UNICON 690

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00244R000300150003-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: MISC

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Approved For Release 2001/09/04 :CIA-RDP86-002448000300150003-5
 PI
PRECISION
INSTRUMENT
CHARLES R. ADAMS
Sales Engineer
1401 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia
Phone: [phone]
The UNICON? Laser Mass Memory System currently being developed by Precision
Instrument Company, as described briefly in the following pages, provides the capability of
permanently recording and reproducing up to 1012 bits of digital data under computer
control. Utilizing a new type of permanent recording process which employs a laser to
vaporize minute holes in the metallic surface of a recording medium, the Laser Mass
Memory System writes parallel data tracks along the length of the recording medium which
is mounted on the cylindrical surface of either or both of two independent read/write
drums.
In addition to the Laser Recording Unit, the Laser Mass Memory System includes a
Recorder Control Unit which provides a hardware and software interface compatible with
the user's computer. The Recorder Control Unit also provides for simultaneous processing
of data to and from each drum in either a read or a write operation. This subsystem also
controls the automatic selection of recording medium strips to or from a common strip
file and the loading or unloading of a strip from either read/write drum, so that no operator
action is required during the recording and reproducing of up to 1012 bits of data.
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 - - 003-5
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
The development of the Laser Mass Memory System concepts has been prompted by
Precision Instrument Company's experience in the field of magnetic tape recording. A
manufacturer of quality, state-of-the-art magnetic tape recorders for over a decade, Precision
Instrument Company has long been aware of the inherent problems associated with the use
of magnetic tape as a means for long-term storage of data, as well as ahigh-density
data-storage medium. Since data stored for long terms on magnetic tape is subject to
degradation such as print through and bit dropouts, and short-term storage density is limited
by restrictions in tape coating, tape transport head resolution, and mechanical tape handling
problems, it was determined that another means had to be found or developed if a truly
high-density permanent data storage system were to become a reality.
The efforts began in 1961 with experimentation toward developing arecord/reproduce
system which would employ coherent light recording techniques through the use of
single-mode coherent laser radiation in a rotating optical system for two dimensional data
recording and reproduction.
The result of these efforts was the UNICON, Unidensity Coherent Light Data Processing
System. The system was based on the creation and detection of diffraction-limited
evaporation elements of a medium, which was first demonstrated on a quartz surface at
Precision Instrument Company in October, 1963. The UNICON system used a special
unidensity medium on an ordinary film base for coherent light recording in such a manner
that, through incident coherent laser radiation, diffraction-limited bits of information were
permanently evaporated in the recording medium in atwo-dimensional pattern. Coherent
light reproduction was obtained instantaneously during recording or during secondary
readout by detection of the transmitted light through the opening created in the unidensity
medium during recording.
The system was limited only by the wave length and power of the record/reproduce laser
and provided up to two orders of magnitude higher performance in the two critical
parameters of information density and frequency bandwidth than was possible with any
magnetic tape recording system.
The operational principle of the UNICON system was characterized as the electro-optical
signal modulation of a coherent light beam from an argon II ionic laser of TEM zero-order
mode. Signal modulation occurred in the form of digital frequency, phase or pulse-width
modulation. The laser beam was focused on the unidensity medium by means of two
diffraction-limited objectives which were part of a rotating optical system. During the
helical recording process, the image of the laser aperture was swept at high. speed across the
unidensity medium yielding a recording in conjunction with the high linear motion of the
unidensity mediurn, much in the same manner as is the case in the helical recording
technique used in today's wide-band instrumentation and video tape recorders.
Recent developments at Precision Instrument Company have prompted the use of the
outstanding engineering talents found in the Systems Engineering Group to develop a
high-density permanent laser recording system based on UNICON. Their experience was
brought to bear upon the existing proven concepts of the UNICON system, and they
developed the laser recording unit used as part of the Laser Mass Memory System described
herein.
 - -00244RDX10300150003-5
The Laser Mass Memory System utilizes the basic physical concepts of diffraction-limited
evaporation of the rotary optics UNICON system; however, as a means of simplifying the
data-tracking requirements for data reproduction while providing data records of a tenable
size, the laser recording unit uses a fixed high-density recording medium mounted on a
rotating drum, with recorded data being read through reflected, rather than transmitted,
light.
It was found through the development of a prototype unit that this concept was not only
feasible, but that it was, in fact, quite satisfactory in operation. Soon after proving through
repeated demonstration that the Laser Mass Memory System was a feasible approach in
meeting the ever-expanding industry requirements for ahigh-density permanent mass data
store, efforts began in defining a control subsystem that would effectively control the Laser
Recording Unit so that it could be used as a computer peripheral on-line data storage device
with any of a number of large computers. This effort resulted in the definition of the
Recorder Control Unit.
