Ultra-Thin Plastic Data Carrier for Long-Term Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage technologies, such as flash and HDD, are inadequate for long-term storage due to their lack of durability and low data storage density per volume, necessitating the development of more effective methods for long-term data preservation.
Innovation Solution
An ultra-thin data carrier is created using a plastic substrate with laser-ablated recesses on both surfaces, encoding information optically, which provides high resistance to environmental factors and allows for high data storage density by utilizing a thin coating with minimal distortion and strong optical contrast, enabling reliable long-term storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ceramic substrates are used for long-term data storage, then durability against environmental factors is improved, but volume and thickness increase reducing data storage density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the substrate material parameter from ceramic to plastic polymer, and reduces the thickness parameter from 1mm to 150μm or less. This parameter transformation maintains the durability function through laser-ablated recesses while dramatically reducing volume to achieve high data storage density
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential functional element (laser-ablated recesses for data encoding) from the bulky ceramic substrate and applies it to a thin plastic substrate. This extraction allows the durability mechanism to be preserved while eliminating the excessive volume of the original ceramic carrier
2Volume of moving object
If thin substrates are used to reduce volume, then data storage density is improved, but durability and resistance to environmental factors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure combining a thin plastic substrate with a functional coating layer. The plastic provides flexibility and thinness, while the coating material (deposited via PVD or CVD) provides environmental resistance and structural integrity, achieving both reduced volume and maintained durability
3Reliability
If coating thickness is increased to improve durability, then resistance to environmental factors is improved, but optical distortion increases reducing decoding accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the coating thickness parameter to a specific range (50-200nm) that balances two competing requirements: sufficient thickness to provide environmental protection and material integrity, yet thin enough to minimize optical distortion and allow accurate optical decoding of the recesses
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
The ultra-thin data carrier achieves enhanced durability and data storage density, ensuring reliable long-term storage and easy decoding, even when bent or wound, with the ability to store substantial amounts of information per unit area.
Implementation Method 1
the first coating comprises a plurality of, preferably laser-ablated, recesses encoding information
Implementation Method 2
the optical decoder detects the difference between a substrate area without recess and a recess by measuring, for example, a phase difference or detecting changes in the reflectivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an ultra-thin plastics data carrier for long-term data conservation and to a method of reading out such a data carrier.