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What comes next after CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc? How can optical storage density be further increased on a cost-effective basis?
Optical discs especially offer low-cost storage and exchangeability of the storage medium. Future multimedia applications, whether stationary, portable or mobile, show an ever increasing demand for larger storage capacity and an enlarged spectrum of usage.
The funded project 4GOOD, meaning "4th-Generation Omni-purpose Optical Disc-system", has developed key technologies as a basis for the 4th generation of optical storage. The objective for this generation is to achieve a storage capacity of at least 200 GB on a 12-cm disc (dual-layer), or 5 GB on a coin-size, 3-cm disc (single-layer example). This requires increasing the storage density to 50...70 Gbit/inch2 - about 3...4 times as much as with BD -, with a minimum pit length of about 50 nm.
The fundamental technologies and key components for the disc and the associated drive have been developed using an advanced blue laser and exploiting the so-called "super-resolution" or "SuperRENS" effect (Super-REsolution Near-field Structure). Moreover, mobile properties such as size, robustness, energy consumption and suitability for automobiles had to be improved. Last, the concept for an inherent copy protection/playback control system is of interest, e.g., based on an RF-ID.
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During the project duration from June 2005 to September 2008 about 140 person years have been spent in France and Germany. A completed test drive and discs have been presented in autumn 2008. Project results have been demonstrated on the BMWi stand at the consumer electronics exhibition IFA 2008 in Berlin. Talks with potential (Asian) partners have been started, as standardisation is an objective.
4GOOD has been funded by the BMWi in Germany and the MINÉFI in France. The final report is available.
The development and improvement of super-resolution optical storage is continued and extended towards near-field technology in the scope of the EU-funded FP7 project SURPASS.
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