Abstract: A memory apparatus comprises a media, a tip adapted to write information to and read information from said media, a media movement mechanism attached to said media and configured to move said media in response to media control signals, and a capacitive sensor configured to detect an amount of relative movement of said media and said tip in at least an x-axis direction. The capacitive sensor includes a fixed comb having fingers protruding in an x-axis direction, a moving comb connected having fingers protruding in an x-axis direction, and an electrical path connected to said fixed comb and an electrical path connected to said moving comb. The relative movement in at least the x-axis direction is determined at least in part on a change in capacitance between said fixed and moving combs of said capacitive sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for recording/reproduction of data in a probe-based data storage device (1) in which application of a write signal causes formation of an indentation in a storage surface (5) by a probe of the device (1). Instead of storing information in the presence or absence of indentations on the storage surface as is conventionally done in such devices, information is stored in the form of grooves of variable length separated by lands of variable length. More particularly, a sequence of n>1 successive bits of a first value (typically “1's”) in a recording signal is recorded by applying a series of write signals at respective probe-positions on the storage surface (5). These probe-positions are spaced at w?M, where M is the indentation merging distance, so that the resulting indentations merge to form a groove in the storage surface (5) spanning n readback sample positions.

Abstract: A data storage device using magnetic domain wall motion may include a first magnetic layer having a plurality of magnetic domains. A second magnetic layer may be connected to the first magnetic layer, and a connection layer may be disposed between the first and second magnetic layers. A resistive magnetic layer may be disposed between each of the first and second magnetic layers and the connection layer. Accordingly, when current is supplied to the data storage device to move a magnetic domain wall, the leakage of current in a connection between the magnetic layers may be reduced or prevented, thus conserving power.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an electron beam substrate processing system. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an electron beam substrate processing system where a spindle shaft used to rotate substrates during processing includes at least one optical encoder wheel assembly. The optical encoder wheel assembly is configured to provide rotational speed data signal to a rotational speed control system and a pattern generation clock circuit configured to a provide an angular pattern generator clock signal and to a pattern generator circuit. The pattern generation circuit is configured to control modulation of an electron beam used for substrate processing. In one aspect of the present invention, while the spindle shaft is rotated at a constant linear velocity, the pattern generation circuit controls the modulation of an electron beam such that written mark lengths are sized to be about constant in angular dimension.

Abstract: A method for settling on a target track of a servo system in a storage device (110) comprising a scanning probe (e.g., a scanning probe array system (124)) is disclosed, as well as a corresponding storage device (110). A data format is employed for the data stored in servo fields (18), consisting mainly of a preamble for assisting the settle process.

Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be applied, in an embodiment, to a media comprising a phase change material to alter a resolved portion of the phase change material to have a resistance different from a resistance of the bulk material. A tip having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the resolved portion can be employed by applying such methods. A substantially anisotropic columnar material can focus a current applied between the tip and the media so that the portion is narrower in width than the radius of curvature. Such highly resolved portions form bits in the media. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from reviewing the figures, specification and claims. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: A read-and-write assembly is described. The read-and-write assembly includes one or more coils and magnetizable pillars. The magnetizable pillar has a flask shape and a neck wrapped in the coil.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope includes a scanning probe tip and an electrostatic surface actuator operatively coupled to the scanning probe tip. The electrostatic surface actuator includes a movable member that has a first surface with a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface and a stationary member that has a second surface with a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface. The first and second surfaces are disposed in a confronting relationship The movable and stationary members are resiliently coupled so that the movable member is capable of being displaced with respect to the stationary member. The first and second pluralities of electrodes are configured to generate electrostatic forces in response to voltages applied. The electrostatic forces laterally displace the movable member in the direction generally parallel to the first and second surfaces. The scanning probe tip is controllably positioned by displacement of the movable member.

Abstract: The present invention includes a data storage device and a method of reading data in a data storage device. Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a data storage device. The data storage device includes a probe tip mounted on a suspension mechanism, a data storage layer, at least one conducting layer wherein a capacitance is formed between the suspension mechanism and the at least one conducting layer and a sensor for sensing a change in the capacitance based on a displacement of the probe tip due to the presence of a bit.

