FI119488B - Device and method for supporting an optical storage device during read or write event and device for reading or writing on an optical storage device - Google Patents

Description

, 119488

Apparatus and method for supporting an optical storage medium during a read or write event, and apparatus for reading or writing an optical storage medium

The invention relates to optical disks. In particular, the invention relates to a device for supporting an optical recording medium (optical medium / optical recording medium) as it is read or positioned.

Such a device comprises means for positioning the optical storage medium so that it can be read or written optically. The optical storage medium may be, for example, based on plastic, paper or cardboard.

The invention further relates to a method for distributing information stored on an optical medium and to an optical reading or positioning device.

15 Optical disks have traditionally been made mainly of polycarbonate, with optically readable data embedded therein, for example by embossing. For example, CDs are made of a polycarbonate sheet about 1.2 mm thick, with spiral-shaped wells of different sizes containing the desired data in digital form on one surface. On top of the embossing is a light reflecting layer, on which a marsh-distributing lacquer layer is further provided. Such discs are read from the '' back surface '' from the direction of the polycarbonate sheet, with the laser beam passing through the polycarbonate layer and reflected back by the reflecting layer * ···. . layer of. There is a hole in the center of the plates for rotating them. Polycarbonate discs are • · »• · · rigid (self-supporting) so they can be inserted as such into a CD player.

Our patent application 20050228 describes an optical disk made of paper or paperboard. With thicker cartons, such a sheet can be made. ·. ·. stiff, but when using thinner substrates, such as paper, the sheet is often • «· • ·. ···. flexible (non-self-supporting). However, during the reading process, the disc must be very level Φ ·· * ·. so that the focal point of the reading laser stays on the surface of the data partition on the disk. Therefore, while reading or writing ··· * 30, flexible disks must be supported within the reading / writing device. The data section may include, for example, an embossed pattern on the polymer layer on the surface of the paper and a reflective layer imprinted on it. It is advantageous to make such a disc, but it is necessary to read the disc '' directly from the surface '' with the reading laser facing the reflective layer without passing through a thick plastic layer whereby the disc structure may not be compatible with all readers / players due to physical or optical properties.

JP-A-2003085912 describes a two-piece device in which 5 optical storage media can be placed. The recording medium is similar in structure to the conventional back-read optical disc described above, but is considerably thinner. The components are circular and plate-shaped, and are provided with fasteners which allow them to be fastened to each other so that the optical storage medium remains between the discs, so that it is optically readable when the device and its discs are rotated in the reader. There are at least four brackets and are symmetrically mounted on the outer and / or inner periphery of the plates. In order to remove the recording medium between the disks, several clips must be twisted simultaneously as the discs are rotated relative to each other, which makes it difficult to dismantle the disks from one another and in practice requires a device designed for this purpose. Furthermore, it is not possible to improve the compatibility of surface readable optical discs with different players and different optical disc standards.

In addition, there are several disc housings in which the optical disc is imaged to rotate inside a housing inserted into a rectangular optical reader (e.g., MiniDisc). Thus, in these solutions, the housing itself does not rotate with the disk during the reading process, and the ··· 20 disk in the housing is not removable.

··· # • ♦ •: *: Digital information can be embedded in thin paper or cardboard storage media. These are often flexible, that is, they do not remain flat when supported, ijj so that they cannot be read as such in conventional optical readers.

In addition, fiber-based boards are susceptible to environmental humidity fluctuations, for example, which can lead to board warping or warping. This in turn makes it difficult to read them reliably.

However, the use of such discs has many ecological and economic benefits in many areas.

··· • · * * ·· *

The object of the invention is to eliminate the limitations of the prior art and to provide a new solution: * * *; 30 Sun Enable optical reading or writing of thin optical media, ·. sex.

• · · ··· ·••••••••••••••

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device which improves the compatibility of surface readable optical storage media with reading and positioning devices.

3,119,488

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that can be used to distribute large amounts of data in an environmentally friendly and inexpensive manner.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new method for reading and positioning thin paper and cardboard based storage media.

