US5665957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lens device comprising light blocking means and an optical pickup apparatus using the lens device
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-05-01
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Granted: 1997-09-09
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Expires: 2016-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A lens device which can be used as an objective lens in an optical pickup apparatus includes an objective lens provided along a light path facing a disc and having a predetermined effective diameter, and light controlling means provided along the light path for controlling the light in an intermediate region between near and far axes of an incident light beam, thus providing a simplified and inexpensive device for using discs of differing thickness in a single disc drive, by reducing the spherical aberration effect.
Inventors
- 👤 Chul-woo Lee
- 👤 Dong-ho Shin
- 👤 Kyung-hwa Rim
- 👤 Chong-sam Chung
- 👤 Kun-ho Cho
- 👤 Pyong-yong Seong
- 👤 Jang-hoon Yoo
- 👤 Yong-hoon Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:44
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/135; G11B7/1353; B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/58; G02B3/00; G02B3/10; G11B7/08; G11B7/09; G11B7/0908; G11B7/0909; G11B7/13; G11B7/133; G11B7/1365; G11B7/1367; G11B7/1372; G11B7/1374; G11B7/1381; G11B7/1392; G11B7/13922; G11B2007/0003; G11B2007/0006; G11B2007/13727; G11B7/004; G11B7/0045; G11B7/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An optical pickup device comprising: a light source; an objective lens provided along a light path from said light source projecting light onto a disc, said objective lens focussing light into a focal zone and having a predetermined effective diameter; and light controlling means provided in the light path of said lens for preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region, said light controlling means permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An optical pickup device comprising: a light source; an objective lens provided along a light path from said light source projecting light onto a disc, said objective lens focussing light into a focal zone and having a predetermined effective diameter; and light controlling means provided in the light path of said lens for preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region, said light controlling means permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical pickup device according to claim 1, further comprising: a beam splitter provided between said light controlling means and said light source; and a photodetector for detecting the reflected light from said disc through said beam splitter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means blocks the light in the intermediate region of said light path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means scatters the light in the intermediate region of said light path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means diffracts the light in the intermediate region of said light path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means absorbs the light in the intermediate region of said light path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means reflects the light in the intermediate region of said light path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means transmits the light in the intermediate region of said light path in a direction irrelevant to said focal zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means refracts the light in the intermediate region of said light path in a direction away from said focal zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means has a predetermined region for preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said predetermined region having an outer diameter smaller than the effective diameter of said lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means is a light controlling film of a predetermined pattern located on said lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means includes a transparent member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said transparent member is spaced apart from said lens by a predetermined distance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said transparent member includes at least one light controlling film of a predetermined pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means includes at least one light controlling fill of a predetermined pattern located on said lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light controlling means includes at least one surface irregularity of a predetermined pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said surface irregularity includes a groove having a side wall of a predetermined slope with respect to an axis of said light path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said groove is V-shaped.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said groove has parallel sides and said lens in a flat lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one surface irregularity includes a protruding wedge-shaped rib.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one surface irregularity includes a roughened surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said surface irregularity includes a diffraction lattice for diffracting the light in said intermediate region of said light path away from said focal zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical pickup device according to claim 1, wherein said lens has a refractive surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical pickup device according to claim 1, wherein said lens is a diffractive lens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical pickup device according to claim 1, wherein said lens is a planar lens.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said photodetector includes a first light receiving region for receiving only light in said near axis region reflected from a relatively thicker disc, a second light receiving region surrounding said first light receiving region; wherein said first and second light receiving regions receive light in both near and far axial regions reflected from a relatively thin disc.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of said first and second light receiving regions of said photodetector include segments partitioned in quadrants.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lens device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said at least one surface irregularity of a predetermined pattern formed on at least one surface of said lens.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate axial region is defined by a disc thickness.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disc is of the type of DVD or CD.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disc having a thickness of 0.6±0.1 mm or 1.2±0.1 mm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disc is made of glass or plastic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lens device according to claim 2, wherein said near and far axial regions are defined by the mount of optical aberration.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical pickup device as claimed in claim 2, wherien said disc os of the type having a different thickness.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
