Imation Corporation

Other

Terastor Corporation

Chad R Sandstrom

Jathan D Edwards

Donald J Kerfeld

Douglas R Plourde

Dean E Sitz

Frank E Aspen

Ramon F Hegel

Brian T Bonn

John R Johnson

Anthony O Banal

Ted L Bahns

Thiruppathy Srinivasan

Jeffrey M Novotny

Kristi L Chavez

Douglas J Chaput

An optical disk exhibiting no detrimental thickness increase (edge wedge effect) that arises at the outer diameter of an optical disk substrate during an injection molding manufacturing process, and an apparatus and method for making such a disk. The optical disk of the present invention is designed for use with an optical disk player, especially where the data on the optical disk is stored air incident. This optical disk includes a disk substrate made from a molded polymeric material. The disk substrate has a first major surface, a second major surface, and an outer edge. The first major surface of the optical disk includes a data region having an intermediate portion and an outer portion. The outer portion extends to the outer edge of the optical disk. The disk substrate has a thickness defined by the distance between the first major surface and the second major surface. The optical disk also includes an information layer covering the data region. In the present invention, the thickness of the intermediate portion of the data region is substantially equal to the thickness of the outer portion of the data region such that the outer portion of the data region is capable of being used by the optical disk player.

Optical disk mold tooling for reduced edge wedge

In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.

Fabrication of sandwiched construction media

The invention is directed toward techniques for creating molded substrates for use in various different data storage media. The molded substrates have improved thickness profiles that can improve media quality, and in some cases facilitate higher data storage densities. In many cases, the improved thickness profile is a thickness profile that has improved flatness. Mechanical flatness or optical flatness can be achieved. In particular, optical flatness is desirable for substrates used in holographic data storage media having a sandwiched construction.

Variable thickness stamper for creation of flat molded substrates

Sandwich holographic disk construction with thin molded substrates

A mold and a process for use in producing data storage articles such as single substrate double-sided disks. In one configuration, a mold for manufacturing a substrate includes a stamper, at least one holder having an interface with the stamper, and a vacuum line for applying a retention force to maintain the interface between the holder and the stamper. In another configuration, the mold includes a demolding line for applying a demolding force to the substrate to aid in separating the substrate from the stamper. The various embodiments of the present invention provide, among other things, easier and faster stamper changeover, substrates and final data storage articles having improved process indicia such as thickness, flatness, inner and outer diameter, and concentricity, and facilitates production of single-substrate double-sided disks.

Mold for manufacturing double-sided disk shaped articles for storing data

The invention is directed toward techniques for stamping optical data storage disks. A master is first created to include several distinct information regions etched upon a master surface. The master is then used to create one or more stampers. The stampers include a number of distinct stamper regions in locations corresponding to locations of the distinct information regions on the master. The stamper is then used to create a number of first replica disks that include distinct replicated regions. The distinct replicated regions are removed from the first replica disks to define second disks.

Replicated regions on optical disks

Thermoplastic substrates for holographic data storage media

A disc molding apparatus for forming an optical disc. The apparatus has a disc substrate cavity and a sprue mechanism in fluid communication with the cavity. A removable stamper located on one side of the disc substrate cavity forms data onto the disc substrate and the stamper is relasibly locked within the apparatus by an inner holder, which includes a locking mechanism. The apparatus also has a mechanism that forms a disc alignment mechanism in the disc substrate wherein the disc alignment mechanism is between the formatted data and a center of the disc substrate and the concentricity of the formatted data is specified relative to the disc alignment mechanism.

Disc molding apparatus for hubless optical disc having low radial runout

A rewritable optical recording disk has an increased thickness that is greater than or equal to approximately 1.5 mm. In particular, the disk may have a substrate with a thickness that is greater than or equal to approximately 2.3 mm and less than or equal to approximately 2.6 mm. The increased thickness of the substrate enhances the flatness of the recording disk relative to a recording plane. In particular, the increased thickness reduces process-induced surface variations such as warpage and tilt, and provides the disk with increased stiffness to resist deflection during use. The enhanced flatness enables data to be recorded on the disk in a consistent manner with greater spatial densities using techniques such as near-field, air-incident recording. The resulting disk thereby yields greater spatial density and data storage capacity.

Rewritable optical data storage disk having enhanced flatness

A rewritable optical recording disk has a substrate with an increased thickness that is greater than or equal to approximately 1.5 mm and less than or equal to approximately 2.5 mm. The increased thickness of the substrate enhances the flatness of the recording disk relative to a recording plane. In particular, the increased thickness reduces process-induced surface variations such as warpage and tilt, and provides the disk with increased stiffness to resist deflection during use. The enhanced flatness enables data to be recorded on the disk in a consistent manner with greater spatial densities using techniques such as near-field, air-incident recording. The resulting disk thereby yields greater spatial density and data storage capacity.

Optical storage system including a disc drive and an optical media having a low radial total indicated runout and method of manufacturing such media. The optical media includes a disc substrate having a formatted surface and a center hole. A disc alignment mechanism is provided, wherein the concentric registration of the formatted surface is specified relative to the disc alignment mechanism. A hub having a center hole is positioned at the disc center hole, wherein the hub center hole is centered relative to the disc alignment mechanism. The disc drive includes a drive spindle and a center pin extending from the drive spindle for centering the drive spindle to the optical media.

Method for centering a hub in an optical disc, and an optical storage

A data storage cartridge having a data storage disc locking/restraining mechanism. The data storage cartridge includes a shell defined by a cover and a base, within which a disc and the restraining mechanism are disposed. The restraining mechanism operates to restrain the central portion of the data storage disc against the shell when the data storage disc is in a non-operating position. When the data storage disc is in an operating position, the restraining mechanism is disengaged from restraining the disc by the drive spindle independent of a shutter mechanism.

Data storage cartridge having a restraining mechanism

Hubless optical disc having low radial runout. The optical disc is capable of containing a high capacity of information therein. The optical disc includes a disc substrate having a formatted surface. A mechanism is provided within the disc substrate for mating the optical disc with a drive spindle, wherein the formatted surface is concentrically registered relative to the mechanism within the disc substrate. In one embodiment, the mechanism may comprise an annular groove, annular ridge, or a plurality of holes molded in the disc substrate. The present invention includes optical tooling for forming the hubless optical disc having low radial runout. The present invention further includes an optical disc player drive spindle capable of mating with the high-capacity hubless optical disc.

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Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Chad R Sandstrom