-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- from: http://www.villa-bosch.de/eml/english/research/optimem/optimem.html Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.villa-bosch.de/eml/english/research/optimem/optimem.html">EML Optimem Home</A> ----- : HOME | CONTACT | PEOPLE | PRESS | THESIS | JOBS OPTIMEM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 GIGABYTE STORAGE CAPACITY ON A ROLL OF COMMERCIAL ADHESIVE TAPE TOPICS: basic principle | drive construction | holographic storage | advantages | areas of application | project support | collaborative universities Writing on the roll of tape + Scientists from the European Media Laboratory in Heidelberg, working together with the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Mannheim, have demonstrated that 10 gigabytes of data can be stored on a roll of conventional adhesive tape of the brand �tesa Multi-Film, kristallklar�. BASIC PRINCIPLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By illuminating a point on the polymer film with a well focused semiconductor laser, it is possible to modify the optical properties of the material. This technique, which is very similar to that used for storing data on a CD, allows to produce information points with dimensions of less than 1�m (1/1000mm). In this way, digital information can be written, point by point, onto the carrier medium of the tape. The required laser power of a less than 1mW is comparable with that of a laser pointer. The physical effect of the laser illumination is to change the refractive index of the material. For the adhesive strip in question, this change is particularly large in comparison to other optical storage media. One reason for this is that the energy stored in the tape during its manufacture is partially set free again when the material is heated by the laser. Another important advantage is that it is possible to write on a particular layer of the roll without influencing the layers above or below. Hence, data can be written and read without unwinding the tape. In that way it is possible to write and read information through several layers on which data have already been written. This new storage medium carries the development name �t-rom� and is a write-once medium. A further possibility is for the tape to be manufactured with predefined tracks or even �printed� with given information. In order to guarantee long-term stability and avoid deformability of the storage medium, efforts are being made to modify and optimise existing varieties of adhesive tape. This work is being pursued in collaboration with Beiersdorf AG, the manufacturer of �tesa�. Readout of a holographic micropoint Planned drive construction DRIVE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The writing of information onto the various layers of tape does not require the roll to be unwound. The storage roll itself is fixed in position. A laser beam for writing and reading the information is deflected by a rotating mirror and focused with a lens onto the selected layer and track. Since it is the laser beam and not the removable storage medium that rotates, one avoids the potential balance problems that can occur, for example, in high-speed CD drives. Thus high-speed rotation is possible and, with it, the high data-transfer rates that are required for recording and play back digital video films. To address the different tracks on the cylinder, a vertical-servo moves the rotating mirror. The operation of the drive also requires a number of other components not included in the above description. This type of drive will provide good data security; its development, however, is expected to require about 5 years. HOLOGRAPHIC STORAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Another possible exploitation of �tesa� adhesive tape is as a holographic storage. Due to the possibility to record data at different depths into the roll digital volume holograms can be stored within the roll of tape. The information can be read out in parallel, i.e. simultaneously, from throughout the volume of the roll. To read out different information, the angle multiplexing technique is used to separate different information blocks. This leads to a further vast increase in the readout speed. Readout of a holospot needs no more than a laser pointer; all the necessary optics are located in the hologram. ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW STORAGE MEDIUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Low energy needed for writing * High storage capacity * Very compact * Simple storage material * Low storage costs * Low drive costs * Rapid embossing of preselected information * Secure storage of information within the bulk of the roll * Rapid access due to cylindrical construction * Writing and readout do not require the tape to be unwound. AREAS OF APPLICATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Compact storage medium for pocket computers * Memory for digital video cameras * Data storage medium for future car radios Bit test structure Holographic pattern Three-dimensional microscope image of two layers PROJECT SUPPORT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OptiMem is a project of the European Media Laboratory (EML). A private research institute for information technology and its applications, EML pursues a variety of research projects, most of them sponsored by the Klaus Tschira Foundation (KTS). Both the foundation and the EML are based in Heidelberg at the Villa Bosch, former home of the Nobel Laureate Carl Bosch. The University of Mannheim, in particular the Chair of Computer Science V, Prof. Dr. Reinhard M�nner, supports the project through the participation of its optical laboratories. Additional support comes from Beiersdorf AG, the manufacturer of �tesa Multi-Film�. FURTHER COLLABORATIVE UNIVERSITIES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prof. Dr. Bert Hesselink Stanford University Department of Electrical Engineering Prof. Dr. Thomas Schimmel Universit�t Karlsruhe, Institut f�r Angewandte Physik CONTACT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PROJECT MANAGER: PUBLIC RELATIONS: Dr. Steffen Noehte European Media Laboratory GmbH Villa Bosch Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 33 D-69118 Heidelberg @:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel.: +49-6221-533-208 Fax: +49-6221-533-298 Renate Ries European Media Laboratory GmbH Villa Bosch Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 33 D-69118 Heidelberg @:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel.: +49-6221-533-214 Fax: +49-6221-533-198 Copyright � 1997 Klaus Tschira Foundation. All Rights reserved. Last modified: 24.5.1999 Questions and comments . ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. 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