Optical disc and method of protecting same
An optical disc for storage and retrieval of digital data, and a system and method for protecting the optical disc is disclosed. The optical disc has projections or embossments on one or both surfaces. When the optical disc is placed on a substantially flat surface such as a tabletop or a desktop, the projections act as pedestals that elevate the optical disc above the flat surface. The resulting gap or clearance helps prevent damage to the optical disc caused by contaminants on the flat surface or by defects in the flat surface. The projections are sized to provide adequate clearance between the disc and the flat surface, while minimizing interference between the projections and components of optical disc readers and drives. The optical disc may also include one or more depressions that are sized and configured to receive projections from another disc, which facilitates stacking of the optical discs.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/270,434, filed Feb. 21, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc for storage and retrieval of digital data and to a method of protecting the optical disc.
2. Discussion
Optical discs, such as compact discs (CDs) and digital videodiscs (DVDs), have become the accepted medium for storing and retrieving large amounts of digital information (data). Standard CDs and DVDs have the same physical dimensions (12 cm OD, 1.2 mm thickness), but differ primarily in the amount of data that each can hold. A standard CD can store up to about 783 megabytes of audio programming, while DVDs can hold between about 4.38 gigabytes (single-sided/single-layer DVD) and about 15.9 gigabytes (double-sided/dual-layer DVD) of multimedia programming (photographs, video, audio, etc.). Other optical storage discs include read only memory compact discs (CD-ROMs), recordable compact discs (CD-R), recordable DVDs (DVD-R), and rewritable compact discs (CD-RW). Though physically similar to audio CDs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs can store slightly less data (i.e., less than about 700 megabytes) because a fraction of their respective storage capacities are used by a file system and data associated with enhanced error correction.
Optical discs owe their large storage capacity to the way they represent digital data. With CDs and single-layer DVDs, digitized (binary) data are encoded on the discs as a sequence of microscopic pits separated by smooth areas (lands) that define a continuous track that spirals outward from the center of the disc. Adjacent tracks on CDs are 1600 nm apart, and the minimum pit length is 830 nm. DVD's achieve their greater storage capacity, in part, by shrinking the distance between adjacent tracks (740 nm) and by decreasing the minimum pit length (400-440 nm). Recordable compact discs and rewritable compact discs employ similar data encoding, except that the “pits” on CD-Rs and CD-RWs are replaced by “dark” spots formed, respectively, on a light-sensitive organic dye layer or light-excitable crystal layer.
Optical disc readers (CD or DVD players, CD-ROM, CD-R or CR-RW drives, etc.) retrieve data using a laser pickup assembly and a tracking system. During playback, the laser pickup assembly focuses a laser beam on the spinning optical disc, while the tracking system moves the laser pickup assembly outward from the center of the disc. The optical reader adjusts the angular speed of the disc during data retrieval so that pits and lands of a single track stream past the laser beam at constant linear velocity. The optical pickup includes a detector (e.g., photodiode array) which detects any light reflected by the optical disc. Laser light hitting a land reflects at a higher intensity than laser light hitting a pit (or dark spot) which scatters the light. The optical disc reader translates these temporal changes in detected light intensity into a stream of binary data.
Optical discs have relatively simple, but elegant construction. Digital videodiscs, for example, are composed of one or more layers of plastic (e.g., optical grade polycarbonate) that are individually formed by injection molding. One surface of each layer contains the encoded data as a spiral track of microscopic pits and lands, while another surface is substantially planar. Prior to assembling the layers, DVD manufactures cover the surface containing the pits and lands with a thin metallic layer. The plastic layers that will become the outermost layers of the DVD are coated with semi-reflective gold, while the plastic layers that will become the innermost layers are coated with aluminum. The use of gold allows the laser pickup assembly to focus laser light through the outer layers onto the inner layers of the DVD. Following preparation of the plastic layers, each is coated with acrylic lacquer, pressed together, and cured to form the disc. For single-sided discs, a label is applied onto the non-readable side (i.e., side opposite the polycarbonate layer or layers containing pits and lands). Audio CD and CD-ROMs are made in a similar manner, but comprise a single polycarbonate layer laminated to a metallic film and relatively thin acrylic layer.
