HolodrivesTM Advertising Holodrives.com is the main portal for the HolodrivesTM advertising services network. Holodrives.com provides advertising services concerning holographic data drives. The first generation holodrives have recently been launched and are now commercially available. Holodrives.com also provides information concerning current developments in the application of holographic technology to data storage. The HolodrivesTM Advertising Network HolodrivesTM is a targeted advertising service that focuses on the promotion of cutting edge holographic data storage technology. The following are the online advertising opportunities that are currently offered: An advertising banner (500 x 100 pixels or other size, dimensions flexible) with a link to your holographic technology company and/or product can be placed on Holodrives.com. Although future search engine performance can not be guaranteed, Holodrives.com is currently the top search result from a major search engine search for the term "holodrives." Cost is $20 per month. Multi-month discounts are available upon request. If you are an a manufacturer or distributor of holographic technology products and would like more information about these or about custom advertising packages then please contact us at: HolodrivesTM
Information about Holodrives What are holodrives? Before we can define what "holodrives" are, we need to define two other terms -- "hologram" and "holographic data storage." A "hologram" is an image created when two laser beams overlap. Generally, holograms have a three-dimensional aspect to them. You see different perspectives on the object in a hologram when you view the hologram from different angles. "Holographic data storage" is the process of saving and retrieving (also called writing and reading) data within a hologram. With traditional holograms like the ones you might see in a store, you see different perspectives on an object when you view the hologram from different angles. With holographic data storage, the holodrive sees different data patterns when it illuminates the hologram from different angles. Now we can define a "holodrive." A "holodrive" is a device that writes and/or reads data stored as a hologram. How do holodrives write data to a hologram? First, a laser beam is split into two beams -- a "reference beam" and a "data beam." Generally this splitting is done by a mirror. Since the two beams come from the same original beam and since light waves in a laser are "coherent" (have synchronized wave phases), the reference beam and data beam have a consistent phase relationship. Second, the data to be stored is translated into a "checker board" pattern that appears on a semi-transparent "Spatial Light Monitor" (SLM). Today, data usually originates in electronic form because most current computers process data in electronic form. One can compare the "Spatial Light Monitor" to a stained glass window. The data pattern is like little panes of different colored glass in the window. Shining a beam of light through the window embeds the image into the light beam. The same is true with shining a beam of light through the SLM. Unlike a traditional stained glass window with one fixed image, the image in the "Spatial Light Monitor" changes electronically. Third, the "data beam" laser is shone through the "Spatial Light Monitor" and is embedded with the data pattern. The "data beam" is generally focused through a lens and shines onto a particular place in photosensitive media. One of the requirements for high-speed holodrives is the develop of specialized high-capacity, high-bandwidth "Spatial Light Monitors." Fourth, meanwhile the "reference beam" laser is reflected off of a mirror at a particular angle and then shines onto the same place on the photosensitive media where the "data beam" shines. Fifth, the intersection of the "data beam" and the "reference beam" within the photosensitive media creates a hologram where the two beams overlap. One can compare this to the pattern that is created when you drop two pebbles into a pond at the same time. Each pebble hitting the water creates wave circles that radiate outward. When the wave circles from the two pebbles overlap, a pattern is created from the overlapping waves. Water waves from the two pebbles on the surface of a pond create a basically two-dimensional interference pattern. Light waves from the two laser beams create a basically three-dimensional interference pattern. Storing data three-dimensionally throughout the thickness (volume) of the media differs from most traditional optical data storage methods that store information only on the surface of the storage media. The hologram that is created contains the data entered into the "Spatial Light Monitor." Generally, a single hologram from a reference beam at a given angle is called a "page." Each "page" of data holds around a megabyte of data. With "multiplexing" holodrives, hundreds of different holograms can be superimposed in the same place within the media by varying the angle of the "reference beam". However, the beam angle must be very precise. Sixth, the hologram creates a chemical or other physical reaction within the photosensitive media that burns the hologram into the media. This is how the hologram, and thus the data, is saved for later retrieval. How do holodrives read data from