Super-resolution optical hard disk device based on nano tip array

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of optical storage, and discloses a super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nanometer tip array. According to super-resolution recording, the size of a near-field light spot is determined by the distance between a nanometer tip and a disk (not the laser wavelength), the typical size can reach 10-50 nm, the resolution is improved by 5-10 times compared with traditional optical storage (larger than or equal to 200 nm), and the optical storage efficiency is greatly improved. The capacity of a single disc can reach a TB level (the capacity of a traditional blue-ray disc is about 100GB); the aerodynamic (or electromagnetic) suspension structure of the floating block can adapt to a high-speed motion scene (such as a flying mode of a magnetic head in magnetic storage), and dynamic stability of nanoscale spacing is ensured by combining the spacing regulation and control module; and the distance regulation and control module monitors and adjusts the suspension distance (the precision is less than or equal to 1nm) in real time through a sensor, so that the influence of thermal fluctuation and mechanical vibration on near-field light spots is effectively inhibited, and the recording and reading accuracy is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of optical storage technology, and particularly relates to a super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, global demand for data storage is growing exponentially. Traditional magnetic storage technologies (such as hard drives and magnetic tapes) are limited by current technology, with a recording density limit of approximately 1 Tb / in. 2 It is difficult to meet the future EB level (1EB=10) requirements. 24 Storage systems (in bytes) impose requirements on storage device price, size, and energy consumption; on the other hand, while traditional optical storage technologies (such as Blu-ray storage devices) have a long storage life (greater than 50 years), they are limited by the optical diffraction limit (spot size ≥ 200nm) and density (approximately 50Gb / in). 2 It is difficult to improve, the single disk capacity cannot be increased, and the read and write speeds are far lower than those of magnetic storage.

[0003] In recent years, by using subwavelength probes and combining them with near-field optics principles, breakthroughs have been achieved in the diffraction limit, enabling the realization of nanoscale light spots (~tens of nanometers), providing a new path for achieving high-density optical storage using near-field light.

[0004] Based on the above analysis, the problems and shortcomings of the existing technology are as follows:

[0005] (1) Insufficient probe suspension stability: Near-field probes need to maintain physical contact or a very close distance (<10nm) with the medium in a suspended state. Without the use of specific technical principles and methods, due to the influence of thermal fluctuations and mechanical vibrations, it is difficult for near-field probes to maintain a suspended state with the medium, and it is even more difficult to adapt to high-speed reading and writing scenarios (such as the "flying" mode of hard drives).

[0006] (2) Single recording mode: Existing solutions mostly rely on a single photo-induced effect (such as thermal phase change, photo-induced magnetic change, etc.), which makes it difficult to be compatible with multiple storage media (such as phase change materials, magnetic recording materials).

[0007] (3) Cannot be written and read in parallel. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a high-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array.

[0009] This invention is implemented as follows: a high-resolution optical hard disk drive (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array includes:

[0010] Nanoscale tip array floating block assembly, laser coupling module, spacing control module, disk assembly, signal processing and control system;

[0011] The nano-tip array floating block assembly is connected to the signal processing and control system for dynamic modulation of laser intensity, wavelength, polarization, and phase.

[0012] The laser coupling module, connected to the signal processing and control system, is used to focus the laser, after shaping, onto the tip region of the nanotip array through the coupling lens, thereby exciting localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) or evanescent waves on the nanotip surface to form a near-field light spot.

[0013] The spacing control module, connected to the signal processing and control system, is used for spacing control;

[0014] The disk assembly, connected to the signal processing and control system, is used to rotate at high speed via the spindle motor to meet the high-speed read and write requirements of optical hard disks.

[0015] The signal processing and control system is connected to the nano-tip array floating block assembly, laser coupling module, spacing adjustment module, and disk assembly for signal processing and control.

[0016] Furthermore, the nano-tip array floating block assembly includes a substrate and a nano-tip array disposed at the end of the substrate; the floating block is kept in non-contact suspension with the disk by an aerodynamic bearing, and the suspension spacing is in the nanometer range; the height of the nano-tip is 10-200nm, the tip curvature radius is ≤10nm, and the material is a high refractive index semiconductor or metal; the nano-tip array serves as the "read / write head" of the optical hard disk, integrating laser modulation elements or utilizing its own physical properties.

[0017] Furthermore, the laser coupling module includes a laser source, a beam shaper (used to focus the laser into a spot with a diameter ≤1μm), and a coupling lens; after being shaped, the laser is focused by the coupling lens onto the tip region of the nanotip array, exciting local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) or evanescent wave on the surface of the nanotip to form a near-field light spot.

