Method for Contactless Readout of Magnetic Storage Media by Circularly Polarized X-Ray Beams

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a contactless method for reading information stored on magnetic tapes using circularly polarized X-ray beams. By passing two oppositely polarized X-ray beams through a magnetic tape and measuring the differences in their absorption (based on X-ray magnetic circular dichroism), the magnetic information encoded in the tape can be read with high fidelity, even if the tape is old or physically damaged. This method enables real-time, high-throughput retrieval of magnetic data without physically contacting or risking further damage to the storage media.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Restoration and digital preservation of archival audio, video, or data magnetic tapes that cannot be read using conventional magnetic heads due to degradation, stickiness, or brittleness.
• Forensics or research requiring non-destructive recovery of information from damaged, historic, or irreplaceable magnetic storage media.
• High-speed, contactless quality control or integrity verification in magnetic tape or disk manufacturing.
• Scientific study of magnetization patterns in research samples or historical artifacts.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables recovery of data from degraded, sticky, or physically unplayable magnetic tapes without physical contact, preserving original material.
• Offers high throughput and can achieve real-time or near real-time data extraction, greatly reducing recovery time for large archives.
• Provides high-fidelity readout, capturing accurate magnetic information, including sign and magnitude, which is critical for data and audio applications.
• Minimizes risk of further damage to rare, archival, or fragile media compared to traditional contact readout methods.
• Can be tuned for various tape materials and resolutions, making it versatile for different types and ages of magnetic storage media.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a method to readout magnetic storage media that provides a high throughput for magnetic tapes and readouts the magnetic information with a high fidelity.This objective is achieved according to the present invention by a method for contactless readout of the magnetic information stored on magnetic tapes (4), said magnetic information being encoded by the magnetization value and direction stored on the magnetic tapes (4), comprising the steps of:a) providing a first circularly polarized x-ray beam (c+) and a second circularly polarized x-ray beam (c-);b) orienting the first circularly polarized X-ray beam (c+) and the second circularly polarized X-ray beam (c-) towards the magnetic tape (4);c) reading out the first circularly polarized X-ray beam (c+) and the second circularly polarized X-ray beam (c-) after their passage through the magnetic tape while advancing the magnetic tape, andd) determining the magnetic information by the difference between the two readout signals from the first x-ray beam (c+) and the second x-ray beam (c-) based on X-ray magnetic circular dichroism.Based on this beam splitting scheme, a real-time readout of the magnetic signal stored on the magnetic tape can be achieved by the evaluation of the intensity signals for the c+-X-ray beam and the c- X-ray beam.