Spatial Light Modulators with Changeable Phase Masks for Use in Holographic Data Storage
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Accused Products
Abstract
A holographic data storage system that includes a write head that includes a pixellated spatial light modulator and a separate or integral phase mask that varies the phase depending on the location in the phase mask that light passes through. The phase variation can be changed over time in a random, pseudo-random, or predetermined fashion. The spatial light modulator and phase mask can be implemented in a liquid crystal SLM (nematic, ferroeleletric, or other), in a DMD SLM, in a magneto-optical SLM, or in any other suitable manner.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1-17. -17. (canceled)
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22. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein the spatial light modulator includes micromechanical mirrors that can be moved over time. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein each pixel in the array of pixels of the spatial light modulator includes a pixel electrode and each pixel electrode includes at least two segments, wherein the two segments can be driven to different voltage levels relative to each other.
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26. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein the phase variation is changed in a random fashion.
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27. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein the phase variation is changed in a pseudo-random fashion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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28-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein the phase variation is changed in a predetermined fashion wherein the pixels of the spatial light modulator have an amplitude optical state determined by data supplied thereto, wherein the predetermined fashion is determined in accordance with the supplied data, wherein the amplitude optical state includes at least two different amplitude optical states, wherein for one of the two different amplitude optical states, the phase variation is of a first amount for a given pixel, and for the next subsequent pixel that is in that same amplitude optical state, the phase variation is of a second amount, with the phase variation continuing to alternate between the first and second amounts for subsequent pixels.
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31. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein the array of pixels in the spatial light modulator has a pixel pitch of less than 6 um.
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32. A write head for a holographic data storage system, the write head comprising:
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a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator and that can vary the phase of light passing therethrough, the phase variation being dependent on the pixel that the light passes through; wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the pixels can be changed over time, wherein the phase variation is determined by a phase mask generator that is located in a silicon backplane with the spatial light modulator.
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33-35. -35. (canceled)
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36. A holographic data storage system, comprising:
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an optical storage medium; a light source; and a write head including; a spatial light modulator that is arranged into an array of pixels that can each separately modulate light that is directed toward the spatial light modulator; and a phase mask that is capable of varying the phase of light passing therethrough and directed toward the spatial light modulator, the phase variation being dependent on a particular portion of the phase mask that the light passes through, wherein the phase variation of at least a portion of the phase mask can be changed over time; wherein the write head is receptive of light from the light source and the write head selectively directs light to the optical storage medium.
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37. A holographic data storage system, comprising:
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an optical storage medium; a light source; and a write head including a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels, each of the pixels in the array being independently switchable between a high optical throughput state and a low optical throughput state in response to data supplied thereto, each of the pixels in the high optical throughput state further being switchable between a first optical phase state and a second optical phase state in a predetermined fashion in accordance with the supplied data; wherein the write head is receptive of light from the light source and the write head selectively directs light to the optical storage medium.
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38. A method of recording data in an optical storage medium, comprising:
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providing a source of light; modulating the light on a pixel-by-pixel basis across a two-dimensional array of pixels; varying the phase of the light on a pixel-by-pixel basis across the two-dimensional array of pixels; and interfering the modulated and phase-varied light with a reference light at an optical storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification