Patents Examined by Elizabeth Evans
  • Patent number: 6335069
    Abstract: A phase change optical disk having a reflectance relation of Rc<Ra and is adapted such that high recording characteristic can be obtained starting at a first recording time even when a recording operation is carried out without conducting an initialization process. For this purpose, a multiple reflection layer (2), a first dielectric layer (3), a recording layer (4), a second dielectric layer (5), a reflecting layer (6) and an UV curable resin layer (7) are provided on a substrate (1). The recording layer (4) is deposited at a temperature of the substrate during the deposition of the recording layer set to a temperature which makes the recording layer into a stable amorphous conditions and which is lower than a crystallizing temperature of the recording layer. Thus, the recording layer (4) is deposited into a stable amorphous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichiro Ogawa, Isao Morimoto, Kazuhiro Nishimura, Masato Terada
  • Patent number: 6333089
    Abstract: A cavity surface-forming plate of a mold for injection-molding a plastic substrate is coarsely polished, and then a surface for defining a cavity is applied with electroless Ni—P plating. The surface of the plating is polished with abrasive grains to obtain surface roughness of Ra≦2.0 nm and Rmax≦22 nm. The plastic substrate molded with the mold has smoothness equivalent to the polished plating surface. A concave-convex pattern for forming pits may be formed on the cavity surface. A magnetic disk or an optical disk provided with the substrate makes it possible to realize the near contact system for a magnetic or magneto-optical head. Thus, it is possible to realize high density recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxwell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirata, Tatsuo Araki, Osamu Ishizaki, Hideo Daimon, Yasuhiko Kokufuda, Tsuyoshi Maro, Makoto Aihara
  • Patent number: 6329035
    Abstract: An optical data storage medium includes a substrate, an optical data storage layer overlaid on the substrate and a reversible image recording layer overlaid on the optical data storage layer, in which information is recorded in the reversible image recording layer so as to be visible. The reversible image recording layer, which includes a matrix resin and a low-molecular-weight organic substance dispersed in the matrix resin, may preferably be thermosensitive and change its transparency or color tone in response to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Iwasaki, Kenichi Aihara, Kyohji Hattori, Akihiko Okamoto, Yoshihiko Hotta, Naoshi Mishima, Tetsuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6329036
    Abstract: An optical recording medium has a mask layer of a non-linear optical material and a phase change recording layer, and an intermediate dielectric layer disposed therebetween wherein an optical aperture is formed in the mask layer upon exposure to a reading light beam. A recording light beam is irradiated to the recording layer from the side away from the mask layer, and a reading light beam is irradiated to the recording layer from the mask layer side. Microscopic recorded marks below the diffraction limit are readable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kikukawa, Hajime Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 6326090
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignees: Symyx Technologies, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peter G. Schultz, Xiaodong Xiang, Isy Goldwasser
  • Patent number: 6322868
    Abstract: Composition and use of polymers in appropriate solvent(s) with or without addition of selected dye combinations are proposed for developing a thin-layer coating on the transparent layer of optical storage media such as audio and video CDs, laser discs (LD) and DVDs for improvement of the sound and/or video quality during either recording and/or playback of the encoded digital information. The invention can also be incorporated in manufacture of recordable (CD-R) and re-writeable CD (CD-RW) media. In that case, the proposed composition is applied on the polycarbonate transparent surface of optical storage media at the final stages of recordable media manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Victor A. Bernstam
  • Patent number: 6319582
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical recording layer in which the microaperture for reproducing optical near-field light is controllable so as to read out the optical near-field signals with stability by keeping the signal-reproducing head at a height safe from crashing with the recording medium even when the recording marks are smaller than 100 nm. The optical recording medium is a layered body comprising: (a) a transparent substrate; (b) a first protective layer formed on the substrate; (c) an optically or thermally active layer, which is capable of reversibly generating a micro-aperture by application of light or heat, formed on the first protective layer; (d) a second protective layer, which is under a compressive stress of 200 MPa to 1 GPa, formed on the active layer; (e) an optical recording layer formed on the second protective layer; and (f) a third protective layer formed on the optical recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Japan as represented by Secretary of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Junji Tominaga, Nobufumi Atoda
