The Blue Violet Laser Diode: Powering Blu Ray Technology
Blu Ray technology has somewhat become the buzzword when optical disc storage media is being talked about. Introduced in 2006, Blu Ray technology is the result of a joint effort between the members of the Blu-Ray Disc Association, or the BDA, a group composed of some of the world's leading manufacturers of personal computer systems, media manufacturers and consumer electronics makers in the world.
Within the ranks of the Blu-Ray Disc Association are giants like: Pioneer, Philips, Sharp, Samsung, Sony, Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, JVC, LG, TDK, Thomson, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Pioneer. A blue violet laser diode is utilized in the successful operation of Blu Ray technology. The same blue violet laser diode stands as the source for the Blu Ray name: blue violet laser diode, meaning blue laser, thus the Blu Ray name. As the blue violet laser diode emits a blue laser, Blu Ray technology is capable of reading data with greater precision, as blue has a shorter wavelength than red, in which red hued lasers are used by standard DVDs and CDs.
But the blue violet laser diode and the blue colored laser in Blu Ray isn't the only thing that has called attention to Blu Ray and Blu Ray discs. The storage capacity boasted by a Blu Ray disc is. Where CDs could store up to 700 megabytes of data, DVDs could store up to 4.7 gigabytes of data, 8.5 on dual-layer DVDs, Blu Ray discs truly "out-store" them, with its 25 gigabyte storage capacity, 50 gigabytes on dual-layer Blu Ray discs.
This large storage capacity, in conjunction with advanced audio and video codec technologies, makes Blu Ray the ideal medium for High Definition movies. This same impressive storage capacity makes it perfect for data storage, regardless if these data types were movies, or files for personal computer systems, perfect for the popular broadband internet nature of people nowadays.
Blu Ray discs come in formats similar to that of DVDs and CDs. There is the BD-ROM, the BD-R and the BD-RE. The BD-ROM is similar to the read only DVD-ROM, and is perfect for the distribution of High Definition Movies, as well as the distribution of personal computer software, or games for gaming consoles. The BD-R class represents the writable class of Blu Ray, while the BD-RE stands as the rewritable class of Blu Ray discs.
With such impressive features, there is definitely more to Blu Ray than blue violet laser diodes, as it goes on its way into replacing the DVD standard, which is the status quo of the day.
