Dé¼sseldorf, Germany '“ Ricoh Europe B.V. (EPMMC Center) announced the launch of a new product line of single-sided DVD+R DL (Double Layer) discs and a compatible recordable DVD drive, the Ricoh MP5316DA. These recordable DVDs feature a capacity of 8.5 GB, about 1.8 times larger than current DVDs, and provide superior playback compatibility with existing DVD players.
The DVD+R DL discs have two single-sided DVD+R recording layers that meet the write-once DVD standards and provide superior compatibility with playback devices in existing DVD players. The 8.5-GB capacity of these discs is 1.8 times larger than current single-layer discs for enabling approximately four hours of video recording at regular DVD quality.
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image quality (bit rate: 4.5 Mbps)
Ricoh utilizes its exclusive Inverted Stack manufacturing process and new high-precision stamper with its Advanced SD Dye _ type recording elements to produce these two-layer discs at a low price with high-reliability recording quality, superior compatibility, and durability.
The Ricoh MP5316DA is a high-performance internal drive that supports DVD+RW/+R and DVD-R/-RW discs and is capable of 16x-speed writing (+R/-R), 4x-speed writing for DL (double-layer) discs, and 4x-speed rewriting (+RW/-RW).
Main Features of Ricoh DVD+R DL Discs
1. Gigantic 8.5 GB capacity while maintaining compatibility with DVD players
2. Ricoh's exclusive Inverted Stack manufacturing process enables a low price with high-reliability recording quality
3. New Advanced SD Dye '“ type recording elements for superior durability
Main Features of Ricoh MP5316DA
1. Compatible with DVD+R DL
2. High-speed recording capability to DVD+R and DVD-R discs
3. High compatibility, exceptional user-friendliness, and rich collection of bundled software allow this drive to be used in a wide range of applications from creation of original DVDs to storing of computer data.
Inverted Stack Manufacturing System
Single-layer DVD+R discs have a structure consisting of a substrate + recording layer + reflective layer + substrate. Double-layer discs, on the other hand, require two recording layers and two reflective layers and have a structure consisting of substrate + recording layer 1 + semi-transparent reflective layer + intermediate plastic layer + recording layer 2 + reflective layer + substrate.
In contrast to the "layered system" in which discs are manufactured by stacking all the layers on top of a substrate, the new "inverted stack system" manufactures a disc A consisting of the substrate ~ the semi-transparent reflective layer and a disc B consists of recording layer 2 ~ the substrate, and then adhere these two discs together to make a single disc.
Manufacturing processes (click on the picture to enlarge)
Some advantages of this system are
(1) Manufacturing of discs A and B proceeds in parallel up to the adhesion process, so it enables a high volume production;
(2) In the "layered system", a stamper needs to be peeled off between the formation processes of the two recording layers. This process requires a plastic stamper. The Inverted Stack Manufacturing System, however, can use a regular metal stamper with high durability at lower costs; and
(3) Since discs A and B are manufactured independently and adhered at the end of the process, the testing precision can be dramatically improved.
Ricoh's exclusive Inverted Stack System overcomes these technical obstacles and provides high-reliability DVD+R DL discs at a reasonable price.
The technical challanges to deal this were, the wobble (spiral grooves), which is required for each recording layer, is created in disc A between the substrate and recording layer in the same way as a single-layer disc. In disc B, on the other hand, the wobble must be created between the reflective layer and substrate. This results in different structures for discs A and B and requires advanced design technology. In addition, the wobble in disc B is located in the farthest point from the pickup, so the disc requires a sharper and more recise groove formation and a high-precision stamper.
Source: Just Now Press