Optical media format

Priority is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/627,787 filed Nov. 12, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/627,638 filed Nov. 12, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/627,209 filed Nov. 12, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/627,386 filed Nov. 12, 2004; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/711,616 filed Aug. 26, 2005. The disclosures of all of the above prior patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in their entirety.

The present invention relates generally to optically readable media. More specifically, apparatuses, products, devices and methods of manufacture consistent with the invention are disclosed that include numerous configurations and/or novel designs for limiting the time period that at least a portion of the encoded information stored on the optically readable media can be read and/or accessed by an optical beam and/or reader capable of reading information encoded thereon.

Optical, magnetic and magneto-optic media are primary sources of high performance storage technology, which enable high storage capacity coupled with a reasonable price per megabyte of data stored. The use of optical media has become widespread in audio, video, and computer data storage applications in such formats as compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD, including multi-layer structures like DVD-5, DVD-9 and multi-sided formats such as DVD-10, and DVD-18), magneto-optical disc (MO), and other write-once and re-writable formats such as CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, and the like, hereinafter collectively “data storage media”. In these formats, data are encoded onto a substrate into a digital data series. In pre-recorded optical media, such as CD, the data are typically pits and grooves embossed on the surface of a plastic substrate using a method such as injection molding, stamping of the like.

In recordable media, the data are encoded by laser, which illuminates an active data layer that undergoes a phase change, thus producing a series of highly reflecting or non-reflecting regions making up the data stream. In these formats, a laser beam first travels through a plastic substrate before reaching the data layer. At the data layer, the beam is either reflected or not, in accordance with the encoded data. The laser light then travels back through the plastic and into an optical detector system where the data are interpreted.

In some applications, it is desirable to have a limited life for an optical disc. For example, sample computer programs are provided to potential customers in order to entice them to purchase, the software. The programs are intended to be used for a limited period of time. Additionally, music, movies, and other forms of digital entertainment are currently rented for a limited time period. In each of these applications and others, when that time has expired, the disc must be returned. A need exists for machine-readable optical discs that do not need to be returned at the end of a rental period. Limited-play discs provide a solution to this problem.

Several approaches have been proposed to make a limited play optical disc based on a layer that charges from a non-interfering state (transparent) where it does not interfere with the reliable reading of the information on the optical disc, via an interrogating, beam of light, to an interfering state (opaque) where the layer interferes with the optical reading of the data on the disc. The interference with the reading light source may be due to the layer becoming dark, reflective, highly birefringent, pitting, corroding, bending, changing refractive properties or any combination of these. (See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,772 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,484 and herein incorporated by reference in their entirety). It should be pointed out mat it is not essential in all applications that the interfering layer cover an entire surface of the disc. It may be desirable to inhibit only the reading of areas containing critical information content.

In one embodiment of the invention, the stimulus triggering the reaction is exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Upon exposure to oxygen, a reactive material, which is essentially colorless, is oxidized to form an opaque or semi-opaque layer. Data storage media with the opaque/semi-opaque layer can no longer be played in media players. By adjusting the time it takes to turn opaque, this method can be used to provide limited-play data storage media having the desired life for the given application.

In one embodiment consistent with the invention a limited life CD, CD-ROM, and/or CD-R optical disc utilizing a corrosive agent and/or agent for degrading the integrity of a reflective layer and/or portion there of located in a layer and/or region adjacent to the reflective layer of the disc is described.

In another embodiment a limited life CD, CD-ROM, and/or CD-R utilizing a dye in the optical path of the 780 nm laser is described. The optical disc employs two substrates bonded together with a dye adhesive while the data layer resides on top of the substrate stack at approximately 1.2 mm above the bottom surface of the layered disc.

In yet another embodiment a limited play DVD combined, with a CD data layer of recordable layer is described. In yet still a further embodiment a corrosive agent and/or agent for degrading the integrity of a reflective layer and/or portion thereof located, adjacent to one or more reflective layers of the DVD and/or CD data layer is described.

In a further embodiment a dye material is incorporated in the optical path of the reading laser.

In another embodiment a permanent play and/or recordable layer survives, after the limited play mechanism and/or process is activated and the limited play layer(s) has ceased to play.

In an embodiment consistent with, the invention a limited play DVD including recordable and dual layer disc halves using a corrosive material and/or an agent for degrading the integrity of at least one reflective layer and/or portion thereof in a layer adjacent to any reflective layer within the optical disc is disclosed. In an overlapping embodiment a permanent play and/or recordable DVD layer survives after the limited play mechanism is activated and the limited play layer(s) has ceased, to play.

In another embodiment a limited play DVD including recordable and dual layer disc halves using a dye material to inhibit the ability of the reading laser to read a data layer within the optical disc is disclosed. In an overlapping embodiment a permanent play and/or recordable DVD layer survives after the limited play mechanism is activated and the limited play layer(s) has ceased to play.

In a further embodiment consistent with the invention an optical disc combining HD-DVD, HD-DVD-R/RW and/or DVD/DVD-/+R/RW data layers within one disc where any one or more of the data and/or recordable layers is limited play is disclosed. In an overlapping embodiment, the limited play mechanism is a corrosive agent that is adjacent to one or more reflective layer. In a further overlapping embodiment a permanent, play and/or recordable DVD layer survives after the limited play mechanism is activated aid the limited play layer(s) has ceased to play. In yet another overlapping embodiment the read limiting agent is a dye that inhibits the reading of at least one data layer. In an overlapping embodiment with the dye, a permanent play and/or recordable layer survives after the limited play mechanism is activated and the limited play layer(s) has ceased to play.

In another embodiment an optical medium combining HD-DVD, HD-DVD-/+R/RW and CD, CD-ROM. CD-R, and/or CD-RW data layers within one disc where any one or more of the data and/or recordable layers is limited play is disclosed. The limited play mechanism is selected from a corrosive material, dye material and/or combinations thereof. If the limited play mechanism is a corrosive material it is located adjacent to at least one reflective layer. In an overlapping embodiment a permanent play and/or recordable layer survives after the limited play mechanism is activated and the limited play layer(s) has ceased to play.

In an embodiment consistent with the invention an optical medium combining Blu-ray and DVD data and/or recordable layers within one disc where any one or more of the data and/or recordable layers is limited play is disclosed. The limited play mechanism is selected from a corrosive material, dye material and/or combinations thereof. If the limited play mechanism is a corrosive material it is located adjacent to at least one reflective layer. In an overlapping embodiment a permanent play and/or recordable layer survives after the limited play mechanism is activated and the limited play layer(s) has ceased to play.