Abstract: The optical storage device and method includes a fluorescent layer arranged on a substrate and having a surface. The fluorescent layer is composed of fluorescent dye molecules embedded in a transparent polymeric base material. A group of data-carrying structures are arranged in the fluorescent layer. Each of the data-carrying structures has more than two optical states represented by a specific degree of quenching of fluorescence emitted from the data-carrying structure when irradiated with a fluorescence exciting radiation.

Abstract: An electrically addressable passive device for registration, storage and/or processing of data comprises a functional medium (1) in the form of a continuous or patterned structure (S) which may undergo a physical or chemical change of state. The functional medium (1) comprises individually addressable cells (2) which represent a registered or detected value or are assigned a predetermined logical value for the cell. The cell (2) is provided between the anode (3) and cathode (4) in an electrode means (E) which contacts the function medium in the cell and causes an electrical coupling therethrough, the functional medium having a non-linear impedance characteristic, whereby the cell (2) directly can be supplied with energy which effects a change in the state of the cell. In a method for electrical addressing of the passive device wherein the addressing comprises operations for i.a.

Abstract: In an optical data storage medium with a storage area formed from a transparent, homogenous base material and with a number of optically active structures at one side of the storage area, the optically active structures are diffractive optical elements which can focus a beam of light incident on the storage area on to one or more points in the storage area and/or a redirected beam of light or emitted light radiation from this or these points on to a point outside the optical storage medium. During writing/reading of data in the storage medium, the diffractive optical elements are used for focusing the write/read beam in order to generate a data carrying structure or read data stored in such a data carrying structure, respectively.

Abstract: An infrared radiation source for sensor and spectroscopic use has a thin, electrically conducting film adapted to emit infrared radiation when heated. The film is formed from a gas or vapor phase and includes a network of diamond-like carbon. Depending on the percentage of metal atoms in the film, the film may have metal atoms which are either distributed in the diamond-like carbon network or else form an additional metallic network. The metal may be tungsten, chromium, or titanium, and the film may include silicon and oxygen.

Abstract: Addressable optical logic elements contain an optical memory substance, wherein, under the influence of an impressed magnetic, electromagnetic or electrical field or supplied energy, the memory substance can transfer from one physical or chemical state to a second physical or chemical state, wherein a physical or chemical state is assigned a specific logic value, and wherein a change in the logic element's physical or chemical state causes a change in the logic value and is implemented by the logic element being accessed and addressed magnetically, electromagnetically, electrically or optically for writing, reading, storing, erasing and switching of an assigned logic value.

Abstract: In a method for parallel writing and reading of data in an optical memory, the optical memory includes one or more microlenses for accessing a memory medium, individually addressable elements arranged in one or two-dimensional matrices in a write/read device are activated. The activation of an element physically influences one or more localized areas in a data carrying layer in the memory for writing and reading of data carrying structures in the localized area. Writing and reading is thus performed on the basis of a relationship between the geometric location of the element in the matrix and the position of the localized area(s) in the data carrying layer of the memory. A write/read device includes individually addressable elements which are arranged in one or two-dimensional matrices, the addressable element being arranged to be activated in order to physically influence one or more of the above-mentioned localized areas.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium with burn-film having changeable optical properties, for example, changeable reflective power as a result of sufficiently intense illumination, due to hole-burning in the film, is provided with optical structures close to the burn-film for focusing and positioning during recording and reading of individually interpretable data bits (spots). The optical structures are preferably monodisperse, transparent spheres with a diameter in the range of 1-100 .mu.m. Illumination is performed selectively from a number of predetermined angles (.THETA.i, .phi.j) during recording and reading, and the number of individual data spots under each sphere corresponds roughly to the number of angles.

Abstract: Infrared radiation source arrangement, in particular for use in infrared spectral analysis. To an electrically insulating substrate (2) there is applied one and preferably at least two separate electrically conductive films (2a, 2b) adapted to be heated by application of a time dependent electric current thereto. Tow or more films may form a radiation group (array) in which each film (2a, 2b) is adapted to be energized separately with electric current from an electric drive circuit (1) for applying a time dependent, preferably pulse shaped electric current to the film or films, so that infrared radiation pulses are emitted. The electric current is time controlled in order that the radiation pulses from the respective films may be distinguished from each other in a detector (6). The thickness of the substrate and the thermal conductivity, specific heat and density of the substrate material are so chosen that the thermal time constant is adapted to the pulse frequency range of the drive circuit.