WO2003010773A2 - Procede et dispositif de stockage en trois dimensions de donnees - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif de stockage en trois dimensions de donnees Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003010773A2
WO2003010773A2 PCT/HU2002/000070 HU0200070W WO03010773A2 WO 2003010773 A2 WO2003010773 A2 WO 2003010773A2 HU 0200070 W HU0200070 W HU 0200070W WO 03010773 A2 WO03010773 A2 WO 03010773A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
storage medium
light
excitation
memory cell
display
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PCT/HU2002/000070
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English (en)
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WO2003010773A3 (fr
Inventor
Béla MEDVEY
Original Assignee
Medvey Bela
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Publication date
Application filed by Medvey Bela filed Critical Medvey Bela
Priority to AU2002321668A priority Critical patent/AU2002321668A1/en
Publication of WO2003010773A2 publication Critical patent/WO2003010773A2/fr
Publication of WO2003010773A3 publication Critical patent/WO2003010773A3/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11C—STATIC STORES
    • G11C13/00—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00
    • G11C13/04—Digital stores characterised by the use of storage elements not covered by groups G11C11/00, G11C23/00, or G11C25/00 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11C—STATIC STORES
    • G11C7/00—Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store
    • G11C7/005—Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store with combined beam-and individual cell access

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for three-dimensional storage of data, including writing and reading of data, using a three-dimensional storage medium.
  • the medium can be switched between two stable states by physical excitation, and the switching between the states of the storage medium is controlled by controlling the duration and/or the intensity and/or the wavelength of the excitation.
  • the writing of the data is effected by switching to a predetermined state within predetermined memory cells of the storage medium, while the readout of data is effected by detecting the momentary state of the storage medium within predetermined memory cells.
  • the excitation is performed with at least three energy beams radiating at an angle to each other.
  • the international publication WO 99/62070 discloses a method and apparatus for the storage of data using a three-dimensional storage medium, which can be switched between two stable states by physical excitation.
  • the storage medium in a memory cell is subjected to excitation with at least three directed and concentrated energy beams from at least three directions, so that a memory cell is positioned in the crossing point of the three energy beams.
  • the energy beams are provided by appropriate illumination means.
  • a similar method and apparatus is described in DE 40 27 352 Al, where only two beams are used to pinpoint a predetermined location within the storage medium.
  • US patent No. 4,333,165 discloses a method and apparatus for the control of the refractive index of a suspended medium in a volume of suspension.
  • the medium is excited by electromagnetic radiation, i. e. by light.
  • the volume is irradiated by a two-dimensional light array, and volume elements are activated where two light beams cross each other. It is also mentioned that the excitation may be performed with planar light sources, but no specific details of the planar light sources are disclosed.
  • the objects of the invention are achieved with a method, where a three-dimensional storage medium is used, which can be switched between two stable states by physical excitation.
  • the switching between the states of the storage medium is controlled by controlling the duration and/or the intensity and/or the wavelength of the excitation, and the writing of the data is effected by switching to a predetermined state within predetermined memory cells of the storage medium.
  • the readout of data is effected by detecting the momentary state of the storage medium within predetermined memory cells, and the excitation is performed with at least three light beams radiating at an angle to each other.
  • the light beams are formed in an essentially planar fashion, with one dimension (width) of the beam substantially being at least the multiple of a corresponding dimension of a memory cell, while the other dimension (thickness) of the beam substantially being equal to the corresponding dimension of a memory cell.
  • the planar light beams are formed with an array of waveguide structure, each waveguide in the array generating a plane of light.
  • a complete row - or line - of light sources within the light source matrix may be switched simultaneously.
  • the number of the necessary address lines would be only linearly proportional to the number of memory cells along a dimension of the storage medium, i. e. the number of memory cells within the medium along an axis of a Cartesian co-ordinate system.
  • intersection of two planar beams at an angle to each other define essentially a line, i. e. a row or line of memory cells within the storage medium.
  • the common intersection of three beams at an angle to each other define essentially a point, i. e. a single memory cell.
  • a memory cell is subjected to excitation jvith at least three directed and concentrated energy beams from at least three directions, so that a memory cell is positioned in the common crossing point of at least three of the energy beams, and where the intensity and/or duration and/or wavelength of the excitation is determined such, that through simultaneous excitation by two energy beams the switching threshold between the states is not reached in any memory cell of the storage medium, while through simultaneous excitation by at least three energy beams the switching threshold is reached or surpassed in any memory cell of the storage medium.
  • the illumination is performed from perpendicular directions.
  • the method of the invention may be applied for manufacturing of three-dimensional displays, if materials with fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent properties are used, and where the readout of a memory cell is effected by detecting the fluorescence, luminescence or phosphorescence.
  • the fluorescence, luminescence or phosphorescence may be detected with the naked eyes.
  • an apparatus for three- dimensional storage of data particularly for the implementation of the method according to the invention.
