Abstract: High power optical disc drives are disclosed. The drives are configured to deliver laser energy having a power of at least about 25 mW as measured at DVD 1× write speed upon first contact with the surface of an optical disc.

Abstract: Optical information media that contain a data layer material that is substantially inert to oxidation and has a defined melting point range are disclosed. The inertness to oxidation and melting point range make the media particularly attractive for long-term information storage.

Abstract: Optical information media containing encapsulated data layers are disclosed. Selective layering of materials in inner radial, middle radial, and outer radial zones allows for the faces and edges of at least the data layers to be encapsulated by other materials, resulting in increased resistance to harmful environmental agents such as oxygen and moisture.

Abstract: Optical information media containing a metal material layer and a carbon material layer are disclosed. The layering of the metal material layer and the carbon material layer are designed to reduce or eliminate problems associated with oxidation and berm formation during writing of data to the media.

Abstract: An optical information media, system, and method for providing ubiquitous reading and selective writing is disclosed. By placing data structures representing a nonstandard book type in byte “0” of the media, the media is made universally bootable and universally readable in substantially any DVD drive. On the other hand, data structure representing a version code or disc category is placed in byte “0” or another byte of the control data zone in order to identify the media and enable writing in select drives. The version code and/or disc category identifies the media and calls for one or more write strategies configured for writing to the particular media. When the media is a permanent storage media, loss of data can be avoided, ubiquitous read can be achieved, and selective write in predetermined drives can be achieved resulting in a robust system and method of storing and retrieving data.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: Optical information media that contain a data layer material that is substantially inert to oxidation and has a defined melting point range are disclosed. The inertness to oxidation and melting point range make the media particularly attractive for long-term information storage.

Abstract: Optical information media containing encapsulated data layers are disclosed. Selective layering of materials in inner radial, middle radial, and outer radial zones allows for the faces and edges of at least the data layers to be encapsulated by other materials, resulting in increased resistance to harmful environmental agents such as oxygen and moisture.

Abstract: High power optical disc drives are disclosed. The drives are configured to deliver laser energy having a power of at least about 25 mW as measured at DVD 1X write speed upon first contact with the surface of an optical disc.

Abstract: Optical disc arrays containing optical discs, disc drive devices, and a disc array controller are disclosed. The optical discs are suitable for archiving, unlike conventional media used in RAID or other array systems.

Abstract: Optical information media containing a metal material layer and a carbon material layer are disclosed. The layering of the metal material layer and the carbon material layer are designed to reduce or eliminate problems associated with oxidation and berm formation during writing of data to the media.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analyzing nonoperational data acquired from optical discs, and in particular, trackable optical discs having concurrently readable nonoperational structures are provided. Analysis can involve identifying patterns in the data that reproducibly distinguish underlying structures, or identifying patterns in the data that report physical properties of the nonoperational structures. When an optical disc has a plurality of physically nonidentical concurrently readable nonoperational structures, analysis can involve identifying patterns in the data that distinguish among the physically nonidentical nonoperational structures. Also, relative physical locations of nonoperational structures on the disc can be calculated. A system for remotely analyzing data in order to expedite complex data analysis and reporting the results thereof is also provided.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: This invention relates to optical discs that preferably include multiple data layers and are configured to receive analytes which can be detected by an optical disc reader. The optical disc reader may be a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc may include (1) a first layer including optically readable structures which have encoded tracking information, and speed information enabling an optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc at a speed that is determinable from the speed information; (2) a second layer including optically readable structures; and (3) an analyte section capable of receiving an analyte which can be read by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using physical synchronization markers during optical disc data acquisition are provided. In accordance with this invention, physical synchronization markers on optical discs and/or disc covers can be used to determine absolute and/or relative positions on the disc or cover and control data acquisition. A method for acquiring data includes detecting at least one physical synchronization marker and reading data in response to detecting the marker.

Abstract: This invention directs to an optical disc assembly configured to receive an analyte which can be detected by a standard optical disc reader or an optical disc reader modified therefrom. The optical disc assembly may preferably be designed so that the optical disc reader can track the disc and detect the analyte concurrently and discriminably. The optical disc assembly contains or encodes optically readable features which are trackable by the optical disc reader and which have encoded speed information enabling the optical disc reader to rotate the optical disc assembly at a determinable speed. The optical disc assembly also includes an analyte section capable of receiving the analyte that can be detected by the optical disc reader.

Abstract: Design, manufacture and use of optical discs that permit the concurrent and discriminable acquisition of signals from both operational features and nonoperational features is presented. The disc geometries and tracking schemes permit such discs to be read in, and data encoded by nonoperational features reported by, standard (or minimally-modified), optical disc readers. Single data layer first and second surface discs are described, as are multiple data layer discs. Use of the disks in analyte-specific assay is presented.