Laser recording medium

Claim 2

A laser data recording medium as set forth in claim 2 wherein said heat-reflective layer is formed with a thickness of one half the characteristic operating wavelength of the laser with which it is to be used.

Claim 3

A laser data recording medium as set forth in claim 2 wherein a layer substantially the same as said heat-reflective layer is coated on the opposite side of said substrate to impart structure symmetry.

Claim 4

A laser data recording medium comprising: a flat transparent substrate having a thickness in the range of 1.5 to 10 mils; a thin, partially light transmissive, uniform layer of metal formed thereon; and a protective transparent material coated over said layer of metal to completely seal said layer from the atmosphere before, during and after selective ablation of the layer of metal with a focused beam of coherent light, said protective coating comprising a second flat substrate having a thickness in the range of 1.5 to 10 mils thereby to displace optical obstructions on the surface of said coating from the focal plane of the laser beam.

Claim 5

A laser data recording medium comprising: a flat substrate; a thin, partially light transmissive uniform layer of metal sputtered thereon; and a protective layer of transparent material formed completely over said metal layer to seal the metal layer from the atmosphere before, during, and after selective ablation of the metal layer with a focused laser beam.

Claim 6

A laser recording medium comprising: a transparent carrier; a thin, partially light transmissive, uniform layer of metal sputtered on said carrier; and a protective layer of transparent material adhesively bonded over said sputtered metal layer and completely covering said layer, said protective layer formed of a material and a thickness to completely, seal the metal layer from the atmosphere before, during and after selective ablation of the metal layer with a focused beam of coherent light.

Claim 7

A laser data recording medium comprising: a first transparent carrier having a uniform layer of metal sputtered on one side thereof; a second transparent carrier having a uniform layer of metal sputtered on one side thereof; and means adhesively bonding said first and second carriers with the metal layer of one carrier adjacent the unsputtered side of the other carrier.

Claim 8

A laser data recording medium as set forth in claim 8 wherein the exposed metal layer is coated with a transparent protective layer.

Claim 9

A laser data recording medium comprising: a first transparent substrate having a layer of metal sputtered on one side thereof; a second transparent substrate having a layer of metal sputtered on one side thereof; and an intermediate carrier adhesively bonded to the respective sputtered metal layers on said first and second substrates.

Claim 10

A laser data recording medium comprising: a uniform layer of optical energy-absorbing material having formed on both sides thereof a coating of protective material sealing said layer from thE atmosphere, the coating on at least one side thereof being transparent with respect to the operating wavelength of the laser with which the recording medium is to be used, said coatings formed to completely seal the layer of optical energy-absorbing material from the atmosphere and maintain the seal before, during and after selective ablation of the optical energy-absorbing layer with a focused laser beam, said at least one transparent coating comprising a flat substrate having a thickness in the range of 1.5 to 10 mils thereby to displace optical obstructions on the surface of said layer from the focal plane of the laser beam.

Claim 11

A laser data recording method comprising: completely enclosing a uniform layer of optical energy-absorbing material between coatings of protective material, the coating on at least one side of said layer being transparent with respect to the operating frequency of a laser with which it is to be used, said coatings formed to completely seal the layer of optical energy-absorbing material from the atmosphere and maintain the seal before, during and after selective ablation of the optical energy-absorbing layer with a focused laser beam; ablating the layer of optical energy-absorbing material by focused laser radiation passed through the transparent coating, thereby displacing said energy-absorbing material laterally outwardly between the coatings of protective material from centers of ablation; adjusting the laser radiation energy, recording speed and recording frequency to minimize destructive energy dissipation in the protective coatings whereby the complete seal formed by said coatings is maintained.

Claim 12

A laser data recording medium comprising: a first transparent substrate having a layer of metal formed on one side thereof; a second transparent substrate having a layer of metal formed on one side thereof; and an intermediate carrier bonded to the respective metal layers on said first and second substrates.