Ultra-thin Plastic Data Carrier Laser Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage technologies, such as flash drives and magnetic tape, are inadequate for long-term storage due to their lack of durability and low data storage density, necessitating the development of more robust and efficient methods.
Innovation Solution
An ultra-thin data carrier is created using a plastics substrate with laser-ablated recesses on both surfaces, encoding information optically, which provides high resistance to environmental factors and improved storage density by utilizing a thin coating with precise recess depths and materials for enhanced durability and readability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ceramic substrates are used for long-term data storage, then durability and resistance to environmental factors are improved, but volume and thickness increase reducing data storage density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the substrate material from ceramic to plastics, fundamentally altering the base material parameters. This allows achieving comparable durability through different mechanisms (inherent plastic resistance to environmental factors) while dramatically reducing thickness to at most 500 μm, thus resolving the contradiction between durability and volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by coating the plastics substrate with a different material (such as metal or ceramic layers). This composite approach allows the plastics substrate to provide flexibility and low volume while the coating layer provides enhanced durability and environmental resistance, thereby resolving the contradiction between volume reduction and durability improvement
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 may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by coating the thin plastics substrate with protective material layers. The coating material (such as metals, ceramics, or other durable substances) provides the necessary durability and environmental resistance, while the thin plastics substrate maintains the reduced volume. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between thinness and durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the substrate material from traditional rigid ceramics to flexible plastics, fundamentally altering the mechanical parameters. This material parameter change allows the substrate to maintain structural integrity and durability even at reduced thickness, resolving the contradiction between volume reduction and durability preservation
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 solution achieves high data storage density and durability, allowing for reliable long-term storage and easy decoding of information, even when the substrate is bent or wound, with the ability to store substantial amounts of data per unit area.
Implementation Method 1
the first coating comprises a plurality of, preferably laser-ablated, recesses encoding information
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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.