Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing an optical recording medium comprising a phase change material using a series of flashes of light. A series of low-power, high duty cycle flashes of light are produced to initialize the media to a crystalline form, onto which data may be recorded. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a spiral flash bulb with centrally located connectors comprises the flash illumination source for initializing the optical recording media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing an optical recording medium comprising a phase change material using a series of flashes of light. A series of low-power, high duty cycle flashes of light are produced to initialize the media to a crystalline form, onto which data may be recorded. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a spiral flash bulb with centrally located connectors comprises the flash illumination source for initializing the optical recording media.

Abstract: A method and system for initializing and formatting a recording media comprising phase change material using a uniform field of radiation. Also a method for initializing phase change material on a continuous web which will be used to manufacture a plurality of recording media.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing hemi-cylindrical and hemi-spherical micro structures is provided. A pattern is formed onto a substrate, and a layer of material is subsequently grown onto the substrate. Due to growth characteristics, the layer will form radially symmetric features when grown to an appropriate thickness.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium includes a superstructure of micro-lenses defining first and second repeating periods. One of the periods is longer than the other, and the presence of the longer repeating period allows the medium to be used in an optical drive that is configured to use light diffracted by the longer period for tracking purposes. The micro-lenses may be configured such that adjacent lenses have different heights, widths, or shapes. In some embodiments, the spacing between adjacent data tracks is varied to provide the first and second repeating periods.

Abstract: An optical assembly suitable for use with an optical medium for the storage and retrieval of data, the optical assembly comprising: a source of illumination for providing a beam of optical radiation, an objective lens disposed in the optical path of the beam for redirecting the beam to the optical medium, and a diffractive optical element disposed between the redirected beam of radiation and the optical medium such that at least a portion of the redirected beam of radiation passes through a surface of the diffractive optical element and is reflected to the objective lens.

Abstract: Storage density in an optical data storage media and system is increased many times the resolution limit by fully utilizing the much smaller detection limit by differentiating and isolating the active data sites in the media optically. The tracks are preordained and predisposed to a specific optical property and value that is different from that of its “n” nearest neighbors but is identical to its nth neighbor and to the optical properties of the reading and writing optical system.

Abstract: Storage density in an optical data storage media and system is increased many times the resolution limit by fully utilizing the much smaller detection limit by differentiating and isolating the active data sites in the media optically. The tracks are preordained and predisposed to a specific optical property and value that is different from that of its “n” nearest neighbors but is identical to its nth neighbor and to the optical properties of the reading and writing optical system.

Abstract: Storage density in an optical data storage media and system is increased many times the resolution limit by fully utilizing the much smaller detection limit by differentiating and isolating the active data sites in the media optically. The tracks are preordained and predisposed to a specific optical property and value that is different from that of its "n" nearest neighbors but is identical to its nth neighbor and to the optical properties of the reading and writing optical system.

Abstract: An optical storage system suitable for optical storage and retrieval of information using a storage medium comprising a substrate, an active layer for retention of the data, and an overlying optical layer, or layers for double-sided. The optical layer serves to produce an evanescent field in or adjacent to the active layer in response to an incident beam of radiation. The evanescent field is frustrated or attenuated by the data in the active layer and produces a signal.

Abstract: A system operative with photon tunneling microscopy presents an image on a two-dimensional display which is perceived as a three-dimensional presentation by a person viewing the display. An optical image of the subject produced by the microscope is scanned by means of a television vidicon which converts the optical signal to an electric signal representing depth of a surface feature. The electric signal is outputted to the display wherein the image is presented as a set of line scans parallel to the horizontal axis of the display, and wherein the magnitude of the electric signal is plotted on the vertical axis of the display. A variable delay is introduced to be either increased or decreased stepwise between successive ones of the line scans. This results in a tilting of the presentation to the right or the left. Two tilted views are presented simultaneously, one to one eye and one to the other eye of an observer, to give a perception of a three-dimensional view.

Abstract: A medium suitable for the optical storage and retrieval of information comprising a substrate, an active layer for retention of the data, and an overlying optical layer, or layers for double-sided. The optical layer serves to produce an evanescent field in or adjacent to the active layer in response to an incident beam of radiation. The evanescent field is frustrated or attenuated by the data in the active layer and produces a signal.

