Patent · US Expired

Storage of optical information using photochiroptical effect

US5011756A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 1990
Grant dateApr 30, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 27, 2010

Classification

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

Abstract

Provided is an optical information medium which permits the reading and writing of optical information by actively using polarized light. The optical information medium comprises an information layer containing a compound which undergoes a change upon irradiation with circularly polarized light to provide a new product which is optically active, and which is distinguishable from the original compound in its interaction with polarized light. In a preferred embodiment, the optical medium comprises optical isomers which can be selectively photolyzed by circularly polarized light. While writing must be done using a circularly polarized light source, reading of the recorded information can be accomplished using either circularly polarized light or linearly polarized light.

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