a hologram? First, a "reference beam" is shown onto the photosensitive media on the location where a hologram was created, at the same angle and with the same wave frequency that were used to create the hologram in the first place. Shining reference beams on the same place at different angles creates different holograms when "multiplexing" is used, so the reference beam angle must be precise. Second, this "reference beam" interacts with the stored hologram. This recreates the original "data beam" that contained the original data. As mentioned before, each hologram can hold around 1 megabyte of data. Third, the recreated "data beam" is shown onto a "detector array" that converts the data from light patterns back to electronic signals. At this time, the most common form of "detector array" is a "Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor" (CMOS) detector like the ones used in digital cameras to convert light patterns into electronic signals. How do holodrives differ from traditional optical data drives? There are several significant differences between holodives and drives that read and write data from traditional optical data storage media like CDs and DVDs -- Volumetric Storage and Storage Density: Volumetric storage is storage throughout the entire volume (thickness) of storage media, not just on the media surface. Holodrives store data three-dimensionally throughout most of the volume of the media. This can enable much greater data storage density, especially as holodrives and holographic storage media are refined. Currently holographic disks hold around 300 Gb (gigabytes), but this is expected to increased to over 1.5 Tb (terabytes) in the coming years. Storage capacity depends on the number of bits per page of data, the number of pages in the same volumetric location, the recording range and sensitivity of the storage media, the thickness, shape, and size of the storage media, the wavelength of the laser, and the precision of the input/output devices such as the SLM and CMOS. Access Speed: Since holodrives read and write data as an entire 1 Mb (megabyte) page at a time, rather than a sequential binary stream, holodrives have the potential for much faster access speeds than non-holographic data drives. The limitations of today's hardware, especially the relatively slow-speed of CMOS detector arrays created for digital cameras, are holding back holodrive access speeds from their high potential. This will likely change as faster CMOS detector arrays, that handle thousands of frames per second, are created especially for holodrives. Media Rotation and Shape: Since most traditional optical data drives read data as a sequential stream of 1's and 0's, traditional optical media must spin to enable fast reading and writing. The need for rapid rotation places restrictions on the size and shape of the data media; flat disks are the most common shape. However, since holodrives read an entire 1Mb holographic "page" at a time, rapid access speeds can be achieved without having the media rotate. Also, since data can be stored throughout the entire volume of the media, not just on its surface, the media need not be flat. For these reasons, there is a lot more flexibility in the size and shape of holographic data storage than is possible with traditional optical data media. Although first generation holographic data storage media are holographic disks (holodisks) -- future generations of data storage media may be holographic cubes (holocubes), rectangular cards (holocards), or holographic spheres (holospheres). Start-Up Differences: The above differences are driven by the basic physical differences between holographic data storage and traditional optical data storage. They are likely to continue for the long run. Most of these long term differences favor holographic technology. However, there are also short-term differences driven by the fact that holographic data storage is in its infancy, while traditional optical data storage is mature with large-scale commercialization. Most of these short-term differences are what one would expect with the introduction of any radical technology innovation. First generation holodrives tend to be expensive and large compared to optical drives for mature optical media like CDs and DVDs. Accordingly, first-generation holodrives are being targeted for users for whom the benefits of large storage capacity are particularly important. How do holodrives differ from tape drives? We have discussed how holodrives differ from traditional drives that read CDs and DVDs. It is also worth noting key differences between holodrives and tape drives. Holographic data storage can replace some of the archival data storage that is currently done by tape. Data Longevity: Data stored on holographic media is expected to last up to 50 years. This is a considerable advantage over data stored on magnetic tape that does not last longer than 5-10 years and must be rewritten to maintain data integrity. Random Access: Holodrives offer rapid, random access to data on holographic storage media. This is an advantage over tape drives on which tapes must be mounted and spun for sequential access. No Mechanical Wear: With holodrives, there is no mechanical contact or wear between the read/write heads and the media. This is an advantage over tape drives in which the tape