Compared to competing technologies such as magnetic storage media, optical discs are mechanically robust and inexpensive. Despite these advantages, however, optical discs can be improved. Although the polycarbonate plastic layer has excellent optical properties and good dimensional stability, it can be scratched during handling, which may compromise data stored on the disc. For example, after removing compact discs from their protective cases, users often place them on comparatively hard flat surfaces, such as a tabletop or desktop, with the polycarbonate or readable side face down (label-side face up). Since optical discs are quite thin, users find it difficult to pickup CDs without dragging them across the tabletop. In doing so, hard contaminants on the surface of the tabletop and any defects in the tabletop surface may scratch, gouge, or scuff the polycarbonate plastic layer. Similarly, users often stack CDs to conserve space. Any dirt particles trapped between individual CDs may also damage the surfaces of individual CDs during handling of the stack. Although the optical properties of polycarbonate and on-disc error correction help reduce the affects of surface scratches, repeated damage to CD surfaces over time may render some data unreadable.
The present invention overcomes, or at least mitigates, one or more of the problems described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an optical disc having projections or embossments on one or both surfaces of the disc. When the optical disc is placed on a generally flat surface such as a tabletop or a desktop, the projections act as pedestals that elevate the bulk of the optical disc above the flat surface. The resulting gap or clearance enables users to grasp and to pick up the optical discs without dragging the discs across the flat surface. Moreover, even if the optical disc is dragged across the tabletop or desktop, the clearance helps prevent damage to the optical disc caused by contaminants on the flat surface or by defects in the flat surface. The projections are sized to provide adequate clearance between the disc and the flat surface, while preventing or reducing interference between the projections and components of optical disc readers and drives. The projections may range in height up to about one mm, i.e., about the thickness of a standard compact disc (CD) or digital videodisc (DVD), but typically the height of the projections is about half (0.6 mm) or less than the thickness of a standard CD or DVD. In addition, the projections are ordinarily provided at predefined non-data portions of the optical disc—e.g., in the program lead-out region or between the clamping region and the program lead-in region—so that the projections will not disturb data storage or retrieval. Generally, however, the projections may be placed in a disc's data storage (program) area if it lacks encoded digital data. The optical disc may also include one or more depressions that are sized and configured to receive projections from another disc, which facilitates stacking of the optical discs.
The present invention also includes a system and method for protecting an optical disc that is used to store and retrieve digital data. The system includes one or more projections or embossments that may be applied to a surface of the optical disc. The projections are sized and configured to prevent or minimize interference with digital data retrieval and to provide clearance between the surface of the optical disc and a substantially flat surface when the surface of the optical disc is placed on the substantially flat surface. Similarly, the method includes providing one or more projections on at least one surface of the optical disc. Like the inventive system, the projections are sized and configured to prevent interference with digital data retrieval and to provide clearance between the optical disc and the substantially flat surface. The projections may be formed during fabrication of the optical disc (i.e., by injection molding) or may be applied to the surface of the optical disc by bonding techniques.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The optical disc 10 shown in
As can be seen in
Each set of projections 12, 14 shown in
In other embodiments, the optical disc 10 may include the first set of projections 12, but no second set of projections 14, or may include the second set of projections 14, but no first set of projections 12. In addition, the optical disc 10 may include more than two sets of projections (
Although it is usually desirable to locate projections within the predefined non-data areas, the projections or embossments may also be located in areas that are usually reserved for data storage. For example, projections may be located within the data storage area 24 adjacent to the lead-out area 28, as long as the particular optical disc contains no data in that area. This will often be the case when the amount of stored data is less than the optical disc's data storage capacity since CDs and single-layer DVDs encode data in a track that spirals outward from the lead-in 26 area.
In general, the projections may be applied or formed on both the first 16 and second 18 surfaces of the optical disc 10. Since data is read through its first (bottom) surface 16, the optical disc 10 shown in
The optical disc 10 of
In the embodiment shown in
The projections 12, 12′, 14 and depressions 34, 36 shown in
After market suppliers may also provide the projections 12, 12′, 14 by hot stamping. For example, a heated tool (pin, rod, etc.) having the requisite shape may be pressed against the second (top) surface 18 of the optical disc 10 of
As shown in
Although on a given optical disc 10, 10′, 10″ the sets of projections 12, 12′, 12″, 14, 14′ shown in
For example,
Besides different orientation, the optical disc 10′″ includes projections having different heights and shapes. For example, each of the third set of projections 68 is disposed within the lead-out area 28 of the optical disc 10′″, about midway between two adjacent first projections 12′″. Unlike the ellipsoidal first 12′″ and second 14″ sets of projections, each of the third set of projections 68 has the shape of a spherical section. Moreover, though the third set of projections 68 have similar sizes, their heights are substantially less than the heights of the first 12′″ and second 14″ sets of projections. For example, the first 12′″ and second 14″ sets of projections may have heights about equal to one half the thickness of a standard CD or DVD (e.g., 0.6 mm). In contrast, the third set of projections 68 may have heights about equal to one quarter the thickness of a standard CD or DVD (e.g., 0.3 mm).
