3D Storage Cells Using Optical Lasers for Volumetric Data Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
As bit density increases in magnetic recording media, storage capacity becomes challenging due to decreased signal-to-noise ratio and increased susceptibility to thermally activated magnetization reversal and adjacent track interference, making it difficult to maintain storage capacity while reducing bit size or thickness.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional storage device using a crystalline structure where information is stored electrically with lasers, employing a higher power write laser to alter properties of storage cells and a lower power read laser to detect information without altering the properties, allowing precise focusing at any depth and location without interfering with other cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If bit density is increased in magnetic recording media, then storage capacity is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates and susceptibility to thermal erasure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar magnetic recording to three-dimensional volumetric storage using a crystalline structure. Storage locations are arranged throughout the volume of the crystal rather than on a surface, enabling increased storage capacity while maintaining adequate signal-to-noise ratio by distributing bits across multiple spatial dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces magnetic field-based writing and reading mechanisms with optical laser-based mechanisms. Lasers alter and detect properties of storage cells through optical interactions, eliminating the need for magnetic heads and enabling precise addressing of individual bits without adjacent track interference.
2Quantity of substance
If bit size is reduced to increase density, then storage capacity is improved, but thermal stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By organizing storage locations in a three-dimensional crystalline structure rather than reducing bit size on a two-dimensional plane, the patent achieves increased storage capacity while maintaining sufficient thermal stability through the inherent stability of the crystalline lattice and appropriate material selection.
3Quantity of substance
If bits are packed closer together, then storage capacity is improved, but adjacent track interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic field-based writing and reading mechanisms with optical laser-based mechanisms. Lasers can be precisely focused on specific storage locations within the crystalline structure, enabling bits to be packed closer together without adjacent track interference because optical beams can be targeted at individual cells rather than affecting adjacent magnetic tracks.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional arrangement of storage locations in the crystalline structure allows for precise spatial addressing of individual bits. This volumetric organization enables closer packing of storage elements while maintaining isolation between adjacent bits through the crystal lattice structure and selective laser addressing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables increased storage capacity without reducing bit size or thermal stability, maintaining signal quality and reducing information loss by using lasers to change and read properties within the three-dimensional structure without heating the material.
Implementation Method 1
A light source is configured to focus a first light with a first energy on a storage location of the number of storage locations. The focused first light is operable to alter a characteristic of the storage location.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is an apparatus including a three dimensional crystalline structure including a number of storage locations. The storage locations are arranged in three dimensions within the crystalline structure. A light source is configured to focus a first light with a first energy on one of the storage locations in order to alter a characteristic of the storage location. The light source is further able to focus a second light with a second light energy on the storage location without altering the characteristic. A detector is provided to detect the second light energy.