Multi-purpose high-density optical disk

Abstract

An optical recording medium includes a first half-disc and a second half-disc. The first half-disc includes a substrate and an information layer (including a reflective layer) formed on a first side of the substrate. The second half-disc is bonded by an adhesive to a second side of the substrate of the first half-disc. In addition, a cover layer is formed over the first reflective layer. The cover layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm. The substrate of the first half-disc has a thickness in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. The first and second half-discs together have a combined thickness in a range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An optical storage medium comprising:
 a substrate having a first data pattern embossed in a first side thereof;   a first reflective layer formed over the embossed first data pattern;   a first intermediate layer formed over the first reflective layer, the first intermediate layer having a second data pattern disposed on a first side thereof facing away fro the substrate;   a second reflective layer formed over the second data pattern; and   a cover layer formed over the second reflective layer opposite the first intermediate layer and having an exposed outer surface opposite the second reflective layer, wherein   the second reflective layer is configured to be read from a direction opposite the substrate.   
     
     
         22 . The optical storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the first reflective layer is configured to be read through the substrate. 
     
     
         23 . The optical storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the second data pattern is embossed in the first side of the first intermediate layer. 
     
     
         24 . The optical recording medium of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first data pattern and the second data pattern is configured to enable writing information to the optical recording medium. 
     
     
         25 . The optical recording medium of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a second intermediate layer formed over the second reflective layer opposite the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer including a third data pattern disposed on a first side of the second intermediate layer facing away from the second reflective layer; and   a third reflective layer disposed on the second intermediate layer opposite the first reflective layer and being configured to be read from the direction opposite the substrate, wherein the cover layer is formed on the third reflective layer opposite the second intermediate layer and has an exposed outer surface opposite the third reflective layer.   
     
     
         26 . The optical recording medium of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a hard coat layer formed over the exposed outer surface of the cover layer, the hard coat layer having an exposed outer surface opposite the cover layer.   
     
     
         27 . The optical recording medium of  claim 21 , wherein the cover layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm and the substrate and first intermediate layer together have a thickness in a range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         28 . The optical recording medium of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the substrate and the first intermediate layer has a thickness in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, 
     
     
         29 . An optical storage medium comprising:
 a substrate having a first data pattern embossed in a first side thereof;   a first reflective layer formed over the embossed first data pattern;   a first cover layer formed over the first reflective layer opposite the substrate and having an exposed outer surface opposite the first reflective layer;   a first intermediate layer formed over a second side of the substrate opposite the first side of the substrate, the first intermediate layer having a second data pattern disposed on a first side thereof facing away from the substrate;   a second reflective layer formed over the second data pattern; and   a second cover layer formed over the second reflective layer opposite the first intermediate layer and having an exposed outer surface opposite the second reflective layer, wherein   the second reflective layer is configured to be read from a direction opposite the substrate.   
     
     
         30 . The optical storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the first reflective layer is configured to be read from a direction opposite the substrate and opposite the direction from which the second reflective layer is configured to be read. 
     
     
         31 . An optical storage medium comprising:
 a first substrate having a first data pattern embossed in a side thereof;   a first reflective layer formed over the embossed first data pattern;   a second substrate bonded via an adhesive agent to a second side of the first substrate opposite from the first side of the first substrate; and   a first cover layer formed on the first reflective layer opposite the first data pattern having an exposed outer surface opposite the first reflective layer, wherein   the first embossed data pattern is configured to be read using a first reading light beam reflected from the first reflective layer without the reading light beam travelling through the adhesive agent or the first substrate.   
     
     
         32 . The optical storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the first cover layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm and the first reflective layer is configured to be read through the first cover layer. 
     
     
         33 . The optical storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein both sides of the second substrate are flat and contain no data pattern embossed therein. 
     
     
         34 . The optical recording medium of  claim 31 , wherein the cover layer has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm and the substrate and first intermediate layer together have a thickness in a range of 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         35 . The optical recording medium of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the substrate and the first intermediate layer has a thickness in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         36 . The optical storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the second substrate further comprises a second data pattern embossed in a side thereof and a second reflective layer formed over the embossed second data pattern. 
     
     
         37 . The optical storage medium of  claim 36 , wherein the second substrate is oriented relative to the first substrate such that the second data pattern and second reflective layer are adjacent to the adhesive agent, the second substrate having a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm.