KR100673264B1 - Data storage device and method for driving the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An information storage device and a driving method thereof are provided to independently drive a cantilever for storing information and a cantilever for erasing the information, thereby preventing a recording operation and an erasing operation from being overlapped together. A through hole(305) is formed on an inner side of the first cantilever(300) equipped with a probe(301) for storing information. Driving units(302) for driving the first cantilever(300) are individually disposed in one pair of areas(306a,306b) divided by the through hole(305). A through hole(315) is formed on an inner side of the second cantilever(310) equipped with a probe(311) for erasing the information. Driving units(313) for driving the second cantilever(310) are individually disposed in one pair of the first area and the second area(316b) divided by the through hole(315).

Description

 Data storage device and method for driving the same

1 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a recording process of a general information storage device;

Figure 2a and 2b is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the reading process of the atomic force microscope information storage device according to the prior art

3 is a cross-sectional view of a recording medium for explaining an information storage apparatus capable of erasing information according to the present invention.

4 is a plan view of a recording medium for explaining an information storage apparatus capable of erasing information according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the eraser according to the present invention

6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an eraser according to the present invention.

7 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of the eraser according to the present invention;

8 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the eraser according to the present invention;

9 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the eraser according to the present invention;

10a and 10b are perspective views for explaining the operation of the eraser according to the present invention

11 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the eraser according to the present invention;

12A-12C are perspective views showing the shape of a clearing probe compared to an information storage probe in accordance with the present invention;

13A and 13B are schematic plan views of the recording medium for explaining the shape of the erasing probe according to the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100,500 recording medium

110,111,112,113,501,501a, 501b, 501c, 501d: Information storage home

210,220,230,240,300,310: cantilever

211,231,301,311,311a, 311g, 311h: Clearing probe

221,231,301: Probe for storing information 290,302,303,312,313: Drive part

291 lower electrode 292 piezoelectric film

293: upper electrode 304, 314: heater

305,315: Through hole 309a, 309b, 319a, 319b: Conductive line

The present invention relates to an information storage device and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to an information storage device and a driving method thereof.

In general, an atomic force microscope (AFM) is a device for measuring the surface shape and the like using a small rod called a cantilever.

At the tip of the cantilever, a tip of several nm size is formed, and by measuring the nuclear power between the tip and the specimen, the surface shape, electrical or magnetic properties of the specimen can be known.

Recently, research on nano-lithography or nano data storage using the principle of atomic microscope has been actively conducted.

Using the principle of atomic force microscopy, it is possible to develop a data storage device having a storage density of Tbit / in ² or more because information can be stored using a probe of several nm size.

IBM has been studying information storage devices using polymer materials such as PMMA as a recording medium for many years. (IBM J. RES. DEVOLP. Vol. 44 No. 3 2000, pp. 323-340) .

In IBM's SPM information storage device, the cantilever is connected two-dimensionally to form 32 × 32 cantilevers.

The cantilever is composed of a silicon tip, a resistive heater formed on the tip portion, and a cantilever.

In such an information storage device, writing means that when a local force is applied to the cantilever tip while the tip is heated to soften (reduce the viscosity) the polymer recording medium, a bit indentation is formed in the recording medium. Is recorded.

In the reproducing operation, when the tip enters the concave hole and the distance between the recording medium and the cantilever heater is close, the heater of the cantilever is cooled quickly, and when the tip passes the flat surface, the distance between the recording medium is far away and is slowly cooled. When the heater temperature is changed due to the difference in cooling rate, the difference in electric resistance of the heater is caused, thereby regenerating information by using the same.

1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a recording process of a general information storage device, in which a state in which the viscosity of the polymer recording medium 22 formed on the silicon substrate 21 is reduced by heating the silicon tip 1. Then, when a local force is applied to the silicon tip 1, the information storage groove 23 is formed in the recording medium 22.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the reading process of the atomic force microscope information storage device uses the principle that the cooling rate of the heater is changed according to the distance between the heater platform and the recording medium.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the silicon tip 1 enters into the concave information storage groove 23 of the recording medium 22, so that the heater platform 5 and the recording medium 22 are separated. As the distance between the heaters 5 approaches, the heater platform 5 cools quickly, and when the silicon tip passes through the flat surface of the recording medium, the distance between the heater platform 5 and the recording medium 22 becomes far and slowly cooled.

