Patent ID: 8120832
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: G11B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system comprising an electromechanical shutter device comprising a base member and a shutter assembly associated with the base member, the shutter assembly comprising: an electrical current source member associated with the base member; a shutter member spaced apart from and movable with respect to the electrical current source member between a light beam blocked position and a light beam passed position; a light beam blocking member associated with the shutter member for blocking a light beam when the shutter member is moved to the light beam blocked position and for not blocking the light beam when the shutter member is moved to the light beam passed position; a shutter coil associated with the shutter member which generates an electromagnetic force when energized; at least one magnet positioned proximate to the shutter coil and which generates a magnetic flux directed towards and intersecting the shutter coil; electrically conductive means connecting the electrical current source member to the shutter member for passing electrical current from the electrical current source member to the shutter member to energize the shutter coil and to control movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked position and the light beam passed position; wherein when the shutter coil is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated by the shutter coil which interacts with the magnetic flux to thereby cause movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked position and the light beam passed position; and a shutter state machine which electronically controls the movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked position and the light beam passed position, wherein the light beam blocking member: (1) blocks the light beam when the shutter member is in the light beam blocked position; or (2) does not block the light beam when the shutter member is in the light beam passed position, wherein the shutter state machine initiates a sequence comprising one or more acceleration or deceleration intervals to cause the shutter member to move towards either the light beam blocked position or the light beam passed position.