EP0418879A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Recording/reproducing system using optical storage medium
Assignee: Russell James T
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Filing: 1990-09-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-09-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method are disclosed for encoding information and recording same as sets of variably spaced related marks (12) on an optical record (10). The encoded information is read by illuminating each set of such recorded marks with a coherent read light (25) to cause an optical interference pattern (14) consisting of a varying distribution of amplitude maxima separated by amplitude nulls (or minimas) that change in accordance with the encoded information. This read interference pattern is detected by photosensing diode arrays and after (26) decoding, the system outputs an information signal representing the original information.
Inventors
- 👤 James T. Russell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:55
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/12; G11B7/004; G11B7/0065; G11B7/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for recording information onto and reproducing such information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: recording means (15, 23) for writing information onto an optical storage medium (10), including means for forming along a record track a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12a, 12b, 12c) in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the marks generally transverse to the record track; reproducing means (15, 23) for retrieving information from an optical storage medium having said plurality of sets of variably spaced marks along a record track, including a source (24, 180, 240) of light that is adapted to be directed at the sets of marks so as to form an optical interference pattern in which variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern represents said variable spacing of the sets of marks; and said reproducing means further including photosensing means (26) adapted to be disposed for receiving light from said optical interference pattern so as to convert light from said variable interference pattern into an electrical signal representing said information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A system for recording information onto and reproducing such information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: recording means (15, 23) for writing information onto an optical storage medium (10), including means for forming along a record track a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12a, 12b, 12c) in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the marks generally transverse to the record track; reproducing means (15, 23) for retrieving information from an optical storage medium having said plurality of sets of variably spaced marks along a record track, including a source (24, 180, 240) of light that is adapted to be directed at the sets of marks so as to form an optical interference pattern in which variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern represents said variable spacing of the sets of marks; and said reproducing means further including photosensing means (26) adapted to be disposed for receiving light from said optical interference pattern so as to convert light from said variable interference pattern into an electrical signal representing said information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said recording means comprises an acousto-optical deflector (171).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said recording means comprises an array of controllable light elements and optic means for imaging light from said elements onto the optical storage medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said photosensing means of said reproducing means comprises an array (26) of solid state photosensitive elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said source (24) of light of said reproducing means comprises a laser diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said recording means comprises means for forming said sets of variably spaced marks (12) in groups of at least three such marks (12a, 12b, 12c), each set of marks arranged transverse to the information track and including a center mark (12a) and a pair of side marks (12b, 12c), the locus of said center mark of said sets being disposed along the center of the record track.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for recording information onto an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: recording means (15, 23) for writing information onto an optical storage medium (10), including means for forming along a record track a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the marks generally transverse to the record track, whereby the recorded information may be retrieved by sensing an optical interference pattern formed by illuminating each said sets of marks with a light source.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for recording information onto an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: recording means (15, 23) for writing information onto an optical storage medium (10), including means for forming along a record track a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the marks generally transverse to the record track, whereby the recorded information may be retrieved by sensing an optical interference pattern formed by illuminating each said sets of marks with a light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 7, characterized in that said recording means comprises an acousto-optical deflector (17).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said recording means comprises means for forming said sets of variably spaced marks with at least certain of said sets having two such marks, each set of marks arranged transverse to the information track.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 9, characterized in that said recording means comprises means for forming said sets of two marks so that said marks are disposed on substantially equal and opposite sides of a center axis of said information track.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said recording means further comprises means for forming said sets of spaced apart marks so that said marks encode information by variable spacing between said sets along the length of said record track, and said reproducing means comprising means for retrieving encoded information from reproduction signal channels representing optical interference patterns associated with both variable spacing of said sets of marks transverse to said track and variable spacing between said sets of marks along said track.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for recording information onto and reproducing such information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: recording means (15, 23) for writing information onto an optical storage medium, including means for forming on a record track a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12) in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the mark in said sets; reproducing means (15, 23) for retrieving information from an optical storage medium having said plurality of sets of variably spaced marks on a record track, including a source of light that is adapted to be directed at the sets of marks so as to form an optical interference pattern (14) in which variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern represents the encoded information; and said reproducing means further including photosensing means (26) adapted to be disposed for receiving light from said optical interference pattern for converting said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing said encoded information.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for recording information onto and reproducing such information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: recording means (15, 23) for writing information onto an optical storage medium, including means for forming on a record track a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12) in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the mark in said sets; reproducing means (15, 23) for retrieving information from an optical storage medium having said plurality of sets of variably spaced marks on a record track, including a source of light that is adapted to be directed at the sets of marks so as to form an optical interference pattern (14) in which variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern represents the encoded information; and said reproducing means further including photosensing means (26) adapted to be disposed for receiving light from said optical interference pattern for converting said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing said encoded information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12, characterized in that marks in each of said sets are variably spaced in a direction generally transverse to the record track.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 12, characterized in that said marks of each set are variably spaced along a direction generally along said record track.