Memory storage device and method of making the same

Claim 3

said material being substantially transparent to said radiant energy for said period at a first level of intensity of said energy, and responding to said energy in said period at a second level of intensity higher than said first level by undergoing detectable change in a physical property,

Claim 4

said material being substantially transparent to said radiant energy for said period at a first level of intensity of said energy, and responding to said energy in said period at a second level of intensity higher than said first level by undergoing detectable change in a physical property,

Claim 5

said elements being aligned along three sets of parallel, equidistant lines,

Claim 6

said elements being aligned along three sets of parallel, equidistant lines,

Claim 7

said rays converging in respective associated portions of said body,

Claim 8

said rays converging in respective associated portions of said body,

Claim 9

A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said energy is electromagnetic energy.

Claim 10

a group of elements being aligned along each of said lines, and the elements of each group being spaced from each other along the associated line of alignment,

Claim 11

a group of elements being aligned along each of said lines, and the elements of each group being spaced from each other along the associated line of alignment,

Claim 12

the lines of each set transversely intersecting the lines of the two other sets,

Claim 13

the lines of each set transversely intersecting the lines of the two other sets,

Claim 14

A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frequency of said energy is within the visible light spectrum, and said change includes a reduction in the transmissivity of said material to visible light.

Claim 15

the energy of each beam reaching said second level of intensity in the associated portion while not exceeding said first level of intensity while passing through other portions of said body,

Claim 16

the energy of each beam reaching said second level of intensity in the associated portion while not exceeding said first level of intensity while passing through other portions of said body,

Claim 17

said associated portions being distributed in said body to define a three-dimensional network.

Claim 18

said associated portions being distributed in said body to define a three-dimensional network.

Claim 19

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said material is a synthetic organic polymer, and the transmissivity of said material is reduced at least partly by carbonization of the polymer.

Claim 20

said elements being located at the intersections of said lines, and

Claim 21

said elements being located at the intersections of said lines, and

Claim 22

the greatest dimension of each element being substantially smaller than the spacing of the lines in each of said sets.

Claim 23

the greatest dimension of each element being substantially smaller than the spacing of the lines in each of said sets.

Claim 24

A memory storage and reading system comprising: a. a recording apparatus including a source of a first beam of radiation; b. a body of a recording medium, said medium being transparent to the radiation of said first beam at a lower energy level and responsive to said radiation at a higher energy level to change from a first physical state to a second physical state; and c. a readout apparatus including a source of a second beam of radiation, said medium being substantially transparent to the radiation of said second beam when in said first state thereof and more opaque to the radiation of said second beam when in said second state, said recording apparatus further including i. first mechanical stage means for supporting said body and for moving the same between a first plurality of positions offset relative to each other in three directions transverse of each other, and ii. condensing means for selectively concentrating said first beam on respective portions of said body offset relative to each other in said three directions when said body is in said plurality of positions respectively; said readout apparatus further including i. second mechanical stage means substantially identical with said first mechanical stage means for moving said body between a second plurality of positions corresponding to said first plurality, ii. condensing means for selectively concentrating said second beam on respective portions of said body offset relative to each other in said three directions when said body has been moved by said second stage means, and iii. signal generating means for generating different electrical signals in response to radiation of said second beam respectively transmitted through portions of said medium in said first and second states, and iv. radiation transmitting means for transmitting said second beam to said signal generating means after passage of the concentrated second beam through said portions of said body.

Claim 25

A memory storage and reading system comprising: a. a recording apparatus including a source of a first beam of radiation; b. a body of a recording medium, said medium being transparent to the radiation of said first beam at a lower energy level and responsive to said radiation at a higher energy level to change from a first physical state to a second physical state; and c. a readout apparatus including a source of a second beam of radiation, said medium being substantially transparent to the radiation of said second beam when in said first state thereof and more opaque to the radiation of said second beam when in said second state, said recording apparatus further including i. first mechanical stage means for supporting said body and for moving the same between a first plurality of positions offset relative to each other in three directions transverse of each other, and ii. condensing means for selectively concentrating said first beam on respective portions of said body offset relative to each other in said three directions when said body is in said plurality of positions respectively; said readout apparatus further including i. second mechanical stage means substantially identical with said first mechanical stage means for moving said body between a second plurality of positions corresponding to said first plurality, ii. condensing means for selectively concentrating said second beam on respective portions of said body offset relative to each other in said three directions when said body has been moved by said second stage means, and iii. signal generating means for generating different electrical signals in response to radiation of said second beam respectively transmitted through portions of said medium in said first and second states, and iv. radiation transmitting means for transmitting said second beam to said signal generating means after passage of the concentrated second beam through said portions of said body.

Claim 26

A memory storage device comprising: a. a body of solid transparent material; and b. a plurality of elements impervious to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined range of wave lengths, said elements being distributed in said body,

Claim 27

A memory storage device comprising: a. a body of solid transparent material; and b. a plurality of elements impervious to electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined range of wave lengths, said elements being distributed in said body,

Claim 28

A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the number of said intersections is substantially greater than the number of said elements, and intersections free from elements are interposed between consecutive pairs of elements in a plurality of said groups, whereby the spacing of said pairs in each group of said plurality of groups is equal to the spacing of a set of the lines intersecting the line of alignment of said group, or to an integral multiple of the spacing of said intersecting lines.

Claim 29

A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said radiation is light, and said elements essentially consist of carbon.

Claim 30

A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said elements are substantially identical in size and shape, said sets of lines are substantially perpendicular to each other, and said body is optically homogeneous.