Due to this difference in cooling rate, if the temperature of the heater platform 5 is changed, this causes a difference in the electrical resistance of the heater platform 5, so that information is read using this method.

In the above-described nuclear microscope information storage device, there is a problem in that the information storage groove in which the information is stored remains in the recording medium and the recording medium cannot be reused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an information storage device and a driving method thereof, which include a erasing unit capable of erasing information stored in a recording medium, which can repeatedly reuse the recording medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information storage device and a method of driving the same, which can erase a plurality of pieces of information by performing a single erase operation and perform the operation quickly.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information storage device and a driving method thereof capable of independently driving the information storage cantilever and the erasing cantilever to prevent duplication of a recording operation and an erasing operation.

A first preferred aspect for achieving the above objects of the present invention is

An information storage groove formed at an upper portion thereof to store information;

There is provided an information storage device including an erasing unit for melting the recording medium around the information storage groove in which the information is stored to fill the information storage groove.

A second preferred aspect for achieving the above objects of the present invention is

A recording medium;

A first cantilever having an information storage probe, the first cantilever capable of storing information on the recording medium with the information storage probe;

Provided is an information storage device including a second cantilever provided with a erasing probe for erasing information of a recording medium stored by the information storage probe.

A third preferred aspect for achieving the above objects of the present invention is

And a first cantilever for storing information on the recording medium with the information storage probe, and a erasing probe for erasing information on the recording medium stored with the information storage probe. Positioning the cantilever on top of the recording medium;

Contacting the first cantilever with the recording medium to store information with the information storage probe;

And contacting the second cantilever with the recording medium to erase the stored information of the recording medium.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a recording medium for explaining an information storage apparatus capable of erasing information according to the present invention. The present invention provides at least one information storage groove 110 formed by storing information on an upper portion of the recording medium 100. Erasable erasing portion is provided.

4 is a plan view of a recording medium for explaining an information storage apparatus capable of erasing information according to the present invention, in which the information storage groove formed in the recording medium 100 is erased and returned to its original state before being recorded. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the information storage device capable of erasing the information of the present invention may delete one information storage groove 111 or a plurality of information storage grooves 112 and 113.

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the eraser according to the present invention, the erasing probe 211 is formed below the cantilever 210.

This erasing probe 211 is used to fill the information storage groove of the recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the erasing unit according to the present invention, in which a driving unit 290 for driving the cantilever 210 is formed under the cantilever 210 in which the erasing probe 211 is formed. .

The driving unit 290 includes a lower electrode 291, a piezoelectric film 292, and an upper electrode 293.

The drive unit 290 drives the cantilever from the initial position up or down.

7 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of the erasing unit according to the present invention, in which the information storage device of the present invention comprises a pair of a first cantilever in which an information storage probe is formed and a second cantilever in which an erasing probe is formed ( Pair) is arrayed in plurality.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the side of the pair (Pair) consisting of a cantilever 210 having an eraser probe 211 and a cantilever 220 having an information storage probe 221 is formed thereon. The pair consisting of the cantilever 230 in which the 231 is formed and the cantilever 240 in which the information storage probe 241 is formed may be further arranged in an array order.

8 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the erasing unit according to the present invention, in which the through-hole 305 is formed in the first cantilever 300 on which the information storage probe 301 is formed. In each of the pair of regions 306a and 306b branched by the through hole 305, driving units 302 and 303 for driving the first cantilever 300 are formed, respectively.

The through-hole 305 is also formed in the second cantilever 310 having the erasing probe 311 formed therein, and the pair of regions 316a and 316b branched by the through-hole 315 are described above. Driving units 312 and 313 for driving the second cantilever 310 are formed, respectively.

9 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the eraser according to the present invention, wherein the recording medium 500 for storing information is preferably made of a polymer, and the probe for storing information in the polymer recording medium 500 is shown. When information is recorded at 301, as shown in FIG. 9, an information storage groove 501 is formed on the recording medium 500.

That is, the information storage probe 301 is formed under the first cantilever 300, the through-hole 305 is formed in the first cantilever 300, and is branched by the through-hole 305. Conductive lines 309a and 309b are formed in each of the first cantilever regions 306a and 306b, and the conductive lines are formed on the first cantilever 300 corresponding to the region where the information storage probe 301 is formed. Heaters 304 are formed that are connected to 309a and 309b.

Therefore, the heater 304 is heated by the current flowing through the conductive lines 309a and 309b, and the information storage probe 301 is heated by the heat heated by the heater 304.

Accordingly, the information storage probe 301 contacts the recording medium 500 to form the information storage groove 501.

In addition, the second cantilever 310 in which the erasing probe 311 is formed also has a heater 314 formed in the same manner as the first cantilever described above to melt the recording medium around the information storage groove 501 to store the information storage groove. 501 can be filled.

That is, the erasing probe 311 is formed under the second cantilever 310, and the through-hole 315 is formed in the second cantilever 310, and is branched by the through-hole 315. Conductive lines 319a and 319b are formed in each of the second cantilever regions 316a and 316b, and the conductive lines 319a are formed on the second cantilever 310 corresponding to the region where the erasing probe 311 is formed. A heater 314 connected to the 319b is formed.

Therefore, the erasing probe 311 is heated by the heated heat of the heater 314 to fill the information storage groove 501 of the recording medium 500 to perform the erasing operation.

At this time, the temperature at which the erasing probe 311 is heated is set to a temperature larger than the glass transition temperature Tg of the recording medium 500.

And, the first and second cantilever (300 310) is preferably formed of silicon, and the first and second cantilever (300 310) is an impurity 1 X 10 ¹⁶ conductivity provided in each line (309a, 309b, 319a, 319b ) It is formed by high doping to ˜1 × 10 ¹⁷ , and the heaters 304 and 314 are formed by low doping impurities to 1 × 10 ¹³ to 1 × 10 ¹⁵ .

10A and 10B are perspective views illustrating the operation of the eraser according to the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 10A, an erase operation is performed while a first cantilever 300 having an information storage probe 301 is operated. The second cantilever 310 provided with the dragon probe 311 is driven away from the recording medium 500 by operating the driving unit.

That is, during the information recording operation, the first cantilever 300 provided with the information storage probe 301 is lowered from the initial position by the driving unit to contact the recording medium 500 to record information, and the erasure probe The second cantilever 310 having the 311 is operated at the initial position to move up from the recording medium 500.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the first cantilever 300 having the information storage probe 301 is operated while the second cantilever 310 having the erasing probe 311 is operated. It is operated away from the recording medium 500.

Therefore, in the information erasing operation, an operation opposite to the above-described information recording operation is performed.

In this case, the driving part is formed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode, so that the cantilever can be raised and lowered by switching a constant voltage and a reverse voltage.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the erasing unit according to the present invention, wherein the erasing probe 311a of the third embodiment of the present invention is perpendicular to the erasing probe 311 of FIG. 8. It has a wide shape.

This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B.

12A to 12C are perspective views showing the shape of the erasing probe compared to the information storage probe according to the present invention. The information storage probe 301 has a sharply processed shape as shown in FIG. 12A. 12B, the width W2 of the erasing probe 311g has a shape wider than the width W1 of the information storage probe 301, or as shown in FIG. 12C, the cross-sectional area of the erasing probe 311h. It is preferable that S2 has a shape larger than the cross-sectional area S1 of the information storage probe 301.

That is, since the erasing probe is made into a shape having a wide width and a large cross-sectional area, at least one information storage groove can be erased.

Then, the erasing probe is formed in a triangular prism shape as shown in FIG. 12A or a square pillar shape as shown in FIG. 12C.

13A and 13B are schematic plan views of a recording medium for explaining the shape of the erasing probe according to the present invention, in which an information storage probe is made by recording a reference information storage groove 501a having a recording medium 500. In this case, the erasing probe may erase the plurality of information storage grooves 501b and 501c simultaneously existing on the reference information storage groove 501a and the horizontal line A-A ', as shown in FIG. 13A. It is made into a shape having a size.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 13B, the clear probe includes a plurality of information storage grooves existing on the reference information storage groove 501a and on a vertical line B-B 'perpendicular to the horizontal line A-A'. (501d, 501e) is made into a shape having a size that can be erased at the same time.

As described above, in the atomic force microscope information storage apparatus of the related art, the information storage groove in which the information is stored remains on the recording medium, so that the recording medium cannot be reused. However, in the present invention, the erasable data can be erased. There is an effect that the recording medium can be repeatedly reused.

In addition, the present invention is designed such that the erase probe has a larger width and cross-sectional area than the probe for storing information, so that a plurality of information can be erased by performing a single erase operation, so that the operation can be performed quickly.

In addition, the present invention performs a step of lowering the information storage cantilever in contact with the recording medium in the step of storing information, raising the erasing cantilever, and raising the information storage cantilever in the process of erasing information, A step of lowering the cantilever for contact with the recording medium is performed.

Therefore, the information storing cantilever and the erasing cantilever are independently driven to prevent duplication of the recording operation and the erasing operation.

Although the invention has been described in detail only with respect to specific examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit of the invention, and such modifications and variations belong to the appended claims.

Claims (21)

An information storage groove formed at an upper portion thereof to store information and to be melted by heat; It comprises a erasing unit that can fill the information storage groove by melting the recording medium around the information storage groove in which the information is stored, The recording medium is formed of a polymer, And the erasing unit is configured to delete a plurality of information storage grooves in which the information is stored at the same time. delete The method of claim 1, The erase unit, A clearing probe in contact with the information storage groove; And a heater for heating the erasing probe to melt the recording medium around the information storage groove. The method according to claim 1 or 3, The erase unit, A probe is formed at a lower portion, a through hole is formed therein, a conductive line is formed at each of the cantilever regions branched by the through hole, and the conductive line is formed at an upper portion corresponding to the region where the probe is formed. An information storage device, characterized in that the cantilever is formed with a heater connected to each other. A recording medium; A first cantilever having an information storage probe, the first cantilever capable of storing information on the recording medium with the information storage probe; And a second cantilever provided with a erasing probe capable of erasing information of the recording medium stored by the information storage probe. The recording medium has a groove formed by the information storage probe of the first cantilever, and the information is stored, and the groove is filled by the erasing probe of the second cantilever, and the information is erased. , And the erasing unit is configured to erase a plurality of information storage grooves at which information is stored at the same time. The method of claim 5, The width of the erasing probe, And an information storage device larger than the width of the information storage probe. The method of claim 5, The cross-sectional area of the erasing probe, An information storage device, characterized in that greater than the cross-sectional area of the information storage probe. The method of claim 5, The shape of the erasing probe, Information storage device, characterized in that the triangular prism or square pillar. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, On the side of the pair consisting of the first cantilever and the second cantilever, An information storage apparatus, characterized in that a plurality of pairs are further arranged. The method of claim 5, The first and second cantilever, A probe is formed in the lower portion, a through hole is formed therein, a conductive line is formed in each of the regions branched by the through hole, and the upper portion corresponding to the region where the probe is formed is connected to the conductive line. An information storage device, characterized in that the cantilever is formed with each heater. The method of claim 5, The first and second cantilever further comprises a driving unit for driving the first and second cantilever from the initial position to the upper or lower, respectively. The method of claim 11, The driving unit, And a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode are sequentially stacked on the cantilever. delete The method of claim 5, When the information storage probe is made and recorded by making a reference information storage groove formed in the recording medium And the erasing probe is formed in a shape having a size capable of simultaneously deleting the reference information storage groove and a plurality of information storage grooves existing on a horizontal line. delete And a first cantilever for storing information on the recording medium with the information storage probe, and a erasing probe for erasing information on the recording medium stored with the information storage probe. Positioning the cantilever on top of the recording medium; Contacting the first cantilever with the recording medium to store information with the information storage probe; Contacting the second cantilever with the recording medium to erase stored information of the recording medium; The recording medium has a groove formed by the information storage probe of the first cantilever, and the information is stored, and the groove is filled by the erasing probe of the second cantilever, and the information is erased. , And the erasing unit is configured to erase a plurality of information storage grooves at which information is stored at the same time. The method of claim 16, Contacting the first cantilever with the recording medium to store information with the information storage probe; Lowering the first cantilever to contact the recording medium; And raising the second cantilever. The method of claim 16, Contacting the second cantilever with the recording medium to erase stored information of the recording medium; Lowering the second cantilever to contact the recording medium; And raising the first cantilever. delete The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, The first and second cantilever, A probe is formed in the lower portion, a through hole is formed therein, a conductive line is formed in each of the regions branched by the through hole, and the upper portion corresponding to the region where the probe is formed is connected to the conductive line. And a cantilever in which a heater is formed, and a driving unit capable of driving from the initial position to the upper side or the lower side is formed. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, The width of the erasing probe, And a width greater than the width of the information storage probe.

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