Patent US5091880A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5091880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Memory device
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-29
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Granted: 1992-02-25
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Expires: 2010-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A memory device comprises a base plate with a memory element supporting layer, a probe with a pointed tip portion, and a fine scan element for causing the probe to scan over the surface of the memory element supporting layer. When the probe is approached to the surface of the memory element supporting layer and a suitable bias voltage is applied across the probe and the memory element supporting layer, a tunnel current is cause to flow therebetween and a specific region of the surface of the supporting layer is excited. The excited region can adsorb one molecule of, for example, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. By causing the memory element to be adsorbed selectively on the memory element supporting layer, data is recorded in the form of a projection-and-recess pattern. The recorded data can be read out by observing the surface configuration of the supporting layer in accordance with the principle of an STM (scanning tunneling microscope).
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuo Isono
- 👤 Toshihito Kouchi
- 👤 Akitoshi Toda
- 👤 Hiroshi Kajimura
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Mimura
- 👤 Hiroko Ohta
- 👤 Ryouhei Shimizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:08
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/0002; G11C13/0009; G11C13/0014; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y10/00; G11B; G11B11/00; G11B11/03; G11B17/00; G11B19/00; G11B21/00; G11B9/00; G11B9/12; G11B9/14; G11B9/1463; G11B9/149; G11C13/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/86; Y10S977/861; Y10S977/88; Y10S977/881; Y10S977/902; Y10S977/932; Y10S977/94; Y10S977/943; Y10S977/947
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A memory device comprising: a supporting member having a plurality of memory blocks, each of the memory blocks including: a recording medium provided on the supporting member; a probe, supported in the vicinity of the recording medium, for writing data on the recording medium or reading data therefrom; scanning means for scanning the probe across the recording medium; and a light-receiving element connected to the scanning means for activating the probe to perform a data write/read operation upon receiving light; and optical means for radiating light selectively on the light-receiving elements of said memory blocks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A memory device comprising: a supporting member having a plurality of memory blocks, each of the memory blocks including: a recording medium provided on the supporting member; a probe, supported in the vicinity of the recording medium, for writing data on the recording medium or reading data therefrom; scanning means for scanning the probe across the recording medium; and a light-receiving element connected to the scanning means for activating the probe to perform a data write/read operation upon receiving light; and optical means for radiating light selectively on the light-receiving elements of said memory blocks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A memory device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member comprises a rotatable disk member, and said memory blocks are arranged along a plurality of concentric circles on said disk member at a predetermined pitch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A memory device according to claim 2, wherein said optical means comprises an optical head which is movable radially of the concentric circles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A memory device according to claim 1, wherein said optical means comprises an optical pattern generator for radiating light onto the light-receiving elements at one time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory device according to claim 4, wherein said optical pattern generator comprises an optical mask.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory device according to claim 4, wherein said optical pattern generator comprises a photographic projector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A memory device according to claim 4, wherein said optical pattern generator comprises a hologram image generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A memory device comprising: a supporting member having a plurality of memory blocks, each of the memory blocks including: a recording medium comprising a substantially flat portion of the supporting member; a probe, supported in the vicinity of the recording medium, for writing data on the recording medium or reading data therefrom; scanning means for scanning the probe across the recording medium; and a light-receiving element connected to the scanning means for activating the probe to perform a data write/read operation upon receiving light; and optical means for radiating light selectively on the light-receiving elements of said memory blocks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A memory device comprising: a supporting member having a plurality of memory blocks, each of the memory blocks including: a recording medium comprising a substantially flat portion of the supporting member; a probe, supported in the vicinity of the recording medium, for writing data on the recording medium or reading data therefrom; scanning means for scanning the probe across the recording medium; and a light-receiving element connected to the scanning means for activating the probe to perform a data write/read operation upon receiving light; and optical means for radiating light selectively on the light-receiving elements of said memory blocks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A memory device according to claim 8, wherein said supporting member comprises a rotatable disk member, and said memory blocks are arranged along a plurality of concentric circles on said disk member at a predetermined pitch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A memory device according to claim 9, wherein said optical means comprises an optical head which is movable radially of the concentric circles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A memory device according to claim 8, wherein said optical means comprises an optical pattern generator for radiating light onto the light-receiving elements at one time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory device according to claim 11, wherein said optical pattern generator comprises an optical mask.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory device according to claim 11, wherein said optical pattern generator comprises a photographic projector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A memory device according to claim 11, wherein said optical pattern generator comprises a hologram image generator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4575822A
Cited
US4916688A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-24 | 1995-08-26 | 1996-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-24 | 1999-08-26 | 2000-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-24 | 2003-08-26 | 2004-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |