US3846764A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Technique for information storage using anisotropic color centers in alkali halide crystals
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1973-05-18
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An information storage technique utilizing crystals containing anisotropic color centers in which the information is ''''written'''' and ''''read'''' non-destructively using only one coherent source of light.
Inventors
- 👤 I Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:50
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
AN INFORMATION STORAGE AND DISPLAY SYSTEM COMPRISING: AN OPTICAL MATERIAL HAVING ANISOTROPIC CENTERS CAPABLE OF BEING ALIGNED IN A COMMON DIRECTION; FIRST ILLUMINATING MEANS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF INCOHERENT POLARIZED RADIATION OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MATERIAL, SAID ILLUMINATING MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF ALIGNING SAID COLOR CENTERS AT ONE POLARITY AS WELL AS REORIENTING SAID COLOR CENTERS AT A SECOND POLARITY; SECOND ILLUMINATING MEANS INCLUDING COHERENT POLARIZED
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
AN INFORMATION STORAGE AND DISPLAY SYSTEM COMPRISING: AN OPTICAL MATERIAL HAVING ANISOTROPIC CENTERS CAPABLE OF BEING ALIGNED IN A COMMON DIRECTION; FIRST ILLUMINATING MEANS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF INCOHERENT POLARIZED RADIATION OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MATERIAL, SAID ILLUMINATING MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF ALIGNING SAID COLOR CENTERS AT ONE POLARITY AS WELL AS REORIENTING SAID COLOR CENTERS AT A SECOND POLARITY; SECOND ILLUMINATING MEANS INCLUDING COHERENT POLARIZED
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said optical material is an alkali halide crystal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said alkali halide crystal is KCl.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said anisotropic color centers are M centers, said non-coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the Mf absorption band of said M center, and said coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the M absorption band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said anisotropic color centers are MA centers, said incoherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the Mf absorption band, and said coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the MA absorption band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said incoherent polarized radiation has a wavelength between about 450-580 nm, and said coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength about 780-840 nm.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of storing and retrieving information comprising: providing an optical material having anisotropic color centers; aligning all of said color centers in a common direction with incoherent polarized radiation; rotating the polarity of said incoherent polarized radiation by 90* and illuminating said material whereby said color centers reorient; simultaneously illuminating portions of said material with coherent polarized radiation whereby the reorientation of the color centers in said portions of said material is suppressed; and determining the orientation of said color centers by irradiating said portions of said crystal with said coherent polarized radiation and measuring the emission therefrom.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of storing and retrieving information comprising: providing an optical material having anisotropic color centers; aligning all of said color centers in a common direction with incoherent polarized radiation; rotating the polarity of said incoherent polarized radiation by 90* and illuminating said material whereby said color centers reorient; simultaneously illuminating portions of said material with coherent polarized radiation whereby the reorientation of the color centers in said portions of said material is suppressed; and determining the orientation of said color centers by irradiating said portions of said crystal with said coherent polarized radiation and measuring the emission therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein, said optical material is an alkali halide crystal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein, said incoherent polarized radiation has a wavelength of about 450-580 nm, said coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength of about 780-840 nm, and said alkali halide crystal is a KCl crystal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said anisotropic color centers are M centers, said incoherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the Mf absorption band of said M center, and said coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the M absorption band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said anisotropic color centers are MA centers, said incoherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the Mf absorption band, and said coherent polarized radiation has a wavelength within the peak of the MA absorption band.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |