Did You Know...
...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7225984 | Systems and methods for providing multiple object planes in an optical image scanning environment Systems and methods for optically scanning multiple object planes are provided. One embodiment is a system for optically scanning multiple object planes comprising a platen and an optical head for scanning. The optical head comprises an optical delay element, a firs... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7193585 | Image observation system An image observation system includes a pair of image observation devices each having i) an image pickup device, ii) an image pickup optical system for directing light rays from an outside world to the image pickup device, iii) a display device for displaying an outs... | 03/20/2007 |
| 6331904 | Reflection optics reference beam telescope A reference beam telescope, which is also referred to as a relay imaging system for a reference beam, using reflection optics is disclosed. The relay imaging system according to the present invention comprises at least one concave mirror and one convex mi... | 12/18/2001 |
| 6226109 | Diffractive security device on compact discs This invention relates to marking the genuine CD in an easily detectable way while difficult to counterfeit. The improved CD has within its layers a second structured surface parallel to the flat surfaces of the CD. The second structured surface acts as a... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6166835 | Holographic memory Holographic memory including a beam source for emitting a beam, a beam splitter for splitting the beam into a reference beam and an object beam, a hologram memory unit for recording information designated to a cell when the reference beam and the object b... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6111776 | Compact optical random access memory having multiple reflections A compact optical memory is disclosed in which data are stored in an optical data layer capable of selectively altering light such as by changeable transmissivity, reflectivity, polarization, and/or phase. The data are illuminated by controllable light so... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6104511 | Reflector-based off-axis optical system for holographic storage The holographic storage and retrieval system according to the present invention comprises one convex reflector and one concave reflector having the same optical axis. The reflective surfaces of the two reflectors are opposite each other. The concave refle... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6018402 | Apparatus and method for phase-encoding off-axis spatial light modulators within holographic data systems Embodiments of the invention include an off-axis amplitude and phase encoding optical system, apparatus and method of storage in which a holographic optical element (HOE) is used advantageously to reconstruct optical elements typically used to phaseencode... | 01/25/2000 |
| 5828595 | Optical recording and playback apparatus and method using single light absorbents In a system (apparatus and method) which employs a light absorbent material surrounded by an optically transparent matrix as a recording medium and in which the presence or absence of emission light of a specific wavelength from unity of the light absorbe... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5800950 | Recording medium A recording element which comprises a recording layer containing, a first charge-generating material adapted to generate a first electric charge by a supply of external energy, a first charge-transporting material for transporting the first electric charg... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5793504 | Hybrid angular/spatial holographic multiplexer A plurality of holograms are simultaneously angularly and spatially multiplexed within a storage medium by writing the holograms at different locations within the storage medium using reference and object beams directed thereto via cooperating reference b... | 08/11/1998 |
| 5550779 | Holographic memory with angle, spatial and out-of-plane multiplexing The invention is embodied in an optical memory having a holographic recording medium capable of storing respective holograms in respective storage spots, the memory including a coherent collimated reference beam and an information-bearing object beam illu... | 08/27/1996 |
| 5511035 | Optical random access memory having diffractive simplex imaging lens An optical memory stores data in an optical data layer capable of selecting altering light such as by changeable transmissivity. Data is organized into a plurality of regions or patches (called pages) in which each page contains a field of data spots stor... | 04/23/1996 |
| 5465238 | Optical random access memory having multiple state data spots for extended storage capacity An optical memory is disclosed in which data is stored in an optical data layer capable of selectively altering light such as by changeable transmissivity or polarization. The data is illuminated by controllable light sources and an array of multi-surface... | 11/07/1995 |
| 5460907 | Photorefractive materials The present invention relates to polymeric materials that exhibit an erasable photorefractive effect which can be fabricated into optical devices such as optical wave guides.... | 10/24/1995 |
| 5436867 | Holographic random access memory Disclosed is a spatial multiplexer for use with a holographic storage medium, and an information storage system employing the spatial multiplexer. The spatial multiplexer directs a reference beam of optical radiation onto the storage medium, the storage m... | 07/25/1995 |
| 5325342 | Surface-enhanced raman optical data storage system An improved Surface-Enhanced Raman Optical Data Storage System (SERODS) is disclosed. In the improved system, entities capable of existing in multiple reversible states are present on the storage device. Such entities result in changed Surface-Enhanced Ra... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5311474 | Random access optical storage This application concerns an optical storage with an optical storage medium having a plurality of storage fields arranged in matrix fashion, wherein each storage field of this storage field matrix comprises a storage position matrix consisting of a number... | 05/10/1994 |
| 5223355 | Process for improving the signal-to-noise ratio in holography using bacteriorhodopsin-based recording media In processes of holography using bacteriorhodopsin-based recording media, it is essential to design the signal-to-noise ratio to be as favorable as possible. This is achieved by recording the hologram using circularly polarized light and reconstructing th... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5184322 | Optical storage device with a stationary mass storage medium An optical storage device having a mass storage medium which remains stationary as data is transferred by a laser. The stationary mass storage medium permits rapid data transfer since delay due to rotation of the medium, as in a compact disk, is eliminate... | 02/02/1993 |
