JPH03260918A - Separately positionable multiple records-reading head disc system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain independent positioning of recording readout heads by providing a disk having an array of data elements and reading/writing with plural recording readout heads provided with converging means. CONSTITUTION: A system incorporating double heads into the optical disk system of multiple recording readout heads capable of positioning independently is furnished with the converging means 12, optical disk 40 having the array of data elements 45 and means for transporting the recording readout heads to the upper part of one side of this disk 40. The transporting means is furnished with step motors 30, worm screw driving devices 50 and extension rail 25 placing the heads 10 thereon. The read-out and write-in of the data are performed by each head 10 independently of other heads in the system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to digital disk storage systems and, more particularly, to independently positionable multiple record/read head optical or magnetic disk systems.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical known single head disk positioning system. Such a system comprises a transducing head 10 which can use a focusing means 12 such as a laser, a prism or a lens. Head 10 is typically conveyed across optical disk 40 using a worm screw drive or belt drive 50 in conjunction with stepper motor 30 . This J:Una system has only one conversion head, so
For example, there is no ability to edit, review, or output sensor acquired data while simultaneously accepting input data streams.

Some known devices use multiple transducer heads to access data storage disks, but require these heads to move and operate independently of each other;
There is no known device that provides the full ability to read and write data read and written to the same side of such a disk by one of the other heads. Bumerica U.S. Pat. No. 4,644.515, issued to A11ebest '4, discloses one example of such a device. Al1best
@ utilizes a board-based array of heads such that a disk with 54,000 trunks has 54,000 read p-heads. This disclosure shows and describes read access only. A11eb
The device disclosed by EST cannot be used for continuous trunk recording methods in which the head is immobile and the radial position of the track is constantly changing in a single trunk where the track is actually an inward spiral. Feature 75: Yes. Devices such as A11eb@st,
Since a single track cannot be read simultaneously by two heads, there is no true continuous access to new data. A11ebest etc. was 54.000
Difficulties have been encountered in overcoming the technical hurdles that must be overcome to realize the head reading mechanism, and the cost of prototyping and small-volume production to support the system has shown to increase with a certain scale. ing. Al 1ebes
Others have not even addressed write capabilities for fixed array systems like this. Figures 4 and 5
The figure is a schematic diagram of a conventional disk system employing a single recording read head. As shown in FIG. 4, the read/write head 60 is typically a magnetic transducer mounted on a sweep arm 62. As shown in FIG. The recording/reading head is swept across a disk 64, typically a magnetic media type disk, by mechanical control means 66. Mechanical control means 66 are known to those skilled in the art and include, for example:
It can be a separate motor or a servo motor.

FIG. 5 outlines another known transport mechanism for single head systems. Head 60 is carried in a radial path across the disk trunk by cantilever arm J-70. Cantilever arm 70 is typically controlled by a motor 6γ, such as a stepper motor or equivalent device.

In the case of the optical disk device shown in Fig. 1, the systems shown in Figs. There is no ability to output information from one area of the disk to another area of the disk medium while simultaneously performing equivalent tasks.

In contrast, the present invention opens up a multi-head drive system implemented in a technically feasible configuration of existing record/read p-heads and servo hardware.

Excellent applications for independently positionable high capacity multiple read/write head drives extend to almost any high-end autonomous, non-autonomous, or information gathering remote vehicle or platform. Obvious examples include perception and deep space satellites or probes, robots, and autonomous battlefield robots.

These highly demanding applications require simultaneous reading and writing,
The flexibility of the present invention to change several high bandwidth data streams simultaneously is invaluable.

Such applications typically have high-level embedded signal processing and analysis capabilities related to transmission capability limitations that are returned to their control center. For example, a remotely or autonomously guided surveillance aircraft can acquire high-resolution, multi-spectral sensor and video information, but only has transmission capabilities equivalent to low-resolution video signals.

When such a vehicle is equipped with the invention described herein, the device is capable of analyzing, compressing, enhancing, prioritizing, or rebroadcasting data for longer periods of time than would otherwise be available. There is no need to lose important data as it allows you to save time.

