Patents for nano-technology, external storage devices granted to Iomega

New Delhi: Iomega Corporation (NYSE: IOM), a global major in data storage ahs announced that the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued two patents to Iomega for its work with (1) nano-technology and optical data storage, and (2) external storage media.

Its patent for ''method and apparatus for optical data storage'' was issued to Iomega. This patent is the first in a series of nano-technology-based sub-wavelength optical data storage patents sought by Iomega. The patent covers a novel technique of encoding data on the surface of a DVD by using reflective nano-structures to encode data in a highly multi-level format.

This technology, termed AO-DVD (articulated optical — digital versatile disc), allows more data to be stored on a DVD and could allow future optical discs to potentially hold 40-100 times more information with data transfer rates five to 30 times faster than today''s DVDs, and at similarly low costs. This invention was recently recognised as a winner of the Nanotech Briefs'' Nano 50 awards in its product category. The Nano 50 awards are given to the "best of the best" in the industry — the innovative people and designs that will move nano-technology to key mainstream markets.

Iomega is working to investigate the commercial feasibility of this format and other nano-structural data encoding formats. One possibility being investigated, termed NG-DVD (Nano-Grating — DVD), uses nano-gratings to encode multi-level information via reflectivity, polarisation, phase, and reflective orientation multiplexing. Iomega is concurrently evaluating and developing appropriate partners to leverage this intellectual property for producing commercial data storage devices.

According to Fred Thomas, chief technologist, research and development, Iomega Corporation, "Sub-wavelength optical data storage can provide an array of mechanisms by which the state of a focused spot of light upon reflection can be precisely changed. This is the key to new commercially interesting multi-level optical data storage that this technology represents." Thomas will present an overview of sub-wavelength optical data storage technology at the prestigious Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC) symposium in July in Monterey, California.

Another patent issued to the company for ''interchangeable cartridge data storage system for devices performing diverse functions, is the third in a series of related patents that apply to work related to bridge media — the use of media, or disks, that can work on a computer as well as other devices. The new patent covers inventions dating back to at least November 1996, for exchanging digital data among multiple digital devices. A common digital data format is employed to further facilitate exchange of data between devices.

Thomas Kampfer, executive vice president, business solutions and general counsel, Iomega, says, "Iomega believes these bridge media patents provide for broad range market protection for manufacturers of various types of mobile data storage devices. The USPTO has confirmed that Iomega invented the broad concept of exchanging data between a computer and another digital device using removable data storage."

"As devices such as digital cameras and cellular telephones become more complex, consumers are able to benefit from Iomega''s creativity by using simple, removable data storage media to exchange information between the device and a computer," he says.

Till date, Iomega''s portfolio of patents totals more than 530 issued patents worldwide, addressing a wide variety of technical areas. The company has multiple patents in the areas of data storage, servo writing, security, software and digital rights management.