The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 1987
Filed:
Feb. 13, 1986
James L Smith, Grand Prairie, TX (US);
LTV Aerospace and Defense Company, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A temperature sensitive data storage element is disclosed, suitable for application in an erasable optical read/write data storage system. The data storage element includes an optical tuning film and a film of thermochromic phase change material which will change from a first phase to a second phase at temperatures in excess of an upper temperature and back to the first phase at temperatures below a lower temperature. In one application, a thermally controlled support member may be employed to temporarily lower the temperature on the storage element to a point below the lower temperature, thereby initializing the element. In one embodiment, the storage element is a planar, suitably circular disk. In use, the storage element is adapted to be initialized by a modulated laser beam which may be focused on the storage element to temporarily heat particular portions of the element to a temperature in excess of the upper temperature, causing a phase change. A method of manufacturing such a storage disk is also taught wherein a reflective metal layer is disposed on a substrate member under a film of phase change material, with a layer of dielectric turning material interposed between the metal layer and the film of phase change material.