Abstract: Light is guided from a light source into a waveguide coupler embedded in a slider. The light source is capable of being positioned in a cross-track, a down-track, and a vertical direction with regards to the waveguide coupler. The light emanating from an air-bearing surface of the slider is imaged using a device that generates an optical image of the air-bearing surface. A cross-track alignment position is identified as a location at which the image shows substantially the same number of photons on each side of the cross-track alignment position and has a minimum spread. A down-track alignment position is identified at which the light emanating from the air-bearing surface has maximal intensity in a down-track direction.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer resides on a slider, has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and has a back side. The HAMR transducer includes a target waveguide, a plurality of assistant cores and a plurality of output devices. The target waveguide has an entrance at the back side and directs energy provided by a laser from the entrance at the back side toward the ABS. The assistant cores have a plurality of assistant core entrances at the back side. The assistant cores direct energy from the assistant core entrances to the output devices. In some aspects, the assistant cores and output devices may be used in aligning the laser and the target waveguide or checking the alignment of the laser and the target waveguide.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, A first magnetic head is used to record or reproduce data on or from the first disk surface and includes a first two-terminal element including a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal. A second magnetic head is used to record or reproduce data on or from the second disk surface and includes a second two-terminal element including a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal. Ae current control unit includes a first current terminal which is commonly connected to the first positive terminal and the second negative terminal and a second current terminal that is commonly connected to the first negative terminal and the second positive terminal and can switch a current polarity between the first current terminal and the second current terminal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical pickup device includes a fixed portion 100, a movable portion 11, first and second elastic supporting members 12a and 12b, one and the other ends of which are secured to the fixed portion 100 and the movable portion 11, respectively, and an objective lens 8 secured to the movable portion 11. The objective lens 8 is arranged inside of the area that is defined between two lines that are respectively drawn from one and the other ends of the first elastic supporting member 12a perpendicularly to the first elastic supporting member 12a and outside of the area defined between the first and second elastic supporting members 12a and 12b.

Abstract: The thermally assisted magnetic head comprises a medium-opposing surface; a magnetic recording device whose distance from a main magnetic pole to a medium is set longer than a distance from the medium-opposing surface to the medium; a first core for receiving light; and a second core positioned between a first light exit surface of the first core and the medium-opposing surface, having a second light exit surface on the medium side; while a distance between positions where an optical intensity distribution center within the first light exit surface and a center of the main magnetic pole are orthographically projected onto a reference plane including the second light exit surface is greater than a distance between an optical intensity distribution center within the second light exit surface and the position where the center of the leading end of the main magnetic pole is orthographically projected onto the reference plane.

Abstract: Components for, and assembly of, a thermally assisted recording device involve a laser mounted to a recording head slider. The output from the laser is directed into an optical waveguide, which delivers the laser light to the media to be written. Several challenges with thermally assisted recording are enabled by the use of a laser carrier, which holds and protects the small, relatively fragile laser and serves as a partial heat sink for the power generated by the laser. The laser, carrier and slider are bonded and can be interconnected as a unit to a suspension constituent to a hard disk drive (HDD) device.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording medium for information recording, a light source, an optical system, a slider, and an optical waveguide. To the optical system, light from the light source enters, and the slider moves relative to the recording medium while not in contact therewith. The optical waveguide is arranged at position facing the recording medium in the slider so that light entering from the optical system is irradiated on the recording medium. Where the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide on the light output side is d and the mode field diameter thereof on the light input side is D, the mode field diameter is converted by smoothly changing the diameter of the optical waveguide to satisfy D>d.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An optical head to access data on an optical recording medium, which has two data storage densities, includes two sets of optical path systems to provide two optical paths that are crossed. Each optical path system includes a laser light generation unit, a light guiding unit, a converging objective lens and a photo detector. The light guiding unit is located on the optical path of the laser light generation unit, to direct the laser light to pass through the converging objective lens and focus on the data side of the optical recording medium to carry optical data signals from the data side. The laser light returns to the light guiding unit and travels along the optical path and is received by the photo detector.

Abstract: In a recording transducer, radiant energy is incident to be coupled to a recording head via a path defined in the support (e.g., slider) for the head. The radiant energy may be directed via a fiber or lens (e.g., MEMS lens) through a channel defined in the slider. The slider may be keyed to accept the fiber or lens. The process for fabricating the channel in the slider the channel may include wafer level processing to form holes in the slider, to accept the fiber or lens. Wafer level MEM optical processing may be deployed to form integrated MEMS lens structures for an array of sliders.

