What is Blu-ray?
Blue Laser
Blu-ray discs (BD) get their
name from a combination
of the words blue and
optical ray. The format was
developed by the Blu-ray
Discs Association (BDA),
which is made up of a
group of leading consumer
electronics, major film studios
and PC companies, including our
parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media. Verbatim, as a
subsidiary of MKM, has therefore, first hand access to the
latest in Blu-ray technology.
The Blu-ray disc’s higher storage capacity is enabled
by a blue laser that has a shorter wavelength than the
standard red laser used in CD (780nm) and DVD (650nm)
technology. Blu-ray disc utilises a blue laser with a
wavelength of only 405nm combined with a strong lens
system with a numerical aperture of 0.85. This results in a
ultra-small laser spot which allows writing smaller data pits
which increases the amount of data on the disc. Due to the
small data entry spot on the disc surface hard coating is
needed on Blu-ray discs.
How a BD Disc Works
Red Laser (DVD)
technology
Blu-ray (BD-R/RE)
technology
Data
Data
Laser
Hardcoat Layer
Cover Layer
Polycarbonate Layer 1
Recording Layer
Protective Layer
Recording Layer
Reflective Layer
Polycarbonate Layer 2
Disc Label
Protective Layer
Reflective Layer
Polycarbonate Layer
Disc Label
Minimum pit length = 0.4μm Track pitch = 0.74μm Capacity = 4.7GB
Minimum pit length = 0.15μm Track pitch = 0.32μm Capacity = 25GB
What is HD DVD?
High Density
HD DVD stands for ‘High-Density Digital Versatile Disc’. It
is promoted by Toshiba, NEC and others and is supported
by four major film studios. Our parent company, Mitsubishi
Kagaku Media, is a member of the HD DVD development
technology group which means that Verbatim has access
to the latest in HD DVD technology.
The HD DVD disc, like the Blu-ray disc has a higher storage
capacity using the same blue laser of 405nm wavelength
compared to the standard red laser used in CD (780nm)
and DVD (650nm) technology. However, HD DVD uses a
lens system with a numerical aperture of 0.65 resulting in
a slightly bigger laser spot. This makes the laser and disc
less susceptible to scratches and fingerprints so that HD
DVD requires no hard coating on the disc surface.
How a HD DVD Disc Works
Red Laser (DVD)
technology
Blue Laser (HD DVD)
technology
Data
Data
Laser
Polycarbonate Layer 1
Recording Layer
Polycarbonate Layer 1
Recording Layer
Reflective Layer
Polycarbonate Layer 2
Disc Label
Reflective Layer
Polycarbonate Layer 2
Disc Label
Minimum pit length = 0.4μm Track pitch = 0.74μm Capacity = 4.7GB
Minimum pit length = 0.173μm Track pitch = 0.40μm Capacity = 15GB
High Definition Media Facts
Experience it with Verbatim.
With less than 10 years since the debut of the DVD format, the ‘Next Generation’ of optical media is already on the production line
and the demand for the new revolution in home entertainment – High Definition (HD) is on the rise.
High Definition Television provides an unsurpassed picture quality and a remarkable high-end surround sound. With the superb
resolution, dynamic contrast, vivid colours and remarkably clear sound effects, high definition brings an additional dimension to
your visual entertainment.
Since the 1950s, Hollywood has been using 70mm film to achieve widescreen shots, sharp pictures and most importantly, high
quality sound. Since our television systems during the past 50 have had a lower resolution than these films, reproduction was
of a lesser quality.
Nowadays, with the development of High Definition Media, the same Hollywood quality can be viewed on the new High Definition
televisions which are now on the market (HDTV).
With the expected growth of HDTV, there is a consequent growth in the recording of the HD television programming. Today,
recording 2 hours of standard definition television in high quality requires a full 4.7GB DVD disc. High Definition content – with
its increased resolution and digital sound tracks requires an ever greater amount of storage capacity. What does this mean? For
consumers who want to record High Definition content, a higher capacity DVD is needed that can store
this content with increased resolution and digital sound tracks.
Verbatim has recognised this need and to meet the demands of the market, we are offering the two current formats on the market:
Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs.
Specifications
Blu-ray Specifications
HD DVD Specifications
BD-R
(Write-once)
BD-RE
(Re-writable)
HD DVD-R
(Write-once)
HD DVD-RW*
(Re-writable)
Disc Type
Disc Type
Single
layer
Dual
layer
Single
layer
Dual
layer
Single
layer
Dual
layer
Single
layer
Dual
layer
Recording Layer
Recording capacity
Recording layer
Laser wavelength
Recording Layer
Recording capacity
Recording layer
Laser wavelength
25GB
50GB
25GB
50GB
15GB
30GB
15GB
30GB
Inorganic
material
Phase-change
material
Organic dye
material
Phase-change
material
405 nm
405 nm
0.85
405 nm
0.65
405 nm
0.65
Lens numerical
aperture (NA)
0.85
Lens numerical
aperture (NA)
Standard data
transfer rate
36 Mbps
36 Mbps
Standard data
transfer rate
36.55 Mbps
120 mm
36.55 Mbps
120 mm
Disc diameter
Disc thickness
Cover Layer
120 mm
1.2 mm
0.1mm
120 mm
1.2 mm
0.1mm
Disc diameter
Disc thickness
1.2 mm
(0.6mm + 0.6mm)
1.2 mm
(0.6mm + 0.6mm)
Groove
recording
Groove
recording
Tracking
Groove
recording
Groove
recording
Tracking
Track pitch
0.40 μm
0.40 μm
Track pitch
0.32 μm
0.32 μm
Shortest mark length
0.204 μm
0.204 μm
Shortest mark length
0.149 μm
0.149 μm
* Specifications of HD DVD-RW have yet to be finalised
Roadmap
Q1 2007
Q2 2007
Q3 2007
Q4 2007
2008
2009
BD-R
25GB
2x
4x
6x
4x
4x
2x
8x
BD-RE
25GB
2x
BD-R
50GB
2x
2x
6x
4x
BD-RE
50GB
BD-R/RE
8cm
HD DVD-R
15GB
1x
2x
2x
4x
6x
HD DVD-R
30GB
1x
HD DVD-RW
15GB
68444-106/GB/5400/0607
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