Optical apparatus with laser light receiver and focus error generator in the same layer

An optical integrated apparatus used in an optical pickup apparatus which irradiates a light emitted by a light emitting device to an optical information record medium, on which record information is recorded, and receives a reflection light reflected from said optical information record medium, said optical integrated apparatus comprising:

• a substrate;
• a light wave coupler for respectively generating a transmitted light and a guided light out of the reflection light;
• a light guide path for propagating the guided light;
• a first light receiving portion for receiving the transmitted light;
• a second light receiving portion for receiving a radiant light which is generated out of the guided light and is directed toward said substrate due to a phase matching from said light guide path,
• said light wave coupler, said light guide path, said first light receiving portion and said second light receiving portion being laminated on said substrate,
• said first light receiving portion and said second light receiving portion being disposed independently from each other on said substrate,
• said first light receiving portion generating signals respectively corresponding to the record information and in-plane position information of the emitted light with respect to said optical information record medium,
• said second light receiving portion generating a signal corresponding to focal point information of the emitted light on said optical information record medium;
• and
• a light path separation layer disposed at a top layer of said optical integrated apparatus for separating a light path of a light incident to the top layer into one path for the reflected light to an outside portion of said optical integrated apparatus and another path for the transmitted light to an internal portion of said optical integrated apparatus,
• said light separation layer comprising:
• a second light wave coupler for generating a guided light out of the incident light;
• a second light guide path for propagating the guided light generated by said second light wave coupler;
• and
• a third light wave coupler for irradiating the guided light propagated through said second light guide path to the outside portion of said optical integrated apparatus.

An optical apparatus for an optical pickup device that irradiates light from a light emitter to an optical information recording medium and receives reflected light from the optical information recording medium, the optical apparatus comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface with a first light receiving portion therein for generating a data signal and a second light receiving portion therein for generating a focus error signal;
• a buffer layer on said substrate generally parallel to said first surface, said buffer layer being thinner over said second light receiving portion than over said first light receiving portion;
• a light guide path on said buffer layer generally parallel to said first surface, said light guide path being sloped adjacent to the thinner part of said buffer layer over said second light receiving portion;
• and
• a light wave coupler for receiving reflected light and directing a majority of the received reflected light toward said first light receiving portion and a minority of the received reflected light through said light guide path where the sloped part of said light guide path causes light in said light guide path to exit said light guide path toward said second light receiving portion.

An optical apparatus for an optical pickup device that irradiates light from a light emitter to an optical information recording medium and receives reflected light from the optical information recording medium, the optical apparatus comprising:

• a substrate having a first surface with a first light receiving portion for generating a signal that is for generating a data signal based on a first majority part of the received reflected light, and a second light receiving portion for generating a signal that is for generating a focus error signal based on a second minority part of the received reflected light;
• a light guide path on said substrate generally parallel to said first surface and through which the second minority part of the received reflected light is conveyed to said second light receiving portion, said light guide path having a refractive index higher than material directly adjacent thereto so that the second minority part of the received reflected light is contained within said light guide path;
• a return path separation film on said light guide path, said separation film reflecting the light from the light emitter and transmitting the reflected light from the optical information recording medium;
• and
• a light wave grating coupler between said separation film and said light guide path for receiving the reflected light through said separation film and directing the first majority part of the received reflected light toward said first light receiving portion and the second minority part of the received reflected light into said light guide path toward said second light receiving portion.