Faraday-effect magneto-optic transducer apparatus of a rotary form

Claim 1

In a magneto-optic transducer apparatus of a rotary form for use with a magnetic storage device having an information-bearing surface producing magnetic fields, said transducer apparatus including first movable light-directing means for scanning an entering beam of polarized light along an operation path, second light-directing means, synchronously movable with said first light-directing means in association with the operational path, for receiving entering light, to form a beam of polarized light exiting said transducer apparatus, and a planar element having a light transmission property for modulating polarized light in accordance with an applied magnetic field, said element being interposed between said first light-directing means and said second light-directing means adjacent the information-bearing surface of such magnetic storage device, for influenece by a magnetic field that is capable of varying the light transmission property of said element, the improvement wherein: (a) said first light-directing means is arranged for scanning light leaving said first light-directings means along an operational path which is immediately adjacent to and substantially parallel with the information-bearing surface of such magnetic storage device; and (b) said planar element is positioned transverse to the entering light beam as it leaves said first light-directing means, with opposing surfaces of said planar element being adjacent respectively the exit end of said first light-directing means and the entrance end of said second light-directing means, to cause entering light scanned along the operational path by said first light-directing means to be received by said second light-directing means after transmission through said planar element in close proximity to the information-bearing surface of such magnetic storage device, whereby the beam of light exiting said transducer apparatus is modulated with respect to the entering light beam because of the Faraday magneto-optic effect.