[0018] Furthermore, the spacing control module includes sensors and actuators for real-time monitoring of the spacing between the floating block and the disk, and for adjusting the levitation force through feedback control to maintain a stable spacing between the nanotip and the storage medium, thereby ensuring consistent near-field spot size; wherein, the spacing between the nanotip and the storage medium can also be controlled by using a state observer in the control system.

[0019] Furthermore, the disk assembly includes a substrate and a recording medium layer and a protective layer deposited sequentially; the disk rotates at high speed via a spindle motor to meet the high-speed read and write requirements of optical hard disks.

[0020] Furthermore, the signal processing and control system includes a laser writing channel, a readout signal channel, and a servo control system; the laser modulation controller adjusts the laser parameters according to the writing principle of the storage medium and the input data content; the readout signal channel decodes the reflected / transmitted / scattered light signals received by the nanotip array; and the servo control system achieves precise positioning of the nanotip array through the spacing adjustment module.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a high-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array, comprising:

[0022] Step 1, Hover Initialization and Tracking:

[0023] The floating block moves toward the disk under the action of aerodynamic force until the distance between the nanotip array and the disk stabilizes within a preset nanometer range (such as 10-30nm); the servo control system drives the floating block to move radially along the disk to complete the "track seeking" positioning.

[0024] Step 2, Laser Modulation and Near-Field Excitation:

[0025] The laser emitted from the laser source is focused onto the tip of the nanotip array by a beam shaper and a coupling lens. The laser modulation controller dynamically adjusts the laser parameters through integrated components to excite the local field enhancement effect on the surface of the nanotip to generate an evanescent wave.

[0026] Step 3, Multi-mode information recording:

[0027] The evanescent wave penetrates to the disk surface and re-radiates as a propagating wave, forming a near-field spot on the disk surface; depending on the type of recording medium, the near-field spot records information in the following ways:

[0028] Phase change material layer: The thermal effect of near-field light spots causes the material to transform between crystalline and amorphous states;

[0029] Magnetic recording material layer: The thermal effect of the near-field light spot locally heats the magnetic particles, and the magnetic moment reversal is achieved with the assistance of an external magnetic field;

[0030] Photochromic material layer: The photon energy of near-field light spots excites changes in molecular structure, and information is recorded through differences in reflectivity or absorbance;

[0031] Step 4, High-speed readout and signal processing:

[0032] During readout, a low-power laser scans the disk surface, and a nano-tip array receives the near-field light signals reflected or scattered from the disk surface; the readout signal processor amplifies and decodes the light signals to restore the stored data; and the servo control system adjusts the suspension gap in real time to ensure readout stability.

[0033] Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer device including a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of the operating method of the super-resolution optical disk drive (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array.

[0034] Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of the operating method of the super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array.

[0035] Another object of the present invention is to provide an information data processing terminal for implementing the aforementioned super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nanometer tip array.

[0036] Based on the above technical solutions and the technical problems solved, the advantages and positive effects of the technical solution to be protected by this invention are as follows:

[0037] This invention aims to provide a super-resolution optical hard disk drive (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array. By using the nanoscale levitation structure of the floating blocks of the nano-tip array (analogous to a hard disk head), combined with laser near-field excitation and multi-mode modulation capabilities, it breaks through the diffraction limit to achieve nanoscale optical spot recording. By modulating the incident laser, it supports writing to various media such as phase change materials and magnetic recording materials. By using a nano-tip array, it has parallel read and write characteristics, thereby promoting the further development of lasers in the field of storage.

[0038] This invention integrates a nano-tip array onto a floating block, thereby achieving dynamic near-field optical coupling between the nano-tip and the storage medium through air bearing technology. Ultra-high density (super-diffraction-limited) writing / recording of the storage medium is accomplished by near-field light generated by the nano-tip. The device based on this principle is referred to in this application as a Hard Optical Recording Drive (HORD). The HORD, through its nano-tip array floating block structure combined with laser near-field excitation, can overcome the optical diffraction limit to achieve high-density recording of nanoscale light spots, and can also achieve multi-channel parallel recording / reading through the nano-tip array. It combines the high density of traditional hard drives with the long lifespan of optical storage, making it particularly suitable for ultra-large capacity, ultra-long lifespan cold storage applications.

