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US4337535A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for preventing unwanted reflections from an optical system to a laser in an apparatus for optically reading a record carrier

Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1979-02-14
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Granted: 1982-06-29
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Expires: 1999-02-14
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus is described for reading a record carrier on which information is stored in an optically readable information structure, which apparatus includes a radiation source which supplies a read beam of great coherence length. By including a radiation attenuating element in the radiation path of the read beam, preferably nearest to the radiation source, random intensity modulations in the read beam, which modulations may be caused by undesired reflections in the radiation path, can be substantially reduced.

Inventors

  • 👤 Everardus A. Van Megen
  • 👤 Carel A. Simons
  • 👤 Eduard W. Moen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 23:35
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/08; G11B7/004; G11B7/005; G11B7/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 239 words
An apparatus for reading information stored on a record carrier in an optically readable information structure, said apparatus comprising means for producing a coherent beam of radiation having an intensity sufficient to read the information stored in the information structure without causing physical changes in said information structure, means for directing said beam toward said record carrier along a first path, means for focussing said beam to a spot on said information structure to thereby modulate at least a portion of said beam in accordance with the information stored in said information structure, said modulated portion of said beam passing from said record carrier along a second path at least a portion of which is separate and distinct from said first path, a radiation sensitive detector arranged along said separate portion of said second path to intercept said modulated portion of said beam and means for attenuating the intensity of said beam, said attenuating means being positioned along a portion of said first path, which is separate and distinct from said portion of said second path, so as to intercept substantially the entire cross-sectional area of of said beam passing from said beam producing means toward said record carrier and radiation reflected back toward said beam producing means and attenuate the intensity of both the beam passing from said beam producing means toward said carrier and said reflected radiation to thereby reduce optical noise caused by said reflected radiation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 239 words
An apparatus for reading information stored on a record carrier in an optically readable information structure, said apparatus comprising means for producing a coherent beam of radiation having an intensity sufficient to read the information stored in the information structure without causing physical changes in said information structure, means for directing said beam toward said record carrier along a first path, means for focussing said beam to a spot on said information structure to thereby modulate at least a portion of said beam in accordance with the information stored in said information structure, said modulated portion of said beam passing from said record carrier along a second path at least a portion of which is separate and distinct from said first path, a radiation sensitive detector arranged along said separate portion of said second path to intercept said modulated portion of said beam and means for attenuating the intensity of said beam, said attenuating means being positioned along a portion of said first path, which is separate and distinct from said portion of said second path, so as to intercept substantially the entire cross-sectional area of of said beam passing from said beam producing means toward said record carrier and radiation reflected back toward said beam producing means and attenuate the intensity of both the beam passing from said beam producing means toward said carrier and said reflected radiation to thereby reduce optical noise caused by said reflected radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 82 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said information structure is radiation reflecting so that said modulated portion of said beam is reflected from said record carrier along said first path and including means disposed at a position along said first path for separating said modulated portion of said beam from the radiation beam passing from said beam producing means to said record carrier and directing said modulated portion of said beam along said separate portion of said second path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said beam producing means includes a laser having an exit mirror for transmitting said beam and said radiation absorbing element is disposed on said exit miror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said attenuating means includes a reflection filter disposed at an acute angle with the central axis of said beam passing from said beam producing means to said record.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3534166A Cited
US3829622A Cited
US3919698A Cited
US3969573A Cited
US3969576A Cited
US3983317A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-06-28 1985-12-28 1986-06-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-06-28 1989-12-28 1990-06-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-06-28 1993-12-28 1994-06-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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