Optical information storage unit
First Claim
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1. An optical information storage unit comprising:
- an information layer comprising a plurality of data areas, each data area being arranged to emit light when illuminated by light at a predetermined wavelength; and
a readout layer comprising a plurality of optical apertures, each optical aperture being arranged to image substantially only the near field of light emitted from a respective data area.
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Abstract
An optical information storage unit and a reader for such a unit are described. The optical information storage unit comprises an information layer and a readout layer. The information layer has a plurality of data areas. Each data area is arranged to emit light when illuminated by light at a predetermined wavelength. The readout layer has a plurality of optical apertures. Each optical aperture is arranged to image substantially the near field of light emitted from a respective data area.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical information storage unit comprising:
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an information layer comprising a plurality of data areas, each data area being arranged to emit light when illuminated by light at a predetermined wavelength; and
a readout layer comprising a plurality of optical apertures, each optical aperture being arranged to image substantially only the near field of light emitted from a respective data area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19)
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15. A method of reading information from an optical information storage unit, the information storage unit comprising:
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an information layer comprising a plurality of data areas, each data area being arranged to emit light when illuminated by the light at a predetermined wavelength; and
a readout layer comprising a plurality of optical apertures, each optical aperture being arranged to image substantially only the near field of light emitted from a respective data area;
the method comprising;
illuminating at least one data area with light at the predetermined wavelength; and
detecting the optical intensity of light imaged by the respective optical aperture that corresponds to the illuminated data area. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of manufacturing an optical information storage unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an information layer comprising a plurality of data areas, each data area being arranged to emit light when illuminated by light at a predetermined wavelength; and
providing a readout layer comprising a plurality of optical apertures, the readout layer being located at a distance from the information layer such that each optical aperture is arranged to image substantially only the near field of light emitted from a respective data area.
- providing an information layer comprising a plurality of data areas, each data area being arranged to emit light when illuminated by light at a predetermined wavelength; and
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18. A method of writing data to an optical information storage unit, the information storage unit comprising an information layer comprising a plurality of data areas, each data being modifiable so as to emit light when illuminated by the light of predetermined wavelength, and a readout layer comprising a plurality of optical apertures, each optical aperture being arranged to image substantially only the near field light emitted from the respective data area;
- the method comprising;
selectively modifying at least one data area so as to emit light at a predetermined intensity when illuminated, the predetermined intensity being indicative of the information stored by the respective data area.
- the method comprising;
Specification