Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and methods for reading multilayer storage media using short coherence length sources

US5748598A · kind A · utility

299Cited by
30References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1995
Grant dateMay 5, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/141
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for reading multilayer optical data storage media are described. The apparatus includes a short coherence length light source and an optical system. The optical system focuses the light from the source onto the layers of the storage media. The coherence length of the source is less than 100 microns or less than the spacing between the layers. The Rayleigh range within the storage media may also be less than the spacing between the layers. The apparatus may include a detector for measuring alterations in light reflected from each layer of the storage media caused by data. The source may be any short coherence length source including superluminescent diodes, mode locked lasers, multi-longitudinal mode laser diode, or rare earth doped amplified spontaneous emission sources.

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