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Remembering AML, OPL, OSI and Optotech

Remembering AML, OPL, OSI and Optotech. Di Chen, Chen and Associates August, 2010. AML-Advanced Memory Lab. MPI (Magnetic Peripherals Inc., a Joint venture of Honeywell and CDC) appointed Steve Popovich in 1979 to organize AML in Colorado Springs to develop optical data storage drives.

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Remembering AML, OPL, OSI and Optotech

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  1. Remembering AML, OPL, OSI and Optotech Di Chen, Chen and Associates August, 2010

  2. AML-Advanced Memory Lab • MPI (Magnetic Peripherals Inc., a Joint venture of Honeywell and CDC) appointed Steve Popovichin 1979 to organize AML in Colorado Springs to develop optical data storage drives. • In October 1979, I joined Steve, together with Bill Stanis, Mike Konshak , DorrelSilvy, and later Dennis Weid, Curt Shuman, Chuck Ernst and others, to start engineering design of a recordable optical drive.

  3. Searching for Joint venture Partners • MPI, under president Tom Kemp, realized that we must seek joint venture partners to carry this project to fruition. • Serious discussion of joint development effort with Philips and Hitachi, including technology exchange and business development took place in 1980 and 1981. • Two organizations, Optical peripheral Lab, OPL (Between Philips and MPI) and Optical Media Lab, OML (Between Philips and Control Data) were formed in 1982. Hitachi withdrew from the joint venture effort. • OPL in Colorado Springs was charged with the development of a 12” WORM optical drive, and OML in Eindhoven was to develop the 1 GB 12” optical disc.

  4. Joint Venture discussions with Philips

  5. Joint venture discussion with Hitachi

  6. OPL and OSI • A number of Philips engineers and managers, including Maarten de Haan, Chris Steenbergen, Roeland Hekker, Hans Verboom, Kurt Getreuer, RienMonen and others joined OPL • New manager Todd Olsen took over the OPL operation in 1982, and renamed it Optical Storage International (OSI). Additional members including Bob Biggs, Chris Pollard, Russ Meyer, HaimHaskal, Neal Hall, Chris Miller as well as member of MPI manufacturing engineers from the Bay area, lead by Amyl Ahola, joined OSI • Semiconductor laser in place of HeNe laser was adapted to the optical head, 12” sealed glass substrate Te alloy WORM disc was developed at OML.

  7. OPL at 1982 Comdex, and up Pike’s Peak

  8. Early Joint Publication

  9. Successful Delivery of the first 12” WORM drive • In late 1982, an alpha WORM drive with 1 GB per disc capacity was successfully delivered to Digital Equipment. • I and others proposed to OSI management for the development of a 5 ¼” WORM drive. This was rejected by the top managers, believing that 12” drive, not the 5 ¼” drive was the path to success.

  10. OIS Celebrated the delivery of the first 12” 1 GB WORM Drive

  11. Optotech was born • I left OSI in 1984 and joined force with my Stanford schoolmate Nelson Yew, to start Optotech Inc. for the development of a 5 ¼” WORM drive. • Start-up funding for Optotech came from Kliner-Perkins, H & Q, Master Fund and AVI • Initial group includes Mike Konsak, DorrelSilvy, Leslie Zak and later we have Bill Stanis, Jeff Delude, T.C. Lee, Pete Berg, Jim MacDonald and many others • A feasibility model was demonstrated at Comdex, Fall 1984, First prototype model 5984 drive with 200 MB per disc capacity was delivered one year later • Based on our design spec, Olympus provided the optical head and Dicel manufactured the 5 ¼” WORM discs

  12. Optotech 5984 drive and first purchase order

  13. WORM disc discussion with Dicel

  14. Optotech at Comdex 1986

  15. Optotech changed Direction • Manufacturing of 5984 drive starts in 1986, supported by the second round funding from initial investors. Phil Shire was hire as COO. • By the end of 1986, Optotech achieved the first month of positive cash flow. IPO was proposed but on hold. • Recordable CD (CD-R) drives using dye-polymer media, was introduced by major Japanese companies and Philips in early 1987, Optotech lost its competitive edge in WORM drive. • Development of rewritable 5 ¼” MO drive started in 1987.

  16. Optotech 5984 WORM Drive

  17. Exciting Moments at Optotech

  18. Optotech sold to HP • Don Muller replaced Nelson Yew as CEO in 1988. • Believing that MO drive was ready to transfer from engineering to manufacturing, major staffing build up consumed much of the third round funding. • Continuous delay in MO drive development caused diminishing investors’ support. • Optotechwas sold to HP and ceased operation in 1989 • Based on Optotech technology, HP completed the MO drive development and used it in their successful Jukebox products. • For a brief period, I joined Steve Popovich at Literal. • I became a consultant thereafter.

  19. The Passing of Optotech in 1989

  20. Life is a Journey • The exciting period of the pioneering work in optical disc drives and optical media has concluded. • We should be content that we all had a part in the success of this remarkable Optical Storage Industry. • We have been at the mountain tops and the deep valleys, now they are all buried in our shares memory. • Life is a journey. Hopefully the foot prints we left behind would help others to find their way to success.

  21. Thank You

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