Quantum Corporation

Digital Equipment Corporation

Erwin Keppeler

Neville K Lee

Amit Jain

Mark Bouchard

A lens/mirror tower (LMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of lens and mirror elements integrally formed on a monolithic, optically-clear substrate. There is a specific lens/mirror set for each recording disk surface of the optical storage device; however, the mirror elements are preferably configured as one reflective surface of the substrate. The lenses are molded onto the opposite surface in a single operation that fixes their relative positions. The LMT is generally fabricated using a lens replication process. Initially, a glass substrate is formed with a trapezoidal configuration. A lens array mold is also formed with a plurality of cavities arranged in overlapping pairs. The cavities are filled with optical-quality resin and the mold is applied to the surface of the substrate opposing the reflective angular, e.g., 45.degree., surface. Once cured, the resin serves as an array of lenses that are aligned with the optical paths to the objective lenses of the disk array.

Method for fabricating a lens/mirror tower

A remote fine positioning mechanism of an optical storage device includes a stationary galvanometer-controlled mirror (galvo mirror) and an imaging lens, the imaging lens positioned to provide an image of the galvo mirror at the front focal point of an objective lens mounted to an optical head assembly. The galvo mirror functions as a beam steering element that is rotated about a steering axis to change the angle of incidence of a collimated laser beam with respect to the objective lens during track selection operations. Thus, for rotation of the galvo mirror to change the direction of the laser beam, the system operates as though the mirror were physically located at that focal point. To perform the imaging function, the imaging lens decollimates the beam. A collimation-correction lens is therefore provided to ensure, in combination with the imaging lens, that the laser beam remains collimated when it reaches the objective lens.

Remote fine positioning mechanism

Lens/mirror tower for an optical storage device

An optical storage system comprises a disk assembly, an optical assembly and a carriage assembly arranged to provide a high-performance, multiple-disk storage device. The disk assembly includes a plurality of disks axially spaced on a rotatably mounted spindle and configured to record data on pairs of opposing facing recording surfaces. The optical assembly includes a static optics package for generating a collimated optical beam used to store and retrieve data from the disks, and a beam distribution system for directing the optical beam to a selected recording disk surface. The carriage assembly includes a plurality of carriage arms supporting head assemblies that are arranged for insertion between the pairs of opposing recording disk surfaces. The head assemblies are further arranged in facing relation to the recording disk surfaces to receive the optical beam from the beam distribution system and direct the beam onto the disk surface.

Growing community of inventors

Marktoberdorf, Germany

Erwin Keppeler