The device according to the invention has means for releasably positioning the optical storage medium in the device such that the device together with the recording medium forms a planar assembly rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surfaces of the recording medium to read or position information on the recording surface. Further, the device comprises optically recognizable fine structures. Optically recognizable fine structures are micro- and nanometer-level structures, usually pits, bumps, or even areas that can be detected by a laser beam as the plate 15 rotates at a reading or positioning speed. Thus, they can be used to scatter laser light into the environment or to reflect a perceptible amount of light back in the direction of laser input. The structures can be implemented by physical variation of the device surface height or, for example, by imitating materials of different reflectivity on one surface or inner layer of the device. The optical storage medium to be fitted to the device comprises a thin disk 20 having two surfaces, at least one of which contains or can be written optically readable data. This surface is also called the recording surface.

»: • Method: In digital format with paper or board based optical or • • | The information on the media can be made optically readable using a device which comprises means for removably positioning the optical medium on the device so that the device together with the medium forms a planar whole. .d, which is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surfaces of the recording medium • i * • · · "t, * for reading data from a recording surface of a recording medium or for positioning information on a recording surface of a recording medium. The optical storage medium is positioned in the device so that it • · • 9 m '··' · I 30 stiffens flat. The device contained in the optical storage medium is rotatable in an optical reader to read information stored on the storage medium.

The optical reading or writing skill of the invention comprises means for reading or positioning an optical storage medium mounted on a press device, the first and second fastening means comprising 4 119488 fastening means between which the recording medium can be positioned and placed. substantially immobile with respect to at least one other organ. The apparatus has a dust-protected space in which the recording means attached to the clamping device can be tracked and means for detaching the first or second clamping means from the clamping device to expose the recording surface of the recording means for reading or writing.

More specifically, the device according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The method according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 13.

The optical reading device according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 21.

15

The invention provides many advantages. For example, it allows paper-based optical discs that would otherwise be too thin or flexible to be used in conventional optical readers / players / positioners. Paper-based optical discs, on the other hand, are environmentally friendly because of the biodegradable materials used in them. In addition, they can be manufactured using conventional high volume paper production and printing lines. For example, the equipment can be shipped with magazines without significantly increasing the weight of the magazine and hence the delivery cost. The equipment can be shipped, for example, automatically to new subscribers or sold at a news outlet.

··· • · · · ··· • ♦ ♦ ·: 25 The device can be cheaply and easily manufactured, for example, from two mounting members (also · · · · * · * · * '' press plate ') · These are referred to herein as the first and second the mounting body. For the sake of clarity, this document is often used as an example in this document. However, it is to be understood that a device having the corresponding optical reading or positioning capabilities of i · * I * may also be manufactured by one or more members by means of custom design.

··· • ♦ φ · · Yksi Yksi Yksi Yksi Yksi Yksi: One of the major applications of the device is video rental. Video rental companies, for example, can distribute press discs to new customers and then deliver the films on paper-based, low-cost paper discs, which the customer can insert between the 5 119,488 press discs before watching the movie. For example, mailing discs would be very advantageous. After use, the disc can be ecologically disposed of with paper or household waste. When an optical storage device is installed in the device, the device also protects the device from scratches, bumps and dust.

5

In the case of paper-based optical storage media, in addition to their rigidity, the problem may be curling of the discs and bubbling, for example as a result of environmental humidity fluctuations. The device of the present invention may be fabricated such that the recording medium is straightened in the device for optical reading. For example, when the above-mentioned fastening means 10 are used, they exert a compression force of sufficient magnitude on the recording medium therebetween to both straighten (stiffen) the device and to keep it substantially stationary relative to the first fastening member when reading or swinging.

The device of the invention can be adapted to be compatible with a wide variety of existing optical disk formats, standards, and readers. The invention can be applied, for example, to CD, DVD, Blu-ray or HD-DVD technologies. Alternatively, the device may be used with specially designed disc formats.

Optically recognizable fine structures in the first mounting member refer to nano- and micrometer-class structures (hereinafter also referred to as "microstructures"), which are * · "1 h recognizable by laser light. or placement-facilitating structures, such as the front track, disc control φ · 1 :: information such as the lead-in or lead-out partition, or audio, image, video, or data files, for example, • ♦: .j: or something a combination of these.

