TDK starts selling Blu-ray 23.3GB media

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http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6324.cfm

While the DVD Double Layer media prices remain sky high and whether we want it or not, the next generation of optical recording is coming our way. Traditional recording media provider TDK at the bleeding edge of recording technology, and has todayd released it's Blu-ray disc TDK Professional Disc (PD-RE23CN).
The TDK Professional Disc, which uses a blue-violet laser with a short wavelength for recording and playback, boasts a capacity of 23.3GB – approximately five times that of DVD media – as well as a rapid transfer rate of 72Mbps. Thanks to its random data access capability and other features available only from optical disc media, it can be expected to find growing acceptance in broadcasting applications.
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Due to the high-density recording required by the Professional Disc System, adherence of any dust on, or scratches to the disc surface can have a serious impact on recording and playback accuracy. By utilizing TDK’s DURABIS PRO, a hard coating technology developed for professional-use discs, TDK’s Professional Disc offers extremely high durability and recording reliability.
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By use of a blue-violet laser with an extremely short 405nm wavelength, a large recording capacity of 23.3GB – about five times that of a DVD disc – is realized on a disc of the same size. In addition, high-sensitivity phase change materials and an optimized layer structure allows for a high-speed transfer rate of 72Mbps (144Mbps with two optical heads) with stabilized recording and playback.

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https://www.tdk.com/tecpress/20050418_prodisc.html

AND HIGH-SPEED 72MBPS1 TRANSFER RATE UTILIZING BLUE LASER TECHNOLOGY

– TDK’s Professional Disc Offers Unprecedented Storage Capacity
And High Durability with TDK’s Exclusive DURABIS PRO Hard Coating Technology –

GARDEN CITY, NY – April 18, 2005 - TDK Corporation today announced that it has reached a licensing agreement with Sony for TDK to begin manufacturing and distributing TDK Professional Disc (PD-RE23CN) media, rewritable optical discs that provide compatibility with Sony’s Professional Disc™ System (XDCAM™). The new TDK Professional Disc media will launch worldwide in June, 2005.

The TDK Professional Disc, which uses a blue-violet laser with a short wavelength for recording and playback, boasts a capacity of 23.3GB – approximately five times that of DVD media – as well as a rapid transfer rate of 72Mbps. Thanks to its random data access capability and other features available only from optical disc media, it can be expected to find growing acceptance in broadcasting applications.

In the development of its Professional Disc, TDK, a world leader in specialty recording media manufacturing, has incorporated technologies specifically developed for use with the advanced blue-violet laser. These technologies include the recording materials and recording layer that form the basis for its performance utilizing high-sensitivity phase change materials and a layer structure designed exclusively for high-speed recording. Through high-precision spin coating technology, discs are manufactured with an extremely smooth 0.1mm-thick transparent cover layer. In addition, to accommodate the disc’s extremely narrow track pitch, high-precision mastering and injection technology achieve the exceptionally accurate recording and playback stability demanded by the Professional Disc System.

Due to the high-density recording required by the Professional Disc System, adherence of any dust on, or scratches to the disc surface can have a serious impact on recording and playback accuracy. By utilizing TDK’s DURABIS PRO2, a hard coating technology developed for professional-use discs, TDK’s Professional Disc offers extremely high durability and recording reliability.

In the future, demand for optical discs in professional broadcasting applications is expected to increase further, thanks to such capabilities as fast transfer of images to IT systems, high-speed editing, random access and other advantages. In this environment, TDK is confident that its Professional Disc for broadcast use will assume a key role.

TDK has always been committed to offering the most advanced media solutions to professionals and consumers. The launch of TDK’s Professional Disc (PD-RE23CN) blue laser disc for Sony’s “Professional Disc” Systems strengthens TDK’s position as a leader in recording media, while expanding TDK’s role as the brand that professional users can trust for the ultimate in performance and reliability.

1 In the case of one optical head. With two optical heads, 144Mbps.

2 DURABIS is the name TDK applies to its special hard coating technology for optical disc surfaces (the surface irradiated by the laser beam). It offers three key characteristics: resistance against scratches, smudges (particularly fingerprints), and dust. The PD-RE23CN Professional Disc utilizes DURABIS PRO technology adapted for professional-use discs.

Main Features of Professional Disc PD-RE23CN

1. Large 23.3GB capacity provided by blue-violet laser recording, with high-speed 72Mbps3 transfer rate.

By use of a blue-violet laser with an extremely short 405nm4 wavelength, a large recording capacity of 23.3GB – about five times that of a DVD disc – is realized on a disc of the same size. In addition, high-sensitivity phase change materials and an optimized layer structure allows for a high-speed transfer rate of 72Mbps with stabilized recording and playback.

3 In the case of one optical head. With two optical heads, 144Mbps.

4 nm = one-billionth of a meter.



2. Use of DURABIS PRO technology achieves a durable recording surface with greatly enhanced resistance to dust and scratching.

The presence of dust or scratches on the recording surface of the Professional Disc can cause more serious problems than on DVDs. TDK’s Professional Disc utilizes DURABIS PRO, a high-durability hard coating technology developed for professional-use discs, over the cover layer to protect it against dust or scratches.

* Improved static electricity discharge effect. Recording surface stands up to dust.
The hard coat created with DURABIS PRO technology provides an outstanding static electricity discharge effect, showing results far superior to a disc without this technology. As this makes it more difficult for dust particles to adhere to the disc, problems associated with the adherence of microdust are greatly reduced (Diagram 1).

