THREE-DIMENSIONAL OPTICAL MEMORY

Abstract

An active medium, typically a photochromic material and more typically spirbenzopyran, maintained in a three-dimensional matrix, typically of polymer, is illuminated in selected regions by two UV laser light beams, typically of 532 nm. and 1064 nm. wavelength, to change from a first, spiropyran, to a second, merocyanine, stable molecular isomeric form by process of two-photon absorption. Regions not temporally and spatially coincidently illuminated are unchanged. Later illumination of the selected regions by two green-red laser light beams, typically of 1064 nm wavelength each, causes only the second, merocyanine, isomeric form to fluoresce. This fluorescence is detectable by photodetectors as stored binary data. The three-dimensional memory may be erased by heat, or by infrared radiation, typically 2.12 microns wavelength. Use of other medium permit the three-dimensional patterning of three-dimensional forms, such as polystyrene polymer solids patterned from liquid styrene monomer. Three-dimensional displays, or other inhomogeneity patterns, can also be created.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1PETER M. RENTZEPIS

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