receiving area, a third light receiving area, and a fourth light receiving area . A light receiver;
Two sub-spot light-receiving units,
The at least two main spot light receiving portions are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction,
The two sub-spot light-receiving portions are arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the predetermined direction and are arranged so as to sandwich the main spot light-receiving portion.
The outputs of the first light receiving areas of the at least two main spot light receiving sections are shared, the outputs of the second light receiving areas are shared, the outputs of the third light receiving areas are shared, and the fourth light receiving areas are shared. An optical detector characterized in that the output of the region is shared . A photodetector for an optical pickup that detects light of a plurality of wavelengths emitted from a semiconductor laser that emits light of a plurality of wavelengths from within one package,
For at least two main spots having a light receiving surface that is divided into four light receiving areas of a first light receiving area, a second light receiving area, a third light receiving area, and a fourth light receiving area . A light receiver;
Two sub-spot light-receiving portions arranged side by side in a predetermined direction,
The at least two main spot light receiving portions are arranged side by side along a virtual straight line orthogonal to the predetermined direction through a substantially intermediate position of the two sub spot light receiving portions,
The outputs of the first light receiving areas of the at least two main spot light receiving sections are shared, the outputs of the second light receiving areas are shared, the outputs of the third light receiving areas are shared, and the fourth light receiving areas are shared. An optical detector characterized in that the output of the region is shared .

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