Multi-Beam Magneto-Optical Disk Drive For Parallel Read/Write Operation

Abstract

A multi-beam optical disk drive, which improves the data transfer rate for the magneto-optical disk systems, has been developed. It employs a newly developed image rotating actuator for tracing multi-tracks simultaneously, and photodiode arrays for simplifying signal detection circuits. Four-channel parallel read/write operation has been accomplished. The carrier-to-noise ratio is greater than 55dB, and the crosstalk between channels is lower than -36dB. A data transfer rate, four times that for an ordinary single-beam optical disk drive, has been real ized.