Integrated optical disc pickup that allows variations in the wavelength

Abstract

An integrated optical disc pickup comprising an optical waveguide in the form of a insulation layer provided on the surface of a substrate, a semiconductor laser disposed outside the waveguide, a beam splitter of the transmission type and a Luneburg lens provided on the path of propagation of a laser beam from the semiconductor laser through the waveguide and arranged in the order mentioned in a direction away from the laser, a transmission grating provided on the path through the waveguide to be followed by the laser beam upon having its direction changed by the beam splitter after emanating from the laser, passing through the beam splitter and the Luneburg lens, being reflected from an optical disc disposed outside the waveguide and passing through the Luneburg lens, and first and second photodetectors disposed on the paths of propagation through the waveguide of two portions of the laser beam divided by the diffraction grating.