Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd announced today the development of a new Blu-Ray drive capable of recording at 4x on single/dual layer BD-R media.

Key component of the new drive is its new laser diode, which is offering writing /reading of dual-layer BD-R media (50GB) at 4x, despite the fact that it just features a relatively low output of 130mW. Until now, such a laser power has been considered as efficient for 2x BD-R burnings only. However, Panasonic has applied a laser light adjustment technology that effectively optimizes the quality of the laser light, allowing for burning at 4x using a low-power power. With conventional methods, Blu-Ray recording at 4x requires a 180mW laser.

In addition, the new drive features a system that automatically adjusts the laser characteristics in real time, in order to deliver the optimum recording conditions. Noise and distortion signals are also filtered from the read-out signal when accessing 50GB BD-R media, allowing reading of the discs even at speeds of 4x.

The drive is build according to the recently released "Blu-ray Disc Recordable Format Part 1 Version 1.2" standard.

The new drive is able to write 25GB of data in 23 minutes, and 50GB in 43 minutes, using a 4x CLV writing strategy.

Panasonic also expected to release its first 25GB BD-R media for 4x recording by the end of the month. 50GB BD-Rs should be expected later this September.

Currently, Hitachi LG Data Storage is also offering 4x recording for BD-R media, aiming at 6x with its upcoming GGW-H20L BD burner (July). Pioneer is also expected to offer 4x BD-R writing with its second generation of BD drives.