Optical Engineering
Lasers in Consumer Electronics: The Optical Pickup
The optical pickup is what recovers digital data from the encoded pits in optical storage devices such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays. This article traces the past, present and possible future for this critical technology.
Optically encoded information is everywhere. Whether you look in your stereo system, computer or home entertainment center, you don't need to go far to find digital versatile discs (DVDs), compact discs (CDs) or Blu-ray discs (BDs). First introduced as the analog laser disc (LD), optical storage systems have evolved to contain greater storage capacities and higher data transfer rates. Short-wavelength lasers and miniaturization techniques also have enabled reductions in size, weight and cost. Remarkably, these devices are all based on the same fundamental principles of the optical pickup.
…Log in or become a member to view the full text of this article.
This article may be available for purchase via the search at Optica Publishing Group.
Optica Members get the full text of Optics & Photonics News, plus a variety of other member benefits.