Integrated optical head structure

An integrated optical head structure for reading stored data stored in storage locations on an optical-storage medium with simultaneous tracking-error and focusing-error detection, characterized in that it comprises:

• a laser for generating a single beam for combined storage location access and tracking-error detection, and focusing-error detection, a waveguide network of optical components containing at least one beam splitter for guiding said single beam and for splitting said beam into at least two separate beam portions, light-deflecting means for deflecting said beam portions out from said waveguide network and for focusing it onto the surface of said optical storage-medium from where they are at least partially reflected, and light-detecting means for detecting the reflected beam portions, and electrical means, connected to said light detecting means, for generating electric output signals representative of said stored data, a tracking-error signal, and a focusing-error signal, wherein said waveguide network, said light-deflecting means, and said light-detecting means are integrated on a common semiconductor structure, and wherein a first optical path of a first beam portion and a first set of electrical elements used to obtain and process said electric output signals representative of said stored data and said tracking-error signal are substantially separated from a corresponding second optical path and a second set of electrical elements used to obtain and process said focusing-error signal in order to avoid any mutual interference.