Stacked film threshold component, device, and method of manufacture

• US 8,830,548 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Shi, Xiaolei, Boden, Eugene Pauling, Chan, Kwok Pong, Lorraine, Peter William, Ostroverkhov, Victor Petrovich, Zhao, Ri-an
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US13/563,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 359/3
• US Class Current: 359/3
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/240025 for storing optical interference patterns, e.g. holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24038 Multiple laminated recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers

Abstract

A component includes a micro-hologram layer, where the micro-hologram layer includes layers inert to light interleaved with layers of functional film. The functional film layers are made of a material that undergoes a change in its refractive index when illuminated by a light beam, yet undergoes no change in its refractive index when illuminated by a different light beam. The components may further include interleaved spacer films with multiple micro-hologram layers and other elements (e.g., servo layer, coatings, and the like) so as to comprise a data storage device. Methods of manufacturing the component and device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A component comprising:

a micro-hologram layer, wherein the micro-hologram layer comprises a plurality of layers inert to light interleaved with a plurality of functional film layers, wherein the plurality of functional film layers comprise a material that undergoes a change in its refractive index when illuminated by a first light beam and undergoes no change in its refractive index when illuminated by a second light beam; and

a plurality of spacer films interleaved with the micro-hologram layer, wherein a first micro-hologram layer and a second micro-hologram layer respond to two different wavelengths during readout.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacer films are inert to light.

3. The component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacer films have a thickness from about 20×

to about 100×

of Rayleigh range.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein a first spacer film has a different thickness than a second spacer film.

5. The component of claim 1, wherein a period of the micro-hologram layer is defined as P, wherein

P=λ

/2n

further wherein λ

is a light wavelength of a readout light beam and n is an effective refractive index of the plurality of layers inert to light and functional film layers in a micro-hologram layer.

6. The component of claim 1, wherein a thickness of a micro-hologram layer is in a range from about 0.5 μ

m to about 10 μ

m.

7. The component of claim 1, wherein an absolute index change is in a range from about 0.001 to about 0.05.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein a reflectivity of the micro-hologram layer is changed, when illuminated with high intensity light during a recording condition.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein a quantity of micro-hologram layers is in a range from 2 to 50.

10. The component of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the data storage device component is in a range from about 20 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

11. The component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers inert to light and the plurality of spacer layers have a same refractive index.

12. The component of claim 1, wherein a first material in a first functional film layer has a first material composition, concentration, and threshold response and a second functional film layer has a second material having at least one different second material composition, concentration, and threshold response.

13. The component of claim 1, wherein the component comprises multiple successive micro-hologram layers, wherein each successive micro-hologram layer has a higher reflectivity in a direction moving further from one of a data reader and a read/write device.

14. The component of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of spacer films further comprise an auxiliary reflective stack, said auxiliary reflective stack comprises a plurality of layers comprised of materials inert to recording and readout light wavelengths, thereby defining a reflecting reference layer.

15. The component of claim 1, wherein the first micro-hologram layer is adjacent the second micro-hologram layer.

16. The component of claim 15, wherein the first micro-hologram layer and the second micro-hologram layer are alternating through the component.

17. The component of claim 1, wherein a recording wavelength of the plurality of micro-hologram layers is different than a readout wavelength of the plurality of micro-hologram layers.

18. The component of claim 1, wherein the first light beam comprises light having a high intensity and the second light beam comprises light having a low intensity.

19. A data storage device comprising:

a substrate layer comprising a moldable non-photopolymer plastic substrate and a servo layer therein; and

the component of claim 1 adjoining the substrate layer.

20. The data storage device of claim 19, wherein a shape of the data storage device is one of a disc, square, and rectangle.

21. A component of claim 1, further wherein the component is configured for data storage use.