At this point, Precision Instrument Company began to explore the potential marketplace for
such a device even more rigorously, with the result that it was determined that industry was,
in fact, ready for such a device, but that the real requirement was for on-line, direct-access
10' a-bit memory. To accommodate this requirement, the random access strip file was
added to the design, resulting in the UNICON Laser Mass Memory System described below.
SYSTEM FEATURES
Major benefits offered by the Laser Mass Memory System as a mass digital-data storage unit
are summarized below:
? Permanent Storage: Data do not degrade over a period of time of the order of years.
? Compact Storage: Data are stored at a density approximately 250 to 1,000 times
greater than that of digital magnetic tape.
? Unlimited Readout: Data can be repeatedly read out for long periods of time
without reduction in quality or damage to the record.
? Recording Verification: Essentially error-free data records result from the simul-
taneous read-while-write verification capability that is unique to the laser method of
permanent recording.
? Low Error Rates: The average uncorrected error rate is approximately one in
10$ bits.
? Economical Data Storage: Recording of large quantities of data on the Laser
Recording Unit and permanent storage of the data on data strips significantly
decreases the cost-per-bit of recording and storage imposed by existing methods.
 pprove or e - -
The salient characteristics of the Laser Mass Memory System are summarized below:
Dual Drum ',
Independent Read/Record
Common File
Approximately 400 data strips
File Capacity
10' z bits
.Read and Record:
Data Rate
4 megabits/sec
Access Time:
Strip-to-Strip
S seconds
Within Strip (3 x 109 bits)
200 milliseconds
Within 106 Field:
(Approx. 16 tracks)'.,..
2 milliseconds + rotational delays
Error Rate
Less than 1 error in 10$ bits.
LASER MASS MEMORY SYSTEM
The Laser Mass Memory Systeim is a peripheral device with respect to a large computing or
data processing system. However, the Laser Mass Memory System is composed of several
major elements and can be functionally described as ahigh-density permanent data storage
system, composed of two mayor subsystems, the Laser Recording Unit and the Recorder
Control Unit.
LASER RECORDING UNIT
The Laser Recording Unit is composed of two read/record units, each with independent
simultaneous read/write capability, with provision for automatic data selection from a
common 10' z bit mass file.
Data are recorded on data stri s which are polyester sheets approximately 4.75 inches wide
by 31.25 inches long by 0.00 ~ inches thick, having a suitable metallic thin-film recording
surface. The 10' z bit common file unit is composed of eighteen strip packs, each containing
25 data strips, with all packs securely mounted in a frame which can be readily transferred
in such a manner that any selected data strip can be positioned accurately under either drum
unit, and the selected strip ejected from the file in such a manner that the drum
loading/unloading mechanism 'can operate to place the strip on the drum in a position
suitable for recording or retrieval of data. Each of the eighteen strip packs are individually
removable from the file unit through an access door in the Laser Recording Unit cabinet,
and may be replaced by other 'such units for modification of the contents of the common
file.
Each of the two read/record units is composed. of a rotatable drum unit, together with a
loading/unloading mechanism for transfer of the selected data strip to or from the common
mass file to a working position 'on the drum surface. Adjacent to the drum, a track selection
mechanism is provided for support of an optical head which directs laser light onto any
 BEAM SPLITTER
DRUM WITH
UNICON MEDIA
DATA
OUT
POSITION ANALYZER
& DATA SENSE
SIMPLIFIED FLOW DIAGRAM, LASER RECORDING/READING PROCESS
selected region of the data strip which has been mounted and is rotating on the drum unit.
A light modulator unit, together with suitable optical elements provides control of the
intensity of the laser light beam, in a manner suitable for recording of data through
vaporization of minute holes in the recording medium surface of a data strip, and for
illumination of recorded data tracks for reading. Additional optical elements and a data
sense unit utilize the laser light reflected from a selected region of the rotating data strip for
retrieval of the stored information.
RECORDER CONTROL UNIT
The Recorder Control Unit is composed of a programmed control computer and one or two
word processors, which, with the assistance of properly interfaced. input/output control
units, will simultaneously operate and control the Laser Recording Unit, and control the
bidirectional data flow of two independent I/O data streams.
The control computer is a programmable conventionally-built small scale general purpose
computer with a fast cycle time, protected core memory storage, and a flexible multi-mode
I/O system. The instruction set and execution times are designed to facilitate both. the
control applications and I/O operations necessary to maintain efficient data recording and
retrieval processes.
A Word Processor is aspecial-purpose programmable high-speed computer employed to
supervise the data flow to or from one read/record head of the Laser Recording Unit.
