Abstract: A holographic storage apparatus for recording data in a holographic medium includes at least one light source for generating a reference beam and a signal beam. The reference beam is preferably a phase beam of unchanging phase content. The apparatus also includes a holographic medium placed in a path of the reference beam and a path of the signal beam. The holographic medium has a first face and both the reference beam and the signal beam enter the holographic medium through the first face. The holographic medium also includes a data reflective surface. The reference beam and the signal beam interfere in the holographic medium to create a hologram only after at least one of the reference beam and the signal beam have reflected off of the data reflective surface.

Abstract: A method for monitoring diffraction while recording a hologram includes: generating a source beam; generating a data beam by projecting a first component of the source beam through a data source, the data beam having a first polarization; generating a reference beam by adjusting a polarization of a second component of the source beam to provide a second polarization; recording a hologram in a holographic medium from an interference between the data beam and the reference beam; and measuring an offset component in an output arm of the data beam.

Abstract: The optical article of the invention, e.g., holographic recording medium or polymeric waveguide, is formed by mixing a matrix precursor and a photoactive monomer, and curing the mixture to form the matrix in situ. The reaction by which the matrix precursor is polymerized during the cure is independent from the reaction by which the photoactive monomer is polymerized during writing of data. In addition, the matrix polymer and the polymer resulting from polymerization of the photoactive monomer are compatible with each other. Use of a matrix precursor and photoactive monomer that polymerize by independent reactions substantially prevents cross-reaction between the photoactive monomer and the matrix precursor during the cure and inhibition of subsequent monomer polymerization. Use of a matrix precursor and photoactive monomer that result in compatible polymers substantially avoids phase separation. And in situ formation allows fabrication of articles with desirable thicknesses.

Abstract: Disclosed are holographic storage systems and lenses for holographic storage systems. The lens units can be of a single-component design. The lenses can be used to both record to photorefractive storage media and to read from photorefractive storage media.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing obliquity corrected light beams, and holographic recording and retrieval systems that utilize a obliquity corrected reference beam. The obliquity correction is accomplished using off-center lenses.

Abstract: A holographic storage apparatus for recording data in a holographic medium includes at least one light source for generating a reference beam and a signal beam. The reference beam is preferably a phase beam of unchanging phase content. The apparatus also includes a holographic medium placed in a path of the reference beam and a path of the signal beam. The holographic medium has a first face and both the reference beam and the signal beam enter the holographic medium through the first face. The holographic medium also includes a data reflective surface. The reference beam and the signal beam interfere in the holographic medium to create a hologram only after at least one of the reference beam and the signal beam have reflected off of the data reflective surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are mesophasic optical articles, methods of making mesophasic articles and methods of using mesophasic articles. In particular, this invention relates to mesophasic optical articles that can be prepared in situ with out the need of calcination, sintering, solvent evaporation, or other common method.

Abstract: Disclosed are holographic storage systems and lenses for holographic storage systems. The lens units can be of a two-component design. The lenses can be used to both record to photorefractive storage media and to read from photorefractive storage media.

Abstract: A tunable optical device for adding or dropping one or more channels in a wavelength division multiplexing communication system is disclosed. The tunable optical device comprises one or more filters, wherein at least one filter comprises (a) one or more elastimers and (b) one or more gratings. An elastimer is a polymer that expands and contracts with a change in a voltage applied across the polymer or when a certain wavelength of light is diffracted from or transmitted through the polymer.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge is described. The cartridge may include a housing having a top, a bottom, a front side, a back side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, said housing having a first media access aperture on the top of the housing; and a data storage medium contained within the housing, the data storage medium including a disk with a top and a bottom; wherein the front side of the housing contains a first segment of reduced thickness adjacent to the first media access aperture.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge and a method of opening a data storage cartridge are provided. The cartridge includes: a storage medium; a housing having at least one media access aperture, the storage medium being provided within the housing such that at least one media access aperture exposes a surface of the storage medium; and a shutter assembly movable from a closed position to an open position. The shutter assembly includes: a cover configured to cover at least one media access aperture when the shutter assembly is in the closed position and to expose at least one media access aperture when the shutter assembly is in the open position; and a shutter cam coupled to the cover, said shutter cam including a lock assembly and a cam portion. The method includes unlocking a lock in the shutter assembly using a shutter opener; and sliding the shutter assembly into an open position using the shutter opener.

Abstract: Disclosed are holographic storage systems and lenses for holographic storage systems. The lens units can be of a single-component design. The lenses can be used to both record to photorefractive storage media and to read from photorefractive storage media.

Abstract: A system for recording and reading out holograms in a storage medium including a pattern encoder, a first fourier transform lens with a focal length f1, a second fourier transform lens with a focal length f2, a detector array, and a first and second prism. The first prism is located between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens, wherein the optical length between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens through the first prism is equal to a back focal length BFL1. The second prism located between the second fourier transform lens f2 and the detector array, wherein the optical path length between the second fourier transform lens and the detector array through the second prism is equal to a back focal length BFL2.

Abstract: According to one aspect a method for manufacturing a holographic storage medium includes providing one or more data masks with data to be recorded, illuminating the one or more data masks onto the medium with a plane wave object beam from a laser light source operating at a record wavelength, propagating a reference beam at an incident angle to the medium to record the one or more data masks on the medium, and altering the incident angle of the reference beam for each of the one or more data masks, wherein each of the one or more data masks recorded on said medium can be read bit by bit using a laser light source operating in a readout range of wavelengths different from the record wavelength.

Abstract: A method of recording holograms includes: generating a first signal-beam from a signal-beam source and a first reference beam from a reference-beam source; recording a first hologram in a holographic medium from an interference between the first signal beam and the first reference beam; shifting the reference-beam source after the act of recording the first hologram; generating a second signal beam from the signal-beam source and a second reference beam from the reference-beam source after the act of shifting the reference-beam source following the recording of the first hologram; and recording a second hologram in the holographic medium from an interference between the second signal beam and the second reference beam.

Abstract: Disclosed are holographic storage systems and lenses for holographic storage systems. The lens units can be of a two-component design. The lenses can be used to both record to photorefractive storage media and to read from photorefractive storage media.

Abstract: Associative retrieval techniques of this invention allow a holographic recording device to simultaneously query a plurality of storage locations for the presence of a given data pattern. The techniques use a known pattern common to one or more storage locations to simultaneously verify the success of one or more write operations.

Abstract: Blue-sensitized holographic media suitable for recording with a blue laser is disclosed. The blue-sensitized holographic media provides greater dynamic range and a higher sensitivity than a green-sensitized holographic media, thereby providing more rapid hologram writing times.

Abstract: Holographic articles having self-sealing properties such as moisture resistance and environmental durability are disclosed. The holographic articles are formed by the reaction of a composition containing an excess amount (i.e. non-stoichiometric amount) of polyisocyanates to polyols. The holographic recording articles exhibit high optical clarity and low scattering.

Abstract: A rapid mass production of the high performance holographic recording articles including the process and composition are described. To prepare a high performance holographic recording article based on two-component urethane matrix system, for example, polyols and all the additives must be virtually free of moisture contents. Deaeration must be carried out, once isocyanate and polyols including catalysts and all other ingredients are mixed together, to eliminate all entrapped air that is introduced into the mixture during mixing. The deaeration takes time, and the urethane reaction must not be allowed to take place until all air bubbles are evacuated from the isocyanate-polyols mixture. The rapid mass production of this invention overcomes such process limitations and results in a high-volume production of the high performance holographic recording articles.