head wears on the tape. Are holodrives a reality? Yes. Prototype holodrives have existed in university and corporate research laboratories for several years. Recently, the first commercially-available holodrives have been shipped to beta customers. The first commercially-available holodrive is the TapestryTM 300r drive by InPhase Technologies that reads and writes the first-generation TapestryTM 300r disk using a red laser. The first-generation TapestryTM 300r disk: holds 300 Gb (gigabytes) of data; stores as many as 350 pages of data in a single location; can be written once and read many times (WORM); is expected to have a 50-year media life; offers random access to files; has a data transfer rate of 20 Mb per second; is 5 1/4" wide and 1.5 millimeters thick; and has a storage density of around 515 Gb per square inch. The disk does not spin in the drive, but does rotate slightly to move the recording head to a new page position. InPhase uses a two-chemistry recording media that blends a stabilizing matrix with a photosensitive monomer. During the next couple years, a second generation TapestryTM disk is expected to hold 800 Gb with an access speed of 80 Mb per second. After that, a third generation TapestryTM disk is expected to hold 1.6 Tb with an access speed of 120 Mb per second. The TapestryTM 300r was first commercially showcased at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) 2007 conference. Initial Tapestry holodrive shipments are going to film and broadcasting media companies (like Turner Entertainment) and electronics manufacturers. Ikegami Electronics is working with InPhase under an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement to deliver an in-camera holographic drive for the Ikegami's Editcam professional camcorders. Panasonic’s P2 solid-state camcorders are also expected to support InPhase holographic storage. The Tapestry 300r holodrive has a retail price of $18,000 and the Tapestry 300r disk has retail price of $180. InPhase Technologies is a U.S. company that was spun out of Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs in 2000. Corporate investors include Hitachi Maxell, Bayer MaterialScience, and ALPS Information Technology Fund. Venture capital investors include New Venture Partners LLC, Signal Lake Ventures, Newton Technology Partners, Yasuda Enterprise Development, Japan Asia Investment Company, Nanotech Partners LLC, and Mr. B.J. Cassin. Other supporting organizations and partnerships include: Sony, Sanyo, HP, IBM, Toshiba, Samsung, Matsushita, ALPS Electric, Cypress, Datarius, DisplayTECH, DSM Terastore, K-Par, MassTechGroup, OS Storage, Pegasus, Qstar, and SGL (Software General Limited). Bayer Material Science supplies chemicals for the recording media. Hitachi Maxell manufactures the media. Optware was a competitor to InPhase Technologies in the race to launch a commercial holographic data storage system. Optware announced various progress milestones in the development of a Holographic Versatile Disk using collinear holography. With collinear holography, both the reference beam and the data beam are along the same axis, not at different angles. A green laser and a red laser both enter the surface of the holographic disk at the same angle. A dichroic mirror layer between the layer with holographic data and a layer with servo data reflects the green laser but lets the red laser through. The green laser reads the data and the red laser tracks the position of the read head. Among the advantages of collinear holography noted by Optware are reduced pickup size, elimination of vibration isolators, high-level compatibility with DVDs/CDs, and lower cost. ECMA International, a standards developing body, created a technical committee to standardize holographic disk formats based on Optware's technology. They have published two standard formats. They plan to submit these standards to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for approval. A 200 Gb holographic disk was expected from Optware in 2006. However, Optware has not yet launched a holographic data storage system and no further announcements have been given. Their website has said "Under Maintenance" for several months. It looks like InPhase won the race to be first to market with a holodrive. Due to the lack of announcements and the website being down for maintenance, it is not known whether Optware is still working toward launching a holographic data storage system at some future time. Although none have launched commercial products yet, other companies and university research centers have reported various stages of progress toward the development of holodrives and holographic storage media. IBM demonstrated the possibility of holding 1 Tb of data in a crystal the size of a sugar cube. The Microholas Project recently announced the use of microholography, multilayer storage, and multiplexing to store 500 Gb of data on DVD-size disks with an access rate of 50 Mb per second. SONY and DCE Aprilis have also made announcements concerning holographic data storage technology. How can one buy a holodrive? The only commercially available holodrive at this time is the TapestryTM 300r from InPhase. TapestryTM 300r drives and equipment compatible with those drives can be purchased from the following companies: Acura
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