  • Patent number: 6319580
    Abstract: A recording disk comprises a substrate including a plastic material, and an overlay arranged over the substrate and including a recording substance for recording therein an information, and a radially-outer periphery of the overlay is received within a radially-outer periphery of the substrate as seen in an axial direction of the recording disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Araki, Hiroyuki Ohta, Susumu Shibasaki, Hiroyuki Hirata, Osamu Ishizaki, Tsuyoshi Maro
  • Patent number: 6319581
    Abstract: An optical recording medium having a structure including that a recording layer containing organic coloring matter and a reflecting layer that are sequentially formed on a light-transmissive substrate thereof so that an information signal is recorded/reproduced when the optical recording medium is irradiated with a laser beam made incident on the light-transmissive substrate, the optical recording medium incorporating: a light absorbing layer which is formed more adjacent to an incident point of the laser beam as compared with the reflecting layer, through which the laser beam passes and which absorbs light in an absorption wavelength region for the recording layer. Photo-deterioration of the recording layer composed of organic coloring matter occurs owing to a portion of natural light which has the wavelength which exists in the absorbing wavelength region for the organic coloring matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 6312780
    Abstract: A phase change optical recording medium which enables optimum direct overwrite even under high speed high density conditions without degrading repetition durability or storage stability of recorded signals. To this end, the phase change optical recording medium has a recording layer formed at least of a phase change material and is recorded and/or reproduced with a laser light beam having a wavelength ranging between 380 nm and 420 nm. A ratio Ac/Aa, where Ac is the absorption rate of said recording layer in a crystalline state and Aa is the absorption rate of said recording layer in an amorphous state, is not less than 0.9, and a crystallization promoting layer promoting the crystallization of the phase change material is contacted with at least one surface of the recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kasami, Osamu Kawakubo, Katsuhiro Seo
  • Patent number: 6312779
    Abstract: An information recording medium which is composed of a substrate and a recording layer formed thereon to record information by means of the change in atomic arrangement induced by irradiation with light, said recording layer having at least one interface layer laminated at its interface. It is superior in recording-reproducing-rewriting characteristics and archival life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akemi Hirotsune, Makoto Miyamoto, Keikichi Andoo, Junko Ushiyama, Yumiko Anzai, Hisae Wakabayashi, Tetsuya Nishida, Motoyasu Terao
  • Patent number: 6309726
    Abstract: An optical recording medium incorporating a supporting body; a recording portion which is formed on either main surface of the supporting body and on which a signal is recorded; and a light permeable layer formed on the recording portion, wherein light is applied from a position adjacent to the light permeable layer to record/reproduce a signal, and carboxylic acid amine salt expressed by general formula (1) and/or general formula (2) is held on the surface which is irradiated with light where n is an integer from 1 to 3, each of R1 and R2 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group, R3 is a hydrocarbon group and Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having three or more carbon atoms, where at least either of R1 and R2 is perfluoroalkyl group having three or more carbon atoms, at least any one of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 is hydrocarbon group having 12 or more carbon atoms and the rest of them are hydrogen or hydrocarbon group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshitsugu Ono, Hirofumi Kondo, Tetsuhiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6309727
    Abstract: A protective layer is applied to the surface of a compact disc precursor that must be protected from dust during manufacture. The layer is removable and preferably made of ethylene vinyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: WEA Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: William Mueller, Edward Pickutoski
  • Patent number: 6309728
