Optical recording/reproducing apparatus and tracking error signal detecting method

A method of detecting a tracking error signal in an optical recording/reproducing apparatus, the method comprising:

• splitting light emitted from a light source into a main light beam and sub-light beams which are symmetrical with respect to the main light beam;
• irradiating the split light beams on a recording medium;
• detecting the main light beam and the sub-light beams reflected by the recording medium;
• and
• detecting the tracking error signal by using detection signals of the main light beam and/or the sub-light beams in a three-beam method and one of a push-pull method and an improved push-pull method, and otherwise in one of the three-beam method, the push-pull method, and the improved push-pull method.

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

• an optical pickup including
• an optical splitting device which splits light emitted from a first light source into a main light beam and sub-light beams which are symmetrical with respect to the main light beam, and irradiates the split main and sub-light beams, and
• a light detection device which receives the main and sub-light beams reflected from a recording medium, and outputs detection signals corresponding to the received main and sub-light beams;
• and
• a signal processor which receives the detection signals and detects tracking error signals in a three-beam method and one of a push-pull method and an improved push-pull method, and otherwise detects the tracking error signal by selectively using the detection signals corresponding to one of the three-beam method, the push-pull method and the improved push-pull method according to a recording medium type signal, so as to realize an optimal tracking servo-control.

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

• an optical pickup including
• an optical splitting device which splits light emitted from a first light source into a main light beam and sub-light beams which are symmetrical with respect to the main light beam, and irradiates the split main and sub-light beams, and
• a light detection device which receives the main and sub-light beams reflected from a recording medium, and outputs detection signals corresponding to the received main and sub-light beams;
• and
• a signal processor which receives the detection signals and detects a tracking error signal in accordance with a plurality of tracking servo control methods according to a type of the recording medium and independent of depths of pits formed in the recording medium.

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:

• an optical pickup including
• an optical splitting device which splits light emitted from a first light source into a main light beam and sub-light beams which are symmetrical with respect to the main light beam, and irradiates the split main and sub-light beams, and
• a light detection device which receives the main and sub-light beams reflected from a recording medium, and outputs detection signals corresponding to the received main and sub-light beams;
• and
• a signal processor which receives the detection signals and detects tracking error signals in a three-beam method and a push-pull method according to a recording medium type signal detected by the optical recording/reproducing apparatus.