The present invention relates to a method of reading out information from a data carrier and to a data carrier utilizing the concept of structured-illumination microscopy or saturated structured-illumination microscopy.

The present invention relates to a method of reading out information from a data carrier and to a data carrier utilizing the concept of structured-illumination microscopy or saturated structured-illumination microscopy.

The present invention relates to a method of reading out information from a data carrier and to a data carrier utilizing the concept of structured-illumination microscopy or saturated structured-illumination microscopy.

A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes an illumination source (e.g., a laser), and a camera. The illumination source is configured to direct light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

A system includes a plurality of optical identifiers and a reader for the optical identifiers. Each optical identifier has an optical substrate and a volume hologram (e.g., with unique data, such as a code page) in the optical substrate. The reader for the optical identifiers includes an illumination source (e.g., a laser), and a camera. The illumination source is configured to direct light into a selected one of the optical identifiers that has been placed into the reader to produce an image of the associated volume holograms at the camera. The camera is configured to capture the image. The captured image may be stored in a digital format by the system.

Systems and methods for long-term non-volatile non-rotating optical storage of digital information rely on storage elements that include optical storage media, an access subsystem configured to access bits of information from one of the storage elements, and a support structure configured to support multiple storage elements. A laser used to retrieve and/or record bits of digital information may be moved along two orthogonal dimensions while the storage element is non-rotating.

Systems and methods for long-term non-volatile non-rotating optical storage of digital information rely on storage elements that include optical storage media, an access subsystem configured to access bits of information from one of the storage elements, and a support structure configured to support multiple storage elements. A laser used to retrieve and/or record bits of digital information may be moved along two orthogonal dimensions while the storage element is non-rotating.

A holographic characterization and playback apparatus is provided, which includes a light source, an optical path-forming optical system for separating the light emitted from the light source into a probe light and a reference light of different polarizations, and combining optical paths of the probe light and the reference light.

A holographic characterization and playback apparatus is provided, which includes a light source, an optical path-forming optical system for separating the light emitted from the light source into a probe light and a reference light of different polarizations, and combining optical paths of the probe light and the reference light.

A reproduction apparatus dividing a cross section of superposed light into a plurality of regions in a tangential and/or radial direction includes: an optical system configured to generate each of a first set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 0°, a second set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 180°, a third set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 90°, and a fourth set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 270°, using a plurality of superposed light beams corresponding to the divided regions; an optical receiver configured to output signals corresponding to the sets of the signal light and the reference light; and a circuit configured to compute signals as differences between the signals, and obtain a reproduction signal by computation from the computed signals.