FOCUSING ERROR DETECTING SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL HEAD

摘要

In a focusing error detecting method for an optical head wherein a laser beam from a laser light source is applied to a magneto-optical recording medium to form an image as a light spot thereon, and a focusing error is detecting according to a reflected light from the magneto-optical recording medium, the focusing error detecting method includes a step of dividing the reflected light from the magneto-optical recording medium into a 0-th order light, a +1-st order light and a -1-st order light by a diffraction grating, a step of applying the +1-st order light and the -1-st order light to a first detector and a second detector, respectively, the first and second detectors being arranged before and behind a beam emitting position of the laser light source, respectively and a step of computing outputs from the first and second detectors to obtain a focusing error signal. It is preferably that the laser light source is a semiconductor laser, and that the first and second detectors are mounted on a chip of the semiconductor laser to form a hybrid construction, thereby making the optical head more compact.