Patent · US Expired

Information record

US4270132A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
4References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 1979
Grant dateMay 26, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 12, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S430/146
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A flat major surface of a disc-shaped substrate (e.g., of glass) is coated with a first light reflective layer (e.g., Rhodium) which is coated with a layer of a dielectric material (e.g., silicon dioxide) highly transparent of light of a frequency supplied by a playback laser, which transparent layer is coated with a second light reflective layer (e.g., Rhodium). The light output of a recording laser, which is intensity modulated in accordance with a signal to be recorded, is focused upon the coated surface of the disc as the disc is rotated. With the peak intensity of the focused light sufficient to at least cause melting of the second reflective layer, an information track is formed as a succession of spaced pits in which the first reflective layer is effectively exposed through the layer of dielectric material. For playback, light of a constant intensity is focused on the information track and the adjacent land areas as the disc is rotated. The focused light is of insufficient intensity to effect melting of the remaining portions of the second reflective layer, but is of a frequency at which the thickness of the dielectric layer exposed through the pits introduces a phase change…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.