Abstract: The optical storage device and method includes a fluorescent layer arranged on a substrate and having a surface. The fluorescent layer is composed of fluorescent dye molecules embedded in a transparent polymeric base material. A group of data-carrying structures are arranged in the fluorescent layer. Each of the data-carrying structures has more than two optical states represented by a specific degree of quenching of fluorescence emitted from the data-carrying structure when irradiated with a fluorescence exciting radiation.

Abstract: In writing of optical data in an optical memory, the optical memory is linearly transported along a path past two or more physically separated write units. The two write units are provided at a distance from one another along the path and are mutually stepwise displaced in the path's transverse direction. The distance along the path separating write units is greater than a width of a preceding write unit. Each write unit is assigned to a section of the optical memory, with the result that the writing data is performed in the transport direction in separate and successive stages. Each stage contributes a fraction of the volume of information to be recorded during the writing.

Abstract: In a method for optical data storage with high density, there are employed as the data carrying medium a number of flat, thin memory components in the form of cards or discs. Two or more of the memory components are arranged in a stack, thus enabling each individual memory component to be manoeuvred in relation to the other memory components by means of a manoeuvring device, and a given memory component is moved in relation to the other memory components in the stack in order to write or read data in a data carrying area on the memory component, which can be addressed optically during the write or read operation without interference from the other memory components. A data carrying medium for use with the method for optical data storage with high density comprises a number of flat, thin memory components in the form of cards or disks.

Abstract: An optical memory element (ME) wherein data are written and read by light incident to the memory element constitutes an integral unit crated by a transparent body. The body includes a light-focusing part and at least one light-sensitive layer, and the light-focusing part focuses the incident light on the light-sensitive layer. In a first method for production of such an optical memory element (ME) the transparent body can be formed from a material with a high refractive index or refractive index gradient, and the light-sensitive layer is formed by the addition of a light-sensitive material by coating or diffusion. In an alternative method for production of the memory element (ME) a transparent body of a material with a low refractive index or refractive index gradient may be employed, and the light-sensitive layer can be formed on the outside of a transparent cladding layer which is placed on the outside of the body.

Abstract: An electrically addressable passive device for registration, storage and/or processing of data comprises a functional medium (1) in the form of a continuous or patterned structure (S) which may undergo a physical or chemical change of state. The functional medium (1) comprises individually addressable cells (2) which represent a registered or detected value or are assigned a predetermined logical value for the cell. The cell (2) is provided between the anode (3) and cathode (4) in an electrode means (E) which contacts the function medium in the cell and causes an electrical coupling therethrough, the functional medium having a non-linear impedance characteristic, whereby the cell (2) directly can be supplied with energy which effects a change in the state of the cell. In a method for electrical addressing of the passive device wherein the addressing comprises operations for i.a.

Abstract: In an optical data storage medium with a storage area formed from a transparent, homogenous base material and with a number of optically active structures at one side of the storage area, the optically active structures are diffractive optical elements which can focus a beam of light incident on the storage area on to one or more points in the storage area and/or a redirected beam of light or emitted light radiation from this or these points on to a point outside the optical storage medium. During writing/reading of data in the storage medium, the diffractive optical elements are used for focusing the write/read beam in order to generate a data carrying structure or read data stored in such a data carrying structure, respectively.

Abstract: Addressable optical logic elements contain an optical memory substance, wherein, under the influence of an impressed magnetic, electromagnetic or electrical field or supplied energy, the memory substance can transfer from one physical or chemical state to a second physical or chemical state, wherein a physical or chemical state is assigned a specific logic value, and wherein a change in the logic element's physical or chemical state causes a change in the logic value and is implemented by the logic element being accessed and addressed magnetically, electromagnetically, electrically or optically for writing, reading, storing, erasing and switching of an assigned logic value.

Abstract: In a method for parallel writing and reading of data in an optical memory, the optical memory includes one or more microlenses for accessing a memory medium, individually addressable elements arranged in one or two-dimensional matrices in a write/read device are activated. The activation of an element physically influences one or more localized areas in a data carrying layer in the memory for writing and reading of data carrying structures in the localized area. Writing and reading is thus performed on the basis of a relationship between the geometric location of the element in the matrix and the position of the localized area(s) in the data carrying layer of the memory. A write/read device includes individually addressable elements which are arranged in one or two-dimensional matrices, the addressable element being arranged to be activated in order to physically influence one or more of the above-mentioned localized areas.

Abstract: A system for transmitting films to consumers having reduced response time, an increased number of available films and improved user interactivity. The system utilizes a simple inexpensive communication system and can avoid the need to transfer data from external sources. The system also provides mechanism to prevent fraud and a simple updating mechanism. The system has the capability to process large volumes of data locally and includes an input/output interface and at least one output interface for transferring data to a playback drive.