Low-friction slide apparatus for optical disc translation stage

A low-friction slide apparatus comprising:

• a rail;
• flat elongated strips having a multiplicity of pores, said strips affixed at one surface thereof to said rail on each of two substantially orthognal sides along the longitudinal dimension of said rail;
• said rail further having passages disposed along its longitudinal dimension in communication with said strips at said surfaces of affixation;
• means for providing pressurized air into said passage, said air passing through said pores of said strips;
• a movable member slidably mounted on said rail, said movable member having substantially orthogonal surfaces adjacent said two substantially orthogonal sides of said rail;
• and
• means for providing attractive forces directed normally between each of said two sides of said rail and said corresponding adjacent surfaces of said movable member, said attractive forces causing compression of said air exiting said pores, said compressed air providing low-friction bearing films between said two sides of said rail and said corresponding adjacent surfaces of said movable member, wherein said means for providing attractive forces further comprises means coupled to said rail for drawing a vacuum between said rail at said two sides and said movable member at said corresponding adjacent surfaces, said movable member further including cavities in said corresponding adjacent surfaces proximate said means for drawing a vacuum.

In an optical data processing system for use in recording or retrieving information signals, said information signals being recorded in tracks on a surface of an optical disc record, an apparatus comprising:

• a light source for providing a beam of light;
• a rail fixedly held at two spaced-apart positions on the longitudinal dimension of said rail;
• strips having a mulitplicity of pores, said strips affixed at one surface thereof to said rail on each of two substantially orthogonal sides along the longitudinal dimension of said rail;
• said rail further having passages disposed along its longitudinal dimension in communication with said strips at said surfaces of affixation;
• means for providing pressurized air into said passages, said air passing through said pores of said strips;
• a movable member slidably mounted on said rail between said spaced-apart positions, said movable member including means for directing said beam of light on said surface of said optical disc record, said movable member being adapted to move radially with respect to said disc record and generally parallel to said surface, said movable member having substantially orthogonal surfaces adjacent said two substantially orthogonal sides of said rail;
• means for effecting sliding motion of said movable member relative to said rail;
• and
• means for providing attractive forces directed normally between each of said two sides of said rail and said corresponding adjacent surfaces of said movable member, said attractive forces causing compression of said air exiting said pores, said compressed air providing low-friction bearing films between said side of said rail and said corresponding adjacent surfaces of said movable member.

In an optical data processing system for use in recording or retrieving information signals, said information signals being recorded in tracks on a surface of an optical disc record, an apparatus comprising:

• a light source for providing a beam of light;
• a rail fixedly held at two spaced-apart positions on the longitudinal dimension of said rail;
• flat strips having a multiplicity of pores, said strips affixed at one surface thereof to said rail on each of two substantially orthogonal sides along the longitudinal dimension of said rail;
• said rail further having passages disposed along its longitudinal dimension in communication with said strips at said surfaces of affixation;
• means for providing pressurized air into said passages, said air passing through said pores of said strips;
• a movable member slidably mounted on said rail between said spaced-apart positions, said movable member including means for directing said beam of light on said surface of said optical disc record, said movable member being adapted to move radially with respect to said disc record and generally parallel to said surface, said movable member having substantially orthogonal surfaces adjacent said to substantially orthogonal sides of said rail;
• means for effecting sliding motion of said movable member relative to said rail;
• and
• means for providing attractive forces directed normally between each of said two sides of said rail and said corresponding adjacent surfaces of said movable member, said attractive forces causing compression of said air exiting said pores, said compressed air providing low-friction bearing films between said two sides of said rail and said corresponding adjacent surfaces of said movable member, wherein said means for providing attractive forces further comprises means coupled to said rail for drawing a vacuum between said rail at said two sides and said movable member at said corresponding adjacent surfaces, said movable member further having cavities in said corresponding adjacent surfaces proximate said means for drawing a vacuum.