DE102020108366A1 - Information storage and methods for programming and reading out information - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a device comprising - a matrix which in particular comprises an insulator and / or a dielectric; - an information carrier which is at least partially electrically isolated by the matrix from the surroundings of the device; wherein the information carrier comprises one or more charge carrier sections which are set up to assume a predetermined polarization in each case; and in particular a device for connecting the device to a source of electrical energy.

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure describes devices for storage, that is to say storage media, and methods for writing to and reading out these storage media.

background

Long-term data storage includes the collection, long-term retention and maintenance of the availability of information. If data is stored in analog form, the data quality deteriorates with the degradation of the medium, which is why the focus is on preserving the medium. Digitally stored data, on the other hand, can be reconstructed by suitable formatting in the event of small errors in the medium, whereby a constant data quality can be guaranteed with limited deterioration of the medium. If the errors in the medium become too large, the data can no longer be completely reconstructed and are thus irretrievably lost. Since media for storing digital data (e.g. magnetic tape, DVD, Flash-ROM) can change relatively quickly over time, the quality of the medium must be checked regularly in order to be able to archive the data in good time. Improvements in this area are desirable.

description

In contrast, the task arises of specifying an alternative storage medium for information which can store data over a longer period of time.

This problem is solved by the invention, which is defined by the subjects of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to corresponding developments. Various aspects and embodiments of these aspects are disclosed below that provide additional features and advantages.

Some embodiments of the disclosure solve the problem described above by including an electrically polarizable portion that can be electrically isolated from an environment. According to the polarization, the polarizable section can store information, for example digital information. This information can later be read out again by detecting the impressed polarization. The detection can take place by applying an alternating current which excites the polarized section, wherein the electromechanical excitation can be determined, for example, by laser vibrometry. The information contained in the memory can then be determined from this.

• - eine Matrix, die insbesondere einen Isolator und/oder ein Dielektrikum umfasst;
• - einen Informationsträger, welcher durch die Matrix von einer Umgebung der Vorrichtung zumindest teilweise elektrisch isoliert ist;

wobei der Informationsträger ein oder mehrere Ladungsträgerabschnitte umfasst, die dazu eingerichtet sind, jeweils eine vorgegebene Polarisierung anzunehmen; und insbesondere

• - eine Einrichtung zum Anschließen der Vorrichtung an eine elektrische Energiequelle.

A first aspect relates to an apparatus comprising

• a matrix which in particular comprises an insulator and / or a dielectric;
• an information carrier which is at least partially electrically isolated from the surroundings of the device by the matrix;

wherein the information carrier comprises one or more charge carrier sections which are set up to each assume a predetermined polarization; and particularly

• a device for connecting the device to an electrical energy source.

The device can also be referred to as a storage medium. A charge carrier section is a part of the storage device which comprises a polarizable material. A charge carrier section can comprise a dielectric film covered with a metal film. A charge carrier section can in particular be a predetermined part of a dielectric ceramic, for example an oxide ceramic. Additionally or alternatively, charge carrier sections can differ in their polarizable materials. In particular, the charge carrier sections can differ in the dielectric used.

A charge carrier section can also be a purely geometrically determined section into which a material is introduced which is correspondingly pre-polarized or has already been.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, the information carrier, in particular one or more charge carrier sections, having an electret.

An electret is a material which is electrically insulated from the outside and which comprises permanently stored electrical charges or permanently aligned electrical dipoles and thus generates an electrical field in its surroundings and / or in its interior. An electret can in particular comprise one or more polymers, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene propylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene fluoride and / or corresponding copolymers. Furthermore, an electret can comprise silicon dioxide, silicon nitride and / or another inorganic dielectric. In particular, an electret and / or a layer containing an electret can be fixed by a metal layer, in particular by a metallization of the capacitor. An electret can be arranged in particular as a layer or membrane on a first charge carrier section or in a first charge carrier section. Additionally or alternatively, an electret can be arranged as an intermediate layer between a first charge carrier section and a further layer, in particular a metal layer, for example a metallization.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, the information carrier being formed by one or more cavities in the matrix.