  • the apparatus of the invention is provided with a three-dimensional optical storage medium comprising multiple memory cells, where an optical property of the storage medium may be switched by excitation between at least two stable states, and where the switching between the states is controlled by controlling the duration and/or the intensity and/or the wavelength of the excitation.
  • the storage medium is provided with excitation means, and further comprises control means connected to the excitation means, in order to illuminate predetermined memory cells.
  • the excitation means is adapted to radiate at least three energy beams at an angle to each other, with at least three energy beams being able to reach any memory cell.
  • the energy beams emitted from the excitation means have an essentially elongated cross- section, with one dimension (width) of the beam substantially being at least the multiple of a corresponding dimension of a memory cell, while the other dimension (thickness) of the beam substantially being equal to the corresponding dimension of a memory cell.
  • the energy beams are planar light beams (hereinafter also termed as Sirilight planes").
  • the intersection of two energy beams at an angle to each other define essentially a line, wlangle the common intersection of three beams, each being at an angle to each other, define essentially a point, i. e. the beams locate a single memory cell within the storage medium.
  • the detector means comprises at least three detector elements being sensitive in different directions. It is also foreseen that detectors comprise photo- diodes or one/two-dimensional photo-diode matrices, preferably CCD-detectors.
  • the storage medium comprises bacteriorhodopsin, or a material with fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent properties.
  • the storage medium is in solution in a transparent fluid or gel, and the fluid or gel is stored in a closed tank.
  • the tank advantageously comprises transparent walls, and the walls are provided with bandpass filters.
  • the switchable optical property of the storage medium is the colour (absorption- or reflection spectrum) and/or the abso ⁇ tion (intensity) and/or fluorescence and/or luminescence and/or phosphorescence and/or Raman-spectrum.
  • different materials are used as storage medium, which luminescence or phosphorescence or fluorescence in different colours.
  • This possibility is especially suggested for applications as a three-dimensional display. In this manner coloured images may be produced.
  • storage materials like bacteriorhodopsin it is suggested to comprise in the apparatus a buffer memory connected to the control means, for storing the momentary states of the memory cells of the storage medium. The original state of the memory cell is restored after the readout according to the value or values stored in the buffer memory.
  • the invention also relates to a three-dimensional display, comprising a 3D display medium, where an optical property of the display medium may be switched by excitation between at least two stable states, and where the switching between the states is controlled by controlling the duration and/or the intensity and/or the wavelength of the excitation.
  • the display further comprises excitation means for exciting the optical display medium, and control means connected to the excitation means, in order to illuminate the optical display medium at predetermined locations.
  • the display medium is suspended in a block of solid support material.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus according to the invention for the realisation of the method according to the invention,. .
  • Fig. 2. is a schematic diagram of the storage medium, the illumination means and the detector means of the apparatus of Fig. 1,
  • Figs. 3 is a cross section of the arrangement of Fig. 2, taken along the plane HI-III,
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the light source in the illuminating means in perspective, used in the apparatus of Fig. 1,
  • Fig. 5. is a schematic cross section of the illuminating means in a further embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 6. is a perspective view of a three-dimensional display of the invention.
  • Fig. 7 is another embodiment of the excitation system of the storage means
  • Fig. 8 is an enlarged part of Fig. 7,
  • Fig.9 shows an optical switch of Fig. 7 and 8 further enlarged
  • Fig. lOa-b illustrate the operating principle of the switch shown in Fig. 9,
  • Fig. 11 is another modified embodiment of the display system
  • Fig. 12 is an enlarged part of Fig. 11.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates the operating principle of the display shown in Fig. 11,
  • Fig. 14 illustrates the structure of the storage and display medium
  • Fig. 15 is another modified embodiment of the display system shown in Fig. 11, and
  • Fig. 16 is yet another modified embodiment of the display system shown in Fig. 11, and Fig. 17 shows enlarged the laser diode array of Fig. 16.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus 1 according to the invention for the implementation of the method according to the invention.
  • the apparatus 1 comprises a three-dimensional storage medium 2, which is positioned between an illumination means 5 and optionally a detector means 6. As will be shown later, the role of the detector means 6 may be performed by the eyes of the viewer.
  • the storage medium 2 is divided into several memory cells 3 (see also Fig. 2.)
  • An optical property of the storage medium 2 may be switched between at least two stable states with illumination. The switching between the states may be controlled . by the duration and/or intensity and/or wavelength of the illumination.
  • the switched property of the storage medium 2 may be the colour (the absorption or reflection spectrum), the absorption (intensity) and/or fluorescence and/or Raman-spectrum, or any other property which may be detected by optical means.
  • the illumination means 5 and the detector means 6 are connected to a control means 7, which in turn is connected to a buffer memory 8, a working memory 10 and an interface 9.
  • the detector means 6 allows the distinction between the two states of the storage medium 2, e. g. by detecting the intensity of the light falling on the detector means from the memory cells 3 of the storage medium 2.
  • the control means 7 controls the operation of the illumination means 5 according to a method that will be explained below, and further the control means 7 receives and evaluates the signals of the detector means 6, and thereby reads the data stored in the storage medium 2.
  • the data are stored in the working memory 10 and/or in the buffer memory 8, and transmitted towards external systems via the interface 9.
  • Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the storage medium 2, the illumination means 5 and the detector means 6 in the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1., and at the same time illustrates the working principle of the three-dimensional data storage method according to the invention.
  • an optical storage medium 2 is used, which is cube-formed in the shown embodiment.
  • the storage medium 2 is covered on three sides with the illumination means 5 and on three sides with the detector means 6.
  • the structure of the detector means 6 and the illumination means 5 are explained more detailed with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, and another embodiment with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, and a further embodiment with reference to Figs. 11-17. It is understood that in Fig. 2 the illumination means 5 and the detector means 6 are separated from the storage medium only for the purpose of easier understanding, but in fact they may be quite close to the storage medium 2.
  • Memory cells 3 are formed in the storage medium 2, which allow the storage of a bit or an analogue value.
  • the division of the storage medium 2 into memory cells is only a theoretical division, a real physical division of the storage medium 2 is not necessary, but is not excluded either in theory.
  • the storage medium 2 is an optical material, which, on one hand, is transparent atleast on the wavelength of the illumination means 5, .and on the other hand, may be switched by illumination between two stable states. The switching between the states of the storage medium 2 is controlled by the controlling or adjusting of the duration and/or intensity and/or the wavelength of the illuminating light. In the embodiment shown in Fig.
  • the storage medium 2 consists mainly of bacteriorhodopsin, which is kept in a solution in a fluid or gel, in a tank (not shown), the walls of which are transparent on the illuminating wavelength.
  • the solution or the gel is at least so much transparent so that the light of the illumination means 5 is able to penetrate it with an intensity that may be detected by the detector means 6, independent of the momentary state of the memory cells (see further below).
  • the illumination means 5 are constructed so that at least the wavelength and/or the intensity and/or duration of the emitted light beams 4 may be varied. E. g.
  • the illumination means 5 comprises the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z).
  • Each of the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z) comprise several semiconductor lasers. These lasers are laser diodes, which are arranged in multiple linear sets. These linear sets of the laser diodes will be termed hereafter laser series.
  • One laser block contains n laser series ⁇ -L a , where the value of n may be the same or different for the different laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z).
  • the laser series are denoted as I ⁇ -L x n ,L y ⁇ -L y n , L z ⁇ -L z n , (collectively denoted with L x ' y ' n ) so that the upper index denotes the relevant co-ordinate of the storage medium, while the lower index denotes the serial number of the laser series within the laser block L(x), L(y) or L(z).
  • Each one of these laser series L x,y, n comprises a row (line) of individual semiconductor lasers. It is important, however, that all lasers within a laser series are switched on and off simultaneously, e. g. by controlling them through a common input line or gate.
  • the laser series L x ' y ' z 1;n are arranged beside each other in a parallel fashion within the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z). This is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3.
  • the light beams i. e. the energy beams emitted therefrom will be formed in an essentially planar fashion.
  • a combination of the parallel light beams which can be considered as a single light beam, will be termed as a light plane.
  • the Whitneyplane" of the light beam or light plane is thus composed of multiple parallel light beams 4 emitted from the individual lasers within the laser series L x ' y ' z l ⁇ n .
  • the detector means 6 comprises the detector blocks D(x,y), D(x,z) and D(y,z), which in turn comprise several semiconductor photo-detectors 16.
  • the photo-detectors 16 are arranged beside each other in a two-dimensional matrix.
  • the detector blocks D(x,y), D(x,z) and D(y,z) are each a made of a single CCD-detector.
  • the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z) of the illumination means 5 radiate in different directions, in this case along the Z,X and Y co-ordinates, respectively.
  • the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z) are arranged in such a manner that each laser series L x ' y ' z 1;n of each laser block L(x), L(y) and L(z) illuminates the memory cells 3 along a plane within the storage medium 2. Since three mutually perpendicular planes intersect each other in a point, the location of this point will define one, and only one memory cell, which is illuminated by three light planes.
  • Fig 2 it is the memory cell 3yk, which is simultaneously illuminated by a beam from the laser series L x , L y j and L (see also Fig. 3).
  • Fig. 3 there will be a number of other memory cells, which are illuminated by two laser beams from two light planes, but not more than two.
  • the memory cells within the volume are illuminated by the light plane 4x and the light plane 4z, while the memory cells within the volume N 2 are illuminated by the light plane 4y and light plane 4z.
  • the memory cell 3y k all other cells within the volumes N 1 and N 2 are in the crossing of two light planes.
  • the planes of the light beams are oriented perpendicularly to each other, it is apparent that the intersection. of two perpendicular planar beams will define a line, while the common intersection of three perpendicular light beams will define a point.
