US 2010/0118689 A1 · Thin optical data storage media with hard coat

Abstract

This disclosure describes thin optical media that may be compliant with conventional DVD drives. Unlike conventional DVDs, however, the described media does not include the non-information bearing “dummy” substrate. Instead, the described media may comprise a single substrate having a thickness of approximately 0.6 millimeters. Depending on the format, reflective layers, information layers, dyes, phase change materials, or other materials may be deposited over the replicated side of the substrates. Furthermore, in accordance with this disclosure, a hard coat layer is also formed over the replicated side of the media in order to provide mechanical integrity to the media. Printable layers, printed layers, lacquer, or other materials may also be added. The elimination of the non-information bearing “dummy” substrate can reduce raw materials, thereby reducing costs and providing a more environmentally friendly optical disk. The hard coat can provide the mechanical protection to the replicated side of the 0.6 millimeter substrate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical data storage medium compatible with a digital versatile disk (DVD) drive, the medium comprising:

a disk-shaped thermoplastic substrate defining a first side and a second side, wherein the first side includes replicated features and wherein the disk-shaped thermoplastic substrate defines a thickness over a substantial majority of the disk-shaped thermoplastic substrate of approximately 0.6 millimeters;
a reflective layer formed over the first side of the disk-shaped thermoplastic substrate such that light from the DVD drive can pass through the disk-shaped thermoplastic substrate and reflect off the reflective layer back to the DVD drive;
and
a hard coat layer formed over the reflective layer, wherein the hard coat layer protects the replicated features, and wherein the reflective layer and the hard coat layer are sufficiently thin relative to the disk-shaped thermoplastic substrate such that the overall thickness of the optical data storage medium over a substantial majority of the optical data storage medium is approximately 0.6 millimeters.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thin optical data storage media with hard coat

Life of this patent

Thin optical data storage media with hard coat

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20