2002Research papers

Summary

Pioneer started the navigation system in Japan in 1990, and it has been evolving for 10 years. During this period, the functions and the performance have been greatly improved and the HMI has been optimized for the easier operation. The price has come down enough to be established in the market.
Pioneer has brought a lot of new products together and created new value in the integrated system of audio, video, information and communication, which the original "AVIC" concept, comes from.
We introduced the HDD navigation system in Japan, which accommodates 10Gbyte storage in a 2.5-inch drive. It changes the functions of the "AVIC concept" product, and it helped alter the product value of conventional navigation completely. The market rated this product very highly.
All the functions based on the "AVIC" concept are integrated into the dual unit DIN package. One unit accommodates both DVD-drive and HD-drive, and it features the DVD video playback and the CD music ripping function, as the "Music server". The other unit accommodates AV components such as 7-inch LC display, MD player, TV tuner, FM/AM radio, and four-channel 50W power amplifier, as the "AV power unit." These two units realize the "AVIC" concept.
This new product required the new platform and the new major components such as DVD mechanism and the display unit to enhance the performance and functions as well as the compact design profile.
The car navigation system is one of the typical products that require the high density surface mount technology and the high quality components reliable and durable in the severe mobile environment. So the cost of the components is rather high, while the system price is expected to become lower. Currently we focus on developing ICs, replacing the hardware by middle-ware, and designing a compact DVD drive unit, as we have little chance of achieving higher density surface mounting.
The article shows the outline of the HDD navigation system.

Summary

For the 2001 Model Year, the Mobile Entertainment Company (MEC) and the R&D Center organized a joint development project called "J-Project" to design a new platform for car navigation which would provide a product suited to the 21st century. Based mainly on ASIC design, and incorporating new devices such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and Graphics Display Controller (GDC), the platform uses a Hard Disc Drive (HDD) for data storage, allowing an improvement in navigation capabilities as well as new features such as a music server that give a whole new image to car navigation.

Summary

We implemented a various experiments to use a Hard Disk Drive(HDD) as the mapping storage media for a car navigation system.
We commercialized a HDD car-navigation system after performing vibration operation tests, temperature operation tests and so on with it and confirmed that there was no practical the problem with the conditions in the environment of the car.

Summary

We have developed an "AV POWER UNIT"for use with the "HDD NAVIGATION "system. The "AV POWER UNIT" is fully motorized 7inch Monitor including FM/AM-radio ,TV-tuner, MD(mini disc) player, DSP (digital signal processor) and amplifier in a 1-DIN unit.
Therefore we had to miniaturize electric circuits and mechanical parts to include those functions.
We managed to shrink the LCD Display, image processing circuit, inverter unit and drive unit, allowing us to realize the "AV POWER UINT".

Summary

We developed a Car Navigation System "AVIC-H09" with 1DIN size using a hard disk drive and having both an Audio Visual and a Navigation function.
The car computer system achieved high reliability, low cost, and high density mounting by using a BGA-IC(Ball Grid Array-IC), a multi-layer PCB , high efficiency layout and a small DC-DC converter.
To miniaturize the GPS portion, we examined the possibility of the miniaturization of parts used for a circuit which obtains high accuracy position.
To obtain sufficient reliability for a Car Navigation System "AVIC-H09" which can be installed into a car, we considered methods of decreasing noise and radiation.

Summary

We developed a DVD / CD drive for Vehicle use (Called the "MS2").
This "MS2" drive has the following features.

1. Thinner drive with small pick up
2. The drive is able to play back DVD-ROM, DVD-VIDEO, CDDA, VIDEO-CD, etc , and what's more , has an ATAPI I/F for DVD-ROM
3. We developed three type of drives with a common platform as below :
1. a. DVD-ROM / CD Drive
2. b. DVD-VIDEO / CD Drive
3. c. DVD-ROM+VIDEO / CD Drive

The "MS2", with these attractive features, is able to provide new models with high performance and various functions.

