Vcsel light output apparatus having a monitoring photodetector and an

Abstract

A light output apparatus and an optical pickup apparatus employing the same are provided. The light output apparatus includes a base, a VCSEL installed on the base for emitting light in a direction normal to the base, and a light output controller for controlling the light output of the VCSEL. The light output controller includes a monitoring photodetector and a housing enclosing the VCSEL and the photodetector. The housing incorporates a projector window for transmitting most of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflecting some of the light back onto the base. The monitoring photodetector is installed on the base for receiving some of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflected from the projector window, and converting the light into an electrical signal. A plurality of lead pins are connected to the VCSEL and the monitoring photodetector to facilitate connection to a power supply-and transmission of the electrical signals. In addition to the above, the optical pickup apparatus includes an object lens for concentrating the light on an optical recording medium by collecting light emitted from the VCSEL, a light path changing unit for changing the path of light reflected from the light record medium, and another photodetector for receiving the reflected light and converting it into an electrical signal to be fed to an error detection circuit.