Patent · US Expired

Laser optical disk position encoder with active heads

US5107107A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
13References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 1990
Grant dateApr 21, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 30, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/245
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An angular position encoder is provided that minimizes the effects of eccentricity and other misalignments between the disk and the read stations by employing heads which incorporate beam steering optics with the ability to actively track the disk in directions along the disk radius and normal to its surface. The device adapts features prevalent in optical disk technology toward the application of angular position sensing. A reflective disk and the principles of interferometry are employed. The servo controlled steering optics move so as to acquire a track on the disk lying at a predetermined radius and distance below the head, and then adjust position and orientation in order to maintain view of the disk track as required. Thus, the device is actively self-aligning.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.