[0039] Super-resolution recording: The size of the near-field spot is determined by the distance between the nanotip and the disk (rather than the laser wavelength), with a typical size of 10-50nm. This improves the resolution by 5-10 times compared to traditional optical storage (≥200nm), and the capacity of a single disk can reach TB level (compared to about 100GB for a traditional Blu-ray disc).

[0040] High dynamic stability: The aerodynamic (or electromagnetic) levitation structure of the floating block can be adapted to high-speed motion scenarios (such as the "flying" mode of the magnetic head in magnetic storage). Combined with the spacing control module, it ensures the dynamic stability of the nanometer-level spacing. The spacing control module monitors and adjusts the suspension spacing in real time through sensors (accuracy ≤1nm), effectively suppressing the influence of thermal fluctuations and mechanical vibrations on the near-field light spot, and ensuring the accuracy of recording and reading.

[0041] Multi-media compatibility: The nano-tip array serves as the read / write head, supporting information recording based on various optical principles such as thermal phase change, magneto-optical effect, and fluorescence excitation through laser parameter modulation, and is compatible with various storage media such as phase change materials and magnetic recording materials;

[0042] High energy efficiency: The local field enhancement effect of the nanotip can improve the utilization efficiency of laser energy and reduce the risk of thermal damage, making it suitable for temperature-sensitive optical storage media (such as phase change materials and organic dyes).

[0043] Parallel read / write: The aerodynamic (or electromagnetic) levitation structure of the nano-tip array floating block is adapted to the high-speed rotation of the disk (linear velocity 5-200m / s) to achieve parallel read / write.

[0044] Traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) use a slider on the read / write head to maintain the read / write head about 10 nm below the disk platter using the buoyancy generated by the fluid between the rotating platter and the floating block. This achieves a constant head-platter distance under dynamic conditions using the principle of air buoyancy, thus ensuring the near-field distance required by this invention. The HORD device proposed in this invention integrates a nano-tip array into the floating block, replacing the traditional magnetic read / write head. By exciting the nano-tip with a laser, it generates write / read light spots that break the diffraction limit in the near-field range. At the same time, the nano-tip array provides parallel read / write capabilities, becoming the core technology of next-generation high-density, high-speed storage devices.

[0045] As supporting evidence of the inventive step of the claims of this invention, the following important aspects are also reflected:

[0046] (1) The expected benefits and commercial value of the technical solution of this invention after transformation are as follows: The total capacity of hard disks imported by China has been growing rapidly year after year. According to industry reports, as one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the world, China's total capacity and value of imported enterprise-level HDDs have maintained a compound annual growth rate of over 20%. In 2022, the import value of enterprise-level hard disks was approximately US$7-9.5 billion, or about 30-40 million units. From a technical perspective, the continuous increase in the capacity of a single hard disk indicates that the storage density of a single hard disk is continuously increasing. If this technical solution can capture the enterprise-level storage market in my country, it will gain access to the existing market size of 10 billion yuan, with a compound annual growth rate as high as 20%.

[0047] (2) The technical solution of the present invention fills the gap in domestic warm and cold data storage equipment.

[0048] (3) The present invention can solve the problem that the storage density of warm and cold data storage devices (such as hard disks) is difficult to increase further; it can greatly improve the writing speed. Attached Figure Description

[0049] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the working method of the super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 3 This is a detailed structural diagram of the high-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 1 The components are: 1. Nanoscale array floating block assembly; 2. Laser coupling module; 3. Spacing adjustment module; 4. Disk assembly; 5. Signal processing and control system. Detailed Implementation

[0053] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a super-resolution optical hard disk drive (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array, comprising:

[0055] 1. Nanoscale tip array floating block assembly; 2. Laser coupling module; 3. Spacing adjustment module; 4. Disk assembly; 5. Signal processing and control system;

[0056] The nano-tip array floating block assembly 1 is connected to the signal processing and control system 5 and is used for dynamic modulation of laser intensity, wavelength, polarization, and phase.

[0057] The laser coupling module 2, connected to the signal processing and control system 5, is used to focus the laser, after shaping, onto the tip region of the nanotip array through the coupling lens, thereby exciting local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) or evanescent waves on the nanotip surface to form a near-field light spot.

[0058] The spacing control module 3 is connected to the signal processing and control system 5 and is used to control the spacing.

[0059] The disk assembly 4 is connected to the signal processing and control system 5 and is used to rotate at high speed via the spindle motor to meet the high-speed read and write requirements of the optical hard disk.

[0060] The signal processing and control system 5 is connected to the nano-tip array floating block assembly 1, the laser coupling module 2, the spacing adjustment module 3, and the disk assembly 4, and is used for signal processing and control.