During record mode, as a data stream is received for recording, the word processor will:
(1) assemble the data, (2) encode and append arecord-oriented error detecting parity
check code, (3) provide temporary data buffering.
 --~ppravetl-Fo~'R~e
As data is transmitted out fpr recording, the word processor will: (1) insert timing and
diagnostic patterns, at the beginning of each track, or sector, if these have not been
previously recorded during strip initialization; (2) write all descriptor codes; (3) logically
verify single bit recording; (4) append a verification to every word correctly written; or
(5) order a word to be rerecorded if verification fails.
During the read mode, as data is retrieved from the Laser Recording Unit the word
processor will: (1) provide temporary buffering for the retrieved information; (2) verify
the descriptor code; (3) remove timing; (4) check word recorded validity; (5) recompute
the record oriented error detection parity check; (6) perform an error detection; and
(T) initiate a reread if error a}~pears.
One or two word processor units will be included in the Recorder Control Unit, as required
by system configuration. A'I two-drum Laser Recording Unit with capability of two
simultaneous data streams will require two word processors, as well as provision for two
Channel I/O units, and two Recorder I/O units. The Channel I/O interface is amulti-device
control unit capable of communication with the external CPU I/O Channel in a directly
programmed multiplex or bu}-st mode. The Channel I/O interface will provide the logical
capability to adapt the characteristics of the Recorder Control Unit to the standard form
provided by the IBM 360/75 CPU I/O Channels, or alternatively, to be compatible to other
external system CPU units. C~ne or two independent Channel I/O interface units will be
provided in the Recorder Cont~,rol Unit as required by system configuration.
The File I/O Interface is a control unit capable of communication with the common file
unit in the Laser Recording 'Unit. Communication through this channel will control the
selector unit of the common file for positioning of addressed record strips into loading
position under either of the t ~o read/record drum units.
The Recorder I/O Interface is~ a control unit capable of communication with aread/record
drum assembly in the Laser Recording Unit. Communication through this channel will
control the load/unload mechanism, motor drive, carriage positioning drive, and. tracking
galvanometer command input, as well as sense status of these subsystems. A Recorder I/O
Interface is required for each iiread/record drum assembly provided in the Laser Recording
Unit.
FILE ORGANIZATION
GENERAL
Since the Laser Mass Memory System is a permanent recording device, with nondestructive
read, data once written cannot be erased and rewritten as in a magnetic memory. For a large
direct access file one convenient organization is that the file master index resides in memory
under control of the CPU. When it is desired to delete or modify a record in the Laser Mass
Memory System, the record data is pulled out to core, the data modification made, and the
entire record rewritten at a new vacant location on the recording medium. The new track
address is then placed in the ',index in place of the obsolete address, and this data item
thereafter accessed at the new Zocation in the mass store.
Where a data record has continhing transactions, which do not obsolete the remainder of the
record, at the time of initially', placing this record into the mass store, blank spaces may be
left, and a local address stored in the index. Then when a transaction is to be added to a
mass store record, this local ~~address is read from the index, incremented by one and
____Apnroved For Release 2001/09/04 :CIA-RDP86-002448000300150003-5
 returned, the mass file track and sector address read, access obtained, local address used to
count down the record, and the new transaction written. This may be repeated until the
local address regions initially allocated to this record are all filled. Then, either a transfer
address to a new mass store track may be utilized for continuation of the record, or the
procedure of completely transferring the record to a new location in the mass file may be
used.
In a Laser Mass Memory System which contains more than one read/write drum the mass
file may from time to time have all obsolete material deleted, by passing through the current
index and rewriting only those portions of the original mass file which are currently
accessible. Also, a special mark or code can be placed on any data record in the mass store
to cause the readout system to ignore this data, in a manner similar to that used for
read-while write data validation in which any write error causes the data to be marked as
invalid, and the recording repeated. The mass file index may be placed on the data record
strips themselves, though allocation of a small number of data tracks on each strip for the
index associated with that strip, with only ahigher-level index then residing in the CPU
memory, or one or more strips may be devoted to index. Either of these procedures involve
some additional access time requirements over index residing entirely in a separate memory
device. For index protection, the current state of the index may be copied into the
permanent mass store at frequent intervals.
The 1012 bit on-line mass file is composed of a number of record strips located within a
mechanical selector unit in the Laser Recording Unit. Any strip may be accessed to either of
two readJwrite drum units. It is assumed that a direct access storage system will incorporate
two drums for convenience in file updating, strip copying, and minimization of access times.
The contents of this on-line mass file may be modified as desired by manual insertion of a
new set of data-strips into the Laser Recording Unit from off-line files of any desired size.
RECORD STRIP CONFIGURATION
The number of data record strips necessary to produce an on-line file of 1012 bit capacity is
a function of the capacity of each individual strip. This capacity is a function of recording
density, which in turn is limited by the allowable system error rate.
