Patent · US Expired

High-speed optical recording and playback apparatus capable of recording and retrieving digital data from an optical storage card

US5468944A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 1993
Grant dateNov 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K7/015
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus consisting of a flat, two-dimensional array of laser/photo diodes; an optical storage card positioned below the array; and a mechanism to move the card in both the X- and Y-directions to position the laser/photo diode array over any one particular location on the card. A further mechanism serves to move the card in the X- and Y-directions and angularly to provide an initial alignment of the card with respect to the laser/photo diode array. Yet another mechanism moves the card in the Z-direction for focusing purposes. A laser/optical interface positioned between the laser/photo diode array and the card which is formed of an array of collimating and focusing holographic micro lenses (HOE) with surface diffraction patterns. An electronic section functions as an interface between a central processing unit (CPU) and the lasers and photo diodes of the array. The optical storage card is a thin, re-writable phase-change type.

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