Abstract: An optical head to access data on an optical recording medium, which has two data storage densities, includes two sets of optical path systems to provide two optical paths that are crossed. Each optical path system includes a laser light generation unit, a light guiding unit, a converging objective lens and a photo detector. The light guiding unit is located on the optical path of the laser light generation unit, to direct the laser light to pass through the converging objective lens and focus on the data side of the optical recording medium to carry optical data signals from the data side. The laser light returns to the light guiding unit and travels along the optical path and is received by the photo detector.

Abstract: A suspension supporting a magnetic head is formed by a member different in material from gimbals. As a result, the characteristic of the gimbals minimizing electric power loss in supplying current while sufficiently elastically holding the magnetic head can be compatible with the characteristic of suspension suppressing variation and impact from the outside or rotational displacement although both characteristics are different from each other. This allows the displacement of the magnetic head caused by the vibration and the impact from the outside or the horizontal displacement associated with the vertical displacement of a recording medium to be decreased, so that inductance of the magnetic head can be decreased and recording speed can be improved.

Abstract: An on-screen calibration system for disc drives and the operating method thereof. The calibration system includes an autocollimator detecting the inclined angle of the stage of a disc drive. A control module is connected to the on-screen display module and a bar code scanner to receive the bar code of the pick-up module and compute a predetermined position data. A monitor displays a moving point according to the inclined angle and a target point according to the predetermined position data through an on-screen display module. The tilt-adjusting mechanism supporting the pick-up module is adjusted to shift the moving point overlapping the target point.

Abstract: On a pit information surface (22d) of a read-only optical disk (22), a protective layer (22f) suited for a floating-type or a sliding-type magnetic head (3) used for a magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk is formed. A reproducing operation with respect to the optical disk (22) is performed while allowing the magnetic head (3) to slide on the protective layer (22f). Accordingly, a magnetic head does not need to be separated from a disk in reproduction. Thus, an optical disk device can be manufactured at lower cost and reduced in size, and a high-speed seek can be realized. Commonality of a disk cartridge (32) with the magnetic field modulation type magneto-optical disk also can be achieved. An optical disk system that is user-friendly thus can be obtained.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk apparatus generates magnetic field onto a magneto-optical recording medium prior to recording signals in the magneto-optical recording medium having a recording layer and a reproduction layer, by use of magnetic field and laser beam. The magneto-optical apparatus then adjusts a position of a magnetic head that generates the magnetic field, under a state where the laser beam is irradiated, by utilizing that an irradiation spot of the laser beam deviates due to eccentricity of the magneto-optical recording medium. This position adjustment is carried out based on, for example, a beam position signal showing the irradiation spot of the laser beam and/or a detection signal which is detected after the laser beam is modulated by the magnetic field.

Abstract: The magneto-optical recording apparatus of the present invention comprises: a magnetic head of which one end is fixed and of which the other end is free and provided with a magnetic field generating portion for applying a magnetic field onto a magneto-optical recording medium; an optical pickup, provided opposite the magnetic head with the recording medium between them, for irradiating a portion applied with a magnetic field from the magnetic head with a light beam; and a member for regulating displacement of the magnetic head in a direction parallel to a magneto-optical recording medium surface.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for magneto-optical disc includes a head supporting mechanism and a movement mechanism. The head supporting mechanism includes a supporting member disposed above a holder in such a manner to oppose an optical pick-up and provided at one end side with a magnetic head to move the supporting member between recording position at which the magnetic head supplies external magnetic field to the magneto-optical disc held by the holder and non-recording position above the recording position and at which the magnetic head is spaced with respect to the magneto-optical disc.

Abstract: A thermal-assisted magnetic storage device includes a magnetic recording media of a transparent material, a first marker of a material that is optically singular compared with materials therearound, and a magnetic head disposed on a magnetic head slider facing a recording surface of the magnetic recording media. A light-beam pickup faces the other surface of the magnetic recording media, so as to emit light therefrom to the surface of the magnetic recording media. A second marker is disposed on the magnetic head slider for roughly guiding the light to the first marker. An alignment between the light and the magnetic head is performed in accordance with the light reflected from the first marker.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a base member at least having a rotation driving mechanism for rotationally driving a disc housed in a disc cartridge, a holder into which is inserted the disc cartridge and an ejection lever formed by an elastically flexible lever. The holder is mounted for movement between a first position in which the disc inserted in the disc cartridge is loaded on the rotation driving mechanism and a second position in which the disc housed in the disc cartridge is spaced apart from the rotation driving mechanism. The second position is higher in level than the first position. The ejection lever is elastically flexed by the disc cartridge inserted into the holder from a position protruded into the holder to the position extending along the back side of the holder. When elastically flexed to the position extending along the back surface of the holder, the ejection lever is engaged with the holder moved to the first position.

