CONTINUOUS FLEXIBLE CONNECTION METHOD FOR MINIATURE OPTICAL HEAD

摘要

An optical assembly includes a service loop extended from a focus section of an actuator arm. A portion of the service loop bends when a tracking section of the actuator arm rotates around a tracking axis while a portion of the flex circuit twists when the focus section of the actuator arm rotates around a focus axis. A method is provided to predict the shape of a service loop that will not rotate the actuator arm from a resting position. The method uses a number of deflected beam elements to simulate the service loop under simple beam theory. In order for the actuator arm to remain in the resting position, the method assumes that the service loop applies an equivalent force to the actuator arm through the rotation axis of the actuator arm. Another method is provided to calculate the restoring torque exerted by the service loop when the actuator arm is rotated from its resting position. The method again uses deflected beam elements to simulate the service loop but assumes that the service loop applies a force that is offset from the rotation axis of the actuator arm.