HD DVD-R disc introduction.

HD DVD-R disc introduction

Dennis Hissink : July 5th 2005 - 23:45 GMT

MaxellHD DVD-R disc introduction : A group of four manufacturers
announced successful development of a prototype of a HD DVD-R disc,
the write-once next generation DVD disc, that can be easily produced
at high volume on standard DVD-Recordable production lines. Hitachi
Maxell and Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim have separately tested and
verified the manufacturability of the write-once discs, which use a
new organic dye specifically developed for blue-laser applications,
and confirmed the prospect of volume production. The new dye is the
result of a joint development project by Hayashibara Biochemical
Laboratories, a key manufacturer of dyes for DVD-Recordable discs,
Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim and Toshiba Corporation.
HD DVD-R disc introductionHD DVD-R - Hitachi Maxell
Hitachi Maxell and Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim will commercialize
HD DVD-R discs in spring next year, at the same time as the launch of
HD DVD recorders and PCs with built-in HD DVD drives by hardware
manufacturers, including Toshiba. Development of the new dye by
Hayashibara, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim and Toshiba is a
breakthrough for HD DVD-R. Standard DVD-Recordable discs use a photo-
sensitive organic dye as the data storage medium in their recording
layer.

HD DVD - Develop dye for HD DVD-R disc
In the transition to HD DVD, manufacturers had to meet the challenge
of developing a dye for HD DVD-R discs that could be used with the
narrow wavelength of a blue laser and offered sufficient readout
stability. The organic dye is highly sensitive to blue laser light,
has the uncompromised readout stability essential for practical use,
and the solubility in organic solvent required for easy production of
the dye recording layer by a spin-coating process. As the HD DVD-R
disc is based on the same disc structure as DVD discs, back-to-back
bonding of two 0.6 millimeter-thick substrates, already installed
DVD-Recordable manufacturing lines can utilize the new dye in
efficient production of HD DVD-R.

Hitachi Maxell and Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim
Hitachi Maxell and Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim have both used the
new dye in trial production of prototype HD DVD-R discs (single-layer,
15 gigabytes) on their current DVD-Recordable production lines, and
confirmed that the process can be applied to mass production. “By
combining our cumulative know-how in high-density optical disc
technology with the breakthrough of the new dye, we have tested and
proven the manufacturability of HD DVD-R discs,” said Norio Ota,
Executive Officer and General Manager of Development and Technology
Division, Hitachi Maxell. “We will prepare for mass production of HD
DVD-R on our current lines, in readiness for market growth in
applications including HD DVD recorders and PCs with HD DVD drives.”

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media - Mass produce HD DVD products
Hidemi Yoshida, Chief Technology Officer of Mitsubishi Kagaku Media
said, “As a disc manufacturer involved in development of the next
generation HD DVD discs right from the beginning, Mitsubishi Kagaku is
delighted to confirm the feasibility of production of dye-based HD
DVD-R. DVD-Recordable has grown to be a major market, and we expect to
see the same substantial growth in demand for HD DVD-R. We will
prepare for mass production to support the forthcoming launch of HD
DVD products.”

Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories - Expand capabilities of HD DVD
“We are delighted to contribute to expanding the capabilities of the
next generation HD DVD format through the successful development of
the new dye in cooperation with the partner companies,” said Yasuhiro
Kotani, Corporate Director of Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories.
“In chemicals, where we focus our R&D efforts on functional dyes, our
company will continue to develop and provide new dyes based on market
requirements.”

Toshiba Digital Media Network Company - Joint cooperation
“I am delighted that the four companies, through their joint work,
have proven the manufacturability of an HD DVD-R disc. HD DVD’s basic
feature of sharing the same disc structure as DVD made a large
contribution to this success, and offers more and compelling evidence
of our design policy’s validity,” said Hisashi Yamada, Chief Fellow of
Toshiba’s Digital Media Network Company. “In 2004 the recordable and
rewritable DVD disc market stood at around 1.4 billion discs, and
about ninety percent of those discs were write-once discs. The next
generation write-once HD DVD disc will be just as important, and I am
sure that proving an efficient mass production technology for HD DVD-R
discs will provide a big boost for a smooth transition from DVD to HD
DVD.”

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