Method for enhancing the utility of a photopolymer recording media for holographic data recording

A method for recording an interference pattern in a photopolymer recording media having a plurality of regions defined therein in which holographic recordings are to be made, comprising:

• irradiating a select one of the regions in the photopolymer recording media for a predetermined amount of time to deplete free oxygen from the photopolymer recording media such that additional irradiation of the select region of the photopolymer recording media will result in substantially more polymerization than O.sub.2 depletion;
• recording one or more interference patterns in a plurality of select regions in the photopolymer recording media by interfering a data beam for a predetermined record duration with a reference beam to create the interference pattern, the recording operation effected after the step of irradiating;
• storing for each of the select regions an irradiated history as to when O.sub.2 was depleted from the select region by the step of irradiating;
• storing media parameters relating to the amount of O.sub.2 that must be removed as a function of time prior to another recording operation taking place in the select region;
• and
• performing the irradiation operation in accordance with the irradiation history to only deplete the O.sub.2 diffused since the last recording for a subsequent recording operation.

A method for recording information in a holographic storage media with excess O.sub.2 molecules present, comprising the steps of:

• providing a photopolymer recording media as the holographic storage media and having associated therewith a plurality of unpolymerized monomers and excess O.sub.2 and having a plurality of storage locations defined therein;
• irradiating a select one of the storage locations in the photopolymer recording media for a predetermined amount of time to deplete free oxygen from the select storage location in the photopolymer recording media such that additional irradiation of the photopolymer will result in substantially more polymerization than O.sub.2 depletion;
• generating a data beam having data encoded therein;
• generating a reference beam;
• recording an interference pattern in the select location in the photopolymer media by directing the reference and data beam to the select storage location to interfere with each other for a predetermined recording duration and to form the interference pattern within the select storage location by polymerizing the photopolymer media;
• storing for the select storage location an irradiated history as to when O.sub.2 was depleted from the select storage location by the step of irradiating;
• storing media parameters relating to the amount of O.sub.2 that must be removed as a function of time prior to another recording operation taking place in the select location;
• and
• performing the irradiation operation in accordance with the irradiation history to only deplete the O.sub.2 diffused since the last recording for a subsequent recording operation.

A method for recording information in a holographic storage media with excess O.sub.2 molecules present, comprising the steps of;

• providing a photopolymer recording media as the holographic storage media and having associated therewith a plurality of unpolymerized monomers and excess O.sub.2 and having a plurality of storage locations defined therein;
• irradiating a select one of the storage locations in the photopolymer recording media for a predetermined amount of time to deplete free oxygen from the select storage location in the photopolymer recording media such that additional irradiation of the photopolymer will result in substantially more polymerization than O.sub.2 depletion;
• generating a data beam having data encoded therein;
• generating a reference beam;
• recording at least one interference pattern in a plurality of select storage locations in the photopolymer recording media by directing the reference and data beam to the select storage location to interfere with each other for a predetermined recording duration and to form the interference pattern within the select storage location by polymerizing the photopolymer media;
• storing for each of the storage regions an irradiated history as to when O.sub.2 was depleted from the select storage location by the step of irradiating;
• storing media parameters relating to the amount of O.sub.2 that must be removed as a function of time prior to another recording operation taking place in the select storage location;
• and
• performing the irradiation operation in accordance with the irradiation history to only deplete the O.sub.2 diffused since the last recording for a subsequent recording operation.