Abstract: A disc drive designed to hold a cartridge containing an optical data storage disk is compatible with a memory card slot in a host digital electronics device such as a PDA, for example a slot designed for a Type I CompactFlash card. The disc drive contains a body assembly which is inserted into the memory card slot and which has a compatible connector at one end. The disc drive also includes a drive mechanism which contains the spindle motor and optics systems and which is located outside the memory card slot when the drive is in operation. The drive mechanism is lifted from the body assembly to form an opening to a tray into which a cartridge is loaded. The drive mechanism is then pressed against the body assembly to close the cartridge tray and to cause the spindle motor assembly to engage the optical disc within the cartridge. To minimize the extent to which the disc drive protrudes from the host device, part of the cartridge extends into the memory card slot when the disc drive is connected to the host.

Abstract: A disc drive designed to hold a cartridge containing an optical data storage disk is compatible with a memory card slot in a host digital electronics device such as a PDA, for example a slot designed for a Type I CompactFlash card. The disc drive contains a body assembly which is inserted into the memory card slot and which has a compatible connector at one end. The disc drive also includes a drive mechanism which contains the spindle motor and optics systems and which is located outside the memory card slot when the drive is in operation. The drive mechanism is lifted from the body assembly to form an opening to a tray into which a cartridge is loaded. The drive mechanism is then pressed against the body assembly to close the cartridge tray and to cause the spindle motor assembly to engage the optical disc within the cartridge. To minimize the extent to which the disc drive protrudes from the host device, part of the cartridge extends into the memory card slot when the disc drive is connected to the host.

Abstract: A cartridge for an optical data storage disc includes a sheet metal sheath that is folded back on itself and a plastic insert that is inserted into the sheath. An opening is formed in the plastic insert for holding an optical data storage disc. The sheath includes two wall portions that are located on opposite sides of a bend area, where the sheet metal is folded. The two wall portions are attached to each other, preferably by spot-welding, to form a structurally stable sandwich that includes the plastic insert between the wall portions. The opening in the plastic insert becomes a cavity for holding the disc. A shutter opening is formed in one of the wall portions, and spindle openings are formed in both wall portions. A shutter covers the shutter opening when the cartridge is not operational to protect the disc. The disc is rotated by the spindle of an external disc drive which enters a central hole of the disc through the spindle openings.

Abstract: A system for controlling a distance between an optical head and the surface of a rotating optical disk comprising: an actuator arm having a first and second surface, the first surface facing the optical disk, the second surface facing away from the optical disk; an electromagnetic coil having an inner void, said coil adjacent to the second surface of the arm; and at least one permanent magnet producing a magnetic field that passes through the coil such that when an electric current is applied to the coil, a force is created at two or more segments of the coil.

Abstract: A hub assembly for a data storage disk including a hub member and a raised boss near a center axis of the hub member, the raised boss being surrounded by an annular bonding surface and being configured so as to protrude into a center hole of a data storage disk when the bonding surface is in contact with a surface of the disk.

Abstract: A cartridge for an optical data storage disc includes a sheet metal sheath that is folded back on itself and a plastic insert that is inserted into the sheath. An opening is formed in the plastic insert for holding an optical data storage disc. The sheath includes two wall portions that are located on opposite sides of a bend area, where the sheet metal is folded. The two wall portions are attached to each other, preferably by spot-welding, to form a structurally stable sandwich that includes the plastic insert between the wall portions. The opening in the plastic insert becomes a cavity for holding the disc. A shutter opening is formed in one of the wall portions, and spindle openings are formed in both wall portions. A shutter covers the shutter opening when the cartridge is not operational to protect the disc. The disc is rotated by the spindle of an external disc drive which enters a central hole of the disc through the spindle openings.

Abstract: A disc drive designed to hold a cartridge containing an optical data storage disk is compatible with a memory card slot in a host digital electronics device such as a PDA, for example a slot designed for a Type I CompactFlash card. The disc drive contains a body assembly which is inserted into the memory card slot and which has a compatible connector at one end. The disc drive also includes a drive mechanism which contains the spindle motor and optics systems and which is located outside the memory card slot when the drive is in operation. The drive mechanism is lifted from the body assembly to form an opening to a tray into which a cartridge is loaded. The drive mechanism is then pressed against the body assembly to close the cartridge tray and to cause the spindle motor assembly to engage the optical disc within the cartridge. To minimize the extent to which the disc drive protrudes from the host device, part of the cartridge extends into the memory card slot when the disc drive is connected to the host.

Abstract: An apparatus that prevents standard dry cell batteries from being installed in a battery compartment in a reverse polarity arrangement. The battery compartment operationally houses at least one dry cell battery having a cylindrical casing with positive and negative terminal surfaces on opposing ends thereof. The positive terminal surface has a button protruding from the casing. In this aspect of the invention, the battery compartment is configured with positive and negative device contacts disposed in opposing ends of each battery cradle of the battery compartment to contact positive and negative terminals, respectively, of a dry cell battery installed therein. The battery compartment also comprises a reverse polarity exclusion device disposed in each battery cradle. The device is interposed between the positive device contact and a dry cell battery installed in the battery cradle.

