GuruGulabKhatri
Forerunner
TDK has now revealed a 1TB monster of its own at CEATEC. Unlike existing Blu-rays which use four recording layers at most, TDK’s creation features 16 layers on both sides of the disc, each capable of storing up to 32GB apiece.
If you’re keeping track of the optical storage arms race, that’s seven more gigabytes per layer than Pioneer’s 400GB and 500GB disc achievements made back in 2008. TDK’s prototype also has the potential to leverage existing Blu-ray technologies, since it’s made from a material already found in BDs and shares the same beam aperture.
On the down side, the current version’s recording layers measure 260μm — that’s more than twice as thick as its Blu-ray counterpart — and causes aberrations in today’s fat-layer-hating optical lenses.
Outside of its Biggest Loser qualifications, though, TDK says “its commercialization depends on disc manufacturers.†Considering the company has yet to sell the 10-layer 320GB discs revealed at CEATEC 2009, however, we’re doubtful this 1TB improvement will hit stores anytime soon.
The company realized the large capacity by forming 16 recording layers, each of which has a capacity of 32 Gbytes on each side of the disc. The number of layers of an existing Blu-ray disc is four at most.
TDK succeeded in forming 16 layers by developing a disc material with a high light transmittance. Specifically, the light transmittance of one layer is 95.1%, and that of 16 layers is 72.6%.
"The material has already been used for part of a Blu-ray disc," the company said. "So, it does not have a problem of, for example, durability."
Because a beam with a numerical aperture of 0.85, which is also used for the Blu-ray Disc, is used for the new disc, many existing technologies for the Blu-ray Disc can be applied, TDK said.
The time it takes to read out one layer of the disc is the same as that of the Blu-ray Disc. The symbol error rate for reading out data ranges from 1 x 10-5 to 1 x 10-4, and TDK said that it is low enough for commercialization.
The only problem that has to be solved is the thickness of the disc.
"According to the specifications of the Blu-ray Disc, the thickness of a recording layer has to be 100μm or less," TDK said. "But the recording layer of the new disc is 260μm in thickness. And it causes the aberration of an optical lens."
The company expects that the new optical disc will be used as a home-use recording medium, a backup medium and a medium for a broadcasting service.
"Its commercialization depends on disc manufacturers," TDK said.
If you’re keeping track of the optical storage arms race, that’s seven more gigabytes per layer than Pioneer’s 400GB and 500GB disc achievements made back in 2008. TDK’s prototype also has the potential to leverage existing Blu-ray technologies, since it’s made from a material already found in BDs and shares the same beam aperture.
On the down side, the current version’s recording layers measure 260μm — that’s more than twice as thick as its Blu-ray counterpart — and causes aberrations in today’s fat-layer-hating optical lenses.
Outside of its Biggest Loser qualifications, though, TDK says “its commercialization depends on disc manufacturers.†Considering the company has yet to sell the 10-layer 320GB discs revealed at CEATEC 2009, however, we’re doubtful this 1TB improvement will hit stores anytime soon.
The company realized the large capacity by forming 16 recording layers, each of which has a capacity of 32 Gbytes on each side of the disc. The number of layers of an existing Blu-ray disc is four at most.
TDK succeeded in forming 16 layers by developing a disc material with a high light transmittance. Specifically, the light transmittance of one layer is 95.1%, and that of 16 layers is 72.6%.
"The material has already been used for part of a Blu-ray disc," the company said. "So, it does not have a problem of, for example, durability."
Because a beam with a numerical aperture of 0.85, which is also used for the Blu-ray Disc, is used for the new disc, many existing technologies for the Blu-ray Disc can be applied, TDK said.
The time it takes to read out one layer of the disc is the same as that of the Blu-ray Disc. The symbol error rate for reading out data ranges from 1 x 10-5 to 1 x 10-4, and TDK said that it is low enough for commercialization.
The only problem that has to be solved is the thickness of the disc.
"According to the specifications of the Blu-ray Disc, the thickness of a recording layer has to be 100μm or less," TDK said. "But the recording layer of the new disc is 260μm in thickness. And it causes the aberration of an optical lens."
The company expects that the new optical disc will be used as a home-use recording medium, a backup medium and a medium for a broadcasting service.
"Its commercialization depends on disc manufacturers," TDK said.