In one possible situation where cryo-real-time flight control over a target area is required, the controller may view low-resolution footage and then retrospectively request that certain high-resolution data be sent for further analysis. can do. The device's ability to uninterruptedly input, output, and manipulate multiple streams of data imposes limitations on continuous acquisition of new data and signal processing, even when sending back to a given base. do not need.

[Purpose of the invention]

The main object of the present invention is that the recording/reading heads move and operate independently, and can read and write data read and written by other heads almost simultaneously on the same side of the optical disk. The main objective is to provide a head disk system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for editing an optical disc system in which sensor acquisition data can be reviewed or output substantially simultaneously without interfering with the input data flow.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which continuous, real-time storage of new data is uninterrupted by review of any data stored on the disk.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention overcomes and alleviates the disadvantages of prior art systems.

To provide an independently positionable multiple recording/reading nine-head disk system. The disk system includes at least one disk having an array of data elements.

Multiple recording/reading heads read and write data to and from the disk.

Each head includes means for focusing light onto the data.

The recording/reading head is carried above one side of the disk,
Each recording/reading head is capable of reading data from and writing data to the disk independently of other recording/reading heads in the system.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[Description of preferred embodiment]

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention incorporating dual heads in an independently positionable multiple record/read head disk system 10 is shown. Although a dual-head system is shown in FIG. A heavy head system serves as an illustrative example.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the optical disc system of the present invention comprises a light collecting means 12, an optical disc 40 having an array of data elements 45, and means for conveying recording and reading information over one side of the optical disc 40. It is shown with two recording/reading head means 10 . The transport means includes a stepper motor 30, a worm screw drive 50, and an extension rail 25 on which the recording/reading head 10 is mounted in a traditional manner. Worm screw drive device 50
In some systems, it may be convenient to utilize instead a belt drive tube or equivalent known device.

The focusing means 12 may be any of several converting means known to those skilled in the art and commercially available for reading and writing data to optical discs, including lasers, prisms, or lenses.

The disc 4o shall be recorded in the form of concentric micro-indentations forming tracks less than 1 micrometer wide (typically 0.6 micrometers) and of very limited depth (015 micrometers). The disc has an arrangement of data elements that can be used for data storage, the spacing between tracks is less than 2 micrometers (e.g., 16 micrometres), and the format of the disk is such that the data is arranged in a series of concentric circles forming a trunk. be. Alternatively, the data can be arranged in continuous tracks forming a single track that spirals inwards. In typical operation, disk 4
0 is rotated by l: on axis 44. A typical diameter of a pig carrying disc is 5-% inches. For example, reading 9 and recording tracks in a laser-based device is accomplished using a beam from a laser 11 source focused onto the disk. Such light collection means are well known to those skilled in the art. Having described the basic elements of the invention, we now turn to some illustrative examples that serve to provide a detailed explanation of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present invention is shown using four recording/reading heads for an optical disk system. The recording/reading head is mounted in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. However, instead of the extension rail used in FIG. 2, the rail 2γ of the embodiment shown in FIG.
Four radial pads are formed to hold the 0 and carry these recording and reading heads across the top surface of the disk by means such as a screw drive 50.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a sweep arm mechanism 62 is used to carry a plurality of recording and reading heads 60 in a sweeping motion across the top surface of a digital disk, such as a magnetic disk.
Other alternative embodiments of the present invention are illustrated that utilize the .

As described above with reference to FIG. 4, sweeping arm mechanisms are known to those skilled in the art, but are not suitable for implementing multiple recording and reading heads for a single disk as taught by the present invention. It was never used.

U.S. Patent No. 4,371,9 to Baxter et al.
No. 02 discloses a two-head system of the type shown in FIG. Disclosed as a mechanism.

In addition to disclosing n independent head devices and positioning mechanisms, the present invention teaches that each of these heads can read the same track containing user-accessible data.

Baxter et al. do not disclose, and are unable to achieve, novel capabilities such as those taught by the present invention.

Similarly, FIG. 7 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention using a cantilever recording head. Cantilever mechanisms are well known to those skilled in the art, as discussed with respect to FIG.

In yet another illustrative example, the dual head system as shown in FIG. 2 can be provided with the ability to edit, review, or output sensor acquisition data without interfering with the input data flow. At the consumer level, two-head read/write optical video disk systems are used in the current generation of magnetic tape video cassette recorders (VCRs).
The equipment is equipped with such advantageous features.