[0061] The nano-tip array floating block assembly provided in this invention comprises a substrate and a nano-tip array (one or more nano-tips arranged regularly) disposed at the end of the substrate; the floating block is kept in non-contact suspension with the disk via an aerodynamic bearing (or electromagnetic levitation structure), with a suspension spacing in the nanometer range (preferably 1-50 nm); the height of the nano-tip is 10-200 nm, the tip curvature radius is ≤10 nm (preferably 5-20 nm), and the material is a high refractive index semiconductor (such as silicon, gallium nitride) or a metal (such as gold, silver); the nano-tip array serves as the "read / write head" of the optical hard disk, integrating laser modulation elements (such as electro-optic modulators, acousto-optic modulators) or utilizing its own physical properties (such as surface plasmon resonance tunability) to achieve dynamic modulation of laser intensity, wavelength, polarization, and phase.

[0062] The laser coupling module provided in this embodiment of the invention includes a laser source (wavelength λ=400-700nm), a beam shaper (used to focus the laser into a spot with a diameter ≤1μm) and a coupling lens; after being shaped, the laser is focused by the coupling lens onto the tip region of the nanotip array, exciting local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) or evanescent wave on the surface of the nanotip to form a near-field light spot.

[0063] The spacing control module provided in this embodiment of the invention includes a sensor (such as a capacitive or optical interferometric displacement sensor) and an actuator (such as a piezoelectric ceramic or electromagnetic coil) for real-time monitoring of the spacing between the floating block and the disk, and adjusting the levitation force through feedback control to maintain a stable spacing between the nanotip and the storage medium, thereby ensuring consistent near-field spot size; wherein, the spacing between the nanotip and the storage medium can also be controlled by using a state observer (implemented in software, which may be, but is not limited to, readback signal quality) in the control system.

[0064] The disk assembly provided in this embodiment of the invention includes a substrate and a recording medium layer (phase change material layer, magnetic recording material layer or photochromic material layer) and a protective layer deposited sequentially; the disk is rotated at high speed by a spindle motor (linear speed 5-200m / s) to meet the high-speed read and write requirements of optical hard disks.

[0065] The signal processing and control system provided in this embodiment of the invention includes a laser writing channel, a readout signal channel, and a servo control system; the laser modulation controller adjusts the laser parameters (intensity, wavelength, etc.) according to the writing principle of the storage medium and the input data content; the readout signal channel decodes the reflected / transmitted / scattered light signals received by the nanotip array; and the servo control system achieves precise positioning of the nanotip array through the spacing adjustment module.

[0066] like Figure 2 The present invention provides a method for operating a high-resolution optical hard disk drive (HORD) device based on a nano-tip array, comprising:

[0067] S1, Hover Initialization and Tracking:

[0068] The floating block moves toward the disk under the action of aerodynamic force (or electromagnetic force) until the distance between the nano-tip array and the disk stabilizes within a preset nanometer range (such as 10-30nm); the servo control system drives the floating block to move radially along the disk to complete the "track seeking" positioning (similar to hard disk head track seeking).

[0069] S2, Laser Modulation and Near-Field Excitation:

[0070] The laser emitted from the laser source is focused onto the tip of the nanotip array by a beam shaper and a coupling lens. The laser modulation controller dynamically adjusts the laser parameters (intensity, wavelength, etc.) through integrated components (such as an electro-optic modulator) to excite the local field enhancement effect (such as LSPR) on the surface of the nanotip to generate evanescent waves.

[0071] S3, Multi-mode information recording:

[0072] The evanescent wave penetrates to the disk surface and re-radiates as a propagating wave, forming a near-field spot on the disk surface (the size of which is determined by the distance between the nanotip and the disk, typically 10-50 nm); depending on the type of recording medium, the near-field spot records information in the following ways:

[0073] Phase change material layer: The thermal effect of near-field light spots causes the material to transform between crystalline and amorphous states (e.g., crystalline state is "0", amorphous state is "1");

[0074] Magnetic recording material layer: The thermal effect of the near-field light spot locally heats the magnetic particles, and the magnetic moment reversal is achieved with the assistance of an external magnetic field;

[0075] Photochromic material layer: The photon energy of the near-field light spot excites changes in molecular structure (such as open-ring / closed-ring reactions), and records information through differences in reflectance or absorbance;

[0076] S4, High-speed readout and signal processing:

[0077] During readout, a low-power laser scans the disk surface, and a nano-tip array receives near-field light signals reflected or scattered from the disk surface (such as the reflectivity difference of phase change materials or the Kerr effect of magnetic recording materials); the readout signal processor amplifies and decodes the light signals to restore the stored data; the servo control system adjusts the suspension spacing in real time (such as spacing changes caused by disk vibration) to ensure readout stability.

