Thomson Licensing

Juergen Moessner

Stephan Knappmann

Joachim Knittel

Optical pickupfor operation in the far-field and in the near-field mode comprising a movable parthaving an objective lenscomprising a solid immersion lensand a multifocal lens, which are both disposed on a common optical axis A. The multifocal lenscomprises a central zoneand a peripheral zonebeing circumferential to the central zone. The peripheral zone is adapted to constitute an optical system for a far-field mode. The central zoneof the multifocal lenstogether with the solid immersion lensare adapted to constitute an optical system for a near-field mode. The solid immersion lens and the multifocal lens are adapted to be moved in unison. A method for operating an optical pickupcomprises a first approach to a surfaceof an optical storage mediumwith the movable partto reach a far-field working distance DF based on a focus control using an optical system for working in the far-field mode, and a subsequent approach to the surfaceof the optical storage mediumwhich is performed by lowering the far-field working distance DF to a smaller near-field working distance NF.

Objective lens and optical pickup comprising the objective lens

The present invention relates to a slider having a constant flying height for an optical drive which is operated at a constant angular velocity. It is an object of the invention to propose a simple and cost-effective solution to allow the flying height of the slider to be kept virtually constant over the entire area of a storage medium, despite a variable linear velocity during operation at a constant angular velocity. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a drive for a storage medium which is driven at a constant angular velocity, having a slider which is attached by means of a spring arm to a carriage and floats on an air cushion above or under the rotating storage medium, and having a guide which guides the carriage relative to the storage medium, in which the guide is arranged such that the attachment point of the spring arm to the carriage is guided closer to the surface of the storage medium as the radius of the storage medium increases.

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Brigachtal, Germany

Juergen Moessner