  • the light plane will have a certain istthickness" (this is best seen in Fig. 4), which corresponds to the thickness or diameter d of the individual light beams 4 constituting the light planes 4x, 4y, and 4z.
  • the width w p of the light planes will correspond to the length of the laser series or the length 1 of the single planar light source (see the neurosciencesandwich laser" of Fig. 4.). As it is best seen in Fig.
  • the width w p of the light planes correspond to the multiple of the width of a memory cell (see the light plane 4z generated by the laser series L ).
  • the thickness t of the light planes correspond to the width of a single memory cell (see the light plane 4y generated by the laser series L y j).
  • the width of a memory cell 3 equals its side length s, if the memory cell 3 is assumed to be cube- formed. Now if one dimension of the light planes is chosen to be the multiple of a corresponding dimension, practically the side length s of a memory cell, while the other dimension of the beam is chosen to be equal to a corresponding dimension, i. e.
  • the side length s of a memory cell it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that the memory cell at the common crossing point of the light planes will be fully illuminated by the triple power density of the light planes.
  • the term corresponding dimension of the memory cell is to be understood that if the width of the light beam is measured in the X direction (along the X axis) of the co-ordinate system, than the corresponding dimension of the memory cell, practically its side length must be also measured in the X direction, i. e. along the X axis.
  • switching may be effected in the memory cell defined by the intersection of the three light planes.
  • the method of the invention works also well if one or more of the illuminating light beams is substituted by an electron beam or similar directed energy beam.
  • the exciting energy beam is capable to excite the storage medium, and that it is appropriately concentrated and positioned so as not to excite the neighbouring memory cells. It is preferred to use light beams, however, since the generation of concentrated and directed electron beams or other types of directed radiation requires presently very bulky and complicated equipment. Light sources, on the contrary, are small and cost-effective.
  • the detector means 6 comprise three detector elements, in this case the detector blocks D(x,y), D(x,z) and D(y,z), which are sensitive in three different directions .
  • the detectors within the detector blocks D(x,y), D(x,z) and D(y,z) are constructed such that each detector reads one line of memory cells 3, otherwise the detectors are basically insensitive in the other directions.
  • the detectors on the detector block D(x,y) receive only the light coming from the direction of the laser series L x ⁇ - L x n .
  • a single detector on the detector block D(x,y) reads only those memory cells 3, which are positioned along the light beam 4 emitted by the j-th laser within the laser series L x i .
  • the individual detectors 16 and/or individual lasers within the laser series L x,y ' z 1: , n or alternatively the complete detector blocks D(x,y), D(x,z) and D(y,z) and laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z) are provided with the appropriate means (not shown), e. g. with collimating optics.
  • the detector means 6 comprises only a single large-area photodetector, or alternatively only three such detectors, each placed opposite to the corresponding light sources of the illumination means 5.
  • only one memory cell may be read at one time from the storage medium. Since the inventive arrangement of the illumination means allows anyway the writing of one memory cell at a time only (i. e. the
  • High-speed operation of the apparatus may be achieved by providing multiple, parallel readable and writable storage units, each comprising separate units of the storage medium, and associated illumination and detector means.
  • the method for the storage of data according to the invention is performed as follows (see Fig. 2): A memory cell 3 in the three-dimensional storage medium 2 is illuminated simultaneously from three directions by three light planes 4x, 4y, 4z, emitted by the illumination means 5. Thereby one memory cell 3, in Fig. 2 the memory cell 3ijk, which
  • the illumination intensity and the wavelength of the light planes 4x, 4y, 4z will be set such that the total intensity of the three light beams will reach or surpass the threshold of the switching within the memory cell 3y k , so a switching into the selected state will be effected only within the memory cell 3 .
  • the illumination intensity and the wavelength of the light planes 4x, 4y, 4z will be set such that the total intensity of the three light beams will reach or surpass the threshold of the switching within the memory cell 3y k , so a switching into the selected state will be effected only within the memory cell 3 .
  • Each memory cell 3 may represent a bit, and the values of the bit - 1 or 0 - may be represented by the two states of the storage medium.
  • illumination intensity actually the intensity Mrdensity
  • the intensity is meant, i. e. the intensity within a volume of a memory cell, or unit volume.
  • the total intensity of the light plane is a total of the effective intensities within the illuminated memory cells.
  • the exact intensities of the light planes 4x, 4y, 4z satisfying these conditions are easily calculated. Let us assume, that the switching takes place if the intensity of the excitation surpasses the threshold value A.
  • the intensity L of a laser series L x ' y ' n must be somewhat below the half of intensity of the switching threshold A, and not more than a third of the intensity I t may be lost by absorption in the storage medium 2.
  • the switching threshold will always be reached in the memory cell 3 concerned, independent from the position of the memory cell being close to one or more from the laser series L x ' y ' z 1;n or being further away, maybe completely on the other side of the storage medium 2.
