OPTICAL PICKUP DEVICE AND OPTICAL ELEMENT

摘要

An optical pickup device which enables low-profile configuration, improved optical utilization efficiency and information recording on different kinds of optical disks, and an optical element used therein. A diffraction structure is provided on the optical surface of a first object lens section (OBJ1). The optical pickup device can record and/or regenerate the information on the HD and DVD in a compatible manner while keeping the power difference and improving the optical utilization efficiency by making a first light flux and a second light flux incident into the first object lens section (OBJ1) with both of light fluxes placed into an infinite parallel state for example. On the other hand, the optical surface of a second object lens section (OBJ2) comprises only the refractive surface. The optical pickup device can record and/or regenerate the information on the CD by making a third light flux incident in an infinite parallel state for example. Employment of such a configuration ensures shorter focal distance of an optical element (OE) and longer working distance. As a result, the optical pickup device is well suited for mounting on a notebook PC or the like.