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NTT Develops Stamp-Size 1GB Hologram Memory
sandalwood writes "NTT has developed a new high-capacity memory storage device based on thin-film holography called Info-MICA. The official site is here but it's only in Japanese for now. According to the article, 'NTT is planning to bring the first commercial Info-MICA products to market in 2005 with a postage stamp-size ROM and a memory capacity of 1GB.' My first thought was that it would be perfect for a future handheld game device!"
I might be wrong but I don't think it's "RAM". I believe this is prerecorded media like DVD from blockbuster.
NTT Develops Stamp-Size 1GB Hologram Memory
February 16, 2004 (TOKYO) -- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) announced on Feb 12 that it has developed a prototype of a new high-capacity memory storage device, designed with a multi-layered waveguide structure and based on thin-film holography.
(photo 1) Info-MICA memory media prototype
The company has produced a 100-layer postage stamp-sized media prototype with a 1GB memory capacity constructed from plastic material, and a small prototype drive for reading data.
The new memory is named Info-MICA (Information-Multilayered Imprinted CArd) because it has a layered structure similar to that of a mica stone, according to NTT.
Info-MICA comprises a technology that stores and retrieves digital information based on the principle of thin-film holography.
Information is pre-recorded as follows: first, digital data is encoded into a 2D image, then the 2D image is translated into a hologram by CGH (Computer Generated Hologram) technology. Finally, the hologram is recorded as a sub-micron concave-convex pattern in each waveguide layer of the media. For data retrieval, a laser beam is focused at the end of a waveguide layer, then the light propagates in the waveguide and is scattered by the concave-convex pattern. The scattered light generates the 2D image on the plane parallel to the waveguide. This 2D image is captured by an image sensor and decoded into the original digital data.
Compared with existing memory devices, Info-MICA offers data storage on plastic media with the following characteristics:
1) The media has extremely high memory density;
2) The drive is small and its power consumption is very low;
3) The media can be mass produced at low cost;
4) Copying of the media is very difficult;
5) The media is totally recyclable.
Based on these characteristics, the following three major applications are being considered for Info-MICA:
The first application is use as a replacement of semiconductor ROM (Read Only Memory) because Info-MICA is small in size and considerably cheaper for the equivalent ROM capacity. Widespread adoption of Info-MICA is expected by the electronic dictionary sector, where higher data storage capacity is required to accommodate large volumes of dictionaries. Similar applications include the "pachinko" slot machine industry, in which high data storage capacity is required to support the display of detailed graphics, as well as navigation systems in motor vehicles.
(photo 2) Prototype drive for reading data from Info-MICA
The second application is the introduction of Info-MICA as a replacement of paper products that are used for distributing information. Info-MICA is suited to the mass distribution of information as it is easily disposable and it can be recycled. Info-MICA media can be attached as cover-mounted media to magazines and other merchandise, or it can be distributed alone as a ticket or coupon.
The third application is for releasing multimedia content such as games, music, movies and electronic publications. This application will benefit from Info-MICA's high storage capacity and the difficulty for reproducing illegal Info-MICA copies. Info-MICA drives will be installed in cellular phones and portable game machines, where it will satisfy their demanding requirements for low power consumption and limitations in size. The use of an Info-MICA drive in portable devices will enable users to enjoy rich multimedia content at any time and any place. In particular, key organizations in the music industry (which continues to be challenged by the problem of content piracy) are examining Info-MICA as a promising next-generation standard media for minimizing the illegal copying of content.
NTT is planning to bring the first commercial Info-MICA products to market in 2005 with a postage stamp-size ROM and a memory capacity of 1GB.
The estimated cost of a mass-produced Info-MICA product will depend on the volumes that are manufactured, but initial
I take i you didn't read the article (or the article summary) where it says this is ROM - read-only memory. Doesn't sound too useful for iPods to me.
"'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
- JRR Tolkien.
On the linked website it merely says "hard to copy". I suspect they mean "hard to make copies in the same medium" and are therefore planning to control the availability of the machines to create these ROMs.
"'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
- JRR Tolkien.
I take i[sic] you didn't read the article where it says "NTT will also continue its research and development of a writable media and drive configuration so that the Info-MICA storage method can be used for re-writable applications."
The site itself is too FLASH-y to translate entirely, but here's the FAQ from the site, roughly translated by the fish. Very interesting.
//www.phlab.ecl.ntt.co.jp/theme/2003/2003_12_01.pd f
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The information mica (Info-MICA) with it is some abbreviation?
The abbreviation of Information Multi-layered Imprinted CArd. The mica of the ore (mica) it is designation from the meaning, memory medium which had the stratified structure the way.
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It is operational principle of the information mica, general "cubic measure hologram" being how to be different, it does "thin film hologram"?
As for thin film hologram, thickness of hologram wave length of light, is hologram when it is thinner than that. Vis-a-vis the reference beam which has wave length and the incident direction where the condition for causing diffraction is loose, differs, you can obtain diffracted light. It is hologram when on the one hand, as for cubic measure hologram, thickness of hologram is sufficiently thicker than wave length of light. Diffraction condition is harsh, generates diffracted light only vis-a-vis the wave length of specification and the reference beam which has incident direction. Until recently, if you mention hologram memory of bulk, those which are based on this cubic measure hologram principle were main current.
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Information mica medium has, is "laminating guided wave road structure" some kind of ones?
The layer whose refractive index is high (core layer) with low layer (the clad layer), it means the thing of the structure which is laminated alternately. When laser light incidence is done in this, light being shut in the same way as the optical fiber near core layer, it keeps being spread. With the information mica, unevenness pattern is provided in each core layer, light disperses with this. As for this unevenness pattern, with the thin film hologram which beforehand can soak information, scattered light forms the picture, in order for it to be possible to recover information from this picture, is designed. In addition, by the fact that the layer which incidence it can point laser light is selected, the information which is remembered in each stratum can be recovered individually.
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The computer hologram which is used in the optical design of the information mica (CGH: Computer-Generated Hologram) With it is what?
In order for the playback image of desire to be formed, it is the hologram which is synthesized in the calculation of the computer.
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You have adopted with the information mica, is "opening multiple" some kind of data multiplex access method?
Multiple doing the information every of opening in 1 inside layer of medium, it means the thing of the system which you remember. With thin film hologram, incidence it just can point to laser light to 1 layer of specification, it is possible to play back the picture which instantly has mass information. But, the fine picture which was played back from hologram medium and the pixel pitch where the cheap general-purpose image pickup element of CCD and the like is rough there was density difference of 2 columns between, it was difficult to take in image at one time with the general-purpose image pickup element. With the information mica, because high density memory is actualized making use of the cheap image pickup element of marketing, the filter which possesses plural opening between medium and the image pickup element is provided, from midst of plural opening one of desire is consecutively selected and the method of keeping recovering the information of 1 inside layer in the time series by it keeps opening, is adopted. (Reference link) Http:
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Is mass production commercial business conversion of the information mica when around?
You have aimed towar
everything in moderation
No no no..
ROM == Read Only Memory
PROM == Programmable Read Only Memory (write once)
EPROM == Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
What you're talking about is a flash ROM, like an EPROM not a ROM.
Trolling is a art,
SmartMedia cards never passed 128MB and they never will. Development on SmartMedia is dead.
CompactFlash, on the other hand, has passed 4GB and an 8GB card is due out very soon.
In addition, SD cards are past 1GB and xD cards are approaching that as well.
But the point is still valid.
Stewey
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
Target data transfer rate from portable reader is 1.5Mbps. However, the technology has the "potential for higher rates," which could be realized for in-car and other applications where "increased power draw is not a concern."
Here is a link to an article about the new SanDisk 1GB memory card.
s k1 gbsdcard.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0401/04012909sandi
Stewey
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
Fixed Link
Stewey
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don't.
I think the article says the "drive" (whatever form it takes) will cost a few thousand yen, (around $100?) so although they do discuss using this for embedded storage ROMs, it seems that they also plan to use them for removable media. The article specifically mentions them as a possible replacement for CD/DVD.
Full text of original articles:
- August 1992 article
- December 1994 article
The tune really has not changed that much. At the time the speed and capasity estimates were very impressive. As a frame of reference I just got my top of the line 1 gigabyte SCSI hard drive for my 486. It would be nice if this technology actually hit the market this time. . . ."Anything is possible with enough programmers, time and pizza." (Substitute caffeine for time as needed.)
Here is some selected information translated from Japanese Site linked to from the orignal post.
Q. What does Info-MICA stand for:
A. Information Multi-layered Imprinted CArd
Q. What are your future goals for capacity?
A. Over 10GBs, we have achieved 1.7Gbit/inch^2 per layer in the lab; there will be 100 layers per media. So if we made an SecureDigital (SD) sized media (24mm(W)x32mm(D)x2.1mm(T)) we could achieve 25GB.
Q.What is your target release date for the first devices?
A.2005
Q. What is the media made of?
A. All Plastic
Q. How much will the Info-Mica media cost.
A. Price will vary depending on how many layers, for a a 100 layer media(1GB+) the media should cost 100-200yen (91 cents- $1.82), if the media is mass produced then the cost can fall even lower.
Q. How much will the drive cost?
A. Several thousand yen ($1 is around 109 yen).
Q. How much energy will Info-MICA use?
A. Couple hundred miliwatts when reading. The goal is to produce a format for devices that was not previously possible to use CD-ROMs due to power consumtion reasons.
Q. What is the read-speed of the device.
A. The data transfer rate is directly proportional to the power consumption of the device, hence for portable devices we are aiming for 1.5Mbs but for consumer electronics or automitive Navigation systems where power consumption isn't a problem the data transfer rate can be of course increased accordingly.