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

• US 7,649,827 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• 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): Tran; Thang V
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, VAN NGUYEN
• Application Number:
  US11/370,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 369/275.1
• 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 method is provided for making the storage media having data stored thereon. In one aspect of the making of storage media, a first layer is formed, where the first layer is substantially transparent to a predetermined first radiant energy used for reading the data. Next, a second layer is formed on the first layer, which is substantially opaque to the first radiant energy. Finally, a pattern is formed that comprises a plurality of holes in the second layer, where each of the holes have a largest dimension which is greater than a wavelength of the first radiant energy, and the data is stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern.

Claims

1. A method for making a storage medium having data stored thereon, the method comprising:

forming a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a first radiant energy of a predetermined optical wavelength used for reading the data;

forming a second layer on the first layer which is substantially opaque to said first radiant energy; and

forming a pattern comprising a plurality of holes in the second layer, at least one of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than said predetermined optical wavelength, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern;

wherein said first radiant energy passes through said first layer and said second layer at substantially the same said predetermined optical wavelength.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer is polycarbonate formed by a casting process.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second layer is a metalization coating formed by sputtering the metalization on the first layer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed in a circular shape and the largest dimension is a diameter of the circular shaped holes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the plurality of holes are 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.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes are formed in a circular shape and the largest dimension is a diameter of the circular shaped holes, the diameter of the holes being in a range of about 30 to 100 nanometers.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a distance between successive holes is in a range of about 30 to 100 nanometers.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the track pitch is about 100 nanometers.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes are formed in a circular shape and the largest dimension is a diameter of the circular shaped 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.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes are formed in a circular shape and the largest dimension is a diameter of the circular shaped 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.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a third layer on the second layer, the third layer being substantially transparent to the first radiant energy.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the storage media in a circular shape and having a data storage area having an inner diameter of about 25 millimeters and an outer diameter of about 115 millimeters.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed by x-ray lithography.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed by melting material in the second layer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed by ablating material in the second layer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are formed by a second radiant energy having a wavelength less than a wavelength of the first radiant energy.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second radiant energy is selected from a group consisting of ultraviolet light, x-rays, and electron beams.

18. A method for making a storage medium having data stored thereon, the method comprising:

forming a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a first radiant energy of a predetermined optical wavelength used for reading the data;

forming a second layer on the first layer which is substantially opaque to said first radiant energy; and

forming a pattern comprising a plurality of holes in the second layer, at least one of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than said predetermined optical wavelength, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern;

wherein the pattern of the plurality of holes are 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.

19. A method for making a storage medium having data stored thereon, the method comprising:

forming a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a first radiant energy of a predetermined optical wavelength used for reading the data;

forming a second layer on the first layer which is substantially opaque to said first radiant energy;

forming a pattern comprising a plurality of holes in the second layer, at least one of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than said predetermined optical wavelength, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern; and

forming a third layer on the second layer, the third layer being substantially transparent to the first radiant energy.

20. A method for making a storage medium having data stored thereon, the method comprising:

forming a first layer, the first layer being substantially transparent to a first radiant energy of a predetermined optical wavelength used for reading the data;

forming a second layer on the first layer which is substantially opaque to said first radiant energy; and

forming a pattern comprising a plurality of holes in the second layer, at least one of the holes having a largest dimension which is greater than said predetermined optical wavelength, the data being stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern;

wherein the plurality of holes are formed by a second radiant energy having a wavelength less than said predetermined optical wavelength.