Abstract: A flexible laser disc for laser disc mass storage and retrieval of digital data, employs vacuum encapsulation of the laser storage medium in a saturated polyester plastic (PMMA), or other suitable, transparent plastic material, polymethylmethacrylate. The embedded laser storage medium is a low-melting thin film, in which the digital data are stored within laser-focus in the form of diffraction-limited "holes" (bits), created by means of signal-modulated strong laser radiation. The holes (bits) are time-sequentially arranged in the form of spiral or circular tracks of distinct separation. Data are instantaneously and secondarily retrieved with a laser, utilizing phase-lock and servo-controlled tracking with a mirror galvanometer.

Abstract: A non-photographic, digital laser image recording and reading method and apparatus for recording and reading visual, two-dimensional replicas or representations of objects, pictures, illustrations, computer outputs and the like. A flat-field twin objective is employed to project the image of a laser beam focused to a diffraction limited spot on a radiation sensitive material, e.g., a heat ablatable or vaporizable recording medium to create a two-dimensional ensemble of holes in the recording medium. The recording medium comprises thin metallic films carried on flat substrates which are moving at constant speed or are immovably held while the image of the diffraction limited spot is scanned thereover by angularly deflecting the laser beam entering the twin objective. The visual laser record is an instantaneous replica of an original image or its computer processed binary equivalent.