The differences in orientation, shape, and height among the sets of projections 12′″, 14″, 68 may offer some advantages. For instance, the use of the smaller third set of projections 68 permits greater spacing of the first set of projections 12′″ without significantly affecting the protection of the first surface 16. When placed on a substantially flat surface with the optical disc's 10′″ first surface 16 facing the flat surface, the third set of projections 68 helps maintain a clearance between the two surfaces—albeit a smaller clearance than the first set of projections 12′″ provides. The increased spacing of the first set of projections 12′″ and the radial orientation of the second set of projections 14″, help minimize interference between slot-loading optical disc readers and drives and the first 12′″ and second 14″ sets of projections. The projections 12′″, 14″, 68 may be provided using any of the methods described above. For example, the projections 12′″, 14″, 68 may be formed by injection molding during fabrication of the optical disc 10′″ or may be applied to the optical disc 10′″ following its fabrication.
It should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Many embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but instead with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all patents, articles and references, including patent applications and publications, if any, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.
Claims
1. An optical disc that is used to store and retrieve digital data, the optical disc comprising:
- first and second surfaces having inner and outer peripheries, at least the first surface of the optical disc capable of transmitting light;
- an area for storing digital data, the area located between the inner and outer peripheries of the first and second surfaces, the digital data being accessible by shining light through the first surface of the optical disc; and
- one or more projections located on at least the first surface of the optical disc, the one or more projections sized and configured to minimize interference with retrieving the digital data stored on the optical disc and to provide a clearance between the first surface of the optical disc and a substantially flat surface when the optical disc is placed on the substantially flat surface with the first surface of the optical disc facing the substantially flat surface.
2. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections are located on the first surface of the optical disc between the area for storing digital data and the outer periphery of the optical disc.
3. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections are located on the first surface of the optical disc between the area for storing digital data and the inner periphery of the optical disc.
4. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections are located on the first surface of the optical disc between the area for storing digital data and the inner and outer peripheries of the optical disc.
5. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections are located in the area for storing digital data adjacent to the outer periphery of the optical disc.
6. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections are located in predefined non-data areas.
7. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections have heights about less than the optical disc thickness.
8. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections have heights about equal to or less than one half the optical disc thickness.
9. The optical disc of claim 1, wherein the one or more projections are continuous and circumscribe the inner periphery of the optical disc.
10. The optical disc of claim 1, further comprising depressions located on the second surface of the optical disc.
11. The optical disc of claim 10, wherein the depressions are sized and configured to accommodate the one or more projections.
12. The optical disc of claim 1, further comprising one or more projections located on the second surface of the optical disc, the one or more projections sized and configured to minimize interference with digital data retrieval and to provide clearance between the second surface of the optical disc and a substantially flat surface when the optical disc is placed on the substantially flat surface with the second surface of the optical disc facing the substantially flat surface.
13. A system for protecting an optical disc that is used to store and retrieve digital data, the system comprising one or more projections for applying to a surface of an optical disc, the one or more projections sized and configured to minimize interference with digital data retrieval and to provide a clearance between the surface of the optical disc and a substantially flat surface when the optical disc is placed on the substantially flat surface with the surface of the optical disc facing the substantially flat surface.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more projections are continuous and circumscribes an interior periphery of the optical disc.
15. A method of protecting an optical disc used to store and retrieve digital data, the method comprising:
- providing one or more projections on at least a first surface of an optical disc, the one or more projections sized and configured to prevent interference with digital data retrieval and to provide a clearance between the first surface of the optical disc and a substantially flat surface when the optical disc is placed on the substantially flat surface with the first surface of the optical disc facing the substantially flat surface.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the projections on the first surface of the optical disc by injection molding.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying the projections on the first surface of the optical disc by bonding.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the projections on the first surface of the optical disc by hot stamping.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the projections on a second surface of the optical disc.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming depressions in a second surface of the optical disc by injection molding.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 16, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2007
Applicant: Scratch-Less Disc Industries, LLC (Denver, CO)
Inventor: Todd Kuchman (Highlands Ranch, CO)
Application Number: 11/707,267
International Classification: G11B 7/254 (20060101);