• · · 25

As stated above, the first and second fastening members are collectively referred to as • · • · · * · '· 1 press plates. In particular, however, the second mounting member need not be plate-shaped, but may also be otherwise shaped such that the optical storage medium may be locked into the m ♦ • '· 1 device. According to a preferred embodiment, at least the first attachment member is, however, substantially planar to facilitate optical reading or positioning: 1: 1 through the member. Further, either one or both of the fastening members connected ··· · 6119488 preferably has a force such that the recording medium remains substantially stationary with respect to at least the first fastening member when the device is manipulated, accelerated to a reading or swinging speed, and Immobility can, of course, be achieved without much compression, for example by means of a suitable design 5 of the recording medium and the fastening means.

The second attachment member may be completely detachable from the first member, or it may be articulated therein, with the recording media being positioned between the members. Indeed, the removability of the attachment means refers to the ability of the device to lock the storage medium relative to the attachment members and to release it again from the device. In some cases, there may also be multiple securing members.

When the recording medium is inserted, the device is flat. In this context, flatness is understood to mean that the device is thin enough to be fed to an optical 1S reading or writing device where it is intended to be read or written, such as a CD, DVD, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray drive.

In the following, the words "" plate member "and" "plate" will also be used for the first and second fastening means.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the compression plates of the invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of an optical disc according to the DVD-9 standard. . Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical disc according to DVD-5 standard, Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the compression plates of the invention, one of which comprises an optically recognizable section, and ··· ♦ • *, * Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a device structure of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

7 119488

Figure 1 shows press plates according to the invention in a reading device. Therein, the optical storage medium 10 is imaged between the disk members 12 and 14 so as to form a rigid assembly. The plates 12 and 14 may be dimensioned such that the external dimensions of the plate structure meet, for example, the requirements of a standard defined for optical discs. Likewise, by virtue of the choice of materials and the manufacturing technique used, the thickness, stiffness, and optical properties of the discs can be matched to standards such that the optical device 10 is reliably readable or new information can be reliably disposed.

In a typical embodiment, at least the first member is substantially circular. The ready-to-read (read / scan) device can have a diameter of, for example, 120 mm or 80 mm, making it suitable for use with the most common optical disk formats. The thicknesses of the first and second members may be selected according to the application. In typical applications, the ready-to-use device has a thickness of about 1.2 mm. However, the device according to the invention is not limited to the disc formats described above or already known, but other disc elements and devices of other shapes and sizes can also be used.

The optical storage medium inserted between the press plates may be made, for example, of a plastic or paper substrate. The optical structures therein may be, for example, embossed directly on or onto the polymer layer applied to the substrate. There may be a protective and / or reflective layer underneath the embossing • · · 20 and / or. Optical media • * · ♦ •; The thickness may be about 0.03-0.3 mm, preferably about 0.08-0.2 mm. If a paper or board based storage medium is used, it may have a basis weight of, for example, 30 to 400 g / m2.

However, in order to save on material costs, it is preferable to use thin paper storage media having, for example, 50 to 150 g / m2.

···:: 25 • · ·

According to one preferred embodiment, at least one of the sheet members is made entirely of · ·; :: or partially compressible, preferably elastic material, its thickness always varying according to the thickness of the recording medium. The advantage of this embodiment is that the thickness of the press • * · .. does not vary according to the thickness of the recording medium, but media of different thickness can be used with the same pressing discs. In addition, a compressible layer:. improves contact between the recording medium and the press device. In one embodiment, ·· *. '. (at least one of the sheets consists of a sheet of hard material and a portion of • · compressible material in the thickness direction of the sheet. The ratio of hard and compressible material to sheet thickness may be, for example, 1: 4 to 4: 1. a layer and a 0.3 mm layer of compressible material According to another embodiment, different pressing discs are made for media of different thicknesses, or, for example, only one of the media members can be manufactured for multiple media of different thicknesses.

5

The means 12 and 14 can be attached to one another in a number of ways. According to one embodiment, also illustrated in Figure 1, the outer periphery of the second (lower) plate 12 has a flange 11 which can be fitted against the outer edge of the first (upper) plate 14. Correspondingly, the inner periphery of the first plate 14 has a flange 13 which is adjustable against the inner edge 10 of the second plate 12. The flange on the inner periphery of the first plate 14 also forms a hole which can be used to assist in rotating the plate about its axis of rotation in the reading or positioning device. The flanges of the first and second plates, as well as the edges facing them, may additionally be provided with fastening means, for example knuckles and recesses or threads, to ensure their retention. The plates 12 and 14 could then be easily detached from each other to release the optical means 10 by pressing the plates in opposite directions defined by the axis of rotation of the plate or by rotating them about one another with respect to the axis of rotation. With the solution described, it is possible to achieve a disc structure with a smooth surface on both surfaces, which looks very much like a traditional CD or DVD.

At least one of the plates 12 and 14 is preferably made of a transparent material, preferably of a polymeric material, for the wavelength * of the laser light used. Suitable materials include, for example, polycarbonate and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Polycarbonate is • · •. ·: A widely used and inexpensive material for optical disks, while PMMA optical properties such as light transmittance are more advantageous in some applications than polycarbonate. The price of the material is not as critical as with traditional optical discs, ··· * · .. * 'since the same pressing discs can be used hundreds or even thousands of times by switching between the optical media.

At least the plates 12 and 14 through which the device 10 is read are made antistatic according to a preferred embodiment. This will reduce the amount of ··· * ... * dust on the disc that interferes with the reading process. The antistatic effect can be achieved by selecting the base material of the sheet: ** [: by adding to the sheet material one or more substances which reduce the accumulation of *: ** in the sheet, or by coating the sheet with some antistatic material. Such a coating may be located on the outer or inner surface of the disc or on both surfaces.

9 119488

Optically recognizable fine structures can be located on either disk. According to one embodiment, the optically identifiable structures are disposed on the inner surface of the first mounting member, i.e., on the inside of the disc from which the optical storage medium 5 is read (in the case of Figure 1, the plate 14). Optically recognizable structures may be semi-transparent (semi-reflective) or opaque (reflective).

Fig. 4 illustrates, by way of example, a disc array in which the first disc 42 forms a disc cover and the second disc 44 a lower surface through which optical medium 40 is read. The second plate 44 includes optically recognizable structures 45.

The optically recognizable structures can be, for example, grooves that are micro-machined, such as embossed or laser-machined, e.g. If optically identifiable structures contain data, they preferably comprise pits and flat areas arranged in the form of a spiral track.

Figure 5 illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention. In the figure, the dimensions of the various layers of material are arbitrary, and, for example, fine-grained optical structures are drawn for emphasis in relation to the thickness of the device. The first member 54 comprises a body 55 having an inner surface (upper surface in the figure) micro-machined. A semipermeable or reflective layer 56 is applied over the microfabricated surface · * ·· ·; ·> ·; there is a protective and leveling layer 57 on top. The layer 57 can be, for example, a varnish layer. The optical storage medium 50 is positioned against the protective layer 57 so that its optically readable (micro-machined) surface and the lacquer layer 57 face each other. The storage medium 50 is held in place by a second disk member 52 (not shown) of the 25 plates. In the solution shown in the figure, the data area of the storage medium 50 is larger than the fine structure area of the first member 52.

• · v .: The semipermeable layer can be provided either only in the fine structural area or in a larger area, as shown in Figure 5.

The first member of Figure 5 resembles a conventional optical disk. Mi-: Kali is used as a semipermeable layer over the micro-machined area, the optical recording medium · H · · can also be read at these points. The micro-machined region would then form, for example

* · * S

DVD-9 standard data first layer and optical media second layer. The disc structure and disc reading according to the DVD-9 standard are roughly listed in Fig. 2, with the first data layer denoted by reference numeral 22 and the second data layer by reference numeral 20. The laser beam 26 shows a laser laser focused on the first data layer 22 focused on the second data layer 20 which is reflective.

The structure of a DVD-5 disc is illustrated in Figure 3. Such discs have only one layer of data. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the compression discs and the optical storage medium inserted between them form a disc in accordance with the DVD-5 standard, or other single-layer disc structure. Thus, from the point of view of the reader, the optically readable fine structures contained in the compression discs and the structures contained in the optical storage medium may be located on the same floor, so that the device does not have to refocus the reading laser.

The optically identifiable partition may contain control information such as a lead-15 in partition, other data, or both control information and other data to facilitate reading the disk. For CD and DVD disk structures, the lead-in section includes, for example, information about the tracks on the disc and their starting points on the disc. For example, within the scope of the present invention, a lead-in portion on a press disk could direct a reading laser to read directly from another layer of data (i.e., an optical device, such as a paper disk) disposed between the press disks. Indeed, in this embodiment, the compression discs may be thought to "fool" the reader into thinking the disc, for example, DVD-9 • * · ·. *. : standard double layer board.

According to one embodiment, the pressing discs are made such that the optical recording medium is readable on both sides of the device. The optical recording medium is then natural. Applying the above principles, for example, the device can be designed to work together with the recording media to meet the DVD-10 - • i • t ί. ί standard, whereby both disc members preferably comprise optically identifiable micro-structures. for readable discs on one side, the shape or material of the second disc member does not matter much, as long as the optical storage medium only: "*: 30 locks securely between the first disks when the members are attached to each other. Another • · ·: *. the member may, for example, be "" star-shaped ", comprising radial members extending from center to center or from circumference to center of the disc. In the case of double-sided storage media, it is also advantageous to make the second disk element uniformly thick and transparent at the reading area of the disk.

"119488

According to one embodiment, the optically identifiable partition comprises data which complements the information contained in the optical storage medium or without which the recording medium inserted between the pressing discs cannot even be read or at least cannot be interpreted. Such a data partition can be made, for example, to protect or complicate the copying of the optical storage medium. For example, the data partition may contain some essential program, part of the program, or suppressor, without which the data of an optical storage medium made for compression discs cannot be read. Such a program or suppressor may comprise, for example, an encryption key. Compression discs and optical storage media can thus be manufactured in such a way that without one another there is no use. This embodiment may be utilized, for example, in the computer game, console game or video rental business, or, for example, to ensure that the contents of optical media supplied with magazines are not readable by non-magazine subscribers.

According to one embodiment, the optically identifiable structures comprise a pre-groove. Essiur is commonly used on CDs and DVDs that can be recorded (-R) and rewritable (-RW). The purpose of the front career is to help the writing laser stay on a spiral track while writing a disc. In this case, it must, of course, be such that its location can be detected by optical means. An advantage of this embodiment is that also • • · 20 writable and rewritable optical storage media which do not contain • «· f •; · · A pre-groove, can be used in conventional optical encoders (ie, “pondering”). Hence : ; *; also such means can advantageously be made, for example, on paper, cardboard or plastic film.

• · · • · * * i • · · • · · ·

Ml t (((· 25 Extrusion plates can be made, for example, by injection molding of a plastic material such as polycarbonate or PMMA. Preferably, the desired optically identifiable structures are produced by injection molding. Optically identifiable structures can be produced by ... After the machining, the structures may be coated with a reflective or semi-permeable layer, which may include aluminum, silver or gold, for example, by application of:, *., vaporization or sputtering. ·· ·. *. 'J also as a separate layer, for example by means of a laminate, a reflective or semi-permeable • layer may be included in the laminate or it may be imported as a separate layer, as well as other optical or mechanical properties of boards. layers can be included in the plates.

12 119488

The clamping plates can be secured to one another by means of fastening means therein. The fastening means may comprise flanges 11,13 of Figure 1 on the outer and / or inner periphery of the plates. The flanges may be shaped so that the boards can be easily attached to and removed from one another. For example, they 5 may be provided with threads, slots or small knobs and the like, so that the plates are locked relative to one another by pressing and / or twisting. The fastening of the plates can also be carried out without flanges as described, for example, in JP 2003085912. In this case, the one plate has openings in which the projections on the other plate can be inserted and locked. Preferably, the fastening means are shaped such that both surfaces of the device 10 remain substantially planar with the plates fastened to each other.

According to one embodiment, the first and second members can be fastened to each other and / or removable from each other by machine, for example in a disk reader or writer. In this case, the means may be designed such that the optical storage medium is attached to either the first or the second means. This allows for the installation or removal of a mechanical optical storage medium and for reading or positioning the medium directly from the surface once the disk member between the reading device and the recording medium has been removed. However, at least one of the disk members is arranged to rotate with the recording medium. Particularly with Blu-ray and HD-DVD technologies, this embodiment may have the advantage of being a disc. j. In 20 faces, the data layer is located closer to the disc surface than in CD and DVD types. Alternatives- · * »· ... | secondly, in the case of Blu-ray and HD-DVD applications, a disk means through which the recording medium is passed; ; * j reads, can be made very thin, with both disk members rotating with the recording media as it is read.

