Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical transducer positioned adjacent to a storage medium and including a waveguide and a grating for coupling light into the waveguide, a light source transmitting light to the grating, and a detector for detecting a portion of the light, wherein the detected portion of the light has a magnitude that varies in response to the amount of light coupled into the waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a substrate separated from the storage medium by a gap, and a plurality of spacers defining a distance between the storage medium and the substrate, wherein the spacers include a curved end.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a movable member, and first and second actuators coupled to the movable member at positions offset from a first axis that passes through a centroid of the movable member. A controller independently controls the first and second actuators to exert a first force on the movable member in a direction generally parallel to the first axis, thereby controlling both linear and rotational orientation of the movable member. The apparatus can further include third and fourth actuators coupled to the movable member at positions offset from a second axis that passes through the centroid of the movable member, and the controller can independently controlling third and fourth actuators.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable member, first and second rigid members positioned on opposite sides of the movable member, a first suspension assembly connected between a base and the first and second rigid members, a second suspension assembly connected between the first and second rigid members and the movable member, first and second actuators coupled to the first and second rigid members along a first central axis, and third and fourth actuators coupled to the movable member along a second central axis.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of electrodes separated from each other, and a support structure positioned in the gap for supporting some of the electrodes. An apparatus comprising a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of posts positioned in the gap, a layer of low friction material positioned on one end of each of the posts, is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a load beam, a slider coupled to the load beam by a gimbal assembly and including an optical transducer, an optical fiber for transmitting light directly toward the transducer, and a mounting structure for adjusting the position of an end of the optical fiber. Data storage devices that include the apparatus are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A head assembly comprises a slider including a transducer and a coupler for coupling electromagnetic radiation into the transducer, and an optical bench positioned adjacent to the slider, the optical bench including a mirror and a lens for directing electromagnetic radiation onto the mirror, wherein electromagnetic radiation passing through the lens is reflected by the mirror and focused onto the coupler. A microactuator can be included to move at least a portion of the optical bench. Disc drives that include the head assembly and a method of making the head assembly are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a stationary light source, and a moveable mirror mounted at a pivot axis of the arm for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. An actuator can be provided for rotating the moveable mirror through an angle of about one half of an angle of rotation of the moveable arm.

Abstract: A track accessing mechanism includes a track accessing arm actuable by a primary actuation device for accessing concentric data tracks on a storage medium and at least one slider attached to the track accessing arm. The at least one slider includes a servo head configured to read positional information from a plurality of continuous, concentric rings radially spaced apart from each other on a storage medium and a data head configured to read and write user data to the least one concentric data track. At least a portion of each ring includes servo information. The at least one data track is positioned between each continuous, concentric ring on the storage medium.

Abstract: A track accessing mechanism includes a track accessing arm actuable by a primary actuation device for accessing concentric data tracks on a storage medium and at least one slider attached to the track accessing arm. The at least one slider includes a servo head configured to read positional information from a plurality of continuous, concentric rings radially spaced apart from each other on a storage medium and a data head configured to read and write user data to the least one concentric data track. At least a portion of each ring includes servo information. The at least one data track is positioned between each continuous, concentric ring on the storage medium.

Abstract: In a recording transducer, radiant energy is incident to be coupled to a recording head via a path defined in the support (e.g., slider) for the head. The radiant energy may be directed via a fiber or lens (e.g., MEMS lens) through a channel defined in the slider. The slider may be keyed to accept the fiber or lens. The process for fabricating the channel in the slider the channel may include wafer level processing to form holes in the slider, to accept the fiber or lens. Wafer level MEM optical processing may be deployed to form integrated MEMS lens structures for an array of sliders.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first array of electrodes and a second array of electrodes separated by a gap, and a controller for imposing a voltage on a plurality of electrodes in the first array of electrodes, wherein the magnitude of the voltage changes in response to an operating parameter of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a movable member, and first and second actuators coupled to the movable member at positions offset from a first axis that passes through a centroid of the movable member. A controller independently controls the first and second actuators to exert a first force on the movable member in a direction generally parallel to the first axis, thereby controlling both linear and rotational orientation of the movable member. The apparatus can further include third and fourth actuators coupled to the movable member at positions offset from a second axis that passes through the centroid of the movable member, and the controller can independently controlling third and fourth actuators.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable member, first and second rigid members positioned on opposite sides of the movable member, a first suspension assembly connected between a base and the first and second rigid members, a second suspension assembly connected between the first and second rigid members and the movable member, first and second actuators coupled to the first and second rigid members along a first central axis, and third and fourth actuators coupled to the movable member along a second central axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a load beam, a slider coupled to the load beam by a gimbal assembly and including an optical transducer, an optical fiber for transmitting light directly toward the transducer, and a mounting structure for adjusting the position of an end of the optical fiber. Data storage devices that include the apparatus are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of electrodes separated from each other, and a support structure positioned in the gap for supporting some of the electrodes. An apparatus comprising a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of posts positioned in the gap, a layer of low friction material positioned on one end of each of the posts, is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a substrate separated from the storage medium by a gap, and a plurality of spacers defining a distance between the storage medium and the substrate, wherein the spacers include a curved end.

Abstract: A suspension arm for an optical transducer comprises a load beam, a slider coupled to the load beam by a gimbal assembly and including an optical transducer positioned adjacent to an end of the slider facing a pivot point of the suspension arm, and an optical fiber for transmitting light toward the transducer, wherein an end of the optical fiber is positioned adjacent to the transducer such that light emitted from the fiber passes directly to the transducer. Disc drives that include the suspension arm, and a method of transmitting light to an optical transducer, are also included.

Abstract: A structure and method for an optical switch is provided that includes providing sidewall electrodes with steerable micro-mirrors to position and control micro-mirror movement. The structure and method includes using the sidewall electrodes in conjunction with electrodes underlying a micro-mirror to sense capacitance present between a micro-mirror and underlying electrodes and/or sidewall electrodes, and driving the electrodes underlying the micro-mirror and the sidewall electrodes to move the micro-mirror into an angular position. The electrode structures and methods of driving them may be used in systems with closed loop feedback control to reduce transient mirror settling time and provide substantial immunity to system perturbations when micro-mirrors switch an optical signal from an input fiber to an output fiber of the optical switch, or when a micro-mirror is held at an angular position over long time scales.