Optical information storage and retrieval systems

Claim 2

In a system for storage of information, a crystal having color centers therein and hydrogen atoms in interstitial positions in said crystal, and means for selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with light of a selected wavelength and intensity to transform at least some color centers in said illuminated part to bleached centers each having a previously interstitial hydrogen atom therein, said crystal being maintained at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C.

Claim 3

A system as in claim 1 including means for illuminating said crystal with a selected light to interrogate said crystal and read out information stored therein, said crystal being maintained at or below a temperature of 0*C. during said illuminating to interrogate.

Claim 4

A system as in claim 1 wherein said crystal is an alkali halide.

Claim 5

In a system for storage of information, a crystal having F centers therein and hydrogen atoms at interstitial positions in said crystal, said F centers and interstitial hydrogen atoms having been established by illuminating U centers in said crystal with a first light, and means for selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with a second light to transform at least some F centers in said illuminated part to bleached U centers, said crystal being maintained at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C.

Claim 6

In a system for storage of information, a crystal having F centers therein and hydrogen atoms at interstitial positions in said crystal, said F centers and interstitial hydrogen atoms having been established by illuminating U centers in said crystal with a first light, and means for selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with a second light to transform at least some F centers in said illuminated part to bleached U centers, said crystal being maintained at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C.

Claim 7

In the method of storing information in a crystal having color centers therein and hydrogen atoms in interstitial positions in said crystal, the steps of maintaining said crystal at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C., and selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with light of a selected wavelength and intensity to transform at least some color centers in said illuminated part to bleached centers each having a previously interstitial hydrogen atom therein.

Claim 8

In the method of storing information in a crystal having color centers therein and hydrogen atoms in interstitial positions in said crystal, the steps of maintaining said crystal at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C., and selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with light of a selected wavelength and intensity to transform at least some color centers in said illuminated part to bleached centers each having a previously interstitial hydrogen atom therein.

Claim 9

In the method of storing information in a crystal having F centers therein and hydrogen atoms in interstitial positions in said crystal, said F centers and interstitial hydrogen atoms havIng been established by illuminating U centers with a first light, the steps of maintaining said crystal at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C., and selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with a second light to transform at least some F centers in said illuminated part to bleached U centers.

Claim 10

In the method of storing information in a crystal having F centers therein and hydrogen atoms in interstitial positions in said crystal, said F centers and interstitial hydrogen atoms havIng been established by illuminating U centers with a first light, the steps of maintaining said crystal at a temperature from 20* C. to 100* C., and selectively illuminating at least part of said crystal with a second light to transform at least some F centers in said illuminated part to bleached U centers.

Claim 11

An optical information handling system including: means for generating an optical signal commensurate with a bit of information; a crystal having color centers therein; means for directing said optical signal to a desired part of said crystal to bleach at least some color centers in said desired part to store said bit of information in said crystal; means for generating an erasing signal for erasing information stored in said crystal; means for directing said erasing signal to said crystal in leading relationship with respect to said optical signal to clear said part of said crystal prior to delivery of said optical signal thereto; means for generating a readout signal; means for delivering said readout signal to said crystal to generate an output from said crystal commensurate with information stored in said crystal; means for receiving said output to indicate information stored in said crystal; means responsive to said receiving means for generating an erasing signal in inverse relationship to the indication of information stored in said crystal; and means for delivering said inversely generated erasing signal to said crystal in lagging relationship with respect to said readout signal to erase bleaching of said crystal caused by said readout signal.

Claim 12

An optical information handling system including: means for generating an optical signal commensurate with a bit of information; a crystal having color centers therein; means for directing said optical signal to a desired part of said crystal to bleach at least some color centers in said desired part to store said bit of information in said crystal; means for generating an erasing signal for erasing information stored in said crystal; means for directing said erasing signal to said crystal in leading relationship with respect to said optical signal to clear said part of said crystal prior to delivery of said optical signal thereto; means for generating a readout signal; means for delivering said readout signal to said crystal to generate an output from said crystal commensurate with information stored in said crystal; means for receiving said output to indicate information stored in said crystal; means responsive to said receiving means for generating an erasing signal in inverse relationship to the indication of information stored in said crystal; and means for delivering said inversely generated erasing signal to said crystal in lagging relationship with respect to said readout signal to erase bleaching of said crystal caused by said readout signal.

Claim 13

An optical information handling system as in claim 7 wherein said optical signal generating means includes means for modulating an optical signal and wherein said means for directing said optical signal includes electro-optical crystal means for deflecting said optical signal, and wherein said means for directing said erasing signal includes electro-optical crystal means for deflecting said erasing signal.

Claim 14

An optical information handling system including means for generating an optical signal commensurate with a bit of information, a crystal having color centers therein, means for directing said optical signal to a desired part of said crystal to bleach at least some color centers in said desired part to store said bit of information in said crystal, means for generating a readout signal, means for delivering said readout signal to said crystal to generate an output from said crystal commensurate with information stored in said crystal, a readout screen, means for projecting said readout on said screen, and means for erasing unwanted bleaching of said crystal caused by said readout signal.

Claim 15

An optical information handling system including means for generating an optical signal commensurate with a bit of information, a crystal having color centers therein, means for directing said optical signal to a desired part of said crystal to bleach at least some color centers in said desired part to store said bit of information in said crystal, means for generating a readout signal, means for delivering said readout signal to said crystal to generate an output from said crystal commensurate with information stored in said crystal, a readout screen, means for projecting said readout on said screen, and means for erasing unwanted bleaching of said crystal caused by said readout signal.

Claim 16

In a system for storage of information, a composite crystal, said composite crystal having first color centers therein responsive to being bleached by light of a first wavelength, and said composite crystal having at least second color centers therein responsive to being bleached by light of a second wavelength, and means for illuminating at least part of said composite crystal with light having at least said first and second wavelengths to bleach at least some of first and second color centers in said illuminated part according to the wavelengths of light incident on said crystal to store a multicolored pattern of information in said crystal in a plurality of colors.

Claim 17

In a system for storage of information, a composite crystal, said composite crystal having first color centers therein responsive to being bleached by light of a first wavelength, and said composite crystal having at least second color centers therein responsive to being bleached by light of a second wavelength, and means for illuminating at least part of said composite crystal with light having at least said first and second wavelengths to bleach at least some of first and second color centers in said illuminated part according to the wavelengths of light incident on said crystal to store a multicolored pattern of information in said crystal in a plurality of colors.

Claim 18

A system as in claim 10 including means for illuminating said composite crystal with light having a plurality of wavelengths to interrogate said crystal and produce a multicolor readout of information stored in said composite crystal.

Claim 19

A system as in claim 10 wherein said composite crystal includes a plurality of different powdered cubic alkali halides, said powdered alkali halides being optically isotropic.

Claim 20

A system as in claim 10 wherein said composite crystal includes a plurality of individual alkali halide crystals aligned with faces in abutting Relationship and with adjoining faces of said individual crystals being optically mating, at least some of said individual crystals being different alkali halides.