Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage medium (10) comprising an information layer (11) including transparent and non-transparent areas in which the information is stored, and a magnetizable layer (12) intended to contain at least one magnetized area, which is temporarily created when a light spot is transmitted by a corresponding transparent area of the information layer. The present invention also relates to a reading device for reading information on such a storage medium (10). Said reading device comprises an optical element (23) for generating an array of light spots from an input light beam (21), a light spot being intended to temporarily create the magnetized area in the magnetizable layer (12) when passing through the corresponding transparent area of the information layer (11), and a magnetic sensor (24) comprising an array of sensor elements for detecting the at least one magnetized areas.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a device with a magnetic layer-structure is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of:—forming the magnetic layer-structure (2),—heating the magnetic layer-structure with an electric current, wherein the electric current is a pulse (3) having a duration such that no substantial heat transfer from the layer-structure to the environment (4) of the layer-structure takes place, so that the temperature of said environment before and after the current pulse is substantially the same. Heat is substantially dissipated in the layer-structure. The method therefore allows the selection of physical processes in the layer-structure in order to optimize the magnetic or electrical characteristic of the magnetoresistive device, without disturbing the environment such as neighboring devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cartridge (4) for a data carrier (3) comprising two flexible halves (4a-4b) for protecting the data carrier. The flexible halves comprise means for disassembling the halves when the data carrier is inserted into a device (1) for processing the data carrier and for reassembling said halves when the data carrier is removed from said device. In an embodiment of the invention, the cartridge halves are rolled up by rolling-up means (2a-2b) included in the cartridge or in the processing device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for recording information in the form of a pattern of magnetic domains in a recording layer. The recording layer includes a material having a Curie temperature and grains, the grains having boundaries over which the exchange coupling is small. The method includes a first step of applying heat to the material, thereby heating an area of the recording layer to a temperature above the Curie temperature during a first interval. In a second step a magnetic field is applied to the area during a second interval, the second interval ending after the first interval.