Abstract: An optical storage device adapted so that a cartridge accommodating an optical storage medium is inserted/ejected with respect to the device. The device includes a drive base, a cartridge holder mounted on the drive base for receiving the cartridge, a first carriage mounted on the drive base so as to be movable in a first direction, a first drive mechanism for moving the first carriage, and an optical head mounted on the first carriage. The device further includes a second carriage mounted on the cartridge holder so as to be movable in the first direction, a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage, a magnetic head assembly mounted on the second carriage and having a magnetic head, and a holding mechanism for selectively holding the magnetic head in its lifted condition above the optical storage medium.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk apparatus generates magnetic field onto a magneto-optical recording medium prior to recording signals in the magneto-optical recording medium having a recording layer and a reproduction layer, by use of magnetic field and laser beam. The magneto-optical apparatus then adjusts a position of a magnetic head that generates the magnetic field, under a state where the laser beam is irradiated, by utilizing that an irradiation spot of the laser beam deviates due to eccentricity of the magneto-optical recording medium. This position adjustment is carried out based on, for example, a beam position signal showing the irradiation spot of the laser beam and/or a detection signal which is detected after the laser beam is modulated by the magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the relative displacement of a surface to be detected, and an apparatus and method for recording information on a hard disc of a hard disk drive using such a detecting apparatus, the detecting apparatus comprising an interference optical system for condensing a light beam on the surface to be detected, and making the reflected light from the surface to be detected interfere with the condensed light beam to thereby form an interference light beam, light receiving means for receiving the interference light beam and outputting bright and dark signals attributable to the relative displacement of the surface to be detected, and condensed light information supplying means for separating part of the reflected light from the surface to be detected from the optical path until the reflected light arrives at said light receiving means, and utilizing the separated light beam to detect the condensed state of the incident light beam onto the surface to be detected or make the condensed state obse

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a base member at least having a rotation driving mechanism for rotationally driving a disc housed in a disc cartridge, a holder into which is inserted the disc cartridge and an ejection lever formed by an elastically flexible lever. The holder is mounted for movement between a first position in which the disc inserted in the disc cartridge is loaded on the rotation driving mechanism and a second position in which the disc housed in the disc cartridge is spaced apart from the rotation driving mechanism. The second position is higher in level than the first position. The ejection lever is elastically flexed by the disc cartridge inserted into the holder from a position protruded into the holder to the position extending along the back side of the holder. When elastically flexed to the position extending along the back surface of the holder, the ejection lever is engaged with the holder moved to the first position.

Abstract: An optical storage device adapted so that a cartridge accommodating an optical storage medium is inserted/ejected with respect to the device. The device includes a drive base, a cartridge holder mounted on the drive base for receiving the cartridge, a first carriage mounted on the drive base so as to be movable in a first direction, a first drive mechanism for moving the first carriage, and an optical head mounted on the first carriage. The device further includes a second carriage mounted on the cartridge holder so as to be movable in the first direction, a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage, a magnetic head assembly mounted on the second carriage and having a magnetic head, and a holding mechanism for selectively holding the magnetic head in its lifted condition above the optical storage medium.

Abstract: An optical storage device adapted so that a cartridge accommodating an optical storage medium is inserted/ejected with respect to the device. The device includes a drive base, a cartridge holder mounted on the drive base for receiving the cartridge, a first carriage mounted on the drive base so as to be movable in a first direction, a first drive mechanism for moving the first carriage, and an optical head mounted on the first carriage. The device further includes a second carriage mounted on the cartridge holder so as to be movable in the first direction, a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage, a magnetic head assembly mounted on the second carriage and having a magnetic head, and a holding mechanism for selectively holding the magnetic head in its lifted condition above the optical storage medium.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording head includes a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field to a magneto-optical recording medium, and an optical head placed with interposition of the recording medium in opposition to the magnetic head for projecting a light spot through a condenser lens onto the region to which the magnetic field is applied. A first supporter supports the magnetic head, and a second supporter supports the condenser lens. Relative displacement of a magnetic field-generating portion of the magnetic head and the light spot in a horizontal direction parallel to a surface of the recording medium caused by displacements of the magnetic field-generating portion and the light spot in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the recording medium is smaller than the displacement of the magnetic field-generating portion of the magnetic head in the horizontal direction parallel to the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk apparatus and an adjustment method of a head mechanism are provided for strictly and quickly adjusting a setting position of a magnetic head with respect to an optical axis of an optical head. The adjustment method is executed by the following steps. A magnetic super resolution type magneto-optical disk is mounted to the magneto-optical disk apparatus provided with the optical head and the magnetic head. Then, an external magnetic field from the magnetic head is applied onto the magneto-optical disk as applying a laser beam of a reproduction level onto the magneto-optical disk. Then, a reproduction signal output read from the magneto-optical disk is detected concurrently with the application of the external magnetic field.

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.