Patents by Inventor Frank E. Aspen

Frank E. Aspen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7427466
    Abstract: Mastering techniques are described that can improve the quality of a master used in data storage disk manufacturing. In particular, the techniques described herein can improve resolution of the features created on the master by reducing mastering noise. The techniques include depositing a multi-layer structure adjacent a master substrate layer. The multi-layer structure includes an etch stop layer, an etch layer, and a photoresist layer. A thickness of each of the layers is selected to generate substantially no reflectivity for at least one interface of the multi-layer structure to substantially eliminate stray light effects. The photoresist layer defines a portable conformable mask (PCM) for the etch layer. The etch layer is etched through the contact mask to define a feature of the master in the etch layer. The etch stop layer thickness may be selected to be as thin as possible to reduce surface roughness of the multi-layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Terry L. Morkved, Frank E. Aspen
  • Patent number: 7034971
    Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Frank E. Aspen, Ramon F. Hegel, Chad R. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 6850345
    Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Frank E. Aspen, Ramon F. Hegel, Chad R. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 6839177
    Abstract: A holographic data storage medium having an anti-reflective coating is described. The anti-reflective coating can be made to reduce reflectivity for S-polarized light over a wide range of incident angles. Moreover, the anti-reflective coating can be made to have a sufficiently high transmittance for the S-polarized light. The coating may improve performance of the holographic data storage medium, and can facilitate higher storage densities than can be achieved without the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Frank E. Aspen
  • Publication number: 20040165235
    Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Frank E. Aspen, Ramon F. Hegel, Chad R. Sandstrom
  • Publication number: 20040042055
    Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Frank E. Aspen, Ramon F. Hegel, Chad R. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 6611365
    Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Frank E. Aspen, Ramon F. Hegel, Chad R. Sandstrom
  • Publication number: 20030151814
    Abstract: A holographic data storage medium having an anti-reflective coating is described. The anti-reflective coating can be made to reduce reflectivity for S-polarized light over a wide range of incident angles. Moreover, the anti-reflective coating can be made to have a sufficiently high transmittance for the S-polarized light. The coating may improve performance of the holographic data storage medium, and can facilitate higher storage densities than can be achieved without the coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Frank E. Aspen
  • Publication number: 20020135829
    Abstract: In one embodiment, holographic data storage medium includes a first thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters and a second thermoplastic substrate portion having a thickness less than approximately 2 millimeters. A holographic recording material may be sandwiched between the first and second thermoplastic substrate portions. By making thermoplastic substrate portions sufficiently thin, edge wedge problems can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Jathan D. Edwards, Frank E. Aspen, Ramon F. Hegel, Chad R. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 6301200
    Abstract: An air-incident, optical data storage medium has a substrate, a reflector layer, a magneto-optic recording layer, and a protective layer. The reflector later has at least one of an electrical conductivity greater than about 5.0×104 (&OHgr;-cm)−1, an RMS surface roughness less than about 1.0 nm as measured by atomic force microscopy, and an index of refraction of less than about 0.5 at a read wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Frank E. Aspen, Joseph H. Sexton, Richard F. Willson
  • Patent number: 6228482
    Abstract: A magneto-optic recording medium having a reduced demagnetizing field threshold incorporates a thin recording layer having a thickness of less than or equal to approximately 15 nm, and preferably less than or equal to approximately 12 nm. The recording medium thereby exhibits a demagnetizing field threshold of less than or equal to approximately 150 Oe, and preferably less than or equal to approximately 120 Oe. Dielectric and reflective layers in the recording medium stack are tuned to achieve acceptable optical and magnetic characteristics for write and readout operations. The reduced demagnetizing field facilitates use of the recording medium in recording applications that use small magnetic fields for recording and erase. The recording medium is particularly useful in near-field, air-incident recording applications employing magnetic field modulation recording techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Frank E. Aspen, Mark L. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4940495
    Abstract: A light transmitting electrically conductive stacked film, useful as a light transmitting electrode, including a first light transmitting electrically conductive layer, having a first optical thickness, a second light transmitting layer, having a second optical thickness different from the optical thickness of the first layer, and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between and in initimate contact with the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Weber, Nang T. Tran, Frank R. Jeffrey, James R. Gilbert, Frank E. Aspen
  • Patent number: 4369242
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel electrophotographic imaging systems and particularly to novel electrophotographic photoreceptors. These photoreceptors comprise a conductive substrate, an inorganic barrier-charge transport layer, and a photoconductive insulative layer. The barrier charge transport layer comprises aluminum oxide having a non-porous zone adjacent the substrate, and a porous charge transport zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Padmanabham A. Arimilli, Frank E. Aspen