Abstract: Optical pickup 24 for operation in the far-field and in the near-field mode comprising a movable part 26 having an objective lens 2 comprising a solid immersion lens 4 and a multifocal lens 6, which are both disposed on a common optical axis A. The multifocal lens 6 comprises a central zone 8 and a peripheral zone 10 being circumferential to the central zone 8. The peripheral zone is adapted to constitute an optical system for a far-field mode. The central zone 8 of the multifocal lens 6 together with the solid immersion lens 4 are adapted to constitute an optical system for a near-field mode. The solid immersion lens and the multifocal lens are adapted to be moved in unison.

Abstract: Optical pickup 24 for operation in the far-field and in the near-field mode comprising a movable part 26 having an objective lens 2 comprising a solid immersion lens 4 and a multifocal lens 6, which are both disposed on a common optical axis A. The multifocal lens 6 comprises a central zone 8 and a peripheral zone 10 being circumferential to the central zone 8. The peripheral zone is adapted to constitute an optical system for a far-field mode. The central zone 8 of the multifocal lens 6 together with the solid immersion lens 4 are adapted to constitute an optical system for a near-field mode. The solid immersion lens and the multifocal lens are adapted to be moved in unison.

Abstract: The device comprises a scanning apparatus with a pickup for reading and/or recording data on a storage medium, a holding fixture for providing a parking position for the scanning apparatus, and a magnetic drive actuator for a movement of the scanning apparatus, wherein the holding fixture comprises a heat sink for cooling down the pickup. The scanning apparatus is in particular of a swing arm type and the pickup is an optical pickup comprising a laser diode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a slider having a constant flying height for an optical drive which is operated at a constant angular velocity. It is an object of the invention to propose a simple and cost-effective solution to allow the flying height of the slider to be kept virtually constant over the entire area of a storage medium, despite a variable linear velocity during operation at a constant angular velocity. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a drive for a storage medium which is driven at a constant angular velocity, having a slider which is attached by means of a spring arm to a carriage and floats on an air cushion above or under the rotating storage medium, and having a guide which guides the carriage relative to the storage medium, in which the guide is arranged such that the attachment point of the spring arm to the carriage is guided closer to the surface of the storage medium as the radius of the storage medium increases.

Abstract: An actuator for accessing moving storage media carrying substantially parallel information tracks has a suspension wire holder, a lens holder with a lens, and suspension wires connecting the suspension wire holder and the lens holder. According to the invention the suspension wire holder and the lens holder are constituted by a suspension wire holder part and a lens holder part of a single actuator blank made from insulating material, and are arranged coplanarly relative to each other the same way as they were while still connected to the actuator blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a loading mechanism for loading an interchangeable disc-like storage medium into a housing, in which a disk drive having a holder for the storage medium and an optical scanning device for the latter are arranged. It achieves the object of providing a loading mechanism which is space-saving and permits loading and unloading which takes care of the motor of the disk drive and of the storage medium. For this purpose, this loading mechanism is formed from a loading table for the storage medium which can be pivoted between a loading position and a deposition position on the holder, and an actuating apparatus for said loading table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a slider having a constant flying height for an optical drive which is operated at a constant angular velocity. It is an object of the invention to propose a simple and cost-effective solution to allow the flying height of the slider to be kept virtually constant over the entire area of a storage medium, despite a variable linear velocity during operation at a constant angular velocity. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a drive for a storage medium which is driven at a constant angular velocity, having a slider which is attached by means of a spring arm to a carriage and floats on an air cushion above or under the rotating storage medium, and having a guide which guides the carriage relative to the storage medium, in which the guide is arranged such that the attachment point of the spring arm to the carriage is guided closer to the surface of the storage medium as the radius of the storage medium increases.