  • the switching threshold is not reached in any memory cell 3 of the storage medium 2, also independent from the position of the memory cell. With other words, it does not matter whether the memory cell concerned is close to one or more lasers of the laser series L x ' y ' n , or positioned further away.
  • the readout of the data is effected by determining the actual or momentary state of the individual memory cells 3.
  • the direct illumination of memory cells and the determination of their state would be possible only for those memory cells, that are situated along the outer planes of the storage medium.
  • the momentary state of those memory cells that are situated inside the storage medium can not be determined directly, because firstly the illuminating light beams, secondly, the light beams emitted from the selected memory cell must penetrate other memory cells being in a randomly varying state. Therefore, it can not be determined which memory cell 3 did influence the light emanating from the surface of the storage medium 2, and therefore the state of the selected memory cell 3 can not be determined directly.
  • a selected memory cell is illuminated with light beams with different intensities and/or wavelengths and/or duration of illumination according to the light necessary for switching between the states, and the switching (or the absence of switching) during the illumination is detected.
  • the momentary state of the memory cell is determined from the coincidence of the switching with the illumination having appropriate intensity and/or wavelength and/or duration.
  • the switching into the first state needs red light
  • the switching into the second state needs green light
  • the selected memory cell is illuminated from three sides first with red light, and subsequently with green light.
  • the intensity of the penetrated light is measured, and the switching is determined during the illumination.
  • the memory cell is in the first state at start, than the switching will take place during the illumination with green light.
  • the switching may be detected by a small drop or jump in intensity.
  • this switching may also be determined by measuring the intensity. In this way the state of the memory cell before the illumination may be determined.
  • the momentary state of the memory cell is determined from the coincidence of the switching with the illumination having appropriate intensity and/or wavelength and/or duration.
  • the intensity of the light beams will be controlled very similarly to the writing procedure, that is the intensity will reach or surpass the switching threshold only in the selected memory cells.
  • the original state of the memory cells 3 may also be deduced from the absence of switching during illumination. Therefore, the illumination with a duration and/or intensity and/or wavelength corresponding to the other state may be left out completely, and thereby the readout will be faster.
  • this actual state After determining the actual state of a memory cell in such a manner, this actual state must be restored, because after this reading method obviously all memory cells will be in the same state, namely in the state which was switched with the last illumination. Therefore, it is suggested that after determining the momentary state of the memory cells, this state is stored, and the state of the concerned memory cell is restored according to this stored state, which in turn corresponds to the original state.
  • the determined state i. e. the corresponding bit value is stored in the buffer memory 8.
  • the values stored in the buffer memory 8 are retrieved by the control means 7, and the original state of the memory cells is restored according to these values, in a writing step.
  • fluorescing by using fluorescing, phosphorescing or luminescing (hereafter referred to a fluorescing) storage materials in the storage medium, further possibilities arise.
  • a fluorescing phosphorescing or luminescing (hereafter referred to a fluorescing) storage materials in the storage medium.
  • Such a material for a fluorescent memory is principally homogenous and transparent, at least on the wavelengths of the excitation and the fluorescence, so that after the writing to the storage medium, it is still possible to excite and to switch, and to read the memory cells inside the storage medium. In this manner such a memory is readable and writable in three dimensions.
  • the intensities necessary for the fluorescence are established in the crossing point, from the sum of the intensities of the light planes 4x, 4y and 4z along the X, Y, an Z axis.
  • the excited molecules in the crossing point emit a fluorescent light with a wavelength differing from the wavelength of the exciting light.
  • the fluorescing molecule can act as a chemical sensor, and lose its fluorescing properties. Thereby two states may be defined, e. g. by defining the first state as the fluorescing state, and the second state as the non-fluorescing state.
  • the Raman-spectrum may be altered by a suitable chemical reaction, and the states may be defined according to the properties of the Raman-spectrum.
  • the states of the memory cells may be determined directly, by the direct detection of the fluorescence emitted from the individual memory cells, or the absence thereof.
  • the detectors may be provided with appropriate band filters, which filter out the exciting beams, and transmits the fluorescence only. In this manner the sensitivity of the detectors may be improved.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a further particular embodiment of the illumination means 5.
  • the illumination means 5 comprises a monolithic, large area laser diode 21 with an elongated exit aperture 22 along its active layer.
  • the active layer 23 is sandwiched between two substrate layers 24.
  • the length 1 of the exit aperture 22 corresponds to the width w m of the complete storage medium 2.
  • the light beam 25 produced by the active layer 23 radiates across the whole exit aperture 22, and produces a diverging and wide light beam 25.
  • an aperture plate 27 with a series of small apertures 28 is positioned before the exit aperture 22 of theticiansandwich laser".
  • the diameter d of the apertures 28 is substantially equal to the side length s of a memory cell 3, and their distance D defines the periodicity of the memory cells 3 within the storage medium 2. Optimally, the distance D is only slightly larger than the side length s of the memory cells 3. Also, the width w a of the aperture plate 27 is practically the same as the width w p of the planar light beam 26.
