Copy-protected optical media and method of manufacture thereof

• US 20020197510A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verification Technologies, Inc. (Sun Chemical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verification Technologies, Inc. (Sun Chemical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vig, Rakesh, Drew, Jeffrey M., Selinfreund, Richard H., Goyette, Donald R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,638,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/690
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/12 by sensing distinguishing features of or on records, e.g. diameter end mark
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/122 involving the detection of an identification or authentication mark record carriers indicating unauthorised or prior use G11B23/28
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00586 said format change concerning the physical format of the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00608 wherein the material that the record carrier is made of is altered, e.g. adding reactive dyes that alter the optical properties of a disc after prolonged exposure to light or air
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00768 wherein copy control information is used, e.g. for indicating whether a content may be copied freely, no more, once, or never, by setting CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/24312 group 14 elements (e.g. Si, Ge, Sn)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/24314 group 15 elements (e.g. Sb, Bi)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/24316 group 16 elements (i.e. chalcogenides, Se, Te)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/2571 containing group 14 elements except carbon (Si, Ge, Sn, Pb)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/28 Indicating or preventing prior or unauthorised use, e.g. cassettes with sealing or locking means, write-protect devices for discs write-protect devices for tapes G11B23/042, G11B23/08714; dummy cassettes for locking in the drive G11B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/281 by changing the physical properties of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00736 Auxiliary data, e.g. lead-in, lead-out, Power Calibration Area [PCA], Burst Cutting Area [BCA], control information sector headers or adresses in prepits G11B7/00745; address data in track wobble G11B7/24082
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0079 Zoned data area, e.g. having different data structures or formats for the user data within data layer, Zone Constant Linear Velocity [ZCLV], Zone Constant Angular Velocity [ZCAV], carriers with RAM and ROM areas
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/013 for discrete information, i.e. where each information unit is stored in a distinct discrete location , e.g. digital information formats within a data block or sector
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24 Record carriers characterised by shape, structure or physical properties, or by the selection of the material characterised by the arrangement of information on the carrier G11B7/007
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/243 comprising inorganic materials only, e.g. ablative layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2433 : Metals or elements of Groups 13, 14, 15 or 16 of the Periodic Table, e.g. B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Bi, Se or Te
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/244 : comprising organic materials only
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/246 : containing dyes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2472 : cyanine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/252 : of layers other than recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2534 : polycarbonates [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/257 : of layers having properties involved in recording or reproduction, e.g. optical interference layers or sensitising layers or dielectric layers, which are protecting the recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2572 : consisting essentially of organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2578 : consisting essentially of inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/261 : Preparing a master, e.g. exposing photoresist, electroforming
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/266 : Sputtering or spin-coating layers sputtering in general C23C14/24; spin-coating in general B05D1/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/21 : Circular sheet or circular blank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 : Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 : Of polycarbonate

Abstract

A method for fabricating read-only copy protected optical medium comprising a light-sensitive material at positions capable of altering the data read during copying of the optical medium but permitting read of the underlying data in the reading of the optical medium.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating an optical medium, said method comprising the steps of:

molding a substrate so as to have a first major surface with information pits thereon and a second major surface that is relatively planar;

placing light-changeable material on or within said second major surface;

sealing said second major surface having said light-changeable material with a protective material so as to protect said light sensitive material from the ambient environment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises polycarbonate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is an organic material.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is an inorganic material.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the organic light-changeable material is capable of light emisssion.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the organic light-changeable material comprises a cyanine compound.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is capable of light emission.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is a material capable of undergoing a phase change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by absorption of energy from one or more wavelengths of light.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the inorganic phase-change light-changeable material is selected from the group consisting of:

GeSbTe, InSbTe, InSe, AsTeGe, TeO_x-GeSn, TeSeSn, SbSeBi, BiSeGe and AgInSbTe.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit a wavelength length of about 530 nm.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is adpated to emit a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 900 nm.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength about 780 nm and a light source emitting light at a wavelength about 530 nm.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is on said second major surface of said substrate at distinct loci.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the light-changeable material is diffusively placed on said second major surface of said substrate by spin coating.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

metalizing said first major surface;

sealing said metalized first major surface so as to protect said metal from the ambient environment.

