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:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
May. 31, 2001
Masayuki Nishikawa, Higashiosaka, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An optical pickup apparatus includes a first optical system for recording or reproducing signals to or from a first optical recording medium; a second optical system for recording or reproducing signals to or from a second optical recording medium; a holder for accommodating the first optical system and the second optical system on substantially the same plane; a focusing driving device for moving the holder in a first direction parallel to an optical axis of the first optical system and the second optical system; a tracking driving device for rotating the holder in a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the first optical system and the second optical system; a switching device for placing the first optical system on an optical path for recording or reproducing signals to or from the first optical recording medium, and for placing the second optical system on the optical path for recording or reproducing signals to or from the second optical recording medium; and a variable distance driving device for varying a distance between the first optical recording medium and the first optical system from a distance between the second optical recording medium and the second optical system when one of the first optical system and the second optical system is switched to the other optical system.