The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 1996
Filed:
Mar. 17, 1995
Masahiko Tanaka, Yokohama, JP;
Toshihiro Sugaya, Ibaraki, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
An optical head has a first light source for emitting a first light beam having a first wavelength, a second light source for emitting a second light beam having a second wavelength larger than the first wavelength, and an optical system for guiding the first and second light beams to an optical disc and guiding light beams reflected by the optical disc to an optical detector. The optical system, includes an objective lens, a beam splitter for reflecting the first light beam and the S-polarized component of the second light beam and transmitting the P-polarized component of the second light beam, and a quarter wavelength plate. When a high density medium is set against the optical head, recording is performed by the second light beam and reproduction is performed by the first light beam. When a low density medium is set against the optical head, recording and reproduction are carried out by the second light beam. A single optical head provides read/write compatibility with optical discs of different densities, and recording and reproduction can be made on a high density optical disc.