  • a light source providing a continuous light plane.
  • a light plane may be produced if the aperture plate 27 shown in Fig. 4 is substituted by a cylindrical lens arrangement, so that the diverging light beam 25 emitted from the elongated exit aperture 22 is concentrated into a light plane having an essentially linear cross section.
  • Other optical systems to produce a continuous light plane are also applicable, particularly the waveguide system described below with reference to Figs. 7 and 8.
  • One laser block may consist of multipleêtsandwich lasers!', placed parallel to each other. In this manner, a complete light plane may be switched on an off when the appropriate sandwich laser is controlled. Obviously, in this manner the number of control lines of the laser blocks will be equal to the number of sandwich lasers on the laser block, and the wiring will be much simpler.
  • the addressing of a predetermined memory cell may be done directly, because each laser block may be associated to a co-ordinate axis of the Cartesian co-ordinate system, and addressing of a selected memory cell is done simply by switching on one of the sandwich lasers from each laser block. On each laser block associated to a coordinate axis, the serial number of the sandwich laser which must be switched on will be the same as the relevant co-ordinate of the selected memory cell.
  • Fig. 5 shows an other embodiment of the illumination means 5, which provides the possibility to illuminate the memory cells with the desired wavelength. Only one dimension is shown again, but the application in two or three dimensions is equally obvious.
  • the storage medium 2 is enclosed from two sides with the laser blocks.
  • the laser blocks comprise multiple parallel laser series LI and multiple parallel laser series L2, of which one is shown only in Fig. 5.
  • the laser series LI and L2 comprise a line of semiconductor lasers 35 and 35'.
  • the lasers 35 and 35' are turned on and off through a common input line 37 and 37', and they may have variable output power.
  • the laser series LI and L2 operate on two different wavelengths, which are necessary for the switching between the states of the storage medium, e. g. the semiconductor lasers 35 operate in the red, while the semiconductor lasers 35' operate in the green or blue wavelength range.
  • Each laser 35 and 35' is provided with its own collimating optics 36.
  • the collimating optics 36 transforms the divergent beams of the lasers 35 and 35' into essentially collimated light beams 4.
  • Fig. 6 shows a further possible application of the three-dimensional storage medium 2, and at the same time serves as the principal scheme of an alternative method of three- dimensional data storage according to the invention.
  • the storage medium is enclosed in the apparatus 1 in solution in a transparent fluid or gel.
  • the storage medium may be suspended in a solid support material, e. g. a polymer of metacrylic acid esters.
  • the fluid or gel is contained in a closed tank 51.
  • the tank 51 is provided with transparent walls 52, and is covered on three sides with the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z).
  • the walls 52 opposite to the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z) are provided with the bandpass filters 53.
  • the storage medium 2 is shown again as cube-formed, and surrounded on three sides with illumination means 5.
  • the illumination means 5 consist of the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z).
  • the laser blocks comprise light sources producing a light plane as described with reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4.
  • the bandpass filters 53 are opposite to the laser blocks. The bandpass filters filter out the light in the UN-range, and transmit the light in the visible range.
  • a material with fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent (in short, fluorescent) properties are used, and the readout of a memory cell is effected by detecting the luminescence, fluorescence or phosphorescence.
  • the detection of the fluorescence may be done with known means, e. g.
  • the bandpass filters 53 should be transparent on the wavelength of the fluorescence, but should be blocking on the wavelength of the laser blocks L(x), L(y) and L(z), which operate in the UN or lower blue ranges.
  • the storage medium 2 may be applied as a three-dimensional display. This is illustrated with the object 54, which appear to be a three-dimensional real object within the storage medium 2.
  • the memory cells of the storage medium 2 are utilised as image pixels, and it is not the data content of the individual memory cells, which is important, but the position and the colour of the memory cells. If the light beams used for the activation (switching) of the memory cells are in the UV range, than these beams may be filtered out by the bandpass filters 53, and will not disturb the viewing of the image within the display.
  • the bandpass filters 53 are transparent in the visible wavelength range, and therefore the fluorescence .must also appear in the visible range. In this manner, the viewer can sense the object 54 as a real three-dimensional object. If the post-luminescence of the storage medium, i. e. that of the image pixels is sufficiently short, than the images may change quickly, without the need to quickly switch the pixels on and off . The new image is simply created by the illumination means, and the old image disappears automatically, similarly to an ordinary TV-screen. This solution allows a simpler construction of the control means 7. It is also foreseen to use several materials fluorescing in different colours. The different colour components may be switched with different properties of the material, so an independent switching of the colour components is possible.
  • Fig. 7 and 8 shows a preferred embodiment of the system forming the planar light beams for the excitation of the storage medium 2 (The detector means 6 are not shown here, but they may be realised similarly as explained with reference to Fig. 2).