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 12, characterized in that said sets of variably spaced marks include at least one set having said marks variably spaced along a direction generally transverse to said record track, and at least one other set of said marks having variable spacing along a direction generally longitudinal of said record track, whereby different information encoding channels are provided by said transverse and longitudinal spacing of marks.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of recording information onto and reproducing such information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising the steps of: writing information onto an optical storage medium (10) by forming on a record track on such medium a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12) in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the marks in said sets; reading information from an optical storage medium having said plurality of sets of variably spaced marks on a record track by illuminating said sets with a coherent source (24) of light so as to form an optical interference pattern (14) in which spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern represents the encoded information; and photosensing light (26) from said optical interference pattern to convert said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing said encoded information.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of recording information onto and reproducing such information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising the steps of: writing information onto an optical storage medium (10) by forming on a record track on such medium a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12) in which the information is encoded by variable spacing of the marks in said sets; reading information from an optical storage medium having said plurality of sets of variably spaced marks on a record track by illuminating said sets with a coherent source (24) of light so as to form an optical interference pattern (14) in which spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern represents the encoded information; and photosensing light (26) from said optical interference pattern to convert said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing said encoded information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical storage medium having a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks recorded in accordance with the method of claim 16.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
An optical storage record, characterized by comprising: an optical storage medium (10) having formed thereon a record track in which a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12) are made along said record track for encoding information in an optical interference pattern (14) produced when said marks are illuminated by a source (24) of coherent light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
An optical storage record, characterized by comprising: an optical storage medium (10) having formed thereon a record track in which a plurality of sets of spaced apart marks (12) are made along said record track for encoding information in an optical interference pattern (14) produced when said marks are illuminated by a source (24) of coherent light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The optical storage record of claim 18, characterized in that said marks of at least certain of said sets are spaced apart within a range of 2 to 4 times the wavelength (λ) of the illuminating source of coherent light.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for reproducing information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: a source (24) of coherent light adapted to be directed at a set of prerecorded marks (12) on an optical storage medium (10) so as to form an optical interference pattern (14) in which information is stored in variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern; and photosensing means (26) adapted to be disposed for receiving light from said optical interference pattern for converting said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing the encoded information in said prerecorded sets of marks.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for reproducing information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: a source (24) of coherent light adapted to be directed at a set of prerecorded marks (12) on an optical storage medium (10) so as to form an optical interference pattern (14) in which information is stored in variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such interference pattern; and photosensing means (26) adapted to be disposed for receiving light from said optical interference pattern for converting said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing the encoded information in said prerecorded sets of marks.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said optical storage medium (10) comprises a disc record having said record track formed substantially concentrically on said record, and further comprising a drive (40) including rotation means (42) for rotating said disc record about its center axis, and carriage means (46) for mounting said recording means and said reproducing means for movement radially of said disc record.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said optical storage medium comprises a generally planar record (10′), and further comprising a drive means including an oscillating arm means (220) carrying said recording means and reproducing means and a record transport means for moving said planar record past said oscillating arm means to record and reproduce information on said record track that is formed as a series of arcuate track segments.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said recording means comprises an electro-mechanical deflector means for position modulating at least one recording light beam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 23, characterized in that said electro-mechanical deflector means includes a galvanometer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 23, characterized in that said electro-mechanical deflector means comprises a piezo-electric transducer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said photosensing means of said reproducing means comprises an array (261, 262, 263) of photo-electric solid state elements arranged in a predetermined array relative to said optical interference pattern for sensing said maxima and/or minima and producing representative electrical detection signals in response to said optical interference pattern.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 26, characterized in that said array of photodetection solid state elements comprises a first sub-array (261, 262) oriented transverse to the record track for sensing said maxima and/or minima, and a second sub-array (263) oriented along the length of said track for responding to light from said sets of marks for controlling said reproducing means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said sets of marks determine the reflection of light from a surface of said optical storage medium, and said reproducing means comprises means for directing said source of light at said surface of said medium, and said photosensing means being disposed for receiving said optical interference pattern as reflections from said surface of said medium.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that sets of marks determine the transmission of light through said optical storage medium from one side to the other, and said reproducing means comprises means for directing said source of light so as to illuminate said sets of marks from one side of said medium, and said photosensing means being disposed for receiving said optical interference pattern from the other side of said medium.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for reproducing information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: a source of coherent electro-magnetic energy adapted to be directed as a beam at a set of prerecorded marks on a storage medium so as to form a wave interference pattern from said electro-magnetic energy interacting with said set of marks in which information is encoded in variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such wave interference pattern; and electro-magnetic energy sensing means disposed for receiving said wave interference pattern for converting said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing the encoded information in said prerecorded sets of marks.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for reproducing information from an optical storage medium, characterized by comprising: a source of coherent electro-magnetic energy adapted to be directed as a beam at a set of prerecorded marks on a storage medium so as to form a wave interference pattern from said electro-magnetic energy interacting with said set of marks in which information is encoded in variable spacing between maxima and/or minima of such wave interference pattern; and electro-magnetic energy sensing means disposed for receiving said wave interference pattern for converting said maxima and/or minima into an electrical signal representing the encoded information in said prerecorded sets of marks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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