Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading data in a data field on a data surface of a storage medium in which the data surface may be nonplanar and depthwise regions of the data field are brought one-by-one into the region of focus of a CCD area array. A set of partial images are formed which are then merged together into a composite image of the data field to be read. The storage medium is disposed on a vacuum chuck. Imaging optics, such as a single lens, zoom lens or lenticular array images regions of the data surface which are within a region of focusing onto the CCD area array. A piezoelectric device or a linear variable differential transformer serve as a Z-axis focussing element which responds to oscillator or electrical control signals to change the relative distance between the CCD area array and a reference plane of the data surface. The partial images formed are either merged in semiconductor memory by a processor or are merged automatically by the CCD area array.

Abstract: A protective envelope having an adhesive flap which lifts open to expose a data storage area of a data card, allowing data to be read while the card remains protected in the envelope. The flap may be then closed over and readhered to the card. The envelope comprises a base and a cover panel bonded at three edges to form a pocket for card storage. The cover panel is made up of a pair of fixed edge stripes bonded to respective opposed side edges of the base and a liftable flap bonded to a back edge of the base. Envelope materials are preferably a transparent, flexible plastic, but only the flap need be flexible. The flap may extend beyond and fold over a front edge of the base and adhere to an underside of the base. An alternative embodiment of the envelope provides two flaps, bonded to respective front and back edges of a base, which open from the center.

Abstract: Information is recorded in situ on a wallet-size card by disposing laser recordable material in the card, then recording indicia, in situ, on the material with a laser. At least some of the indicia are microscopic eye readable information, with the rest being machine readable information, with the eye readable information being redundant with at least some of the machine readable information. This visually read information is recorded as characters made up of matrices of nonconnected laser recorded spots. The characters may be alphanumeric characters, or the like. The characters are read with an optical magnifier. A laser beam and light detector may be used to read the digital information by scanning the card with the beam.

Abstract: Personal information is recorded on an information medium containing both visual images, such as a face image or fingerprint, and laser recorded data. The visual images are created on a piece of photographic material or eye readable laser recording material. The visual image material is adhered to a surface of a wallet-size card. A strip of laser recordable optical data storage material is also adhered to the card. After the strip is put on the card, a laser records personal information indicia on the strip in situ. The strip may be a reflective material of silver particles in a gelatin matrix, in which recording produces spots having a detectable difference in reflectivity. The card may be coated with a transparent protective laminate material.

Abstract: An optical data card having a pair of spaced apart information strips. One strip has pre-recorded programs or data and is always a non-erasable strip. This strip may be either a reflective direct-read-after-write non-erasable type or may be a read-only optical memory (ROOM) strip. Another strip serves as a temporary, scratchpad or cache memory and is either a reflective DRAW strip of the erasable type or a DRAW non-erasable strip which is at least partially blank, with sufficient space for temporary memory needs over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A system and method for making a data card involving prerecording information, such as reference position information or servo tracks, on a strip of high resolution, immediate read laser recording material, then adhering the strip to a card such that the strip is recordable in place. A protective transparent laminating material is bonded to the recording surface and then user information is recorded on the strip using a laser aimed at the strip through the laminating material.

Abstract: A data card having an optical, high resolution erasable or non-erasable laser recording material adhering to it. The strip of laser recording material has a capacity for recording at least 250,000 data bits represented by optically contrasting spots having a dimension of less than 25 microns. The optical contrast of the spots with respect to the surrounding field is at least two to one. The strip may have a preinscribed formatting pattern for positioning, timing, programming and related functions.

Abstract: A strip of optical contrast laser recording material is disposed on a wallet-size card, and has laser written micrographic characters recorded thereon. The characters are formed of a matrix of laser recorded character spots and are eye readable using twenty power magnification. The characters are recorded in situ on the card, after the strip is disposed in the card, by a laser having a beam focused on the strip. A light detector reads the reflected beam to confirm laser writing. Either raster-like or zig-zag scanning of the beam creates each character matrix. Each of the character spots may be made up of one laser spot or by a group of laser spots.

Abstract: An optical data recording and information storage medium which uses an exposed and developed photosensitive medium with a transparent substrate to store prerecorded data spots. A reflective laser recording metal layer is vapor deposited on the processed photosensitive medium so as to create laser recordable areas adjacent to the prerecorded data. The entire assembly is mounted on a base which may be transparent. A laser is used to write data spots on the thin metal layer. Both the prerecorded data spots and the laser written data spots are read by observing optical contrast with respect to the surrounding field.

Abstract: A laser beam records a digital representation of a medical picture and medical information on an optical data storage strip. The strip is adhered to a medium containing an eye readable picture generated from the same data, such as X-ray pictures, CAT-scan pictures, ultrasonic or NMR images. The medical information may be the image itself, a description or diagnosis related to the picture.

Abstract: A system for reading and recording information on a double-striped card has a first laser and photodetector for reading and writing data on a strip of optical contrast direct-read-after-write laser recording material disposed on one side of the card. A second laser and photodetector read prerecorded data on a strip of optical contrast optical data storage material disposed on the card. This read only strip may be disposed either on the same or opposite sides of the card from the first strip. Independently controlled servo mirrors linked with software or mechanically linked servo mirrors allow simultaneous reading or reading and writing of data on opposite sides of the card. Annotations to prerecorded text from books, journals, manuals and the like may be recorded on the read/write strip in positions corresponding to positions on the read only strip containing corresponding text.

Abstract: A system for recovering data, both prerecorded and user data, from a reflective optical data storage medium, with the further capability of distinguishing data from foreign particulate matter on the data disk. A pair of detectors measures the fraction of light reflected from and transmitted through the data disk and, knowing the fraction of light absorbed by the disk, distinguishes user data from prerecorded data and particulate matter. The data disk has different optical characteristics for prerecorded and user data, the prerecorded information being black, highly absorptive silver, while the user data consists of pits of relatively high transmissivity in a reflective field. Particulate matter is recognized by intermediate reflectivity and transmissivity. The optical characteristics of the material are enhanced or exaggerated so that the two types of data and particulate matter can be distinguished.

Abstract: A data storage card having spaced apart data strips. The card is wallet-size and preferably the strips run parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the card. One strip is made of a high capacity reflective read-only optical memory (ROOM) material. The other strip is a magnetic recording material. The high capacity ROOM strip may be made of a laser recorded material or it may be made of a material which is prerecorded using a photographic process. The two strips store complementary data in database applications.

Abstract: A method for recording laser written information on motion picture film includes creating a visual image on the film photographically. A laser records sound information on a direct-read-after-write optical storage strip on an edge of the film. In one embodiment, the strip is made of reflective silver particles in a gelatin matrix. Different tracks may have different sound information such as foreign languages or stereophonic sound. Editing information is also writable on the strip.

Abstract: A micrographic film member has a micrographic image and borders surrounding the image. A strip of laser recording material is disposed on a border. Laser written indicia related to the micrographic image is recorded on this strip. The information may include indexing information, information for controlling an optical micrographic reader, and information relating to the position or sequencing of image portions within the micrographic image. The indicia may be machine readable, eye readable alphanumerics or laser written speech. The speech can be either digitized human speech or artificial speech such as phoneme speech.

Abstract: A laser beam scanner system records medical information on a direct-read-after-write optical data storage strip. The strip is adhered to a medium containing a picture, such as X-ray pictures, CAT-scan pictures, ultrasonic or NMR images, or microscope photos of tissue samples. The strip may record information such as a description or diagnosis related to the picture for archival storage.

Abstract: An optical data retrieval system featuring probe beams of different wavelengths directed onto an optically reflective recording medium having different spectral responses to the probe beams. A first probe beam is directed onto the reflective medium in a manner such that the amount of light reflected from the medium may be detected while a second probe beam is directed through the medium in a manner such that the amount of light passing through the medium may be measured. Different amounts for both beams are detected at pits in the medium and in the reflective field surrounding the pits. The redundancy provided by two probe beams eliciting different spectral responses from the medium reduces errors due to dirt and media defects.

Abstract: A data card having an optical, high resolution laser recording material, such as a metal-containing film, adhering to it. The strip of laser recording material has a capacity for recording at least 250,000 data bits represented by optically contrasting spots having a dimension of less than 25 microns. The optical contrast of the spots with respect to the surrounding field is at least two to one. The strip may have a preinscribed formatting pattern for positioning, timing, programming and related functions.

Abstract: A method for protecting the recording surfaces of optical data storage and recording tape provides the tape edges with protuberances formed by plastic coatings, embossments or thickness gradients of the recording material.

Abstract: A method for making a data card involving photolithographically prerecording information, such as reference position information or servo tracks, on a strip of high resolution, direct-read-after-write laser recording material, then adhering the strip to a card such that the strip is recordable in place. A protective transparent laminating material is bonded to the recording surface and then user information is recorded on the strip using a laser aimed at the strip through the laminating material.