Ricoh says that is is ready to deliver the new Double Layer DVD+R media with write speeds of up to 16x, significantly raising the standards for fast DL blank discs.
Delivery of the first samples for hardware manufacturers
started on 7th March 2007, the company said.
The market for DVD+R double layer blank discs more than doubled
last year and the boom in demand has continued unabated. Compared
with single layer discs, however, double layer media have hither to
required considerable time to write their large volume of storage
space. With the development of the first 16x DVD+R DL Ricoh has now
radically increased writing speed while at the same time
significantly reducing the writing time for the medium.
The "Inverted Stack Method" invented by Ricoh is possibly the best possible technique for the attainment of high recording
speeds in high-precision DVD+R DL media production. This Ricoh
production method differs considerably from the "2P method" in
which all layers are stacked on a single substrate. Separate
production of both recording layers as practised by Ricoh,
initially takes place separately on both substrates. The two
components are then pressed together. Thus in practice Ricoh?s
"Inverted Stack Method" provides increased precision for both
recording layers.
To ensure the high writing speed of 16x for the DVD, the medium
must have exceptional mechanical properties. Thus the extremely
precise groove formation of the Ricoh blank disc not only has a
decisive influence on correct tracking but it also serves to
avoid distortion. However not only were improvements
made to eccentricity and production tool precision but newly
developed recording materials (organic dye) were also deployed.
The layers of Ricoh DVD+R DL media are structured in the following
way:
- Substrate ? 1. recording layer ? semi-transparent reflective
layer ? intermediate layer
- Recording layer ? reflective layer ? 2 substrate.
Ricoh's new 16x DVD+R DL media promise to offer reliable and stable writing processes as well as increased durability of the medium.
Ricoh plans to start sales of the 16x DVD+R DL in summer 2007.