Mirror position sensor and associated motor for improved track selection in optical data disk system
AssigneeBurroughs Corporation
InventorsEdward V. LaBudde, Jeffrey E. Niven
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a laser recording arrangement including a pivoting mirror adapted for redirecting the laser beam in a controlled scan mode plus an associated electro-optical position monitor for monitoring mirror orientation, with a particular form of magnetic motor provided to activate mirror-pivoting.
Claims20
An improved apparatus to selectively and controllably pivot a reflector means, the apparatus including:
- magnetic motor means comprising at least one low-reluctance magnetic circuit means formed to surround a prescribed "pivot-zone" including the reflector means, plus associated pole means and coil means;
- the reflector means being mounted pivotingly and relatively centrally in this zone and including magnetizable means;
- said pole means being disposed opposingly about the so-mounted reflector means, in low-reluctance coupling with said circuit means;
- said coil means being disposed about the reflector means and in inductive-relation with said pole means whereby a prescribed pulse of coil-current causes an associated pivoting of the reflector means.
A method of providing apparatus for monitoring the pivoting of reflector means, the method including:
- providing magnetic motor means adapted to controllably pivot the reflector means;
- surrounding said motor means and reflector means with unitary housing means adapted to mount the reflector means;
- also providing optical monitor means within said housing means, the monitor means including source means and related detector means disposed in operative association, the source means adapted and positioned to project a beam at a prescribed portion of the reflector means;
- the associated detector means being arranged and adapted to receive this beam and to responsively generate a "pivot-signal" whose variance corresponds to said pivoting;
- all said means being so mounted and disposed in said housing means as to operationally isolate from optical and magnetic interference.
A method of providing magnetic motive means to pivot a prescribed low-mass load including a prescribed pivot plate, this method comprising:
- surrounding the plate with magnetic circuit means including a pair of opposed, flux-director portions adapted to project magnetic flux across the plate between themselves;
- and also providing associated inductive means adapted to be selectively current-energized and thereby generate such flux in the circuit means.
Magnetic motive means arranged to pivot a prescribed low-mass load including a prescribed pivot plate, this means comprising:
- magnetic circuit means surrounding the plate and including a pair of opposed, flux-director portions adapted to project magnetic flux across the plate between themselves;
- and also associated inductive means disposed and adapted to be selectively current-energized and thereby generate such flux in the circuit means;
- said load being pivotably mounted on torsional flexure means and adapted for relatively "single-axis" resilience, with high stiffness otherwise, this plate being thus adapted to enhance flux-coupling and efficiency of said motive means, and reducing stray flux thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.