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 near-field optical head has a main surface confronting a recording medium during use of the near-field optical head. A sharpened tip is disposed on the main surface and has an optical aperture at a front end thereof. An opaque film covers the sharpened tip and has a plastically deformed portion in the vicinity of the optical aperture. The front end of the sharpened tip projects from the plastically deformed portion of the opaque film. At least one stopper is disposed in the vicinity of the sharpened tip and has a height substantially equal to a height of the sharpened tip. At least one air-bearing surface is disposed on the main surface.

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: A rapid data recording/reproducing method, a data recording system adopting the same, media for the system, and a tracking method, wherein the recording/reproducing method includes preparing media having a data recording layer in which a phase change is generated through electron absorption, generating electrons using an electron generating source at a position separated from the data recording layer by a predetermined interval, forming a magnetic field on the path of the electrons and cyclotron moving the electrons, recording data through local melting and cooling due to absorption of the electrons by the data recording layer. A micro-tip does not contact the data recording layer during electron collisions therewith, hence no damage is caused by or to the micro-tip. The present invention allows the region where the electron beam reaches the data recording layer to be minimized thereby maximizing the data recording density.

Abstract: A nanoscale digital data storage device is provided. In the nanoscale digital data storage device, a storage medium has a polymer layer deposited on a substrate, for writing and reading digital data on and from. A cantilever chip has a plurality of cantilevers arranged therein. Each cantilever is fixed to another substrate at one end and has a tip formed at its free end, for emitting heat according to an applied current. The tips in the cantilever chip are in contact with the storage medium at predetermined bit positions during data writing, and the cantilever chip applies a relatively low current to a tip when the tip writes bit 1 and a relatively high current to the tip when the tip writes bit 0.

Abstract: A header of a nano storing apparatus is disclosed. If some cantilevers of the header are defective, an additional extra cantilever array is substitutively used. The header of a nano storing apparatus including: a cantilevery array including cantilevers each having a probe that is able to read and write information of the ‘n’ number of rows and the ‘m’ number of columns, an X-redundancy cantilever array to be used as a substitute when cantilever probes of a specific row in the cantilever array are defective; a Y-redundancy cantilever array to be used as a substitute when cantilever probes of a specific column in the cantilever array are defective; and a header controller for controlling each part.

Abstract: A memory device for a probe storage system comprises a media die including a frame and a media platform movably coupled with the frame, a tip die connected with the frame such that the tip die is generally parallel to the media platform, the tip die including a plurality of tip groups, wherein a tip group includes a number of tips, a set of electrical traces connected between the media platform and the frame, a number of electrical traces of the set of electrical traces corresponding to the number of tips. The set of electrical traces is selectably associable with one of the tip groups so that the tips of the associated tip group are in electrical communication with the media die.

Abstract: Memory devices and methods of storing and reading information are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of storing information encoded with at least two polarization magnitudes and at least two polarization directions; wherein the polarization magnitudes provide a first channel for encoding information and the polarization directions provide a second channel for encoding information.

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: Memory devices and methods of storing information are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of storing information in multi-bit format and memory devices with information stored in multi-bit format. Further disclosed are methods of reading stored information.

Abstract: A dielectric reproducing apparatus is provided with: a probe for applying an electric field to a dielectric material of a dielectric recording medium; a return electrode for returning the electric field applied from the probe; an inductor placed between the probe and the return electrode; an oscillator which oscillates at a resonance frequency determined from the inductor and a capacitance formed in the dielectric material just under the probe; an alternating current (AC) signal generation device for generating an AC signal which is applied to the probe; a frequency modulation (FM) demodulator for demodulating a FM modulation signal modulated by the capacitance corresponding to the polarization state owned by the dielectric material just under the probe; and a phase-shift keying (PSK) demodulator for reproducing data from the demodulated signal.

Abstract: A data storage medium is introduced. The data storage medium from which information is reproduced by scanning a surface of the medium with a tip positioned in contact therewith comprises a recording layer within which data values are determined by the topographical state at the data item location. The material of said recording layer comprises a component that is generating an etchant. The etchant removes the naturally occurring surface oxide layer of the tip which keeps the tip sharp and works against tip wear.

