Optical head using semiconductor laser array as light source
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKazuhiko Matsuoka
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Abstract
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source comprises a semiconductor laser array in which a plurality of semiconductor lasers are linearly arrayed, a collimator lens, an objective lens and a beam shaping prism system. The beam shaping prism system is arranged between the collimator lens and the objective lens to convert a beam width of a beam emerged from the collimator lens. The junction surfaces of the semiconductor lasers are parallel with an array direction. A plane defined by incident and emerging beams on and from the beam shaping prism system is parallel with or overlapping the array direction of the semiconductor lasers.
Claims40
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source, comprising:
- a semiconductor laser array, in which a plurality of semiconductor lasers, each having a junction surface, are linearly arrayed, with said junction surfaces of said semiconductor lasers being parallel to an array direction, wherein the divergence angle of each of said plurality of semiconductor lasers constituting said semiconductor laser array is set such that the full angle at half maximum in a direction parallel to the junction surface is 8.degree. to 15.degree. and the full angle at half maximum in a direction perpendicular to the junction surface is 21.degree. to 32.degree.;
- a collimator lens for converting a plurality of light beams emitted from said semiconductor laser array into a plurality of collimated light beams;
- a beam shaping prism system for converting a beam width of the plurality of beams emerging from said collimator lens, with a plane defined by incident and emerging beams on and from said beam shaping prism system being parallel to or overlapping the array direction of said semiconductor lasers, said beam shaping prism system comprising a plurality of beam shaping prisms, wherein when the width of an incident beam on said beam shaping prism system is represented by d, the width of an emerging beam is represented by D, and the conversion ratio .gamma. of the beam width is defined by .gamma.=D/d, the following condition is satisfied:
- 1.4.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.3.5;
- and
- an objective lens for converging the plurality of beams emerging from said beam shaping prism system.
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source, comprising:
- a semiconductor laser array comprising a plurality of semiconductor lasers each having a junction surface, wherein the divergence angle of each of said plurality of semiconductor lasers constituting said semiconductor laser array is set such that the full angle at half maximum in a direction parallel to the junction surface is 8.degree. to 15.degree. and the full angle at half maximum in a direction perpendicular to the junction surface is 21.degree. to 32.degree.;
- a collimator lens for converting a plurality of beams emitted from said semiconductor laser array into a plurality of collimated beams;
- a beam shaping prism system for converting a beam width of a plurality of beams emerging from said collimator lens, said beam shaping system prism comprising a plurality of prisms, wherein when the width of an incident beam on said beam shaping prism system is represented by d, the width of an emerging beam is represented by D, and the conversion ratio .gamma. of the beam width is defined by .gamma.=D/d, the following condition is satisfied:
- 1.4.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.3.5;
- and
- an objective lens for converging said plurality of beams emerging from said beam shaping prism system.
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source, comprising:
- a semiconductor laser array, in which a plurality of semiconductor lasers, each having a junction surface, are linearly arrayed, with said junction surfaces of said semiconductor lasers being parallel to an array direction, wherein the divergence angle of each of said plurality of semiconductor lasers constituting said semiconductor laser array is set such that the full angle at half maximum in a direction parallel to the junction surface is 8.degree. to 15.degree. and the full angle at half maximum in a direction perpendicular to the junction surface is 21.degree. to 32.degree.;
- a collimator lens for converting a plurality of beams emitted from said semiconductor laser array into a plurality of collimated beams;
- a beam shaping prism system for converting a beam width of the plurality of beams emerging from said collimator lens, with a plane defined by incident and emerging beams on and from said beam shaping prism system being parallel to or overlapping the array direction of said semiconductor lasers, said beam shaping prism system comprising a plurality of prisms, wherein when the width of an incident beam on said beam shaping prism system is represented by d, the width of an emerging beam is represented by D, and the conversion ratio .gamma. of the beam width is defined by .gamma.=D/d, the following condition is satisfied:
- 1.4.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.3.5;
- an objective lens for converging the plurality of beams emerging from said beam shaping prism system;
- a beam splitter provided between said collimator lens and said objective lens;
- and
- light receiving means for receiving a plurality of beams which are separated from the plurality of beams directed to said objective lens by said beam splitter.
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source, comprising:
- a semiconductor laser array comprising a plurality of semiconductor lasers each having a junction surface, wherein the divergence angle of each of said plurality of semiconductor lasers constituting said semiconductor laser array is set such that the full angle at half maximum in a direction parallel to the junction surface is 8.degree. to 15.degree. and the full angle at half maximum in a direction perpendicular to the junction surface is 21.degree. to 32.degree.;
- a collimator lens for converting a plurality of beams emitted from said semiconductor laser array into a plurality of collimated beams;
- a beam shaping prism system for converting a beam width of the plurality of beams emerging from said collimator lens, said beam shaping prism system comprising a plurality of prisms, wherein when the width of an incident beam on said beam shaping prism system is represented by d, the width of an emerging beam is represented by D, and the conversion ratio .gamma. of the beam width is defined by .gamma.=D/d, the following condition is satisfied:
- 1.4.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.3.5;
- an objective lens for converging said plurality of beams emerging from said beam shaping prism system;
- a beam splitter provided between said collimator lens and said objective lens;
- and
- light receiving means for receiving a plurality of beams which are separated from the plurality of beams directed to said objective lens by said beam splitter.
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source, comprising:
- a semiconductor laser array, in which a plurality of light emitting portions, each having a junction surface, are linearly arranged on the same substrate, with said junction surfaces of said light emitting portions being parallel to an array direction, wherein the divergence angle of each of said plurality of light emitting portions constituting said semiconductor laser array is set such that the full angle at half maximum in a direction parallel to the junction surface is 8.degree. to 15.degree. and the full angle at half maximum in a direction perpendicular to the junction surface is 21.degree. to 32.degree.;
- a collimator lens for converting a plurality of light beams emitted from said semiconductor laser array into a plurality of collimated beams;
- a beam shaping prism system for converting a beam width of a plurality of collimated beams emerging from said collimator lens, said beam shaping prism system comprising a plurality of prisms, wherein a plane defined by incident and emerging beams on and from said beam shaping prism system is parallel to or overlapping the array direction of said light emitting portions, and wherein when a width of a plurality of incident beams on said beam shaping prism system is represented by d, a width of a plurality of emerging beams is represented by D, and a conversion ratio .gamma. of the beam width is defined by .gamma.=D/d, the following condition is satisfied:
- 1.4.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.3.5;
- an objective lens for converging said plurality of beams emerging from said beam shaping prism;
- a beam splitter provided between said collimator lens and said objective lens;
- and
- light receiving means for receiving a plurality of beams which are separated from the plurality of beams directed to said objective lens by said beam splitter.
An optical head using a semiconductor laser array as a light source, comprising:
- a semiconductor laser array, in which a plurality of light emitting portions, each having a junction surface, are linearly arranged on the same substrate, with said junction surfaces of said light emitting portions being parallel to an array direction, wherein the divergence angle of each of said plurality of light emitting portions constituting said semiconductor laser array is set such that the full angle at half maximum in a direction parallel to the junction surface is 8.degree. to 15.degree. and the full angle at half maximum in a direction perpendicular to the junction surface is 21.degree. to 32.degree.;
- a collimator lens for converting a plurality of light beams emitted from said semiconductor laser array into a plurality of collimated light beams;
- a beam shaping prism system for converting a beam width of the collimated beam emerging from said collimator lens, said beam shaping prism system comprising a plurality of prisms, wherein a plane defined by incident and emerging beams on and from said beam shaping prism system is parallel to or overlapping the array direction of said light emitting portions, wherein when the width of an incident beam on said beam shaping prism is represented by d, the width of an emerging beam is represented by D, and the conversion ratio .gamma. of the beam width is defined by .gamma.=D/d, the following condition is satisfied:
- 1.4.ltoreq..gamma..ltoreq.3.5;
- and
- an objective lens for converging the beams emerging from said beam shaping prism system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.