The divergence from DVD to Blu-ray and HD-DVD can be a little damaging to our pockets. That would mean getting individual drives just to playback each format. But it looks like there might be hope, as Ricoh has announced a new laser that could read both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats.
The data layer of a Blu-ray disc resides 0.1 mm from the disc’s surface, HD-DVD and DVD are 0.6-mm deep, while CD is 1.1 mm. Using a 1mm thick diffraction plate with concentric grooves on each side, the laser is able to recognize the type of disc inserted and adjusts the beam to play it.
Although Ricoh is expecting to begin supplying manufacturers with the lasers by the end of the year, they will only have the capability to read and not write. This is due to energy lost from diffraction, something that Ricoh will need to figure out how to solve.
Let us see how long it will take to be within our grasps. Hopefully at a mortal price.
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