Pencom International Corporation

David I Cullumber

Wai-Hon Lee

An actuator for an objective lens in an optical head which provides a compact structure that does not move the laser beam relative to the objective lens in the tracking mode. The low profile optical head design is accomplished by designing the optical beam path in the same space occupied by the tracking and focusing motor. A mirror reflects a laser beam from a laser at an angle to an objective lens. The objective lens and the mirror are coupled together in a manner allowing movement of the objective lens relative to the mirror along the path of a laser beam from the mirror to the objective lens. The objective lens, mirror and the coupling mechanism are all moved along the path of the laser beam between laser and the mirror for tracking control. Because the mirror moves with the objective lens, there is no beam clipping or beam distortion. For focusing, the objective lens is moved relative to the mirror. The laser, the detector and their associated optics are stationary, with only the mirror and objective lens being moved, thus limiting the mass moved and the power requirements. The simple structure eliminates the need for a fiber optic cable.

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Chester, CA, United States of America

David I Cullumber