The future of optical storage x rg zech (slide share)

The Future of
Optical Data Storage
Will this once leading-edge storage
technology prosper in the 21st century?
IEEE ICCE Conference 2012
Las Vegas, NV
January 13-16, 2012
< by >
Richard G. Zech, Ph.D.
Consultant & Expert Witness - Computer Storage & Photonics
President & Managing Principal
The ADVanced ENTerprises (ADVENT) Group
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 633-4377 v adventgrp@comcast.net

[Special to SlideShare]

Forward/Read Me
This presentation is both a review of my work on
optical data storage (ODS) futures over the past 10
years and a tutorial. The basic emphasis of this
presentation is on the potential of ODS to increase
significantly disc capacity. This is an exciting area
for both research and product development.
Parts 1-6 of the presentation focus on the status
and means for capacity increases for optical discs
using the Blu-ray disc (BD) model. Part 7 is a series
of appendices providing background/historical
information. My original papers on ODS are available
upon request.

January 2012 (c) 2012 The ADVENT Group 2

Afterward
I attended (partially) StorageVisions 2012, iCES 2012, and ICCE
2012 (January 08-16, 2012). Each in its own way was very useful for
understanding major trends in consumer electronics.
A summary of my remarks at StorageVisions and ICCE follow:
Ø Optical storage will continue to be the best choice for physical media
distribution. The likelihood of Flash memory devices displacing CD.
DVD, or Blu-ray discs in the near future is minimal. However, Flash and
online downloads are major competitors.
Ø Optical storage probably has a technical life of 5-10 years and a product
life of 10-20 years. However, for optical storage to be competitive in the
age of nanotechnology-enabled data storage products, new components
and design strategies and significant investments will be required.
Ø Future optical storage will probably be modeled on Blu-ray disc, whose
basic design is robust and extensible. Older concepts, such as 3D
holographic memories, Millipede, etc., will never be commercially viable.


Acknowledgements
Ø Dr. Curt Shuman, C.A. Shuman Inc.
Ø Dr. Chris Steenbergen, CREST
(Concepts in Removable Storage)
Ø Dr. Di Chen, Chen and Associates

It is my pleasure to acknowledge the
important comments and opinions of
the above optical storage pioneers.


Abstract/Overview (1/2)
More than 60 years have passed since Nobel-laureate Dr. Dennis Gabor (Imperial College)
invented holography (1948). In 1963 PJ van Heerden (Polaroid) published his seminal
paper on 3D data storage using holographic data storage principles. For the next 10 years
holographic memories were touted as a replacement for all other types of memory. Sadly,
after more than 10 attempts, no company has successfully commercialized the technology.
In the 1960s, the development of servo-controlled optical disc systems was initiated. By
the early 1970s analog video disc systems were commercially available. These were
closely followed by 12" write-once (WORM) drives and media. In 1982 Sony and Philips
announced the 120mm diameter compact disc (CD-DA) followed by the CD-ROM in 1984. In
1995 the DVD-ROM was announced and in 2002 Blu-ray Disc (BD). Each of these
technologies increased capacity significantly and mainly supported important consumer
electronics applications (CD for audio and DVD and BD for video). Also in 1995, the
EIDE/ATAPI standard was promulgated, which allowed these drives to become a standard
part of a PC’s storage suite. Consequently, sales grew exponentially. Other types of
optical storage of various disc diameters and storage mechanisms were extant in the 1980-
1990 timeframe, but few had even a marginal market success.
In 2012, nearly 30 years after the introduction of the CD, classical optical data storage has
perhaps reached, or even passed, both its technology zenith and market zenith. Solid state
flash drives, portable hard drives, and downloading of music and video have begun to
erode significantly the optical data storage market share. Moreover, optical data storage
technology appears to have reached some fundamental physical limits (laser wavelength at
405nm and numerical aperture at 0.85). Some would say, in analogy to magnetic data
storage, it may be optical data storage's "superparamagnetic limit."


Abstract/Overview (2/2)
The utility of optical data storage (ODS) is derived from how small a diffraction-limited laser
beam can be focused for writing and reading; in other words, spot size. From basic optical
theory we know that spot size is proportional to wavelength and inversely proportional to
the effective numerical aperture (NA) of the imaging system. With 25GB/storage surface BD,
the 405nm wavelength and 0.85 NA pretty much exhaust the basic potential of optical data
storage.
But like magnetic data storage, optical data storage has several non-conventional means
that may permit the technology to reach new capacity plateaus. These range from multi-
layer discs and near-field recording (NFR) to UV lasers, negative refraction and plasmonic
lenses. There are also several consumer applications that may justify pushing disc
capacity to 100GB, or more. One of them is 4K x 2K video (current HD is 2K x 1K), the
standard for which is being developed in Japan and will require 100GB disc capacity. 8K x
4K (Super Hi Vision) is another possibility, which is even more capacity hungry (requires
400GB).
In this presentation, the future of optical storage will be analyzed in terms of advanced
technologies. The metrics will be maturity, difficulty of implementation, cost, impact on
manufacturing yield, and market need. The specs and performance potential of some of
these advanced optical data storage devices will be enumerated. Finally, some related data
storage technologies that promise multi-TB capacities will be discussed.
The engineering challenges of these advanced optical read/write methods on lasers, media,
optical pickups, servos, and read/write channels will be significant, but achievable. They
must be done if optical data storage is to survive. Then, one can confidently predict the
future of optical storage will be for capacities reaching 1 TB.


Content
Ø Part 1: Introduction
Ø Part 2: Near-term Possibilities
Ø Part 3: At the Mountains of Madness
Ø Part 4: Some Key Enabling Technologies
Ø Part 5: Replication and Disc Manufacturing
Challenges
Ø Part 6: Summary, Conclusions, &
Recommendations
Ø Part 7: Appendices


Some General Assumptions
Ø Blu-ray Disc (BD) Model (25GB per surface) and Other
Main Specifications
Ø 120mm Diameter Discs (except for X-ray “ODS”)
Ø Recording radii of 22mm ~ 58mm (storage area of about 14in2)
Ø Single Surface Disc with 1TB capacity requires an
areal storage density of about 572Gb/in2
Ø Replicated, Write Once, or Rewritable Phase Change
Storage Layers
Ø Single- and Multi-Layer Disc Architectures
Ø Single- and Multi-Level Disc Surface Encoding
Ø Front Surface Read and Write
Ø Data rates will scale with recording (bit) density.

Optical Data Storage has come a long
way in the past 42 years!

World’s First MO Optical Disc Recorder
MnBi film coated optically flat disc on air bearing spindle, with HeNe laser, EO
modulator, and galvo deflector. Honeywell Research Center, 1969 (Dr. Di Chen, Ref 1)

The ODS Product Technology Cycle

(The DVD Era)
(The BD Era)

(Breakthrough
(Significant Competition) Technologies)
[OR]
(The CD Era) (End of ODS Products)


Optical Storage's “Moore's Law”

The symbol ▌in this slide means λ. source: Dr Chris Steenbergen, CREST


Optical Disc Capacity - Achieved
Min. Data
Track Track Recording Areal
Capacity Mark Bit
Type Pitch density Density Density Comment
(GB) Size Length
(nm) (tpi) (bpi) (Gb/in2)
(nm) (nm)

CD not
0.65 1,600 15,875 833 590 43,051 0.683
(G1) nanotech

DVD not
4.7 740 34,324 400 267 95,131 3.27
(G2) nanotech

BD not
25 320 79,375 149 112 227,293 18.1
(G3) nanotech

The above table summarizes existing ODS technologies, all backed by recognized
book specifications and in production. G = Generation.


Classical Optical Storage - I
Is the end of the technology line in sight?
Ø Laser diode (LD) wavelengths (λ) have reached the
end of the visible spectrum at 405nm.
Ø Conventional objective lenses have reached the
limit of usable numerical apertures (NAs) at 0.85.
Ø Spot size is proportional to λ/NA; shorter λs and
larger NAs yield smaller spot diameters and higher
areal densities ~ (λ/NA)2.
Ø The technology life appears ended - But Wait!
This is only true for linear thinking and design.

Classical Optical Storage - 2
Is the end of the technology line in sight?
Ø For λ fixed at 405nm and NA=0.85 (BD model), classical
optical storage can increase capacity in several ways, alone
or in combination.
Ø Architecture Examples:
– Multi-Layer Disc (MLD); 2N surfaces.
– Multi-Level Recording (MLR); replicated, phase change.
– Near-Field Recording (NFR); read-only and write/read.
Ø Attractive Combinations:
– MLD + MLR (25GB/surface x 2.5 ML gain x N surfaces or
250 GB/120mm disc).
– NFR + MLD + MLR (50-200GB/surface x 2.5 ML gain x 1-2
surfaces or 125GB - 1TB/120mm disc).
The above are the lowest risk, lowest cost strategies.

Part 2
Near Term Possibilities

ODS Prospects 5-10 years Ago
Ø Multi-Layer Recording
– Increases capacity without requiring a corresponding increase in areal density.
– 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-layer discs with up to 400 GB capacity demonstrated by Philips, Pioneer, and TDK
using Blu-ray storage layers.
– Increases optical media manufacturing and replication costs significantly.
Ø UDO
– 30 GB cartridges shipping today; 60 GB cartridges expected in 2007, but came in 2009.
– A blue-laser concept, but not Blu-ray (computer application oriented).
– Roadmap capacity to 120 GB/cartridge.
Ø Near-field Recording (NFR)
– Multiplies effective NA.
– Maximizes areal density and surface capacity.
– Trades MLD complexity for optical head-disc interface complexity.
Ø MultiLevel Recording (MLR) – not to be confused with multi-layer disc (MLD)
– Provides a practical 2.5x bit density multiplier per layer (8 levels).
– Can be implemented with a single DSP; not too expensive.
– Works with any optical storage recording technology.
Ø 3-D Holographic Memories (Holomems) - Disc Architectures
– Products after 48 years of worldwide R&D were expected by end of 2010; it didn’t happen .
– Mainly professional AV storage, archiving, and some general applications.
– Only two real players: InPhase Technologies & Optware (Japan) – both now out of business.
Ø Fluorescent Multilayer Disc (FMD)
– Great concept (discrete layer 3-D storage), but some inherent problems.
– Constellation 3D (out of business) needed some heavyweight funding for product development.
– Excellent HDTV playback demonstrated for 6-layer disc.


Disappointments/Possible Write Offs-
A 2012 Perspective
Ø Magneto-Optical (MO)
Ø 3D Holomems
Ø Fluorescent Multilayer Disc (FMD)
Ø UDO (Ultra Density Optical)
Ø Bit-oriented Memories
Ø Probe/Cantilever (similar to IBM’s “Millipede”)
Ø Biological (biorhodopsin and similar)
The above technologies either don’t fit a market need
(price/performance issues), are too expensive, cannot be
reliably implemented outside the lab, are a technology dead
end, or all the above.


Future ODS Technologies (?)
→ Near-Term (getting to 100GB/120mm disc)
– Multi-Layer Architecture (with and without Multi-
Level Encoding)
– Near-Field Recording
Over the Horizon (getting to 1TB/120mm disc)
– UV Disc
– X-RAY Disc
– Atomic/Quantum Mechanisms (not really
optical, but could use optical disc architectures)


2a) Multilayer Disc


Blu-ray Disc Standard Reference

(1 or 2 layer)

Source: Philips


Blu-ray Disc Roadmap

Source: TDK


Isao Ichimura, et. al., SONY, Japan


2b) Near-field Recording


Note: An effective NA of ~ 1.7 doubles bit and track densities. BD
model capacity increases by a factor of 4x (to ~ 100 GB). Graphic
Graphic
source: Philips NV.

Near-Field Recording with VSALs
(source: Lucent Technologies)

Ne ar Fie ld Near-Field image of 60 nm bits written
by near-field compared with Far-Field

d

d/2 NEAR FIELD

λ

VSAL = Very Small Aperture Laser
Aperture Size Determines Resolution -- Independent of Laser Wavelength
Exceptionally Small Spot Sizes -- 60nm spots (134Gb/in2) demonstrated in MO material
Beam of any shape demonstrated -- Improves performance & design flexibility


2c) Multi-Level Technology
Ø Multi-Level (ML) is not a product, but a
performance-enhancement technology.
Ø Fixed-size data cells support 8 reflection levels or
variable areas on a dye-polymer (±R) or phase
change (±RW) recording layer. Yields about 2.5
bits per cell in practice (not the theoretical 3).
Ø ML-enhanced drives and media work for CD/DVD
and Blue-laser formats. Should work for all disc
formats.
Ø 2GB “CD-ROM” shipped by TDK ~ 2001; very little
market acceptance.
Ø 60GB per 120mm Blue Disc demonstrated in lab
(Calimetrics, now part of LSI Logic, and Philips joint research
project). The enabler was a proprietary DSP chip
(core IC) from Sanyo. Circa 2002.

Part 3
At the Mountains of
Madness*
Bleeding Edge Futures

*After HP Lovecraft’s Novella about terror in the mountains of Antarctica.

Extending the Definition
of “Optical”
Ø Classically, “optical” means electromagnetic
radiation having wavelengths (approximately)
in the 400nm-700nm range.
Ø ODS has reached the classical technology
end of life with BD discs and drives at λ =
405nm (and NA = 0.85).
Ø However, extending the meaning of “optical”
to include UV and X-radiation, opens new
frontiers for high-density data storage.

Potential Optical Disc Capacity Roadmap(?)
Min. Data
Capa Track Track Recording Areal
Mark Bit
Type city Pitch density Density Density Comment
Size Length
(GB) (nm) (tpi) (bpi) (Gb/in2)
(nm) (nm)
4G 4-layer or NFR
100 320 79,375 149 112 227,293 18.1
(2012?) “not nanotech”
"nanotech
5G threshold"
220 108 235,185 58 41.3 615,686 144.8
(2016?) EB Mastering
Near-Field Read

6G real nanotech
500 80 317,500 34.4 24.5 1,036,535 329.1
(2020?) EB Mastering?

real nanotech
7G
1,000 60 423,333 22.9 16.3 1,554,803 658.2 Nano-
(2024?)
imprinting?

4G and 5G are proven in the lab. 6G and 7G (following the BD model at a higher areal density) are pure
speculation, but illustrate the challenges faced by optical storage to reach 1 TB capacity. Multi-layer
solutions are feasible. 4-layer, 8-layer, 12-layer, and 16-layer discs are proven in the lab. NFR is also
feasible, but needs to be proven outside the lab. The real potential of nanotech is yet to be determined.

Tracks and Pits for Electron Beam Mastering
(5G?) - Near Field Read

120mm Capacity = 220 GB; storage density = 144.8Gb/in2. The track pitch is
108nm; the minimum mark size is 58nm. This is at the nanotechnology
threshold. (source: Sony Corporation)


Future ODS Technologies (?)
Near-Term
– Multi-Layer Architecture (with and without Multi-
Level Encoding)
– Near-Field Recording
→ Over the Horizon
– UV Disc
– X-RAY Disc
– Atomic/Quantum Mechanisms (not really
optical, but could use a disc architecture; that is, may
require a read/write head, servoing, etc.)

Potential Future ODS Technologies
Ø UV disc (continuation of the classical optical roadmap - requires UV
laser diodes)
Ø X-ray disc (digital holography means)
Ø Atomic/Molecular (data storage by means of configuration or
quantum state or both, but may share implementations like “optical.”)
Ø Some enabling means:
– negative refraction (spot sizes less than the diffraction limit)
– variable focus lenses (for multi-layer discs to correct for
spherical aberration)
– nanotech (e.g., super high storage densities, self assembly,
patterned media)
– nanophotonics (e.g., modulators, lasers, gratings implemented in
Silicon)
– plasmonics (spot sizes less than the diffraction limit)
– photon sieves (for far UV and X-ray spot formation)

3a) UV “Optical Storage”


Ultraviolet “Optical” Storage
Ø Does classical optical data storage end with λ = 405nm?
Ø Not if the technology uses near and mid-range ultraviolet (UV).
Ø Diagnosis: UV optical storage will be far more challenging than
near-IR and visible optical storage ever was.
Ø Front surface recording layer and reflection component OPU
(optical pickup unit) required.
Ø Prognosis: Within 5 years optical storage at λ = 325nm (e.g.,
frequency doubled 650nm) will be feasible. This increases the
capacity per layer to 39GB - 3 layers are needed to reach 100GB
capacity per disc.
For λ = 202.5nm (e.g., frequency doubled 405nm; vacuum UV regime),
the trade offs involve a 4x increase in BD areal density, versus
the complexity and cost of UV components. This increases the
capacity per layer to 100GB – only 1 layer is needed. However,
the technology will probably be abandoned before reaching λ =
202.5nm, owing to cost and complexity.
Ø Much of UV optical storage technology will probably be
adapted from semiconductor UV and EUV lithography.

UV “Optical” Storage Challenges
Ø UV laser diodes (expensive today, low power)
Ø UV optical components (need reflective
optical elements for OPU)
Ø UV storage media (media noise may be a big
problem)
Ø Cost and complexity (may not be proportional
to capacity increase)
Ø Mastering and replication processes
Ø Killer application motivation

UV Laser Diodes
Ø UV laser diode technology is still immature.
Ø Very few commercial products are available.
Ø Engineering samples from Nichia have 200mW CW output @
375nm.
Ø 340nm-360nm is current R&D sweet spot. 240nm-260nm
demonstrated in the lab.
Ø DPSS (diode-pumped solid state) lasers, which can be
frequency tripled or quadrupled, must be greatly reduced in
size and cost to be candidates.
Ø Other options to UV laser diodes and DPSS (for example,
KrF or F2 fiber) have no possibility of meeting size and cost
requirements.
Ø Nanotech may hold the key to long-term prospects
(structural enhancements, materials improvements).
Ø Bottom Line: UV laser diodes are in about the same
position as blue lasers in 1995. Solutions are 3-5 years out.

3b) X-RAY “Optical Storage”


X-Ray “Optical” Storage
WRITE
Ø Concept designed for x-radiation with λ ≤ 1nm
Ø 1D or 2D computer-generated Fourier Transform holograms
Ø Select page size (N or NxN pixels) and offset angle
Ø Compute and sample analog interference pattern
Ø Apply data coding and EDAC
Ø Modulate and scan write spot to form hologram
READ
Ø Parallel read by means of holographic reconstruction
Ø Position read beam over hologram
Ø Project N or NxN pixels onto photodetector array
Ø Process and format serial data stream


The Challenges
Ø A compact, safe, inexpensive X-ray laser.
Ø All optics must be reflective.
Ø No compact photodetector arrays.
Ø New mastering (write) and replication methods required.
The Advantages
Ø No page composer (SLM) required.
Ø No 3D media and incoherent superposition (stacking) of
holograms required.
Ø Can apply method to all media formats.
Ø Read servo requirements about the same as today’s DVD.


Performance Potential of Digital Fourier
Transform Holograms:
Ø Assume a disc format; 50mm diameter
and a recording area of 1600mm2.
Ø Storage Density ρ = 1/(2λF#)2
Ø For λ = 0.5nm and F# = 2, ρ = 250Gb/mm2
(160Tb/in2)
Ø C = 50TB unformatted
Ø Access Time < 10ms
Ø Read Data Rate = function of [# of pixels,
read power, detector sensitivity, scan
speed]; could achieve 50Gbps, or higher.

State-of-the-Art X-Ray Laser
A Free-Electron Laser (FEL)
Some engineering required to make suitable for optical storage applications
applications

Source: University of Hamburg


3c) StarTrek Era Storage


Bits Written on Ferroelectric Thin Film

The marks are roughly on 25nm centers corresponding to a storage density of
about 1TB/in2. Writing and reading are done by means of a voltage nanoprobe.
The storage mechanism is domain switching between two polarization states.
Imaging is done via a DC-EFM (Dynamic Contact-Electrostatic Force Microscopy).

Density = 645Tb/in2. 1130TB (unformatted) on a 120mm disc.
[Assumes 1nm bit and track pitches.]


(51.6 Pb/in2)

H = Hydrogen atom
F = Fluorine atom

Storage at the atomic level. In this concept H atoms
represent 0s and F atoms represent 1s.


Part 4
Some Enabling
Technologies

A Few Examples
Ø Plasmonic OPU (POPU)
Ø Negative Refraction
Ø Variable Focus Lenses (needed to aid layer-to
layer focusing for ML discs)
Ø Photon Sieves
The above enabling technologies may provide the
means to write/read significantly smaller marks.


Plasmonic Optical Storage


Plasmonics for ODS
Ø Plasmonics is a branch of physics in which surface
plasmon resonances of metals are used to manipulate light
at the sub-wavelength scale.
Ø Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are collective
oscillations of electron density at an interface of a metal
and dielectric.
Ø Because SPPs can be excited and strongly coupled with
incident light, they have many potential applications in
high-resolution optical imaging and storage and
lithography.
Ø Some metals (gold and silver, for example) exhibit strong
SPPs resonance in certain wavelength ranges, and
therefore can be used to guide and concentrate light to
nanoscale spots less than the classical diffraction limit.
Ø Some of the SPPs resonant structures can produce a field
irradiance (W/m2) at the near field that is greater by orders
of magnitude than the incident light.
Ø Some resonant optical antennas can concentrate laser light
into < 25nm FWHM size spots (as defined by gap widths).


Plasmonic Optical Pickup Unit (POPU)
Ø Optical read/write similar to NFR; that is, a POPU is required
that flies 20nm, or lower, above the disc surface. Hence, an
ABS is required to achieve this.
Ø Spot sizes can be 25nm FWHM, or smaller. This
corresponds to an areal density of ≈ 1Tb/in2, or a capacity of
≈ 1.75TB on a 120mm disc. Initially, a 70x increase versus
Blu-ray Disc.
Ø Will permit multi-channel read/write.
Ø Will permit integrated POPU.
Ø Will support head per side optical disc drives.
Ø Major challenges will be servo control of POPU flying height
and tracking.
POPU = Plasmonic Optical Pickup Unit / NFR = Near-field Recording
ABS = Air Bearing Surface / FWHM = Full Width Half Max

Plasmonics
Resonant Optical Antenna Designs

See Reference 5.


Plasmonics
Laser Antennas & Spot Formation

See Reference 5.


A Multi-Channel POPU for ODS

See Reference 6. Modified by the author for ODS applications.


Parallel Track Read/Write

See Reference 6.


Negative Refraction


Negative Refraction

a) negative refraction b) normal (positive) refraction
source: Physics Today (December 2003)


Negative Refraction

normal
refraction

negative
refraction


Negative Refraction


Variable Focus Lenses



source: http://physicsweb.org (Feb 3 2006)


source: Photonics Spectra, March 01 , 2005


Photon Sieve
“Fourth generation light sources, based on Free-Electron Lasers
(FEL) will be capable of producing X-rays of such extreme
brilliance that new possibilities of focusing the radiation emerge.
An optical element, based on the simple concept of an array of
pinholes (a photon sieve), exploits the monochromaticity and
coherence of light from a free-electron laser to focus soft X-rays
with unprecedented sharpness (high irradiance levels). The
combination of an excellent focus with extreme flux will provide
new opportunities for high-resolution X-ray microscopy and
spectroscopy in both the physical and life sciences.” From
http://www.photonsieve.de/

(Also works for visible and UV light). Google “photon sieve.”

See
Nature 414, 184 -188 (2001)
Research supported by the BMBF, Germany
Protected by patents (see, for example, US7368744 re Photon Sieve for Optical
Systems in Micro-lithography)


Photon Sieve
A means for focusing UV and X-ray beams to sub-diffraction spots

source: http://www.photonsieve.de/


Photon Sieve
Irradiance profile of the photon sieve is on the left;
its Gaussian counterpart is on the right.

[Note the suppression of the
secondary maxima by the
photon sieve]

source: http://www.photonsieve.de


Part 5
Replication and Disc
Manufacturing

Mastering & Replication
Ø The future of optical disc storage will ultimately be
determined by disc mastering and replication
processes.
Ø Near-UV mastering and modified replication
processes already exist. Phase transition
mastering at 405nm works well for BD.
Ø For C ≥ 100GB per layer/120mm disc, extreme UV
(EUV) or e-beam mastering machines (EBMM) will
be required.
Ø EBMM have already achieved 50nm wide pits (DVD
uses 300nm); 15nm features are feasible.
Ø 100GB (recordable/rewritable) and 200GB (read-only)
per layer for 120mm discs have been demonstrated
at the research level.

Optical Disc Mastering- AFM Images

(source: Optical Disc Corporation – achieved more than 10 years ago)

This process is an invention
of Plasmon plc in 1986.
Company researchers used
large-diameter, collimated
large-
Argon-ion laser beams to
Argon-
create a grating master on a
130mm diameter glass
substrate. An array of sub-
sub-
micron cells was create by
rotating the substrate by 90
deg and repeating the
exposure. The crossed
gratings were the basis for
Plasmon’s “moth’s eye”
Plasmon’ moth’ eye”
write-once optical media,
write-
which closely approximated
an ideal black body.


Challenges & Opportunities for
the Optical Media Industry
Ø The technology and equipment for CD and DVD is proven and mature.
The key problems for BD have been solved. That was the easy part.
Ø Optical media in the next generations will be more complex. Required
yield, throughput, and quality will be harder to achieve, regardless of the
future technology winner(s).
Ø The cost and complexity of processes and equipment and the unit cost
of media will increase, perhaps significantly in some cases. A major
challenge to the industry is to prevent or minimize this.
Ø New or modified processes, manufacturing equipment, and quality
control methods will be required for N-layer MLD and NFR media.
Ø More sophisticated and complex in-line and off-line test and
measurement equipment will be required.
Ø The cost of R&D will increase significantly; more materials scientists,
chemists, and physicists will be needed.
Ø On the positive side, new opportunities are plentiful, and provide a
natural evolutionary path. On the negative side, a finite probability exists
that increasing the capacity of optical storage media may well become
too expensive (diminishing economic returns).


Summary and Conclusions 1
Ø The market success of optical storage products can be
correlated with design to a specific application (notably
audio or video). CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc (BD) are the
most relevant examples.
Ø Computer applications were extensions for CD (CD-ROM),
inherent, but secondary for DVD and BD.
Ø If consumer applications no longer require optical discs,
ODS will then depend on computer storage applications.
Ø Existing optical storage technologies still have at least a 10-
year useful product life cycle. However, classical optical
storage will have reached the end of its technology life
before then.
Ø Future ODS products will primarily be the blue-disc progeny
of Blu-ray Disc.

Summary and Conclusions 2
Ø Optical storage 5-10 years from today will be provided mainly
by evolved versions of today’s proven technologies.
Ø Optical storage will continue to dominate the removable-media
AV applications sector in consumer electronics for the near
future. "HDTV" playback and recording and personal storage
applications will remain the dominant applications.
Ø Over the 10-year horizon, optical storage will likely be provided
by a mixture of today’s evolving and future technologies.
Displacement technologies cannot be ruled out.
Ø To secure its future in the mainstream storage world, ODS
must expand its horizons. This will require significant
investment and risk, given its many challenges and
competitors.

Recommendations
Ø Anyone in the ODS drive or media business,
whether OEM or ODM, should accept the certainty
that ODS technology is at a tipping point.
Ø Optical Media manufacturers must develop
equipment that can handle spatial structures of less
than 50nm and inline manufacturing of 4-16 layer
discs.
Ø Future ODS products will have a large percentage
of what today are considered esoteric components;
most have not been developed to commercial
status – R&D must focus on “future” components, if
future ODS products are to be evolved.

< Appendix 7A >
About the Author
Dr. Dick Zech has over 46 years of computer storage, materials science and photonics
experience. His academic focus was on modern optics, electromagnetic theory,
communications theory, advanced mathematics, and the chemistry/physics of materials. His
doctoral dissertation was entitled "Data Storage in Volume Holograms” (supervised by Prof.
Emmett N. Leith at the University of Michigan). His primary expertise is in the fields of optical
data storage, holography, recording media, nanotechnology, optics, and optical disc
replication processes and technology. His main interests are data storage; lasers; materials
physics, chemistry and processes; control and positioning of light beams; and photonic
components and their integration into fully functional information processing systems.
Much of Dick’s early work (1965-1979) was for the US Department of Defense, NASA
and various intelligence agencies. The primary goal of this work was to use photonics
technology for the rapid acquisition, processing, storage and communication of data vital to
national defense and the space program (including holographic wideband recorders and
BORAM holographic memories) . In addition, Dick also has significant engineering, product
and business development, and sales and marketing management experience, which he has
used as a consultant for the past 23+ years. Since 1990 he has worked as an expert witness in
numerous patent infringement litigations (and a few involving breach of contract and theft of
trade secrets) and evaluated over 200 patents for technical and economic merit. Among his
inventions are the projected real-image Lippmann-Bragg hologram, volume manufacturing
methods for holograms, and the multi-channel optical disc recorder (DIGIMEM). He has
published over 150 papers, reports, and presentations.


< Appendix 7B >
References
1. Di Chen and R.G. Zech, Optical Data Storage - Technology and
Business Outlook (Invited Paper), International Forum on Optical
Industry IP (Cheng Chan High Tech Center), Shanghai, China, May 19-
21 2007.
2. "Relevant Technologies for Future Generations of Optical Data
Storage," Prof. M. Mansuripur (Optical Sciences Center, Un. of
Arizona), Media-Tech Conference, Hollywood, CA, August 31, 2004.
3. "Optical Recording at 1Tb/in2," Prof. T. D. Milster, (Optical Sciences
Center, Un. of Arizona), THIC Meeting, Louisville, CO, July 22-23, 2003.
4. Harumasa Yoshida, Yoji Yamashita, Masakazu Kuwabara & Hirofumi
Kan, Nature Photonics 2, 551 - 554 (2008) Published online: 27 July
2008.
5. Using Plasmonics to Shape Light Beams, OPN, May 2009, pp. 22-27.
6. High-speed Nearfield Optical Recording Using Plasmonic Flying Head,
Liang Pan et al, NSF Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center,
University of California (Berkeley), Paper OMA3, NLO/ISOM/ODS 2011.

< Appendix 7B >
References
Some of Dick Zech's papers:
Ø “Volume Hologram Optical Memories: Mass Storage Future Perfect?,” Optics and Photonics News, August 1992, pp.
16-25.
Ø “Where do we go from here? Digital Media Futures for Consumer Electronics,” Diskcon 2002, , San Jose, CA,
September 17-19, 2002.
Ø “UV Futures for Optical Disc (What’s Next for DVD after Blu-ray?),” adapted from the International Storage Industry
Consortium (INSIC) 2003 Conference on the Future of Optical Data Storage, San Francisco, CA, January 23-25, 2003.
Ø “Technology Analysis: Optical Storage Futures - The Consumer Electronics Perspective," IIST Workshop XVII,
Asilomar Conference on Computer Storage, Monterrey, CA, December 2003.
Ø "Strategic Assessment of Next Generation and Future Optical Storage Technologies,“ National Electronics
Manufacturers Initiative (NEMI) Biannual Roadmap, July 2004.
Ø The 2005-15 Roadmap: Optical Storage for Consumer Electronics," An ADVENT Special Report, December 2004.
Ø "A Bright Future for Optical Storage - The Consumer Electronics Perspective," Storage Visions 2005, Las Vegas, NV,
January 4-5, 2005.
Ø "Focusing on Blu-ray & HD DVD," The 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, NV, Jan 5-8, 2006.
Ø "The Blue-Laser Media Perspective," A CeBIT 2006 Summary Report, Hannover, Germany, March 8-15, 2006.
Ø "Strategic Assessment of Next Generation and Future Optical Storage Technologies," international National
Electronics Manufacturers Initiative (iNEMI) Biannual Roadmap, July 2006.
Ø "The Future Direction of Optical Data Storage: Technologies and Challenges in the 21st Century (Invited Paper),"
Media-Tech 2006, Long Beach, CA, October 10-11, 2006.
Ø Computer Storage at the New Technology Tipping Point: The Impact of MEMS and NEMS on Performance (Invited
Paper)," International Conference on Consumer Electronics 2007, Las Vegas, NV, January 10-14, 2007.
Ø A DVD Primer - The DVD-Video Perspective (rev 08), An ADVENT Group Publication, September 2007.
Ø “Optical Data Storage: A Tutorial (Invited Paper),” International Conference on Consumer Electronics 2009, Las
Vegas, NV, January 11-14, 2009.

Copies of ZECH publications available in PDF format upon request by e-mail to adventgrp@comcast.net.


< Appendix 7C >
3-D Holographic Memories
(Holomems)


Holographic Memories


Holographic Memories - History
Ø Original concept by P.J. van Heerden (Polaroid) in 1963, based on D. Gabor’s
“wavefront reconstruction” (holography).
Ø Generally agreed to be impractical by 1975.
Ø Over 50 companies worldwide have invested in and abandoned the technology
(1965-2010).
Ø The early 1990s saw a resurgence in interest; for example, DARPA’s
HDSS/PRISM program helped to greatly advance the art.
Ø The “no moving parts” (random access) BORAM model has been abandoned in
favor of the (direct access) optical disc model.
Ø Advances in lasers, storage media, photodetector arrays (PDAs), spatial light
modulators (SLMs), hologram stacking methods, data coding, and signal
processing have made 300GB 130mm discs feasible today.
Ø Today’s leading companies are InPhase Technologies and Optware (Japan).
Ø After more than 40 years of R&D, holographic memories (holomems) in 2009
appeared on the threshold of commercial viability for a limited set of
applications (for example, general archiving and digital video storage). Both
companies now out of business.
Ø Holomems are not suitable for consumer electronics applications today.
However, they could have effectively supported the creation and delivery
processes.


Pros and Cons of Holomems
Pros
Ø Parallel write/read of large data pages (1024 x 1024 pixels common).
Ø 3D stacking of holograms in a common volume (increases 2D areal
storage density by a factor of 1,000x, or more).
Ø Simple read mechanisms, which reconstruct each data page
independently (ideally, with no crosstalk).
Cons
Ø Complex system designs.
Ø Demanding storage media requirements.
Ø Lack of infrastructure (photonic components challenging; optical
communications applications have driven lower pricing, volume, and
reliability).
Ø Expensive hardware compared to competing storage technologies (disc
media competitive).


IBM Demon 2
Holomem Demonstrator

source: IBM Almaden Labs


Optware Holomem Products

Optware tabletop exhibit at ODS 2004 (source: ADVENT)


InPhase Technologies Prototype
Holomem Drive and Disc Cartridge

source: InPhase Technologies

InPhase Technologies
Holomem Drive Schematic
(record optical path) (read optical path)

HWP = half wave plate SLM = spatial light modulator source: InPhase Technologies


InPhase Holomem Recordable Technology "Roadmap"
Specs 2005 2008 2010
Effective Areal Density 480 Gb/in2 1280 Gb/in2 2560 Gb/in2
Raw Data Rate 160 Mbits/s 640 Mbits/s 960 Mbits/s

Estimated Capacity (GB) 300 800 1,600

NA of object beam 0.65 0.65 0.65

Bragg Null 2nd 2nd 1st

SLM Pixels 1280x1024 1200x1200 1200x1200

PDA Pixels 1280x1024 1696x1710 1696x1710

Camera sensitivity (Counts/(J/m2)) 176,000 350,000 700,000

Laser power (mW) 50 70 100

Wavelength (nm) 407 407 407

Material Thickness (mm) 1.5 1.5 1.5

Original table from InPhase; edited by the author to show capacity points for 130mm discs.


source: Maxell


< Appendix 7D >
Fluorescent Multilayer


Fluorescent Multilayer Disc (FMD)

Ø 5-100 storage layers on a substrate (claimed; about 20 actual)
Ø Read signal generated by laser-induced linear or non-linear fluorescence
Ø Minimal interaction between layers (adequate signal and SNR)
Ø Gives optical storage equivalent HDD multiple discs per spindle capability
Ø No standards issues (works with CD, DVD, and BD/HD DVD media formats)
Ø Read Only, Write Once, and ReWritable storage modes are possible
Ø Drives are feasible (may need dynamic aberration correction)
Ø Disc manufacturing is complex, likely to be expensive initially, but feasible
Ø Inventor C3D went out of business, but came back as D Data Inc (New
York).

< Appendix 7F >
Ultra Density Optical (UDO)


UDO - The Other Blue-laser Disc
Ø UDO = Ultra Density Optical (a Plasmon plc product
– the company is no longer in business)
Ø Original design by Sony as successor to 5.25" MO.
Ø Designed for computer applications (-R and -RW).
Ø 30 GB cartridge media (2-sided phase change disc).
Ø ANSI-standard 5.25" MO disc cartridge; jukebox
ready.


Source: Plasmon plc


source: Plasmon plc


The future of optical storage x rg zech (slide share)

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