For the system currently being developed at Precision Instrument Company a data format
utilizing bit cells four microns wide by three microns long recorded on parallel tracks
separated by eight microns will be employed. Such an arrangement will provide for
recording 262,000 bits on each track and 3,175 tracks per inch of medium width. As
currently configured, a 3.5 inch wide area will be recorded on each data strip. This means
that each strip will have a capacity of approximately 2.9 billion bits, or that a strip file
containing 400 data strips will have a capacity of 1.165 trillion bits.
The selected strip capacity also may be constrained by a requirement to permit convenient
addressing in terms compatible with programming for some already existing device. For
example, the organization fora Laser Recording Unit recording-medium strip may be
designed to simulate as nearly as possible the organization of an IBM 2314 Direct Access
Storage Facility device.
In IBM cylinder terminology, the IBM 2314 device consists of eight packs, or volumes. Each
 pack contains 200 cylinders, and each cylinder has 20 tracks. The packs represent drives, the
cylinders represent the number of positions to which the access mechanism can move, and
the tracks represent the recording-surface accessed tracks available on the 1 1 discs associated
with each drive.
The Laser Recording Unit record strip in this example will contain 11,200 tracks divided
into eight regions each representing a pack of 1,400 tracks. Each region (pack) is divided
into 200 groups of 7 tracks. On each track of the record strip, the equivalent of three
IBM 2314 tracks is recorded in three sectors (A, B, and C); the C sector of the seventh track
is retained as a spare.
Since each sector of the record strip contains 7,294 data bytes, a cylinder contains
145,880 data bytes, a pack orl,dise-storage module contains 29,176,000 bytes, and the Laser
Recording Unit record strip cdntains 233,408,000 data bytes. This data density is equivalent
to the capacity of the IBM 23'14, plus approximately 1 l .6 million bytes of spare data space.
This strip capacity will be }}rovided with abit-cell size of four microns, allowing a bit
density of 6,350 bits per inch along each data track and thus approximately 198,500 per
track; acenter-to-center track spacing of eight microns will provide a track density of
3,17.5 tracks per inch of recording-medium width. Since about 11 percent of the recorded
bits will be used for clocking and control purposes, approximately 175,000 bits per track
will represent the net data-recording capacity. With about 1 1,200 tracks recorded on each
strip, the total net data capacity of the strip will be 1.96 x 109 bits or 245 million bytes. A
data transfer rate of 500,000 bytes per second will be obtained at a drum rotation speed of
22.9 rps (43.7 milliseconds per revolution).
Data is written in binary code on the recording medium in such a manner that the beam is
focused onto the medium at, the beginning of a series of "ones." The beam continues to
vaporize the recording medium until a "zero" is to be recorded at which time the beam is
"turned off" (incident radiation is reduced to the read level) by the modulator. [n this
manner it is possible to provide recordings which require fewer transitions from burn to
no-burn (and thus less switching of the modulator) than would be required if a "punched
tape" approach were taken in accomplishing the recording.
UN[CON is a proprietary product of Precision Instrument Company. (U.S. Patents No. 3,314,073, 3,314,074, and
3,314,075. Other patents applied for.)
UNICON is a registered trademark. (Reg.', U.S. Patent office, No. 836,688, issued Oct. 10, 1967.)
~ artlNrEO IN u.s.a. _ Approved For Release 2001/09/04 :CIA-RDP86-002448000300150003-5 UNICON8569
 -Approved-Fq~,REiease
SALES/SERVICE OFFICES
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN
1020 Springfield Avenue, No. 103
Mountainside, New Jersey 07091
[phone] TWX 710-997-9624
WASHINGTON, D.C.
1401 Wilson Baulevard,
Arlington, Virginia 22209
[phone] TWX 710-955-1138
DAYTON
213 North Broad Street,
Fairborn, Ohio 45324
[phone] TWX 810-475-2982
ALBUQUERQUE
2104 San Mateo, North East,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110
[phone] TWX 910-989-0611
LOS ANGELES
3402 West Century Boulevard,
Suites 1 and 2
Inglewood, California 90303
[phone] TWX 910-328-6157
SAN FRANCISCO
3170 Porter Drive,
Palo Alto, California 94304
[phone] TWX 910-373-1752
PRECISION INSTRUMENT COMPANY CANADA, LTD.
1910 St. Laurent Boulevard,
Ottowa 8, Ontario, Canada
[phone] TWX 610-562-1937._
P R E C I S I O N I N S T R U M E N T C O M P A N Y
3170 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California 94304 Phone [phone] ?TWX 910 373-1752
----Approved For-Release 2001/0904 -CIA~DP86-0~244F~000300a500x3-~--