Patent US3593318A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3593318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical memory
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-02-26
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1988-02-26
Abstract
Abstract An optically interrogated information storage and retrieval device is disclosed wherein light is modulated by a light shutter array comprising a polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramic lattice and focused on a photographic film to produce an image corresponding to the configuration of light-transmitting portions of the ceramic lattice. A lens mosaic may be used to focus light transmitted by the ferroelectric ceramic lattice to a plurality of nonoverlapping regions of the photographic film to produce in combination extremely high information bit density. A laser beam may be used for the light source and an energy-absorbing coating for the information storage medium to provide a high density mass memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Iben Browning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:04
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/047; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/055; G11C11/00; G11C11/56; G11C11/5657
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
An optical information storage and retrieval device comprising: a light source; a first ceramic lattice shutter array spaced from said light source and comprised of a plate of ferroelectric ceramic material having an anistropic optical response when polarized and a plurality of electrodes across the plate for externally applying polarizing electric fields to localized portions of the plate; a lens system comprising a plurality of lenses in a plane spaced from said first ceramic lattice shutter array and adapted to form a plurality of images of the first ceramic lattice shutter array in a plane spaced from the lenses in the lens system; a light sensitive information storage medium positioned in the image plane of the lenses in the lens system; said light sensitive information storage medium being pre-exposed to light passed through the lens system to thereby store information thereon in the form of images of the first ceramic lattice shutter array on nonoverlapping portions of the information storage medium corresponding to the lenses of the lens system; a second ceramic lattice shutter array comprised of a plate of ferroelectric ceramic material having anisotropic optical response when polarized and a plurality of electrodes across the plate for externally applying electrical polarizing fields to localized regions of the second plate, said second ceramic lattice being spaced from the information storage medium on the side opposite the lens system; control means for electrically controlling the externally applied polarizing fields at the electrodes across the first and second ceramic lattice shutter arrays; and photosensitive transducer means spaced from said second ceramic lattice shutter array whereby light from said light source transmitted through the first ceramic lattice shutter array, pre-exposed light sensitive information storage medium, and second ceramic lattice shutter array produces a signal at the output of transducer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
An optical information storage and retrieval device comprising: a light source; a first ceramic lattice shutter array spaced from said light source and comprised of a plate of ferroelectric ceramic material having an anistropic optical response when polarized and a plurality of electrodes across the plate for externally applying polarizing electric fields to localized portions of the plate; a lens system comprising a plurality of lenses in a plane spaced from said first ceramic lattice shutter array and adapted to form a plurality of images of the first ceramic lattice shutter array in a plane spaced from the lenses in the lens system; a light sensitive information storage medium positioned in the image plane of the lenses in the lens system; said light sensitive information storage medium being pre-exposed to light passed through the lens system to thereby store information thereon in the form of images of the first ceramic lattice shutter array on nonoverlapping portions of the information storage medium corresponding to the lenses of the lens system; a second ceramic lattice shutter array comprised of a plate of ferroelectric ceramic material having anisotropic optical response when polarized and a plurality of electrodes across the plate for externally applying electrical polarizing fields to localized regions of the second plate, said second ceramic lattice being spaced from the information storage medium on the side opposite the lens system; control means for electrically controlling the externally applied polarizing fields at the electrodes across the first and second ceramic lattice shutter arrays; and photosensitive transducer means spaced from said second ceramic lattice shutter array whereby light from said light source transmitted through the first ceramic lattice shutter array, pre-exposed light sensitive information storage medium, and second ceramic lattice shutter array produces a signal at the output of transducer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
263 words
An optical information storage and retrieval device comprising: a light source; a first ceramic lattice shutter array comprised of a plate of ferroelectric ceramic material having an anisotropic optical response when polarized and a plurality of electrodes across the plate for applying electrical polarizing fields to localized portions of the plate; a lens mosaic spaced from said ceramic lattice shutter array comprised of a multitudE of lenses in a closely packed array comprised of a multitude of lenses in a closely packed array molded on a lens material of sufficient thickness so that the focal plane of the lenses comprising the lens mosaic falls on the back surface of the lens mosaic; a light sensitive information storage medium adhered to the back surface of said lens mosaic said light sensitive information storage medium being pre-exposed to light passed through the lens mosaic to store information thereon in the form of images of the first ceramic lattice shutter array on nonoverlapping portions of the information storage medium corresponding to the lenses of the lens mosaic; a second ceramic lattice shutter array positioned adjacent the back surface of said lens mosaic and adhered information storage medium; control means for controlling the electrical polarizing fields applied to the electrodes across the first and second ceramic lattice shutter arrays; and a photosensitive transducer spaced from said light sensitive information storage medium whereby light transmitted through said ceramic lattice shutter array, lens mosaic, light sensitive information storage medium, and second ceramic lattice shutter array strikes said photosensitive transducer to produce a signal at the output of the transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
263 words
An optical information storage and retrieval device comprising: a light source; a first ceramic lattice shutter array comprised of a plate of ferroelectric ceramic material having an anisotropic optical response when polarized and a plurality of electrodes across the plate for applying electrical polarizing fields to localized portions of the plate; a lens mosaic spaced from said ceramic lattice shutter array comprised of a multitudE of lenses in a closely packed array comprised of a multitude of lenses in a closely packed array molded on a lens material of sufficient thickness so that the focal plane of the lenses comprising the lens mosaic falls on the back surface of the lens mosaic; a light sensitive information storage medium adhered to the back surface of said lens mosaic said light sensitive information storage medium being pre-exposed to light passed through the lens mosaic to store information thereon in the form of images of the first ceramic lattice shutter array on nonoverlapping portions of the information storage medium corresponding to the lenses of the lens mosaic; a second ceramic lattice shutter array positioned adjacent the back surface of said lens mosaic and adhered information storage medium; control means for controlling the electrical polarizing fields applied to the electrodes across the first and second ceramic lattice shutter arrays; and a photosensitive transducer spaced from said light sensitive information storage medium whereby light transmitted through said ceramic lattice shutter array, lens mosaic, light sensitive information storage medium, and second ceramic lattice shutter array strikes said photosensitive transducer to produce a signal at the output of the transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |