Defense Program Spurs Development of Optical Data Storage

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has organized an industry-university consortium to develop fast readout optical storage technology.

Call/Recall Inc. in San Diego, which develops optical storage devices, will work on a high-speed, high-capacity storage system for optical media such as digital video disk systems and optical disks. The aim will be to improve data readout speed and bandwidth.

The consortium has also tapped Hewlett-Packard Co. in Santa Rosa, Calif., to develop readout arrays and Irvine Sensors Corp. in Costa Mesa, Calif., to produce stacked readout electronics. The University of Southern California in Los Angeles will provide data management algorithms and associated electronics.

The initial phase of the program will focus on the development and integration of the component technologies needed in fast readout optical storage technology.