Optical pickup device and optical disc apparatus applying the same

Abstract

An optical pickup device is provided. The device includes a semiconductor laser light source which outputs linearly-polarized light having an elliptical shape, an objective lens which focuses light outputted from the semiconductor laser light source, forming an optical spot on an optical disc; and a polarization plate which is disposed placed on an optical path between the semiconductor laser light source and the objective lens, and which polarizes the light outputted from the semiconductor laser light source and transmits elliptically-polarized light, wherein the polarization plate is disposed such that a major axis of the elliptical polarization of the light transmitted by the polarization plate is parallel to or perpendicular to a major axis of the elliptical shape of the light.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.