One or more charge carrier sections can be designed as cavities of the dielectric or of the insulator. In particular, the cavities can represent a charge carrier section. In particular, a surface of the charge carrier section can be enlarged by the cavities. An improved alignment of dipoles can thereby advantageously take place, for example because a larger number of alignable dipoles is created. Cavities can also be encompassed by a foamed dielectric, in particular a foamed polypropylene.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, wherein the matrix comprises polypropylene.

For example, one or more charge carrier sections based on a polypropylene, which is to be assigned to the insulator or the dielectric, and based on an aluminum metallization can be produced as an intermediate layer between the polypropylene and the aluminum metallization.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a method, wherein the insulator or the dielectric comprises in particular polypropylene and the charge carrier section is generated on the basis of an activation of the dielectric, in particular on the basis of a plasma-based activation.

Plasma activation can take place on the basis of various methods. These include a plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition process, in particular plasma-assisted magnetron sputtering, a plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition process, plasma heat treatment, plasma polymerization, plasma etching and / or ion beam etching. Plasma-based activation can improve the wettability of a surface. In particular, plasma-based activation and / or plasma-based cleaning can take place by bombarding a dielectric with charged particles. A resulting improved reactivity of the dielectric can be advantageous for a better connection of the dielectric to an electrode, for example for a connection of a vapor-deposited aluminum electrode.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, the information carrier having one or more metallizations.

A metallization can in particular comprise a plastic metallization. A plastic metallization can be produced in different ways. On the one hand, plastic metallization can take place by means of physical vapor deposition (PVD). In addition or as an alternative, plastic metallization can be carried out on the basis of a sputter deposition. Plastic metallization can also be carried out on the basis of thermal evaporation. Additionally or alternatively, a plastic metallization can be produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), in particular on the basis of plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (physical-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, PECVD). In a further alternative, a plastic metallization can be produced by thermal spraying and / or by plastic electroplating.

One or more metallizations can be used in particular to program the device. In particular, one or more voltages can be applied through this or one or more currents can be impressed. The programming of the storage medium is described below.

One or more metallizations can in particular be used to generate interfaces in which charge carrier sections can be located.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, one or more charge carrier sections being arranged at an interface between the matrix and a metallization.

The charge carrier section or sections can in particular be designed as a boundary layer between the matrix and a metallization. In particular, an interface between an aluminum metalization and a dielectric made of polypropylene can be generated. This interface can be polarized in order to program the storage medium.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, wherein the information carrier, in particular one or more Charge carrier sections, having a minimum polarization after polarization.

It has been observed that a polarization of a charge carrier section, for example an electret and / or a polypropylene, after the polarization decreases, in particular asymptotically, and tends towards a final polarization. The end value can be changed and, in particular, specified by the strength of the polarization. A decrease in polarization is in 3b shown.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device comprising one or more voltage connections.

A voltage connection can in particular be arranged on the matrix. Additionally or alternatively, a voltage connection can be arranged on the information carrier and / or on one or more of the individual charge carrier sections.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device, the device being foldable so that contact can be made with one or more charge carrier sections and / or several charge carrier sections, in particular all charge carrier sections of the information carrier, have a common GND connection.

In particular, the matrix can be designed to be hinged, so that the charge carriers located therein can be scanned, e.g. with a cantilever. In addition, the information carrier can have a GND connection to which one or more charge carrier sections are coupled. In particular, a dielectric can also be arranged between the GND connection and the charge carrier section.

One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a device comprising a time stamp which indicates the time of a polarization.

Information about when the memory was programmed can be used to infer the initial polarization and thus the stored information via a, e.g. temporal-electro-mechanical, model.

• - Anlegen einer Spannung an einen Informationsträger der Vorrichtung, insbesondere an einen oder mehrere Ladungsträger, um diesen zu polarisieren.

A second aspect relates to a method for programming a device according to the first aspect, comprising the step:

• - Applying a voltage to an information carrier of the device, in particular to one or more charge carriers, in order to polarize them.

Specifying a polarization can in particular include a predetermined direction. Additionally or alternatively, a specification can also include a specified amount of polarized charge carriers. Additionally or alternatively, a specification can also include an electric field brought about by the specified polarization.

In particular, a digital value, e.g. by the digital values 0, 1, 11, 10, 111, etc., can be encoded over the height of a polarization of a charge carrier.

One embodiment of the second aspect relates to a method, the information carrier comprising a surface topology as initial information.

The storage medium can be read out on the basis of a measurement of the expansion of the information carrier or one or more charge carrier sections of the information carrier. In particular, such a measurement can take place by scanning the surface of the information carrier or a charge carrier. In order to be able to infer an expansion via such a measurement, an initial expansion of the information carrier or the charge carrier sections of the information carrier must be known. This can be achieved via a measurement that takes place before the information carrier is polarized or its charge carriers are polarized. This result can be stored in the storage medium itself. In particular, this result can be stored in a storage device that requires a low resolution in order to be able to read out the result robustly, so that other stored information can then be read out with a higher resolution. The storage of the surface topology is thus similar to the storage of a time stamp already described above.

• - Ermitteln einer Polarisierung auf Basis einer Erfassung einer mechanischen Verformung der Matrix und/oder des Informationsträgers.

A third aspect relates to a method for reading out a memory device according to the first aspect, comprising the step:

• - Determination of a polarization on the basis of a detection of a mechanical deformation of the matrix and / or of the information carrier.

In particular, an expansion of the information carrier or of the individual charge carrier sections can be determined in the steady state, the expansion being established with a specific polarization. Such a method can also be referred to as a static measurement method. The expansion in the steady state can be measured by a cantilever and / or by an optical method, in particular laser-based or camera-based. In particular, the method can be a Include reference extent according to an initial surface topology, as described above.

One embodiment of the third aspect relates to a method in which the polarization is determined on the basis of a period of time since the polarization, in particular on the basis of a time stamp.

In particular, the time stamp can be stored as information on the storage medium, in particular so that the time stamp is first read out before the actual information is read out. With the time stamp and in particular on the basis of a model of the storage medium, the actual information can then be read out with greater accuracy. As a result, a storage capacity of the storage medium can be increased.

In particular, a polarization or information stored in the storage medium can be determined on the basis of an electrical and / or a mechanical model of a matrix of the device, of the information carrier and / or one or more charge carrier sections.

• - Vorgeben einer Wechselspannung und/oder einer Gleichspannung auf die Vorrichtung.

One embodiment of the third aspect relates to a method comprising the following step:

• - Presetting an alternating voltage and / or a direct voltage on the device.

This relates in particular to a dynamic measurement of stored information on the storage medium. This can be done optically or acoustically, for example. In particular, the measurement can take place on the basis of the mechanical changes which the polarized information storage device experiences under the influence of the alternating voltage. An evaluation circuit for this procedure is in 3c and the method is further explained in the description of this figure.

In particular, the method can acquire measurement data that are determined, for example, by laser vibrometric measurement of an electromechanically activated memory with a specific electrical polarization. The electromechanical activation can take place by applying a voltage to the information carrier, in particular one or more charge carrier sections, and / or by impressing a current. A voltage can in particular be an alternating voltage. A current can in particular be an alternating current. An alternating variable can include at least one fundamental or harmonic. Such an excitation can take place via a cantilever with which a charge carrier section is touched and / or an electrical connection to the charge carrier section.

Figure list

• 1a eine Vorrichtung zum Speichern einer Information nach der vorliegenden Offenbarung;
• 1b eine Vorrichtung zum Speichern einer Information nach der vorliegenden Offenbarung;
• 2 eine Vorrichtung zum Speichern einer Information nach der vorliegenden Offenbarung;
• 3a ein Verhalten einer ersten Resonanz des Speichermediums in Abhängigkeit einer Gleichspannung;
• 3b ein zeitliches Verhalten einer Polarisierung eines Ladungsträgerabschnitts;
• 3c eine elektrische Schaltung zum Auslesen einer gespeicherten Information aus dem Speichermedium.

