Information storage medium

Claim 2

An information storage medium comprising: a substrate; and a recording layer supported on said substrate and subjected to reversible and selective phase transformation between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, by changing the conditions under which a light beam is radiated, said recording layer consisting essentially of an alloy represented by (In 100-x Sb x ) 100-y Te y where x and y are in atomic %, 45≦x≦50, and 25≦y≦45.

Claim 3

The information storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising an inorganic protective layer provided between said substrate and said recording layer.

Claim 4

The information storage medium according to claim 2, further comprising a reflection layer provided on said inorganic protective layer disposed on said recording layer.

Claim 5

The information storage medium according to claim 2, further comprising an inorganic protective layer on said recording layer.

Claim 6

The information storage medium according to claim 4, further comprising an organic protective layer provided on said inorganic protective overlying said recording layer.

Claim 7

The information storage medium according to claim 5, further comprising a reflection layer provided between said inorganic protective layer, disposed on said recording layer, and said organic protective layer.

Claim 8

The information storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising an organic protective layer provided on said recording layer.

Claim 9

An information storage medium comprising: a substrate; and a recording layer supported on said substrate and subjected to reversible and selective phase transformation between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, by changing the conditions under which a light beam is radiated; and an inorganic thermal controlling layer for controlling the temperature of said recording layer, said layer being situated either (1) between said substrate and said recording layer or (2) on said recording layer, said recording layer consisting essentially of an alloy represented by (In 100-x Sb x ) 100-7 Te y , where x and y are in atomic %, 45≦x≦50, and 25≦y≦45, and said protective layer having a heat conductivity of not less than 1/3 of that of said recording layer.

Claim 10

An information storage medium comprising: a substrate; and a recording layer supported on said substrate and subjected to reversible and selective phase transformation between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, by changing the conditions under which a light beam is radiated; and an inorganic thermal controlling layer for controlling the temperature of said recording layer, said layer being situated either (1) between said substrate and said recording layer or (2) on said recording layer, said recording layer consisting essentially of an alloy represented by (In 100-x Sb x ) 100-7 Te y , where x and y are in atomic %, 45≦x≦50, and 25≦y≦45, and said protective layer having a heat conductivity of not less than 1/3 of that of said recording layer.

Claim 11

The information storage medium according to claim 8, wherein said protective layer contains at least one material selected from the group consisting of MgF 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and AlN.

Claim 12

The information storage medium according to claim 8, further comprising an inorganic protective layer on said recording layer having a heat conductivity of not less than 1/3 of that of said recording layer.

Claim 13

The information storage medium according to claim 10, wherein said protective layers contain at least one material selected from the group consisting of MgF 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and AlN.

Claim 14

The information storage medium according to claim 10, further comprising an organic protective layer provided on said inorganic protective layer overlying said recording layer.

Claim 15

The information storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising a refection layer provided between said inorganic protective layer, disposed on said recording layer, and said organic protective layer.

Claim 16

The information storage medium according to claim 10, further comprising a reflection layer provided on said inorganic protective layer on said recording layer.

Claim 17

An information storage medium comprising: a substrate; and a recording layer supported on said substrate and subjected to reversible and selective phase transformation between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, by changing the conditions under which a light beam is radiated; and an inorganic thermal controlling layer provided between said substrate and said recording layer for controlling the temperature of said recording layer, said recording layer consisting essentially of an alloy represented by (In 100-x Sb x ) 100-7 Te y , where x and y are in atomic %, 45≦x≦50, and 25≦y≦45, and said protective layer containing crystalline material.

Claim 18

An information storage medium comprising: a substrate; and a recording layer supported on said substrate and subjected to reversible and selective phase transformation between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, by changing the conditions under which a light beam is radiated; and an inorganic thermal controlling layer provided between said substrate and said recording layer for controlling the temperature of said recording layer, said recording layer consisting essentially of an alloy represented by (In 100-x Sb x ) 100-7 Te y , where x and y are in atomic %, 45≦x≦50, and 25≦y≦45, and said protective layer containing crystalline material.

Claim 19

The information storage medium according to claim 15, wherein said protective layer contains at least one material selected from the group consisting of CeO 2 , PbO, ZnS, and MgF 2 .

Claim 20

The information storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising an inorganic protective layer containing crystalline material formed on said recording layer.

Claim 21

The information storage medium according to claim 17, wherein said protective layers contain at least one material selected from the group consisting of CeO 2 , PbO, ZnS and MgF 2 .

Claim 22

The information storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising an organic protective layer provided on said inorganic protective layer overlying said recording layer.

Claim 23

The information storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising a reflection layer provided between said inorganic protective layer, disposed on said recording layer, and said organic protective layer.

Claim 24

The information storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising a reflection layer provided on said inorganic protective layer on said recording layer.