Removable optical storage device and system

A method for optically recording data, comprising:

• providing a user-removable cartridge having a optical first-surface recording medium mounted therein for rotation about a first axis, configured to provide optical access to at least a first arcuate region of said medium,
• positioning said cartridge in a location adjacent an optical arm, said optical arm having an objective end and rotatable about a second axis,;
• rotating said optical arm about said second axis to position said objective end aligned with a plurality of desired arcuate positions along said arcuate region;
• rotating said medium about said first axis to position a plurality of desired medium positions in alignment with said objective end;
• and
• providing laser light along said optical arm to said objective end for diverting from said objective end to said plurality of desired medium positions.

A method for optically reading comprising:

• providing a user-removable cartridge having a optical first-surface pre-recorded medium mounted therein for rotation about a first axis, configured to provide optical access to at least a first arcuate region of said medium, positioning said cartridge in a location adjacent an optical arm, said optical arm having an objective end and rotatable about a second axis;
• rotating said optical arm about said second axis to position said objective end aligned with a plurality of desired arcuate positions along said arcuate region;
• rotating said medium about said first axis to position a plurality of desired medium positions in alignment with said objective end;
• and
• providing laser light along said optical arm to said objective end for diverting from said objective end to said plurality of desired medium positions;
• and
• detecting at least a first characteristic of light reflected from said desired medium positions.

A user-removable optical data recording cartridge comprising:

• a first-surface optical recording medium having at least a first optically readable surface;
• means for covering said medium, so as to permit rotation of said medium about a first axis;
• means for permitting optical access to a portion of said medium for reading data on said medium as said medium is rotated;
• wherein said portion of said medium includes at least an arcuate region to accommodate light from an objective end of an optics arm which is rotatable about a axis, different from said first axis.

Apparatus for optically recording data, comprising:

• a cartridge having a optical first-surface recording medium mounted therein for rotation about a first axis, and defining a first shutter movable, via a mechanical linkage, from a first position, substantially sealing said medium in said cartridge, and a second position, exposing at least a first arcuate region of said medium,
• means for assisting in positioning said cartridge in a location adjacent an optical arm, said optical arm having an objective end and rotatable about a second axis, wherein, in response to said positioning, said linkage automatically moves said shutter to said second position;
• means for rotating said optical arm about said second axis to position said objective end aligned with a plurality of desired arcuate positions along said arcuate region;
• means for rotating said medium about said first axis to position a plurality of desired medium positions in alignment with said objective end;
• and
• means for providing laser light along said optical arm to said objective end for diverting from said objective end to said plurality of desired medium positions.

Apparatus for reading optical data, comprising:

• a cartridge having an optical first-surface medium mounted therein for rotation about a first axis, and defining a first window exposing at least a first arcuate region of said medium, means for assisting in positioning said cartridge in a location adjacent an optical arm, said optical arm having an objective end and rotatable about a second axis;
• means for rotating said optical arm about said second axis to position said objective end along said arcuate region;
• means for rotating said medium about said first axis to position a plurality of desired medium positions in alignment with said objective end;
• means for providing laser light along said optical arm to said objective end for diverting from said objective end to said plurality of desired medium positions;
• and
• means for detecting changes in at least a first optical characteristic of light reflected from said medium.

A drive for reading data on an optical media disk, said disk defining a plane, comprising:

• a spin drive for rotating said disk about a first axis;
• an arm, having an objective end, mounted for rotating said arm about a tracking axis to position said objective end in alignment with any of a plurality of radial positions of said disk, said tracking axis being substantially parallel to and spaced from said first axis said objective end being spaced from said disk a distance of at least about 50 micrometers;
• and
• a laser light source configured to provide laser light along a path to said objective end of said arm and thence to said disk;
• and
• an optical detector which detects light reflected from said disk.

An optical data drive, comprising:

• a spin drive for rotating an optical media disk about a first axis, said disk defining a plane;
• an arm, having an objective end, said arm movable to position said objective end in alignment with any of a plurality of radial positions of said disk;
• a laser light source configured to provide laser light along a path to said objective end of said arm and thence to said disk;
• and
• a universal serial bus data interface for communicating data between said drive and a host device.

An optics assembly for use in conjunction with an optical data disk, comprising:

• a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL);
• a light detector;
• and
• an optical relay system which guides at least some laser light from said VCSEL to a selectable region of said optical data disk and which guides at least a portion of reflected light from said optical data disk to said light detector.

Apparatus for use in connection with optical data storage, comprising:

• a storage medium wherein data bits written thereon bits can be distinguished using reflected light, reflected from said storage medium;
• a laser light source;
• a detector;
• an optical relay system which guides at least some laser light from said laser light source to a selectable region of said storage medium and which guides at least a portion of said reflected light from said storage medium to said detector;
• wherein said laser light source and said detector are formed on a single integrated circuit substrate.

Apparatus for optical data storage comprising:

• a rotatable, user-removable disk;
• a drive, couplable to said disk, for rotating said disk about a first axis;
• an optics arm having at least a laser source, a detector, an objective and a focus actuator, and defining an objective end and a second end;
• a tracking actuator, coupled to said arm to controllably rotate said arm about a second axis, substantially parallel to, but spaced from said first axis, to position said objective end at desired radial locations adjacent said disk.

Apparatus for optical data storage comprising:

• a rotatable, user-removable disk;
• a drive, couplable to said disk, for rotating said disk about a first axis;
• an optics system having at least a laser source, a detector, and an objective;
• a focus actuator for moving at least a portion of said optics system for adjusting focus of light from said laser source on said disk, wherein said moving is performed while maintaining at least said laser source and said objective in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to one another.

Apparatus for optical data storage comprising:

• a user-removable disk, rotatable about a first axis, to define a disk plane;
• a drive, couplable to said disk, for rotating said disk about a first axis;
• an optics arm having at least a laser source, a detector, and an objective;
• a focus actuator for controllably pivoting said optical arm about an axis substantially parallel to said disk plane for adjusting focus of light from said laser source on said disk.

Apparatus for optical data storage comprising:

• a user-removable disk, rotatable about a first axis, to define a disk plane;
• a drive, couplable to said disk, for rotating said disk about a first axis;
• an optics arm having at least a laser source, a detector, and an objective;
• a focus actuator for controllably translating said optical arm in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis for adjusting focus of light from said laser source on said disk.