• · · • · · ·

• · I

• · · · 25 Machine-disassembled compression discs can be particularly useful in very high-resolution disc technologies, as high-resolution applications (such as Blu-Ray and HD-DVD) prevent scratching and dusting of discs. read more »·:. ,, than lower resolution applications (eg CDs and DVDs). For example, players may be manufactured which remove the first disk member for reading data directly from the recording medium 30 from its surface. In addition, the players may be at least partial »; [·, Or internally pressurized to prevent the media from becoming dusty. • · · * »· ·, ·. : with wine removed. This embodiment thus enables a new type of optical disk system that does not require the use of known cartridges, such as MiniDisc discs, to protect an optical disk rotating inside a cartridge.

13 119488

According to one embodiment, the compression discs are designed to "cut" the optical storage media into a disc blank containing the recording medium and to insert between the discs. In this case, the recording medium itself would not need to be touched by hand. For example, one of the discs may include a cutting surface or cutting areas on the periphery of the disc, whereby when pressing or rotating the discs together, the recording medium becomes detached from the blank and remains between the pressing discs.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the thin optical recording medium made on a paper or paperboard substrate is followed by information in digital form and the recording medium is fitted between the press plates for optical reading. By "thin" media is meant, for example, storage media which are not self-supporting and thus not readable by optical, whereby their stiffening is necessary to enable them to be read by conventional optical readers, such as CD or DVD players or a computer. The recording medium may also be self-supporting, but its straightening or stiffening may otherwise be advantageous or even necessary for reading or positioning.

20 Digital information can be arranged on the recording media either before or after placing it on the ·· * · ...: compression device. The digital information may comprise, for example, • · *; audio, image, video, or other data. It may be arranged on the recording medium, for example by letterpress printing. In this case, a smooth and co-polishable polymer layer is preferably applied to the substrate. Alternatively, the recording medium may be micro-machined by other means such as laser, lithographic techniques or etching. Other embodiments and advantages of paper-based optical discs are described in our patent application 20050228.

• · • · * · * ·· e j \. The storage medium may be such that the information can be stored therein by means of laser light: ***: 30. Typically, the recording medium will then comprise at least one substance of structural interest; * ·, Strong laser pulses can influence the composition or composition. Many such • · · ··· · recording media are known, for example, from the combination of CD-R and DVD +/- R.

• ·· The toner can be arranged, for example, in a pre-groove arranged on the polymer layer on the substrate, which eliminates the need for a pre-groove when writing a disc. Alternatively, the pre-groove may be in a press device, whereby the recording medium may be manufactured more simply.

The device used in the method may comprise, for example, the device previously described in this document 5. The device may thus include optically recognizable structures for rendering the recording medium optically readable. This is advantageous, for example, in industry-specific or enterprise-specific applications. This will ensure, for example, in the film sales and rental business, that the discs supplied are read-only within the company's customer base. Affordable and environmentally friendly storage does not need to be returned to the rental company after '' renting ''. However, such press plates are difficult to mislead. The film industry would benefit from this embodiment as it would prevent film-containing media from being "rotated".

According to one embodiment, the compression device is provided to customers with unique size codes or lead-in information. Thus, for example, movies can be delivered to customers in such a way that the customer's compression equipment is needed to watch them, and it becomes impossible to watch movies on the wrong devices. For example, the device may include a writable partition where the unique code or lead-in part is stored prior to shipment. Based on the customer's customer registry information, or by bringing the press to 20 rental stores, the films can be written on a paper or cardboard substrate to fit the equipment of that ··· ••• 1 customer. For example, the Lead-in section may contain information about the point where the disk crashed. Of course, the type of protection can also be different. The reader can, for example, verify that the codes stored on the pressing discs and the recording media match before starting the movie playback. Using the above principles, customized applications can be implemented for other business and industrial applications.

• · • * ···. a. The optical storage medium may be arranged between discs either by the company supplied by the disc or · or at the customer's home. For example, a device may be constructed into which the customer may insert his own press discs, after which the device will burn the film to the storage medium on the basis of the customer input, place it between the press disks, and return it to the customer in an "e" on the other side of the recording medium M ·:. * movie cover information and / or other information The compression discs may be * * only opened mechanically, allowing the system to function as an efficient recycling system for once viewed discs as well as compression discs. For example, 1 9488 vys could be redeemed at a movie rental or Lehtipiste customer counter for a small fee or a deposit, and if the customer is able to install the media himself, the media can also be shipped via mail order, for example.