  • the planar light beams are formed with an array of waveguide structure 100, each waveguide 102 in the array generating a plane of light.
  • the waveguides 102 are identical to each other, which is advantageous for a relatively low cost.
  • the light is supplied to the waveguides 102 from a common laser source 104.
  • the light of the laser source 104 is distributed through a light divider 106 and optical fibres 108 to common source waveguides 112X, 112Y and 112Z.
  • the source waveguides 112X, 112 Y and 112Z distribute the light along each co-ordinate to the waveguides 102.
  • optical switches 120 are inserted between the source waveguides 112X, 112Y and 112Z and the waveguides 102.
  • the material of the waveguides 102 may be glass, plastic, or other suitable optically transparent material.
  • the parallel sides of the waveguides 102 is covered with a mirror layer, in order to avoid crosstalk between neighbouring waveguides.
  • the thickness of the waveguides 102 may be between 5-10 ⁇ m.
  • each waveguide stack and the common divider waveguide may have an associated light source, i. e. three light sources for the whole system.
  • the waveguide stacks may be illuminated with a one-dimensional laser diode array, with one element of the array associated to a single waveguide.
  • the individual waveguides are turned on and off with the associated laser diode, instead of the optical switches 120.
  • Fig. 9 shows a possible embodiment of a switch 120.
  • the active element of the switch 120 is a transparent and piezo-electric core 122, which may expand and contract transversally, under the effect of voltage fed to electrodes 124,126 attached to opposing sides of the core
  • the core 122 expands and contracts, as illustrated in Figs. 10a and 10b, shutters 128 open and close, allowing light to pass between the shutters 128, or blocking the light practically completely.
  • the gap between the shutters 128 should be at least 1.5 times the wavelength of the light in the open state, in order to allow significant light intensity through the switch 120.
  • the material of the core 120 may be a known piezoelectric crystal, like Si, LNbO 3 , but optically active plastic components are also applicable. Switching frequencies up to the GHz range are achievable with such optical switches.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates another system for the excitation of the storage material 2, which system is also applicable if the storage material is used as a display, in the manner as explained with reference to Fig. 6.
  • the excitation is only done partly with planar light beams.
  • One dimension of a selected memory cell 3 in the storage material 2 is selected by a light plane 132 emerging from a planar light source 134, and the two other coordinates are selected with a narrow light beam, such as the light beam 136 (see also Fig. 13).
  • the narrow light beams define a point as it intersects with the planar light beam 132.
  • the planar light source 134 may be realised as a large area laser diode 21, which was described with reference to Fig. 4, but without the aperture plate 27.
  • the planar light source 134 may be also realised as a waveguide, similar to the waveguides 102 in Figs. 7 and 8.
  • the light beams 136 are generated from a divergent light source 152, e. g. an incandescent light source. Its light is coUimated and formed by the collimating optics 144 and an aperture 142, and thereby a coUimated light beam 148 is generated.
  • the cross section of this coUimated light beam 148 essentially corresponds to a cross section of the storage material 2.
  • the coUimated light beam 148 is modulated across its cross section by a micromirror device 140, which may be of the type manufactured by Texas Instruments under the name DMD (digital micromirror device).
  • a further light valve 150 may be also used to provide additional modulation to the individual light beams 136.
  • the storage medium 2 is used as 3D display.
  • a cross section of the image of an object 54 to be displayed is generated by the micromirror device 140, and corresponding light beams 136 are generated by reflection from the micromirror device 140.
  • the light beams 136 intersect the light planes 134 generated sequentially by the planar light sources 134.
  • Fig. 13 it is shown that the j-th planar light sources 134j is switched on, and therefore the micromirror device 140 generates an image corresponding to the (visible) cross-section of the j-th plane and the object 54.
  • the micromirror device 140 and the light valve 150 may be also used as an intensity modulator. This is foreseen for displaying images with different shades. The modulation of the intensity is preferably done by varying the duty cycle of the switch-on time.
  • the light valve 150 may be an LCD based device, or another micromirror device.
  • Fig. 14 illustrates that active material of the storage medium 2, acting as a display medium 143 is suspended in a block of solid support material 141.
  • the display medium 143 is distributed evenly in the volume of the support material 141, where the distance between the molecules (or groups of molecules) of the display material 143 is much smaller than the resolution of the display.
  • the resolution of the display is essentially determined by the resolution of the exciting means, i. e. the distance between two adjacent memory cells 3, as explained above.
  • the solid support material 141 of the. storage medium 2 may be a suitable plastic, such as a polymer of metacrylic acid esters.
  • the display medium may be treated under the polymerisation of the solid support material 141, e. g.
  • bacteriorhodopsin is subjected to pulsed UN radiation with a frequency above 10 kHz, while the plastic is setting. This ensures the mobility of the bacteriorhodopsin molecules later in the solid support material.
  • Other materials, as so-called light powders may be also used as a display medium 143. Such light powders are available in many colours and with different luminescence times.
