Nbcuniversal Media, LLC

General Electric Company

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Kasiraman Krishnan

Marc Brian Wisnudel

Matthew Jeremiah Misner

Ben Purushotam Patel

James Mitchell White

Kaustubh Ravindra Nagarkar

Andrea Jeannine Peters

Mark Rogers Johnson

James Enrico Sabatini

Lifeng Zhang

John Erik Hershey

Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo

Robert James Perry

Michael Joseph O'Brien

David Gilles Gascoyne

Paul William Buckley

Andrew Michael Leach

Scott Martell Boyette

William Mandel

Clayton Ming Young

Owen Scott Quirion

Amitabh Bansal

Tan Zhang

Katherine Lee Jackson

Swapnil Girish Bondre

An optical article for playback in a player includes a first file comprising a first control logic; and a second file comprising a second control logic. The first file is configured to direct the player to play a first content data stored on the optical article, when the first control logic is read by the player. The player is directed to read the second file if the player cannot read the first file. The second file is configured to direct the player to play a second content data stored on the article when the second control logic is read by the player. The optical article includes a mark containing an optical state change material disposed on at least a portion of the first file, wherein the mark is in one of a first optical state or a second optical state, and wherein the first control logic can be read only when the mark is in the second optical state.

Limited play optical article

An optical article comprising a first file encoded on the optical article comprising data structure information; a second file encoded on the optical article comprising a backup of the first file; wherein at least one of the first file or the second file must be fully readable for the player to read the data on the optical article; and a mark disposed on at least a portion of the optical article where the first file is encoded and at least a portion of the optical article where the second file is encoded; wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material; wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy; wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used; and wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used.

Enhanced security of optical article

An optical article comprising a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article; a removable electrical device disposed on the surface of the optical article; wherein the electrical device is operatively coupled to the optical article; and wherein the electrical device is configured to interact with an activation signal when brought in direct contact with a communication device that applies the activation signal to the electrical device. A removable electrical device is also provided. A system and a method for activation are also provided.

Activation system and method for activating an optical article

An activation system for optical media in one embodiment includes a tag having at least one pair of conductors with at least one heating element coupled to the conductors. The heating element is oriented proximate one or more activation regions on the optical media, and wherein the heating element activates the optical media. The tag in one embodiment is an elongate flexible tag material with a number of conductors that couple on one end to heating elements wherein the heating elements are disposed within a media case such that they are proximate activation regions on a media article.

Security tag for optical media and processes for fabrication and attachment

A composite material having exposed nanofibers is prepared by dividing a polymer nanofiber matrix into sections. A portion of a polymeric substrate material is removed to expose lengths of nanofibers that together can act as a nanoadhesive.

Method for preparing a composite material having nanofibers exposed therefrom

An optical article for playback in a player, the optical article including at least one sector having data, and a mark disposed in a predetermined relationship with the at least one sector, wherein the mark renders a portion of the data generally unreadable. The optical article further includes error correction code associated with the at least one sector, wherein data within the error correction code is configured as partially corrupted. The inclusion of partially corrupted error correction code reduces the size of the mark or spot required to render the data sector uncorrectable.

System and method for combining pre-mastered errors with marks or printed spots on optical media

An optical article for playback in a player includes at least one sector comprising a first control logic configured to set the value of a first register, the first register having a default value before it is set, and a non-default value after it is set, and a first command to be read sequentially after the sector. The first command is configured to direct the player to play a first content on the article if the first register is set to the default value and to direct the player to play a second content on the article if the first register is set to the non-default value. The optical article includes a mark containing an optical state change material disposed on the sector, wherein the mark is in one of a first optical state or a second optical state, and wherein the first control logic can be read only when the mark is in the second optical state.

A method of changing a functionality of an optical article is provided. The method includes exposing the optical article to an external stimulus. The optical article includes an electrically responsive layer being configured to transform from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to the external stimulus. The electrically responsive layer is configured to transform from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to an external stimulus, and is capable of irreversibly transforming the optical article from the pre-activated state of functionality to the activated state of functionality. The electrically responsive layer includes an ion-conducting polymeric material, an electrically responsive material dispersed in the ion-conducting polymeric material, an electrolyte and at least one pair electrodes in electrical communication with the electrically responsive layer, wherein the electrodes are in electrical communication with the same surface of the electrically responsive layer. Also provided is an activation system for transforming an optical article from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality.

Optical article having an electrically responsive layer as an anti-theft feature and a system and method for inhibiting theft

An optical article with a plurality of optically detectable marks on a first surface of the optical article, wherein a mark of the plurality of marks has a thickness of less than or equal to about 1 micrometer, and wherein the plurality of optically detectable marks have uniform thickness.

Method of printing marks on an optical article

An optical article comprising a mark disposed on the optical article; wherein the mark comprises an optical state change material; wherein the optical state change material undergoes a change in its optical state when exposed to an activation signal selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, infrared rays, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, visible light, ultraviolet light, ultrasound waves, radio frequency waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, and mechanical energy; wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when an authorized activation method is used; and wherein the optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an incorrectly activated state when an unauthorized activation method is used. A method and a system for changing the functionality of the optical article are also provided.

An electrically responsive ink composition comprising at least one electrically responsive optical-state change material, at least one electrolyte material, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material, wherein the ink composition has a viscosity between about 0.1 centipoise and about 10,000 centipoise, and a maximum optical absorbance in a range from about 200 nanometers to about 800 nanometers; and wherein the ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to an electrical stimulus. The electrically responsive ink composition may be used to deposit an electrically responsive coating composition, which may be used as part of an anti-theft system for optical articles. Articles comprising electrically responsive coating compositions are also disclosed, as are methods for activation.

Electrically responsive ink and coating compositions and methods for activation

An optical article configured to transform from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality is provided. The optical article includes an optical data layer for storing data, wherein the data is read from the optical data layer in an activated state of functionality, and a material capable of undergoing a morphological transformation being disposed on the optical data layer and adapted to irreversibly alter from a first morphology to a second morphology upon interaction with the external stimulus to alter the state of functionality of the optical article from a pre-activated state to the activated state.

Optical article having a material capable of undergoing a morphological transformation as an anti-theft feature and a system and method for inhibiting theft of same

An optical data storage article is configured to transform from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality. The optical data storage article includes a physical surface modification configured to alter an optical integrity of the optical data storage article upon interaction with an external stimulus.

Optical data storage article having a physical surface modification as an anti-theft feature and a system and method for inhibiting theft of same

An optical article comprising at least one data side and configured for transformation from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality is provided. The optical article includes an optical data layer for storing data. Furthermore, the optical article includes an electrically responsive layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the electrically responsive layer is characterized by an optical absorbance in the range of about 200 nm to about 800 nm. The electrically responsive layer being configured to transform from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to an external stimulus, and being capable of irreversibly transforming the optical article from the pre-activated state of functionality to the activated state of functionality. The electrically responsive layer includes a binder polymeric material, an electrically responsive material, and an electrolyte. Also provided is a method of changing the functionality of the optical article, and an activation system for transforming the optical article from the pre-activated state of functionality to the activated state of functionality.

Methods for applying sensor materials to optical storage media substrates are disclosed. After exposure to a sample of interest, the resulting sensors may be read in optical storage media drives for quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biological parameters of the sample.

Growing community of inventors

Clifton Park, NY, United States of America

Kasiraman Krishnan