Abstract: An electric field effect read/write head for recording/reproducing information on/from a ferroelectric recording medium using an electric field effect includes a semiconductor substrate, a recess portion formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate facing the ferroelectric recording medium, and a recording/reproduction portion provided in the recess portion.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device is provided with a recording medium with a recording surface, a plurality of probes that carry out at least either record processing or reproduction processing by scanning a plurality of information tracks on the recording surface, a position detecting means that detects a position of at least one information track by using the probe for every plural divided regions into which the recording medium is divided in a direction intersecting the plural information tracks and which contain at least one information track, and a track control means that controls tracking of the probe used for at least either record processing or reproduction processing for every plural divided regions. Thus, the device structure can be simplified.

Abstract: Disclosed are a data storage apparatus, an assembling method thereof and an apparatus for generating a tracking position error signal capable of storing data using recording media formed with patterns for generating tracking position error signals to obviate errors that may be generated amidst storage of the data, wherein the patterns are formed for generating tracking position error signals on recording media before the recording media and storage are assembled to reduce the manufacturing cost and manufacturing process time.

Abstract: Provided is a medium capable of implementing a large-capacity recording at low cost per bit. A medium including a network of metal wires and recording materials each provided at an intersection of the metal wires. Surface plasmons are made to propagate along the metal wires. Two surface plasmons are made to propagate in two different directions and to collide with each other at a certain position. Multiple-layer recording is carried out by changing the recording materials at the certain position.

Abstract: A storage device according to the invention has flexible architecture and free scalability. It includes an address input and a data input. It also includes an address and data evaluation unit, which is formed in such a way that it controls a controllable switching means, wherein in operation the address and data evaluation unit depends on the signals of said address and data inputs. Finally, a read/write line for a read/write signal is provided, which can be applied to a local probe data storage unit via the controllable switching means.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device according to an example of the present invention includes a first head and a second head each having a conductive region formed of a conductive material, a recording medium having a data area from which data is read by the first head, and a servo burst area from which a servo burst signal is read by the second head, a driver for positioning the first head and the recording medium based on the servo burst signal, and a resistance element for covering a surface of the conductive region of the second head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling movements of a positioner of a micro-scanner, the method comprising: determining the vibration resonance frequency ranges of the positioner, and performing a main scan by a controlled movement of the positioner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reading/writing tip configured in the shape of a needle consisting of a core of refractory material covered with a coating of electrically conductive material, and having an outer microscope needle geometry by tunnel effect, to obtain an information concerning a surface through tunnel-effect microscopy The needle emits a charged particle from the layer of electrically conductive material, to form the surface. The tip comprises a reservoir capable of being liquefied to flow along the tip.

Abstract: A ferroelectric recording medium includes a ferroelectric recording layer on an electrode layer, which includes an insulative layer on the ferroelectric recording layer, and includes non-continuous electrically conductive coating portions on the insulative layer.

Abstract: A transducer for a storage medium has a supporting element positioned over the storage medium with a first head configured to interact with the storage medium and a second head operatively connected to the first head to interact with the storage medium. The second head is carried by the supporting element in a position adjacent to the first head, and the first head and the second head are aligned in a scanning direction. The first head performs the reading of a data item stored in a portion of the storage medium, the reading entailing the deletion of the data item, and the second head performs the rewriting of the data item in the same portion of the storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing the wear of a tip of a probe when the tip is in contact with a surface of a substrate and when the probe is mounted on a support structure. A method is provided where a load force is applied to the probe, thereby causing the tip to be maintained substantially in contact with the substrate surface and a modulation step where the e magnitude of the load force is modulated at a modulation frequency. The modulation frequency is selected to be greater than a fundamental vibration frequency of the support structure on which the probe is mounted.

Abstract: A method is provided, which includes reading data from a data storage medium. Reading data from the medium causes the data to be erased. The method further includes determining a desired position to rewrite the data by computing a position error signal based on the data signal and compensating the position error signal for non-zero bias. The data is then rewritten non-synchronously. An apparatus is also provided, including a data storage medium with a data communication transducer configured to receive data from the medium. Data is erased after it is read. The data communication transducer is configured to rewrite the read data back onto the data storage medium in a non-synchronously. A non-zero bias compensator is provided to compensate data received by the data communication transducer to determine a desired position to rewrite the previously read data back onto the medium.

