Optical storage medium with virtual track pitch
OwnerDmitri V. Vezenov, John M. Guerra +3inventors
InventorsDmitri V. Vezenov, John M. Guerra, Leonard Wan, Paul F. Sullivan, Kenric P. Nelson
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Abstract
An optical data storage medium includes a superstructure of micro-lenses defining first and second repeating periods. One of the periods is longer than the other, and the presence of the longer repeating period allows the medium to be used in an optical drive that is configured to use light diffracted by the longer period for tracking purposes. The micro-lenses may be configured such that adjacent lenses have different heights, widths, or shapes. In some embodiments, the spacing between adjacent data tracks is varied to provide the first and second repeating periods.
Claims25
An optical data storage medium comprising:
- a storage layer having one or more data storage tracks thereon which define a data track pitch, and
- a micro-lens array positioned proximate to said one or more data storage tracks, wherein said micro-lens array comprises a periodic structure defining at least first and second repeating periods, and wherein said periodic structure induces a virtual track pitch having a pitch which is different than said data track pitch.
An optical storage device comprising:
- a far field optical pick-up unit and an optical data storage medium, said optical data storage medium comprising:
- a storage layer;
- and
- a plurality of adjacent track portions for storing optical artifacts on said storage layer, wherein said track portions define a radial track pitch of N/2 microns, and wherein said optical artifacts are readable by an optical drive configured for tracking an N micron track pitch.
An optical storage medium comprising:
- a first track for recording optical artifacts having a track pitch of N microns;
- a second track for recording optical artifacts having a track pitch of N microns;
- wherein said first track and said second track are interleaved such that there is an average track pitch of N/2 microns between said first and second tracks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.