3D optical memory storage cells
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsJoachim Ahner, David Marcus Tung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a first storage cell with an electrical property. The first storage cell is configured to change the electrical property in response to a first light energy, and to maintain the change to the electrical property. The first storage cell is also configured to alter the change to the electrical property in response to a second light energy, and to maintain the alteration to the change to the electrical property. A second storage cell disposed over the first storage cell in a vertical plane of the first storage cell. A third storage cell disposed adjacent to the first storage cell in a horizontal plane of the first storage cell.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a first storage cell including an electrical property, wherein
- the electrical property is a concentration of free charge at a location within the first storage cell,
- the first storage cell changes the electrical property in response to a first light energy,
- the first storage cell maintains the change to the electrical property,
- the first storage cell alters the change to the electrical property in response to a second light energy, and
- the first storage cell maintains the alteration to the change to the electrical property;
- a second storage cell disposed over the first storage cell in a vertical plane of the first storage cell;
- and
- a third storage cell disposed adjacent to the first storage cell in a horizontal plane of the first storage cell.
An apparatus comprising:
- a three dimensional crystalline structure including a plurality of storage locations, wherein the plurality of storage locations is arranged in three dimensions within the crystalline structure;
- a light source focusing a first light with a first energy on a storage location of the plurality of storage locations, wherein
- the focused first light alters an electrical orientation of the storage location, and
- the light source focuses a second light with a second light energy on the storage location without altering the electrical orientation;
- and
- a detector operable to detect the second light energy, wherein the detector is further operable to detect a concentration of free charge at the storage location.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first location configured to change a first electrical alignment in response to a first energy;
- a second location over the first location in a z-axis configured to change a second electrical alignment in response to the first energy;
- a third location adjacent to the first location in an x-axis configured to change a third electrical alignment in response to the first energy;
- an energy source configured to create a coulomb explosion in the first location;
- and
- a detector configured to detect a second energy from the first location, the second location, or the third location, wherein the first electrical alignment, the second electrical alignment, and the third electrical alignment remain unchanged in response to the second energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.