Abstract: The recording system consists of a recording medium (1) comprising a storage layer (2) which can store information. A data read and/or write device (4) comprises an array of microtips (5) disposed in a common plane facing the storage layer (2). The recording medium (1) comprises at least one first electrode (6). The read and/or write device (4) comprises at least one second electrode (7). The first electrode (6) is disposed facing the second electrode (7). The system comprises means (C) for controlling the distance (d) separating the recording medium (1) from the read and/or write device (4) by applying a potential difference (Vd) between the first (6) and second (7) electrodes. The read and/or write device (4) comprises contact elements (11) which are disposed between the read and/or write device (4) and the recording medium (1) and which co-operate with the storage layer (2) so as to cushion the contact between the microtips (5) and the storage layer (2).

Abstract: An optical fiber probe generates an electrical potential difference formed between thin metal layers coated thereon to increase a light transmission rate. The optical fiber probe includes a near-field probe having a core transmitting light incident from an external light source and having a circular cone structure formed on an end of the core, and a cladding coated on a surface of the circular cone structure core to protect the core. The optical fiber probe also includes the thin metal layers coated on the near-field probe, symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the near-field probe, and spaced-apart from each other to generate the electrical potential difference.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor probe with a resistive tip, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor probe.

Abstract: An optical disk from which information is played back when the optical disk is irradiated with a playback light beam which does not pass through a photochromic layer before its transparency is changed by irradiation with a recording light beam, but passes through the photochromic layer after its transparency is changed, including: the photochromic layer which is initialized with initialization light and also maintains a change in its transparency caused by irradiation with a recording light beam after end of the irradiation; and a fluorescent layer for emitting, as detection light, light of a frequency different from the frequency of the playback light beam when the fluorescent layer is irradiated with the playback light beam, wherein the photochromic layer and the fluorescent layer are formed in order in the direction in which the recording light beam and the playback light beam are irradiated.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium and a probe having plural tips. The storage medium has a surface in which storage cells are to be formed. The tips of the probe form plural perturbations in the surface in at least one of the storage cells for representing a data bit.

Abstract: An embodiment of a probe storage device in accordance with the present invention can include an electrostatic actuator for controlling the z-position of a cantilever having a contact probe tip extending therefrom. The electrostatic actuator can comprise two electrodes: the cantilever and a conductive portion in overlapping proximity to the cantilever. By controlling the z-position of the cantilever, the contact probe tip can be selectively engaged and disengaged from a surface of a memory media, thereby allowing the contact probe to selectively read from and/or write to the memory media.

Abstract: A storage device includes a probe and a storage medium having a plurality of storage cells. The probe is able to form a first structure and a second structure in the storage medium, where a first storage cell containing a transition between the first structure and a second structure contains a data bit having a first state, and where a second storage cell not including a transition between the first structure and the second structure contains a data bit having a second state.

Abstract: An optical head has a first propagation section made of a first low extinction material and installed along an optical axis, a pair of second propagation sections which, being made of a second low extinction material, sandwich the first propagation section, a pair of first confining sections which, being made of a material with propagation capability lower than that of the second propagation sections, further sandwich the first propagation section and second propagation sections from outside the second propagation sections, and a pair of third propagation sections which, being made of a material with light propagation capability higher than that of the first confining sections, further sandwich the first confining sections from outside. Also, an optical head design apparatus calculates a complex propagation constant along an optical axis by solving an equation which is based on F matrices, and thereby design an optical head in a far-sighted manner.

Abstract: It is made possible to improve a recording density by leaps and bounds. An information recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a control portion including a record-erase circuit which causes electrons to be emitted from the electron emission end to a recording portion on a recording medium by applying a first voltage to the first electrode in a state in which a second voltage is applied to the second electrode at time of information recording or erasing, and a reproducing circuit which causes a reproducing current to flow from the electron emission end to the recording portion on the recording medium by applying a third voltage which is lower than the first voltage to the first electrode in a state in which the second voltage is applied to the second electrode at time of reproducing, the control portion detecting an electric resistance change caused by a change in a recording state in the recording portion.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by utilizing near-field light, the recording apparatus realizes reliable information reproduction with a simple structure. Illumination light 20 is illuminated to the recording medium 10 to create near-field light on a surface of the recording medium 10. The created near-field light is scattered by a microscopic aperture 12 formed in the aperture element 11 so that scattering light (propagation light) thereof is detected to create a reproduced signal. Derived from the created reproduced light a distance control signal representative of a distance between the microscopic aperture 12 and the recording medium 10. Based on the distance control signal, the aperture element 11 is controlled in position. Due to this, the microscopic aperture 12 is brought into proximity to the recording medium 10.

Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be applied, in an embodiment, to a media comprising a phase change material to alter a resolved portion of the phase change material to have a resistance different from a resistance of the bulk material. A tip having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the resolved portion can be employed by applying such methods. A substantially anisotropic columnar material can focus a current applied between the tip and the media so that the portion is narrower in width than the radius of curvature. Such highly resolved portions form bits in the media. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from reviewing the figures, specification and claims. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: A storage device includes a probe and a storage medium, where the probe is adapted to form perturbations in the storage medium. A read circuit detects a storage state, with the read circuit to receive a first signal representing interaction between the probe and the storage medium. The read circuit derives a second signal based on the first signal, the second signal being a second derivative of the first signal. The read circuit is adapted to detect the storage state based on the second signal.

Abstract: A nano-scale tip for use on a probe includes a first width and a second width. The first width of the tip is greater than the second width and the varying sized widths form a substantially elliptical shape.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an XY platform device with nanoscale precision including an optical pickup head for focusing and seeking the tracks of an optical data storage medium; a servo device for driving the optical pickup head to move in focusing and radial directions; a carrier platform for receiving a testing object thereon and providing a connecting member to be connected with the optical pickup head. With the focusing and radial movements of the optical pickup head, the carrier platform is driven to move accordingly, and thus achieving the high-precision and low-cost effects.

Abstract: A method for switching the direction of polarization in a relatively small domain in a thin-film ferroelectric material whose direction of polarization is oriented normal to the surface of the material involves a step of moving an electrically-chargeable tip into contact with the surface of the ferroelectric material so that the direction of polarization in a region adjacent the tip becomes oriented in a preselected direction relative to the surface of the ferroelectric material. The tip is then pressed against the surface of the ferroelectric material so that the direction of polarization of the ferroelectric material within the area of the ferroelectric material in contact with the tip is reversed under the combined effect of the compressive influence of the tip and electric bias.

Abstract: The data recording and reproducing device includes a cantilever 11 having a probe h and extending so as to locate the tip of the probe h in the vicinity of a recording film 20, a piezo driving unit 12 for vibrating the cantilever 11, an optical lever 13 for detecting a displacement due to the vibration of the cantilever 11, a Z feedback circuit 33 for performing feedback control for the driving in a direction vertical to the table 21, a write circuit 18 for supplying a recording voltage to the cantilever 11 in response to a recording signal IN, a voltage circuit 16 and a variable bias circuit 17 for applying an AC voltage to the cantilever 11, and a V feedback circuit 34 for performing the feedback control for the bias voltage applied to the cantilever.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage media having a surface coated with a lubricant, and a plurality of probes having tips contacting the lubricant, wherein the probes are coated with one of a fluorocarbon, perfluoropolyether, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyethylene, or a hydrocarbon polymer.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing head is provided with: a substrate which has a predetermined width and a predetermined thickness and which is long in one direction; a probe disposed on one end in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a lead wire disposed on a surface of the substrate provided with the probe thereon, i.e. the lead wire disposed on a surface facing to the dielectric recording medium; and an electric conductor, i.e. a return electrode, disposed so as to surround the probe and the lead wire. The probe is covered with a conductive film as well as connected with the lead wire. Via the lead wire, a signal for recording is inputted from an external device or a signal for reproducing is led to an external device.

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: An optical information recording medium in which a inner layer is sandwiched between supporting plates and a number of recording portions formed of a recording material capable of recording information in the form of a hologram are rotatably arranged in the inner layer. The recording portion is rotated by electrifying its surface and an information beam and a reference beam are directed onto it from different angles to carry out angle multiplex recording. The surface of the recording portion is color coded with at least two colors. The color coding and rotation of the recording portions allow characters or images to be displayed. Electronic equipment using such an optical information recording medium is provided.

Abstract: An approach is presented for designing a polymeric layer for nanometer scale thermo-mechanical storage devices. Cross-linked polyimide oligomers are used as the recording layers in atomic force data storage device, giving significantly improved performance when compared to previously reported cross-linked and linear polymers. The cross-linking of the polyimide oligomers may be tuned to match thermal and force parameters required in read-write-erase cycles. Additionally, the cross-linked polyimide oligomers are suitable for use in nano-scale imaging.

Abstract: A molecular memory media having a media surface and a platform with read/write heads. The platform and media are moved to allow one of addition, removal, and repositioning of atoms, electrons, and charges on a surface of the media. The media is a material capable of storing data written to it, and detectable using a vibrating tip sensor that resonates at a free space value which is phase shifted when charges or anomalies on a surface of the media are present. Other methods of reading and writing to the media are presented. The media may be enhanced by augmenting grain boundaries of the media vis deposition and removal of PMMA materials. Servo trenches and sync bits identify positions of the read/write heads and maintain alignment during memory operations.

Abstract: A storage device includes a probe having a tip, the tip comprising a first portion and a second portion. The storage device also includes a storage medium having a surface, where the tip of the probe is adapted to form a dent in the storage medium. The second portion of the tip is electrically contacted to the surface of the storage medium in response to the tip being engaged in the dent, and the second portion of the tip is spaced apart from the surface of the storage medium in response to the first portion being engaged on the surface of the storage medium and not engaged in the dent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for overwriting data in a probe-based data storage device in which data bits are represented by the presence and absence of pits at bit positions on a storage surface, the pits being formed in the storage surface by a probe mechanism of the device. Input data is coded to generate a coded bit sequence and an overwrite technique is employed to record the coded bit sequence on the storage surface over an old, previously-recorded bit sequence. Together with the properties of the coded bit sequence, the overwrite technique exploits the physical mechanism of the write process in that, with appropriate spacing of the bit positions on the storage surface, writing a pit at a bit position can erase an existing pit within a defined number of neighboring bit positions.

Abstract: An example dielectric information apparatus is provided with a plurality of electrodes for recording information in a small area of a dielectric substance and an earthed electrode. The electrodes are placed such that the dielectric substance is sandwiched therebetween. The dielectric information apparatus reads out the information recorded in the small area of a dielectric thin film by applying alternating current signals to the first electrodes. The polarization direction of the small area and the direction of an applied electric field decide the dielectric constant of the small area, and the oscillation frequency of an oscillator is determined by a capacitance Cs corresponding to the dielectric constant. An oscillation signal of the oscillator is demodulated at an FM demodulator, and the information is detected from the demodulated signal at a signal detector. When recording, record signals are applied to the first electrodes, and the polarization direction is set to correspond to the record signals.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electron microscope equipped with a magnetic microprobe. The microscope can apply a strong electric field to a local area on a specimen made of a magnetic material. The magnetic flux density per unit area of the microprobe is high. The microscope includes a biprism for producing interference between an electron beam transmitted through the specimen and an electron beam passing through a vacuum. The specimen is held to a holder. The microprobe is made of a magnetic material and has a needle-like tip. The microscope further includes a moving mechanism capable of moving the microprobe toward and away from the specimen.

Abstract: A media storage device is provided. The device comprises different configurations of a luminescent layer comprising a luminescent material capable of emitting light while being bombarded by a beam from a beam transmitter, a detector for detecting the light emitted from the luminescent layer, and a phase-change layer located proximate the luminescent layer. The phase-change layer is able to transform from a first phase to a second phase. Light emitted from the luminescent layer and received by the detector materially differs when the phase-change layer transforms from the first phase to the second phase.

Abstract: An electrical memory component is provided, comprising read/write probes and a chalcogenide storage media. Each read/write probe is adapted for selective electrical connection to a memory portion of the chalcogenide storage media and for performing read and write operations upon the memory portion. The chalcogenide storage media has a second plurality of memory portions, and is movably mounted relative to the first plurality of read/write probes for selective electrical connection of the read/write probes to a subset of the memory portions.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium and a probe to form perturbations in the storage medium. The storage device further includes a circuit to cause heating of the probe to perform an access operation, the circuit to compensate for variations in a temperature of the probe in performing the access operation.