Patents by Inventor Mark L. Rhoades

Mark L. Rhoades has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4899327
    Abstract: Error correction in a feedback servo system. The feedback servo loop in, for example, a head positioning circuit in an optical disk data recording and retrieval system is provided with means for forcing the feedback signal to zero when the head is positioned at best focus as determined by a peak in the laser monitoring diode. The head in such a system must be dynamically maintained at a best focus position but, through use and transporting, the alignment of the head position error detecting system can be disturbed. In some cases, the loop circuit parameters may drift from their original values. To correct for errors introduced from such causes, the head is positioned at best focus and the focus error (head position error) signal is sensed. A correction system forces the sensed value to zero, e.g, by adjusting the gain of amplifiers used in the feedback loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keith A. Bates, Russell A. Budd, Millard A. Habegger, Mark L. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 4823330
    Abstract: Error compensation in a feedback servo system. The feedback servo loop in, for example, a head positioning circuit in an optical disk data recording and retrieval system is provided with a compensation signal to correct for misalignment or other errors. The head in such a system must be dynamically maintained at a best focus position but, through use and transporting, the alignment of the head position error detecting system can be disturbed. In some cases, the loop circuit parameters may drift from their original values. To correct for errors introduced from such causes, the head is positioned at best focus and the focus error (head position error) signal is sensed. A correction signal is supplied which cancels out the sensed value while the system is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nelson K. Arter, Mark G. Call, Mark L. Rhoades