US4837134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical memory card with versatile storage medium
Assignee: LaserCard Corp
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Filing: 1987-04-16
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Granted: 1989-06-06
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Expires: 2007-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A data card for optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular oblong silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of the gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The strip is laminated into a wallet-size card and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with control indicia or pre-recorded data. User data may be recorded by modifying the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric W. Bouldin
- 👤 Jerome Drexler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:50
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/002; G11B7/0033; G11B7/24; G11B7/241; G11B7/242; G11B7/243; G11B7/251; G11B7/252; G11B7/258; G11B2007/24302; G11B2007/24308; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146; Y10S430/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
An optical memory card for optical information comprising, a self-supporting, wallet size, planar plastic base, a vacuum or vapor deposited continuous metallic reflective layer over said plastic base, a planar optical storage layer disposed over the metallic layer, said optical storage layer having a planar crust of irregular, non-filamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within the top one-half micron of the layer distal to the metallic layer, said optical storage layer having a substantially clear gelatin below the crust.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
An optical memory card for optical information comprising, a self-supporting, wallet size, planar plastic base, a vacuum or vapor deposited continuous metallic reflective layer over said plastic base, a planar optical storage layer disposed over the metallic layer, said optical storage layer having a planar crust of irregular, non-filamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within the top one-half micron of the layer distal to the metallic layer, said optical storage layer having a substantially clear gelatin below the crust.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical memory card of claim 1 further comprising a film substrate layer disposed over said base in intimate contact therewith in planar relation, said metallic layer deposited on said film substrate layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical memory card of claim 1 wherein said metallic layer is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, rhodium, copper and alloys thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical memory card of claim 1 wherein a transparent, protective, planar layer is disposed over said optical storage layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical memory card of claim 1 wherein said optical storage layer contains prerecorded information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical memory card of claim 1 wherein said optical storage layer contains prerecorded information and laser written data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
263 words
A double-sided optical memory card for optical information comprising, a self-supporting, wallet-size, optically transparent planar plastic base, a first planar optical storage layer disposed over said plastic base, said optical storage layer having a crust of irregular, non-filamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within one-half micron of the layer proximal to the base and having a substantially clear gelatin below the crust, a first vapor or vacuum deposited metallic continuous reflective layer disposed on said gelatin layer, a first planar support layer disposed over said molecular metallic layer, said support layer having opposed planar surfaces, including a lower surface proximate said plastic base and an upper surface distal to said plastic base, a second planar support layer, substantially identical to said first support layer and adhered to the upper surface thereof, a second vapor or vacuum deposited metallic continuous reflective layer disposed over said second planar transparent support layer, a second planar optical storage layer disposed over the upper surface of said second planar transparent support layer, said optical layer having a planar crust of irregular, non-filamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within the top one-half micron of the layer distal to the base and having a substantially clear gelatin below the crust, and a transparent, protective, planar layer disposed over said second storage layer, each of said optical storage layers having been previously exposed at actinic wavelength and developed and fixed to be a substantially dark very thin black silver layer, but having an imagewise exposure pattern of clear marks with underlying high reflectivity metallic layer for light at the reducing wavelength.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
263 words
A double-sided optical memory card for optical information comprising, a self-supporting, wallet-size, optically transparent planar plastic base, a first planar optical storage layer disposed over said plastic base, said optical storage layer having a crust of irregular, non-filamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within one-half micron of the layer proximal to the base and having a substantially clear gelatin below the crust, a first vapor or vacuum deposited metallic continuous reflective layer disposed on said gelatin layer, a first planar support layer disposed over said molecular metallic layer, said support layer having opposed planar surfaces, including a lower surface proximate said plastic base and an upper surface distal to said plastic base, a second planar support layer, substantially identical to said first support layer and adhered to the upper surface thereof, a second vapor or vacuum deposited metallic continuous reflective layer disposed over said second planar transparent support layer, a second planar optical storage layer disposed over the upper surface of said second planar transparent support layer, said optical layer having a planar crust of irregular, non-filamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within the top one-half micron of the layer distal to the base and having a substantially clear gelatin below the crust, and a transparent, protective, planar layer disposed over said second storage layer, each of said optical storage layers having been previously exposed at actinic wavelength and developed and fixed to be a substantially dark very thin black silver layer, but having an imagewise exposure pattern of clear marks with underlying high reflectivity metallic layer for light at the reducing wavelength.