Summary

We have developed a reproducing signal simulator for a next generation optical disk system with a blue laser and an objective lens whose numerical aperture is large. This simulator can calculate the system margins by applying various signal processing. By using this simulator, we calculated the reproduction margin of a next generation read-only optical disk system. As a result, it was found that a 25-gigabyte system can be realized by applying the Limit-equalizer, and furthermore, the use of an adaptive equalizer and a crosstalk canceller give the possibility of realization of more large capacity system.

Summary

We developed a new optical integrated device with optical functions on photo-diodes to realize a low-cost and small-size DVD/CD pick-up. We call the new device "optical IC device". We developed its design and fabrication methods, then we fabricated it for a DVD/CD pick-up. As a result of this experiment, the optical IC device successfully reproduced DVD and CD with a tracking error signal and focus error signal obtained.

Summary

The authors have realized a rewritable optical disk of 25 GB capacity using groove recording method and having a thin cover layer thickness of 0.1mm. The active layer of the phase change disk is made of Ge-In-Sb-Te materials. And using the limit equalizer optimized to the short mark, sufficient system margin wasobtained.
Moreover, examination of 2X recording was also performed. The authors developed a 2X rewritable optical disk with a total capacity of 25 GB.

Summary

2x recording disks which are compatible with the existing DVD-RW (Version 1.1 standard) were developed. The development process included optimization of the crystallization speed of the phase-change materials, optimization of the disk structure, optimization of the LPP shape and reduction of noises from the groove surface by means of our high precision mastering technology. These disks recorded by "basic write strategy" of the DVD Re-recordable Disc Specification Version 1.1 resulted in 7.67 % jitter, 67.9% modulation, 20.9 % reflectivity, and by the 2x recording optimized strategy resulted 6.92% jitter, 75% modulation and 20.1 % reflectivity. From this result, it is concluded that the recorded disks both by 1X and by 2X speed will work on general DVD players.

Summary

4.7 GB DVD-R disc corresponding to 650nm recording wavelength was developed by optimizing dye layer thickness, improving uniformity of substrate characteristics in the disc and adopting LPP structure. 61.7 % modulation, 6.65 % Jitter and a PIER_MAX count of 45 were observed with the disc recorded by the basic write strategy of the "DVD-R for General Ver2.0" specification. Moreover, 77.1 % ( x 2 ),79.1 % ( x 4 ) modulation, 6.38 % ( x 2 ) ,6.42 % ( x 4 ),Jitter and PIER_MAX counts of 23 ( x 2 ), and 27 ( x 4 ) were observed with the disc recorded by candidate basic write strategy of the "DVD-R for General Ver2.01" specification. Therefore, the recorded discs will work on a general DVD players.

Summary

DVD-R for General specifications were developed by DVD-Forum based on the technology with User data rate of 11.08 Mbps and Reference recording velocity of 3.49 m/s respectively (1x-speed recording). We studied 2x-speed recording technologies applied to the media specified by the current 1x-speed DVD-R specifications.

Summary

The author reviewed the research evolution in the recording density represented by hard disk drive (HDD), optical and magneto-optical (MO) disc drives and so on. In general, decay of recorded bits caused by thermal fluctuation in the magnetic recording media shall limit the upper density in the HDD, while light diffraction limit is the restriction for the optical recording. Research has been focused on how to reduce these unwanted effects. More specifically, the former is known as superparamagnetic (SPM) limit. The antiferromagnetic-coupled(AFC) media have been developed to push the SPM limit further. Combing suchAFC media with a high sensitivity giant magnetoresistant (GMR) head, the areal density of over 100 Gbits/in2 was obtained experimentally. On the other hand, in the development of the high density optical/MO disc systems, new technologies such as near-field optical recording, electron-beam mastering and super-resolution phenomenon have been extensively studied to overcome the light-diffraction limit. The next generation digital versatile disc(DVD) system, which can store over 23 GB(twice that 2 times in dual layer)capacityin a CD size disc, has been realized using both a blue-violet laser diode and a high numerical aperture (NA) lens. Small drives implementing some kind of the said disc recording system have been developed for use in digital still camera and mobile equipment (PDA).