20. A method for fabricating an optical medium, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface;

placing light-changeable material on or within one or both major surfaces of said first substrate;

obtaining a second substrate having a first and a second major surface, said first major surface having information pits thereon;

affixing said first substrate having said light-sensitive material to said first or second major surface of said second substrate.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said first substrate comprises polycarbonate.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said second substrate comprises polycarbonate.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said first substrate comprises a polymeric film.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the light-changeable material is a light-emissive compound.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the light-changeable material comprises an inorganic or organic compound.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is a material capable of undergoing a phase change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by absorption of energy from one or more wavelengths of light.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the inorganic phase-change light-changeable material is selected from the group consisting of:

GeSbTe, InSbTe, InSe, AsTeGe, TeO_x-GeSn, TeSeSn, SbSeBi, BiSeGe and AgInSbTe.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit at 780 nm.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit at 530 nm.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein the light-changeable material is adpated to emit a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 900 nm.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the light-changeable material excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength about 780 nm and a light source emitting at a wavelength about 530 nm.

34. The method of claim 20 wherein the light-changeable material is placed at distinct loci.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein the light-changeable material is diffusively applied by spin coating.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is an organic material.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is an inorganic material.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the organic light-changeable material is capable of light-emission.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the organic light-changeable material comprises a cyanine compound.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is capable of light emission.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

46. The method of claim 38 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is a material capable of undergoing a phase change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by absorption of energy from one or more wavelengths of light.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the inorganic phase-change light-changeable material is selected from the group consisting of:

GeSbTe, InSbTe, InSe, AsTeGe, TeO_x-GeSn, TeSeSn, SbSeBi, BiSeGe and AgInSbTe.

48. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit a wavelength length of about 530 nm.

49. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is adpated to emit a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 900 nm.

50. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength about 780 nm and a light source emitting light at a wavelength about 530 nm.

51. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is on said second major surface of said substrate at distinct loci.

52. The method of claim 36 wherein the light-changeable material is diffusively placed on said second major surface of said substrate by spin coating.

36. A method for fabricating an optical medium, said method comprising:

obtaining a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface having information pits and lands thereon;

placing a light-changeable material in said information pits or lands;

metalizing said first major surface of said substrate having information pit thereon;

disposing an overcoat layer along said metalized surface.

53. A method for fabricating an optical medium, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a first substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first or second major surface, or both, having a detectable registration mark;

imprinting in select areas said first major surface of said first substrate layer with light-changeable material;

obtaining a second substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface of said second substrate layer having information pits thereon and either of said first or second major surface, or both, having a detectable registration mark;

affixing said second major surface of said second substrate along said first major surface of said first substrate so as said detectable registration marks overlap each other;

metalizing said first major surface of said second substrate layer having said information pits;

disposing a first overcoat layer along said metalized surface; and

optionally disposing a second overcoat layer along said second major surface of said first substrate layer.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said first substrate comprises polycarbonate.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein said second substrate comprises polycarbonate.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the light-changeable material is a light-emissive compound.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material comprises a cyanine compound.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit at 780 nm.

61. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit at 530 nm.

62. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is adpated to emit a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 900 nm.

63. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength about 780 nm and a light source emitting at a wavelength about 530 nm.

64. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is placed at distinct loci.

