Field serviceable laser pen for optical disk drives
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsRonald E. Gerber, George R. Gray, Edward C. Gage, Shubhagat Gangopadhyay
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Abstract
A laser source is located in a relatively cool accessible location. Because there is adequate heat dissipation for the laser source, changes in the laser wavelength that arise from laser temperature changes are minimized. The invention described here includes the use of optical fiber to deliver light from the laser source. The laser reliability is improved because of reduced temperature and temperature fluctuations are experienced by the laser source. Because the laser source can be placed outside the drives hermetic seal, the laser can be easily replaced in the field, if required.
Claims29
An optical drive comprising:
- at least one optical head;
- a recording medium;
- at least one source of light for delivering light to said at least one optical head;
- and
- a housing, wherein said at least one optical head and said recording medium are disposed within said housing and wherein said at least one source of light is disposed outside of said housing.
An optical drive, comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one optical head and a recording medium disposed inside said housing;
- and
- light delivery means for delivering light to said at least one optical head, said light delivery means being disposed outside said housing so as to minimize wavelength fluctuations in said light delivery means.
A method for delivering light to an optical head of an optical drive, comprising the steps of:
- disposing an optical head and a recording medium within an optical drive housing;
- disposing a source of said light outside said optical drive housing;
- and
- directing said light between said optical head and said source of light.
An optical drive comprising:
- an optical switch;
- an optical head;
- a light source for delivering light to said optical head;
- a first optical fiber for coupling said light source to said optical switch;
- a second optical fiber for coupling said optical switch to said optical head;
- and
- a housing, wherein said optical switch is disposed within said housing and said light source is disposed outside of said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.