Abstract: A data page for use in a holographic data storage system, and to a method and an apparatus for writing to holographic storage media using such a data page are described. The data page has dark zones for each boundary between phase blocks of a phase mask of the holographic data storage system, which consist of switched-off pixels that are not used for encoding data, and which coincide with the boundaries between the phase blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media is described, and more specifically an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media with two or more reference beams that overlap inside the holographic storage medium for reading and/or writing a single hologram. The two or more reference beams are mutually incoherent during reading and/or writing.

Abstract: A holographic storage medium is proposed, and more specifically a holographic storage medium with an integrated phase mask layer. The holographic storage medium has a phase mask layer on top of a holographic storage layer, wherein the phase mask layer has one or more phase pattern areas for coupling-in a reference beam and imprinting a phase pattern on the reference beam, and one or more neutral areas for coupling-in an object beam and/or coupling-out a reconstructed object beam.

Abstract: Methods for operating an apparatus for reading from or writing to a Super-RENS optical recording medium, an apparatus for reading from Super-RENS optical recording media using such methods, and a Super-RENS optical recording medium suitable for such methods are described. The super-RENS optical recording medium has location information that is readable without super-RENS effect. The location information is provided as low-frequency information. For locating a position on the super-RENS optical recording medium, a reading light beam with a power below a power necessary for achieving a super-RENS effect is generated and the location information is retrieved from the super-RENS optical recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phase mask for holographic data storage, and to a method and an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media using such a phase mask. According to the invention, the phase mask has a plurality of phase cells, whose size is equal to an integer multiple of the size of the pixels of a spatial light modulator of the apparatus. The phase cells have a phase variation on sub-cell scale, which is inverse for essentially half the number of phase cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for writing to optical storage media capable of performing pre-exposure and/or curing of a photo-sensitive material for optical data storage, in particular for holographic data storage. The apparatus has a first light source for emitting a first light beam, a second light source for emitting a second light beam, and a spatial light modulator, which is switchable between at least two states for spatially modulating at least a part of the first light beam, and which is arranged such that in a first state it directs the first light beam towards an optical storage medium, and that in a second state it directs the second light beam towards the optical storage medium.

Abstract: A method for compensating for a wavelength mismatch between a readout reference beam and a recording reference beam in a holographic storage system is described. In order to compensate for a wavelength mismatch in a first step the wavelength mismatch is determined. In a second step the direction of at least part of the readout reference beam is adjusted relative to a holographic storage medium in dependence on the determined wavelength mismatch by defocusing the readout reference beam or by adjusting the focal length of an objective lens for focusing the readout reference beam into the holographic storage medium.

Abstract: A data page for use in a holographic data storage system, and to a method and an apparatus for writing to holographic storage media using such a data page are described. The data page has dark zones for each boundary between phase blocks of a phase mask of the holographic data storage system, which consist of switched-off pixels that are not used for encoding data, and which coincide with the boundaries between the phase blocks.

Abstract: The method provides a recording of data on a rotating disc by using an electron beam for recording marks along a track on the disc, the electron beam performing a wobble oscillation in a radial direction of the disc with a wobble amplitude for recording at least two tracks in parallel, and modulating the electron beam intensity for recording alternatingly a mark or a fraction of a mark of the first track or the second track. For recording a mark of a defined width, the electron beam is switched on in accordance with the mark width of the marks of each specific track, and is switched off for providing spaces between the marks of each track or a land area separating the marks of the first and second track. The method is used advantageously for recording tracks with a track pitch being below the diffraction limit for manufacturing a master disc for a production of read-only optical discs with a high data density.

Abstract: A holographic storage system having an improved data page quality is described. The holographic storage system includes a special optical filter or a special light source for emphasizing the high frequency components of a reference beam and/or an object beam. This is achieved by an optical filter arranged in a Fourier plane, which has a higher attenuation at the center than at the edge. Alternatively, an adapted light source for generating the reference beam and/or the object beam is arranged in a Fourier plane. The light beam emitted by the light source has a higher intensity close to the edge than at is the center.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for calibrating a holographic storage system, and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media and a holographic storage medium suitable for such method. According to the invention, the method has the steps of: sending a set of test data pages through at least part of the holographic storage system; receiving a set of transmitted test data pages with a detector; comparing the set of transmitted test data pages with the set of sent test data pages; and correcting parameter variations of the holographic storage system based on the results of the comparing step.

