US6232045B1 — System for creating, reading and writing on rotat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 154 words

A method for producing a laser writable information recording blank, said method comprising: (a) applying photoresist material to a laser writable polymer substrate; (b) exposing said photoresist through a pattern mask having a negative image of a desired track pattern; (c) developing said photoresist and removing portions thereof exposed through said mask; (d) depositing a metallic layer on said substrate; (e) forming a track pattern on said substrate, said forming comprising producing at least one edge-following edge on said substrate to edge-follow when laser writing information to said recording blank, said forming including removing remaining unexposed photoresist and metallic layer material overlying said unexposed photoresist, and whereby said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x; and (f) applying a semitransparent encapsulant layer on the resulting substrate of step (e).

Claim 2

Independent Claim 154 words

A method for producing a laser writable information recording blank, said method comprising: (a) applying photoresist material to a laser writable polymer substrate; (b) exposing said photoresist through a pattern mask having a negative image of a desired track pattern; (c) developing said photoresist and removing portions thereof exposed through said mask; (d) depositing a metallic layer on said substrate; (e) forming a track pattern on said substrate, said forming comprising producing at least one edge-following edge on said substrate to edge-follow when laser writing information to said recording blank, said forming including removing remaining unexposed photoresist and metallic layer material overlying said unexposed photoresist, and whereby said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x; and (f) applying a semitransparent encapsulant layer on the resulting substrate of step (e).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (g) coating the result of step (f) with a metallic differential reflectivity enhancing layer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 in which steps (a) through (e) are repeated along with an additional step, in each repetition, in which additional laser writable substrate material is deposited so as to provide multiple layers.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 3 in which, in at least one of said repetitions a different mask is employed, whereby different metallic layer patterns are produced in different layers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The laser writable information recording blank produced in accordance with the process of claim 1 .

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 in which said track pattern is a spiral.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1 in which said track pattern comprises a plurality of interleaved spirals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1 in which said track pattern is a series of concentric circles.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 in which the metallic layer in step (d) is aluminum.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 in which the metallic layer in step (d) is 150 to 200 Angstroms thick.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 in which said track pattern includes a reference datum mark.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 132 words

A method for producing a laser writeable information recording medium, said method comprising: providing a substantially planar, laser writable substrate for recordation of binary data thereon by means of controlled laser radiation, said substantially planar substrate comprising a first material with a first reflectivity; and forming a track pattern over said substrate, said track pattern comprising a second material with a second reflectivity, said first reflectivity and said second reflectivity comprising different reflectivities, and wherein said forming of said track pattern comprises producing at least one edge-following edge to facilitate laser writing information to said recording medium, and wherein said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 132 words

A method for producing a laser writeable information recording medium, said method comprising: providing a substantially planar, laser writable substrate for recordation of binary data thereon by means of controlled laser radiation, said substantially planar substrate comprising a first material with a first reflectivity; and forming a track pattern over said substrate, said track pattern comprising a second material with a second reflectivity, said first reflectivity and said second reflectivity comprising different reflectivities, and wherein said forming of said track pattern comprises producing at least one edge-following edge to facilitate laser writing information to said recording medium, and wherein said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said information storage region is sized to accommodate multiple data tracks between said opposing track portions, each data track of said multiple data tracks being written to using edge-following of at least one edge of said opposing track portions of said track pattern.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 13 , wherein each track portion is formed having a rectangular transverse cross-section and two parallel edges.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming multiple data recording layers over said substrate so that said track pattern is employed as a reference pattern when laser writing information to at least some of said multiple data recording layers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 15 , wherein said track pattern is formed comprising one track pattern of a plurality of track patterns over said substrate, and wherein at least two of said track patterns are disposed in different reference layers over said substrate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein said plurality of track patterns are formed having different configurations over said substrate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein each data recording layer of at least two data recording layers of said multiple data recording layers is formed to reference a different track pattern of said plurality of track patterns when information is being laser written to said recording medium using edge-following.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said track pattern is formed as a coordinate reference frame for laser writing information in two dimensions within said information storage region defined between track portions of said track pattern using edge-following.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein said information storage region is sized to accommodate multiple data tracks between said track portions of said track pattern using edge-following.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said track pattern is formed comprising one of a spiral pattern or a pattern of concentric circles.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said track pattern is formed comprising a metallic track pattern disposed on said substrate.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 22 , wherein said substrate is formed from a polymer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 23 , wherein said metallic track pattern is formed from aluminum.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 22 , further comprising forming a semitransparent encapsulant layer over said substrate and said track pattern.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 25 , wherein said encapsulant layer is formed using spin coating.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said information storage region is sized to accommodate multiple data tracks between said opposing track portions, each data track being written using edge-following without the presence of any guard bands between the multiple data tracks of the information storage region.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein said track pattern is formed over said substrate with a separate mask.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 131 words

A method for producing a laser writeable information recording medium, said method comprising: providing a plurality of substantially planar, laser writable data recording layers for recordation of binary data thereon by means of controlled laser radiation; and forming at least one reference layer containing a track pattern having at least one edge-following edge to facilitate laser writing information to at least one data recording layer of said plurality of data recording layers, any reference layer of said at least one reference layer being disposed individually between data recording layers of said plurality of data recording layers, and wherein said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 131 words

A method for producing a laser writeable information recording medium, said method comprising: providing a plurality of substantially planar, laser writable data recording layers for recordation of binary data thereon by means of controlled laser radiation; and forming at least one reference layer containing a track pattern having at least one edge-following edge to facilitate laser writing information to at least one data recording layer of said plurality of data recording layers, any reference layer of said at least one reference layer being disposed individually between data recording layers of said plurality of data recording layers, and wherein said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 29 , wherein said at least one reference layer is formed comprising at least two reference layers, each reference layer of said at least two reference layers containing a track pattern for edge-following when laser writing information to a different data recording layer of said plurality of data recording layers.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 30 , wherein each data recording layer of said plurality of data recording layers is formed comprising a first material with a first reflectivity, and wherein each reference layer of said at least one reference layer is formed comprising a second material of a second reflectivity, said first reflectivity and said second reflectivity comprising different reflectivities, wherein said different reflectivities facilitate laser writing information to said recording medium using said at least one edge-following edge.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 29 , wherein said track pattern is formed comprising a microstructure having opposing track portions spaced to define an information storage region within said at least one data recording layer when written thereto using edge following of at least one edge of said opposing track portions.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 32 , wherein said at least one reference layer is formed comprising at least two reference layers, each containing a track pattern having at least one edge-following edge for facilitating laser writing information to at least one corresponding data recording layer of said plurality of data recording layers.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 33 , wherein said at least two track patterns are formed having different configurations within said respective at least two reference layers.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 29 , wherein said track pattern is formed providing a coordinate reference frame for laser writing information in two dimensions within said information storage region of said at least one data recording layer, said information storage region being defined in two dimensions relative to said track pattern between adjacent track portions.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 35 , wherein said information storage region is sized to accommodate multiple data tracks, each data track of said multiple data tracks being written to using edge-following of at least one edge of said track pattern.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 29 , wherein said track pattern is formed comprising one of a spiral pattern or a pattern of concentric circles.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 37 , wherein said track pattern is formed comprising a metallic track pattern and said plurality of data recording layers are formed comprising non-metallic data recording layers.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 38 , wherein said metallic track pattern is formed of aluminum, and said non-metallic data recording layers are each formed of a polymer.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising forming a semitransparent encapsulant layer over said substrate and said track pattern.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 40 , wherein said encapsulant layer is formed using spin coating.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 29 , wherein said track pattern is formed over said substrate with a separate mask.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 171 words

A method for producing a laser writable information recording medium, said method comprising: providing a substantially planar, laser writable substrate for recordation of binary data thereon by means of controlled laser radiation, said substantially planar substrate comprising a first material having a first value of an optical property; and forming a track pattern over said substrate, said track pattern comprising a second material with a second value of said optical property, said first value and said second value comprising different values for said optical property, and wherein said forming comprises forming at least one edge-following edge in said track pattern and wherein said different values of said optical property of said track pattern and said substrate facilitate laser writing information to said recording medium by edge-following said at least one edge-following edge of said track pattern, and wherein said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 171 words

A method for producing a laser writable information recording medium, said method comprising: providing a substantially planar, laser writable substrate for recordation of binary data thereon by means of controlled laser radiation, said substantially planar substrate comprising a first material having a first value of an optical property; and forming a track pattern over said substrate, said track pattern comprising a second material with a second value of said optical property, said first value and said second value comprising different values for said optical property, and wherein said forming comprises forming at least one edge-following edge in said track pattern and wherein said different values of said optical property of said track pattern and said substrate facilitate laser writing information to said recording medium by edge-following said at least one edge-following edge of said track pattern, and wherein said track pattern defines a structure having opposing track portions defining an information storage region therebetween, said track pattern having a width x, and said information storage region a width y, wherein y>2x.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 43 , wherein said forming comprises forming said track pattern as a coordinate reference frame for laser referencing and writing of information in two dimensions between portions of said track pattern.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-05-14	2004-11-13	2005-05-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-05-14	2008-11-13	2009-05-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-05-14	2012-11-13	2013-05-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for creating, reading and writing on rotatable information storage media, a method for producing a recording blank

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