Patent US5497359A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5497359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical disk data storage system with radiation-transparent air-bearing slider
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-08-30
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Granted: 1996-03-05
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Expires: 2014-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An optical disk drive has an air-beating slider formed of transparent material and located adjacent the surface of the optical disk. In the manner of conventional magnetic disk drives, the slider is maintained in close relationship with the disk surface by an air-bearing generated by the rotating disk and the shape of the slider's air-bearing surface (ABS). The slider has a lens section located on its back side opposite the side with the ABS. In the preferred embodiment the lens section is at least a hemisphere and the lens section and slider are formed of the same material and thus have the same index of refraction, n. The lens section and slider are transparent to light from the disk drive's light source and together form a super-hemispherical solid immersion lens (SIL). The slider's ABS is maintained within one wavelength of the surface of the optical disk. The light from the disk drive's light source is focused by the super-hemispherical SIL to a point on the slider ABS. The light is coupled through the air-bearing gap via the evanescent field to the data layer on the optical disk. The focused spot size on the disk data layer is thus reduced by a factor of n 2 from what it would otherwise be without the super-hemispherical SIL provided by the lens section and transparent slider.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry J. Mamin
- 👤 Daniel Rugar
- 👤 Bruce D. Terris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:41
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/135; G11B7/1387; G11B7/122; G11B7/1372; G11B7/1374; G11B11/00; G11B11/10; G11B11/105; G11B11/10532; G11B11/10541; G11B11/10543; G11B11/1055; G11B11/1058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An optical data storage system comprising: an optical disk having a data layer; a motor for rotating the disk; a light source; a slider made of material transparent to radiation at the wavelength of the light source and having an air-bearing surface on the side of the slider facing the disk for generating an air-bearing between the slider and the disk during rotation of the disk; an actuator for moving the slider generally radially across the disk; a suspension connecting the slider to the actuator for maintaining the slider near the disk during rotation of the disk; and a lens section located on the back side of the slider opposite the side facing the disk, the lens section being in the shape of a partial sphere and made of material transparent to radiation at the wavelength of the light source, and wherein the total thickness of the lens section and the slider is approximately equal to r(1+1/n), where r is the radius of the partial spherical lens section and n is the index of refraction of the lens section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An optical data storage system comprising: an optical disk having a data layer; a motor for rotating the disk; a light source; a slider made of material transparent to radiation at the wavelength of the light source and having an air-bearing surface on the side of the slider facing the disk for generating an air-bearing between the slider and the disk during rotation of the disk; an actuator for moving the slider generally radially across the disk; a suspension connecting the slider to the actuator for maintaining the slider near the disk during rotation of the disk; and a lens section located on the back side of the slider opposite the side facing the disk, the lens section being in the shape of a partial sphere and made of material transparent to radiation at the wavelength of the light source, and wherein the total thickness of the lens section and the slider is approximately equal to r(1+1/n), where r is the radius of the partial spherical lens section and n is the index of refraction of the lens section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the lens section and the slider have substantially the same index of refraction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the lens section is a hemisphere and the slider has a thickness approximately equal to fin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system according to claim 1 further comprising an adhesive between the lens section and the back side of the slider for bonding the lens section to the slider, the adhesive having an index of refraction substantially the same as that of the lens section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the lens section and the slider are an integrated single-piece structure formed from a single piece of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein the lens section and the slider are formed of injected-molded plastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the trailing end of the slider is beveled and wherein the focal point of the light within the slider is located approximately at the intersection of the beveled surface and the air bearing surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 further comprising a backing plate located on the back side of the slider.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein the backing plate is formed from silicon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 further comprising a focus lens located between the light source and the slider for converging the light from the source to the lens section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 10 further comprising a focus actuator connected to the focus lens for focusing the focus lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein the focus lens and the focus actuator are connected to the actuator for moving the slider radially across the disk, whereby the focus lens and focus actuator move radially in unison with the slider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for collimating the light from the source and wherein the lens section has an aspherical surface for converging the collimated light beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the light source is attached to the slider.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein the light source generates a diverging light beam and wherein the lens section has an aspherical surface for converging the diverging beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
An optical data storage system comprising: an optical disk having a data layer; a motor for rotating the disk; a light source; a slider made of material transparent to radiation at the wavelength of the light source and having an air-bearing surface on the side of the slider facing the disk for generating an air-bearing between the slider and the disk during rotation of the disk; an actuator for moving the slider generally radially across the disk; a suspension connecting the slider to the actuator for maintaining the slider near the disk during rotation of the disk; and a lens section having a partial spherically shaped surface and located on the back side of the slider opposite the side facing the disk, the lens section having substantially the same index of refraction as that of the radiation transparent slider, the total thickness of the lens section and the slider being approximately equal to r(1+1/n), where r is the radius of the partial spherical lens section and n is the index of refraction of the lens section and slider.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
