Photo detecting element for monitoring optical power and optical pick up apparatus thereof

摘要

A photo detecting element for monitoring optical power and optical pick up apparatus using the same are provided. The photo detecting element for monitoring optical power has an optical detecting element connected to first and second sensitivity controllers for controlling sensitivity of an optical power signal with respect to the optical power monitored using one of the first and second sensitivity controllers. The photo detecting element also has a third sensitivity controller connected to the optical detecting element for monitoring optical power, and a switching part to enable selective use of the third sensitivity controller for control of the optical power signal instead of the second sensitivity controller according to an external switching control signal. Accordingly, optical power equal to or exceeding three lights can be monitored using an optical detecting element having the monitoring capability of monitoring the optical power of two lights.