[0078] This invention is based on a super-resolution optical hard disk (HORD) device with a nano-tip array. Its core principle is to utilize the near-field optical effect generated by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at the nano-tip to break through the diffraction limit of traditional optical storage and realize the writing and reading of nanoscale optical information.

[0079] In this device, an array of nano-tipped tips is integrated beneath a micro-floating block, which forms a stable nanoscale suspended air gap (10–30 nm) through aerodynamics or electromagnetic force. When the disk rotates at high speed, the floating block achieves self-balancing suspension under the influence of the flow field. The servo system precisely controls the spacing and position based on feedback signals (such as interferometric ranging or capacitive sensing), thus completing track seeking and positioning without contacting the disk. This suspended track seeking system is similar to a hard disk head system, but its control precision is improved to the nanometer level, providing a stable working distance for near-field optical excitation.

[0080] The incident light emitted from the laser source is coupled to the tip of the nanotip array after beam shaping and focusing by a lens. Due to the extremely high radius of curvature at the tip, the electromagnetic field is strongly compressed, exciting localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) and generating a strong localized electric field enhancement effect. This localized field decays rapidly in space, forming an evanescent wave region only within the nanoscale, thus achieving energy localization much smaller than the wavelength. By dynamically adjusting the laser intensity, wavelength, or polarization direction using an electro-optic modulator, controllable modulation of the localized field intensity and distribution can be achieved.

[0081] When the distance between the nanotip and the disk is maintained at the nanometer scale, the evanescent wave generated by localized field excitation can penetrate to the disk surface and re-radiate as a propagating wave, forming a near-field spot with a size of approximately 10–50 nm. The energy of the near-field spot acts on different types of recording media: for phase change layers, reversible conversion between crystalline and amorphous states is achieved through local heating; for magnetic layers, magnetic moment reversal is achieved through heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR); for photochromic layers, photon energy induces changes in molecular structure, thereby enabling the writing of multi-state optical information. This process combines multi-physics field effects such as light, heat, magnetism, and chemical reactions to complete the precise recording of information.

[0082] During the readout phase, the system employs a low-power laser to scan the disk surface to avoid secondary writing. A nanotip array acts as a near-field detector, collecting reflected, scattered, or Kerr rotation signals from the disk surface through its tips. Because media in different storage states exhibit significant differences in reflectivity, magneto-optical response, or photoabsorption characteristics, the readout signal is converted into digital data after photodetection and demodulation. The signal processing module further performs amplification, filtering, and decoding operations to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio data recovery.

[0083] To enhance data throughput, this invention employs a nano-tip linear array or area array on the floating blocks, enabling multi-point parallel writing and reading. The system monitors disk vibration and air gap changes in real time, dynamically adjusting the floating block attitude and spacing through servo feedback to maintain a stable near-field coupling state. Simultaneously, the device can automatically adjust laser parameters and the floating air gap based on media characteristics and data density, achieving universal storage across media. This multi-mode, adjustable, and parallel near-field optical storage architecture significantly outperforms traditional optical disc and hard disk systems in terms of data density, read / write speed, and energy efficiency.

[0084] like Figure 3 The device includes:

[0085] Floating Block Component A: The "nano-tip linear array and area array A1" are integrated onto floating block A2 using semiconductor fabrication technology, as shown by the green lines in the enlarged view of A. Floating block A2 is a microstructure utilizing air bearing or electromagnetic levitation principles to maintain the near-field distance (less than 10 nm) between disk C and the nano-tip linear array and area array A1. It can be fabricated using semiconductor processes.

[0086] The basic unit of the nano-tip linear array and area array A1, the nanotip A1_1, has an adjustable geometric morphology (typically 10-200 nm) and an adjustable tip curvature radius (generally less than or equal to 10 nm, typically 5-20 nm), as shown by the single green line in the magnified image of A. Typical materials for fabricating the nano-tip linear array and area array A1 are semiconductors with high refractive index (such as silicon, gallium nitride) or metals (such as gold, silver), or are composed of metals attached to the surface of the aforementioned semiconductors with high refractive index.