An optical data storage system comprising: an optical disk having a data layer; a motor for rotating the disk; a light source; a slider made of material transparent to radiation at the wavelength of the light source and having an air-bearing surface on the side of the slider facing the disk for generating an air-bearing between the slider and the disk during rotation of the disk; an actuator for moving the slider generally radially across the disk; a suspension connecting the slider to the actuator for maintaining the slider near the disk during rotation of the disk; and a lens section having a partial spherically shaped surface and located on the back side of the slider opposite the side facing the disk, the lens section having substantially the same index of refraction as that of the radiation transparent slider, the total thickness of the lens section and the slider being approximately equal to r(1+1/n), where r is the radius of the partial spherical lens section and n is the index of refraction of the lens section and slider.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein the lens section is a hemisphere and the slider has a thickness approximately equal to r/n.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein the lens section is greater than a hemisphere.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein the lens section has a flat surface and further comprising an adhesive between the flat surface of the lens section and the back side of the slider for bonding the lens section to the slider, the adhesive having an index of refraction substantially the same as that of the lens section and slider.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein the lens section and the slider are an integrated single-piece structure formed from a single piece of material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 20 wherein the lens section and the slider are formed of injected-molded plastic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein the trailing end of the slider is beveled and wherein the focal point of the light within the slider is located approximately at the intersection of the beveled surface and the air bearing surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 16 further comprising a backing plate located on the back side of the slider.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 23 wherein the backing plate is formed from silicon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 16 further comprising a focus lens located between the light source and the slider for converging the light from the source to the lens section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 25 further comprising a focus actuator connected to the focus lens for focusing the focus lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 26 wherein the focus lens and the focus actuator are connected to the actuator for moving the slider radially across the disk, whereby the focus lens and focus actuator move radially in unison with the slider.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 16 wherein the light source is attached to the slider.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 28 wherein the light source generates a diverging light beam and wherein the lens section has an aspherical surface for converging the diverging beam.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 28 wherein the light source generates a diverging light beam and further comprising a focus lens located between the light source and the lens section for converging the diverging beam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
125 words
A slider assembly for use in an optical disk drive comprising: a slider body made of material transparent to light at the wavelength of the optical disk drive's light source and having an air-bearing surface on the side of the slider facing the optical disk; a lens section having a partial spherically shaped surface and located on the back side of the slider opposite the side facing the disk, the lens section having substantially the same index of refraction as that of the light transparent slider, the total thickness of the lens section and the slider being approximately equal to r(1+1/n), where r is the radius of the partial spherical lens section and n is the index of refraction of the lens section and slider.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
125 words
A slider assembly for use in an optical disk drive comprising: a slider body made of material transparent to light at the wavelength of the optical disk drive's light source and having an air-bearing surface on the side of the slider facing the optical disk; a lens section having a partial spherically shaped surface and located on the back side of the slider opposite the side facing the disk, the lens section having substantially the same index of refraction as that of the light transparent slider, the total thickness of the lens section and the slider being approximately equal to r(1+1/n), where r is the radius of the partial spherical lens section and n is the index of refraction of the lens section and slider.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 31 wherein the lens section is a hemisphere and the slider body has a thickness approximately equal to r/n.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 31 wherein the lens section is greater than a hemisphere.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system according to claim 31 wherein the lens section has a flat surface and further comprising an adhesive between the flat surface of the lens section and the back side of the slider body for bonding the lens section to the slider body, the adhesive having an index of refraction substantially the same as that of the lens section and slider body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 31 wherein the lens section and the slider body are an integrated single-piece structure formed from a single piece of material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 35 wherein the lens section and the slider body are formed of injected-molded plastic material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 31 wherein the trailing end of the slider body is beveled and wherein the focal point of the light within the slider body is located approximately at the intersection of the beveled surface and the air beating surface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 31 further comprising a backing plate located on the back side of the slider body.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 38 wherein the backing plate is formed from silicon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-05 | 1999-09-04 | 2000-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-05 | 2003-09-04 | 2004-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-05 | 2007-09-04 | 2008-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |