Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-21
2001-10-09
Le, Que T. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C250S201500, C250S222200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300622
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data storage device. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for reading and writing data to and form a storage medium with a particle beam and determining information stored thereon in accordance with a difference between the adsorption current of the medium and a reference value as the particle beam is scanned over the storage medium to output digital information to an external device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As a result of the increased need for information exchange in today's increasingly technological society, information storage and retrieval has become immensely important. The rapidly growing urge for increased access to information has initiated the development of ever larger and faster data storage and retrieval systems. Many different data storage and retrieval systems are utilized to date. For example, the most common systems in use today are (i) hard disk drives, (ii) floppy disk drives, (iii) tape drives, (iv) CD-ROM and DVD drives, and (v) various forms of RAM memory. Systems for permanent data storage and data retrieval utilize methods that are based on magnetic fields (i to iii) and optical laser beams (iv), respectively. They yield high storage capacities, but are limited to storage densities of approximately 10
10
bits/inch
2
and slow data access times of more than 5 ms. In contrast, RAM memory (v) is a “hard-wired” solid state memory, which is significantly faster than the previously described data storage devices, but with the disadvantage that the stored information is volatile and non-permanent. It also has limitations in storage density and storage capacity due to manufacturing intricacies.
In view above, and the increasing demand for data storage and fast retrieval, there is a need for a non-volatile data storage device that is faster than current magnetic and optical data storage devices that also provides for a higher data density. Such a device would be desirable because of its speed and small size. The present invention provides such a device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes a device that is capable of storing digitized information at ultra-high densities, with ultra-fast data retrieval times that is also non-volatile. The device includes a storage medium having at least one layer, at least one charged particle ray source emitting a particle beam, a charged particle deflection and scan unit that deflects and scans the particle beam over the storage medium, a scanning charged particle ray controller that defines parameters of particle beams emitted from the charged particle ray source to read and write data to and from the storage medium, and a detection unit that detects and amplifies an adsorption current of the storage medium at storage sites to determine stored information.
The storage medium comprises one of a metal, half metal, semiconductor, organic material, and compound material, and is adapted to store information in a non-volatile manner. The scanning charged particle ray controller positions the particle beam on the storage medium such that information can be read and written to the storage medium. The detection unit determines a difference between the adsorption current and a reference value as the particle beam is scanned over the storage medium to output digital information to an external device.
The device utilizes a scanning charged particle ray (SCPR) and a storage medium adapted to be scanned by the SCPR. By selecting appropriate parameters of the SCPR, the present invention may store data by altering the surface of the scanned storage medium and retrieve data by using distinct particle adsorption characteristics of the medium. The present invention allows for storage densities of up to 10
15
bits/inch
2
and data access times of approximately 10
−9
s.
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GTP, Inc.
Le Que T.
Woodcock Washburn Kurtz Mackiewicz & Norris LLP
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