| 5184323 | Photorefractive device and process for its use A photorefractive device is disclosed capable of optically coupling intersecting beams of electromagnetic radiation comprised of first and second electrodes for establishing a potential gradient between first and second spaced locations and, interposed be... | 02/02/1993 |
| 5088087 | Dual-metal reflective layer recordable/erasable optical media Recordable/erasable optical storage media are disclosed. The medium of the present invention generally comprises a rigid substrate, an expansion layer, a retention layer, and a dual-metal reflective layer. A single, active layer may be substituted for the... | 02/11/1992 |
| 5086411 | Optical location systems An optical location system having a beam projection device (11, 51, 12, 13) to illuminate the field of view, and a detector array (29) to detect reflected light (21) from the field of view. The projected beam (13) is incrementably progressed across the fi... | 02/04/1992 |
| 5008858 | Asynchronous semiconductor memory having address transition detector An asynchronous semiconductor memory operates to detect transition of address to thereby generate a clock. A skew time period can be varied from the transition of an address signal to the generation of an internal clock.... | 04/16/1991 |
| 5003600 | Diffraction gratings used as identifying markers A finely detailed defraction grating is applied to an object as an identifier or tag which is unambiguous, difficult to duplicate, or remove and transfer to another item, and can be read and compared with prior readings with relative ease. The exact patte... | 03/26/1991 |
| 4999810 | Surface-enhanced raman optical data storage system A method and apparatus for a Surface-Enhanced Raman Optical Data Storage (SERODS) System is disclosed. A medium which exhibits the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) phenomenon has data written onto its surface of microenvironment by means of a writ... | 03/12/1991 |
| 4999809 | Photorefractive device and process for its use A photorefractive device is disclosed comprised of a first and second electrodes for establishing a potential gradient between first and second spaced locations and, interposed between the first and second electrodes, intermediate means capable of produci... | 03/12/1991 |
| 4953124 | Opto-magnetic signal reproducing apparatus for reading, by differential detection using a magneto-optical effect, information magnetically recorded on a record medium An opto-magnetic signal reproducing apparatus includes a light source unit for applying a linearly polarized light beam to a recording medium having magnetically recorded information, a splitter for splitting the light beam modulated, responding to the re... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4796226 | Reading head in integrated optics for reading information recorded on a magnetic support The head comprises a light source (S), a polarizer (P), a parabolic mirror (MP1), a second parabolic mirror (MP2), a polarization converter grating (RCP), a reflector (M), a separating plate (LS) and a detector (D). The beam diffracted by (RCP) constitute... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4703469 | Optical data recording using radiation of different characteristics Optical data storage members in which the guard bands present between data-carrying tracks of conventional data storage members are used to carry information recorded in a manner which avoids the danger of cross-talk between adjacent tracks. One preferred... | 10/27/1987 |
| 4527173 | Erasable, reusable optical recording element and method An erasable, reusable recording element comprising a support having thereon a heat-deformable optical recording layer having a transparent overcoat is disclosed.... | 07/02/1985 |
| 4497860 | Imageable prismatic array Articles having on one surface thereof a linear prism array and a diffraction grating on the opposite surface are provided which are suitable for the preparation of projection transparencies.... | 02/05/1985 |
| 4434477 | Mechanically addressed optical memory An optical memory with a storage plate and an optical write/read unit, with which during a relative movement the storage plate is illuminated pointwise for writing and reading of information, the storage plate and the optical write/read unit each being po... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4432071 | Apparatus for fast access to a series of stored images The apparatus includes a frequency selective memory having a storage material for storing frequency holes in at least two spatial dimensions and a frequency dimension. Interference patterns are stored in the memory such that each complete interference pat... | 02/14/1984 |
| 4371954 | Reversible memory structure with thermo-optical writing and optical reading and process for writing and erasing said structure The invention relates to a reversible memory structure with thermo-optical inscription or writing and optical reading on a moving support. According to the invention, the memory structure deposited on a substrate (1) is constituted by a double layer (2 and 3).... | 02/01/1983 |
| 4264986 | Information-recording process & apparatus Information-recording process in which a pulsed laser produces recording marks in the form of crisply-defined areas of surface relief on the surface of a recording medium such as APIEZON W wax, iodine doped epoxy resin, and other materials. The medium is ... | 04/28/1981 |
| 4219848 | Optical record playback apparatus employing light frequency at which alternate regions of record track exhibit anti-reflection condition For playback of a disc record information track, in which regions of a light reflective surface overlaid with a layer of light absorptive material alternate with regions of said light reflective surface free of said overlying absorptive material, light of... | 08/26/1980 |
| 4204638 | Process of coding a card with a diffraction grating having lines with irregular spacing A process for coding a set of access cards adapted to control an apparatus for opening, locking or releasing a processing device and for the ultimate determination of the validity of a card when it is presented in the apparatus, the coding being effected ... | 05/27/1980 |
| 4161752 | High density video disk having two pit depths A video recording disk that is optically readable has data represented in a form that permits data track revolutions to be spaced close together without an intervening guardband or with only a narrow guardband. The track revolutions are in two sets that f... | 07/17/1979 |
| 4160269 | Apparatus for optically reading a phase-modulated optical record carrier Apparatus for reading a record carrier provided with a spiral structure in which sound and/or image information is stored in the form of frequency modulated or phase modulated signals is disclosed. The carrier structure is composed of coplanar regions of ... | 07/03/1979 |