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a heat mode type optical information-recording medium having, on a substrate, a dye recording layer capable of recording information by being irradiated with a laser beam, the method comprising the step of applying a dye solution for forming the dye recording layer onto the substrate while rotating the substrate, wherein a period of time, which ranges from a point of time at which application of the dye solution is started to a point of time at which a valve is fully open, is not less than 0.1 second. In order to satisfy this condition, the opening degree of a first speed controller is not less than 5% and not more than 50%. Accordingly, the opening speed of the valve of a valve apparatus is not less than 5% and not more than 50% with respect to the maximum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Usami, Tomoyoshi Itaya
  • Patent number: 6309729
    Abstract: An optical memory device and a method for manufacturing thereof. An optical memory device has at least one data layer formed on a substrate. An upper surface of the substrate is formed with a pattern comprising a plurality of regions which are capable of obtaining, when covered by a recording medium, desired optical properties different from those of the substrate. The patterned surface of the substrate is coated with the recording medium. The recording medium is removed from the patterned surface after the recording regions have obtained the desired optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: TriDStore IP, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Boris Glushko, Eugene Levich
  • Patent number: 6306478
    Abstract: An optical recording layer of an optical recording medium comprises a dye material represented by the formula (I), wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group, R2 and R3 each is, independent from each other, a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C12 alkyl group, A⊖ is an anion selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, ClO4⊖, BF4⊖, PF6⊖, SbF6⊖, CF3SO2⊖, C2F5SO3⊖, CF3COO⊖, and CH3C6H4SO3⊖, X is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, nitro, or fused benzene, Y is hydrogen, alkoxy, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, alkylamine, arylamine, alkylamide, arylamide, alkylsulfonyl, aryl sulfonyl, alkoxysulfonyl, aryloxysulfonyl, nitro, or cyano groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Ritek Corporation
    Inventors: Hui-jen Chen, Chang-sheng Huang, Mei-jung Hu, Yi-shiu Lin, Shyh-yeu Wang, Chwei-jin Yeh
  • Patent number: 6299957
    Abstract: In an apparatus for fabricating a carbon coating, an object such as a magnetic recording medium is disposed on a side of an electrode connected to a high-frequency power supply. Ultrasonic vibrations are supplied to the object. Discharge is generated between the electrode connected to the high-frequency power supply and a grounded electrode to fabricate a carbon coating on the surface of the object. Also, an electrode interval is set to 6 mm or less, pressure between the electrodes is set to 15 Torr to 100 Torr, whereby high-density plasma is generated to form an ion sheath on an anode side. Therefore, a coating is fabricated on the surface of the object by bombardment of ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Kenji Itoh, Shigenori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6296915
    Abstract: In a phase change optical recording medium, by determining heat conductivity relatively higher in one of interference layers on and under the recording layer, heat absorbed into the recording layer can be released moderately through an interference layer. Thereby, cross erasure caused by heating of adjacent tracks can be prevented, and at the same time, excessive heat radiation is prevented from a part of the recording layer nearer to the substrate to thereby maintain appropriate heat in the recording layer. As a result, cross-erasure is prevented, and data can be rewritten with the supply of typical recording/erasure power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yusu, Sumio Ashida, Akira Kikitsu, Toshihiko Nagase, Katsutaro Ichihara, Naomasa Nakamura, Naoki Morishita, Katsumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6291046
    Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a first substrate; at least a first dielectric layer and a recording layer for signal recording provided on a surface of the first substrate; and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate are assembled together in the state of being warped in planar symmetry and flattened. The first dielectric layer and the recording layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Ohno, Hidemi Isomura, Akihiro Moteki
  • Patent number: 6291047
    Abstract: An information recording medium comprising a substrate having a recording surface provided with emboss pits or guiding grooves, a reflective film formed on the recording surface of the substrate, and a first protective film formed on the reflective film. This information recording medium is featured in that both sides of the information recording medium are constituted by a first surface provided with the protective film and by a second surface formed opposite to the first surface, and that an irradiated light beam is irradiated through the first surface, a recorded information being reproduced based on changes in light intensity of the reflected light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Hisashi Yamada