davidc@umd5.umd.edu (David Conrad) (10/27/88)
The following are some excerpts from the press release from Canon U.S.A.
about their "High-Performance Magneto-Optic Mass Storage System".
"LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 12 -- Canon U.S.A., Inc. today became the
first company to announce the full-scale production of a high-speed
writing, erasing and transferring magneto-optic (M-O) mass storage
system for advanced computer work stations..."
"... Its media is what Canon calls 'exchange coupled,' or 'Canon EC
type' and was achievable only because of the company's developement of
proprietary technology which involves continuous thin-film, multilayered
processing. The 'Canon EC type' is based on a concept that separates
contradictory functions into two layers. The first layer, which
provides high-speed writing and erasing. Information recorded on the
first layer is transferred to the second layer, which provides good
reading performance, by exchange coupling. This is the most effective
combination for maximizing writing, reading and erasing performance..."
"... More than 1000 patents have been applied for the media technology.
Several basic patents for the media -- two M-O layers composed of rare
earth/transition metal amorphous alloy -- have been allowed in seven
countries.
In addition to its media being erasable, the system's disk drive can
achieve the highest rotation rate yet reported, at 3000 RPM.
Furthermore, this rate can be reached using a middle-powered diode laser
of 35 mW that assures both long life and low cost compared to higher
powered diode lasers. ... Average latency of the system is 10 ms, the
sustained data transfer rate is 9.1 M bps and the switching time of the
bias magnetic field is less than 4 ms."
"... the magnetic strength of the media is at least 20 times higher than
that of magnetic hard disk and tape recording media, and the Canon media
provides data integrity for more than 10 years without rewrite of
data..."
"Components of the Canon M-O rewritable mass storage system include
an OM-500D disk drive unit, OM-C10 SCSI controller and OM-X131/132 disk
cartrige. The 132 has two formatted sides, or 512 MB capacity; the 131
has one formatted side, or 256 MB."
"A company spokesman states that the sample price for an evaluation
unit of the Canon system is approximately $6000, with an additional disk
cartridge for evaluation for about $200."
"For additional information on the Canon M-O rewritable mass storage
system, contact Canon U.S.A., Inc., Peripheral Products Division, One
Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 (Telephone 516/488-6700)."
SPECIFICATIONS
Canon M-O Disk Drive (OM-500D) and Media OM-X131/132
----------------------------------------------------
Formatted capactity/surface 256 M byte
Access time: 1/3 full stroke seek 92 ms
full stroke seek 130 ms
average latency 10 ms
Disk rotation speed: 3000 rpm
Bias magnetic field switching time: < 4 ms
Data transfer rate: 9.1 M bps
Drive Interface: ESDI like
MTBF: 20000 hours (target)
Power requirements: +12 V DC, +5 V DC
Power consumption: average 18 watts
maximum 40 watts
Drive size: 5.25" full height form factor
Disk size: 130 mm diameter
Disk substrate: polycarbonate
Disk usable surface: single (OM-X131) and double (OM-X132)
Disk cartridge: ISO, TC97, SC23 standard like
Disk format: 1024 B/sector, 16 sector/track, spiral
track
Disk type: proprietary high-speed and high
reliability rare-earth/transition
metal alloy "EC-type" magneto-optic
media
Canon Controller (OM-C10)
-------------------------
Dimensions: (4.65" x 7.48") 118 x 190 mm PCB
Interfaces: to host SCSI (ANSI x 3.131-1986, CCS Rev. 4.B)
to drive ESDI like
ECC: type cross-interleaved Reed Solomon
Product Code
corrected BER 10
Data transfer rate: burst 1.5 MB/sec (buffer 64 KB)
sustained 6.6 M bps
Connectable # of drive: max. 2 units (daisy chain)
Max cable length: (40") 1 meter (controller to the
furthest drive)
Power requirement: +5 V DC, 5 watts
I have no affiliation with NeXT or Canon. All right, all right, I own a
Canon camera...
-drc
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David R. Conrad The University of Maryland arpa: davidc@umd5.umd.edu
(301) 454-2946 PC/IP Group IBM@UOM bitnet: conradd@umdd.bitnet