Summary

The purpose of our development is to realize a easy to use home network system. We have developed a Home AV Network System that totally controls the AV devices connected by IEEE1394 cables, and allows use of a global network such as the Internet. All operations can be performed by using the hand held Network Remote Controller easily

Summary

We have developed a dedicated CPRM LSI that is constructed with the encryption and the decryption blocks that are compliant with the "Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) Specification Introduction and Common Cryptographic Elements rev. 0.94" and the "CPRM Specification DVD Book rev. 0.95". The CPRM technology is used for recording commercial content by a DVD recorder while protecting copyright of such content. Since all enciphering related processing is accomplished in this LSI, it makes the protection of the secret information stable and the control of the LSI easier. The LSI has the encryption and the decryption system implemented independently, so that it can provide the simultaneous operation of recording and playback to user.

Summary

We developed the DVR-7000 and introduced it to the market in July 2001. We changed the whole system from the previous model in order to improve the video quality, multi-functionality, and usability.

Summary

We developed this product which carries new functions, CD( includes MP3CD playback), MagicGate Memory Stick (recording & playback & updating) and HDD (recording & playback), for the first time as a car audio product.
This product for the worldwide market is packed into 1DIN size, with standard features (AM/FM Tuner, MOS-FET50Wx4ch amplifier, OEL display, and sound field control DSP) and the new functions.
We considered the operation carefully to handle many music files in the HDD easily.
We concentrated on making a new field of audio entertainment, and we were the first to introduce this system on the car audio market.

Summary

The authors have investigated the method to design the diaphragm which has wide range frequency response even though it is thin and unique shape. In respect to developing the unique shape diaphragm using structure analysis, increasing the parameters made it difficult to realize a suitable shape. So the authors have tried to optimize the shape using the Quality engineering. Eight parameters are selected from all variables of the shape. They are allocated to an Orthogonal Array 'L18' with noise variables for frequency. The result revealed that it is possible to design the diaphragm with a flat and wide range frequency response efficiently.

Summary

A new user interface, or a new communication tool has been proposed giving us the virtual presence.
It is a glasses-free 3-D display technology that the author developed and named as "3D floating vision".
Along with the development, a compact 3-D display device was designed for a personal use to verify the idea.
A 3-D effect is brought about using physiological factors by making a real image in space, using hardware composed of a micro lens array.
Moreover, psychological and memory-influenced 3-D effects are brought about by suitably incorporating factors such as objective size, light and darkness, shade and contrast simultaneously through software processing.
Using these two factors, an enhanced 3-D effect was confirmed in the experimental model. As features of "3D floating vision ", the following items are raised.
(1) Since the structure is simple, reduction in cost and miniaturization are possible.
(2) The image, which jumps out to the front, is observable by naked eye.
(3) Software development work is comparatively easy.
(4) The viewing distance to see is not fixed.
(5) Viewing the system does not tire the eyes.
(6) It can be seen, even if viewed from a horizontal angle.
Moreover, as regards product applications, a trial product by a toy maker which realizes a personified communication function has been reported.

Summary

Copy Protection that is becoming very important in this digital era relies not only on copy protection technologies but also on contracts, laws and combinations with other technologies. Illegal copy might be made from somewhere the weakest part of the security chain. Reinforcement of the security chain without any security hole must be required.

Summary

We have developed a dedicated CPRM LSI that is contstructed with the encryption and the decryption blocks that are compliant with the "Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) Specification Introduction and Common Cryptographic Elements rev. 0.94" and the "CPRM Specification DVD Book rev. 0.95". The CPRM technology is used for recording commercial content by a DVD recorder while protecting copyright of such content. Since all enciphering related processing is accomplished in this LSI, it makes the protection of the secret information stable and the control of the LSI easier. The LSI has the encryption and the decryption system implemented independently, so that it can provide the simultaneous operation of recording and playback to user.

Summary

GaN-based laser diodes (LDs) grown on a sapphire substrate were successfully transferred onto a GaAs substrate using laser lift-off (LLO) technique. The LDs have excellent cavity mirrors formed by natural cleavage, which can afford a high process yield. Realizing good thermal contact between the n-GaN surface, where the sapphire substrate was removed, and a heatsink led to efficient thermal dissipation. Using this LLO technique, high-power laser operation with output power of 30mW or over up to 60℃ was achieved.