Optical head having a prism for splitting a beam of light into two polarized light beams

摘要

An optical head for use with a photomagnetic recording/reproducing device which is small in number of parts, compact in light path, small in overall size, easy to assemble and adjust, small in number of errors in adjustment, and high in reliability. The optical head comprises a prism for splitting a beam of light from an objective lens, and a light receiving element for receiving light from the prism to produce an electric signal from which a servo signal and a reproduction signal are to be produced. The prism has parallel incident and emergent side transmitting faces and first and second parallel reflecting faces. The prism may include first and second optical members of uniaxial crystal adhered to each other with optical axes thereof directed perpendicularly to each other or first and second optical members which define a polarizing splitting face on an interface therebetween. The light receiving element has two light receiving areas which are each divided into two or more circular or rectangular sections and individually receive split beams of light from the prism.