Abstract: A capturing and viewing appliance and method are used for capturing and communicating images. The capturing and viewing appliance is an instrument used to capture and communicate images to other devices with communication capabilities. The capturing and viewing appliance includes a processor for manipulating and viewing the images on a built-in display. Program code stored in internal memory includes a menu/image navigation application program which allows the user to use navigation buttons to view multiple images as well as navigate menus. According to another aspect of the invention, the menu/image navigation interface provides a user-friendly interface for effective communication of functionality of an appliance or other device to the user through use of animated transitions.

Abstract: An optical pickup assembly includes an optical pickup unit (OPU), a thermally conductive plate, and a flex circuit. The flex circuit is mounted atop the plate. The OPU is also mounted atop the plate through a cutout of the flex circuit. Alternatively, the flex circuit is mounted below the plate and the OPU is mounted atop the plate. The optical pickup assembly further includes an actuator arm. The OPU is mounted on the actuator arm with a portion of the plate contacting the actuator arm.

Abstract: An optical assembly including a service loop extended from a focus section of an actuator arm. A portion of the service loop bends when a tracking section of the actuator arm rotates around a tracking axis while a portion of the flex circuit twists when the focus section of the actuator arm rotates around a focus axis.

Abstract: Various configurations of cartridges for optical disks, particularly first-surface optical disks, are provided. The cartridges include a plurality of protectors for use in safeguarding the optical disk when certain conditions are present or certain events occur. The protectors include an elongated shutter that covers the hub assembly, at least annular slot portions inside of the cartridge to restrain movement of the disk within the cartridge, a locking subassembly to hold the shutter in a desired position, and a mechanism for preventing complete insertion of the cartridge into an optical drive when the cartridge is in the wrong orientation relative to the drive.

Abstract: An optical pickup assembly includes an optical pickup unit (OPU) and a flex circuit. The OPU is mounted atop a thermally conductive plate through a cutout of the flex circuit. Bond wires couple contacts pads on the OPU and the flex circuit. Alternatively, OPU is mounted atop the plate and the plate is mounted atop the flex circuit. The plate includes a cutout where bond wires pass through to couple the contact pads on the OPU and the flex circuit.

Abstract: A crimping tool is used to attach a metal hub plate to a plastic hub for a data storage disk. The hub is bonded to the data storage disk, and the metal hub plate allows the disk to be magnetically clamped to a spindle of a disk drive. The metal hub plate has a four tabs which are bent into respective recessed areas of the hub. The tool includes a plunger which is directed against the metal hub plate which the plate is held in a lower die assembly. The plunger includes four crimping jaws which slide against angled surfaces of the plunger. The sliding motion causes the crimping jaws to move radially inward towards each other. The lower surface of each jaw includes a cam surface and a prow. The cam surface slides against the tab, bending it to a predetermined shape, and then the prow contacts a base of the tab to bend it beyond the predetermined shape.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a service loop extended from a focus section of an actuator arm. A portion of the service loop bends when a tracking section of the actuator arm rotates around a tracking axis while a portion of the flex circuit twists when the focus section of the actuator arm rotates around a focus axis.

Abstract: An apparatus that prevents standard dry cell batteries from being installed in a battery compartment in a reverse polarity arrangement. The battery compartment operationally houses at least one dry cell battery having a cylindrical casing with positive and negative terminal surfaces on opposing ends thereof. The positive terminal surface has a button protruding from the casing. In this aspect of the invention, the battery compartment is configured with positive and negative device contacts disposed in opposing ends of each battery cradle of the battery compartment to contact positive and negative terminals, respectively, of a dry cell battery installed therein. The battery compartment also comprises a reverse polarity exclusion device disposed in each battery cradle. The device is interposed between the positive device contact and a dry cell battery installed in the battery cradle.

Abstract: A crimping tool is used to attach a metal hub plate to a plastic hub for a data storage disk. The hub is bonded to the data storage disk, and the metal hub plate allows the disk to be magnetically clamped to a spindle of a disk drive. The metal hub plate has a four tabs which are bent into respective recessed areas of the hub. The tool includes a plunger which is directed against the metal hub plate which the plate is held in a lower die assembly. The plunger includes four crimping jaws which slide against angled surfaces of the plunger. The sliding motion causes the crimping jaws to move radially inward towards each other. The lower surface of each jaw includes a cam surface and a prow. The cam surface slides against the tab, bending it to a predetermined shape, and then the prow contacts a base of the tab to bend it beyond the redetermined shape.

Abstract: According to the method of this invention, a hub is placed at a machine center of an hub alignment and bonding tool and a data storage disk is placed loosely on the hub in such a way that the disk can be translated with respect to the hub. A curable adhesive is interposed between the hub and the disk. The disk has a data region which includes spiral or circular data tracks. A number of video cameras are focused on an edge of the data region at different locations. The locations of edge recorded in the camera are used to calculate whether the geometric center of the data region is within a predetermined tolerance of the hub center. The respective locations of the center of the data region and the hub center and the distance between the two centers are displayed on a monitor. Using a pair of micrometers which abut the edge of the disk, an operator adjusts the location of the disk until the geometric center of the data region is within the predetermined tolerance of the hub center.

Abstract: A system for controlling a distance between an optical head and the surface of a rotating optical disk comprising: an actuator arm having a first and second surface, the first surface facing the optical disk, the second surface facing away from the optical disk; an electromagnetic coil having an inner void, said coil adjacent to the second surface of the arm; and at least one permanent magnet producing a magnetic field that passes through the coil such that when an electric current is applied to the coil, a force is created at two or more segments of the coil.