US4139908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photovoltaic-ferroelectric data recorder
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1977-08-15
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Granted: 1979-02-13
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Expires: 1997-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A data recording and read-out apparatus and method in which a ferroelectriceramic substrate is remanently polarized to store information. Upon being illuminated, the substrate produces a photovoltaic voltage, which is detected to effect read-out. A disk of ferroelectric ceramic material to which information is entered by spiral tracking, either in a single track or in multiple tracks. A self-scanning data record comprised of a plurality of ferroelectric ceramic cells which are remanently polarized, and which are read out by a register.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip S. Brody
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:32
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H5/00; H05H5/04; G; G11; G11B; G11B9/00; G11B9/08; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/047; G21; G21H; G21H1/00; G21H1/12; H01; H01G; H01G7/00; H01G7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A photovoltaic information storage and read-out apparatus comprising, a substrate of ferroelectric ceramic material, means for applying an electrical signal having a predetermined polarity across at least a region of said substrate to effect a remanent ferroelectric polarization in said region representative of said information to be stored, means for illuminating said at least a region of said substrate with a source of radiation, whereby a photovoltaic voltage is produced at said region having a polarity dependent on the polarity of said polarizing electrical signal, and, means for detecting the polarity of said photovoltaic voltage, whereby the stored information is retrieved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A photovoltaic information storage and read-out apparatus comprising, a substrate of ferroelectric ceramic material, means for applying an electrical signal having a predetermined polarity across at least a region of said substrate to effect a remanent ferroelectric polarization in said region representative of said information to be stored, means for illuminating said at least a region of said substrate with a source of radiation, whereby a photovoltaic voltage is produced at said region having a polarity dependent on the polarity of said polarizing electrical signal, and, means for detecting the polarity of said photovoltaic voltage, whereby the stored information is retrieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
A photovoltaic storage and read-out apparatus comprising, a substrate of ferroelectric ceramic material, means for applying an electrical signal having a predetermined magnitude across at least a region of said substrate to effect a remanent ferroelectric polarization in said region representative of said information to be stored, means for illuminating said at least a region of said substrate with a source of radiation, whereby a photovoltaic voltage is produced in said region having a magnitude dependent on the magnitude of said polarizing electrical signal, and, means for detecting the magnitude of said photovoltaic voltage, whereby the stored information is retrieved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A photovoltaic storage and read-out apparatus comprising, a substrate of ferroelectric ceramic material, means for applying an electrical signal having a predetermined magnitude across at least a region of said substrate to effect a remanent ferroelectric polarization in said region representative of said information to be stored, means for illuminating said at least a region of said substrate with a source of radiation, whereby a photovoltaic voltage is produced in said region having a magnitude dependent on the magnitude of said polarizing electrical signal, and, means for detecting the magnitude of said photovoltaic voltage, whereby the stored information is retrieved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate is disk-shaped, is deposited on a conducting surface, said means for applying an electrical signal comprises means for applying a signal to said substrate in a spiral tracking pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said disk has an exposed surface and said means for illuminating comprises means for illuminating the entire exposed surface simultaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for applying an electrical signal comprises means for applying a plurality of electrical signals in concentric spiral tracks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for detecting comprises means for detecting a plurality of photovoltaic voltages in concentric spiral tracks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises at least a part of a tape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substrate is deposited on a drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
An information storage and read-out apparatus comprising, a plurality of cells of ferroelectric ceramic material, each cell being remanently polarized, means for illuminating said cells, each cell thus producing a photovoltaic voltage, means for parallel-transferring the voltage produced by each cell to the stages of a register means, and means for serially reading out the contents of said register means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
An information storage and read-out apparatus comprising, a plurality of cells of ferroelectric ceramic material, each cell being remanently polarized, means for illuminating said cells, each cell thus producing a photovoltaic voltage, means for parallel-transferring the voltage produced by each cell to the stages of a register means, and means for serially reading out the contents of said register means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said register means comprises charge control device register means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said register means comprises shift register means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of cells comprises a plurality of rows and columns of cells, and said means for illuminating comprises means for illuminating a selected row at a time.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of storing information comprising, providing a substrate of ferroelectric ceramic material, applying an electrical signal having a predetermined polarity across at least a region of said substrate to effect a remanent ferroelectric polarization in said region representative of said information to be stored, illuminating said at least a region of said substrate with a source of radiation whereby a photovoltaic voltage is produced at said region having a polarity dependent on the polarity of said electrical signal, and detecting the polarity of said photovoltaic voltage, whereby said stored information is retrieved.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of storing information comprising, providing a substrate of ferroelectric ceramic material, applying an electrical signal having a predetermined polarity across at least a region of said substrate to effect a remanent ferroelectric polarization in said region representative of said information to be stored, illuminating said at least a region of said substrate with a source of radiation whereby a photovoltaic voltage is produced at said region having a polarity dependent on the polarity of said electrical signal, and detecting the polarity of said photovoltaic voltage, whereby said stored information is retrieved.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
An information storage and read-out apparatus comprising, shift register means, a plurality of cells of ferroelectric ceramic material, a transfer switch means connected between each stage of said shift register means and a said cell voltage source means, and switch means connected between said voltage source means and said transfer switch means for applying a voltage from said source to said transfer switch means for transfer to said cells.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
An information storage and read-out apparatus comprising, shift register means, a plurality of cells of ferroelectric ceramic material, a transfer switch means connected between each stage of said shift register means and a said cell voltage source means, and switch means connected between said voltage source means and said transfer switch means for applying a voltage from said source to said transfer switch means for transfer to said cells.
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) | 1982-02-12 | 1982-08-14 | 1983-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-12 | 1986-08-14 | 1987-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-12 | 1990-08-14 | 1991-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |