Methods and devices for charged beam accessible data storage
US4631704A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1983 |
| Grant date | Dec 23, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B9/10
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Charged beam accessible data storage methods and devices involve a storage medium having an array of protrusions formed on a thermally insulative, substantially charged beam transparent base. The protrusions, made of high contrast material, can be selectively melted by a charged beam, such as an electron beam, in order to decrease the protrusions' aspect ratio and to increase their energy absorptive action when scanned by a charged beam. Since the melted protrusions do not wet on the base, the protrusions quickly assume a spherical bead shape when melted due to favorable surface tension forces. The bi-level charged beam absorption characteristics of the melted and unmelted protrusions provide the two "on" or "off" stored data states.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.