  • Fig. 15 demonstrates an embodiment where the storage material must be illuminated with light having different wavelengths. This may be necessary, for example, when bacteriorhodopsin is used as the active material of the storage medium 2.
  • the light of a second light source 153 is coupled into the optical path with the suitable coupler 155, e.g. a glass plate with a coating which reflects on the wavelength of the light source 153, but transmits on the wavelength of the light source 152.
  • the beam of the light source 153 is formed by appropriate optics 144 and aperture 142.
  • Fig. 16 and 17 illustrate a further embodiment, where the role of the light source 152 and the associated optics 144 is taken over by a laser diode array 160.
  • This latter contains laser diodes 162 .integrated onto a common substrate.
  • the laser diodes are imaged onto the micromirror device 140 by an optical system 164 which only allows the passing through of the essentially coUimated central part of the beam of the laser diodes 162.
  • a microlens system (not shown) may be placed before the laser diode array 160, in order to collect and collimate the light of the individual laser diodes 162.
  • the. intensities of the individual light beams 136 may be modulated directly with the laser diode 162 acting as the light source of the relevant beam.
  • the three-dimensional display can also be realised with the use of materials without fluorescent properties.
  • the storage medium 2 may be switched between at least two states, and at least one state is accompanied by a visible change in comparison to the other state or states. In this case the images within the three-dimensional display must be deleted before a new image is formed.
  • the storage medium remains completely transparent in at least a part of the visible range, and in the second state turns absorbing or reflecting, i. e. it turns visible.
  • the storage medium remains also transparent on the excitation (switching) wavelengths.
  • a promising storage material is LiNbO 3 .
  • the memory cells 3 may store not only binary data. It is also possible to store an analogue value by controlling the intensity and/or beam diameter. The number of the participating (switched or excited) molecules within a memory cell is a statistical quantity. Therefore, the memory cells may store an analogue value in the three-dimensional space.
  • this analogue value may be stored more advantageously than a digital value, the storing of which may require several hundred memory cells.
  • applications e. g. the speech recognition, and generally the area of the so-called associative storage, where the precision of the stored values is less important, but at the same time the storage of large amounts of data is required.
  • a large capacity analogue memory could be especially advantageous.
  • the precision of the readout of an analogue value could be improved by calculating and considering the absorption of the light between the concerned memory cell and the detector, when the light entering the detector means is evaluated.

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  • Optical Recording Or Reproduction (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un appareil de stockage et d'affichage en trois dimensions de données, à l'aide d'un support de stockage ou d'affichage en trois dimensions (2), qui peut être commuté entre deux états stables par excitation physique. La commutation entre les états du support de stockage est pilotée par régulation de la durée et/ou de l'intensité et/ou de la longueur d'ondes de l'excitation. L'excitation s'effectue avec au moins trois faisceaux d'énergie à un angle mutuel, et les faisceaux d'énergie sont formés de manière sensiblement planaire, une dimension (épaisseur) du faisceau étant sensiblement égale à la dimension correspondante d'une cellule de mémoire. Les faisceaux d'énergie planaire sont formés à partir d'une source lumineuse (104) commune répartie par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau de guides d'ondes (102, 112) et des interrupteurs optiques (120) sont utilisés pour enclencher ou désenclencher un faisceau lumineux. Le matériau de mémoire est suspendu dans un bloc de matériau plein.
PCT/HU2002/000070 2001-07-25 2002-07-22 Procede et dispositif de stockage en trois dimensions de donnees WO2003010773A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002321668A AU2002321668A1 (en) 2001-07-25 2002-07-22 Method and apparatus for three-dimensional storage of data

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
HUP0103059 2001-07-25
HU0103059A HU0103059D0 (en) 2001-07-25 2001-07-25 Method and apparatus for three-dimensional storage of data

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WO2003010773A2 true WO2003010773A2 (fr) 2003-02-06
WO2003010773A3 WO2003010773A3 (fr) 2003-10-09

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102013006147A1 (de) 2013-04-10 2014-10-16 Audi Ag Leuchteinrichtung für ein Kraftfahrzeug

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5472759A (en) * 1993-12-16 1995-12-05 Martin Marietta Corporation Optical volume memory
WO1999062070A1 (fr) * 1998-05-28 1999-12-02 Medvey Bela Procede et dispositif de stockage tridimensionnel de donnees

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5472759A (en) * 1993-12-16 1995-12-05 Martin Marietta Corporation Optical volume memory
WO1999062070A1 (fr) * 1998-05-28 1999-12-02 Medvey Bela Procede et dispositif de stockage tridimensionnel de donnees

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102013006147A1 (de) 2013-04-10 2014-10-16 Audi Ag Leuchteinrichtung für ein Kraftfahrzeug

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HU0103059D0 (en) 2001-10-28
AU2002321668A1 (en) 2003-02-17

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