Method and apparatus for creating a multi-dimensional data signal

Abstract

An optical disk drive (101) is disclosed which has essentially no seek time. The drive utilizes a Virtual Head (VH) ( 103 ) which is capable of accessing any and/or all tracks in an optical disc ( 111 ) at any time. The drive utilizes a procedure by which all of the tracks ( 208 ) in an optical disc are continuously mapped to a detector ( 121 ) space at all times, thus making data stored on the disk drive available almost instantaneously. The mapping of the optical disc tracks to the sensor space is direct in that it is predetermined and is an integral part of the driver software. The direct mapping makes it possible to use the least amount of computation time required to access any track. The technique is enabled by using a combination of a holographic lens element ( 125 ) with the detector. The technique and the components used in this device open the possibility for rapid data transfers using multidimensional data access.

1 . A method for accessing data from a data storage medium, comprising the steps of: 
 directing electromagnetic radiation onto the surface of the data storage medium; and    receiving a multi-dimensional data signal from the data storage medium.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, prior to being directed onto the surface of the data storage medium, the electromagnetic radiation is transformed into a holographic pattern.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is transformed into a hologram by way of a holographic lens element.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reflection of the hologram is captured by a detector.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multidimensional signal is transformed into a hologram.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the hologram is captured by a detector.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data signal comprises binary data.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device is a static storage device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multidimensional data signal comprises reflections of the electromagnetic radiation from the data storage medium.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multidimensional data signal comprises transmissions of the electromagnetic radiation through the data storage medium.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is emitted by a diffuse light source.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is emitted by multiple light sources.  
   
   
       13 . A method for generating a multi-dimensional data signal, comprising the steps of: 
 generating a first signal from an electromagnetic radiation source;    directing the first signal onto the surface of a data storage medium; and    receiving a second, multi-dimensional signal from the data storage medium.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data captured is binary data.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of manipulating the second signal into at least two combinations of measurable parameters selected from the group consisting of length, width, height, radius, angle, frequency and time.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said data storage device comprises at least one static storage medium.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first signal bisects the at least one static storage medium.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of accessing multiple data tracks on the data storage medium simultaneously and in parallel.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of accessing multiple data bits on the data storage medium simultaneously and in parallel.  
   
   
       20 . A data retrieval system, comprising: 
 a data storage medium;    a sensor array;    a mirror; and    a holographic lens element adapted to cooperate with said mirror so as to generate a hologram in the form of multiple data patterns that are focused upon said sensor array.    
   
   
       21 . The data retrieval system of  claim 20 , wherein the holographic lens element is adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation reflected from said data storage medium and is further adapted to generate, from the reflected electromagnetic radiation, a hologram in the form of multiple data patterns that are focused upon said sensor array.  
   
   
       22 . The data retrieval system of  claim 20 , further comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation.  
   
   
       23 . The data retrieval system of  claim 22 , wherein said source of electromagnetic radiation is a laser source.  
   
   
       24 . The data retrieval system of  claim 22 , wherein the holographic lens element is adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation from said source and is further adapted to generate, from the electromagnetic radiation, a hologram in the form of multiple data patterns that are focused upon said data storage medium.  
   
   
       25 . The data retrieval system of  claim 20 , wherein said data patterns are line patterns.  
   
   
       26 . The data retrieval system of  claim 20 , wherein said data storage medium comprises a plurality of tracks, and wherein each of said data patterns corresponds to electromagnetic radiation reflected from one of said plurality of tracks.  
   
   
       27 . The data retrieval system of  claim 26 , wherein said data storage medium is an optical disc.  
   
   
       28 . The data retrieval system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a source of electromagnetic radiation; and    a beam splitter adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation from said source and to split the electromagnetic radiation into a plurality of multiple beams;    wherein said data storage medium comprises a plurality of optical discs, and wherein each of said plurality of beams impinges upon one of said plurality of optical discs.    
   
   
       29 . A device, comprising: 
 a source of an electromagnetic radiation signal;    a reflective element adapted to direct the electromagnetic radiation signal onto the surface of a data storage medium;    a second element adapted to capture binary data in multiple dimensions from the data storage medium;    transporting means for transporting data in multiple dimensions;    manipulating means for manipulating said electromagnetic radiation into any given minimum two combinations of measurable dimensions relating to length, width, height, radius, or angle; and    measuring means for measuring said electro-magnetic energy.    
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the data storage device comprises a static storage medium.  
   
   
       31 . A device for generating a multidimensional signal, comprising: 
 a source of electromagnetic radiation;    capturing means for capturing binary data in multiple dimensions from a static storage device, medium, or media;    transporting means for transporting data in multiple dimensions;    manipulating means for manipulating said electromagnetic radiation into any given minimum two combinations of measurable dimensions relating to length, width, height, radius, or angle; and    measuring means for measuring said electromagnetic energy.    
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can be converted to a static state.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can be converted to a dynamic state.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can be measured dimensionally by a function of binary data.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can be measured dimensionally by a function of binary bits and time.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can comprise and be measured by some function of binary bits and space.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can comprise and be measured by any given number of bits of information in relation to combinations of space and time.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein said signal can be manipulated or processed mathematically with linear or non-linear, parallel, or multidimensional algorithms.  
   
   
       39 . A data retrieval system, comprising: 
 a data storage medium;    a source of electromagnetic radiation; and    a plurality of data retrieval devices adapted to retrieve data from said data storage medium;    wherein each of said plurality of data retrieval devices comprises a plurality of photodetectors adapted to capture electromagnetic radiation from said light source after it has interacted with the data storage medium.    
   
   
       40 . The data retrieval system of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of photodetectors are adapted to capture reflections of electromagnetic radiation from said data storage medium.  
   
   
       41 . The data retrieval system of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of photodetectors are adapted to capture electromagnetic radiation which has been transmitted through said data storage medium.  
   
   
       42 . The data retrieval system of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of photodetectors are adapted to capture electromagnetic radiation which has been emitted from said data storage medium.  
   
   
       43 . The data retrieval system of  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of photodetectors are dynamically assigned to capture electromagnetic radiation from said electromagnetic radiation source after it has interacted with specific data tracks defined in said data storage medium.  
   
   
       44 . A data retrieval system, comprising: 
 a data storage medium; and    a fixed head adapted to retrieve data from said data storage medium.    
   
   
       45 . The data retrieval system of  claim 44 , wherein said fixed head comprises a sensor array.