Compact optical pickup head with tracking error signal generator

An optical head apparatus comprising:

• a fixed optical system including a light beam source, a photodetector, and a beam splitter for splitting a light beam emitted from said light beam source, so that a portion of the light beam is irradiated on said photodetector;
• a movable optical system having an objective lens, a first coil, a focussing actuator for supporting said objective lens and for moving said objective lens in a direction parallel to an optical axis of said objective lens using at least one of a plurality of second coils, each having four sides and being formed as a substantially square coil of L-letter shape, a pair of sides of each of the plurality of second coils being formed perpendicular to the optical axis of said objective lens, one side of each of the plurality of second coils being formed parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens, a member provided on said actuator, a linear motor including magnets provided to face said first coil and said sides of said plurality of second coils parallel to said optical axis, whereby said sides of said plurality of second coils parallel to said optional axis are within a common magnetic gap formed by said magnets of said linear motor, guiding means for guiding said member in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said objective lens, and a yoke, said movable optical system being provided in a plane that is parallel to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the objective lens and said fixed optical system being provided in said same plane;
• and
• a tracking means provided between said fixed optical system and said movable optical system and including a mirror for changing a path of the light beam emitted from said light beam source and the light beam irradiated on said photodetector.