Dynamic optical information storage or retrieval – Optical storage medium structure – Disk hub
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-21
2004-11-09
Korzuch, William (Department: 2653)
Dynamic optical information storage or retrieval
Optical storage medium structure
Disk hub
Reexamination Certificate
active
06817026
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to optical data storage media and specifically to optical data storage media for small-form-factor drives.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of disk-shaped optical storage media have been developed for use in storing various types of digital data in a manner such that the media can be readily removed from the read/write machine or drive for which it is designed. Common current (typically read-only) examples include the compact disk (CD) and digital versatile disk (DVD). Although these examples have been highly successful for particular applications, such as storing data for use on a personal computer (PC), or storing music or other audio or video information, such as motion pictures, these devices have proved less useful in applications where, for practical, historical or other reasons, an optical storage medium with a smaller size is preferable. One class of such application includes various personal electronic devices (PEDs). Personal electronic devices in general have a size, shape and weight such that it is feasible and convenient to carry or wear such devices on the person. Typically, to be practical, such devices need to be substantially pocket-sized (e.g. no more that about 100 mm, preferably no more than about 50 mm in the longest dimension, and preferably not having any cross section that is more than about 100 mm by about 50 mm, preferably no more than about 75 mm by about 35 mm) and/or a mass of about ⅓ kg or less. Examples of personal electronic devices include digital cameras, music reproduction equipment such as small tape players with headphones or MP3 players, cellular telephones, dictating equipment, at least some types of small computers, known as personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like.
Owing, at least in part, to the great popularity of personal electronic devices and the fact that certain personal electronic devices store (and/or utilize pre-stored) data, there is a need for a data storage system and/or medium which is compatible with at least the size and weight constraints of personal electronic devices. Various types of storage systems have been used or proposed for some or all kinds of personal electronic devices, but have proved to be less than ideal for certain applications, e.g. in terms of storage capacity, size, power consumption, data transfer, cost, and/or convenience.
By way of example only, one technique for storing images in digital cameras involves use of electronic flash cards. However, the cost to the consumer in storing one picture using such flash cards is substantial. Since one picture typically requires more than 5 megabytes of storage, the cost of storage is about $20/picture, based on current prices of these cards. Moreover, these electronic cards or media are considered nonarchival (i.e., archival memory, without refresh or similar operations, is substantially free from data loss over an extended period, such as ten years or more). Accordingly, it would be advantageous, particularly in light of the photographic film paradigm, to which many photographers are accustomed, to provide a system and archival storage medium usable in a digital camera in which the cost, to the consumer, per image or picture is reduced, e.g. compared to current electronic media used in connection with digital cameras.
For transfer of stored information to a non-PED or peripheral device, PED's typically have a serial port. Particularly in digital cameras, the time required to transfer one or more stored images to a peripheral device via the serial port is unacceptably long. By way of example, a common serial port has a maximum data transfer rate of approximately 12 kBytes/second. A typical digital camera has more than 2 megapixels/image which equates to about 5 megabytes of uncompressed high resolution information. The time typically required to transfer the image from the digital camera via the serial port to a peripheral device will be at least 400 seconds or more.
In addition to the storage medium being configured for accommodation in a PED, it is advantageous to provide a removable medium which is sized to facilitate handling and storage by typical consumers. It is believed that there is a practical lower limit on the size of such media, e.g. since units which are too small will be susceptible to being lost or misplaced and may be difficult for consumers to handle, particularly those with limited movement or disabilities. Thus, the removable media preferably are not substantially smaller than items which are generally near the lower limit of what may readily be handled, such as coins, stamps, and the like. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a removable storage medium which is not significantly smaller, in width or length, than about an inch (i.e. not significantly smaller than about 25 mm). Additionally, the removable medium is advantageously not so large that it becomes cumbersome to store or transport, and preferably is sufficiently small that it can readily be incorporated in PEDs. Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide a removable storage medium which is not significantly larger, in width or length than about 40 mm, preferably not significantly larger than about 35 mm. In contrast, the standard CD or DVD disk is about 120 mm in diameter, which is believed too large to be accommodated in a pocket-sized camera or to be, itself, considered PED-sized.
Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a data recording system which provides a removable medium, preferably archival, with a high-transfer rate, lower power consumption and large capacity, but which is sized for effective and convenient consumer use (e.g. with largest dimensions about 25-50 mm) and so as to be accommodated in relatively compact digital cameras, such as digital cameras with a size, shape and/or weight not substantially exceeding that of corresponding film cameras.
With respect to optical media types, one classification relates to their read and/or write capabilities or functions relative to information content portions of the medium. The information content portions can be generally characterized as that part of the optical medium that information is read from and/or written to. The information content portions are often, but need not be, a composite layer comprised of two or more thin films on which information is recorded (written) and/or from which information is obtained (read). According to this, optical media, or any portion thereof, can be classified as: read-only, write-once, and rewriteable. A read-only optical medium refers to a medium in which data or other information is only read from the optical medium under control of the consumer or user thereof. There is no writing or recording by the user, after the read-only optical medium has been produced or manufactured. The write-once optical medium, or any portion thereof, refers to a medium or portion thereof in which the consumer or user is able to control the recording or writing information only once on the optical medium or portion thereof. After the write-once optical medium or portion thereof has information recorded thereon by the user, the write-once optical medium is not to be written to again. That is, if a portion of the medium has been written to in which a mark is provided thereon, that portion cannot be written to again, although any other portion that does not have a mark could be written to. In one embodiment, the information content portions of the write-once optical medium can have an amorphous structure or state before recording. As part of the recording operation, the amorphous structure of the information content portions is transformed into a crystalline structure having the stored information. In one embodiment, the information layer of the write-once optical medium could also be comprised of dye-based or, alternatively, ablative materials. The rewriteable optical medium refers to a medium in which the information content portions may have information recorded thereon many times; in some cases,
Abrahamson Scott D.
Berg Thomas E.
Freeman Robert D.
DPHI Acquisitions, Inc.
Korzuch William
MacPherson Kwok & Chen & Heid LLP
Magee Christopher R
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