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Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. has developed a nano-layer coating technology with nano- dispersed nano-particles named NANOCUBIC for the production of nanometer-scale thin layer coated magnetic recording media. By applying this new technology, tape with a recording capacity of more than one terabyte (one terabyte is the twelfth power of ten) can be made. This figure is 10 times larger than that achieved for conventional tape. Also, 3.5-inch floppy disks with a storage capacity of 3 GB (gigabytes) can be manufactured, providing 10 times more storage capacity than floppy disks that are currently available.
In 1992, Fujifilm developed its ATOMM (Advanced super Thin layer & high Output Metal Media) technology for digital recording, and it has subsequently introduced various unique products to the market. These include DLTtape™ (the world's first tape with a capacity as large as 40GB), DDS3 (12GB tape), DDS4 (20GB tape), 100GB LTO Ultrium1 cartridge, ZIP™100 (100MB disk), and ZIP™250 (250MB disk). Over the past ten years, Fujifilm has taken a leading role in achieving high capacity and density in the data media industry.
Utilizing the NANOCUBIC technology as the basis of its next-generation data media production technology, Fujifilm has succeeded in prototyping a high-resolution, low-noise ultra-thin magnetic layer media coating that have nano-order microstructure.
Although the ATOMM technology made submicron metal coating possible, the thickness of the newly developed nano-thin layer coated magnetic recording media is even thinner (by a factor of 10) than that of the ATOMM media. This new media, which is capable of handling the rapidly increasing information volume, is expected to contribute greatly to the development of future high-capacity recording systems because of it's superior adaptability to MR heads, as well as to high-sensitivity GMR and TMR heads.
Fujifilm has made the following technological breakthrough to realise the NANOCUBIC technology:
1.Nano coating
The ATOMM coating technology has been further developed to realize thin coating layer on nano-meter scale
2. Nano particle
Two types of magnetic particle were developed: acicular ferromagnetic alloy particle of a few dozen nano-meters in size, and tabular ferromagnetic hexagonal barium ferrite particle.
3.Nano dispersion
A newly developed special high-molecular binder is used to uniformly disperse magnetic particles of a few dozen nano-meters in size, and to line them up in an orderly manner.
4.By providing drive manufacturers with media samples using this new technology, and through close cooperation with them, Fujifilm is looking forward to co-developing new storage and archival systems.
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Same additional features of magnetic recording media using NANOCUBIC technology include:
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1.More than ten times the recording density
High resolution for high recording density Nano-thin layer coating technology has made it possible to record data in digital form at high resolution. Flat output characteristics are achieved at higher frequencies than those used under the ATOMM technology. Additionally, the level of magnetic energy can be optimally controlled, and the waveform distortion that might often occur with a high-sensitivity MR head at output saturation can be prevented.
2.High C/N characteristics
Two magnetic materials were developed: ultra-fine metal particles and ultra-low noise barium ferrite magnetic particle. Because these two materials can be aligned uniformly and densely, it is now possible to reduce media noises greatly.
3.Superior storage capability
As produced by a coating process using a high molecular binder, chemical stability of media is improved to a great deal and better stability is archived compared to media produced in evaporating process. In addition, this media can be stored for a longer period without performance deterioration.
4.Suitable for mass production
Nano-thin layer coated media enables stable mass production with existing coating machines. No need to use any type of vacuum evaporating facilities.
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Fujifilm has identified possible applications of nano-thin layer coated media, including:
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1. Data tape
High-capacity linear recording tape, multi-track type tape High capacity helical recording tape
2. Floppy disks
High-capacity floppy disks
3. Video
High-definition, long-duration digital video tape for broadcasting
High-definition, long-duration digital video tape for home use
Video storage for home servers
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. is a leading global manufacturer of imaging and information products.
*DLTtape™ is a trademark of Quantum Corporation. *ZIP™ is a trademark of Iomega Corporation.
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Technical Information -1
Media Design to Increase the Recording Density by More than Ten Times
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Because thin-layer coated magnetic recording media is suitable for mass-production and are superior in performance and reliability, they are used in various areas. We have developed MV*1 technology in 1981, ATOMM technology in 1992, and with other original technologies we have now taken the lead in the industry. As we now enter an era of broadband communication, a new breakthrough is necessary to meet the need for higher data storage capacity and faster data transfer rate.
