Multi-disk optical storage system

Claim 1

An optical storage system comprising: (A) a disk assembly including a plurality of disks axially spaced on a rotatably mounted spindle, said disks configured to record data on pairs of opposing facing recording surfaces thereof; (B) an optical assembly including a static optics package for generating a collimated optical beam used to store and retrieve said data from said disks, said optical assembly further comprising a beam distribution system for directing said optical beam to a selected recording disk surface, said beam distribution system comprising (i) a beam steering element configured to rotate about a steering axis thereof to direct said optical beam to a selected objective lens at varying angles relative to the optical axis thereof; (ii) a lens/mirror tower having a plurality of mirror elements and lens elements arranged as sets, each being optically disposed on the path of said beam between said steering element and an associated one of said objective lenses to direct said optical beam to said associated objective lens, each of said lens elements further functioning as an imaging lens to provide substantially at said associated objective lens an image of said beam at said steering axis; and (iii) a deflection mirror tower having a plurality of deflection mirrors optically disposed in the paths between said beam steering element and said lens/mirror sets, said plurality of deflection mirrors having various angular orientations to deflect said optical beam to an associated one of said imaging lens; and a carriage assembly including a plurality of carriage arms vertically spaced and arranged for insertion between said pair of opposing recording disk surfaces, each of said carriage arms having a pair of head assemblies mounted thereto, each of said head assemblies being arranged in facing relation to said recording disk surfaces and comprising an air bearing slider flexibly connected to a respective carriage arm, said slider including an objective lens having an optical axis passing through a focal point thereof and operating to converge said optical beam received from said beam distribution system to a spot on said disk surface.

Claim 13

A method for controlling the direction an optical beam onto a selected track of one of a plurality of disk surfaces of an optical storage device, said storage device including an optical beam distribution system having a plurality of imaging lenses, each of said imaging lenses being optically disposed in the path of said beam between a beam steering element configured to rotate about a steering axis and an associated one of a plurality of objective lenses, each of said objective lenses being further associated with one of said disk surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: generating said optical beam; directing said optical beam to a selected objective lens at varying angles relative to an optical axis of said selected objective lens; providing substantially at said selected objective lens an image of said beam at said steering axis; and converging said optical beam passing through said objective lens to a spot on said associated disk surface, thereby controlling the direction of said optical beam to said selected track.

Claim 14

A method for controlling the direction an optical beam onto a selected track of one of a plurality of disk surfaces of an optical storage device, said storage device including an optical beam distribution system having a plurality of imaging lenses, each of said imaging lenses being optically disposed in the path of said beam between a beam steering element configured to rotate about a steering axis and an associated one of a plurality of objective lenses, each of said objective lenses being further associated with one of said disk surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: generating said optical beam; directing said optical beam to a selected objective lens at varying angles relative to an optical axis of said selected objective lens; providing substantially at said selected objective lens an image of said beam at said steering axis; and converging said optical beam passing through said objective lens to a spot on said associated disk surface, thereby controlling the direction of said optical beam to said selected track.