The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 04, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Leonardus J Grassens, Monument, CO (US);
Hollis O'Neal Hall, II, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Discovision Associates, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for focusing an actuator lens within an optical disc carriage held by a baseplate assembly. The apparatus incudes a frame, a cradle assembly mounted to the frame, a tower assembly mounted to the frame, a lever assembly rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gripper assembly mounted to the lever assembly. The cradle assembly includes a baseplate alignment assembly having a source of radiant energy for projecting a beam of radiant energy, a member for determining the tilt alignment of the beam with respect to the tower assembly, and tilt actuators for aligning the tilt of the beam with respect to the tower assembly. The tower assembly includes a video camera having a camera lens, a tower magnifying lens, and a monitor for displaying a representation of a beam of radiant energy passing through the tower magnifying lens and into the video camera. A method for focusing an objective lens includes the steps of placing a lens in the carriage, directing a beam of radiant energy through the objective lens onto the optical disc, and aligning the beam with respect to the optical disc while maintaining the optical center of the objective lens at a predetermined intersecting point. A return beam of radiant energy is reflected from the optical disc and the spot profile of the return beam is analyzed. The objective lens is moved toward or away from the optical disc using a focus actuator until the analyzer indicates that the beam is in proper focus.