# US 5,708,633 A · Method and apparatus for manufacturing information storage devices

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- Number: US 5,708,633 A
- Document ID: US5708633A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/596,000
- Filed: 1996-02-06
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-06-07
- Assignees: Discovision Associates
- Inventors: Zdenek A. Hollen; Russell A. Meyer; Kent Murphy; Robert G. Russell; Christopher J. Monsen; Herbert E. Heaton; Christopher A. Knorr; David L. Papiernik; James K. Louie; Leonardus J. Grassens; Wilhelm Taylor; Charles DePuy; Douglas E. Hoover; Gary Anderson; Hollis O'Neal Hall, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708633A

## CPC

- B23P 21/00: Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with program control
- G11B 7/22: Apparatus or processes for the manufacture of optical heads, e.g. assembly
- G11B 11/10532: {Heads}
- G11B 11/10543: {using optical beam of radiation}
- G11B 11/1055: {Disposition or mounting of transducers relative to record carriers}
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for manufacturing information storage devices is described herein. Two embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In particular, the invention includes, but is not limited to, a bearing insertion device, a lens insertion device, a coarse coil gluing tool, a spring gluing tool, a device for gluing pole pieces, a pentaprism insertion and inspection tool, a constants and transfers test, an optics module alignment device, wedge, microprism and beamsplitter insertion devices, a read channel alignment test, a mass balance attachment invention, a position sensor alignment tool, an invention for the attachment of focus and radial coils, a quality control test for test an optical storage device prior to insertion of the objective lens, and a servo system test. The invention described herein is designed to manufacture information storage devices with increased quality and efficiency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a disc drive of the type having a movable carriage for carrying an actuator, the actuator adapted to incorporate an objective lens for focusing a beam of radiant energy on a disc, and the disc drive further having a head assembly for passage of radiant energy therethrough in a path extending between a source of radiant energy and the disc, comprising the steps of: prior to incorporating said objective lens in said actuator,
providing a deflector in said carriage for deflecting said beam into said actuator;
disposing said carriage and said actuator proximate said head assembly;
passing a beam of radiant energy through said head assembly to strike said deflector, wherein said beam is deflected by said deflector through said actuator;
adjusting a path of said beam to minimize optical aberrations of said head assembly and said deflector; and
thereafter inserting said objective lens in said actuator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of passing said beam comprises the step of:
disposing a collimator proximate said laser;
disposing said source of radiant energy in said head assembly, wherein said source of radiant energy is directed toward said collimator; and
energizing said source of radiant energy to emit energy through said collimator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting said beam comprises the steps of:
disposing an autocollimator perpendicular to a front face of said head assembly;
placing an interferometer beyond said actuator in a path of said beam; and
manipulating said source of radiant energy and said collimator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing a deflector is performed by installing a pentaprism in said actuator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
providing guiding means on a baseplate for guiding said carriage in linear motion relative said baseplate;
installing said carriage on said guiding means; and
after performing said step of inserting said objective lens in said actuator, aligning an axis of said objective lens with respect to said baseplate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein said guiding means comprises first and second parallel rails.

### Claim 7

A method of manufacturing an optical disc drive, comprising the steps of:
assembling a carriage assembly and a magnetic drive therefor, wherein said carriage assembly includes a linear actuator and an initially lensless objective lens assembly suspended therein;
aligning a deflector in said linear actuator to direct an incident light beam toward said objective lens assembly;
installing a laser in a head assembly having a collimator;
disposing said head assembly on a head support module;
disposing said carriage assembly on a carriage support module proximate said head assembly;
passing a beam of radiant energy through said head assembly and said deflector for prealignment thereof;
prealigning said beam to minimize optical aberrations of said head assembly and said deflector;
thereafter installing said head assembly and said carriage assembly on a baseplate; and
inserting an objective lens in said installed lensless objective lens assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of aligning an optical axis of said inserted objective lens with said baseplate assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of prealigning said beam comprises the steps of:
disposing an autocollimator perpendicular to a front face of said head assembly;
placing an interferometer beyond said carriage assembly in a path of said beam; and
manipulating said laser and said collimator until alignment is achieved.

### Claim 10

A method of manufacturing an optical disc drive, comprising the steps of:
assembling a carriage assembly and a magnetic drive therefor, wherein said carriage assembly includes a linear actuator and an initially lensless objective lens assembly suspended therein;
aligning a pentaprism in said linear actuator to direct an incident light beam toward said objective lens assembly;
performing a tilt-over-stroke test on said carriage assembly and said lensless objective lens assembly;
installing a laser in a head assembly having a collimator;
disposing said head assembly on a head support module;
installing a bias coil assembly on said baseplate;
installing a read detector in said head assembly;
disposing said carriage assembly on a carriage support module proximate said head assembly;
passing a first beam of radiant energy through said head assembly and said pentaprism for prealignment thereof;
prealigning said first beam to minimize optical aberrations of said head assembly and said pentaprism;
thereafter installing said head assembly and said carriage assembly on a baseplate;
inserting an objective lens in said installed lensless objective lens assembly; and
aligning an optical axis of said inserted objective lens with said baseplate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of installing said laser is performed by press fitting.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein said carriage support module comprises a rail for slidably receiving said carriage assembly thereon.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of prealigning said first beam comprises the steps of:
disposing an autocollimator perpendicular to a front face of said head assembly;
placing an interferometer beyond said carriage assembly in a path of said first beam; and
manipulating said laser and said collimator with reference to said autocollimator and said interferometer until alignment is achieved.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of performing a tilt-over-stroke test further comprises the steps of:
inserting a temporary optical element in said lensless objective lens assembly; and
passing a second beam of light through said temporary optical element.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein said magnetic drive for said carriage assembly comprises a focus motor, further comprising the steps of:
passing said first beam of radiant energy through said objective lens onto a storage medium;
displacing said objective lens assembly from said storage medium and;
while said step of displacing is being performed, measuring a focus error signal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein said magnetic drive for said carriage assembly comprises a carriage tracking motor, a focus motor, and a coarse positioning motor, further comprising the steps of:
horizontally mounting said baseplate on a rotatable stage;
measuring transfer curves for said carriage tracking motor, said focus motor and said coarse positioning motor while said baseplate is horizontally mounted;
vertically mounting said baseplate on a rotatable stage; and
measuring transfer curves for said carriage tracking motor, said focus motor and said coarse positioning motor while said baseplate is vertically mounted.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
placing an optical disc on said baseplate;
actuating said laser to illuminate said optical disc, wherein light returning from said optical disc impinges on said read detector;
while said laser is actuated, linearly displacing said read detector to optimize an output signal thereof;
thereafter actuating said bias coil assembly and energizing said laser to write information on said optical disc;
reading said written information;
while said step of reading is being performed, rotating said read detector to further optimize said output signal; and thereafter
fixing said read detector in position in said head assembly.