Holographic Data Storage with Organic Polymer Films

Abstract

Up to this date only limited attempts has been made to employ the benefits of optical data storage on credit card sized information carriers, although cards represent a rapidly growing part of the market. Applications like personal medical data carrier cards, ID cards, catalogues, service cards, public documentation services etc. demand higher data capacities and device performances that are probably not within the reach of today’s magnetic and IC cards. For these applications we are developing a new Holographic Memory Card (HMC) system [1] that provides the advantages of optical storage in a card format in order to largely exceed the performances of present cards. Compared to bit-serial optical data storage (employes in CD, DVD and existing optical cards), our page organised holographic storage technology presents a number of advantages that can further increase the robustness, cost effectiveness, data density and transfer rates. Holographic data carriers have higher immunity to local defects, lower card positioning and fabrication tolerances, eliminate the problems related to focus and track servo mechanisms and naturally fit to parallel access read and write systems.