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Optical disk data storage system with multiple write-once dye-based data layers

Patent 5627817 Issued on May 6, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject May 8, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

Multi-layered opitcal data records and playback apparatus
Patent #: 4090031
Issued on: 05/16/1978
Inventor: Russell

Multilayer information disc
Patent #: 4450553
Issued on: 05/22/1984
Inventor: Holster ,   et al.

Optical recording medium
Patent #: 4639745
Issued on: 01/27/1987
Inventor: Matsui ,   et al.

Optical recording medium and optical recording/reproducing apparatus
Patent #: 5097464
Issued on: 03/17/1992
Inventor: Nishiuchi, et al.

Multiple data surface optical data storage system
Patent #: 5202875
Issued on: 04/13/1993
Inventor: Rosen, et al.

Optical information recording medium
Patent #: 5260165
Issued on: 11/09/1993
Inventor: Satou, et al.

Optical recording and reproducing apparatus and recording medium having multilayer recording membranes
Patent #: 5263011
Issued on: 11/16/1993
Inventor: Maeda, et al.

Multilayer optical disk and system having multiple optical paths include identical total disk substrate thickness Patent #: 5373499
Issued on: 12/13/1994
Inventor: Imaino, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 435069 filed on 05/08/1995

US Classes:

369/100, Radiation beam modification of or by storage medium369/275.1, Optical track structure (e.g., phase or diffracting structure, etc.)369/283, Layered (e.g., permanent protective layer)369/284Radiation beam modified or controlling (e.g., photosensitve, optical track)

Examiners

Primary: Edun, Muhammad

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

  • 5-151616 JP 06/24/1993

International Class

G11B 007/00

Abstract

A multiple data layer dye-based optical disk drive uses a disk with a light transmissive substrate onto which the laser light at a single wavelength is incident. The disk substrate supports at least two spatially separated data layers formed of dye material. The disk is either an air-gap structure wherein each data layer is supported on a separate substrate and the substrates are separated by an air-gap, or a solid structure wherein a solid light transmissive spacer layer separates the data layers. The invention makes use of the characteristic anomalous dispersion absorption band of certain dye materials, in which at a specific wavelength the dye material exhibits a high index of refraction and low extinction coefficient. This allows the first data layer (the one nearest the incident laser light) and intermediate data layers to exhibit both sufficient absorption when the laser is focused on those data layers and high transmissivity when the laser is focused on the last or farther data layers. The index of refraction of the dye-based data layers is selected to be significantly greater than the adjacent substrate and spacer layer to enhance the reflectivity, and the thickness of the data layers is selected to take advantage of the constructive interference effect caused by the reflection at those interfaces. In one embodiment of the invention the dye material for the data layers is a mixture of two different dyes that are not chemically reactive with one another and that retain their individual optical properties. This dye-based data layer exhibits anomalous dispersion absorption at two distinct wavelengths, thereby allowing disks recorded at one wavelength to be read by optical disk drives that use lasers operating at a lower wavelength.

Other References

  • Kurt A. Rubin et al., "Multilevel Volumetric Optical Storage", SPIE, vol. 2338, Optical Data Storage, 1994, pp. 247-253
  • IBM News Release, "IBM Scientists Demonstrate Multilevel Optical Disks; Could Increase Optical Data Capacities 10-Fold or More", May 12, 199
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