Optical storage device having a plurality of juxtaposed memory cells
US5479384A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C13/04
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a read-write optical memory comprising a plurality of juxtaposed memory cells (11), each receiving a respective light beam (3). Each memory cell contains a storage medium (10), which includes a storage element (23) having stable optical states. The storage element (23) is divided into a number of memory points, and the optical state in a given memory point can be both changed and read by means of a light beam (3) directed towards the memory point. The memory can be implemented entirely without any movable mechanical parts and has a very short read-write time and an exceptionally high storage capacity. Parallel writing and reading of multibit words is possible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.