Sensor and method for providing high transfer rate in page-based optical data storage
View Patent ↗A sensor and method for page-based optical data storage. The sensor includes a partially-reflective mirror, a reflective mirror disposed substantially collinear with and spaced apart from the partially-reflective mirror, and an active layer disposed substantially collinear with and between the partially-reflective mirror and the reflective mirror. The partially-reflective mirror has a first and second side and transmits a portion of light incident on the first side. The reflective mirror reflects light incident on the reflective mirror toward the partially-reflective mirror. The active layer absorbs at least a portion of the light oscillating at the resonant frequency.
1. A sensor for page-based optical data storage, the sensor comprising:
a first partially-reflective mirror having a first and second side, wherein the first partially-reflective mirror transmits a portion of light incident on the first side;
a second partially-reflective mirror disposed substantially collinear with and spaced apart from the first partially-reflective mirror and having a first and second side, wherein the second partially-reflective mirror reflects light oscillating with a first frequency and transmits light not oscillating with the first frequency;
a first active layer disposed substantially collinear with and between the first and second partially-reflective mirrors and configured to absorb at least a portion of the light oscillating with the first frequency;
a third partially-reflective mirror disposed substantially collinear with and spaced apart from the second partially-reflective mirror and having a first and second side, wherein the third partially-reflective mirror reflects light oscillating with a second frequency and transmits light not oscillating with the second frequency; and
a second active layer disposed substantially collinear with and between the second and third partially-reflective mirrors, and configured to absorb at least a portion of the light oscillating with the second frequency.
2. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a first layer of controllable refractive index material having a first refractive index configurable via a first electrical stimulus for adjusting optical path length of a first reflective cavity formed between the first and second partially-reflective mirrors such that the first reflective cavity exhibits substantially zero reflectivity at the first frequency.
3. The sensor of claim 2 further comprising a second layer of controllable refractive index material having a second refractive index configurable via a second electrical stimulus for adjusting optical path length of a second reflective cavity formed between the first and third partially-reflective mirrors such that the second reflective cavity exhibits substantially zero reflectivity at the second frequency.
4. The sensor of claim 3 wherein the first, second and third partially-reflective mirrors, the first and second active layers, and the first and second layers of controllable refractive index material are fabricated on a single chip.
5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first active layer is disposed at a position coincident with a first point corresponding to a maximum field amplitude of a first standing wave generated between the first partially-reflective mirror and the second partially-reflective mirror, and the second active layer is disposed at a position coincident with a second point corresponding to a maximum field amplitude of a second standing wave generated between the first partially-reflective mirror and the third partially-reflective mirror.