Abstract: A recording system for magnetic storage devices, including a beam column for generating a beam, a platform for moving a magnetic storage medium relative to the beam, and a signal generator for sequentially, or in a continuously alternating manner, deflecting the beam. In turn, the beam is directed according to displacement of dots on the extent of the magnetic storage medium such that dots of a plurality of dot groupings can be written to on the extent during a single pass of the beam column above the extent.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) seek-scan probe (SSP) memory device utilizes a protective layer over the delicate media layer to protect the media during harsh processing steps that may otherwise damage the media layer. The protective layer may comprise a layer of germanium and a layer of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and reading data in a data storage system are provided. The data storage system includes a storage medium for storing data. The storage medium stores data as a plurality of topographical features. Further, the data storage system includes one or more transducer. One or more transducer writes data on the storage medium. Additionally, the data storage medium includes one or more gates. A first voltage bias is applied to one or more gates. The data storage system further includes, one or more read heads. One or more read heads include one or more Floating Gate Transistors (FGTs). The first voltage bias creates an electric field between one or more FGTs and one or more gates. A change in the electric field is detected by one or more FGTs.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical device that includes a fixed supporting body, at least one semiconductor body, which is movable with respect to the fixed supporting body, and at least one micromotor for moving the semiconductor body with respect to the fixed supporting body, the micromotor having at least one permanent magnet and a coil, which are coupled together and are movable with respect to one another. A ferromagnetic guide is coupled to the magnet and is shaped so as to concentrate lines of magnetic field generated by the magnet towards the coil.

Abstract: A seek-scan-probe memory device, utilizing a media electrode to allow active cantilevers to contact the storage media, and a pull electrode to pull up cantilevers away from the storage media when in an inactive mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A probe group is composed of, for instance, four probes adjacently arranged, and one modulation circuit is arranged for each probe group. At the time of recoding information, a changeover switch connects one of the four probes with the modulation circuit, and subsequently changes the probes to be connected with the modulation circuit while reciprocal movement of a recording medium is being controlled.

Abstract: A seek-scan-probe memory device, utilizing a media electrode to allow active cantilevers to contact the storage media, and a pull electrode to pull up cantilevers away from the storage media when in an inactive mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A scanner assembly includes a first sealing ring that extends around one of first and second actuating mechanisms of the scanner assembly. A first sealant ring is positioned upon the first sealing ring and is formed from one of a solder seal, glass frit seal and a glue seal. The first sealant ring provides a hermetic seal that maintains a desired operating environment for the one of the first and second actuating mechanisms and a mechanical support for a top plate. A second sealing ring extends around a media table of the scanner assembly. A second sealant ring is positioned upon the second sealing ring and is formed from one of a solder seal, glass frit seal and a glue seal. The second sealing ring provides a hermetic seal that maintains a desired operating environment for the media table and a mechanical support for an array chip.

Abstract: The presently disclosed technology teaches an improved voltage pattern for conductive tips utilized as moveable top electrodes for writing data bits into ferroelectric media. A conductive tip is dragged in contact or near contact with a ferroelectric surface forming a moveable top electrode on a ferroelectric media disk. A metallic film is deposited onto a bottom-side of the ferroelectric media forming a conductive bottom electrode. Applying electrical voltage pulses between the conductive tip and the bottom electrode induces polarization switching of the ferroelectric media under the head. The improved voltage pattern incorporates positive and negative overshoot voltages to induce a polarization switch in the ferroelectric media and positive and negative drag voltages to expand a polarized region on the ferroelectric media. Potential benefits of the improved voltage pattern include reduced cross-track blooming and reduced along-track blooming resulting in a more uniform track width and bit series length.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MEMS memory microprobe includes a probe tip, a lever, and a base. The probe tip is arranged to oppose a recording medium and is brought into contact with the recording medium to perform recording or reproduction of information when a current or voltage is applied between them. In the probe tip, a plurality of electrodes used in the recording or reproduction and a plurality of support portions which form the probe tip together with the electrodes are alternately arranged, and the electrodes and the support portions form a single plane which opposes the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a substrate separated from the storage medium by a gap, and a plurality of spacers defining a distance between the storage medium and the substrate, wherein the spacers include a curved end.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a number of variation in resistance within a material stack in response to a scanning and injection of a non-contacting electron stream into a material stack, the material stack having a first conductive contact layer, a variable resistive layer, a fixed resistive layer, and a second conductive contact layer, and the variations in resistance within the material stack being based on one of a plurality of resistive states of the variable resistive layer. The method also includes generating two magnetic fields within a transformer, the transformer being operatively coupled to the first and second conductive contact layers and generating a differential output signal within the transformer based on the two magnetic fields, the differential output signal being associated with one of the plurality of resistive states.