291 words
A method for discriminating discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; converting light in said near and far axial regions and reflected from said disc into electric signals using a quadrant photodetector; obtaining at least one of a sum signal and a focus error signal from said quadrant photodetector by increasing and decreasing focus current controlling an axial position of said objective lens a predetermined number of times; comparing said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal with a first reference value corresponding to a thin disc; determining that the disc is thin if said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal is greater than said first reference value; comparing said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal with a second reference value which is smaller than said first reference value only if said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal is smaller than said first reference value; and determining that the disc is thick if said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal is greater than said second reference value.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
291 words
A method for discriminating discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; converting light in said near and far axial regions and reflected from said disc into electric signals using a quadrant photodetector; obtaining at least one of a sum signal and a focus error signal from said quadrant photodetector by increasing and decreasing focus current controlling an axial position of said objective lens a predetermined number of times; comparing said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal with a first reference value corresponding to a thin disc; determining that the disc is thin if said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal is greater than said first reference value; comparing said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal with a second reference value which is smaller than said first reference value only if said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal is smaller than said first reference value; and determining that the disc is thick if said at least one of said sum signal and said focus error signal is greater than said second reference value.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for discriminating discs having different thicknesses according to claim 35, wherein both said sum signal and focus error signal are simultaneously compare to first and second reference values, respectively.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for discriminating discs having different thicknesses according to claim 28, wherein said placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses is of the type of DVD or CD.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for detecting focus on at least two discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone; converting light in said near and far axial regions and reflected from said disc into electric signals; using, for focus detection, electric signals corresponding to both near and far axial regions when said light is reflected from a relatively thin disc; and using, for focus detection, electric signals corresponding to only said near axial region when said light is reflected from a relatively thick disc; and detecting focus based on said used electrical signals.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for detecting focus on at least two discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone; converting light in said near and far axial regions and reflected from said disc into electric signals; using, for focus detection, electric signals corresponding to both near and far axial regions when said light is reflected from a relatively thin disc; and using, for focus detection, electric signals corresponding to only said near axial region when said light is reflected from a relatively thick disc; and detecting focus based on said used electrical signals.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
A focus detecting method as claimed in claim 38, wherein said light converting step includes receiving said light in quadrant photodetectors and said detecting step includes astigmatic focus detection.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for reproducing information from at least two discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; converting light in said near and far axial regions which is reflected from said disc into electric signals in an inner photodetector and in a outer photodetector surrounding said inner photodetector; using electric signals corresponding to both near and far axial regions converted in both said inner and outer photodetector when said light is reflected from a relatively thin disc; and using electric signals corresponding to near axial region converted in only said inner photodetector when said light is reflected from a relatively thick disc.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for reproducing information from at least two discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; converting light in said near and far axial regions which is reflected from said disc into electric signals in an inner photodetector and in a outer photodetector surrounding said inner photodetector; using electric signals corresponding to both near and far axial regions converted in both said inner and outer photodetector when said light is reflected from a relatively thin disc; and using electric signals corresponding to near axial region converted in only said inner photodetector when said light is reflected from a relatively thick disc.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for recording information on at least two discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; and permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for recording information on at least two discs having different thicknesses, comprising the steps of: providing an objective lens for focussing light in a light path into a focal zone; placing one of said at least two discs having different thicknesses in said focal zone; preventing light in an intermediate axial region of said light path from reaching said focal zone, said intermediate axial region being located between a near axial region which includes a center of said light path and a far axial region located radially outward from said intermediate region; and permitting light in said near and far regions of said light path to reach said focal zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-08 | 2001-03-10 | 2001-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | 2005-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-08 | 2009-03-10 | 2009-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |