Tandy Corporation

Robert Guerra

Bryan K Clark

Joel D Finegan

Paul R Goldberg

Sheryl L Johnson

An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.

Recording method and apparatus

An optical storage medium is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment a substrate is provided with an expansion layer. A retention layer is provided opposite the substrate. A liquid reflective layer is provided adjacent the retention layer, either adjacent to or opposite the expansion layer. The reflective layer is enclosed by a protective layer. Improved expansion and retention layers are also disclosed.

Erasable recording media

Recording medium having an insulating layer

Optical data storage media of various technologies, including those with multiple layers of varying absorptivities of light as well as those which are grooved to facilitate tracking, are improved by combining the absorptivity differences with height variations in the interface between the layers (and thereby the relative thicknesses of the layers). The result is a means of varying in a spatial manner in the media themselves the rate at which such media absorb energy. This offers a variety of benefits in both recordation and reading, including helping to focus the heat generated by incident recording beams, increasing tracking sensitivity for both recordation and reading, and preformatting the media as a guide for both recordation and reading.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Robert Guerra