Device for writing to and reading from optical storage media
First Claim
1. A optical recorder for writing image data to an optical media that is capable of recording an optical image in response to modulated light, comprising:
- an illumination source for providing light for writing to said media;
at least one condensing lens for focussing light from said source to a micro-mirror spatial light modulator;
a micro-mirror spatial light modulator having an array of micro-mechanical mirror elements, and an addressing means for providing electrical input to each of said mirror elements, wherein the electrical inputs to said array represent an image to be recorded, and wherein each mirror element is capable of reflecting light in a desired direction in response to said electrical input, such that light reflected from said array is amplitude modulated light representing said image;
an imaging lens for receiving said modulated light from said spatial light modulator and for focussing said light to an image frame position on an optical media; and
a first scan motion means for moving light from said imaging lens relative to the surface of said media in a first scan direction; and
a second scan motion means for moving the image plane of said imaging lens relative to the surface of said media in a second scan direction perpendicular to said first scan direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for writing to, and reading from, optical media. For writing, the media changes when subjected to high intensity modulated light representing an image, such that the image is recorded. A deformable micro-mirror device (DMD) receives electrical input representing the image to be recorded. A high intensity light source illuminates the DMD, which reflects modulated light to an imaging lens. The lens focusses the image onto the media. To record multiple images on the same media, various embodiments provide for scanning across the media. For reading, the media is illuminated with uniform low intensity light. The DMD provides this uniform light, which is transmitted through a pre-recorded media to an image capture device.
280 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A optical recorder for writing image data to an optical media that is capable of recording an optical image in response to modulated light, comprising:
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an illumination source for providing light for writing to said media; at least one condensing lens for focussing light from said source to a micro-mirror spatial light modulator; a micro-mirror spatial light modulator having an array of micro-mechanical mirror elements, and an addressing means for providing electrical input to each of said mirror elements, wherein the electrical inputs to said array represent an image to be recorded, and wherein each mirror element is capable of reflecting light in a desired direction in response to said electrical input, such that light reflected from said array is amplitude modulated light representing said image; an imaging lens for receiving said modulated light from said spatial light modulator and for focussing said light to an image frame position on an optical media; and a first scan motion means for moving light from said imaging lens relative to the surface of said media in a first scan direction; and a second scan motion means for moving the image plane of said imaging lens relative to the surface of said media in a second scan direction perpendicular to said first scan direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of writing to an optical media that is capable of recording an optical image in response to modulated light, comprising the steps of:
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providing data representing an image to be recorded to a micro-mirror spatial light modulator having an array of micro-mechanical mirror elements, and an addressing means for providing electrical input to each of said mirror elements, wherein the electrical input to said array represents an image, wherein each mirror element is capable of tilting in a desired direction in response to said electrical input, such that light reflected from said array is modulated light representing said image; illuminating the surface of said spatial light modulator; modulating the illuminating light in accordance with said electrical input; using a lens to receive the modulated light from said spatial light modulator and to direct said light to an image frame position on said media; and for each new image to be recorded, providing relative motion with respect to said media and the image plane of said lens, such that said lens is directed to a new image frame position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for writing to and reading from an optical media that is capable of recording an optical image in response to modulated light, comprising:
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an illumination source for providing high intensity light for writing to said media and lower intensity light for reading from said media; at least one condensing lens for focussing light from said source to a digital micro-mirror device; a micro-mirror spatial light modulator having an array of micro-mechanical mirror elements, and an addressing means for providing electrical input to each of said mirror elements, wherein the electrical inputs to said array represent an image to be recorded, wherein each mirror element is capable of moving to a desired direction in response to said electrical input, such that modulated light representing said image will be reflected from said array for writing to said media or such that uniform light may be reflected from said array for reading said media; an imaging lens for receiving said modulated light from said spatial light modulator and for focussing said light to a frame portion of an optical media; an image capture device for receiving light transmitted through said media during reading; a first scan motion means for moving light from said imaging lens relative to the surface of said media in a first scan direction; and a second scan motion means for moving the image plane of said imaging lens relative to the surface of said media in a second scan direction perpendicular to said first scan direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification