Abstract: An optical microswitch for use with a laser beam comprising a support body and first and second output fibers carried by the body. An electrostatic microactuator is carried by the body and extends in a plane. A micromirror is disposed out of the plane. The microactuator has a mirror holder coupled to the micromirror and at least one comb drive assembly coupled to the mirror holder for driving the micromirror about an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the plane between a first position for reflecting the laser beam to the first output fiber and a second position for reflecting the laser beam to the second output fiber.

Abstract: An optical data storage system 100 utilizes optical fibers 102 for transfer of information to and from storage media 107. The storage media 107 comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers 102 are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared to the prior art, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber 102 is accurately reproduced with reduced noise.

Abstract: An optical data storage system 100 utilizes optical fibers 102 for transfer of information to and from storage media 107. The storage media 107 comprises magneto-optical storage disks. The optical fibers 102 are low-birefringence optical fibers. As compared to the prior art, a polarization state conveyed by the optical fiber 102 is accurately reproduced with reduced noise.

Abstract: An actuator assembly directs a first beam of light towards an optical assembly. A particular angular displacement of the beam of light relative to the optical assembly by the actuator assembly directs the beam of light to exit the optical assembly at a particular output port.

Abstract: A system for maximum magneto-optical data storage system is provided. The system utilizes double-sided first surface magnetically-induced super resolution storage media to provide the ability to access a data mark from a plurality of data marks within an optical spot size of an impinging optical beam of light.

Abstract: Optical switching of light is effected between an input and an output utilizing a low-bandwidth actuator and a hi-bandwidth actuator.

Abstract: A system and method for directly measuring the alignment error in a fiber-optic coupler is disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical switch utilizes a beam deflection mirror. When the beam deflection mirror directs an incident light beam to a particular fiber, the incident light beam may enter the fiber at a location offset from the center of the fiber. When the incident beam is reflected at the opposite end of the fiber, the beam returns and exits the fiber exactly at the center of the fiber. The difference between the entry and exit points results in a return beam path different than the incident beam path. This different return beam path may be used to impinge upon a quadrant detector, whose anode currents may then contain a direct measurement of the distance between the entry and exit points on the fiber.

Abstract: A magneto-optical (MO) data storage system has a flying optical head supported over a MO storage medium, the flying head having channels or grooves formed therein and optical elements disposed within the grooves for directing an incident light beam to the storage medium and for receiving a reflected light beam from the storage medium. The flying head may comprise a two-piece assembly comprising a slider body which flies over the surface of the storage medium, and a separate optics mounting block formed to receive the optical elements and to be supported on the flying head. Preferably, the slider body is L-shaped and provides an angled surface for receiving a micro-machined mirror aligned with optical elements on the optics mounting block and controllable for deflecting the light beam to and from the storage medium.

Abstract: A composite slider, for use in an optical or magneto-optical head that includes an optical assembly, comprises a mounting block that supports optical components, and a body that provides an air bearing surface and that further supports optical components. The slider body and mounting block include channel patterns that define an optical path. The slider mounting block includes an adhesive release channel disposed transversely relative to the optical path. The slider body includes a vertical channel and a lateral channel within which the optical components are disposed.

Abstract: A magneto-optical flying head utilizes a steerable mirror in combination with a light source and a lens to write and read data onto a magneto-optical storage disk. A beam of laser light transmitted from the light source to the optical head is reflected onto a steerable micro-machined folding mirror. The reflected light from the folding mirror is directed through an embedded micro-objective GRIN lens. Fine tracking and short seeks to adjacent tracks are performed by rotating the mirror about an axis of rotation. In this way a focus spot is scanned back and forth in a direction which is approximately parallel to the radial direction of the storage disk.

Abstract: An optical data storage and retrieval system uses a flying head. The flying head is supported on a moving media having information stored in a plurality of stored data locations thereon. Information is stored in each of the plurality of media locations as physical structures capable of modulating the polarization state of incident light into one of two output polarization states. The flying head includes an optical processing assembly which directs an incident light beam having a source polarization state onto the moving media, accessing successive data locations. A reflected light beam having the source polarization state of the incident light beam modulated by a respective polarization modifying data location into one of the output polarization states is received by the flying head.

Abstract: An optical system and method for selective transmission of light between a source of light and a set of storage disks along an optical path that includes at least one individual optical fiber. In an optical system and method that uses a magneto-optical storage medium, single-mode polarization maintaining optical fibers and a compensator may be included. Alternatively, the optical system and method may include an optical switch.