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical memory card of claim 7 wherein said metallic layer material is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, platinum, rhodium, copper and alloys thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The data card of claim 7 wherein said optical storage layers contain prerecorded information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data card of claim 7 wherein said optical storage layers contain prerecorded information and laser written data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for making an optical information memory card comprising, depositing a continuous vacuum or vapor metallic layer over a self-supporting, planar plastic base, disposing a planar photosensitive emulsion layer over said metallic layer, developing and fixing only a planar crust of said emulsion to a substantially dark thin layer of irregular, non-filamentary silver particles with a substantially clear gelatin layer beneath said crust, and disposing a transparent, planar protective layer over said planar crust.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for making an optical information memory card comprising, depositing a continuous vacuum or vapor metallic layer over a self-supporting, planar plastic base, disposing a planar photosensitive emulsion layer over said metallic layer, developing and fixing only a planar crust of said emulsion to a substantially dark thin layer of irregular, non-filamentary silver particles with a substantially clear gelatin layer beneath said crust, and disposing a transparent, planar protective layer over said planar crust.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 11 further defined by making an imagewise exposure of marks representing control indicia or data, said exposure made in said photosensitive emulsion layer with radiation, and developing and fixing said exposure pattern of image marks being substantially clear revealing an underlying reflectivity in the metallic layer when illuminated by light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said photosensitive emulsion layer is composed of a silver chloride emulsion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said photosensitive emulsion layer is composed of a silver bromide emulsion and developing said emulsion is performed with a chemical developer containing an organic antifoggant.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of making an optical information memory card comprising, depositing a continuous vacuum or vapor metallic layer onto a transparent film substrate layer, disposing a planar photosensitive emulsion layer over said metallic layer, developing and fixing only a planar crust of said emulsion to be a substantially dark thin layer of irregular, non-filamentary silver particles with a substantially clear gelatin layer beneath said crust, said film substrate layer, said metallic layer and said developed and fixed emulsion layer forming a laser recordable optical storage film, disposing said developed optical storage film over a self-supporting, wallet-size, planar plastic base, and disposing a transparent, planar protective layer over said planar crust.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of making an optical information memory card comprising, depositing a continuous vacuum or vapor metallic layer onto a transparent film substrate layer, disposing a planar photosensitive emulsion layer over said metallic layer, developing and fixing only a planar crust of said emulsion to be a substantially dark thin layer of irregular, non-filamentary silver particles with a substantially clear gelatin layer beneath said crust, said film substrate layer, said metallic layer and said developed and fixed emulsion layer forming a laser recordable optical storage film, disposing said developed optical storage film over a self-supporting, wallet-size, planar plastic base, and disposing a transparent, planar protective layer over said planar crust.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising, making an imagewise exposure of marks representing control indicia or data, said exposure made in said photosensitive emulsion layer with radiation, and developing and fixing said exposure pattern of image marks being substantially clear revealing an underlying reflectivity in the metallic layer when illuminated by light, said developing and fixing occurring prior to disposing said developed optical storage film over said plastic base.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for recording data by means of a laser comprising, an optical memory card having a self-supporting, wallet-size planar base, and at least one optical storage layer disposed on said base, each said optical storage layer having a planar crust of irregular nonfilamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within one-half micron of a surface of said storage layer and substantially clear gelatin behind the crust, a continuous reflective metallic layer being disposed behind the gelatin, the optical storage layer being laser recordable in place on said card producing reflective data spots revealing an underlying reflectivity of the metallic layer against a background field of said crust, the optical reflective contrast ratio of the data spots to the surrounding field being at least 1.2 to one, laser means having at least one beam disposed in laser writing relation with respect to said at least one optical storage layer for writing data in a plurality of paths, light detector means in reading relation with respect to at least one said optical storage layer for reading said paths, and means for providing relative motion between said laser beam and said card for following said paths.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
193 words
A system for recording data by means of a laser comprising, an optical memory card having a self-supporting, wallet-size planar base, and at least one optical storage layer disposed on said base, each said optical storage layer having a planar crust of irregular nonfilamentary oblong black silver particles substantially within one-half micron of a surface of said storage layer and substantially clear gelatin behind the crust, a continuous reflective metallic layer being disposed behind the gelatin, the optical storage layer being laser recordable in place on said card producing reflective data spots revealing an underlying reflectivity of the metallic layer against a background field of said crust, the optical reflective contrast ratio of the data spots to the surrounding field being at least 1.2 to one, laser means having at least one beam disposed in laser writing relation with respect to said at least one optical storage layer for writing data in a plurality of paths, light detector means in reading relation with respect to at least one said optical storage layer for reading said paths, and means for providing relative motion between said laser beam and said card for following said paths.
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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) | 1992-06-05 | 1992-12-05 | 1993-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-05 | 1996-12-05 | 1997-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-05 | 2000-12-05 | 2001-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |