Patent US5684782A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5684782A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Use of a laser light source as a detector via a dithering modulation

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1996-04-01
•
Granted: 1997-11-04
•
Expires: 2016-04-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Laser light is focused in an accurate manner on selected layers in a multilayer optical disk recording system by means of an analysis of output electrical signals from a dithered source which results in the production of an electrical signal which is proportional to an amount by which the parts of the system are to be relatively moved in order to achieve the desired focus on one of the layers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lawrence Jacobowitz
  • 👤 Casimer Maurice DeCusatis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 18:45
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/125; G11B7/127; G11B7/135; G11B7/1381; G11B7/08; G11B7/09; G11B7/0901; G11B7/0904; G11B7/0908; G11B7/0917; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/0014; G11B2007/0003; G11B2007/0009; G11B2007/0013; H01S3/00; H01S3/005; H01S3/0057; H01S5/0028; H01S5/005; H01S5/0057; H01S5/06; H01S5/062; H01S5/06233; H01S5/06236; H01S5/0624; H01S5/06243

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A combined laser source and detector system comprising: a semiconductor laser light source which is capable of having its light output modulated by varying drive current applied to said semiconductor light source; means for varying the focus of light from said source, in an oscillatory manner, at a selected frequency; and means for detecting, in the range of said selected frequency, variations in current flowing through said semiconductor source, said variations being induced by laser light which is emitted from and is subsequently returned to said semiconductor light source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
A combined laser source and detector system comprising: a semiconductor laser light source which is capable of having its light output modulated by varying drive current applied to said semiconductor light source; means for varying the focus of light from said source, in an oscillatory manner, at a selected frequency; and means for detecting, in the range of said selected frequency, variations in current flowing through said semiconductor source, said variations being induced by laser light which is emitted from and is subsequently returned to said semiconductor light source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for detection comprises a resistive means through which said current passes and a frequency filter means which is coupled to voltage signals appearing across said resistive means and which is capable of selectively passing signals in the same frequency range as said variations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 1 further including reflective target means which is positioned to return light from said source back to said source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 3 in which said reflective target is rotating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 3 in which said target is a compact disk.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3848095A Cited
US3946367A Cited
US4358774A Cited
US5070496A Cited
US4972397A Cited
US5251198A Cited
US5386409A Cited
US5506826A Cited
US5511059A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-11-03 2001-05-05 2001-11-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-11-03 2005-05-05 2005-11-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-11-03 2009-05-05 2009-11-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag