Boffins attempt to patent dual-format HD DVD, Blu-ray combo disc
Published by Admin on 18.9.06 at 9/18/2006 09:47:00 PM.
Three inventors have filed a patent application for an optical disc capable of holding not only Blu-ray Disc data but also HD DVD-formatted information. In fact, the system would allow disc makers to mix and match any two optical disc formats. Take the Blu-ray Disc example. The disc would contain a plastic substrate on which would be placed the BD data layer, 0.1mm from the surface. A special material would then be sandwiched between the BD data and the HD DVD - or DVD, for that matter - data layer 0.6mm from the surface. The boundary layer would be sufficiently reflective to allow the disc to be read by a BD player, but transparent enough to allow not only the HD DVD read laser to shine through and focus on the 0.6mm-deep data layer but to allow light to pass back to the optical pick-up head.
If such a material can be found - and it's cheap enough - it clearly stands to benefit both the HD DVD and BD camps, but particularly the latter. Even if the two don't come together on a single disc, the would-be patent would permit content makers to ship a BD with backwardly-compatible DVD content on board.
The application even moots a triple-format disc: a dual BD/HD DVD disc of the kind outlined above with a DVD bonded on the flip-side. Link
If such a material can be found - and it's cheap enough - it clearly stands to benefit both the HD DVD and BD camps, but particularly the latter. Even if the two don't come together on a single disc, the would-be patent would permit content makers to ship a BD with backwardly-compatible DVD content on board.
The application even moots a triple-format disc: a dual BD/HD DVD disc of the kind outlined above with a DVD bonded on the flip-side. Link