Abstract: A high density data storage system includes a rotatable storage medium mounted to rotate about a drive axis, the storage medium having formed thereon a surface topography defining machine readable information. The storage system further includes a high resolution contact sensor having a cantilever arm and a stylus mounted at one end of the cantilever arm. The stylus is positionable to engage the storage medium and follow the surface topography when the storage medium is rotated. A detector system provides an output signal representing cantilever deflection caused by changes in the surface topography of the storage medium.

Abstract: An optical disk drive has an air-beating slider formed of transparent material and located adjacent the surface of the optical disk. In the manner of conventional magnetic disk drives, the slider is maintained in close relationship with the disk surface by an air-bearing generated by the rotating disk and the shape of the slider's air-bearing surface (ABS). The slider has a lens section located on its back side opposite the side with the ABS. In the preferred embodiment the lens section is at least a hemisphere and the lens section and slider are formed of the same material and thus have the same index of refraction, n. The lens section and slider are transparent to light from the disk drive's light source and together form a super-hemispherical solid immersion lens (SIL). The slider's ABS is maintained within one wavelength of the surface of the optical disk. The light from the disk drive's light source is focused by the super-hemispherical SIL to a point on the slider ABS.

Abstract: An electron beam imaging system is described wherein a sharp-tip electron source is biased to produce an electron flow and a conductive target is placed in the path of the electron flow. A planar, electrostatic lens is positioned in the electron flow path and between the electron source and target. The lens includes an aperture; at least a first conductive plane that is biased less negative than the electron source; and one or more conductive planes separated by dielectric layers. A secondary electron detector is formed on the surface of the electrostatic lens that is closest to the conductive target, whereby the lens may be positioned close to the target and still not obstruct secondary electrons emitted from the target from impinging on the secondary electron detector.

Abstract: Submicron structures are written on a surface by positioning in nanometer range proximity, preferably within current tunneling range, of the surface a scanning tip of a material that emits atoms upon application of an applied voltage of low magnitude. While the tip is maintained within said range, it is moved relative to the surface, and a series of short voltage pulses are concurrently applied between the tip and surface. These pulses cause atoms of tip material to directly transfer to the surface and concurrently cause remaining atoms of tip material to migrate to the tip and continuously reform the tip and maintain its sharp configuration, thereby insuring uninterrupted writing ability. Various tip materials exhibiting low field evaporation potentials may be used; however, gold is preferred if deposition is to be under ambient conditions. Heating the tip enhances the ability of the material to emit atoms. The deposited structures may be selectively sensed or erased by application of appropriate voltages.

Abstract: A highly sensitive apparatus for sensing the position of a movable member comprises an optical directional coupler providing four external ports. Light from a short coherence length diode laser is injected into the first port. The coupler serves as a beam splitter to direct one portion of the injected light to the member via the second port and a single mode optical fiber. Part of this one portion is reflected concurrently from the member and from the adjacent polished coating at the end face of said fiber back into said fiber and optically coupled via the third port to a photodetector to provide a signal whose amplitude is indicative of the position of the member, based upon the relative phase of said concurrent reflections.The other portion of the injected light is optically coupled to and via the fourth port to another photodetector for providing, as a reference, a signal proportional to the intensity of the injected light.