Patent ID: 7260051

Claim:
A memory apparatus, comprising: a movable media having a surface for placing anomalies thereon; a moveable reading/writing mechanism, comprising: a moveable platform; and at least one fine tip portion attached to said moveable platform configured to write (cause) anomalies and read anomalies on said media surface; a media movement mechanism attached to said moveable media and configured to move said media in response to media control signals; a platform movement mechanism attached to said platform and configured to move said platform in response to platform control signals; wherein said at least one fine tip portion comprises a device configured to cause the formation of an anomaly on said surface; an i/o device having: an addressing port for identifying an address corresponding to an area of said media surface where data is to be one of written and read; an i/o port for transferring one of data to be read from and written to said media surface via said at least one fine tip portion; and an addressing control device configured to send control signals to each of said media and platform movement mechanisms so that said at least one fine tip portion passes an area on said media surface corresponding to an address identified at said addressing port; wherein at least one of said media movement mechanism and said platform movement mechanism comprises: an electrostatic device constructed to move at least one of said media and said platform based on an applied electrostatic potential; and a electrostatic control and supply device connected to said addressing control device and configured to apply an electrostatic potential to said electrostatic device to move at least one of said media and said platform to pass said area on said media surface according to the control signals sent by said addressing control device; wherein said electrostatic device comprises: a series of prong sets, wherein said prong sets are attached in series such that a first of said prong sets is attached at a first end to a fixed position of said apparatus, and a second end of said first prong set is attached to a first end of a second of said prong sets, and so on, until a last (n) of said prong sets is attached at a first end to a second end of an n−1 prong set, and a second end of said last (n) prong set is attached to one of said media and said platform; each prong set comprises a series of at least two prongs, each prong in a set is separated from other prongs of a same set by a gap, each prong constructed of at least one conductor and connected to said electrostatic supply source such that opposite electrostatic forces are applied to alternating of said prongs in a same set by said electrostatic supply; and when said opposite electrostatic forces are applied to any of said prong sets, said gaps in the electrostatically charged prong set collapse an amount based on a magnitude of said opposite electrostatic forces causing said series of prong sets to collapse and move one of said media and said platform.