US3665425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information storage systems utilizing amorphous thin films
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-09
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-03-09
Abstract
Abstract The system disclosed herein employs an amorphous semiconductor thin film which is switched between two stable states by applying a focused beam of laser energy. In one state the thin film exhibits specular reflection while in the other state it exhibits diffuse reflection. Data bits or images are recorded by the laser beam on the thin film. This information is retrieved by illuminating the thin film with collimated light, by employing the same laser beam used to record the information, or by recording on a sensitized medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Julius Feinleib
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:44
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/048; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/705; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G11C13/0002; G11C13/0004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An information recording and retrieving system comprising: a source of electromagnetic energy; a substrate transparent to said electromagnetic energy; an amorphous semiconductor film deposited on said substrate and capable of being switched between a first state having a certain atomic structure condition and a second state having a different atomic structure condition in response to said electromagnetic energy, said film exhibiting specular reflection from regions in said first state and diffuse reflections from regions in said second state; deflection means located between said source and substrate for directing said electromagnetic energy through said substrate onto selected regions of said film; means for modulating said electromagnetic energy so that said film is switched between said states; and retrieving means responsive to said diffuse reflection for determining the state of said film at said selected regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An information recording and retrieving system comprising: a source of electromagnetic energy; a substrate transparent to said electromagnetic energy; an amorphous semiconductor film deposited on said substrate and capable of being switched between a first state having a certain atomic structure condition and a second state having a different atomic structure condition in response to said electromagnetic energy, said film exhibiting specular reflection from regions in said first state and diffuse reflections from regions in said second state; deflection means located between said source and substrate for directing said electromagnetic energy through said substrate onto selected regions of said film; means for modulating said electromagnetic energy so that said film is switched between said states; and retrieving means responsive to said diffuse reflection for determining the state of said film at said selected regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said retrieving means includes an electromagnetic detector positioned so that diffuse reflection of electromagnetic energy from said film is collected while specular reflection of electromagnetic energy is not collected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the addition of a lens system located between said deflection means and said substrate for focusing said electromagnetic energy at the interface between said substrate and film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said modulating means includes means for lowering the intensity of said electromagnetic energy below that required to switch said film between said states, but sufficient to producer reflection of electromagnetic energy from regions of said film selected by said deflection means, and wherein said retrieving means includes an electromagnetic detector positioned so that said electromagnetic energy reflected from regions of said film in said second state exhibiting diffuse reflection is collected, while said electromagnetic energy reflected from regions of said film in said first state exhibiting specular reflection is not collected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic energy is a coherent parallel ray beam of laser energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said retrIeving means includes a viewing area for viewing diffuse reflection from said film, and irradiating means for flooding said film with electromagnetic energy from a direction selected so that specular reflection from said film does not enter said viewing area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said retrieving means further includes a scanning system located in said viewing area for scanning said film and developing an electrical signal corresponding to the diffuse reflected electromagnetic energy from said film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system as defined in claim 7 further characterized by the addition of a lens system located between said source and said substrate for focusing said electromagnetic energy at the interface between said substrate and film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 8 wherein said electromagnetic energy is a coherent parallel ray beam of laser energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said retrieving means includes an irradiating means for flooding said film with electromagnetic energy and a surface located in the path of specular reflection from said film so that the energy from said irradiating means reflected from portions of the film in the first state strike said surface, and energy from said irradiating means which is reflected from regions of said film in the second state do not result in a significant amount of energy striking said surface, thereby producing a pattern corresponding to said selected regions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said surface is a screen for displaying energy impinging thereon from said irradiating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said surface is composed of an electromagnetic radiation sensitive material for recording the energy impinging thereon from said irradiating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said retrieving means includes irradiating means for flooding said film with electromagnetic energy of a frequency capable of being transmitted through regions of said film in the first state and a surface located in the path of said energy from said irradiating means transmitted through said film so that energy from said irradiating means passing through regions of said film in the second state strike said surface, and energy from said irradiating means striking regions of said second film in the second state are diffusely reflected therefrom preventing said energy from reaching said surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as defined in claim 13 wherein said surface is a screen for displaying energy impinging thereon from said irradiating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as defined in claim 13 wherein said surface is composed of an electromagnetic radiation sensitive material for recording the energy impinging thereon from said irradiating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the addition of means for varying the amount of diffuse reflection produced by regions of said film in said second state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system as defined in claim 10 further characterized by the addition of means for varying the amount of diffuse reflection produced by regions of said film in said second state, whereby gray scale is produced in said pattern corresponding to said selected regions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system as defined in claim 13 further characterized by the addition of means for varying the amount of diffuse reflection produced by regions of said film in said second state, whereby gray scale is produced in said pattern corresponding to said selected regions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |