Tracking error signal generation using confocally filtered detection

Abstract

A tracking error signal generation apparatus and method which utilizes confocal detection with a split detector and a differencing circuit for generation of tracking error signals. A first lens is positioned in the path of a light beam returning from an optical medium. A pinhole is positioned in the path of the light beam after the first lens and proximate to the focal plane of the first lens. A second lens is positioned in the path of the light beam after the pinhole, and a split detector, having equal halves is positioned in the path of the light beam after the second lens. A differencing circuit is operatively coupled to each of the halves of the split detector. In operation, a light beam is focused by an optical head onto a track in the optical medium, and the reflection of the beam from the optical medium is directed through the first lens, through the pinhole, through the second lens, and onto the split detector. When the focus of the light beam is centered on the track, the reflected light reaching the split detector is evenly distributed on the two halves of the detector, such that the differencing circuit will generate a tracking error signal (TES) having nominally a zero value. When the focus of the light beam is off-center with respect to the track, the reflected light received by detector is unevenly distributed on the two halves of the detector such that the differencing circuit generates a non-zero tracking error signal, which will be of positive or negative value depending upon the direction off-center of the light beam focus spot. The tracking error signals thus generated are communicated to a servo system which will reposition the optical head to maintain the light beam focus spot on the center of the track.