Training Manual

Blu-ray Technology
Technology Introduction Course: BD-01

Table of Contents
Blu-ray Disc ...............................................................................................................................3 What is Blu-ray Disc? .......................................................................................................3 Blu-ray Speccations ........................................................................................................4
Blu-ray Disc verses DVD Specication Comparison Table A........................................................... 4

Blu-ray Compatibility .......................................................................................................10

Blu-ray Disc verses HD-DVD Specication Comparison Table B .................................................. 10

Sony Blu-ray Disc Player (BDP-S1) ...............................................................................10 Blu-ray Disc (BD) Types ................................................................................................. 11

Blu-ray Disc
What is Blu-ray Disc?
Blu-ray Disc (BD) is both a new physical disc construction and laser technology, and is the next generation optical playback and recording format following standard DVD and CD optical formats. The physical disc construction and laser system have been signicantly redesigned to attain all the enhancements that this new technology offers. The BD technology was specically design to accommodate High-Denition (HD) content due to its ability to effectively and efciently store and transfer large amounts of digital data. The name Blu-ray comes from the fact that the visible laser is the color blue (actual Blue/Violet). The e in the word blue is intentionally omitted because a daily-used term cannot be registered as a trademark. As we go through the following sections you will see that the BD is really an enhanced version of the standard DVD that has been so successful over the past few years. BD and DVD both technologies where designed with two main objectives in mind, high quality video content storage and transfer and interactive functions. The Blu-ray Disc technology was developed by a group of companies (Blu-ray Disc Association BDA) including Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Pioneer, Panasonic, Apple, and LG just to mention a few. In the following sections and chapters we will go into more detail concerning all the Blu-ray Technology enhancements.

1. Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray Speccations
Blu-ray Disc verses DVD Specication Comparison Table A
Parameters Blu-ray Disc Storage Capacity Laser Wavelength Numerical Aperture (NA) Disc Diameter Disc Thickness Protective Layer Track Pitch Data Transfer Rate (Data) Data Transfer Rate (A/V) Video Resolution (Max) Video Bit Rate (Max) Video Codecs Audio Codecs 25GB (Single Layer) 50GB (Dual Layer) 405nm (Blue Laser) 0.85 120mm 1.2mm 0.1mm 0.32um 36Mbps (1X) 54Mbps (1.5X) 1920 x 1080 (1080p) 40Mbps MPEG-2 MPEG-4 AVC SMPTE VC-1 Linear PCM Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby True HD DTS Digital Surround DTS-HD BD-J Standard DVD 4.7GB (Single Layer) 8.5GB (Dual Layer) 650nm (Red Laser) 0.60 120mm 1.2mm 0.6mm 0.74um 11.08Mbps (1X) 10.08Mbps (<1X) 720 x 480 (480i) 9.8Mbps MPEG-2 Linear PCM Dolby Digital DTS Digital Surround

Interactivity
Reference Figures 1 & 2

DVD-Video

The two over-riding specications driving the BD technology is data storage and data & video transfer. This new technology boasts 5 times the data storage amount (25GB) for a single layer disc and 6 times the data storage amount (50GB) for a dual layer disc to that of the standard single and dual layer DVD disc.

1. Blu-ray Disc

Blue Laser Enables Increased Density

Label S ide Label S ide Label S ide Label S ide

0.6 mm

0.6 mm

0.1 mm

0.1 mm

NA 0.6 NA 0.45

NA 0.65

NA 0.85

CD
780nm 780nm

DV D
650nm 650nm

HD-DV D
405nm 405nm

B lu-ray Dis c
405nm 405nm

700 MB

S L 4.7 G B DL 8.5 G B

15 G B (3 x DV D) 30 G B (3.5 x DV D)

25 G B (5 x DV D) 50 G B (6 x DV D)

Figure 1 Optical Disc Data Layer and Density Comparison Diagram

1.2 mm

1. Blu-ray Disc

Max. Transfer data rate comparison CD 1.4Mbps DVD HD DVD BD-ROM

Video Max rate: 40Mbps

10.08Mbps
Video Max rate: 9.8Mbps Video Max rate: 28Mbps

36.55Mbps

54Mbps

(*)

BD-RE/R x2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

72Mbps

Higher Transfer Rate realize Better Picture Quality

Figure 2 Optical Disc Data Transfer Rate Comparison Chart
The data transfer rate of BD technology boast 4 times for the BD-ROM and 7 times for the BD-RE/R (Reference Figure 2 for details). The remarkable gains achieved in the previous two specications are primarily due to design changes to three components in the optical system. Laser Wavelength Objective Lens Numerical Aperture (NA) Protection Layer

1. Blu-ray Disc

Capacity and ( NA ) ,
Adoption of wavelength= 405nm Blue Violet laser and NA(Numerical Aperture)= 0.85 realized 1/5 beam spot size of DVD.

