...that after Walter Hunt patented the safety pin in 1849, he sold the rights to it for $400?
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AbstractThe invention relates to a read-write optical memory comprising a plurality of juxtaposed memory cells (11), each receiving a respective light beam (3). Each memory cell contains a storage medium (10), which includes a storage element (23) having stable optical states. The storage element (23) is divided into a number of memory points, and the optical state in a given memory point can be both changed and read by means of a light beam (3) directed towards the memory point. The memory can be implemented entirely without any movable mechanical parts and has a very short read-write time and an exceptionally high storage capacity. Parallel writing and reading of multibit words is possible.Other References
| InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 284595 filed on 08/12/1994US Classes:369/14, SIMULTANEOUS DIVERSE TYPES OF STORAGE OR RETRIEVAL365/109, Photoconductive and ferroelectric365/117, Ferroelectric365/145FerroelectricField of Search369/14, SIMULTANEOUS DIVERSE TYPES OF STORAGE OR RETRIEVAL369/15, ALTERNATIVE DIVERSE TYPES OF STORAGE OR RETRIEVAL369/273, Combined with diverse art structure369/274, Composite (e.g., package with preview record)369/275.3, Track data format/layout369/280, Specific disc profile369/281, With interdisc coupling369/284, Radiation beam modified or controlling (e.g., photosensitve, optical track)369/288, Specified material365/117, Ferroelectric365/109, Photoconductive and ferroelectric365/145, Ferroelectric365/112, Photoconductive365/118, Electron beam365/121, Polarization365/122, Magneto-optical365/128, Electron beams365/134, Continuous cells365/140Multiaperture cellExaminersPrimary: Epps, GeorgiaAssistant: Dinh, Tan Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References3703137, 3868652, 4101975, Optical memory with storage in three dimensionsIssued on: 07/18/1978 Inventor: Brody4247914, Optical memory with fiber optic light guide Issued on: 01/27/1981 Inventor: Brody4250567, Photovoltaic-ferroelectric beam accessed memory Issued on: 02/10/1981 Inventor: Brody5051950, Read/write optical memory Issued on: 09/24/1991 Inventor: Evans, Jr., et al.5060191, Ferroelectric memory Issued on: 10/22/1991 Inventor: Nagasaki, ;, , , --> Nagasaki, et al.5065378, System for reproducing a signal recorded in a magnetic recording medium by using a magnetostatic wave Issued on: 11/12/1991 Inventor: Oda, et al.5179533, Read/write optical memory Issued on: 01/12/1993 Inventor: Bullington, et al.5327373Optoelectronic memories with photoconductive thin films Issued on: 07/05/1994 Inventor: Liu, et al. Foreign Patent References
International ClassesG11B 013/04G11C 011/42 Foreign Application Priority Data1992-02-18 SE |