[0087] Laser coupling unit B: includes laser B1 (suitable for continuous lasers and femtosecond pulsed lasers, with a typical wavelength range of λ=400-700nm), beam shaping and coupling B2 (adjusting the beam properties). The laser emitted from laser source B1 is conditioned by B2 and finally coupled to A1 to excite the nanotip, forming a small linear or planar array of light spots G in its near field.

[0088] Recording disk C: A disk C containing a storage medium layer C1, processed using techniques including but not limited to sputtering and coating. (C1 may be a medium layer supporting magnetic recording principles, or a medium layer supporting photothermal recording effects or photochromic recording effects.) Detailed Implementation

[0089] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are based on the technical solution of the present invention and are only illustrative of specific implementations, not a declaration of the scope of protection.

[0090] Example 1: HORD applicable to phase change material media

[0091] Workflow:

[0092] (1) The disk C is driven by the spindle motor H1 and rotates at a constant linear velocity, constant angular velocity or regional constant linear velocity. After reaching the designed speed (e.g. 3.5 m / s), the floating block A2 stabilizes the nano-tip array A1 at a near-field distance of less than 10 nm above the disk under the action of the air bearing.

[0093] (2) Turn on the laser B1. The laser emitted by B1 is conditioned by B2 and finally coupled to A1, and excites the nanotip to form a linear array or area array G composed of tiny light spots on the recording layer of disk C, which can be used for reading and writing.

[0094] (3) A linear or area array composed of tiny light spots, which can be used for reading and writing, is written into the recording layer C1 of the disk C by the laser light spot. The local area undergoes a crystalline-amorphous transition due to the high density energy injected by the laser light spot (the amorphous state is "1"), thereby forming 10nm-level nano-recording spots and completing the writing of information state 1; if the data is "0", the incident laser power is reduced, thereby retaining the crystalline state and completing the recording of information state 0.

[0095] (4) During readout, adjust laser B1 to low power output to avoid damaging the recording points. Use a low-power near-field readout point array or area array GR to scan the disk surface and compare the intensity of the received reflected (or transmitted) light signals. Due to the huge difference in reflectivity between amorphous and crystalline states (amorphous reflectivity is about 30%, and crystalline reflectivity is about 60%), the "0" and "1" information can be recovered from the readout signal through simple comparison, thus completing the readback.

[0096] Example 2: HORD suitable for magnetic recording media

[0097] (1) The disk C is driven by the spindle motor H1 and rotates at a constant linear velocity, constant angular velocity or regional constant linear velocity. After reaching the designed speed (e.g. 3.5 m / s), the floating block A2 stabilizes the nano-tip array A1 at a near-field distance of less than 10 nm above the disk under the action of the air bearing.

[0098] (2) Turn on the femtosecond laser B1. After the laser emitted by B1 is conditioned by B2, the resulting vortex polarized light is finally coupled to A1 and excited the nanotip to form a linear array or area array G composed of tiny light spots on the recording layer of disk C, which can be used for reading and writing.

[0099] (3) The optical properties and instantaneous power of the above-mentioned tiny light spots can be regulated by B1 and B2. The magnetic material of the recording layer C1 of the disk C is written by the linear array or area array composed of these tiny light spots that can be used for reading and writing. Due to the combined effect of the spin moment injected by the laser light spot and the high density energy, the local area of ​​C1 undergoes a magnetic phase transformation, thereby forming nanometer-level nano recording points and completing the writing of information 0 and 1 states.

[0100] (4) During readout, adjust laser B1 to low power output and output only circularly polarized light to avoid damaging the recording points. Using the Faraday effect or Kerr effect, the change in polarization can be detected from the transmitted or reflected light, thereby completing the readback of information.

[0101] Example 1: Near-field super-resolution optical recording device based on Au nanotip array

[0102] In this embodiment, a regular hexagonal array of nanotip arrays is formed by electroplating metallic gold (Au) onto a silicon substrate. The tips are approximately 100 nanometers high and have a radius of curvature of less than 5 nanometers. This array is fixed to the end of an aerodynamic floating block, and aerodynamic pressure is generated by a disk driven by a spindle motor to form a stable suspension gap of approximately 20 nanometers. The laser source outputs blue-violet light with a wavelength of 405 nanometers. After being contracted to a 0.8-micrometer spot by a beam shaper, the light is focused onto the tip of the gold nanotip through a coupling lens, exciting localized surface plasmon resonance and achieving a focusing effect with a near-field spot diameter of approximately 50 nanometers.