Our continued efforts to maximize media performance have achieved a dramatic increase in storage capacity or recording density of magnetic coated recording media in combination with the MR heads*2 that are used in hard disk drives.
1. High resolution
Increase in liner recording density is achieved by:
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a) Shaping flux reversal of signal and narrowing pulse width at 50% threshold (PW50) of isolated pulse shape.
b) Flat frequency response by reducing low frequency output and increasing high frequency output. The above mentioned is accomplished by reducing the thickness of the magnetic layer. When MR elements in the head become saturated by output exceeding a certain level, distortion of wave or asymmetrical pulse occurs. To avoid this, the magnetic layer must by be kept thin.
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2. High C/N
To improve C/N, it is very effective to reduce media noise as a level of system noise is low in systems with high sensitivity MR heads installed. For reducing media noise, it is essential to further decrease size of the particles in media. Because particles must be uniformly aligned in magnetic layer to optimize performance out of particles in media, a higher level of dispersion technology is required as size of particles becomes smaller. The NANOCUBIC technology can realize more than 3Gb/in˛ in recording density.
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*1. About MV technology
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MV is the metal tape that Fujifilm developed as video tape in 1981 when the tape with a coating of ferrocobalt oxide was widely used for video tape recording.
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*2. About MR head
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MR head (MagnetoResistive) is a playback-only magnetic head designed to utilise the electrical effect whereby the electrical resistance changes proportionately with magnetic flux change (magnetic resistance effect). The sensitivity is more than ten times higher than that of conventional inductive-type heads, and the level of system noise is low. MR head is used in hard disk drive to increase their data storage capacity and is now adopted in magnetic tape systems. GMR (Giant MagetoResistive) and TMR (Tunnelling MagnetoResistive) heads are enhancements of MR head and can achieved higher sensitivity than MR head.
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Technical Information-2
NANOCUBIC Technology, achieving a tenfold or greater increase in recording density
1. Nano coating; Nano-order ultra-thin magnetic layer for high resolution
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With the ATOMM technology, a submicron magnetic layer is coated onto a non-magnetic layer comparing with micron-order, single-layer MP tape. However, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of magnetic layers to a nano-order level in order to achieve high resolution for higher recording density than obtained by the ATOMM. Therefore, we further advanced the ATOMM technology, nano coating technology. This new technology has made possible an ultra-thin magnetic layer, which is about a one tenth of the thickness of magnetic layers under the ATOMM technology. Consequently, PW50 has been decreased to 40% of that achieved under the ATOMM technology. Sharp isolated pulse shape have been obtained, and resolution has been greatly improved, thus enabling recording density to increase by more than ten times. In addition, flat frequency response has been achieved by optimizing performance of MR head.
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2. Nano particle; Ultra-fine magnetic particles to reduce media noise
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Two types of nano-order ultra-fine magnetic particles have been developed, compared with sub-micron-order magnetic particles under the ATOMM technology, to reduce media noise. One is a newly developed ultra-fine metal particle. The size of particle is a few dozen nano-meters and about one half of that of an ATOMM based particle. The other is a newly developed small tabular ferromagnetic hexagonal barium ferrite particle, which is finer than ultra-fine metal particle. This particle has been developed by reducing size of barium ferrite which is characteristic in low noise, resulting in great reduction of noise level. These nano particles have achieved 10dB improvement in C/N at high linear density combined with their high output. Either the MP or the barium ferrite particle can be chosen, depending on the specific application.
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3. Nano dispersion; Uniform particle dispersion technology featuring newly developed polymer compound
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The smaller is size of magnetic particles, the more difficult to disperse uniformly for reduction of media noise. As a solution, the nano dispersion technology has been developed. This technology featuring newly developed polymer compound prevents flocculation of magnetic particles and makes it possible to align ultra-fine magnetic particle in order and to form a nano order ultra thin magnetic layer. As a result, clear recording pattern can be realized in high density, which will be epoch making for increasing recording capacity and expanding future application.
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