Abstract: When writing elements of a fine pattern on a substrate applied with a resist by scanning an electron beam on the substrate, the electron beam is scan controlled so as to completely fill the shape of each of the elements by vibrating the electron beam rapidly in a radius direction of the rotation stage and at the same time deflecting in a direction orthogonal to the radius direction of the rotation stage faster than a rotational speed thereof, thereby sequentially writing the elements.

Abstract: A detection method and apparatus for reading magnetization information recorded in high density. A metal probe is brought close to the surface of a magnetic recording medium, in which information is recorded as magnetization, with the distance on the order of nanometers. The region is irradiated with an incident light as its polarization direction is modulated, and polarization dependency of a tunnel current or reflected polarization intensity is measured.

Abstract: To provide a new recording method and recording apparatus with respect to an optical recording medium, the recording method and recording apparatus being able to deal with a high density of an optical recording medium of recent years. Recording of a recording track and a prepit is carried out by sequentially deflecting a single beam.

Abstract: An apparatus including a transducer having a plurality of polymer strands attached thereto and/or a storage media having a plurality of polymer strands attached thereto. When the apparatus includes both the transducer and the storage media, the plurality of polymer strands attached to the transducer may be positioned to interact with the plurality of polymer strands attached to the storage media. The transducer may be a probe for a data storage device. The storage media may be a ferroelectric storage media.

Abstract: A probe storage device includes a base plate having a main body provided with a substantially planar surface, and a scanner chip body. The scanner chip body extends across the base plate. The scanner chip body includes first and second substantially parallel planar surfaces that collectively define an outer peripheral edge portion. The scanner chip body further includes at least a mechanical ground portion fixedly mounted to the base plate, a suspension portion, and a scan table base portion. The scan table base portion is selectively movable relative to the mechanical ground portion. The probe storage device further includes a scan table platform. The scan table platform includes first and second parallel substantially planar surfaces. The scan table platform extends across, is offset relative to, and mechanically linked with the scan table base portion so as to form a composite multi-layered support table for the media.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device according to an example of the present invention includes first and second heads, a recording medium having a data area from which recording data is read by the first head and a servo burst area from which a servo burst signal is read by the second head, a driver which performs positioning of the second head based on the servo burst signal, and a resistor which covers a surface of the servo burst area and does not cover a surface of the data area. The recording data and the servo burst signal are recorded by a pulse signal.

Abstract: A driving apparatus (100c) is provided with: a base portion (110); a stage portion (130) on which a driven object (12) is mounted and which can be displaced; an elastic portion (120) which connects the base portion and the stage portion and which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in one direction (Y axis); and a first applying device (161, 162, 22) for applying, to the base portion, an excitation force for displacing the stage portion such that the stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the stage portion and the elastic portion.

Abstract: A data storage medium includes a piezoelectric film (101) having a surface (111) including a halogen. In one embodiment, the halogen exists in an atomic concentration of at least approximately 10 percent. The result is a hydrophobic surface conducive to long-lasting scanning probe tips, low contamination, and stable surface charge. A data storage device incorporating the data storage medium includes an enclosure (205) containing the data storage medium and an adjacent scanning probe (230) wherein the enclosure has a relative humidity of at least approximately 40 percent and at least a portion of the scanning probe is coated with a layer of water.

Abstract: A metallic wave guide and a light delivery module are provided. The metallic waveguide includes a metal body formed of a conductive metal and having an aperture formed therethrough, the aperture having input and output ends. The aperture has a bent portion for changing a light traveling direction between the input and output ends, and a tapered portion between the bent portion and the output end. The tapered portion has a width that is gradually reduced toward the output end, and the aperture is formed in a C-shape by a ridge formed on an inner surface of the metal body.

