High density data storage medium
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJane Frommer, Robert D. Miller, Craig Hawker, Urs T. Duerig, Bernd Gotsmann, Peter Vettiger, Mark A. Lantz
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Abstract
A data storage system includes a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied; and a data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising: a substrate; and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location, characterized in that the polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.
Claims16
A data storage system comprising:
- a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied;
- and
- a data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising:
- a substrate;
- and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location, characterized in that the polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.
A data storage system comprising:
- a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied;
- and
- a multilevel data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising:
- a substrate having a layered structure thereon within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location characterized by:
- an outer layer of polymer having a first concentration of crosslinkages;
- and an inner layer of polymer disposed between the substrate and the outer polymer layer, the inner polymer layer having a concentration of crosslinkages greater that the concentration in the outer layer, wherein the bit value has a first value if the outer layer is penetrated and a second value if outer and inner layers are both penetrated.
A data storage system comprising:
- a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied;
- and
- a multilevel data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising:
- a substrate having a layered structure thereon within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location characterized by:
- an outer layer of polymer having thermally reversible crosslinkages;
- and an inner layer of polymer disposed between the substrate and the outer polymer layer, the inner polymer layer having thermally reversible crosslinkages with a greater temperature Tr at which crosslinkage cleavage occurs than in the outer layer wherein the bit value has a first value if the outer layer is penetrated and a second value if outer and inner layers are both penetrated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.