Het patent 'Method and Apparatus for Optical Data Storage' is de eerste in een reeks patenten voor optische opslag van data gebaseerd op 'subwavelenght' nano-technologie. De AO-DVD (Articulated Optical - Digital Versatile Disc) technologie zou toelaten om tot 200GB data op één DVD op te slaan aan een snelheid die 5 tot 30 maal hoger ligt dan wat de DVD's van vandaag bieden. Deze technologie werd recent ontwikkeld en heeft de Nanotech Briefs' Nano 50 ontvangen.
In het kader van snelle ontwikkelingen in high definition data, biedt deze intellectuel eigendom Iomega waardevolle opportuniteiten in de vorm van toekomstige partnerships en licensies.
Het tweede patent dat toegekend werd aan Iomega betreft ' Interchangeable Cartridge Data Storage System for Devices Performing Diverse Functions'.
Dit is de derde in rij voor Iomega's pionierswerk om media - zowel op PC als andere toestellen - via het gebruik van media of disks te overbruggen. Het nieuwe '091' patent beslaat uitvindingen sinds november 1996, voor het uitwisselen van digitale data op verscheidene digitale toestellen.
Digitale toestellen als camera's en mobiele telefoons worden steeds complexer. Gebruikers kunnen voordeel halen uit Iomega's creativiteit om dankzij eenvoudige, verwisselbare opslagmedia informatie uit te wisselen tussen een device en een computer.
Het volledige persbericht vindt u hieronder.
Voor meer informatie, interviews en illustraties neemt u contact op met:
Sophie Messens
Blue.C communications
T. 0032 16 60 96 62 of M. 0032 495 53 53 46
sophie.messens@blue-c.be
Iomega Corporation Announces Two New Patents In The Fields of Nano-Technology and Compatibility of Digital Devices
Iomega’s Patent Portfolio Stands at More Than 530 Patents
SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2005 – Iomega Corporation (NYSE: IOM), a global leader in data storage celebrating 25 years in business, today announced that the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) recently issued two highly notable patents to Iomega for its work with (1) nano-technology and optical data storage, and (2) external storage media.
On April 12, 2005, U.S. Patent No. 6,879,556 titled Method and Apparatus for Optical Data Storage was issued to Iomega. This patent is the first in a series of nano-technology-based subwavelength optical data storage patents sought by Iomega. The patent covers a novel technique of encoding data on the surface of a DVD by using reflective nano-structures to encode data in a highly multi-level format. This technology, termed AO-DVD (Articulated Optical – Digital Versatile Disc), allows more data to be stored on a DVD and could allow future optical discs to potentially hold 40-100 times more information with data transfer rates 5-30 times faster than today’s DVDs, and at similarly low costs. This invention was recently recognized as a winner of the Nanotech Briefs’ Nano 50 awards in its product category. The Nano 50 awards are given to the “best of the best” in the industry – the innovative people and designs that will move nano-technology to key mainstream markets.
Iomega is working to investigate the commercial feasibility of this format and other nano-structural data encoding formats. One possibility being investigated, termed NG-DVD (Nano-Grating – DVD), uses nano-gratings to encode multi-level information via reflectivity, polarization, phase, and reflective orientation multiplexing. Iomega is concurrently evaluating and developing appropriate partners to leverage this intellectual property for producing commercial data storage devices.
“Subwavelength optical data storage can provide an array of mechanisms by which the state of a focused spot of light upon reflection can be precisely changed. This is the key to new commercially interesting multi-level optical data storage that this technology represents,” commented Fred Thomas, Chief Technologist, Research and Development, Iomega Corporation. “The nano-replication technologies that are used to fabricate these structures at low-cost are just emerging from various labs. I believe the scope of Iomega patents issued and pending in this area, in conjunction with these exciting new nano-replication technologies, will make this a fertile area for optical data storage development and innovation for years to come. As high definition content becomes more pervasive, Iomega sees significant technology partnership and licensing opportunities for this intellectual property.”
Thomas will present an overview of subwavelength optical data storage technology at the prestigious Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC) symposium in July in Monterey, CA.
On August 31, 2004, U.S. Patent No. 6,785,091, titled Interchangeable Cartridge Data Storage System for Devices Performing Diverse Functions, was issued to Iomega. This is the third in a very exciting series of related patents that apply to Iomega’s pioneering work related to bridge media – the use of media, or disks, that can work on a computer as well as other devices. The new ‘091 patent covers inventions dating back to at least November 1996, for exchanging digital data among multiple digital devices. A common digital data format is employed to further facilitate exchange of data between devices.
“Iomega believes these bridge media patents provide for broad range market protection for manufacturers of various types of mobile data storage devices,” stated Thomas Kampfer, Executive Vice President, Business Solutions and General Counsel, Iomega Corporation. “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has confirmed that Iomega invented the broad concept of exchanging data between a computer and another digital device using removable data storage. As devices such as digital cameras and cellular telephones become more complex, consumers are able to benefit from Iomega’s creativity by using simple, removable data storage media to exchange information between the device and a computer.”
Today, Iomega’s multifaceted portfolio of patents totals more than 530 issued patents worldwide, addressing a wide variety of technical areas. The Company has multiple patents in the areas of data storage, servo writing, security, software and digital rights management.
About Iomega
Iomega Corporation provides easy-to-use, high value storage solutions to help people protect, secure, capture and share their valuable digital information. Iomega's award-winning storage products include the Iomega® REV™ 35GB drive in several different computer interface models; Zip® 100MB, 250MB and 750MB drives; high-performance Iomega external hard drives; Iomega Mini USB drives and Micro Mini™ USB drives; Iomega external CD-RW drives; Iomega Super DVD drives and the Super DVD QuikTouch™ Video Burner; and Iomega floppy USB-powered drives. Iomega simplifies data protection and sharing at home and in the workplace with Iomega Automatic Backup software, Iomega Sync software, HotBurn® CD-recording software, and Active Disk™ technology. For networks, Iomega NAS servers offer capacities of 160GB to 1.6TB. For unlimited capacity and anytime, anywhere access, Iomega offers iStorage™ secure online storage. Iomega also offers businesses and consumers a comprehensive data recovery services solution for recovering lost data due to hardware failure, file corruption or media damage. The Company can be reached on the Web at www.iomega-europe.com
NOTE: The statements contained in this release regarding specific patents and the Iomega Corporation, anticipated product pricing and availability, expected product performance and specifications, future applications for the new product and all other statements that are not purely historical, are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All such forward looking statements are based upon information available to Iomega as of the date hereof, and Iomega disclaims any intention or obligation to update any such forward looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the successful completion of product development and testing, market acceptance of, and demand for, the Iomega product, any difficulties encountered in ramping up production or other manufacturing issues, including component availability and pricing, co-development, production, and distribution issues, product pricing and conformity to specifications, dependence upon third-party suppliers, competition, intellectual property rights and other risks and uncertainties identified in the reports filed from time to time by Iomega with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Iomega's Annual Report on Form 10 K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Copyright© 2005 Iomega Corporation. All rights reserved. Iomega, Zip, REV, Active Disk, Micro Mini, iStorage, HotBurn and QuikTouch are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Iomega Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies.