Toshiba Boosts HDD Capacity By 50% With DTR Technology

[Ian]

Toshiba has developed a prototype hard disk drive that uses Discrete Track Recording (DTR) technology. This technology creates grooves between the tracks so that the pitch can be shortened, allowing you to fit 50% more data onto a disk. In Toshiba's case, they've been able to fit 120GB onto a 1.8" 80GB HDD.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2007_09/pr0601.htm

Toshiba Corporation today announced a prototype hard disk drive (HDD) that uses Discrete Track Recording (DTR) technology to boost capacity to a record-breaking 120 gigabytes (GB) on a single 1.8-inch platter. The drive is the first in the world to apply DTR, a breakthrough technology that boost the areal density of a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) by a full 50 percent. Toshiba plans to start mass production of HDDs integrating DTR technology in 2009.

The new prototype HDD is a 1.8-inch PMR HDD. Toshiba's latest 1.8-inch HDD in the market offers a single platter capacity of 80GB; application of DTR technology boosts platter capacity to 120GB, and takes the recording density to 516 megabits per square millimeter (333gigabits per square inch). A servo pattern for tracking control is also formed on the disk.

DTR technology increases recording density by forming a "groove" between the tracks on the PMR medium. The groove reduces signal interference between adjacent data tracks, allowing the pitch of the tracks to be shortened. The improved signal quality also contributes to raising the recording density by 50 percent.

The DTR "groove" forming process is most easily applied to small form factor HDDs, such as 1.8 inch and 2.5 inch drives. It will take these drives to a new level of enhanced capacity.

[MediumRare]

Somewhat OT, but did anyone else think of HD-DVD instead of Hard Disk Drive when reading the headline?

With all the talk about HD-video and the running skirmishes going on here regarding capacity and other properties of the rival formats, it's hard not to connect Toshiba with HD-DVD.

G