Abstract: Holographic storage system with multiple reference beams An apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media is described, and more specifically an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media with two or more reference beams that overlap inside the holographic storage medium for reading and/or writing a single hologram. The two or more reference beams are mutually incoherent during reading and/or writing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording data pages in a holographic recording medium, and more specifically to a method for compensating for sensitivity variations of the holographic material of the holographic recording medium. According to the invention, a method for recording data pages on a holographic recording medium has the steps of: modulating a light beam with a spatial light modulator to generate a data page with data to be recorded, and applying a compensation profile to the data pages during recording for reducing contrast variations in the reconstructed data pages, wherein the compensation profile is determined from the irradiation history at the recording position and the sensitivity curve of the material of the holographic recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension arm actuator for a plurality of directions of motion, which comprises a suspension arm designed as a two-arm lever and supported against a support and mounted to said support such that it can be pivoted, said suspension arm supporting on one of its lever arms a component that has to be actuated or being operably connected to such a component and being provided with a magnetic drive on the other lever arm for initiating a first swivel motion about an axis extending perpendicularly to the suspension arm, with a magnetic drive being allocated to said suspension arm for initiating a motion perpendicularly to this swivel motion. The invention solves the problem of designing such a suspension arm such that the latter's design is less complicated and laborious.

Abstract: A data page for optical data storage for an optical storage system, i.e. a holographic storage system, is presented. The data page includes one or more areas, which are less sensitive against a movement of the data page in a movement direction of the storage medium. A holographic storage medium comprising such data pages is presented. An apparatus for reading from and/or writing to an optical medium comprising such data pages, and to a method for reading and/or writing such data pages is presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phase mask for holographic data storage, and to a method and an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media using such a phase mask. According to the invention, the phase mask has a plurality of phase cells, whose size is equal to an integer multiple of the size of the pixels of a spatial light modulator of the apparatus. The phase cells have a phase variation on sub-cell scale, which is inverse for essentially half the number of phase cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a holographic storage medium, and more specifically to a holographic storage medium with an integrated phase mask layer. According to the invention, the holographic storage medium has a phase mask layer on top of a holographic storage layer, wherein the phase mask layer has one or more phase pattern areas for coupling-in a reference beam and imprinting a phase pattern on the reference beam, and one or more neutral areas for coupling-in an object beam and/or coupling-out a reconstructed object beam.

Abstract: Method for calibrating a holographic storage system The present invention relates to a method for calibrating a holographic storage system, and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media and a holographic storage medium suitable for such method. According to the invention, the method has the steps of: sending a set of test data pages through at least part of the holographic storage system; receiving a set of transmitted test data pages with a detector; comparing the set of transmitted test data pages with the set of sent test data pages; and correcting parameter variations of the holographic storage system based on the results of the comparing step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for writing to optical storage media capable of performing pre-exposure and/or curing of a photo-sensitive material for optical data storage, in particular for holographic data storage. The apparatus has a first light source for emitting a first light beam, a second light source for emitting a second light beam, and a spatial light modulator, which is switchable between at least two states for spatially modulating at least a part of the first light beam, and which is arranged such that in a first state it directs the first light beam towards an optical storage medium, and that in a second state it directs the second light beam towards the optical storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a holographic storage system, and more specifically to a method for pixel detection in a coaxial holographic storage system. In a holographic storage system according to the invention, with a coaxial arrangement of an object beam and a reference beam the bright pixels within the object beam have a phase shift of essentially ?0 relative to the reference beam. For readout of a data page contained in a reconstructed object beam a detector detects an interference pattern generated by the interference between the reference beam and the reconstructed object beam.