DVD

Light spot (area size) 100% 20%

Blu-ray Disc

1.2mm

Protection layer thickness 0.6mm 0.1mm

1.2mm

Higher NA: x2 high density 0.6 0.85

Shorter wavelength: x2.6 high density

650nm

405nm

Figure 3 Blu-ray verse DVD Protective Layer and NA Comparison Diagram

Reference Figure 3 The Laser Wavelength and Numerical Aperture are the primary system components causing the increase in data storage capacity on the BD. Laser Wavelength A blue laser has a shorter wavelength (405 nanometers) than a red laser (650 nanometers) used in the standard DVD. The smaller beam focuses more precisely, enabling it to read information recorded in pits that are only 0.15 microns (m) (1 micron = 10-6 meters) long -- this is more than twice as small as the pits on a DVD. Plus, BD has reduced the Track Pitch from 0.74 microns to 0.32 microns. The smaller pits, smaller beam and shorter track pitch together enable a single-layer BD to hold more than 25 GB of information, once again, about ve times the amount of information that can be stored on a DVD.

1. Blu-ray Disc
Pit Length 0.15um Track Pitch 0.72um Pit Length 0.40um

Track Pitch 0.32um

Data Tracks

Data Tracks

Blu-ray Disc (BD)

Standard DVD

Figure 4 Blu-ray & DVD Track Pitch & Pit Length Diagram Figure 4

Blu-ray verse DVD Track Pitch and Pit Length

Objective Lens Numerical Aperture (NA) & Protective Layer Numerical aperture is a measure of the lens systems ability to gather light, and therefore, detect ne detail at a xed object distance, and also focus light (the laser) on a specic point at a specic distance, the smaller the distance the higher the numerical aperture. When light (or Laser) hits an object, such as a pit, on a DVD data layer, it diffracts and splits into several beams bending at increasing angles from the original beam. Furthermore, as the light reects off the data layer and passes through the Protective Layer it scatters at various angles rather than reecting directly back into the lens. The Numerical Aperture increases by placing the objective lens as closer to the disc surface, and reducing the Protective Layer thickness. This is exactly what the BD system designers did. The higher the Numerical Aperture gure the better the optical system can read the much smaller pits on the BD. Notice in gure 3 that the objective lens has been moved closer to the disc surface, and the protective layer is much thinner as compared to standard DVD. The lens and protective layer design also virtually eliminates the negative affects caused by disc tilt and disc surface dirt and scratch anomalies. Disc tilt has little affect on performance due to the signicant decrease in distance the laser beam must travel to access the discs data layer. Disc surface dirt and scratches have little affect on performance because the objective lens is much closer to the disc surface, and therefore, the laser beam at the surface (entering the disc) of the disc is much wider. Consequently, much less of the overall beam is affect by the dirt or scratch.

1. Blu-ray Disc
Blue Laser 0.1mm Red Laser Infrared Laser 0.6mm

BD
Data Layer

DVD 4.7 GB Capacity (Single Layer)

25 GB Capacity (Single Layer)

1.2mm

CD
Data Layer

Data Layer

780 MB Capacity

Evolution of Concumer Optical Discs Figure 5 Evolution of Consumer Optical Discs

1. Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray Compatibility

The BD has the same disc diameter and thickness as the CD, DVD, and the HD-DVD. However, this is where much of the similarities stop. Reference Table A for the specication comparison between BD and Standard DVD. The following table (Table B) provides a specication comparison between the BD technology and the competing HD-DVD technology.

Blu-ray Disc verses HD-DVD Specication Comparison Table B

Parameters Blu-ray Disc HD-DVD Storage Capacity Laser Wavelength Numerical Aperture (NA) Disc Diameter Disc Thickness Protective Layer Track Pitch Data Transfer Rate (Data) Data Transfer Rate (A/V) Video Resolution (Max) Video Bit Rate (Max) Video Codecs 25GB (Single Layer) 50GB (Dual Layer) 405nm (Blue Laser) 0.85 120mm 1.2mm 0.1mm 0.32um 36Mbps (1X) 54Mbps (1.5X) 1920 x 1080 (1080p) 40Mbps MPEG-2 MPEG-4 AVC SMPTE VC-1 Linear PCM Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby True HD DTS Digital Surround DTS-HD BD-J 15GB (Single Layer) 30GB (Dual Layer) 405nm (Blue Laser) 0.65 120mm 1.2mm 0.6mm 0.40um 36.55Mbps (1X) 36.55Mbps (1X) 1920 x 1080 (1080p) 40Mbps MPEG-2 MPEG-4 AVC SMPTE VC-1 Linear PCM Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Plus Dolby True HD DTS Digital Surround DTS-HD iHD

Audio Codecs

Interactivity

As you can see from this specication comparison table even though HD-DVD uses the same 405nm Blue Laser the data storage and video transfer rate are much lower for the HD-DVD. This due to the previously discussed design changes to the Objective Lens and Disc data layer placement. Because of these differences between the BD and the HD-DVD technologies, a BD will not play in a HD-DVD player and visa-versa.

Sony Blu-ray Disc Player (BDP-S1)

The BDP-S1 is one of the rst video players of any type to provide true 1080p output 1920 x 1080 pixels progressive scan, which is the highest HD signal output currently available. TV makers are shifting to 1080p resolution for their top-performing at-panel and projection TVs, and this Blu-ray player is a pixel-perfect match. Even if your HD-capable TV is a few years old and lacks a digital HDMI connection, dont worry, you can still experience Blu-ray. High-denition signals up to 1080i are available through the players component video

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1. Blu-ray Disc
output. The key to the BDP-S1s top-notch video performance is the Blu-ray Disc. This new high-capacity format can hold up to ve times more information as a standard DVD. A Blu-ray player can send this digital info to your TV at a much faster rate than a standard DVD player. The result is picture quality with awless clarity and true-to-life texture and depth. Sound quality is improved, too. In addition to 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and DTS surround mixes like those found on DVDs, Blu-ray movies will also include a full CD-quality multi-channel mix. The BDP-S1 also plays standard DVDs, and will breathe new life into your entire standard DVD collection by up scaling the video to 1080p (or 720p or 1080i you can choose the resolution that best suits your TV. The new Java-based interactive menu system further enhances the Blu-ray entertainment experience. For example, youll be able to check out extras like commentaries and interviews without stopping the movie rst. In so many ways, Blu-ray is a new chapter in home theater. The following bullet list is a summary of the major specications and feature for the BDP-S1. NOTE: Although this particular palyer does not play audio CDs, this function is player depend. Therefore, refer to the particular players specication list to determine if it plays audio CDs. Plays Blu-ray high-denition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p signals available through HDMI output only; 720p/1080i signals available through HDMI or component video) Plays DVD-Video and DVD-R & DVD-RW Does not play any type of audio CD Selectable 720p/1080i/1080p video (upconverted video available through HDMI output only) BD-Java interactive capability HDMI digital output (combines video and multichannel audio with HDCP copy protection) 1 set of A/V outputs (composite video, S-video, and component video) Stereo and 5.1-channel audio outputs Coaxial and optical digital audio outputs Remote control (multibrand for TVs) Multichannel 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converters upconversion for DVD

Built-in audio decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS, plus multichannnel uncompressed PCM

Blu-ray Disc (BD) Types

The follow bullet lists shows the three BD disc types. BD-ROM (Read Only Format) BD-R (Write Once Format) BD-RE (Rewritable Format)

As with CD and DVD, BD media comes in pre-recorded, recordable and rewritable disc formats. The prerecorded disc is called BD-ROM, and usually contains movies or re-issued TV shows in High Denition format. The recordable disc is called BD-R, and can be used for archival of huge amounts of data or video. The rewritable disc is called BD-RE, and offers the same large capacity in a disc format that allows for repetitive usage. All three BD types come in two versions: single layer and double layer. A double layer disc may hold up to twice the amount of data or video compared to a single layer disc, and uses two independent layers placed on one side of the disc to store its information. A single-layer disc holds up to 25 gigabytes, while a double-layer disc holds up to 50 gigabytes of data, without the need to ip the disc.

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