Toshiba and NEC Jointly Propose Next Generation,
High Capacity, Blue-Laser DVD Format
Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 29, 2002 - (JCN Newswire) - Toshiba Corporation
and NEC Corporation today jointly proposed to the DVD Forum
a next-generation, high-capacity, blue-laser DVD format that
will allow manufacturers to continue to use existing DVD plant
and equipment and so minimize the investment required for
the transition to next-generation DVD players and drives.
Adoption of the proposed format will bring benefits to hardware
and software developers, manufacturers and consumers.
The format proposed by Toshiba and NEC covers both read-only
discs that are used to distribute high-definition movies,
and read-and-write discs. The format utilizes a short wavelength
blue laser and the same disc technology used in current DVDs--back-to-back
bonding of two 0.6mm thick, 120mm discs.
The proposed format increases the capacity of read-only discs
to 15GB for a single-sided, single-layer disc, and to 30 GB
for a single-sided dual-layer disc, and pushes the capacity
of read-and-write discs, which currently are single-sided
with a single-layer, to 20GB. Today's single-sided dual-layer
read-only discs have a capacity of 8.5 GB, while read-and-write
discs (single-sided, single-layer only) can store up to 4.7GB
of data. The increased capacity of the proposed format is
achieved by employing a blue laser, and by utilizing the two
companies' new signal-processing and phase-change media recording
technologies.
In addition, Toshiba and NEC will shortly propose a 40GB
single-sided, dual-layer read-and-write disc to the DVD Forum.
Please see attached chart for more details on the proposed
format.
The DVD Forum established two subgroups to study different
technical approaches toward the next-generation blue laser
DVD format in February this year. One is considering an approach
based on a 0.6mm disc substrate, the same method employed
in current DVDs, and the other a 0.1mm cover layer. Toshiba
and NEC separately promoted research on a 0.6mm disc substrate,
the same as that of current DVD discs. After verifying one
another's technology they decided to jointly propose a single,
unified format to the DVD Forum.
High-definition digital imaging is the wave of the future,
an increasingly powerful force in terrestrial and satellite-based
broadcasting, the cinema, and in the delivery of games and
entertainment and computer applications. The richer data sources
and heightened user experience that digital media offer can
be seen in the fast penetration of DVD, and in the growing
demand for digital media supporting even higher capacities.
Toshiba and NEC support this trend, with a format that provides
a cost-effective upgrade path for media vendors, and a backward-compatible
solution for the many consumers who have built DVD libraries.
The new formats also meets the needs of the PC-industry-driven
optical-drive business, where coming years will see demand
for combination drives that can handle both current and next-generation
DVD media.
Toshiba and NEC's proposal is based on the following four
advantages.
1. It meets manufacturers' needs by enabling use of the same
manufacturing
infrastructure as current DVD, which minimizes disc production
costs. 2. It supports development of backward compatible players
that can playback
current and next generation DVD.
3. Like the current DVD, it is easy to realize a disc that
does not need a
cartridge, which allows slim drives that can be integrated
into portable
equipment.
4. It is easy to realize dual-layer discs, as the back-to-back
bonding of
0.6mm-thick discs is the same as for current DVD.
Toshiba and NEC will together submit technical data to the
DVD Forum that is necessary for the standardization of the
next-generation, high-capacity, blue-laser DVD.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.1) (TSE: 6701)
is one of the world's leading providers of Internet,
broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated
to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global
base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top
patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions
in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices,
through its three market-focused, in-house companies: NEC
Solutions, NEC Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Corporation
employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales
of approximately $39 billion in the fiscal year ended March
2002.
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Corporation (TSE: 6502) (US: TOSBF) (FTSE: TOS) is
a leader in information and communications systems, electronic
components, consumer products, and power systems. The company's
integration of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its
position as a leading company in semiconductors, LCDs and
other electronic devices. Toshiba has 176,000 employees worldwide
and annual sales of over US$40 billion.
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