A common objective lens typically used in reading data from different
optical data storage media that are responsive to laser beams of
different wavelengths, such as CD and DVD is provided. The lens has a
refracting surface with inner and outer refracting surface regions.
Diffraction gratings are provided in both the inner and outer refracting
surface regions with each having a differential optical path function.
The inner diffraction grating and at least a part of the outer
diffraction grating emit an order of diffracted beams which have
different polarities to cancel out any spherical aberrations caused by a
change in temperature.