US5732054A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined tracking position and tilt sensor for optical recording actuator
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1996-11-12
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Granted: 1998-03-24
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Expires: 2016-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A combined sensor for measuring tilt and tracking position of a lens holder with respect to an optical recording actuator base is disclosed. A light source and two photosensitive bi-cell detectors are secured to the actuator base so that a beam from the light source strikes the detectors, and an optical slot or flag is secured to the lens holder between the light source and the detectors, for creating an image on the bi-cell detectors. Output from the bi-cell detectors is converted into information on tilt and position of the lens holder relative to the actuator base.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Frank Marino
- 👤 Charles Jarratt Simpson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/135; G11B7/1381; G11B7/08; G11B7/09; G11B7/095; G11B7/0956; G11B7/0901; G11B7/0908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A sensor for measuring displacement and tilt of a lens holder movable relative to the base of an optical recording actuator, comprising: a light source secured to the optical recording actuator, said light source having a beam path; a first photosensitive detector secured to the optical recording actuator within said beam path, said first detector having an output; a second photosensitive detector secured to the optical recording actuator within said beam path, said second detector having an output; an image mask secured to the lens holder within said beam path between said light source and said detectors; and a computing circuit to simultaneously determine a first tilt function relative to the base from said outputs of said detectors representing the tilt of the lens holder, and a position function relative to the base from said outputs of said detectors representing the displacement of the lens holder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A sensor for measuring displacement and tilt of a lens holder movable relative to the base of an optical recording actuator, comprising: a light source secured to the optical recording actuator, said light source having a beam path; a first photosensitive detector secured to the optical recording actuator within said beam path, said first detector having an output; a second photosensitive detector secured to the optical recording actuator within said beam path, said second detector having an output; an image mask secured to the lens holder within said beam path between said light source and said detectors; and a computing circuit to simultaneously determine a first tilt function relative to the base from said outputs of said detectors representing the tilt of the lens holder, and a position function relative to the base from said outputs of said detectors representing the displacement of the lens holder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said first and second photosensitive detectors are spaced apart.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein: said output of said first detector comprises a first light intensity signal and a second light intensity signal; said output of said second detector comprises a third fight intensity signal and a fourth light intensity signal; and said computing circuit subtracts a difference between said third and fourth light intensity signals from a difference between said first and second light intensity signals to determine the first tilt function, and adds said difference between said third and fourth light intensity signals to said difference between said first and second light intensity signals to determine the position function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said image mask comprises an optical slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said image mask comprises an optical flag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said image mask comprises a first optical slot between said light source and said first detector, and a second optical slot between said light source and said second detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said image mask comprises a first optical flag between said light source and said first detector, and a second optical flag between said light source and said second detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
The sensor of claim 1, wherein said beam path is a first beam path and said image mask is a first image mask, and further comprising: a beam splitting means secured to the actuator base in said first beam path between said light source and said first image mask for forming a second beam path; a third photosensitive detector secured to the optical recording actuator within said second beam path, said third detector having an output; a fourth photosensitive detector secured to the optical recording actuator within said second beam path, said fourth detector having an output; a second image mask secured to the lens holder within said second beam path for creating an image on said third and fourth detectors; and wherein said computing circuit further determines a second tilt function from said outputs of said third and fourth bi-cell detectors.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for measuring the displacement and tilt of a lens holder movable relative to an optical recording actuator base, comprising: directing a beam from a beam source toward first and second photosensitive detectors, said beam source and said detectors being mounted to the actuator base; creating an image in said beam on said first and second photosensitive detectors with an image mask mounted to the lens holder, each of said detectors having an output; and simultaneously computing the lens holder tilt relative to the base from said detector outputs and the lens holder displacement relative to the base from said detector outputs.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for measuring the displacement and tilt of a lens holder movable relative to an optical recording actuator base, comprising: directing a beam from a beam source toward first and second photosensitive detectors, said beam source and said detectors being mounted to the actuator base; creating an image in said beam on said first and second photosensitive detectors with an image mask mounted to the lens holder, each of said detectors having an output; and simultaneously computing the lens holder tilt relative to the base from said detector outputs and the lens holder displacement relative to the base from said detector outputs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said image mask is an optical slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said image mask is an optical flag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 10, wherein each of said detector outputs comprises a first intensity level and a second light intensity level, and the computing step comprises: computing a first difference between said first and second light intensity levels of said first detector; computing a second difference between said first and second light intensity levels of said second detector; subtracting said second difference from said first difference to determine the lens holder tilt; and adding said second difference to said first difference to determine the lens holder displacement.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-23 | 2001-09-22 | 2002-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-23 | 2005-09-22 | 2006-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-23 | 2009-09-22 | 2010-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |