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 memory cell includes at least one heater, and at least two leads and a heating element which is formed between at least two leads, a material of the heating element being different from a material of at least two leads such that a location of a hot spot in the heater is controllable based on a polarity of current in the heater and at least one storage medium formed adjacent to at least one heater.

Abstract: A composition of matter for the recording medium of nanometer scale thermo-mechanical information storage devices and a nanometer scale thermo-mechanical information storage device. The composition includes: one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers, each of the one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a first phenylethynyl moiety, each of the one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety the same as or different from the first phenylethynyl moiety. The one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers are thermally cured and the resulting cross-linked polyaryletherketone resin used as the recording layer in an atomic force data storage device.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises a storage medium, at least one probe designed for creating indentation marks in the storage medium, a control unit designed for creating a control parameter (CTRL) acting on the probe resulting in the creation of one indentation mark. The control unit is further designed for modifying the control parameter (CTRL), if at least a given number of consecutive indentation marks with a given minimum distance between each other should be created. According to the method the control parameter (CTRL) is modified if at least a given number of consecutive marks with a given minimum distance between each other should be created.

Abstract: A variable gain amplifier (203: VGA) for amplifying an amplitude of a signal extracted by a pickup (202), an A/D converter (204) for converting the amplified signal into digital, and an amplitude detecting circuit (206) for detecting amplitude information from the digital information, are provided. A gain control circuit (205) for calculating a control value for the VGA (203) is calculated from the detected amplitude information, and an envelope generating circuit (207) for executing an operation of absorbing transfer characteristics of the VGA (203) from the control value for the VGA (203) and the amplitude information, are provided to generate an envelope extracted by the pickup (202). When the characteristics of the VGA (203) vary, a degree of the variation is calculated from the amplitude information of the signal extracted by the pickup (202) and amplitude information obtained by fixing the control value for the VGA (203), and characteristic correction is executed.

Abstract: A method of scanning over a substrate includes implementing a write mode of the substrate by scanning a probe across a substrate, the probe having a spring cantilever probe mechanically fixed to a probe holding structure, a tip with a nanoscale apex, and an actuator for lateral positioning of the tip; the actuator comprising a thermally switchable element and a heating element for heating the thermally switchable element; and heating the heating element to a given temperature so as to locally soften a portion of the substrate and applying a force to the softened portion of the substrate through the tip so as to create one or more indentation marks in the softened portion of the substrate.