US4576895A
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US
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Optical recording by energy-induced fractionation and homogenization
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1984-06-18
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Granted: 1986-03-18
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Expires: 2004-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of and structure for optical recording by energy-induced homogenization or fractionation is disclosed. When the method involves fractionation, a film is provided that contains a homogeneous mixture of a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material. A spot on the film is treated with sufficient energy in the form of electric fields, radiation or heat, or combinations thereof to effect fractionation and/or homogenization of the film which will undergo further physical state transition only under treatment with additional energy. In a preferred embodiment, the fractionation is effected by laser radiation. The laser irradiated spot becomes inhomogeneous and can be detected by the resulting changes in its optical properties. When the method involves homogenization, a film is provided that contains a inhomogeneous mixture. The energy treated spot in this case becomes homogeneous without undergoing a phase transition between the amorphous and crystalline phases. Numerous combinations of fractionation and homogenization can result in the writing and erasing of information in a storage device.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger W. Barton
- 👤 Hans J. Coufal
- 👤 Victor B. Jipson
- 👤 Wen Y. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:33
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/24; G11B7/241; G11B7/252; G11B7/257; G11B11/00; G11B7/004; G11B7/0045; G11B7/242; G11B7/243; G11B9/00; G11B2007/25705; G11B2007/25706; G11B2007/25708; G11B2007/2571; G11B2007/25715; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of information recording comprising the steps of providing a film of a mixture on a substrate, said mixture comprising a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material which fractionates and/or homogenizes under treatment with sufficient energy, said mixture having a physical state after fractionation and/or homogenization which will undergo further physical state transformation only under treatment with additional energy, treating a spot on said film with sufficient energy to effect fractionation and/or homogenization of the film without ablation resulting in homogeneous and inhomogeneous regions whereby the physical changes caused by the fractionation and/or homogenization on said treated spot can be detected by the resulting changes in its physical properties, said matrix material being SiO 2 , TeO 2 , GeO 2 , MoO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , TbO, (CF 4 ) n , Se or a mixture thereof, and said energy absorbing material being Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ti, Cr, Cu, Te, Ge, Mn, Sb, Bi, Sn, In, Pb or a mixture thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method of information recording comprising the steps of providing a film of a mixture on a substrate, said mixture comprising a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material which fractionates and/or homogenizes under treatment with sufficient energy, said mixture having a physical state after fractionation and/or homogenization which will undergo further physical state transformation only under treatment with additional energy, treating a spot on said film with sufficient energy to effect fractionation and/or homogenization of the film without ablation resulting in homogeneous and inhomogeneous regions whereby the physical changes caused by the fractionation and/or homogenization on said treated spot can be detected by the resulting changes in its physical properties, said matrix material being SiO 2 , TeO 2 , GeO 2 , MoO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , TbO, (CF 4 ) n , Se or a mixture thereof, and said energy absorbing material being Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ti, Cr, Cu, Te, Ge, Mn, Sb, Bi, Sn, In, Pb or a mixture thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as described in claim 1 whereby the spot is irradiated with a laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as described in claim 2 whereby the laser irradiation step is done with a short duration laser pulse of 1 microsecond or less on a stationary spot on said film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as described in claim 2 whereby the laser irradiation step is done with a laser pulse duration of greater than 1 microsecond on a moving spot on said film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as described in claim 2 including the step of heating said film before it is irradiated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as described in claim 2 including the step of heating said film while it is being irradiated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as described in claim 2 including a second irradiation step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as described in claim 9 including a third irradiation step to introduce new data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described in claim 1 whereby said film is of a homogeneous mixture which fractionates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as described in claim 9 whereby said homogeneous mixture is obtained by treating a film of a inhomogeneous mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described in claim 1 whereby said film is of a inhomogeneous mixture which homogenizes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
An optical recording structure comprising a film of a mixture on a substrate, said mixture comprising a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material which mixture has been fractionated and/or homogenized without ablation as a result of treatment with sufficient energy, said mixture having a physical state which after such fractionation and/or homogenization will undergo further physical state transformation without ablation when treated with additional energy, said matrix material being taken from the group consisting of SiO 2 , TeO 2 , GeO 2 , MoO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , TbO, (CF 4 ) n , Se or a mixture thereof, and said incident energy absorbing material being taken from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ti, Cr, Cu, Te, Ge, Mn, Sb, Bi, Sn, In, Pb or a mixture thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
An optical recording structure comprising a film of a mixture on a substrate, said mixture comprising a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material which mixture has been fractionated and/or homogenized without ablation as a result of treatment with sufficient energy, said mixture having a physical state which after such fractionation and/or homogenization will undergo further physical state transformation without ablation when treated with additional energy, said matrix material being taken from the group consisting of SiO 2 , TeO 2 , GeO 2 , MoO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , TbO, (CF 4 ) n , Se or a mixture thereof, and said incident energy absorbing material being taken from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ti, Cr, Cu, Te, Ge, Mn, Sb, Bi, Sn, In, Pb or a mixture thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
152 words
An optical recording structure comprising a film of a mixture on a substrate, said mixture comprising a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material, said matrix material being taken from the group consisting of SiO 2 , TeO 2 , GeO 2 , MoO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , TbO, (CF 4 ) n , Se or a mixture thereof, said incident energy absorbing material being taken from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ti, Cr, Cu, Te, Ge, Mn, Sb, Bi, Sn, In, Pb or a mixture thereof, which mixture has been fractionated and/or homogenized without ablation as a result of treatment with sufficient energy, whereby an optical difference results between the areas where the energy absorbent material has been moved internally of the recording structure and the areas where the energy absorbent material remains unmoved.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
152 words
An optical recording structure comprising a film of a mixture on a substrate, said mixture comprising a matrix material and an incident energy absorbing material, said matrix material being taken from the group consisting of SiO 2 , TeO 2 , GeO 2 , MoO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , Bi 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , TbO, (CF 4 ) n , Se or a mixture thereof, said incident energy absorbing material being taken from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ti, Cr, Cu, Te, Ge, Mn, Sb, Bi, Sn, In, Pb or a mixture thereof, which mixture has been fractionated and/or homogenized without ablation as a result of treatment with sufficient energy, whereby an optical difference results between the areas where the energy absorbent material has been moved internally of the recording structure and the areas where the energy absorbent material remains unmoved.
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