Patent · US Expired

Half-height magneto-optic disk drive

US5132944A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
27References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1989
Grant dateJul 21, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B19/2009
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A magneto-optic disk drive includes cartridge-receiving guide tracks and a push-latch mechanism mounted in an upper portion of a half-hight enclosure, and a baseplate assembly pivotally mounted in a lower portion of the enclosure. The baseplate assembly includes a baseplate, a drive motor and spindle mounted to the baseplate, and a rotary arm mounted to the baseplate by a pivot mechanism. Optical head components including a focusing and bias field switching assembly are mounted to the rotary arm. A tracking motor includes coils mounted to an end of the rotary arm directly adjacent to the focusing and bias field switching assembly, and permanent magnets mounted to the baseplate. An optical disk cartridge is pushed into the drive and latched into its inserted position when the baseplate assembly is in a load/unload position. A baseplate drive mechanism raises the baseplate assembly to its operative position causing the drive motor and spindle to engage and rotate the optical disk. The tracking motor drives the rotary arm about a tracking axis allowing data to be written, read and erased on the disk. Cartridge removal is initiated by pressing a stop switch. After the disk spins down t…

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