· · ♦ 1 1 1 1 1 1 · ♦ ♦ ♦ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • a · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·; ·;

Claims (23)

An apparatus for supporting an optical storage member during a read or write event, said optical storage means comprising a thin disk of two surfaces, at least one of which is a storage surface, and said device comprising means for arranging said storage member removably at said device on said device. so that the device together with the storage means forms a flat whole which is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surfaces of the storage means to read information through the surface of the device from the storage surface of the storage means or to write information on the storage surface of the storage means, characterized in that the device comprises optical structures which are optically detectable as the device rotates about said axis. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises - a first flat fastening means having an inner surface and an outer surface, and against whose inner surface the storage surface of the optical storage means can be arranged substantially entirely, and a second fastening means, which can is releasably removable to the first fastener. attaching the optical storage means to the device, and the optically detectable fine structures are located on the second fastening means of the first fastener. . surface. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the first and second fastening means comprise means for: releasably fasten them together. • · ··· 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the thickness of the φ of the first fastening means measured perpendicular to its inner and outer surfaces in the area of the optical storage means of about 0.6 mm or 0, 1 mm. 5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optically detectable fine structures comprise at least one cutting. • · 119488 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cutter forms a helical shaped cutter to promote the reading or writing event of the optical storage device. Device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the optically detectable fine structures contain digital data. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the digital data comprises at least part of a lead-in or lead-out partition for promoting the reading event of the optical storage device. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optically detectable fine structures comprise a separate reflective, semi-transparent or transparent layer. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that where the optical storage means is arranged at the device, the device is disc-shaped and substantially circular, the diameter of the device being about 80 mm or 120 mm or 120 mm. the thickness of the device to about 1.2 mm, and the device exhibits a center tail having a diameter up to about 15 mm. 11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is at least partially made of a polymeric material, which is trans- • parant for the path length of a read or write laser • * • · · * · · ll 20 12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is at least partially made of an elastic material to eliminate the effect of the thickness of the storage member on the dimensions of the device. ·· # * Method for making information in digital form optically readable, characterized in that the method comprises a combination of the following steps: 119488 - the digital information is arranged in an optical storage means comprising a thin paper or cardboard substrate and having two surfaces, of which means at least one constitutes a storage surface, and - a device is selected which comprises means for arranging the storage means releasably on the device in such a way that the device together with the storage means forms a flat unit rotatable about an axis perpendicular against the surfaces of the storage means for reading information through the surface of the device from the storage surface of the storage means or for writing information on the storage surface of the storage means, and 10. the optical storage means is arranged on the device in such a way that the device makes the optical storage means stiff to make it optically readable. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that a substrate is used, on at least one surface of which a polymer layer is provided, which can be microprocessed to store optically detectable information. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that an optical storage means is used, the information of which can be arranged by means of a laser. • * · · • ·. Method according to any of claims 13-15, characterized in that a device is used to carry out all the aforementioned steps. • · • · · * * Device according to any of claims 13-16, characterized in that the digital information is arranged in the optical storage means after it is fixed, # # # to the device. Device according to any of claims 13-16, characterized in that the digital information is arranged in the optical storage device before it is fixed. on the device. • · · • · · • · · «" **: 25 Method according to any of claims 13-18, characterized in that a device according to any of claims 1-12 is used. 119488 Method according to any of claims 13-19, characterized in that the digital data used to enable the reading of the optical storage means is arranged in the device. Apparatus for reading or writing on an optical storage means, comprising means for reading or writing on the optical storage means and which storage means has at least one storage surface, and which storage means can be fed into the device arranged at a clamping device, which clamping device comprises a first and a second fastening means, between which the storage means can be positioned and arranged substantially immobile in relation to at least the second means, characterized in that - the device has a space protected from dust by which the clamping device attaches the storage means may be provided, and the device has means for releasing the first and second fastening means from the clamping device to expose the storage surface of the storage means for reading and writing. . Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the space is protected from dust by means of overpressure. • «» · • · · 1 Device according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a device according to any of claims 1-12. T · 1 • · · · • · 1 20 • · • · · · · 1 · * · · · · · · · a ··· φ «tn ·· 1 · • m ··· * • · · · ···