SAN DIEGO, May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Iomega
Corporation (NYSE: IOM - News ),
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(TM) 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(TM) USB drives; Iomega external CD-RW
drives; Iomega Super DVD drives and the Super DVD
QuikTouch(TM) 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(TM) technology. For networks,
Iomega NAS servers offer capacities of 160GB to
1.6TB. For unlimited capacity and anytime, anywhere
access, Iomega offers iStorage(TM) 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 at 1-888-4-IOMEGA (888-446-6342), or
on the Web at www.iomega.com .
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.
Media please contact: Chris Romoser, Iomega Corporation,
(858) 314-7148 romoser@iomega.com
Analyst/Investors,
please contact: Thomas Liguori, Iomega Corporation,
(858) 314-7188
Source: Iomega Corporation