[0103] Recording experiments on a phase change material disc (Ge2Sb2Te5) showed that, while maintaining a stable 20-nanometer pitch, the device achieved a single-point write rate of 500 megabits per second, representing a recording density approximately 10 times higher than traditional DVDs. Its near-field excitation spot exhibited high spatial locality, with no thermal crosstalk, and a signal decoding error rate below 10%. -8 This verifies the feasibility and high-resolution performance of the device structure and laser coupling mechanism described in claims 1–3.

[0104] Example 2: Nanoscale Suspension Adjustment Mechanism with State Observer Feedback Control

[0105] This embodiment addresses the nanometer-level spacing control between the floating block and the disk by employing a co-control structure of a capacitive distance sensor and a piezoelectric actuator. The sensor collects real-time data on the spacing between the floating block and the disk. The signal processing and control system includes a state observer module, which estimates the system state and predicts attitude changes based on a Kalman filter model. The module adjusts the driving force of the piezoelectric actuator through the model's output signal to maintain the spacing stable within a ±1 nanometer error range.

[0106] The control mechanism operates stably at a disk rotation speed of 7200 rpm, without any floating block oscillation or contact phenomenon, and the near-field light spot intensity fluctuation is less than 2%. Experiments demonstrate that this method can automatically compensate for spacing drift under different rotation speeds and airflow conditions, significantly improving the reliability and repeatability of super-resolution optical recording, and effectively supporting the functional description of "state observer and dynamic feedback control" in claims 4 and 9.

[0107] Example 3: Phase Change and Magnetic Assisted Multi-Mode Information Recording

[0108] This embodiment employs a disk with a dual-layer recording medium structure. The lower layer is a phase-change material GeSbTe, and the upper layer is a rare-earth transition metal alloy TbFeCo. During writing to the phase-change layer, the laser modulation controller outputs a high-power pulsed laser, causing a localized temperature rise at the near-field spot that induces a crystalline-to-amorphous transition in the material. When switching to the magnetic recording layer, the laser power is reduced while an external magnetic field is simultaneously applied. This near-field localized heating achieves magnetic moment reversal, enabling dual-mode writing with both photothermal and magnetic assistance.

[0109] Experimental results show that the dual-layer medium enables the storage of multiple types of information on the same disk, with a write density approximately 1.7 times higher than that of the single-layer medium. Simultaneously, due to the near-field spot size being much smaller than the wavelength limit, there is no thermal cross-interference between the spots. Independent reading of the two layers of data is achieved through a decoding channel, with a signal contrast exceeding 25 dB, demonstrating the feasibility and compatibility of the multi-mode recording principle described in claims 5–7.

[0110] Example 4: Photochromic High-Sensitivity Readout Mechanism

[0111] In this embodiment, the disk recording medium employs a photochromic molecular thin film layer (Spirooxazine-type compound) with a thickness of approximately 50 nanometers. During the writing phase, high-energy photons from a near-field light spot induce the molecular structure to transition from a closed-loop state to an open-loop state, thereby altering the reflectivity. During the readout phase, a low-power laser scan is used, with a nanoparticle array detecting changes in reflected light intensity and decoding the output by a signal processing system. The laser wavelength is controlled within the blue-green light range to ensure separation between the photoinduced reaction and the readout.

[0112] Experiments have verified that the reflection difference created by this device on the photochromic medium can be stably maintained for more than 10 seconds. 6The system achieves multiple read / write cycles with a response time of less than 2 microseconds. Compared to traditional optical read / write methods, this embodiment eliminates the need for a thermal process, significantly reducing energy consumption. This solution supports the feasibility of implementing claim 8 regarding the writing method and readout path for photochromic materials, demonstrating the device's broad applicability to various media types.

[0113] Example 5: A Systematic HORD Platform Integrating Software Control and Error Correction Algorithms

[0114] This embodiment, based on claim 10, combines the device with a software platform to form a complete HORD system. The software employs a multi-threaded real-time operating system to achieve simultaneous execution of laser power scheduling, seek command generation, and signal decoding. The system embeds a Hamming code-based error correction module and an adaptive filtering algorithm to eliminate optical signal noise and disk vibration interference. The entire platform communicates with a computer via a high-speed interface, enabling real-time data writing and reading.

[0115] Comprehensive testing showed that the system's total latency was less than 5 milliseconds, and its data throughput reached 1 gigabit per second, demonstrating excellent real-time performance and stability. This systematic design achieves closed-loop interconnection between the device, control system, and algorithm, preventing simple hardware replacement to circumvent the limitations. It fully supports the entire protection chain of claims 1–10 and demonstrates the industrial feasibility and high reliability of the HORD device.

