Abstract: A laser projection display apparatus includes a laser that emits a light beam. Actuators steer the light beam in horizontal and vertical directions to generate the display images. Each of the actuators includes first and second mirrors, each of which is suspended by a gimbal. Each of the mirrors rotates responsive to current flow through a coil attached to a backside of the mirror in the presence of a magnetic field. A digital signal process provides integrated control of the actuators and laser power based on the content of a display program. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A photonic switch for an optical communication network includes a matrix of actuator-mirror assemblies and a corresponding matrix of optical ports. A first one of the actuator-mirror assemblies directs a beam of light received from an input optical port to a reference mirror, where it is reflected to a second actuator-mirror assembly that redirects the beam to an output optical port. Each of the actuator-mirror assemblies includes a mirror-coil assembly mounted to a gimbal, with stationary magnets being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the coils such that when current flows through the coils a force is generated that causes the mirror-coil assembly to tilt. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A gimbal for supporting a moveable mirror includes an attachment section, first and second pairs of beams extending along the x-axis and connected to the attachment section, and third and fourth pairs of beams extending along the y-axis connected with the first and second pair of beams. The connections are such that the mirror can tilt or rotate about both the x-axis and y-axis. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A photonic switch for an optical communication network includes a matrix of actuator-mirror assemblies and a corresponding matrix of optical ports. A first one of the actuator-mirror assemblies directs a beam of light received from an input optical port to a reference mirror, where it is reflected to a second actuator-mirror assembly that redirects the beam to an output optical port. Each of the actuator-mirror assemblies includes a mirror-coil assembly mounted to a gimbal, with stationary magnets being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the coils such that when current flows through the coils a force is generated that causes the mirror-coil assembly to tilt. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: An actuator for tilting a moveable object such as a mirror includes a base and a coil-object assembly that includes first and second pairs of coils each of which is attached to the object, the first pair of coils being arranged along a longitudinal axis, and the second pair of coils being arranged along a transverse axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A gimbal has an attachment section attached to the object, and mounting sections connected via a plurality of beams to the attachment section, the mounting sections being attached to the base. A permanent magnet is positioned adjacent a corresponding one of each of the coils such that when current flows through the coils a rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about an axis. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A gimbal for supporting a moveable mirror includes an attachment section, first and second pairs of beams extending along the x-axis and connected to the attachment section, and third and fourth pairs of beams extending along the y-axis connected with the first and second pair of beams. The connections are such that the mirror can tilt or rotate about both the x-axis and y-axis. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: An actuator for tilting a moveable object such as a mirror includes a base and a coil-object assembly that includes first and second pairs of coils each of which is attached to the object, the first pair of coils being arranged along a longitudinal axis, and the second pair of coils being arranged along a transverse axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A gimbal has an attachment section attached to the object, and mounting sections connected via a plurality of beams to the attachment section, the mounting sections being attached to the base. A permanent magnet is positioned adjacent a corresponding one of each of the coils such that when current flows through the coils a rotational force is generated that causes the coil-object assembly to rotate about an axis. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A photonic switch for an optical communication network includes a matrix of actuator-mirror assemblies and a corresponding matrix of optical ports. A first one of the actuator-mirror assemblies directs a beam of light received from an input optical port to a reference mirror, where it is reflected to a second actuator-mirror assembly that redirects the beam to an output optical port. Each of the actuator-mirror assemblies includes a mirror-coil assembly mounted to a gimbal, with stationary magnets being positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the coils such that when current flows through the coils a force is generated that causes the mirror-coil assembly to tilt. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A magneto-optical (MO) disc drive including a novel suspension, slider body, airbearing surface, and magnetic head. The MO disc drive includes a fine-focus actuator block including an objective lens, wherein the coarse carriage block moves radially above a surface of an MO disc to position the objective lens. The MO disc drive also includes a flat suspension having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly attached to the fine-focus actuator block and the second end is attached to the coarse carriage block. A gimbal is moveably attached to an opening in a surface of the suspension and a magnetic head assembly is attached to the gimbal. The magnetic head assembly is loaded and unloaded by the load/unload mechanism independent of the objective lens and attached to the coarse actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading/writing data from/to a magnetic disk comprises an objective lens disposed in an actuator body for focusing laser light onto the magnetic disk. A magnetic head suspension assembly includes a magnetic recording head attached to the actuator body, a suspension arm having a proximate end fixedly attached to the actuator body, a distal end with a tab, and a gimbal located between the distal and proximate ends. The magnetic recording head is attached to the gimbal. A mechanism having an extending member moveable in a first direction engages and moves the tab until the magnetic recording head is placed in an unloaded position. The extending member moves in a second direction to release the tab such that the magnetic recording head is placed in a loaded position.

Abstract: A magneto-optical (MO) disc drive including a novel suspension, slider body, airbearing surface, and magnetic head. The MO disc drive includes a fine-focus actuator block including an objective lens, wherein the coarse carriage block moves radially above a surface of an MO disc to position the objective lens. The MO disc drive also includes a flat suspension having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly attached to the fine-focus actuator block and the second end is attached to the coarse carriage block. A gimbal is moveably attached to an opening in a surface of the suspension and a magnetic head assembly is attached to the gimbal. The magnetic head assembly is loaded and unloaded by the load/unload mechanism independent of the objective lens and attached to the coarse actuator.

Abstract: A method of using laser light to access a magneto-optical disc utilizes first and second objective lenses, the second objective lens being mounted in a light channel of a slider having a primary planar surface that flies over the surface of the magneto-optical disc. The laser light is directed through the first and second objective lenses that focus the laser light onto the surface of the magneto-optical disc. Focus of the laser light is maintained solely by moving the first objective lens in an axial direction with respect to the magneto-optical disc, the first objective lens being mounted to an actuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading from and writing to a magneto-optical disc. The apparatus comprises a first objective lens situated between a first side of the magneto-optical disc and a first source of a laser light. The apparatus further comprises a first flying magnetic head situated between the first objective lens and the first side of the magneto-optical disc, including a first coil for supplying a first magnetic field, the first coil defining a light channel through the first flying magnetic head for allowing the laser light to reach the magneto-optical disc.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disc is described. The magneto-optical disc comprises a substrate and a magneto-optical recording layer applied over the substrate. The magneto-optical disc further comprises an overcoat layer applied over the recording layer having a thickness in a range between 25 nanometers and 200 microns, wherein data is recorded on the magneto-optical disc and read from the magneto-optical disc using a laser light that is incident on the overcoat layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for magneto-optical storage and access of data. The apparatus comprises a flying magnetic head, wherein the flying magnetic head comprises: a slider that flies over a magneto-optical disc during read and write operations performed on a magneto-optical disc; a magnetic coil fixedly attached to the slider, the magnetic coil defining a channel through the slider, the magnetic coil and the slider forming a smooth, planar surface parallel to a surface of the disc during read and write operations; and a first objective lens fixedly attached in the channel such that a surface of the first objective lens is parallel to the smooth, planar surface.

Abstract: A rotary actuated arm assembly for positioning a transducer over a data track of a rotating magnetic disk includes a flexure attached to a load beam at one end and to a slider at the other end. The flexure comprises a thin piece of metal having dimple which contacts the load beam at a point. The dimple allows the slider to pitch and roll about the point to accommodate height variations across the surface of the disk. An elastomeric material is bonded to both the flexure and the load beam at a location near or surrounding the dimple. The elastomeric material imparts radial stiffness to the assembly so that the load beam maintains contact with the dimple at the desired point, regardless of the radial movements of the assembly.