Nichia developed a high power violet semiconductor laser diode corresponding to reading/writing on double-layer discs at a recording speed of 12x or even higher.
The new diode is also able to support 2x recording on quad-layer HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs, due to its high power output of 420mW.
The Japanese company said that the new laser diode has an estimated life time of more than 10,000 hours, while a stable operation was achieved for 1000 hours with the condition of 420 mW pulsed operation at 80°C case temperature.
Nichia is currently producing LD that can output at 180mW, and plans to start production of 250mW diodes in the first half of 2008. Mass production of laser diodes that can output at 320mW and 420mW will follow.