Tamarack Storage Devices

Stephen R Redfield

Jahja I Trisnadi

Gerald R Willenbring

Richard Dennis Rallison

John Stockton

Edward Arnold Halter

Molded block optics system (10) writes and reads data from an optical storage medium and includes first molded optics block (12) for receiving reference beam (60) and original object beam (46) that contains a predetermined data set. First molded optics block (12) includes reflective surfaces (18, 20, 22, and 24) and spatial light modulator (50). Reflective surfaces (18, 20, and 24) include reference beam surfaces (24) and object beam surfaces (18, 20, and 22). Reference beam surfaces (24) direct reference beam (60) to optical storage medium (16) at predetermined location (54). Spatial light modulator (50) modulates object beam (46) and directs modulated object beam (46) to predetermined location (54). Reference beam (60) and object beam (46) form an interference pattern that writes data on optical storage medium (16). First molded optics block (12) also directs reference beam (60) to optical storage medium (16) for generating reconstructed object beam (64). Second molded optics block (14) receives reconstructed object beam (64), and includes reflective surfaces that direct reconstructed object beam (64) to detector array (32).

Molded block optical system for volume holographic storage

A holographic data storage system includes a laser (12) for generating both data and reference beams. The reference beam is deflected by an optic system such that the reference beam can be directed at the surface of a thin holographic storage media (10) to interfere with a data beam to store data in the form of an interference grating. For each Bragg angle associated with a reference beam and a data beam, multiple pages of information are stored in the storage media (10). Each page of information stored at a given Bragg angle is associated with a different Bragg plane. Upon reconstruction of the data, a given reference beam at a given Bragg angle will reconstruct the data in the associated Bragg plane on a detector (42) and will reconstruct data for the same Bragg angle but a different Bragg plane in an off-image plane (88) or (90). This, therefore, allows multiple pages of information to be stored for the same Bragg angle in the same storage region (54).

Method and apparatus for multiplexing data in different planes of

An apparatus for positioning a data and reference beam onto the surface of a holographic storage media (10) includes a laser (16) for generating the reference beam, and a first reflecting surface (18) for positioning the output of the laser (16) along the y-axis. The beam is split into a data beam and a reference beam by a beam splitter (24) with the data beam directed toward an SLM (36) and the reference beam (26) directed toward an angle multiplexing reflective surface (40). The data beam during a record operation is reflected from the surface of the SLM (36) to a transform lens (34) and then to a column (35) on the surface of a holographic storage media (10). The reference beam is reflected from a reflective surface (40) at a predetermined angle determined by the position of the reflective surface (40) to an HOE (46) for redirection to the surface of the storage media (10) to interfere with the data beam. During a data reconstruction operation, only the reference beam is generated. This results in a reconstructed image being directed toward an imaging lens (52) and then to a detector (54).

Method and apparatus for positioning a light beam on a holographic media

A holographic storage media (10) is fabricated from a thin layer of photopolymer recording media. The photopolymer recording media is disposed between a substrate (48) and a capping layer (56). The media (10) is divided into a plurality of storage regions (54), which are formed within wells (52) to isolate each of the regions (54). During a record operation, a pumping operation is first performed to remove oxygen molecules from the media by bombarding the select region that is to have an interference pattern recorded therein with photons for a predetermined duration of time. Once the oxygen molecules have been depleted, then a data beam is generated with data superimposed thereon and a reference beam generated for interference with the data beam in the storage region (54). This results in the recording of an interference pattern.

Method for enhancing the utility of a photopolymer recording media for

A holographic storage assembly is provided which utilizes a large holographic storage media (36) disposed between two reflecting surfaces (40) and (42). An optics system (44) is disposed between the two reflecting surfaces (40) and (42) is operable to generate both a reference beam (58) and a data beam (50). The data beam (50) and reference beam (58) are generated on a virtual spot plane (100), which is then imaged from the surface of the reflecting surface (42) onto the much larger surface of the media (36). This is operable to record an interference grating at a storage location (56). During a playback operation, a reconstructed data beam (64) is generated and reflected from the surface of the mirror (40) onto a detector (68) in the deflector system (44).

High capacity holographic storage system

A tape cartridge (12) is provided for storing holographic recordings in a longitudinal holographic storage media tape (14). The tape (14) is comprised of a thin holographic storage media such as a photopolymer. A laser (54) is operable to generate a coherent light beam, which is then positioned on a given row of storage regions (42) on the surface of the tape (14). A positioning/angle multiplexing device (90) is operable to both position a reference beam (60) and a data beam (62) onto a select one of the storage regions in a given row on the surface of the tape (14). The tape (14) is incremented a row at a time for each scan operation wherein both the reference and the data beams during a Write operation, and only the reference beam during the playback operation, are moved along a given row. The spinning polygon mirror (56) is utilized to provide both positioning along a given row and angle multiplexing in a select storage region, with the optic system removing the angular information from the data beam (62). Data is superimposed on the data beam by an SLM (76).

Method and apparatus for holographically recording and reproducing

A package for a holographic storage media (10) is provided that utilizes a slide tray (43) for containing a plurality of slides (102). Each of the slides (102) is comprised of an opaque casing (110), which is operable to hold a sandwich structure (120). The sandwich structure (120) has a gripping mechanism (122) disposed on the edge thereof for allowing the structure (120) to be reciprocated within the jacket (110) for extraction thereof and reinsertion thereof. A gripping arm (156) is operable to attach to a gripping member (124) on a gripping mechanism (122) attached to the slide (102) to extract the slide (102) and place it into a holder (148). The holder (148) is then operable to receive the slide (102) and dispose it in a holographic storage system. The slide (102) can then be written to by interfering a data beam and a reference beam in a predetermined storage location (54) and then the slide again placed into the jacket (110).

Packaging system for holographic storage media

A holographic storage media for storing digital data in the form of an interference grating is provided which includes a substrate (48) over which a perforated opaque structure (50) is disposed. The opaque structure (50) has wells (52) disposed therein. In the wells, a photopolymer material (54) is disposed to form data storage regions (54). This is covered by a capping layer (56). The wells (52) are chemically and/or optically isolated from each other.

Method and apparatus for isolating data storage regions in a thin

Method and apparatus for enhancing the utility of a photopolymer

A holographic storage media for storing digital data in the form of an interference grating is provided which includes a plurality of slabs of photorefractive material (72) arranged in a stack, with one edge thereof comprising an incident face (74). A data beam (39) having data superimposed thereon and a reference beam (38) are input to the face (74) to record a holographic image of the data in one of the slabs (72). Each of the slabs has a plurality of adjacent storage regions formed therein. The data and reference beams are disposed in a plane perpendicular to both the face (74) and the side (75) of the slabs (72), such that the reference beam (38) is confined within the slab (72) for all angles of the reference beam (38).

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Stephen R Redfield