* Recording surface with significantly improved resistance to scratching.
The hard coat provided by DURABIS PRO creates a significantly stronger recording surface. In tests using an abrasion wheel run against the recording surface, extremely low abrasion rates are realized, giving it a surprisingly high resistance to scratches (Diagram 2).


3. Spin coating yields an exceptionally smooth cover layer, for stabilized recording and playback.

Thanks to TDK’s proprietary spin coating technology, the cover layer of the Professional Disc is extremely smooth, with an outstanding uniformity in thickness. As a result, the disc is able to obtain a stabilized servo signal, with reduced load on the control circuitry of the recording/playback device, making possible more stabilized recording and playback (Diagram 3).


4. Stable characteristics even after 10,000 overwrites, and outstanding hardware compatibility.

The high-sensitivity phase change materials and recording layer structure suitable for the demanding requirements of the Professional Disc were developed and implemented by TDK. Thus, even after 10,000 overwrites, stable recording and playback characteristics with a low error rate are realized. In addition, the high-sensitivity phase change material can accommodate a wide power range of blue laser recording. Combined with the high-precision substrate, which is created using high-precision cutting technology and precision injection molding technology, the disc is able to provide outstanding performance with virtually all compatible hardware (Diagrams 4, 5).


5. A high-precision, high-reliability cartridge protects the disc.

TDK has applied its extensive experience in shell and cartridge technology, utilizing components well matched to the functions of their respective parts. The disc’s anti-dust, exceptionally durable cartridge works together with the hard coat of the disc's recording surface created with DURABIS PRO technology to provide unprecedented protection of images and data recorded on the disc.


6. The Professional Disc is a high-reliability disc with long-term storage capability of over 50 years.

Accelerated environmental testing was conducted on the Professional Disc utilizing punishing conditions of heat and humidity unthinkable under normal user or storage environments. Test results show virtually no change in the disc’s initialization signal characteristics even after conditions corresponding to 50 years of ordinary use. These test results confirm that the PD-ER23CN is a high-durability, high-reliability disc suitable even for ENG or EFP tasks in demanding outdoor environments.

Professional Disc PD-RE23CN – Information

Diagram 1



Professional Disc PD-RE23CN utilizing hard coating made with DURABIS PRO technology gives up one half of its charged electric potential in about 30 minutes. A disc without hard coating does not show much attenuation even after one hour.

* The attenuation of charged electrical potential after application of voltage (10kV) is applied. (The lower the electrical potential value, the greater discharge of static electricity is indicated.)

* Reference test method: JIS L1094 charged electrical potentiality test method for textiles and silks (system to measure half-life).



Diagram 2



After 50 abrasion wheel passes, PD-RE23CN with hard-coat processing using DURABIS PRO technology cleared the standard value for bit error rate. On a disc without hard-coat processing, the error rate standard value is exceeded after only five abrasion passes.

* Playback evaluation after abrasion wheel test on recorded disc.

* Reference test method: JIS K7204 abrasion test method of abrasion wheel on plastic.



Diagram 3



In drives for Professional Disc use, a focus servo circuit is incorporated in order for the laser beam to irradiate in an accurate position on the recording layer. Thanks to the outstandingly smooth surface of the cover layer of the PD-RE23CN disc, stabilized servo control is achieved.



Diagram 4



In digital recording media, a “clean” eye pattern indicates good-quality digital signals. Even after 10,000 repeated recordings, the eye pattern of the PD-RE23CN disc exhibits virtually no change from the initial stage, thus attesting to its outstanding digital characteristics.



Diagram 5



PD-RE23CN's wide margin of recording power, from approx. 5 to 6.5mW, clears the 6.5% and below standard jitter (signal aberration value). In easily changeable environments such as during outdoor camera use, even if changes in recording power occur, stabilized recording is enabled.



TDK Professional Disc PD-RE23CN Specifications

Recording Times
MPEG IMX format DVCAM format
Approx. 45 min.
(MPEG IMX with 50Mbps compression) Approx. 85 min
(DVCAM with 25Mbps compression)
Approx. 55 min.
(MPEG IMX with 40Mbps compression)
Approx. 68 min.
(MPEG IMX with 30Mbps compression)



Recording Times
Item Unit PD-RE23CN
Capacity GB 23.3
Disc diameter mm 120
Disc thickness mm 1.2
Cover layer thickness mm 0.1
Cartridge dimensions mm 128.6 x 130.6 x 9.1
Recording method - Phase change recording
Recording wavelength nm 405 (blue-violet laser)
Data transfer rate Mbps 72 (1 optical head)/ 144 (2 optical heads)
Track pitch µm 0.32
Disc type - Rewritable
No. of rewrites No. Over 10,000

* Dimensional specifications are nominal values.



About TDK

TDK Corporation (NYSE: TDK) is a leading global electronics company based in Japan. It was established in 1935 to commercialize “ferrite,” a key material in electronics and magnetics. The company today is a leader in the development of next-generation technologies such as Blu-ray recording media, an optical disc ideally suited for high-definition video recording. TDK offers a full line of recordable DVD and CD media, digital camcorder tapes, professional data storage solutions and much more. TDK Electronics Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of TDK Corporation.