65. The method of claim 56 wherein the light-changeable material is diffusively applied by spin coating.

66. An optical medium comprising:

a first substrate layer having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface of said first substrate layer having light-changeable material thereon;

a second substrate layer having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface of said second substrate layer having information pits thereon, and said second major surface being disposed along said first major surface of said first substrate layer;

a metal reflector layer, said metal reflector layer being disposed along said first major surface of said second substrate layer;

a first overcoat layer being disposed along said metal reflector layer; and

optionally a second overcoat layer being disposed along said second major surface of said first substrate layer.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the light-changeable material is a light-emissive material.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the light-changeable material is a light-absorptive material.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the light-changeable material is a light-sensitive material.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein the light-changeable material is capable of light emission.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein the light-changeable material is capable of luminescence.

73. The method of claim 68 wherein the light-changeable material is capable of phosphoresence.

67. A multi-layer optical medium comprising:

a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface having information pits and lands thereon;

a polymeric film positioned over said first major surface, said polymeric film comprising light-changeable material positioned over one or more of said information pits and lands.

74. A multi-layer optical medium comprising:

a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface having information pits and lands thereon;

a metal reflector layer, said metal reflector layer being disposed along the information pits and lands;

a polymeric film positioned over said metal reflector layer, said polymeric film comprising light-changeable material;

wherein said metal reflector layer has a plurality of punctate discontinuities therein that permit laser light directed through said second major surface to impinge on the light-changeable material polymeric film.

75. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 74 wherein the substrate comprises polycarbonate.

76. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 74 wherein the light-changeable material is an organic material.

77. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 74 wherein the light-changeable material is a inorganic material.

78. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 76 wherein the organic light-changeable material is capable of light emission.

79. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 77 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is capable of light emission.

80. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 76 wherein the organic light-changeable material comprises a cyanine compound.

81. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 76 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

82. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 76 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

83. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 79 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

84. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 79 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

85. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 79 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is a material capable of undergoing a phase change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by absorption of energy from one or more wavelengths of light.

86. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 79 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is selected from the group consisting of:

GeSbTe, InSbTe, InSe, AsTeGe, TeO_x-GeSn, TeSeSn, SbSeBi, BiSeGe and AgInSbTe.

87. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 74 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit a wavelength length of about 530 nm.

88. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 74 wherein the light-changeable material is adpated to emit a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 900 nm.

89. The multi-layer optical medium of claim 74 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength about 780 nm and a light source emitting light at a wavelength about 530 nm.

90. A method for fabricating an optical medium, said method comprising:

obtaining a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, said first major surface having information pits and lands thereon;

metalizing said first major surface so as to form a metalized layer along said information pits and lands;

placing a polymeric layer comprising light-changeable material over said metalized layer;

forming a plurality of holes in said metalized layer.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein said substrate comprises polycarbonate.

92. The method of claim 90 wherein the light-changeable material is an organic material.

93. The method of claim 90 wherein the light-changeable material is an inorganic material.

94. The method of claim 92 wherein the organic light-changeable material is capable of light emisssion.

95. The method of claim 92 wherein the organic light-changeable material comprises a cyanine compound.

96. The method of claim 94 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

97. The method of claim 94 wherein the organic light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

98. The method of claim 93 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is capable of light emission.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 770 nm to about 830 nm.

100. The method of claim 98 wherein the inorganic light-emissive light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting light at a wavelength between about 630 nm to about 650 nm.

101. The method of claim 93 wherein the inorganic light-changeable material is a material capable of undergoing a phase change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by absorption of energy from one or more wavelengths of light.

102. The method of claim 93 wherein the inorganic phase-change light-changeable material is selected from the group consisting of:

GeSbTe, InSbTe, InSe, AsTeGe, TeO_x-GeSn, TeSeSn, SbSeBi, BiSeGe and AgInSbTe.

103. The method of claim 90 wherein the light-changeable material is adapted to emit a wavelength length of about 530 nm.

104. The method of claim 90 wherein the light-changeable material is adpated to emit a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 900 nm.

105. The method of claim 90 wherein the light-changeable material is excitable by a light source emitting at a wavelength about 780 nm and a light source emitting light at a wavelength about 530 nm.