Optical sensing head and method for fabricating the sensing head

An optical sensing head for sensing laser radiation reflected by an optical data memory and for reading out the optical data memory, the optical sensing head comprising:

• a substrate having a main surface extending along a first main plane;
• an edge-emitting laser component for emitting laser radiation along an irradiation axis oriented essentially parallel to said first main plane, said laser component configured on said main surface of said substrate;
• a deflection device configured on said main surface of said substrate, said deflection device for providing deflected laser radiation in a direction essentially perpendicular to said main surface by deflecting the laser radiation emitted by said laser component;
• at least one signal detector for sensing the laser radiation reflected by the optical data memory;
• and
• an optical element for guiding the deflected laser radiation to the optical data memory and for guiding the laser radiation reflected by the optical data memory to said signal detector;
• said optical element connected to said substrate.