Further advantages and features emerge from the following embodiments, which refer to the figures. The figures do not always show the embodiments true to scale. The dimensions of the various features may be enlarged or reduced accordingly, particularly for the sake of clarity of the description. This shows, partly schematically:

• 1a an apparatus for storing information according to the present disclosure;
• 1b an apparatus for storing information according to the present disclosure;
• 2 an apparatus for storing information according to the present disclosure;
• 3a a behavior of a first resonance of the storage medium as a function of a DC voltage;
• 3b a time behavior of a polarization of a charge carrier section;
• 3c an electrical circuit for reading out stored information from the storage medium.

In the following descriptions, identical reference symbols relate to identical or at least functionally or structurally similar features.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the disclosure, and in which there are shown, for purposes of illustration, specific aspects in which the present disclosure may be understood.

In general, a disclosure about a described method also applies to a corresponding device in order to carry out the method, or to a corresponding system which comprises one or more devices, and vice versa. If, for example, a special method step is described, a corresponding device can comprise a feature in order to carry out the method step described, even if this feature is not explicitly described or illustrated. On the other hand, if, for example, a special device is described on the basis of functional units, a corresponding method can comprise a step that executes the functionality described, even if such steps are not explicitly described or illustrated. A system with corresponding device features are provided or with features in order to carry out a specific method step. It goes without saying that features of the various aspects and embodiments described above or below can be combined with one another, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Description of the figures

1a shows an apparatus 100 for storing information with an isolator 101 and dielectric sections 102 , which each represent a load carrier section. The dielectric 102 consists of three parts that are equally spaced. The isolator 101 is as a potting compound around the three parts of the first dielectric 101 arranged. The three parts of the dielectric can also be referred to as information carriers. Furthermore, the device 100 a case 103 around the isolator 101 on that the insulator 101 and information carriers 102 and gives the charge carriers contained therein dimensional stability and to which a voltage supply or a GND connection can also be connected. Additionally or alternatively, the device can also be programmed by introducing the device into an electric field.

1b Fig. 10 shows a structure of a carrier section 101 for a device 100 . An intermediate layer 106, which can be polarized, is arranged between an aluminum 105 and a polypropylene 104.

2 shows an apparatus 200 for storing information according to the present disclosure. The device has electrical connections on each side 201 on. In addition, the device comprises a dielectric layer 202 . The dielectric layer 202 is molded from polypropylene. In addition, an aluminum metallization is applied to one side of the dielectric layer, which also alternates with the output contacts 201 connected is. The side of the metallization which does not have an output contact 101 connected has a blank area 204 through which an insulation between the output contact and the metallization is effected. The device also has an intermediate layer 205a respectively. 205b on which between a metallization 203 and a dielectric 202 is arranged. The intermediate layer comprises aligned charge carriers which are aligned in a predetermined direction according to the arrows. The polarization was generated in the device by aligning a predetermined electric field with an information carrier consisting of metallization, intermediate layer and dielectric. Furthermore, the intermediate layer has charge carrier sections 205b in which the charge carriers are aligned parallel to the output contacts and upwards. This predetermined, defined polarization of the information carrier results in a predetermined electromechanical activity of the device or of the storage medium 200 bound to a given excitation voltage. As a result, the original polarization can be deduced from an electromechanical model and the information stored in the device can be determined.

A pre-polarization of a charge carrier section associated with information 300a is in 3a shown. Where is the amplitude 301 an initial response 302 of a storage medium over a direct voltage between -40 V and +40 V. A minimum 302 an electromechanical activity, which is represented by the plotted amplitude, results at a DC voltage of +20 V. This means that an excitation with -40 V or with 0 V leads to a considerably higher electromechanical activity than an excitation with +20 V. Load carrier section. Correspondingly, information can lie both in the offset and in the amplitude of the first resonance. A circuit for measuring is in 3c described.

