Optical memory
AssigneeNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
InventorMasato Tazawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of recording information on a memory medium and reading the information, comprising the steps of forming a reflective or transmissive surface having an anisotropic microstructure on a substrate of the memory medium to record information in the microstructure, entering light onto the reflective or transmissive surface, and detecting change in the polarization or intensity of a reflected or transmitted light caused by the microstructure, to read the information. The present invention also provides a memory medium, a production method thereof, and an information reading system.
Claims18
A method of recording information on a memory medium by means of an anisotropic microstructure and reading said information, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a reflective surface having said anisotropic microstructure on a substrate to record information therein;
- entering light onto said reflective surface;
- and
- detecting change in the polarization of a reflected light caused by said microstructure, or change in the intensity of a reflected light caused by said microstructure, to read said information.
A memory medium for recording information by means of an anisotropic microstructure, said memory medium comprising a reflective surface having an anisotropic microstructure on a substrate to record information therein, wherein said information is read by entering light onto said reflective surface and detecting change in the polarization of a reflected light caused by said microstructure, or change in the intensity of a reflected light caused by said microstructure.
A method of recording information on a memory medium by means of an anisotropic microstructure and reading said information, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a transmissive surface having said anisotropic microstructure on a substrate to record information therein;
- entering light onto said transmissive surface;
- and
- detecting change in the polarization of a transmitted light caused by said microstructure, or change in the intensity of a transmitted light caused by said microstructure, to read said information.
A memory medium for recording information by means of an anisotropic microstructure, said memory medium comprising a transmissive surface having an anisotropic microstructure on a substrate to record information therein, wherein said information is read by entering light onto said transmissive surface and detecting change in the polarization of a transmitted light caused by said microstructure, or change in the intensity of a transmitted light caused by said microstructure.
A method of producing a memory medium comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of cells each including a reflective surface having an anisotropic microstructure;
- assigning bit data to said cells;
- and
- aligning said cells on a substrate of said memory medium.
A method of producing a memory medium comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of cells each including a transmissive surface having an anisotropic microstructure;
- assigning bit data to said cells;
- and
- aligning said cells on a substrate of said memory medium.
An information reading system comprising:
- a memory medium including a reflective surface having an anisotropic microstructure with information recorded therein;
- and
- means for optically reading said recorded information, said means being operable to enter light onto said reflective surface and detect change in the polarization and/or intensity of a reflected light caused by said microstructure.
An information reading system comprising:
- a memory medium including a transmissive surface having an anisotropic microstructure with information recorded therein;
- and
- means for optically reading said recorded information, said means being operable to enter light onto said transmissive surface and detect change in the polarization and/or intensity of a transmitted light caused by said microstructure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.