For example, with magnetic tape VCH technology, viewing a recorded broadcast can only begin after the broadcast is complete and the tape is rewound. However, with a dual head disk system such as that shown in FIG. 2, even regular bite or acceleration observations can begin at any time after the recorder is activated. In the home/consumer configuration, the consumer begins recording the program at 7:00 p,m, but begins viewing the program at 7:10 p,m. Thus, the disk system has a video data buffering time of 10 minutes. When listeners come across a portion of a recorded broadcast, they do not intend to watch it, but they can easily "fast-forward" through that section. In the above situation, an independent read/write mechanism is sufficient. Dual record/read head also indicates the ability to record or play back two inputs at the same time, or to do both at the same time. The recording head moves independently,
Because they can be positioned anywhere along the track of the rotating disk, one of the heads can be connected to a video input from a television, for example, and a unilateral head can send a delayed video signal to the television screen. Output. The first head receives input information from the television receiver, while the second head receives input information from the television receiver.
This means that you are reading a track that was recorded in advance.

A three head system (as shown in Figure 7) exhibits additional features and flexibility than a simple dual head system. In one practical application, a T,V with a three-head recording/reading optical disc system. A studio or rebroadcast center can use one of the three heads to continuously store network programs received by the satellite on an optical disk. Using the second head, the technician can edit, enhance, delay, modify, or delete portions of the recorded broadcast. One such enhancement is the addition of subtitles, improved video processing, or modification of the video signal. The third head can be used for output to the public by local broadcast or cable. All three activities can be performed simultaneously with only a momentary delay between receiving the program and its retransmission.

In a further third example, the optical disc system of the invention can be used in connection with building security applications where the output from several cameras is viewed sequentially, usually on one monitor. A multi-head optical disk system can be utilized to provide 100 percent viewing of all cameras while using only one monitor for each camera in the group. This can be accomplished by continuously buffering all inputs to the disk system and playing the video at several times normal speed as the monitor sequentially switches to different buffered video channels. This feature can be most easily realized with a turtle 2 monitoring an area where little or no movement is expected. Such static scenes do not appear distorted in any way during high-speed playback. Once an anomaly is found, the video can be easily played back at normal speed. With a multi-head system as taught in the present invention, data, video, and other viewing is never interrupted by continuous, real-time storage of new data.

An almost unlimited number of heads may be utilized with the present invention, limited only by the physical configuration of the disk mechanism. However, for usage scenarios that require four or more simultaneous I/O (10) channels, two or more separate disk systems, each with two or three heads, are supported by another known method. In principle, almost the same functionality can be achieved by linking with electronic devices.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative block diagram of the system application of the present invention for use as a very large capacity multi-port data buffer. The system of FIG. 8 includes an input source, such as a camera 90;
A receiver 92 and/or a housing or high bandwidth sensor 94 are included. High bandwidth sensor 94 is a receiver and booster circuit 1
05 and the boost circuit provides input to the multiple head drive of the present invention. The system further includes device 202
The same transmission rebroadcasting device 204 and long-term output storage device 206
, and long-term input storage 208. Data from the drive unit 210 or a ground station satellite station 212 or, for example, a cable TV.
An output-output device such as 214 is transmitted to a closed circuit for observation. All of the above input sources, receiver enhancement circuits, long-term storage, transmit rebroadcast circuits, and output devices such as closed circuit equipment, ground stations, and cable TV are well known to those skilled in the art.

The data is edited through the processing means 202, and the subtitle material is enhanced and analyzed! Processing in the form of compression/expansion is also well known to those skilled in the art. The multiple head drive device 200 of the present invention allows the system to transmit data to the receiver augmentation circuit 1.
05 from one of the input sources and long-term storage devices, the information is transmitted from the processing means 202, the information is processed! or output real-time information to any or all of the output devices. In this manner, multi-head drive 200 acts as a very large multi-port data buffer, allowing data to be simultaneously transmitted and processed from the same disk drive.

