Blu-ray Disc Technology explained
Blu-ray Disc Technology explained Are you ready to experience more? The Blu-ray Disc is the most advanced optical disc ever created. It surpasses all other technologies in the delivery of the two most important elements in every movie experience – picture and sound. See more Blu-ray technology brings you pictures in full 1920 x 1080p HD quality – so you get pictures that rival reality. Scenes come to life as details leap at you, movements smoothen and images turn crystal clear. Hear more Are you ready for the quantum leap? Blu-ray also delivers uncompressed surround sound in 7.1 channels – so your audio experience becomes unbelievably real. The expanded number of channels redefine surround sound and pure unadulterated audio delivers faultless clarity and detail. There is a new technology in town – Blu-ray Disc. It creates a whole new world for those who 1 simply will not settle for second best. New unmatched standards in high definition deliver more Engage more picture, more sound – and an entertainment experience that will keep you glued to your seats. The result is an amazing experience that transports you to the heart of the movie scene. Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained 2 The truth about standard DVDs Standard definition versus high definition Standard definition High definition Standard definition Recording media DVD, Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Disc Movies on DVDs are not in high definition (HD), but in standard definition (SD). Standard Number of vertical pixels 480 (NTSC) / 576 (PAL) 1080 definition pictures have fewer lines across the TV screen compared to high definition ones. Number of horizontal pixels 720 1920 DVD Blu-ray Disc Storage capacity (single layer) 4.7 GB 25 GB Storage capacity (double layer) 8.5 GB 50 GB Storage capacity SD playback (max, on double layer) 4 hours 23 hours Blu-ray Discs however, are built with such high capacities that they are able to hold high HD playback (max, on double layer) not available 9 hours definition data. User interactivity simple advanced Laser type Red Blue-violet Laser wavelength 650 nm 405 nm Track pitch 0.74 μm 0.32 μm Data transfer rate (audio/video) 10.08 Mbps 54.0 Mbps Disc diameter 120 mm 120 mm Disc thickness 1.2 mm 1.2 mm Hard coating no yes Video resolution (max) 720x480 (NTSC) / 720x576 (PAL) 1920x1080 Video bit rate 9.8 Mbps 40.0 Mbps Internet connectivity no yes This means images are relatively grainy, movements are blur and details are lost. DVD versus Blu-ray Disc High definition High definition data provide five times the resolution of standard definition, but is so massive that it will not fit into today’s DVDs. Full high definition video requires more than five times the digital picture information per second than standard definition DVDs. On the face of it, the Blu-ray Disc looks exactly like a DVD. However, it has a capacity of 25GB in single layer and 50GB in dual layer. In other words, a Blu-ray Disc can store at least five times more information than a conventional DVD. Standard Definition vs High Definition 3 Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained A Blu-ray Disc has up to five times the capacity of standard definition DVDs. Put another way, the amount of data in five DVDs can easily fit into one Blu-ray Disc. Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained 4 How does Blu-ray do it? Wavelength CD Blu-ray technology is based on blue lasers rather than the red lasers used with CDs and DVDs. Disc surface magnified Position of data layer Infrared laser 780 nm The blue laser, used to read and write data, have a much shorter wavelength and a much sharper Pit Disc thickness is 1.2 mm focus. Consequentially, the blue laser is able to record information in smaller pits. More of these smaller pits can thus be fitted on the disc surface, enabling much more information to be stored. 1.2 mm Beam Spot CD pit size DVD Infrared laser 650 nm Pit Disc thickness is 1.2 mm 0.6 mm Beam Spot DVD pit size Blu-ray Blue-violet laser 405 nm Disc Pit Beam Spot Blu-ray Disc technology uses a blue laser which allows higher density recording. Disc thickness is 1.2 mm 0.1 mm Blu-ray Disc pit size The laser used in Blu-ray Disc has a much smaller focus and is capable of recording data in much smaller pits, thus increasing storage capacity significantly. The data layer in a Blu-ray Disc is also much closer to the laser lens, allowing for a substantial decrease in distortion when recording. 