Patent ID: 6300622
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G11B,G11C

Abstract:
A device for data storage and retrieval, comprising:a storage medium having at least one layer, said storage medium comprising material selected from the group of: metal, half metal, semiconductor, organic material, and compound material, said storage medium being adapted to store information in a non-volatile manner;at least one charged particle ray source emitting a particle beam;a charged particle deflection and scan unit that deflects and scans said particle beam of said at least one charged particle ray source over said storage medium;a scanning charged particle ray controller that defines parameters of particle beam emitted from said at least one charged particle ray source to read and write data to and from said storage medium, said scanning charged particle ray controller positioning said particle beam on said storage medium; anda detection unit that detects and amplifies an adsorption current of said storage medium at storage sites to determine stored information based on a difference between said adsorption current and a reference value as said particle beam is scanned over said storage medium, said detection unit outputting digital information in accordance with said difference.