High capacity digital data storage by transmission of radiant energy through arrays of small diameter holes

• US 7,054,256 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ochoa Optics LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hunter, Charles Eric, McNeil, Laurie, Hebrank, John H., Ballou, Bernard L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, VAN NGUYEN
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Van T.
• Application Number:
  US10/082,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 369/275.4, 369/124.12, 369/288, 369/283, 369/282
• US Class Current: 369/118
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2007/0003 Recording, reproducing or erasing systems characterised by the structure or type of the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00451 involving ablation of the recording layer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/005 Reproducing G11B7/0065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/131 Arrangement of detectors in a multiple array
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24035 Recording layers substrates also used as recording layers G11B7/24047
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24079 Width or depth G11B7/24076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24085 Pits
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers

Abstract

A storage media for storage of data thereon is provided. The storage media including: a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a predetermined radiant energy used for reading the data; and a second layer formed on the first layer and being substantially opaque to the radiant energy, the second layer having a pattern comprising a plurality of holes, each of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than a wavelength of the radiant energy, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern. Also provided are a method for fabricating the storage media as well as an apparatus and method for reading the data stored on the storage media.

Claims

1. A storage media for storage of data thereon, the storage media comprising:

a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a predetermined radiant energy used for reading the data; and

a second layer formed on the first layer and being substantially opaque to the radiant energy, the second layer having a pattern comprising a plurality of holes, each of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than a wavelength of the radiant energy, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern, wherein the pattern comprises the plurality of holes arranged along a helix beginning near a center of the storage media and extending spirally outward, each successive pass of the helix being separated from a previous pass of the helix by a track pitch, wherein the track pitch is about 100 nanometers.

2. A storage media for storage of data thereon, the storage media comprising:

a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a predetermined radiant energy used for reading the data; and

a second layer formed on the first layer and being substantially opaque to the radiant energy, the second layer having a pattern comprising a plurality of holes, each of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than a wavelength of the radiant energy, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern, wherein the pattern comprises the plurality of holes arranged along a helix beginning near a center of the storage media and extending spirally outward, each successive pass of the helix being separated from a previous pass of the helix by a track pitch, wherein the plurality of holes are circular and the largest dimension is a diameter of the circular holes, the diameter of the holes being about 50 nanometers, a distance between successive holes being about 100 nanometers, and the track pitch being about 100 nanometers.

3. A storage media for storage of data thereon, the storage media comprising:

a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a predetermined radiant energy used for reading the data; and

a second layer formed on the first layer and being substantially opaque to the radiant energy, the second layer having a pattern comprising a plurality of holes, each of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than a wavelength of the radiant energy, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern, wherein the pattern comprises the plurality of holes arranged along a helix beginning near a center of the storage media and extending spirally outward, each successive pass of the helix being separated from a previous pass of the helix by a track pitch, wherein the plurality of holes are circular and the largest dimension is a diameter of the circular holes, the diameter of the holes being about 30 nanometers, a distance between successive holes is about 60 nanometers, and the track pitch being about 100 nanometers.