Nanometer scale data storage device and associated positioning system
First Claim
1. A data storage device comprising:
- a deformable storage medium;
one or more write probes each comprising;
a write tip comprising a highly obdurate coating capable of deforming the storage medium;
a write tip positioning apparatus to position the write tip with respect to the storage medium;
one or more read probes each including a conductive read tip;
a probe and storage medium positioning apparatus to position the read and write probes with respect to each other;
a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the write probes over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each write tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding write tip a predetermined amount into the storage medium so as to cause a predetermined amount of deformation in the storage medium representing data written thereto, (C) during a read mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium, and (D) during the read mode, produce and measure a tunneling current between each conductive read tip and the storage medium to identify a predetermined amount of deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding read tip during the write mode so that the data written thereto is read therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data storage system that includes a positioning system for positioning the write/read mechanism and the storage medium of the data storage device with respect to each other in first and second predefined directions. The positioning system comprises a positioning apparatus comprising microfabricated first and second positioning assemblies. The positioning system further comprises a controller to position a positionable support structure of the first positioning assembly in a first predefined direction within a range of positioning that is larger, than the range of movement of a moveable support structure of the first positioning assembly by controlling (A) a stationary support structure clamp in clamping and unclamping the positionable structure to and from the support structure, (B) a moveable structure clamp in clamping and unclamping the positionable support structure to and from the moveable support structure, and (C) the movement of the moveable support structure. In one embodiment, one of the write/read mechanism and the storage medium is carried by the positionable support structure so that it is positioned with the first positioning assembly. The other one of the write/read mechanism and the storage medium is positioned with the second positioning assembly. In another embodiment, the positionable support structure carries the second positioning assembly and one of the write/read mechanism and the storage medium is positioned with the second positioning assembly while the other is held stationary.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A data storage device comprising:
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a deformable storage medium; one or more write probes each comprising; a write tip comprising a highly obdurate coating capable of deforming the storage medium; a write tip positioning apparatus to position the write tip with respect to the storage medium; one or more read probes each including a conductive read tip; a probe and storage medium positioning apparatus to position the read and write probes with respect to each other; a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the write probes over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each write tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding write tip a predetermined amount into the storage medium so as to cause a predetermined amount of deformation in the storage medium representing data written thereto, (C) during a read mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium, and (D) during the read mode, produce and measure a tunneling current between each conductive read tip and the storage medium to identify a predetermined amount of deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding read tip during the write mode so that the data written thereto is read therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A data storage device comprising:
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a deformable storage medium; a plurality of probes each comprising; a tip comprising a conductive highly obdurate coating capable of deforming the storage medium; a tip positioning apparatus to lower the tip; a probe and storage medium positioning apparatus to position the probes over the storage medium; a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the probes over the storage medium, (B) during the write modes, control each tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding tip a predetermined amount into the storage medium so as to cause a predetermined amount of deformation in the storage medium representing data written thereto, (C) during read modes, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the probes over the storage medium, (D) during the read modes, control each tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding tip close to the storage medium and (E) during the read mode, produce and measure a tunneling current between the conductive obdurate coating of each tip and the storage medium to identify a predetermined amount of deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding tip during the write mode so that the data written thereto is read therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A data storage device comprising:
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a storage medium alterable by light; one or more light emitting write probes capable of emitting light; one or more read probes capable of detecting alterations of the storage medium; a positioning apparatus to position the read and write probes over the storage medium; a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the write probes over the storage medium so that the light emitting write tips are over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each light emitting write probe to emit a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium and write data thereto, (C) during read modes, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium so that each read probe detects a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium caused during the write mode, and (D) during the read mode, measure each detected predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium so that the data written to the storage medium during the write mode is read therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A data storage device comprising:
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an electrically alterable storage medium; a triangular ridge support structure; one or more triangular ridges on the base structure; a positioning apparatus to position the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium; an acoustic wave generator on one of the triangular ridge support structure and the storage medium to produce surface acoustic waves thereon that propagate in a direction parallel to the axial length of the triangular ridges; a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium so that each triangular ridge is over a corresponding region of the storage medium to be written, (B) during the write mode, control the acoustic wave generator to produce an acoustic wave, (C) during the write mode, apply at a predetermined time across each triangular ridge and the storage medium a voltage pulse having a predetermined voltage and duration while the acoustic wave produced during the write mode propagates so that a region of the triangular ridge above the corresponding region to be written is displaced down theretoward and the corresponding region to be written is electrically altered by a predetermined amount, (D) during a read mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium so that each triangular ridge is over a corresponding region of the storage medium to be read, (E) during the read mode, control the acoustic wave generator to produce an acoustic wave, (F) during the read mode, detect with each triangular ridge at a predetermined time while the acoustic wave produced during the read mode propagates so that a region of the triangular ridge above the corresponding region to be read is displaced down theretoward a predetermined amount of electrical alteration of the corresponding region to be read, (G) during the read mode, measure each detected predetermined amount of electrical alteration of the corresponding region to be read so that the data written to thereto during the write mode is read therefrom.
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Specification