DATA STORAGE DEVICE AND SYSTEM

摘要

Disclosed is a optical data storage device and system, and a method of doing one or more of entering data into, reading data out of, or erasing data from the device. The optical data storage device is characterized by an encapsulated structure including an optically non-transmissive, chalcogenide, phase changeable layer. The phase changeable layer is sufficiently thick such that the impinging vitrifiying energy pulse does not vitrify all the way through the layer. The disclosed method, in one exemplification, contemplates applying projected beam energy to the medium to change a discrete portion of the medium from a solid state of first relative order to a solid state of second relative order through an intermediate state of relatively high mobility. projected beam energy is also applied to the medium to change the discrete portion of the medium from the state of second relative order through a relatively high mobility intermediate state back to the state of first relative order. According to another exemplification, projected beam energy is applied to the memory medium to change a relatively narrow first track of the medium from a state of first relative order to a state of second relative order. This exemplification further contemplates applying projected beam energy to the memory medium to change a second track of the medium wider than the first track from the state of second relative order to the state of first relative order, whereby said second track encompasses said first track, together with areas of completely and incompletely cycled memory material which lie substantially outside of said first track.