Abstract: A dark-field imaging system and method that employs photon tunneling to optically encode and decode information at full-field and in real-time or substantially real-time for recording and retrieval purposes. The system is particularly useful for high density information storage in media in which submicron scattering sites are formed. The system comprises an illumination section for illuminating a surface of an optical recording media with an evanescent field. A collecting section is positioned with respect to the illuminated surface to channel radiant energy converted from the evanescent field by the scattering sites to unbound energy propagating away from the surface. Various embodiments of the illumination section are disclosed including the use of a bulk optic prismatic element, the forward aplantic element of a compound microscope objective, diffracting gratings, and optical waveguides.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing phase controlled evanescent illumination. The phase controlled evanescent illumination is useful for Imaging, metrology, and energy delivery. The light waves comprising the evanescent electromagnetic field are inhomogeneous in that their planes of equal phase are substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation and to their planes of constant amplitude. The planes of equal phase are therefore normal to the surface to which the evanescent field is adjacent and to a sample surface illuminated by this field as well. Methods and means for dynamic or static phase shifting of inhomogeneous waves comprising the evanescent field are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical recording and retrieval system and method that employs phase-controlled evanescent field illumination to optically encode and decode information at full-field and in real-time or substantially real-time. The system is particularly useful for high density information storage in media in which submicron optically active sites are formed. The light waves comprising the evanescent electromagnetic field are inhomogeneous in that their planes of equal phase are substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation and to their planes of constant amplitude. The planes of equal phase are therefore normal to the surface to which the evanescent field is adjacent and to an optical recording media surface illuminated by this field as well. By controlling the phase of the source of illumination and analyzing the output from or beneath the surface, either by phase analysis or phase to amplitude decoding, subwavelength lateral surface feature resolution is enhanced without sacrificing vertical resolution.

Abstract: Dark-field imaging probes that employs photon tunneling to visualize and measure submicron features of scattering surfaces at full-field and in real-time or substantially real-time. Each probe is particularly useful for characterizing tiny surface features of reflecting or transmissive materials within the subnanometer to several micron range and is readily adaptable for portable use where it can be employed for characterizing large surfaces such as aircraft wings, fabrics, or papers, or the like. The probes comprise an lighting section for illuminating a surface with an evanescent field and a collecting section positioned with respect to the illuminated surface to channel radiant energy converted from the evanescent field by the process of scattering to unbound energy propagating away from the surface.

Abstract: A dark-field imaging system and method is disclosed that employs photon tunneling to measure the height of read/write heads at full-field and in substantially real-time as the head flies over a disk-shaped recording medium. The system comprises: an analog recording disk mounted for rotation about a central axis, an illumination section for providing an evanescent field at a surface of the disk where the evanescent field is selectively scattered in correlation to the proximity of the read/write head to the disk surface, and a collection section for transmitting the scattered evanescent field to an imaging section, which may be a vidicon, digital camera, or other photo detector device. Various embodiments are disclosed including the use of a bulk optic prismatic element, the forward aplantic element of a compound microscope objective, diffracting gratings, and optical waveguides. In each embodiment the collection section and illumination section may be completely optically, and thus physically, uncoupled.

Abstract: A dark-field imaging system and method is disclosed that employs photon tunneling to visualize and measure submicron features of reflecting or transmissive materials within the subnanometer-to-several-micron range. The system comprises an illumination section for providing an evanescent field, where the evenescent field is selectively scattered by the surface of the reflecting or transmissive material, and a collection section for transmitting the radiant energy produced by the evanescent field scattering to an imaging section, which may be a vidicon, digital camera, or other photo detector device. Various embodiments are disclosed including the use of a bulk optic prismatic element, the forward aplantic element of a compound microscope objective, diffracting gratings, and optical waveguides. In each embodiment the collection section and illumination section may be completely optically, and thus physically, uncoupled.

Abstract: Imaging and metrology devices employ controlled phase shifting and analysis of evanescent light to provide enhanced ability to image and/or resolve substantially subwavelength lateral features on a surface illuminated by the evanescent light. The light waves comprising the evanescent electromagnetic field are inhomogeneous in that their planes of equal phase are substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation and to their planes of constant amplitude. The planes of equal phase are therefore normal to the surface to which the evanescent field is adjacent and to a sample surface illuminated by this field as well. By controlling the phase of the source of illumination and analyzing the output from the surface, either by phase analysis or phase to amplitude decoding, subwavelength lateral surface topography resolution is enhanced without sacrificing vertical resolution.

Abstract: A method for making flexible transducers for use with photon tunneling microscopes includes the steps of providing an optically smooth substrate made of a rigid material such as float glass or polished silicon. The surface of the substrate is covered with a transparent, curable material approximately ten micrometers or more in thickness. The material, which is preferably a collodion solution in amyl acetate or a UV curable polymer, is peeled from the substrate after solidifying to provide it with sufficient flexibility to conform to the macrotopography of a sample surface without conforming to its microtopography and stiffness to provide a substantially flat surface over an area of the planar front surface of the hemispherical objective lens corresponding to the field of view of the microscope.