Nanometer Scale Instrument for Biochemically, Chemically, or Catalytically Interacting with a Sample Material

Abstract

A data storage system that includes a positioning system for positioning the write/read mechanism and the storage medium of the data storage device with respect to each other in first and second predefined directions. In several embodiments, the read/write mechanism is used to mechanically write data to and electrically read data from the storage medium. In still another embodiment, the read/write mechanism is used to optically write data to and electrically read data from the storage medium. In yet another embodiment, the read/write mechanism is acoustically aided in electrically writing data to and reading data from the storage medium.

11 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A data storage device comprising:
 a deformable storage medium;   a plurality of probes each comprising:   a tip comprising a conductive highly obdurate coating capable of deforming the storage medium;   a tip positioning apparatus to lower the tip;   a probe and storage medium positioning apparatus to position the probes over the storage medium;   a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the probes over the storage medium, (B) during the write modes, control each tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding tip a predetermined amount into the storage medium so as to cause a predetermined amount of deformation in the storage medium representing data written thereto, (C) during read modes, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the probes over the storage medium, (D) during the read modes, control each tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding tip close to the storage medium, and (E) during the read mode, produce and measure a tunneling current between the conductive obdurate coating of each tip and the storage medium to identify a predetermined amount of deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding tip during the write mode so that the data written thereto is read therefrom.   
     
     
         22 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A data storage device comprising:
 a storage medium alterable by light;   one or more light emitting write probes capable of emitting light;   one or more read probes capable of detecting alterations of the storage medium;   a positioning apparatus to position the read and write probes over the storage medium;   a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the write probes over the storage medium so that the light emitting write tips are over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each light emitting write probe to emit a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium and write data thereto, (C) during read modes, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium so that each read probe detects a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium caused during the write mode, and (D) during the read mode, measure each detected predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium so that the data written to the storage medium during the write mode is read therefrom.   
     
     
         33 . A data storage device as recited in  claim 32  wherein:
 each light emitting write probe includes a write tip comprising: 
 a core material with a sharp end, 
 a light emissive coating over the core material; and 
 a conductive coating over the light emissive coating; 
 the controller is coupled to the core material and the conductive coating of each light emitting write tip to apply across them during the write mode a voltage of predetermined amount so that the sharp end of the corresponding light emitting write tip emits a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium. 
 
     
     
         34 . A data storage device as recited in  claim 32  wherein:
 each light emitting write tip comprises porous silicon; 
 the controller is coupled to each light emitting write tip to produce during the write mode a current of predetermined amount in the porous silicon of the light emitting write tip so that it emits a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium. 
 
     
     
         35 . A data storage device as recited in  claim 32  wherein:
 the storage medium comprises: 
 charge storage cells each storing a charge alterable by light; 
 a conductor around the charge storage cells; 
 each read probe is conductive; 
 the controller (A) during the write mode, controlling each write probe to emit a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of charge in a corresponding one of the charge storage cells to be leaked off so as to write data thereto, (B) during the read mode, controlling the positioning apparatus in positioning each read probe over a corresponding one of the charge storage cells to detect the predetermined amount of charge therein leaked off during the write mode, (C) during the read mode, measure the detected predetermined amounts of charges leaked off so that data written during the write mode to the corresponding ones of the charge storage cells is read therefrom, and (D) during an erase mode, controlling the conductor to transfer a predetermined amount of charge to the corresponding charge storage cells so as to restore the charges therein leaked off during the write mode. 
 
     
     
         36 . A data storage device as recited in  claim 32  wherein:
 the storage medium comprises: 
 charge storage cells each storing a charge alterable by light; 
 a plurality of conductors around the charge storage cells; 
 each read probe is conductive; 
 the controller (A) during the write mode, controlling each write probe to emit a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of charge in a corresponding one of the charge storage cells to be leaked off so as to write data thereto, (B) during the read mode, controlling the positioning apparatus in positioning each read probe over a corresponding one of the charge storage cells to detect the predetermined amount of charge therein leaked off during the write mode, (C) during the read mode, measure the detected predetermined amounts of charges leaked off so that data written during the write mode to the corresponding ones of the charge storage cells is read therefrom, and (D) during an erase mode, controlling a selected one of the conductors to transfer a predetermined amount of charge to the corresponding charge storage cells so as to restore the charges therein leaked off during the write mode. 
 
     
     
         37 . A data storage device comprising:
 an electrically alterable storage medium;   a triangular ridge support structure;   one or more triangular ridges on the base structure;   a positioning apparatus to position the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium;   an acoustic wave generator on one of the triangular ridge support structure and the storage medium to produce surface acoustic waves thereon that propagate in a direction parallel to the axial length of the triangular ridges;   a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium so that each triangular ridge is over a corresponding region of the storage medium to be written, (B) during the write mode, control the acoustic wave generator to produce an acoustic wave, (C) during the write mode, apply at a predetermined time across each triangular ridge and the storage medium a voltage pulse having a predetermined voltage and duration while the acoustic wave produced during the write mode propagates so that a region of the triangular ridge above the corresponding region to be written is displaced down theretoward and the corresponding region to be written is electrically altered by a predetermined amount, (D) during a read mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium so that each triangular ridge is over a corresponding region of the storage medium to be read, (E) during the read mode, control the acoustic wave generator to produce an acoustic wave, (F) during the read mode, detect with each triangular ridge at a predetermined time while the acoustic wave produced during the read mode propagates so that a region of the triangular ridge above the corresponding region to be read is displaced down theretoward a predetermined amount of electrical alteration of the corresponding region to be read, (G) during the read mode, measure each detected predetermined amount of electrical alteration of the corresponding region to be read so that the data written to thereto during the write mode is read therefrom.   
     
     
         38 . A biochemical instrument comprising:
 a probe comprising:   a porous tip;   a tip positioning apparatus to position the tip with respect to a sample material;   a tip and sample positioning apparatus to position the probe and sample material with respect to each other;   a controller to (A) control the positioning apparatus in positioning the probe over the sample, (B) control the tip positioning apparatus in lowering the tip into the sample material to produce a biochemical interaction between the porous tip and the sample material.