Claims
- 1. An optical data storage medium comprising:
a storage layer having one or more data storage tracks thereon which define a data track pitch, and a micro-lens array positioned proximate to said one or more data storage tracks, wherein said micro-lens array comprises a periodic structure defining at least first and second repeating periods, and wherein said periodic structure induces a virtual track pitch having a pitch which is different than said data track pitch.
- 2. The optical data storage medium of claim 1, wherein said micro-lens array comprises first and second interleaved lenses.
- 3. The optical data storage medium of claim 2, wherein said interleaved lenses are spiral lenses.
- 4. The optical data storage medium of claim 2, wherein said first lens is taller than said second lens.
- 5. The optical data storage medium of claim 2, wherein said first lens is wider than said second lens.
- 6. The optical storage medium of claim 2, wherein said first lens is disposed a first distance from said second lens in a first direction and said first lens is disposed a second distance from said second lens in a second direction.
- 7. The optical data storage medium of claim 1, wherein said micro-lens array comprises a single lens.
- 8. The optical data storage medium of claim 7, wherein said lens is a spiral lens.
- 9. The optical storage medium of claim 7, wherein a portion of said spiral lens located between first and second adjacent portions is disposed a first distance from an adjacent portion in a first direction and is disposed a second distance from an adjacent portion in a second direction.
- 10. The optical data storage medium of claim 7, wherein a first portion of said single spiral lens is taller than a second portion of said single spiral lens.
- 11. The optical data storage medium of claim 7, wherein a first portion of said single spiral lens is wider than a second portion of said single spiral lens.
- 12. The optical data storage medium of claim 1, wherein said micro-lens array comprises a series of concentric circular lenses.
- 13. The optical data storage medium of claim 12, wherein a first portion of said lenses have a first height and a second portion of said lenses have a second height.
- 14. The optical data storage medium of claim 12, wherein a first portion of said lenses have a first width and a second portion of said lenses have a second width.
- 15. An optical storage device comprising:
a far field optical pick-up unit and an optical data storage medium, said optical data storage medium comprising:
a storage layer; and a plurality of adjacent track portions for storing optical artifacts on said storage layer, wherein said track portions define a radial track pitch of N/2 microns, and wherein said optical artifacts are readable by an optical drive configured for tracking an N micron track pitch.
- 16. The optical storage medium of claim 15, wherein N is approximately 0.74 micrometers.
- 17. The optical storage medium of claim 15, wherein said plurality of adjacent track portions are formed from two interleaved spiral tracks.
- 18. The optical storage medium of claim 15, wherein said plurality of adjacent track portions are formed from a plurality of unconnected concentric circular tracks.
- 19. The optical storage medium of claim 15, wherein said plurality of adjacent track portions are formed from a single spiral track.
- 20. The optical storage medium of claim 15, wherein at least some of said adjacent track portions are positioned beneath a micro-lens superstructure, and wherein different portions of said superstructure over different adjacent tracks have different physical characteristics.
- 21. An optical storage medium comprising:
a first track for recording optical artifacts having a track pitch of N microns; a second track for recording optical artifacts having a track pitch of N microns; wherein said first track and said second track are interleaved such that there is an average track pitch of N/2 microns between said first and second tracks.
- 22. The optical storage medium of claim 21, wherein said first track is disposed a first distance from said second track in a first direction and said first track is disposed a second distance from said second track in a second direction;
- 23. The optical storage medium of claim 21, wherein said first and second tracks are positioned beneath a first and second micro-lens, respectively.
- 24. The optical storage medium of claim 21, wherein said first micro-lens has a first height and said second track has a second height.
- 25. The optical storage medium of claim 21, wherein said first micro-lens has a first shape and said second micro-lens has a second shape.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Applicaiton Serial No.______, entitled Microlens Structure, Manufacture, and Use, filed on Apr. 19, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60285497 |
Apr 2001 |
US |