US5801402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
VCSEL light output apparatus having a monitoring photodetector and an optical pickup apparatus employing the same
Assignee: Qiang Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1996-11-07
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A light output apparatus and an optical pickup apparatus employing the same are provided. The light output apparatus includes a base, a VCSEL installed on the base for emitting light in a direction normal to the base, and a light output controller for controlling the light output of the VCSEL. The light output controller includes a monitoring photodetector and a housing enclosing the VCSEL and the photodetector. The housing incorporates a projector window for transmitting most of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflecting some of the light back onto the base. The monitoring photodetector is installed on the base for receiving some of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflected from the projector window, and converting the light into an electrical signal. A plurality of lead pins are connected to the VCSEL and the monitoring photodetector to facilitate connection to a power supply-and transmission of the electrical signals. In addition to the above, the optical pickup apparatus includes an object lens for concentrating the light on an optical recording medium by collecting light emitted from the VCSEL, a light path changing unit for changing the path of light reflected from the light record medium, and another photodetector for receiving the reflected light and converting it into an electrical signal to be fed to an error detection circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Hyun-kuk Shin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/02; H01S5/022; H01S5/0225; H01S5/02257; G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/08; G11B7/12; G11B7/123; G11B7/125; G11B7/126; G11B7/127; H01S5/02208; H01S5/02212; H01S5/06; H01S5/068; H01S5/0683; H01S5/10; H01S5/18; H01S5/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A light output apparatus, comprising: a base; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) directly installed on the base for emitting light in a direction normal to the base; and light output controlling means for controlling the light output of the VCSEL, wherein said light output controlling means is comprised of: a housing enclosing the VCSEL, said housing having a projector window for transmitting most of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflecting some of the light back onto said base; a monitoring photodetector installed on the base for receiving some of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflected from the projector window, and converting the light into an electrical signal; and a plurality of lead pins, connected to the VCSEL and the monitoring photodetector, for connecting the apparatus to a power supply and transmitting the electrical signal from the photodetector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A light output apparatus, comprising: a base; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) directly installed on the base for emitting light in a direction normal to the base; and light output controlling means for controlling the light output of the VCSEL, wherein said light output controlling means is comprised of: a housing enclosing the VCSEL, said housing having a projector window for transmitting most of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflecting some of the light back onto said base; a monitoring photodetector installed on the base for receiving some of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflected from the projector window, and converting the light into an electrical signal; and a plurality of lead pins, connected to the VCSEL and the monitoring photodetector, for connecting the apparatus to a power supply and transmitting the electrical signal from the photodetector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A light output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reflective coating formed on a portion of the inner surface of said projector window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A light output apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said monitoring photodetector has an identical structure to that of the VCSEL and is reverse biased so as to detect incident light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
200 words
An optical pickup apparatus, comprising: a light output apparatus comprising: a base; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) directly installed on the base for emitting light in a direction normal to the base; and light output controlling means for controlling the light output of the VCSEL, wherein said light output controlling means is comprised of: a housing enclosing the VCSEL, said housing having a projector window for transmitting most of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflecting some of the light back onto said base; a monitoring photodetector installed on the base for receiving some of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflected from the projector window, and converting the light into an electrical signal; and a plurality of lead pins, connected to the VCSEL and the monitoring photodetector, for connecting the apparatus to a power supply and transmitting the electrical signal from the photodetector; an object lens for concentrating light on an optical recording medium by collecting light from the VCSEL; a light path changing means for changing the path of light reflected from the optical recording medium; and a main photodetector for receiving said reflected light and detecting an error signal and an information signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
200 words
An optical pickup apparatus, comprising: a light output apparatus comprising: a base; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) directly installed on the base for emitting light in a direction normal to the base; and light output controlling means for controlling the light output of the VCSEL, wherein said light output controlling means is comprised of: a housing enclosing the VCSEL, said housing having a projector window for transmitting most of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflecting some of the light back onto said base; a monitoring photodetector installed on the base for receiving some of the light emitted from the VCSEL and reflected from the projector window, and converting the light into an electrical signal; and a plurality of lead pins, connected to the VCSEL and the monitoring photodetector, for connecting the apparatus to a power supply and transmitting the electrical signal from the photodetector; an object lens for concentrating light on an optical recording medium by collecting light from the VCSEL; a light path changing means for changing the path of light reflected from the optical recording medium; and a main photodetector for receiving said reflected light and detecting an error signal and an information signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a reflective coating formed on a portion of the inner surface of said projector window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said main photodetector is arranged on the base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising at least one second lead pin electrically connected to said main photodetector, for transmitting electrical signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said main photodetector comprises four separate photodetectors for independently receiving light and converting said received light into electrical signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one second lead pin electrically connected to said main photodetector, for transmitting electrical signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light path changing means comprises a hologram device installed in the light path between said projector window and said object lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light path changing means comprises a hologram pattern formed on an upper surface of the projector window.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optical pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said monitoring photodetector has an identical structure to that of the VCSEL and functions to receive incident light by being reverse biased.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS6088486A
Cited
JPS60257584A
Cited
JPH06207138A
Cited
JPH03242838A
Cited
JPH04311828A
Cited
US5448536A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |