Ricoh develops component that reads Blu-ray & HD-DVD discs
Posted by Dan Bell on 08 July 2006 - 13:10 - Source: EE Times
This didn't take long! Ricoh may have just saved the next gen optical storage, by creating an optical component that can do it all! This single lens can read Blu-ray, HD-DVD as well as CD and DVD, with a single lens and pickup! Format wars? Who cares? But all joking aside, this would be the smart way to go, if you were to jump on the blue laser bandwagon early. According to Ricoh, the system can both read and write, or at least has the potential to do so. However, they say they are planning on just using the technology on players first. At least you could avail yourself to all the HD content that's out there and not have to purchase two players.
The component is a 3.5-mm diameter, 1-mm thick round diffraction plate with minute concentric groves on both sides which function as a diffraction grating.
The diffraction plate is placed between lasers and an objective lens. The diffraction grating is designed to adjust a light beam to an optimum incident ray relative to the objective lens so that light focuses on the proper position for each disk format.
The data layer of the Blu-ray Disc resides 0.1 mm from the disk's surface, while the HD-DVD data layer is 0.6-mm deep from the disk's surface, the same as DVD disks. Cd's have a data layer depth of 1.1 mm from the disk surface.
Multiformat players and recorders can identify which format disk is loaded. Based on the disc information, Ricoh's optical diffraction component adjusts the laser beam with its diffraction grating for each format and passes it to the objective lens. The lens then forms a beam spot at the appropriate depth for each disk format.
"This diffraction device is the first one that is ready for four formats, including BD and HD-DVD," claimed a Ricoh spokesman. "It will make it possible to build players and recorders ready for all formats, which will benefit consumers," he added.
There is a bit more to be read about this exciting development, if you would like to follow this link to EE Times. We have to wonder how long before this tech hits the market!
CD Freaks presents: The Pioneer BDR-101A Blu-ray writer preview
Posted by Dan Bell on 03 August 2006 - 20:16 - Source: Pioneer
We are pleased to announce our preview of the Pioneer BDR-101A Blu-ray writer. Special thanks go out to Pioneer Europe NV, who were kind enough to send us their first Blu-ray drive. This exciting, next generation drive supports 2x BD-R/RE, 8x DVD±R, 4x DVD+RW/-RW and 2.4x/2x DVD+R DL/DVD-R DL writing.
