Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are provided for a tunable laser device. The tunable laser device may include a tunable Bragg reflector that allows its wavelength to be tuned via temperature and/or pressure. This Bragg reflector may include holographic material in which a Bragg grating may be formed comprising parallel fringes of alternating index of refractions. Temperature and/or pressure changes may be effected in the Bragg reflector by, for example, a thermoelectric cooler and/or piezo transducer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to a holographic system. Generally, aspects of the present invention are directed to allocating power of a light beam generated by a coherent light source among the various discrete light beams used in a holographic system. Specifically, a variable optical divider is incorporated into an optical steering subsystem of the holographic memory system to redirect the coherent light beam into one or more discrete light beams, and to dynamically allocate power of the coherent light beam among the discrete light beams.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided or use with a light source which generates a light beam. These systems may include a detector which detects light beam information and which determines whether multiple modes are present in the light beam so that the light source may be adjusted. These systems may further include a beam splitting device, such as an optical wedge, to provide two sample beams that intersect to provide a fringe pattern. The detector may then detect this fringe pattern and compute a visibility value that may be used to determine whether multiple modes are present.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical data storage medium with enhanced contrast. The optical data storage medium includes a substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces. A first metal/alloy layer is formed overlaying the first surface of the substrate. The first metal/alloy layer is formed from tin, antimony and element selected from the group consisting of indium, germanium, aluminum, and zinc. After the first metal/alloy layer is formed, a first dielectric layer is formed overlaying the first metal/alloy layer. This dielectric layer is formed from silicon oxynitride. The first metal/alloy layer is positioned between the substrate and the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are provided for a tunable laser device. The tunable laser device may include a tunable Bragg reflector that allows its wavelength to be tuned via temperature and/or pressure. This Bragg reflector may include holographic material in which a Bragg grating may be formed comprising parallel fringes of alternating index of refractions. Temperature and/or pressure changes may be effected in the Bragg reflector by, for example, a thermoelectric cooler and/or piezo transducer.

Abstract: Micro lenses are fabricated using processes which operate on multiple lenses at a time. In one embodiment, wafer-scale processing includes employing photolithography for defining gray-scale masks which permit relatively smooth or continuous curvatures of lens surfaces to be formed by, e.g., reactive ion etching. Processes and materials are used which achieve desired etching at a sufficiently rapid rate such as etching to a depth of about 200 micrometers in less than about 10 hours. Wafer-scale molding processes can also be used. Diffractive features can be formed on or adjacent lens surfaces to provide functions such as dispersion correction. Also, sub-wavelength scale features may be etched to provide quarter-wave plate functionality, birefringence, anti-reflective functions and the like. Structures such as mounting rings and/or crash stops can be formed integrally with the lens body, eliminating the need to glue or otherwise couple separate components.

Abstract: An optical disk has a multi-layer tuned optical coating overlying both small bumps to store pre-recorded information and lands onto which information is written to and read. The optical coating includes a phase-change metal/alloy layer formed over the disk substrate and a dielectric layer formed over the phase-change layer. An optical disk according to the invention has specific topological features and sizes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of attaching components of an optical head. In one embodiment, first and second optical assemblies of the optical head are positioned adjacent to each other. The first optical assembly may include a first optical element, and the second optical assembly may include a second optical element. Both of the first and second optical elements are configured to transmit light for reading or writing data to an optical data storage media. The position of a first optical assembly is adjusted with respect to the second optical assembly until the first optical element and second optical elements are in optical communication with each other. Thereafter, the first and second optical assemblies are rigidly connected while the first and second optical elements are in optical communication with each other.

Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.

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 medium including a substrate and information content portions is provided. The optical medium is preferably a first-surface medium in which a read light beam during a read operation impinges first on the information content portions of the medium before it impinges on the substrate. The information content portions can include both read-only and writeable areas. The information content portions containing both read- only and writeable areas can be made from the same material or composition. The optical medium diameter is no greater than about 40 mm. The thickness of the optical medium is no greater than about 0.6 mm. When joining a hub assembly to the medium, a portion of the medium, such as a track, is utilized for alignment purposes. The ratio of the total height of the hub assembly to the thickness of the optical storage medium is at least about 1.5. The hub assembly can include a magnetic coupling for use in connecting the optical medium to an optical drive spindle.

Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.

Abstract: Micro lenses are fabricated using processes which operate on multiple lenses at a time. In one embodiment, wafer-scale processing includes employing photolithography for defining gray-scale masks which permit relatively smooth or continuous curvatures of lens surfaces to be formed by, e.g., reactive ion etching. Processes and materials are used which achieve desired etching at a sufficiently rapid rate such as etching to a depth of about 200 micrometers in less than about 10 hours. Wafer-scale molding processes can also be used. Diffractive features can be formed on or adjacent lens surfaces to provide functions such as dispersion correction. Also, sub-wavelength scale features may be etched to provide quarter-wave plate functionality, birefringence, anti-reflective functions and the like. Structures such as mounting rings and/or crash stops can be formed integrally with the lens body, eliminating the need to glue or otherwise couple separate components.

Abstract: A beam shaper lens or other optic is positioned with respect to a laser diode or other laser emitter in such a way as to eliminate an air gap, or other low-index region, between the emitter and the beam shaper optic. In one embodiment, a planar emitter is in direct face-to-face contact with a planar surface of a beam shaper lens. The beam, as it exits the laser source, directly enters the lens or another relatively high-index medium, compared to the index of air. By reducing the number of interfaces which the beam passes through and/or the difference in index across such interfaces, beam shaping can be achieved while reducing or eliminating interfacial reflections, refractions, or diffractions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of attaching components of an optical head. In one embodiment, first and second optical assemblies of the optical head are positioned adjacent to each other. The first optical assembly may include a first optical element, and the second optical assembly may include a second optical element. Both of the first and second optical elements are configured to transmit light for reading or writing data to an optical data storage media. The position of a first optical assembly is adjusted with respect to the second optical assembly until the first optical element and second optical elements are in optical communication with each other. Thereafter, the first and second optical assemblies are rigidly connected while the first and second optical elements are in optical communication with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for attaching components of an optical head. In one embodiment, a substrate and a light source assembly are positioned adjacent to each other. The light source assembly is configured to generate light for reading or writing data to an optical data storage media. The light source assembly includes a first and second alignment marks, and the substrate includes first and second alignment marks. The position of the light source assembly is adjusted with respect to the substrate until a line extending between the first and second alignment marks of the light source assembly is substantially parallel to a line extending between the first and second alignment marks of the substrate. Thereafter, a rigid connection is created between the light source assembly and the substrate.

Abstract: An optical disk has a multi-layer tuned optical coating overlying both small bumps to store pre-recorded information and lands onto which information is written to and read. The optical coating includes a phase-change metal/alloy layer formed over the disk substrate and a dielectric layer formed over the phase-change layer. An optical disk according to the invention has specific topological features and sizes.

Abstract: A user-removable optical data storage system is provided. A rotatable first-surface medium is enveloped in a cartridge. The cartridge provides relatively large data capacity such as about 0.25 Gbytes or more despite a relatively small size such as about 35 mm×35 mm×3 mm. Preferably the cartridge substantially seals the data surfaces of the medium when the cartridge is withdrawn from a drive and at least a portion of one surface is automatically exposed to the objective of an optics arm when said cartridge is inserted in the drive. Tracking involves rotating an optic arm about an axis parallel to the disk rotation axis. Focus can involve pivoting the arm about an axis parallel to the disk surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical data storage medium with enhanced contrast. The optical data storage medium includes a substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces. A first metal/alloy layer is formed overlaying the first surface of the substrate. The first metal/alloy layer is formed from tin, antimony and element selected from the group consisting of indium, germanium, aluminum, and zinc. After the first metal/alloy layer is formed, a first dielectric layer is formed overlaying the first metal/alloy layer. This dielectric layer is formed from silicon oxynitride. The first metal/alloy layer is positioned between the substrate and the first dielectric layer.