Claims
- 1. A data storage device comprising:
a data storage medium that includes a first layer at a surface of the storage medium and a second layer between the first layer and a third layer; an energy source positioned proximate to the data storage medium; and a nanometer-scaled data bit extending through a portion of the second layer.
- 2. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a conducting material.
- 3. The data storage device of claim 2, wherein the second layer comprises an electrically resistive material.
- 4. The data storage device of claim 2, wherein the second layer comprises a material having a first state and a second state.
- 5. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a thickness of between 2 and 100 nanometers.
- 6. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a first region that includes a phase-change material and a second region that includes a resistive material with a resistivity value midway between the resistivity value of a first phase of the phase-change material and a second phase of the phase-change material.
- 7. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a thermally insulating material.
- 8. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the data bit comprises a material in a state different from the state of the second layer.
- 9. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the data bit comprises a portion of the second layer containing a hole through the second layer.
- 10. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising a third layer adjacent to the second layer and a fourth layer adjacent to the third layer.
- 11. The data storage device of claim 10, wherein the data bit extends through a portion of the fourth layer.
- 12. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises at least one of a photoconductive material and a cathodoconductive material.
- 13. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises at least one of a photoluminescent material and a cathodoluminescent material.
- 14. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises at least one of a field emitter, a Spindt emitter, and a Schottky emitter.
- 15. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a secondary energy emitter and a heating element positioned proximate to the storage medium.
- 16. A method of storing data comprising:
providing a data storage medium that includes a first layer at a surface of the storage medium and a second layer between the first layer and a third layer; writing a nanometer-scaled data bit in the second layer by bombarding the storage medium with a high-power-density beam; and reading the data bit by bombarding the data storage medium with a low-power-density beam.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the writing step further comprises forming a hole through the first layer and the second layer.
- 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the writing step further comprises changing a portion of the second layer from a first state to a second state.
- 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the reading step further comprises monitoring how much electric current flows through the third layer.
- 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the reading step further comprises comparing how much electric current flows through the first layer compared to the third layer.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to U.S. Patent Application to Gary Gibson entitled AFM VERSION OF DIODE- AND “CATHODOCONDUCTIVITY- AND CATHODOLUMINESCENCE-BASED DATA STORAGE MEDIA”, application Ser. No. 09/726,621 filed Dec. 1, 2000, to U.S. Patent Application to Gary Gibson entitled “METHODS FOR CONDUCTING CURRENT BETWEEN A SCANNED-PROBE AND STORAGE MEDIUM”, application Ser. No. 09/783,008 filed Feb. 15, 2001 and to U.S. Patent Application to Gary Gibson entitled “SUPPLEMENTARY ENERGY SOURCES FOR ATOMIC RESOLUTION STORAGE MEMORY DEVICES”, filed concurrently herewith. These applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.