MULTI-ELEMENT DETECTOR FOR USE READING MULTIPLE TRACKS OF OPTICAL DISKS HAVING DIVERSE FORMATS

摘要

Apparatus and methods are provided for using a single multi-element detector to simultaneously read multiple tracks from either a CD disk or a DVD disk. The multi-element detector has a staggered arrangement and includes elongated detector elements, so that multiple reading beams reflected from multiple tracks of a CD disk (X) are projected onto the detector, as are multiple reading beams reflected from multiple tracks of a DVD disk (Y). An optical pickup using the multi-element detector of the present invention also is described.