Semiconductor laser device which emits inclined laser beam

A laser pickup device for optically reading information from an optical data carrier, the pickup device including a semiconductor laser chip and an optical system arranged between the laser chip and the data carrier, the laser chip comprising a substrate and material layers successively formed on the substrate;

• wherein the laser chip has an output cleavage face and emits an output laser beam whose optical axis is inclined to the output cleavage face and enters into the optical system, an optical axis portion of the output laser beam which is reflected by the data carrier and reaches the laser chip being reflected by the output cleavage face of the laser chip completely out of the optical system.