Dphi Acquisitions, Inc.

Iomega Corporation

Other

Scott D Wilson

Bernard W Bell

Fred Charles Thomas, Iii

David Blankenbeckler

David Davies

James M Bero

Don Wilford Wallentine

Daniel James Plutt

Joseph Paul Manes

David C Black

Ian Russell Redmond

Steven Howard Ray

Joseph Philip Falace

Adam Wayne Mehlberg

Robert S Creager

Donald B Wait

Erik J Zimmer

Randal Fird

Daniel G Bergeson

A small form factor optical disk drive is provided that incorporates a hybrid solid immersion objective lens (SIOL). The SIOL includes a central aspheric lens portion and a surrounding diffractive optical element portion.

Optical disk drive with hybrid solid immersion objective lens

A small form factor optical disk drive is provided that incorporates a SIL/objective lens assembly. A laser for the small form factor optical disk drive has a coherence function having maxima spaced apart by intervals. The optical disk drive is configured such that a roundtrip optical path through the SIL/objective lens assembly is such that a coherence value for the laser is located in one of the intervals.

Optical disk drive with micro-SIL

Disclosed is a method of attaching components of an optical head. In one embodiment, first and second optical assemblies of the optical head are positioned adjacent to each other. The first optical assembly may include a first optical element, and the second optical assembly may include a second optical element. Both of the first and second optical elements are configured to transmit light for reading or writing data to an optical data storage media. The position of a first optical assembly is adjusted with respect to the second optical assembly until the first optical element and second optical elements are in optical communication with each other. Thereafter, the first and second optical assemblies are rigidly connected while the first and second optical elements are in optical communication with each other.

Objective lens alignment in optical pickup unit assembly

Extremely small optical heads are being developed for use in optical storage devices. The heads typically include a light source, a lens and a photodetector array. The beam of light generated by the light source must be aligned precisely with central axis of the lens and with the photodetector array. Because the heads are so small, their components are fixed permanently together; no adjustments are possible after assembly. A system of this invention includes a rotational stage, a pair of X-translation stages, and a pair Y-translation stages. The stages are mounted in a mechanical path between first and second holding devices. One component of the head, which would typically include the light source, is held in the first holding device. Another component, which would typically include the lens, is held in the second holding device. The stages are adjusted until the light beam exits the first component on an axis that coincides with the center of rotation of the rotational stage. The position of the second component is adjusted until the light beam coincides with the axis of the lens. The first component is then rotated until the light beam strikes the photodetector array at an optimal position. The optimal position can be obtained by directing the light beam at a media driven by a tracking actuator and optimizing the output signal from the head.

System and method for aligning components of optical head

An apparatus for latching and ejecting cartridges from a cartridge tape drive in a storage library system includes a robotically actuated hand assembly. The apparatus comprises a pin extending from the hand assembly and a rotatable lever extending from the cartridge tape drive. The rotatable lever is pivotable between a first position in which the cartridge is locked in the tape drive and a second position in which the cartridge is ejected from the tape drive. The pin is operative to engage the rotatable lever for pivoting the lever between the first and second positions when the hand assembly is robotically actuated. A visible pattern is applied to the rotatable rod and offset from the axis of rotation of the rod such that the pattern appears to move into and out of alignment with the camera target as viewed by a line-scan camera when the rod rotates between the first and second positions. Accordingly, the status of the tape drive may be easily attained.

Apparatus for latching and ejecting cartridges from a cartridge tape

A beam of light used to etch servo tracks on a magnetic disk is steered with an acousto-optical device to maintain the beam in concentrical patterns while mechanically moving the optics which generate the beam of light continuously radially of the disk.

Steering laser beam while etching optical servo tracks for magnetic disks

The intensity of a beam of light used to etch concentric servo tracks on a magnetic medium is adjusted with an acousto-optical device to maintain a substantially constant energy density delivered by the beam while the optics which generate the beam move radially of the disk.

Acousto-optical intensity control of laser beam during etching of

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Westminster, CO, United States of America

Scott D Wilson