Optical recording medium having a constant birefringent property and an alterable photochromic property
US5316900A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S430/146
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A recording medium comprises a recording layer, a birefringent layer, and a reflecting layer. The recording layer is formed of a material whose optical rotatory power is alterable such that in one state no optical rotatory power is present and, in a second state, optical rotatory power is present. Information is recorded in the recording layer by selectively altering the state of the recording layer. The birefringent layer is formed of a material having constant birefringence without regard to the state of the recording layer. The reflecting layer reflects a light beam transmitted through the recording layer and the birefringent layer to reintroduce the beam into the birefringent layer and the recording layer. A method of reproducing information from this recording medium applies a polarized light beam to the recording medium and detects change of the polarized state of the polarized light beam reflected from the recording medium, thereby reading the information recorded in the recording layer. According to the inventive recording medium and reproducing method, the information is reproduced by detecting the presence of optical rotatory power of the recording layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.