Optical data store and method for storage of data in an optical data store

Abstract

An optical data store is specified, having a data storage layer with a non-toxic and biodegradable polymer as light-sensitive storage medium which has photo-inducible anisotropy, for the induction of which a threshold value of the optical intensity has to be exceeded. The light-sensitive material is preferably bacteriorhodopsin which, by way of example, is immobilized in a manner embedded in a suitable matrix material or, if appropriate, in a crosslinked manner. The storage medium permits a high storage density and can be applied in a simple manner, for instance by printing onto a substrate.

1 . An optical data store containing a data storage layer, comprising a light-sensitive material which is an organic or biological polymer which is non-toxic and biodegradable, and, if appropriate, is embedded in a suitable matrix material, the data storage layer having photo-inducible anisotropy, for the induction of which a threshold value of the optical intensity has to be exceeded. 
   
   
       2 . An optical data store, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , containing a data storage layer, comprising a light-sensitive material which contains bacteriorhodopsin which, if appropriate, is embedded in a suitable matrix material, and has photo-inducible non-reversible anisotropy, for the induction of which a threshold value of the optical intensity has to be exceeded. 
   
   
       3 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 1 , the light-sensitive material being a photochromic material. 
   
   
       4 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 2 , the bacteriorhodopsin being present in purple membrane form and being immobilized in the storage layer by matrix embedding or crosslinking. 
   
   
       5 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 2 , the data storage layer containing a bacteriorhodopsin variant in which the natural retinal molecule is replaced by a synthetic variant. 
   
   
       6 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 2 , the data storage layer containing a bacteriorhodopsin variant which can be identified by an amino acid sequence that marks it. 
   
   
       7 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 1 , the storage layer being applied on a transparent substrate. 
   
   
       8 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 1 , the storage layer being applied on a diffusely reflective substrate. 
   
   
       9 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 1 , a specularly reflective layer being fitted between storage layer and substrate. 
   
   
       10 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 1 , the light-sensitive material being embedded in a matrix material whose softening point lies below the destruction threshold of the storage layer and which can be heated above the softening point for the purpose of erasing the stored information. 
   
   
       11 . The optical data store as claimed in  claim 1 , the light-sensitive material being embedded in a matrix material whose softening point lies above the destruction threshold of the storage layer. 
   
   
       12 . A method for storage of data and encryption thereof in a data store, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , which, as storage medium, has a light-sensitive material which has photo-inducible anisotropy, for the induction of which a threshold value of the optical intensity has to be exceeded, binary data being recorded with light of two different states of polarization, in particular linearly polarized light, preferably mutually perpendicularly linearly polarized light, and a first data record being entirely or partly overwritten with a second data record, and the first data record thus being encrypted. 
   
   
       13 . A method for storage of data in a data store, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , which has, as storage medium, a light-sensitive material which has photo-induced anisotropy, for the induction of which a threshold value of the optical intensity has to be exceeded, more than two different states of polarization per storage location being used at least in regions. 
   
   
       14 . A method for parallel recording of data blocks in an optical data store, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , the recording light being modulated according to the data block that is respectively to be recorded in particular by means of a controllable surface light modulator (SLM) and the modulated recording light being focused toward the optical data store so intensely that its intensity in the storage layer exceeds the intensity threshold required for recording. 
   
   
       15 . The production of an optical data store, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , the storage layer being effected by means of an application method, in particular printing, spraying, pouring, inkjet printing. 
   
   
       16 . A method of storing data comprising the steps of:
 providing an optical data store that is embedded in a matrix material, the optical data store containing a data storage layer comprising a light-sensitive organic or biological polymer that is non-toxic and biodegradable, wherein the data storage layer has photo-inducible non-reversible anisotropy, induction of which requires a threshold value of the optical intensity to be exceeded; and   writing data to the optical data store by inducing the photo-inducible non-reversible anisotropy using a recording light having an optical intensity exceeding the threshold value.   
   
   
       17 . The method of storing data as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the data storage layer is comprised of the light-sensitive material containing bacteriorhodopsin. 
   
   
       18 . The method of storing data as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the light-sensitive material is a photochromic material.