Abstract: An assembly for accessing data bits in storage locations on a succession of radially separated tracks on a rotating multilayer MSR disc comprising a storage layer and a readout layer in combination with a slider flyable over a surface of the disc with the slider supporting at least one optical element coupled to the assembly, the optical element directing light to a region of the disc including one or more storage locations, with the optical element comprising an optical fiber and a micro-machined mirror supported on the slider and adapted to direct the light to storage locations on the recording layer of the disc, a conductive coil is coupled to and supported on the assembly, a passage of current through the conductor coil is sufficient to establish a magnetic field which is coupled to the disc and in cooperation with the light stores information at one of the storage locations on the storage layer, and a magneto-resistive element is coupled to the assembly, the magneto-resistive element cooperates with the

Abstract: An optical system and method for transmission of light between a RF modulated source of light and a magneto-optical storage location along an optical path including: orthogonally aligned first and second single-mode polarization maintaining optical fibers, a flying magneto-optical head, and a quarter-wave plate positioned on the flying magneto-optical head.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) optical disk drive calibrates the write and preheat pulse patterns generated by the laser to a particular media and media condition. This is accomplished by either reading information prewritten on the media, which indicates the expected thermal interference, or by directly measuring the thermal interference from a calibration sequence recorded when new media is inserted into the disk drive. The direct measurement of thermal interference is performed by first trial writing a specific calibration sequence of marks and gaps on the media. This calibration sequence, called the E(th) sequence, is then read back and the thermal interference value, E(th), is calculated. The specific write and preheat pulse patterns are then adjusted, as a function of the calculated value of E(th), by selecting new sets of write and preheat pulse patterns.

Abstract: A laser calibration apparatus and method first calibrates a maximum laser power level. Then lesser laser power levels are calibrated. A separate calibration pattern is used for calibrating each of the laser power levels. The calibration patterns used for the lesser laser power levels include the calibrated maximum laser power level. Such inclusion established a fixed relationship between the maximum laser power level and all of the lesser laser power levels. The calibration is performed on an optical disk, preferably of the magneto optical type. The calibrated laser power levels are then used to record pulse-width modulated signals.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) optical disk drive uses a modulator-controlled laser to emit the laser beam in a highly pulsed manner. The beam may be pulsed on any given write clock period and at any of several different power levels. The pulsed laser writes essentially circular submarks of substantially the same size on the disk when the power level is sufficiently high. The various PWM mark run-lengths are recorded on the disk either as a single isolated submark in the case of the shortest run-length or as a series of contiguous or overlapping submarks in the case of longer run-lengths. During the intervening PWM gap run-lengths the optical disk is preheated by a series of pulses at a power level below that which would write a submark on the disk.

Abstract: An optical disk data storage system uses two lasers to write data on the disk, preferably using pulse width modulation (PWM). The lasers direct two independently controllable laser beams to the disk to form two spots that are spaced apart a fixed distance along the data track. Each laser is independently controlled by a modulator that causes the laser to emit the laser beam in a highly pulsed manner. The two laser beams can be simultaneously and independently pulsed along a single track and each beam may be pulsed on any given write clock period and at any of several different power levels. The pulsed lasers write spots of substantially the same size on the disk. The PWM run lengths are recorded on the disk as marks comprising either a single isolated spot or a series of contiguous or overlapping spots. The pulsing of the two lasers is synchronously interleaved so that either adjacent marks (mark-interleaved writing) or adjacent mark edges (edge-interleaved writing) are alternately written by the two lasers.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for canceling cross-talk in a data read signal from an optical data storage medium. The system includes three AD converters for receiving read signals from three read sensors, and the read signals respectively represent data from a center data track and its two adjacent side data tracks on an optical data storage disk. The digitized signals are sent to a skew compensator to remove time skew between the signals. Then, the amplitudes represented by the side track signals are adjusted, and the adjusted side track signals are subtracted from the center track signal to cancel cross-talk in the center track signal which is attributable to data contained in the side data tracks. The center track signal is then equalized to account for the frequency response of the center track read sensor.

Abstract: An optical data storage system records pulse width modulated data as a series of contiguous and overlapping circular marks. A minimum number of circular marks are used to record the desired run length. Circular marks which overlap by greater or equal to one half the diameter of the circular mark are recorded using two different laser power levels. The result is that thermal buildup in the medium is kept to a minimum and the edge transitions are accurately positioned.