Amorphous write-read optical storage memory
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMichael J. Brady, Bodil E. Braren, Richard J. Gambino, Alfred Grill, Vishnubhai V. Patel
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for storing data is provided incorporating an amorphous solid having covalent bonds and a first index of refraction and an energy source for thermally heating selected areas of the amorphous solid to change the index of refraction without melting or substantially crystallizing the amorphous solid. The invention overcomes the problem of corrosion, moisture, or microbial attack resulting in deterioration of the storage medium over time, i.e., 100 years.
Claims15
A method for storing data comprising the steps of:
- selecting an amorphous solid from the group consisting of diamond-like carbon, boron carbide and boron nitride having a first index of refraction, and
- heating said amorphous solid in predetermined areas without melting or crystallizing said amorphous solid to change the index of refraction in said areas to a second index of refraction.
A method for storing data comprising the steps of:
- selecting an amorphous solid having a first index of refraction, said step of selecting includes selecting carbon having substantially sp.sup.3 diamond type bonding, and
- heating said amorphous solid in predetermined areas without melting or crystallizing said amorphous solid to change the index of refraction in said areas to a second index of refraction.
A method for storing data comprising the steps of:
- selecting an amorphous solid having a first index of refraction,
- said step of selecting includes selecting carbon having substantially sp.sup.3 diamond type bonding with a substantial amount of hydrogen which is covalently bonded to sp.sup.3 type carbon, and
- heating said amorphous solid in predetermined areas without melting or crystallizing said amorphous solid to change the index of refraction in said areas to a second index of refraction.
A method for storing data comprising the steps of:
- positioning a film of diamond-like carbon (DLC) in relation to a heat source, said diamond-like carbon having a first index of refraction, and
- heating said diamond-like carbon in selected areas without melting or forming crystals therein to change the index of refraction in said areas to a second index of refraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.