Optical tape recorder using a resonant flexure scanner
AssigneeCrea Products Inc.
InventorDaniel Gelbart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical tape recorder uses a resonant flexure scanner to scan across the width of optical tape in a straight or nearly straightline. The use of flexure eliminates bearings in the scanner design and lowers cost. High data rate is achieved by using a multi-channel laser diode array for writing, imaged by a single moving lens mounted on the scanner. The use of a highly resonant scanner enables to interpolate the position of the lens by knowing the amplitude and frequency of the scanner. The flexing part of the scanner is a single flat spring or a combination of flat springs arranged to generate linear motion.
Claims7
An optical recorder for data storage comprising:
- an array of laser diodes modulated by incoming data;
- a material capable of being marked by the focused light of said laser diodes;
- a scanner using flexure to generate a scan parallel to the surface of said material and means of driving said scanner at its natural resonant frequency and at a constant amplitude;
- a mirror mounted on moving part of said scanner onto which light from said modulated laser diodes impinges;
- a lens mounted on moving part of said scanner to focus said light reflected from said mirror onto surface of said material, causing a permanent mark when any of said laser diodes are turned on and means of moving said material in a direction perpendicular to direction of movement of said scanner while synchronized to said scanner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.