[0116] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A super-resolution optical hard disk device based on a nano-tip array, characterized in that, The device includes a nano-tip array floating block assembly, a laser coupling module, a spacing control module, a disk assembly, and a signal processing and control system. The nano-tip array floating block assembly is connected to the signal processing and control system and is used to dynamically modulate the laser intensity, wavelength, polarization and phase. The laser coupling module is connected to the signal processing and control system and is used to focus the shaped laser onto the tip region of the nanotip array through the coupling lens, thereby exciting local surface plasmon resonance or evanescent wave on the nanotip surface to form a near-field light spot. The spacing adjustment module is connected to the signal processing and control system and is used to maintain a stable nanometer-level spacing between the floating block and the disk. The disk assembly is rotated at high speed by a spindle motor to achieve the recording and reading of super-resolution optical information; The signal processing and control system is used to synchronously control and decode the laser modulation, spacing adjustment, and data reading and writing processes.

2. The ultra-resolution optical hard disk device based on a nano-tip array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nanotip array floating block assembly includes a substrate and a nanotip array disposed at the end of the substrate; The floating block forms a non-contact suspension structure with the disk through an aerodynamic bearing, with a suspension distance of 10 to 30 nanometers. The height of the nanotip is 10 to 200 nanometers, the radius of curvature of the tip is no more than 10 nanometers, and the material is a high-refractive-index semiconductor or a metallic material. The nano-tip array serves as the optical hard disk read / write head, enabling integrated near-field excitation and signal transmission / reception.

3. The ultra-resolution optical hard disk device based on a nano-tip array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser coupling module includes a laser source, a beam shaper, and a coupling lens; The beam shaper is used to focus the laser into a spot with a diameter of no more than 1 micrometer. After being shaped, the laser is focused onto the tip of the nano-tip array through a coupling lens, generating a local field enhancement effect to excite near-field light spots.

4. The ultra-resolution optical hard disk device based on a nano-tip array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing control module includes a distance sensor and an actuator; The sensor is used to monitor the distance between the floating block and the disk in real time, and the actuator adjusts the levitation force according to the feedback signal. The signal processing and control system is equipped with a state observer, which is used to estimate the attitude of the floating block and correct the spacing control error through model prediction algorithm, thereby ensuring the stability of the spacing between the nanotip and the disk.

5. A method for operating a super-resolution optical hard disk based on a nano-tip array, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1, Suspension Initialization and Track Finding: The floating block moves towards the disk under the action of aerodynamic force until the distance between the nanotip array and the disk stabilizes in the range of 10 to 30 nanometers; the servo control system drives the floating block to move radially along the disk to complete the track finding and positioning. Step 2, Laser Modulation and Near-Field Excitation: The laser beam is shaped and coupled to the tip of the nanotip array. The laser modulation controller adjusts the laser intensity, wavelength and polarization in real time according to the input data, which excites the local field enhancement effect on the surface of the nanotip to form an evanescent wave. Step 3, Information Recording: The evanescent wave penetrates to the disk surface and re-radiates into a propagating wave, forming a near-field light spot on the recording medium surface to achieve information recording; Step four, information readout and signal processing: A low-power laser scans the disk surface, a nano-tip array receives reflected or scattered light signals, and a signal processing system amplifies and decodes the light signals to recover the data.

6. The working method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step three, when the disk recording medium is a phase change material layer, the thermal effect of the near-field light spot causes the material to change from a crystalline state to an amorphous state or from an amorphous state to a crystalline state, thereby realizing information writing.

7. The working method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step three, when the disk recording medium is a magnetic recording material layer, local heating of the near-field light spot, combined with an external magnetic field, achieves magnetic moment reversal to complete information recording.

8. The working method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step three, when the disk recording medium is a photochromic material layer, the photon energy of the near-field light spot excites changes in the molecular structure of the material, producing differences in reflectivity or absorbance to form information recording.

9. The working method according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step four, the servo control system adjusts the levitation force in real time based on the vibration response of the floating block to maintain a constant distance between the nanotip and the disk, ensuring a stable readout signal.

10. A super-resolution optical hard disk system based on a nano-tip array, characterized in that, Includes the device and supporting software control platform as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; The software control platform is used to execute laser modulation, spacing feedback control, data encoding and error correction algorithms, realize multi-mode super-resolution recording and reading functions, and is compatible with three types of recording media: phase change, magnetic and photochromic.

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