Rewritable holographic memory card system

Abstract

The new rewritable holographic memory card (HMC) of Optilink provides a novel solution for high density optical storage of personal data. In contrast to most holographic storage systems using highly multiplexed transmissive volume holograms in bulk materials, our approach is adapted to the card format using a polymer thin film holographic storage material, operating in reflection mode, allowing writing and reading to be accomplished from the same side of the card with a small optical head. This allows card drives with dimensions equal or smaller to common PC peripherals (e.g. CD drive). Such card can be potentially used wherever custom parameters of conventional cards (credit cards with magnetic strip, smart cards, security cards or LaserCards); i.e. storage capacity, reading and writing speed or data security are not adequate to the applications.