Beam balancer for optical data writing
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsEsa Tapani Raikkonen, Nikolai Chekurov, Risto Heikki Mutikainen, Anton Viljami Autere
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Abstract
A method for balancing pulse energies across a series of write beams in an optical data writer comprises: (a) for each write beam of the series, applying an independently controllable phase delay to the write beam, thereby changing the polarization of the write beam; and (b) for each write beam with changed polarization in the series, directing a selected plane-polarized component of the write beam through a data modulator and onto an optical substrate. In this method the data modulator modulates each write beam of the series irrespective of the tolerance across the series of write beams.
Claims20
A method for balancing pulse energies across a series of write beams in an optical data writer, wherein the pulse energies are equal to within a tolerance, the method comprising:
- for each write beam of the series, applying an independently controllable phase delay to the write beam, thereby changing a polarization of the write beam;
- and
- for each write beam with changed polarization in the series, directing a selected plane-polarized component of the write beam through a data modulator and onto an optical substrate,
- wherein the data modulator modulates each write beam of the series irrespective of the tolerance.
An optical data writer comprising:
- a laser configured to emit pulsed radiation;
- a beam splitter configured to divide the pulsed radiation into a series of write beams, wherein pulse energies of each of the write beams are equal to within a tolerance;
- a beam balancer configured to balance the pulse energies across the series of write beams, the beam balancer including a thermo-optical phase-retarder array and a polarization selector;
- a data modulator configured to modulate independently the pulse energies of each write beam of the series at a modulation frequency;
- and
- a scanner configured to vary a relative position of each write beam of the series relative to an optical substrate.
A method for making a beam balancer of an optical data writer, the method comprising:
- forming a series of waveplates side-by-side in a birefringent optical substrate;
- for each waveplate of the series, depositing a thin-film resistor on at least one side of the birefringent optical substrate, in intimate thermal contact with the waveplate;
- for each waveplate of the series, forming a thermally insulating zone around the thin-film resistor of the waveplate;
- and
- arranging a polarization selector optically downstream of the birefringent optical substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.