USRE36393E
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-dimensional random access scanner for optical disks
Assignee: MMRI Photonics Ltd
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Filing: 1998-08-28
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Granted: 1999-11-16
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Expires: 2018-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A system and a method for optical access of the surface of an optical disk (or another moving media information storage device) with a very short seek time is presented. The system uses two-dimensional deflection of a light (typically laser) beam. The beam reaches a stationary lenslet array, where, at a particular moment, it intercepts a single lenslet. The lenslet focuses the beam to a spot on the information storage surface of the disk. For reading information, the beam is reflected through the lenslet. Taking advantage of the "cat-eye" retro-reflection principle, only one detector (or very few detectors) is needed. Since only one spot at the surface is illuminated at any given moment, this spot gets most of the laser's light, allowing sufficient power concentration when needed for writing information on the disk.
Inventors
- 👤 Isaia Glaser-Inbari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/08; G11B7/085; G11B7/08547; G11B7/08564; G11B7/12; G11B7/135; G11B7/1353; G11B7/1372; G11B7/1374; G11B7/1381; G11B7/09; G11B7/0901; G11B7/0903; G11B7/0908; G11B7/0909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of directing an optical beam from an optical beam source to a selected storage location spot on the surface of a moving optical storage medium, comprising: interposing a static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements adjacent to the surface between the surface and the optical beam source; and steering the optical beam from the source to a selected single one of said image focussing elements in the two-dimensional array to focus the optical beam to a single selected storage location spot on the surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of directing an optical beam from an optical beam source to a selected storage location spot on the surface of a moving optical storage medium, comprising: interposing a static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements adjacent to the surface between the surface and the optical beam source; and steering the optical beam from the source to a selected single one of said image focussing elements in the two-dimensional array to focus the optical beam to a single selected storage location spot on the surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage location spot to which the optical beam is focussed has a size in the order of magnitude of the light wavelength of the optical beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical storage medium is a rotatable optical data disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements is an array of refractive lenslets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements is an array of diffractive lenses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising interposing an apertured mask between the array of image focussing elements and the optical beam source to prevent the optical beam from reaching two image focussing elements at the same time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1, further including the step of reflecting the optical beam from the focussed spot via an image focussing element to a static detector assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the reflected optical beam is reflected via a beam splitter to the static detector assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 7, further including introducing some astigmatism into the optical beam reflected from the selected image focussing element and using said introduced astigmatism for detecting and correcting focussing errors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 1, further including providing a lens adjacent the image focussing elements between the image focussing elements and the optical beam source to produce a virtual image of the optical beam close to the image focussing elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1, further including disposing a planar optical member over the array of image focussing elements, wherein said steering step comprises steering the optical beam into an edge of the planar optical member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 1, further including passing said optical beam through a grating before the optical beam reaches said static array of image focussing elements to split the beam into a zero order straddled by two weaker-orders, and using said two weaker orders for detecting and correcting tracking errors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for directing an optical beam from an optical beam source to a selected storage location spot on the surface of a moving optical storage medium, comprising: a static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements located adjacent to the surface between the surface and the optical beam source; and means for steering the optical beam from the source to a selected single one of said image focussing elements in said two-dimensional array to focus the optical beam to a single selected storage location spot on the surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus for directing an optical beam from an optical beam source to a selected storage location spot on the surface of a moving optical storage medium, comprising: a static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements located adjacent to the surface between the surface and the optical beam source; and means for steering the optical beam from the source to a selected single one of said image focussing elements in said two-dimensional array to focus the optical beam to a single selected storage location spot on the surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the storage location spot to which the optical beam is focussed has a size in the order of magnitude of the light wavelength of the optical beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the optical storage medium is a rotatable optical disk, and further including a holder for the rotatable optical disk.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements is an array of refractive lenslets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements is an array of diffractive lenses in the form of a hologram.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, further including an apertured mask interposed between said two-dimensional array of image focussing elements and the optical beam source, which mask prevents the optical beam from reaching two image focussing elements at the same time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, further including means for detecting the optical beam after reflection from a focussed spot via one of said image focussing element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, further including a beam splitter located to pass the optical beam from the optical beam source to the array of image focussing elements, and to reflect the optical beam reflected from the selected image focussing element to said means for detecting.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 20, further including a lens between said beam splitter and said means for detecting, said lens designed to introduce some astigmatism into the beam, and a control system for detecting and correcting focussing of the beam in response to the output of said lens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, further including a negative lens adjacent to the image focussing elements between said elements and the optical beam source, said negative lens being designed to produce a virtual image of the optical beam close to the image focussing elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, further including a planar optical member overlying the array of image focussing elements, said means for steering steering the optical beam into an edge of said planar optical member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said planar optical member is a slab having one surface which is slanted with respect to an opposed surface to thereby produce multiple-reflections of the optical beam steered into the edge of said planar optical member at decreasing angles to the normal of said opposed surface until the optical beam exits from said member at a selected location thereof to a selected one of said image focussing elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said planar optical member includes a holographic layer on the side thereof opposite to that facing said image focussing elements, to reflect the light to a selected one of said image focussing elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, further including a grating located upstream of said static array of image focussing elements to split the beam into a zero order straddled by two weaker±orders, and a control system for detecting and correcting tracking errors in response to said two weaker orders.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a method for reading from and writing to selected storage location spots on an optical storage medium using a focussed optical beam the improvement wherein the optical beam is directed from an optical beam source to a selected storage location spot on the optical storage medium by steps comprising: interposing a static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements adjacent to the optical storage medium, between the optical storage medium and the optical beam source; and steering the optical beam from the optical beam source to a selected single one of said image focussing elements in the two-dimensional array to focus the optical beam to a single selected storage location spot on the optical storage medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a method for reading from and writing to selected storage location spots on an optical storage medium using a focussed optical beam the improvement wherein the optical beam is directed from an optical beam source to a selected storage location spot on the optical storage medium by steps comprising: interposing a static two-dimensional array of image focussing elements adjacent to the optical storage medium, between the optical storage medium and the optical beam source; and steering the optical beam from the optical beam source to a selected single one of said image focussing elements in the two-dimensional array to focus the optical beam to a single selected storage location spot on the optical storage medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |