Press Releases

Press Releases

"April 12, 2005"
Memory-Tech Developed World-First Semiconductor Laser Based LBR for HD DVD
Memory-Tech Corporation
Memory-Tech Corporation completed the world-first 375nm semiconductor laser based LBR for HD DVD jointly with ACSES Co., Ltd.. The cost-effective and high-performance LBR will be sold and supported in the worldwide market through distributors.

The brand-new LBR will allow disc manufacturers to use existing CD and DVD mastering mass production process lines for HD DVD with the same quality as the current DVD.
Previously Memory-Tech has been using 351nm krypton laser for HD DVD test production. But the problem was that the mastering for the full face HD DVD took 3 hours. The 375nm semiconductor LBR reduces the full face mastering process to 2 hours.
The typical mastering research says that shorter UV laser based LBR is better for high-density track pitch disc. However, Memory-Tech broke through technical challenges using direct optical modulation and controlling write electronic signal waveform. The new 375nm LBR mastering accomplished much better electronic signal characteristics in a more stable manner than the 351nm LBR.

ACSES, who co-developed the 375nm LBR jointly with Memory-Tech, will manufacture and distribute the system. The system price will be US$1.1M and the sales target for the first year is 20. The laser of the system was developed by Memory-Tech and Omicron in Germany. The 375nm laser will be available from Japan Laser Corporation, the distributor for Omicron in Japan.
Memory-Tech will also refine the mastering process using the current laser and LBR to accomplish high quality and high speed HD DVD mastering.

Expecting the HD DVD product launch by the end of the year, the establishment of reliable and high speed mastering technology is imperative worldwide. The brand-new semiconductor LBR will allow disc manufacturers to provide high quality stampers in a large supply with competitive price. Memory-Tech believes that the HD DVD mass production technology has been completed and become ready for the product launch with the introduction of the semiconductor LBR.
Memory-Tech continues to develop key hardware and software technologies to contribute to the HD DVD format launch and successful penetration.

"The basic concept of HD DVD is to realize seamless format transition using the existing
DVD technology and business assets. The new semiconductor laser LBR Memory-Tech developed matches with the HD DVD format concept."said Mr. Hisashi Yamada, Chief Fellow of Toshiba Corporation's Digital Media Network Company. "It will largely contribute to the HD DVD mastering quality improvement and stable HD DVD disc supplies."

<Memory-Tech Corporation>
Founded in September 1985, President & CEO Shiroharu Kawasaki
Located at 2-27-25 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
Main business: CD/DVD planning, authoring, compression, replication, distribution High-Capacity optical disc archive system business

<ACSES Co., Ltd.>
Founded in May 1992, President & CEO Hidenobu Hosoe
Located at 1-3-42, Moto-machi, Kiyose-city, Tokyo 204-0021, Japan
Main business: Manufacturing and sales of equipment regarding semiconductor, optical disc, precision cleaning, flat-panel display and clean room

<Japan Laser Corporation>
Founded in April 1968, President & CEO Nobuyuki Kondo
Located at 2-14-1, Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051, Japan
Main business: Trading specializing in lasers

<Omicron Laserage Laserprodukte GmbH>
Managing Director Sonke Baumann
Located at Raiffeisenstrasse 5e, 63110 Rodgau-Dudenhofen, Germany

Press Contacts:

Corporate Planning Dept., Memory-Tech Corporation E-mail: press@memory-tech.co.jp