FIG. 9 illustrates another application of the multi-head drive 200 of the present invention employed in a fixed-definition signal compression/transmission system. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 9, a full bandwidth input source 220 provides input to a multiple head drive capable of reading data into and receiving compressed data from the compression circuit 222. Such compression circuits are well known to those skilled in the art. The multi-head drive outputs fixed quality signals to output device 212 or 214 almost simultaneously while processing input information. The output device sends information to decompression circuit 224, which is well known to those skilled in the art.
The second multi-head drive 200' receives information from 4 and outputs to a full bandwidth output device 226. Input source 220 and output device 226 may be any full bandwidth input source or output device known to those skilled in the art.

Today, most compression schemes for raw video transmission take into account that the video degrades when the video activity exceeds a certain threshold. This is because we want to transmit in real time and because there is no reasonable form of large buffer available. However, a rapidly growing number of applications do not require strict real-time capabilities.

A great example of one such application is to provide "raw material" to a production studio for inclusion in the evening news.
It's probably the TV crew who want to send back. The least expensive method of data transmission is through industry standard, constant bandwidth, packet-switched networks. In this case it is typically a 384-bit rHJ channel. Unfortunately, video signals typically consist of a random mixture of high and low activity shots. Typical compression systems are designed for average levels of activity. If activity is slow, the compression system will not work as hard as it should and the transmission bandwidth will be underutilized. When the video activity level is high, the compression system cannot accommodate all the data and must choose which data to overflow, thus causing a degradation in video quality. The invention described herein provides a very large buffer with multi-port capability resulting in the ability to perform full compression without data overflow. Furthermore, channel Q utilization can be effectively maintained at 10(1) by buffering the output into a fixed bandwidth transmission channel.

In order to bring the present invention into compliance with patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information necessary to apply the novel principles to construct and use such specialized components as desired, I've explained it in quite a bit of detail here. It is understood, however, that the invention may be implemented in distinctly different equipment and apparatus, and that various modifications may be made, both as to equipment details and operating procedures, without departing from the scope of the invention itself. Should.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a schematic diagram of a typical known single-head optical disk positioning system; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a dual-head embodiment of the independently positionable multiple record/read few head optical disk system of the present invention; FIG. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention using four optical recording/reading heads;
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a known single head disk system using a sweep arm mounted recording/reading head; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a known single head disk system using a cantilever mounted recording/reading head. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention using multiple sweep arm mounted recording/reading heads; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention using multiple cantilever mounted recording/reading heads Schematic diagram of the embodiment of
FIG.
The figure is an illustrative block diagram of a system application of the present invention utilized in a fixed-definition signal compression transmission system. 18...recording/reading head, 12-...collection, photon stage, 25...extension rail, 27...φ-rail, 3
0...Step motor 40...Optical disk,
45...Data element, 50...Worm drive screw device, 90...Input source, 92...Receiver, 9
4...-High bandwidth sensor 105... Reinforcement circuit, 200...S. Multiple head drive device, 206.
...Long-term output storage device, 207...Long-term input storage device, 212.e..Satellite data storage, 214.
... cable television, 220 ... full bandwidth input source, 222 ... compression circuit, 224 ... expansion circuit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) an optical disk system with independently positionable multiple recording/reading heads for reading and writing from (a) at least one optical disk having an array of data elements; (b) each having a light focusing means; (c) carrying a plurality of recording/reading head means over one side of the optical disc, each recording/reading head means reading data from the optical disc independently of the other recording/reading heads; A system consisting of means for enabling data to be written to. (2) an independently positionable multiple recording/reading head optical disk system comprising: (a) at least one optical disk having an array of data elements; (b) two recording/reading transducers, each having a light focusing means; (c) at least two stepper motors; (d) at least two extension rails in parallel relationship across the disk and extending beyond the periphery of the disk; and (e) parallel connections to the extension rails. at least two worm screw drives, each driven by one of the stepper motors and operative in conjunction with an adjacent rail and an associated stepper motor to support and carry one of the record-read transducer heads; A system consisting of , . (3) An independently positionable multiple record/read disk system comprising: (a) at least one disk having an array of data elements; (b) a plurality of record/read head means for reading and writing data to the disk; (c) carrying a plurality of recording/reading head means over one side of the disk, each recording/reading head means reading data from the disk independently of the other recording/reading heads;
A system consisting of a means for making it possible to write data to disk.