Japan-based Mitsubishi Chemical, in view of global short supply of Blu-ray Disc (BD) pick-up heads (PUHs), is planning to step into production of high-power (200-300mW) laser diodes (LDs), the key component of PUHs for BD burners, according to sources in the Taiwan optical disc drive (ODD) industry.
Currently, there are only a few producers of high-power LDs, including Sony, Nichia and Sharp, the sources indicated. Sony's production of high-power LDs is mostly for in-house use and the output of Nichia and Sharp is mainly for supply to Japan-based BD drive makers, resulting in tight supply for non-Japanese makers, the sources pointed out.
In contrast, global supply of low-power (130-150mW) LDs used to make PUHs of BD-ROM and BD Combo drives is not short because there are more producers and yield rates are higher, the sources indicated.
