# US 9,437,236 B2 · Encoding data

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- Number: US 9,437,236 B2
- Document ID: US9437236B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/533,074
- Filed: 2014-11-04
- Published: 2015-05-07
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-04
- Applicants: Michael Hugh Harrington
- Inventors: Michael Hugh Harrington
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437236B2

## CPC

- G11B 20/1252: {for discontinuous data, e.g. digital information signals or computer program data}
- G11B 5/743: {Patterned record carriers, wherein the magnetic recording layer is patterned into magnetic isolated data islands, e.g. discrete tracks}
- G11B 7/0045: Recording (G11B7/006, G11B7/0065 take precedence)
- G11B 11/002: {using recording by perturbation of the physical or electrical structure}
- B82Y 20/00: Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
- G02B 6/12007: {forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer}
- G11B 20/10: Digital recording or reproducing
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

Data can be encoded in physical medium and represented by shapes having many various physical attributes. In various examples, data points are encoded and represented by the physical shape, color, size, and/or structure of objects. In one embodiment, holes in memory surface substrates represent data. Various attributes of such holes, including depth, profile size, profile shape, and/or angle can represent data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for encoding data, comprising:
creating a feature on a memory substrate, wherein:
one or more physical attributes of the feature represent data and the one or more physical attributes comprises color.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises a hole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein:
the hole comprises a selected profile shape and
the selected profile shape represents a datum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method claim 2, wherein:
the hole comprises a selected angle and
the selected angle represents a datum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method claim 2, wherein:
the hole comprises a selected depth and
the selected depth represents a datum.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises two data layers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the substrate comprises a spacer layer between the two data layers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises a shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a new data layer on top of a preexisting data layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the memory substrate comprises multiple memory devices, wherein the multiple memory devices each comprise a different size.

### Claim 11

A data storage medium, comprising:
a substrate surface;
a feature on the substrate surface, the feature comprising one or more physical attributes;
wherein:
each of the one or more physical attributes represents encoded data and
the one or more physical attributes comprises color.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The data storage medium of claim 11, wherein the feature comprises a hole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The data storage medium of claim 12, wherein:
the hole comprises a selected profile shape and
the selected profile shape represents a datum.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The data storage medium of claim 12, wherein:
the hole comprises a selected angle and
the selected angle represents a datum.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The data storage medium of claim 12, wherein:
the hole comprises a selected depth and
the selected depth represents a datum.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The data storage medium of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises two data layers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The data storage medium of claim 16, wherein the substrate comprises a spacer layer between the two data layers.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The data storage medium of claim 11 wherein the substrate surface comprises multiple memory devices, wherein the multiple memory devices each comprise a different size.