MASS-STORAGE APPLICATIONS OF LOCAL PROBE ARRAYS

摘要

The present invention concerns a storage device comprising a local probe array (72) and a storage medium (70) with an array of storage fields (71). The local probe array (72) is situated opposite to said storage medium (70) such that each local probe (73) of the local probe array can be scanned over the corresponding storage field (31, 40, 71). The storage device further comprises means (RF, 44; CF, 45) for distinguishing between information (41) to be erased from a first section of the storage medium and information in this section which is not to be erased, means for selectively copying said information which is not to be erased into a memory, preferably another section (32) of said medium, and means for erasing the whole first section.