Optical pickup which is compatible with multiple types of media

Abstract

A compatible optical pickup can be used with advanced optical discs (AODs), blu-ray discs (BDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), and compact discs (CDs). The compatible optical pickup comprises a first light source unit for independently projecting first and second short-wavelength laser beams which have different polarizations, a second light source unit for independently projecting first and second long-wavelength laser beams which have different wavelength-range, a first objective lens that has a high numerical aperture suitable for a high density optical information recording medium, a second objective lens that has a low numerical aperture suitable for a low density optical information recording medium, and a light path changing unit for guiding the first short-wavelength laser beams to the first objective lens and guiding the second short-wavelength laser beams, the first long-wavelength laser beams, and the second long-wavelength laser beams to the second objective lens. The first short laser beams of, for example, P-polarized light are for use with a BD, the second short-wavelength laser beams of, for example, S-polarized light, are for use with an AOD, the first long-wavelength laser beams are for use with a DVD, and the second long-wavelength laser beams are for use with a CD.