Tokyo--Toshiba Corporation today announced a next-generation large-capacity rewritable optical disk and read/write optical head incorporating 405nm blue-laser technology. The new 120mm disk can store up to 30GB on a single layered, single side, capacity enough to record three hours of high definition moving digital images.

DVD-RAM has already brought a phase-change rewritable optical disk to market. This has a single-sided capacity of 4.7GB--9.4GB on a double-sided disk--but the transition to digital broadcasting will make high definition digital images the norm and stimulate demand for higher capacity optical disks.

Toshiba achieved a 30GB capacity with the land and groove recording method and PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) signal processing to support highly reliable high data density and transfer rates. Support for UDF (Universal Disk Format) assures secure operation on all PCs, in addition to audio-visual applications. The disk also has a 0.1mm protective layer.

The new disk and head will be presented at booth 1351 at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 8 to 11. Toshiba plans to propose the disk technology to the DVD Forum.

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