Pioneer Announces "512 GB of Next Generation Large Capacity Optical Disk for Data Archiving"

ByLindsey Bieda

On May 13, 2014 Pioneer and Memory Tech announced that they jointly developed "large capacity optical disk for data archiving" with a capacity of 256 GB on both sides and 512 GB on both sides. Although the name etc. are yet to be determined, it can also be played back with a conventional Blu-ray disc drive, and it has excellent compatibility with existing formats.

Jointly develop "256 GB single side large capacity optical disk for data archiving" | News | Pioneer Corporation
http://pioneer.jp/corp/news/press/index/1757

This large capacity optical disk for data archiving employs a "guide layer separation type multilayer disk structure" in which guide grooves (tracks) which existed in a layer for recording data on a conventional type optical disk are eliminated and a separate guide layer is provided Thereby simplifying the structure of the disk and reducing the cost.


By simplifying the disk structure, it became easy to stack the recording layers indispensable for enlarging the disk capacity, so eight layers of recording layers capable of recording 32 GB per layer were stacked, achieving a large capacity of 256 GB on one side and 512 GB on both sides. It supports up to 4 × speed recording, and although some picked-ups and firmware needs to be changed, the recorded contents can be played on existing Blu-ray disc drive. On the other hand, it has high affinity to record and playback using existing blu-ray disc drive in recording device for large capacity optical disc.



Pioneer and Memory-Tech have already succeeded in prototyping a sample disk of 10 layers on one side already, and by using the existing signal processing technology, it is possible to realize a capacity of 720 GB on both sides without changing the recording drive device Confirmed. Furthermore, it is announced that it is possible to realize a large capacity of 1 TB or more in the future by increasing the recording capacity per layer using a new signal processing method and stacking 12 or more layers.


While attention is focused on digital archives for digitizing and storing long-term information such as original materials and documents of libraries and museums, the recording / preservation method using optical discs is more expensive than other archiving methods, In addition to being able to hold down, it boasts high recall rate even in the event of a disaster such as flooding, etc., reliability is highly appreciated. This time "joint development of large capacity optical disk" is to correspond to the data archive market expected to expand in the future. Several "next generation storage media" having the capacity exceeding the Blu-ray have appeared so far, but will this optical disc with high affinity with the existing format become the successor?