Patent ID: 6811948
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
An optical recording medium for recording and retrieving information with an optical beam comprising:a substrate; a transparent layer, having a predetermined thickness such that the reflectivity after recording is decreased, which is reactive (optically or thermally) with a reflecting layer disposed thereon to form a semi-transparent reflective area of alloy/compound across the interface there between, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, GaP, InP, GaAs, InAs, GaSb, InSb, In-Sn oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, Sb-Sn oxide, or combinations thereof disposed on the substrate; and a reflecting layer disposed on the transparent layer, which is reactive (optically or thermally) with the transparent layer of the predetermined thickness to form a semi-transparent reflective area of alloy/compound across the interface of transparent layer and reflecting layer after the optical recording medium is exposed to the optical beam, wherein the semi-transparent reflective area activates a mechanism that decreases the reflectivity after recording; wherein the mechanism reduces the effective thicknesses of the transparent layer and the reflecting layer, and changes the optical-path of the incident and reflected light from the optical beam, thereby shifting constructive or destructive interference and altering the reflective intensity by the semi-transparent reflective area.