Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an actuator lens within a baseplate using a beam of radiant energy. The actuator lens has an actuator optical axis and an actuator optical center and the apparatus includes a frame, a cradle, a tower assembly, a lever assembly, and a gripper assembly. The cradle assembly is employed to hold the baseplate and is mounted to the frame with at least one degree of freedom of motion. The tower assembly defines a tower axis and is also mounted to the frame. The cradle and tower assemblies are positioned to receive the beam of radiant energy along the tower axis and analyze a spot profile of the beam. The lever assembly is rotatably mounted to the frame and the gripper assembly is mounted to the lever assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for focusing an actuator lens within an optical disc carriage held by a baseplate assembly. The apparatus incudes a frame, a cradle assembly mounted to the frame, a tower assembly mounted to the frame, a lever assembly rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gripper assembly mounted to the lever assembly. The cradle assembly includes a baseplate alignment assembly having a source of radiant energy for projecting a beam of radiant energy, a member for determining the tilt alignment of the beam with respect to the tower assembly, and tilt actuators for aligning the tilt of the beam with respect to the tower assembly. The tower assembly includes a video camera having a camera lens, a tower magnifying lens, and a monitor for displaying a representation of a beam of radiant energy passing through the tower magnifying lens and into the video camera.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for mounting an actuator lens within an optical disc carriage held by a baseplate assembly. The apparatus includes a frame, a cradle assembly mounted to the frame with at least one degree of freedom of motion, a tower assembly mounted to the frame, a lever assembly rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gripper assembly mounted to the lever assembly. The cradle assembly includes a baseplate alignment assembly having a source of radiant energy for projecting a beam of radiant energy, means for determining the tilt alignment of the beam with respect to the tower assembly, and a plurality of tilt actuators for aligning the tilt of the beam with respect to the tower assembly. The tower assembly includes a video camera having a camera lens, a tower magnifying lens, and a monitor for displaying a presentation of a beam of radiant energy passing through the tower magnifying lens and into the video camera.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for aligning an actuator lens of an optical disk drive or the like within a baseplate assembly. The apparatus comprises a frame, a cradle assembly mounted to the frame with at least one degree of freedom of motion, a tower assembly mounted to the frame, a lever assembly rotatably mounted to the frame, and a gripper assembly mounted to the lever assembly. The cradle assembly includes a baseplate alignment assembly comprising a source of radiant energy for projecting a beam of radiant energy, means for determining the tilt alignment of the beam with respect to the tower assembly, and a plurality of tilt actuators for aligning the tilt of the beam with respect to the tower assembly. The baseplate alignment may further comprise means for determining the lateral alignment of the beam with respect to the tower assembly and a plurality of lateral actuators for aligning the beam laterally with respect to the tower assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing information storage devices is described herein. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In particular, the invention includes, but is not limited to, a bearing insertion device, a lens insertion device, a coarse coil gluing tool, a spring gluing tool, a device for gluing pole pieces, a pentaprism insertion and inspection tool, a constants and transfers test, an optics module alignment device, wedge, microprism and beamsplitter insertion devices, a read channel alignment test, a mass balance attachment invention, a position sensor alignment tool, an invention for the attachment of focus and radial coils, a quality control test for test an optical storage device prior to insertion of the objective lens, and a servo system test. The invention described herein is designed to manufacture information storage devices with increased quality and efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluation of radiation beam geometry that finds application in determining the focus of an illuminating beam relative to an optical disk is disclosed herein. In one preferred embodiment, a light source generates a linearly polarized beam which is collimated by a collimating lens. The collimated beam is then converged by an objective lens onto the surface of the optical disk. The disk reflects the illuminating beam focused thereon back through the objective lens to a beam splitter. A portion of the optical energy incident on the beam splitter is then redirected to form a servo beam, wherein the degree of collimation of the servo beam is indicative of the focus position of the illuminating beam. A beam separation module, based on frustrated total reflection, having a reflectivity which varies in response to the angle of incidence of optical energy thereon is positioned to intercept the servo beam.