Ultra-high density information storage device based on modulated cathodoconductivity
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorGary Alfred Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An information storage device includes a cathodoconductive medium and pairs of electrodes in contact with the medium. Data storage areas are located within regions between the electrode pairs. A read operation on data storage areas between a pair of electrodes may be performed by creating an electric field between the electrodes, scanning an electron beam across the storage areas, and monitoring a cathodocurrent created by the carriers. Changes in magnitude of the cathodocurrent indicates the states of the storage areas. The energy beam may be supplied by an electron emitter or a near-field optical source.
Claims25
A method of reading a storage area in an information storage device having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in contact with a cathodoconductive medium, the storage area being between the two electrodes, the method comprising:
- creating an electric field between the electrodes;
- bombarding the storage area with an energy beam to create charge carriers in the cathodoconductive layer;
- and
- monitoring magnitude of a current flowing between the electrodes.
A storage device comprising:
- a storage medium including a cathodoconductive medium and a pair of spaced apart electrodes in contact with the cathodoconductive medium, a data storage region being between the electrodes;
- and
- at least one energy beam source associated with the storage region;
- the electrodes being adapted to receive a voltage during read operations on storage areas within the storage region, the voltage creating an electric field across the storage region.
A storage medium for an information storage device having a plurality of electron emitters, the storage medium comprising:
- an insulating substrate;
- a cathodoconductive medium on the substrate, the cathodoconductive medium being changeable between at least two different states having properties that cause a substantial contrast in the cathodocurrent induced by an energy beam;
- and
- a plurality of spaced apart electrodes in contact with the cathodoconductive layer.
An information storage device comprising:
- a cathodoconductive layer;
- a pair of spaced apart electrodes in contact with the layer;
- means for creating carriers at an area of the cathodoconductive layer between the electrodes;
- means for accelerating the carriers between the electrodes;
- and
- means for monitoring magnitude of a current created by the carriers.
A method of storing information on a cathodoconductive medium, the method comprising substantially changing cathodoconductivity of selected data storage areas on the phase change medium.
A method of storing information on a phase change medium, the method comprising using a first energy beam to locally change properties of the medium such that an increase in induced cathodocurrent occurs when a second energy beam is scanned across the medium.
An information storage device comprising:
- a cathodoconductive medium;
- and
- means for substantially changing cathodoconductivity of selected data storage areas on the phase change medium during write operations.
An information storage device comprising:
- a cathodoconductive medium;
- and
- means for using a first energy beam to locally change properties of the medium such that a change in induced cathodocurrent occurs when a second energy beam is scanned across the medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.