Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a motor system that addresses the design challenges for the small form factor optical disk system. The control system can include a lookup table module providing a reference period corresponding to each of a physical sector address on an optical medium. The system can further include a drive module configured to sense a BEMF zero crossing occurring in a spin motor. A measurement of two of the BEMF zero crossings can be used to calculate a spin period measurement. The reference period can be compared to the spin period measurement to provide a period error value. The system also includes a controller module for providing a control command to drive the spin motor in response to the period error value.

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: A disk storage and handling magazine has a spindle mounted on a bottom cap. Disks are loaded in the magazine by passing the spindle through a hole in the center of the disks. The disks may be separated by spacers to prevent the disks from touching each other. In some embodiments, the magazine includes a tube surrounding the spindle and a removable top cap fitting over the spindle and the tube. The magazine also includes a jacking mechanism that moves up and down the spindle for automatically unloading disks from the magazine. The jacking mechanism has a jacking plate mounted on at least one plug. The at least one plug seats in a hole in the bottom cap of the magazine to form an airtight seal when the jacking mechanism is at the bottom of the spindle.

Abstract: An optical data storage/recording medium is provided with a thin film adjacent a data surface. Potential undesired effects of the presence or thickness of the thin film are adjusted for or compensated for to reduce or eliminate the undesired effects. In one aspect, the (uncoated) physical size of data layer features are adjusted so as to produce desired as-detected sizes, shapes or spacings, after a coating or thin film is present. In one aspect, length and/or width of raised features have an uncoated physical size less than the desired as-detected size. In one aspect, depressed features have uncoated physical dimensions greater than desired as-detected dimensions.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling locked data stored on a storage medium and accessing it through a data storage engine contained within or connected to a host device. A user selects all or part of the data stored on the storage medium to enable. The host device then connects to a server over a network and completes a transaction. The transaction can be any requirement specified by the supplier of the data selected by the user. Once the transaction is complete, the data storage engine connects to the same or a separate server through the host device and receives a piece of information, known as the content key, necessary to decrypt, read, or otherwise make sense of the data selected by the user. The content key may be, for example, part of a decryption key. The content key is combined with other information stored on the storage medium. The combined information is then used to access the data selected by the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminated actuator assembly and the method for making the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is intended for use in miniature personal electronic devices, but could be used in any type of disk drive. The actuator is primarily constructed from strong, stiff, lightweight composite materials. The upper and lower planar elements of the actuator assembly, each comprising multiple composite layers, include a forward portion and a rearward portion. A flexure member, typically positioned between the layers of composite material, allows the forward portion of each planar element to pivot in unison relative to the rear portion of each planar element. In this manner, the position of an optical pick up unit or other read/write device positioned at the distal end of the actuator assembly can be adjusted relative to the surface of a data disk. The composite and flexure planar elements are formed in arrays of multiple component pieces with aligned registration members.

Abstract: An optical medium uses a single structure or format (such as identical materials, layers and the like) for both a region for holding information content-mastered data and a writeable area. In one aspect, a writeable region of a medium with information content-mastered data is used in connection with paying, collecting or accounting for usage or royalties for proprietary intellectual property embodied in or associated with the content. In one embodiment, a key permitting access to some or all content, preferably when combined with a disk serial number, is stored in the writeable area, which is preferably user-inaccessible.

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: Extremely small optical heads are being developed for use in optical storage devices. The heads typically include a light source, a lens and a photodetector array. The beam of light generated by the light source must be aligned precisely with central axis of the lens and with the photodetector array. Because the heads are so small, their components are fixed permanently together; no adjustments are possible after assembly. A system of this invention includes a rotational stage, a pair of X-translation stages, and a pair Y-translation stages. The stages are mounted in a mechanical path between first and second holding devices. One component of the head, which would typically include the light source, is held in the first holding device. Another component, which would typically include the lens, is held in the second holding device. The stages are adjusted until the light beam exits the first component on an axis that coincides with the center of rotation of the rotational stage.

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.