5 Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained 6 More sound With high storage capacities, Blu-ray Discs bring you more channels of sound, and each channel in its original uncompressed glory. Be encircled with pristine 7.1 surround sound – and take your movie experience to the next level. More industry support Philips is a co-founder of the Blu-ray Disc Association and has had a leading involvement in the technology and development of the Blu-ray Disc standard. The format has the support of over 170 major industry players, from consumer electronics and computer manufacturers, to game companies, record labels and movie makers – including most of the major Hollywood studios. This widespread support has snowballed to exceptional compatibility and availability of Blu-ray products – so you know there is always something to look forward to. More, more, more. Blu-ray Disc is the obvious choice for high definition home entertainment. The format has gained immense industry support. It has surged forward in popularity and continues on an upward Philips is a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association. More than 170 of the world’s leading brands have joined the association, which includes the support of six of the eight major Hollywood studios: • Warner Bros. Entertainment • Sony Pictures • MGM • Lionsgate • Twentieth Century Fox • Walt Disney Pictures and Television trend. More movies are being released in Blu-ray. More stores are setting up dedicated Blu-ray Disc sections to accommodate the growing demand (and supply) of Blu-ray Discs. More picture clarity Blu-ray Discs have the capacity to carry high definition data, along with pictures in the 1920 x 1080 resolution that defines full high definition images. This can only mean that you get the best possible TV picture quality available today – so prepare to feast your eyes. 7 Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained 8 More speed Blu-ray technology also enables a data transfer speed that is up to five times faster than DVD technology. As a result, although high definition content takes up much more room, Blu-ray technology reduces the necessary recording time so significantly, you will hardly notice the difference. Turning Blu ensures you get the best quality – without having to waste away hours. More durability A revolutionary and advanced hard coating protect the Blu-ray Disc, making it more resistant to dust, smudges and scratches which can cause skipping, pixilation or picture freezing. You can now keep your movies in perfect condition longer, even when played many times. Blu-ray presents movies at home in the best quality ever – glitch-free, over and over again. More discs to play If you already own a library of movies on DVD, fret not. Philips’ Blu-ray Disc players are Get the most out of your Blu-ray Disc player backward compatible, and equipped to up-scale standard definition to near high definition – so you can go on enjoying the movies you love so well. More interactivity The high storage capacity of the Blu-ray Disc allows a plethora of interactive possibilities to be included. Seamless navigation during playback and other exciting features like pop-up menus, keyword search engines and subtitle effects add a whole new dimension to home entertainment Enjoy stunning 1920 x 1080p Blu-ray Disc playback on Philips’ wide range of full high definition TVs. Loaded with state-ofthe-art features like Ambilight, Perfect Pixel HD Engine and HD natural motion, these TVs take home entertainment to a whole new level. – giving you more control and loads more fun. More audio streams On top of native uncompressed 7.1 channel surround sound, the Blu-ray Disc allows up to 32 Hook up a Philips Blu-ray Disc Player with a Philips Full HD TV – and discover the astounding world of high definition. streams of audio. This opens up the opportunity for more sound channels in more languages – letting you enjoy a surround sound experience in the language of your choice. 9 Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained 10 Make the jump into the world of high definition Experience the exhilaration that Blu-ray Disc brings Glossary of terms Optical disc An optical disc is used in computing, sound and video production. It is a flat, circular, usually polycarbonate disc on which data is stored in the form of pits (or bumps), usually along a single spiral groove that covers the entire recorded surface of the disc. This data is accessed when the disc is illuminated with a laser diode, and the pits distort the reflected laser light. Track pitch On an optical disc, data is stored along tracks. The physical distance between track centers is the track pitch. Video bit rate Bit rate represents the amount of information, or detail, that is stored per unit of time in a recording. Audio channels A means of enriching the sound of audio playback. A stereo sound source produces the left and right channels, thereby creating a holographic 3D effect in the center. A 5.1 sound source produces front center, front left and right, surround left and right, and low frequency effects (subwoofer) channels, creating a large spacial cinematic effect. Audio streams A route for digital audio signals. The number of streams dictate the number of languages that can be heard in multi-channel. For example, 32 streams allow 7.1 channel surround sound in 4 languages (8 channels x 4 languages = 32 streams). Wavelength The distance a wave travels to complete one cycle; the distance between one peak or crest of a sine wave and the next corresponding peak or crest. The wavelength can be found by dividing the speed by the frequency. 13 Blu-ray Disc – Technology explained
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