Light intensity controller and optical pickup device

Abstract

A light intensity control device of the present invention includes a light source for outputting a plurality of types of light beams having different wavelengths; a light receiving section for receiving and converting the light beams into an electric signal in accordance with the intensity of the respective light beam; and a polarization separation section provided between the light source and the light receiving section. The plurality of types of light beams include a first light beam and a second light beam having a longer wavelength than that of the first light beam. The polarization separation section guides both a first polarization direction light component of the second light beam and a second polarization direction light component, perpendicular to the first polarization direction, of the second light beam to the light receiving section. The polarization separation section guides a first polarization direction light component of the first light beam to the light receiving section, and suppresses a second polarization direction component, perpendicular to the first polarization direction, of the first light beam from advancing to the light receiving section.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.