Patent ID: 6252622
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: B41J,G06K

Abstract:
A fault tolerant laser diode array apparatus operative to record multiple parallel tracks on a recording surface, said apparatus comprising:(a) a plurality of laser diodes, said plurality comprising several groups of diodes, each of said groups of diodes assigned to a different one of said parallel tracks, and each of said groups of diodes having at least one primary diode, said primary diode operative when in an actuated state to:(i) receive input data;(ii) emit optical energy in correspondence with said data; and(iii) record said data in said assigned track; and(b) a selection subsystem which, in the case of a failure of any of said primary diodes, is operative to selectively activate a functional secondary diode within said group of diodes that contains said failure, and to maintain said primary diodes which have not failed in said actuated state.