Imation Corporation

Eric D Levinson

James M DePuydt

Ramnath Subramaniam

This disclosure relates to thin optical storage media that may be compliant with conventional DVD drives. Unlike conventional DVDs, however, the described media generally has a thickness profile less than 1.2 mm. The media may further include one or more protrusions protruding from a major surface of the media which define a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm within the clamping area of the media. In some embodiments, the media may further include one or more recesses recessed into a major surface within the clamping area of the media. Two or more optical storage media may be packaged by stacking the media in a configuration that defines an overall stacked thickness that is less than 1.2 mm for each individual medium in the package.

Stacking techniques for thin optical data storage media

This disclosure describes optical media that is compatible with conventional DVD drives. Unlike conventional DVDs, however, the described media uses a lower cost, lower quality material for one of the substrates. In particular, a so-called 'dummy' substrate may comprise a non-optical grade polymeric material. In some cases, the dummy substrate may include post-consumer recycled materials, such as recycled polycarbonate. In other cases, dummy substrate may comprise a low cost non-optical grade polycarbonate, such as an industrial grade polycarbonate. In still other cases, the dummy substrate may comprise a polycarbonate blend, or other non-polycarbonate materials.

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Eric D Levinson