3b shows a temporal behavior 300b of the offset 302 , 303 over an extended period of days. This behavior also applies in particular for longer periods of time, for example for several years. It can be seen that an amount of polarization of a carrier portion decreases with the lapse of time since the polarization. However, the polarization does not drop to zero, but tends towards a residual polarization value 305 . This residual polarization value 305 is held for a longer period of time. The behavior of a storage medium, in particular the behavior of one or more charge carrier sections, can be modeled using a time model. In the transient state, on the basis of the model and a period of time since the polarization, the initial polarization can then be used 304 getting closed. In the static state, i.e. after the residual polarization value 305 is reached, a simple addition, which results in particular from the model, is sufficient to infer the initial polarization value from the residual polarization value and thus the stored information.

A model made up of three exponential functions has proven itself for modeling the time behavior shown.

3c shows an electrical circuit 300c . The electrical circuit 300c includes a DC voltage source 306 whose DC voltage can be varied. Due to the direct voltage source, a direct voltage is applied to the storage medium 100 at. Furthermore, the storage medium 100 by an AC voltage source 307 stimulated. This becomes the polarized storage medium 100 made to vibrate mechanically. This behavior is in 3a presented in detail. There is a minimum depending on the DC voltage 302 the vibration amplitude. This minimum of the mechanical vibration can be determined, for example, by laser vibrometry. The difference between the set DC voltage and zero results in an offset caused by the polarization. On the basis of this offset, as described above, the in the storage medium can be accessed 100 close saved information.

List of reference symbols

100

Device for storing information or storage medium

101

matrix

102

charge carrier

103

outer shell

200

Device for storing information or storage medium

201

Output contact

202

dielectric

203

Metallization

204

insulation

205a

Charge carrier section with first polarization

205b

Charge carrier section with second polarization

300a

Course of the first resonance of a polarized storage medium

300b

Time course of the offset voltage of a polarized storage medium

300c

Circuit for reading out information stored in the storage medium

301

Characteristic curve of the first resonance over a direct voltage

302

Minimum of the first response

303

Offset voltage characteristic

304

Initial offset voltage after polarization

305

asymptote

306

adjustable DC voltage source

307

AC voltage source

Claims (15)

An apparatus (100) for storing information, comprising - A matrix (101) which in particular comprises an insulator and / or a dielectric; - An information carrier (102) which is at least partially electrically isolated from the surroundings of the device by the matrix (101); wherein the information carrier (102) comprises one or more charge carrier sections which are set up to each assume a predetermined polarization; and particularly a device for connecting the device to an electrical energy source. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the information carrier (102), in particular one or more charge carrier sections, has an electret. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the information carrier (102) is formed by one or more cavities in the matrix (101). The device of any preceding claim, wherein the matrix (101) comprises polypropylene. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information carrier (102) has one or more metallizations (105). The device according to the preceding claim, wherein one or more charge carrier sections are arranged at an interface (106) between the matrix (101) and a metallization (105). The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information carrier (102), in particular one or more charge carrier sections, has a residual polarization (305) after polarization. The device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more voltage connections (201). The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device can be opened so that one or more charge carrier sections can be contacted and / or several charge carrier sections (102), in particular all charge carrier sections of the information carrier, have a common GND connection. The apparatus of any preceding claim, comprising a time stamp indicating the time of polarization. A method for writing to a device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of: applying a voltage to an information carrier (102) of the device, in particular to one or more charge carriers, in order to polarize the latter. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the information carrier (102) comprises a surface topology as initial information. A method for reading out information from a device according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 comprising the step of: - determining a polarization on the basis of a detection of a mechanical deformation of the matrix (101) and / or of the information carrier (102). The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the determination of the polarization takes place on the basis of a period of time since the polarization, in particular on the basis of a time stamp. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following step: - Presetting an alternating voltage and / or a direct voltage on the device (100).

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