Abstract: A super-resolution optical recording medium has at least a recording layer and a super resolution layer on a substrate. In the recording layer, a minimum recording mark is formed with spaces within a beam spot of a laser beam in recording. The minimum recording mark has a size of a resolution limit of a reproduction optical system or less, and can be reproduced by the reproduction optical system due to the existence of the super solution layer. The minimum recording mark in an AFM image takes the shape of a convex arc on a leading edge thereof and the shape of a concave arc on a trailing edge thereof (the AFM image is a plan view which can be observed on a surface when the light transmission layer is removed), and spaces have the similar shape to these.

Abstract: In a two-dimensional probe array, an interval between the leading ends of probes adjacent to each other in an X direction is made shorter than that between the leading ends of probes adjacent to each other in a Y direction. Thus, the leading ends of the probes are arranged to form a lattice wherein many rectangles are arranged. Furthermore, the lowest resonance frequency of an actuator which moves a recording medium in the X direction is set higher than the lowest resonance frequency of an actuator which moves the recording medium in the Y direction. At the time of recording or reading information, the recording medium is reciprocated in the X direction at a frequency substantially equal to the lowest resonance frequency of the actuator.

Abstract: A first thermal buffer layer and a second thermal buffer layer are arranged between a recording medium and an actuator structure. The heat conductivity of the first thermal buffer layer is set low and the heat conductivity of the second thermal buffer layer is set high. Most of the heat generated from a coil wiring of the actuator structure is blocked by the first thermal buffer layer, and heat leaked from the first thermal buffer layer is diffused by the second thermal buffer layer. Temperature distribution on the recording medium is made uniform, and thus, a configuration wherein the recording medium and the actuator structure are placed one over another can be provided, information reading accuracy or information recording stability can be improved and the sizes of an information storage device can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided are an electric field read/write device and a method of driving an electric field read/write device. The method including an electric field read/write head comprising a resistance region disposed between a source region and a drain region and a writing electrode disposed on the resistance region, wherein the method includes: applying a controlling voltage to the writing electrode, wherein the controlling voltage is smaller than a threshold voltage which causes polarization of a recording medium, and reproducing data recorded in the recording medium according to change of an amount of a current flowing through the resistance region according to a polarization direction of electric domains of the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing head includes a laminated body facing to a recording medium, the body including a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer and a second conductive layer which are sequentially stacked. The first conductive layer generates electrons and injects the electrons into the recording medium through the first insulating layer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable member, first and second rigid members positioned on opposite sides of the movable member, a first suspension assembly connected between a base and the first and second rigid members, a second suspension assembly connected between the first and second rigid members and the movable member, first and second actuators coupled to the first and second rigid members along a first central axis, and third and fourth actuators coupled to the movable member along a second central axis.

Abstract: Device for recording data comprising microdots with free ends forming a convex surface and method for the production thereof The data recording device comprises a storage medium arranged facing a two dimensional array of microdots, of nanometric dimensions, formed directly on a substrate. An electronic circuit for addressing and controlling the microdots is integrated in the substrate. The microdots and/or substrate are shaped in such a way that the set of free ends of the microdots defines a convex surface, which enables a contact to be ensured in all cases between each of the microdots and the corresponding storage medium. The radius of curvature of the surface convex is preferably comprised between 1 m and 5 m.

Abstract: A high density data storage device and a data recording or reproduction method using the same, which can record or reproduce high density data without contact, thereby preventing data errors due to contact are provided. The high density data storage device uses a recording medium and a probe. The recording medium is a thin film made from phase change material or oxide resistance change material, and the probe has a tip formed in a lower portion thereof, which moves with a spacing from the top of the recording medium. Further, recording or reproduction of data is performed through electric field or heat emission, which is generated in the tip of the probe, without direct contact between the recording medium and the probe, so that it is possible to remove instability caused by contact between the recording medium and the probe and to stably record or reproduce data in or from the recording medium without errors.

Abstract: A Bi4Ti3O12 nanoplate, an array of such Bi4Ti3O12 nanoplate and their making methods as well as their applications are provided. Using a vapor phase growth method, a flux layer of VOx is deposited on a SrTiO3 (001) faced substrate and then Bi4Ti3O12 is deposited on the flux layer. A Bi4Ti3O12 single crystal nanoplate is formed standing up on the flux layer in the form of a rectangular solid whose independent three sides are crystallographically oriented in directions coincident with particular crystallographic directions of the single crystal substrate, respectively. The nanoplates as a nanostructure grown by the bottom-up method are substantially fixed in shape and are densely arrayed not in contact with one another, and are applicable to a low-cost ferroelectric memory and the like.

Abstract: The semiconductor integrated circuit incorporates a PLL circuit including a phase-frequency comparator 1, first and second charge pumps 2 and 3, a loop filter 4, a voltage-control oscillator 5 and a divider 6. The operation mode of the PLL circuit includes a standby state where locking is stopped, a lock response operation where locking is started and a steady lock operation where the locking started by the lock response operation is continued. In the steady lock operation, setting is made so that the second charge pump 3 is smaller in charge/discharge current than the first charge pump 2. The first and second charge pumps 2 and 3 charge and discharge the loop filter 4 in response to outputs of the phase-frequency comparator 1 in reverse to each other in phase. In the lock response operation where locking is started, the second charge pump 3 is stopped from charging and discharging in reverse in phase.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical device that includes a fixed supporting body, at least one semiconductor body, which is movable with respect to the fixed supporting body, and at least one micromotor for moving the semiconductor body with respect to the fixed supporting body, the micromotor having at least one permanent magnet and a coil, which are coupled together and are movable with respect to one another. A ferromagnetic guide is coupled to the magnet and is shaped so as to concentrate lines of magnetic field generated by the magnet towards the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a storage medium, and a transducer positioned adjacent to the storage medium, wherein the transducer includes a first electrode and a second electrode, with the width of the first electrode being less than the width of the second electrode. A method including: applying a first voltage to a transducer to write data to a storage medium, and applying a second voltage to the transducer to read data from the storage medium, wherein the magnitude of the first voltage is greater than the magnitude of the second voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of electrodes separated from each other, and a support structure positioned in the gap for supporting some of the electrodes. An apparatus comprising a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of posts positioned in the gap, a layer of low friction material positioned on one end of each of the posts, is also described.

Abstract: The data recording device comprises a two-dimensional array of microdots of nanometric dimensions arranged facing a storage medium. The storage medium comprises a sensitive area preferably comprising a flexible membrane and extended at its periphery by a flexible fixing membrane. The sensitive area of the storage medium is thus flexibly fixed to an external frame, allowing movement of the sensitive area in its plane and perpendicularly to its plane. The microdots are preferably formed on a convex front face of a substrate, enabling contact between each of the microdots and the sensitive area to be ensured in all cases. The radius of curvature of the convex surface is preferably comprised between 0.5 m and 5 m.

Abstract: The presently disclosed technology teaches an improved voltage pattern for conductive tips utilized as moveable top electrodes for writing data bits into ferroelectric media. A conductive tip is dragged in contact or near contact with a ferroelectric surface forming a moveable top electrode on a ferroelectric media disk. A metallic film is deposited onto a bottom-side of the ferroelectric media forming a conductive bottom electrode. Applying electrical voltage pulses between the conductive tip and the bottom electrode induces polarization switching of the ferroelectric media under the head. The improved voltage pattern incorporates positive and negative overshoot voltages to induce a polarization switch in the ferroelectric media and positive and negative drag voltages to expand a polarized region on the ferroelectric media. Potential benefits of the improved voltage pattern include reduced cross-track blooming and reduced along-track blooming resulting in a more uniform track width and bit series length.

Abstract: A micro actuator having separated stages and a data storage apparatus employing the same are provided. The micro actuator includes: a supporting unit; stages that are elastically supported by the supporting unit, each stage having a mounting surface where a target driven body is mounted thereon, and arranged adjacent to each other; levers which are disposed between the stages, each lever having two ends respectively connected to adjacent stages, and which apply force to the adjacent stages so that when one of the stages is moved, an adjacent stage is moved in an opposite direction to a moving direction of the moved stage; and driving units which respectively provide a driving force to the stages.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a read/write head having a tip connected to a resistive path locally exerting heat at the tip when an electrical current is applied; and a data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith, the medium comprising: a substrate; and a polymer recording surface within which data bit values are determined by the topographical state at the bit location, characterized in that the polymer contains thermally reversible crosslinkages.