Patent ID: 6608808
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical storage system, comprising:a medium holder adapted to hold an optical storage medium at a specified position; an optical beam steering element disposed relative to said medium holder and having an optical steering plane to receive an optical beam and direct said optical beam to a desired direction by steering said optical steering plane; an optical head disposed in a path of said optical beam to couple optical energy to and from said optical storage medium, said optical head configured as a lens assembly with a first and second focal planes which includes a solid immersion lens, wherein said first focal plane is closer to said optical beam steering element than said second focal plane; and an imaging lens disposed between said optical beam steering element and said optical head to image said optical steering plane of said optical steering element to an image plane that is spaced from said first focal plane to form a pseudo telecentric imaging system formed by said imaging lens and said lens assembly of the optical head, a spacing between said image plane and said first focal plane being set at a value to achieve a substantially symmetric energy distribution in a reflected beam from said optical medium and said lens assembly.