DR. MICHAEL FRANCIS MARTIN, M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine at Forest Ave, San Jose, CA

5319622, Jun 7, 1994

Sep 14, 1992

7/944812

Michael B. Martin - San Jose CA

AST Research, Inc. - Irvine CA

G11B 700

369 4414

A system and method for recording on optical and electromagnetic disk media utilize a control disk for formatting and providing speed control of the recorded information. Optionally, the control disk may provide operating, diagnostic, and a wide variety of other information to the recording system or user. A recording disk and the control disk are rotated synchronously with each other while the control disk is scanned by a read head which derives formatting, speed control, and other information. A write head on the recording disk is then manipulated in a pattern determined by the formatting and speed control information. Typically, the read head and write head are mechanically coupled so that the write head is positioned as the read head follows a tracking information on a read surface of the control disk to write a tracking pattern to a write surface of the recording disk in a recordable region between a start-of-disk pattern and an end-of-disk pattern.

4970711, Nov 13, 1990

Feb 5, 1988

7/152696

Michael B. Martin - San Jose CA
Robert F. Ray - San Jose CA
Bryan K. Clark - Sunnyvale CA

Tandy Corporation - Forth Worth TX

G11B 700

369100

The entire data content of a thermally erasable optical memory medium is erased simultaneously by irradiating the entire signal-retaining layer of the medium with light in such a manner that the signal-retaining layer is preferentially heated over other layers in the medium, particularly other thermo-optically active layers if any are present. The irradiation is most effectively achieved with a flash of light at high intensity and short duration.