Calimetrics
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Optical data storage |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Terrence Wong, Michael O'Neill, Thomas Burke |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Fate | Acquired by LSI Logic in 2003; operations discontinued in 2004 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Optical data storage systems using pit-depth modulation (MultiLevel Recording) |
Calimetrics was a U.S.-based technology firm established in 1994 by Terrence Wong, Michael O'Neill, and Thomas Burke. Originating from research conducted at UC Berkeley, the company initially obtained $1.8 million in startup capital through an Advanced Technology Program grant aimed at creating optical data storage systems utilizing pit-depth modulation. Over the years, Calimetrics secured approximately $50 million in funding from a mix of government sources, venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporate partners. The organization was acquired by LSI Logic in 2003 and discontinued operations the following year.
Technology
The company pioneered pit depth modulation technology, marketed under the name MultiLevel Recording (ML), to significantly enhance storage capacity on standard CD media. This innovation increased the number of distinguishable recording levels from the traditional 2 (used in standard CD EFM) up to 8 levels, thereby improving bit density and data transfer speeds. These enhancements were achieved without altering the optical pickup mechanism; only modifications to the CD drive’s electronic components were necessary. ML technology required dedicated ML-compatible writers and media and was not compatible with conventional CD-ROM drives. Nonetheless, CD rewriters equipped with ML capability were more cost-effective to manufacture compared to DVD-recordable drives.
Key commercial collaborators included Iomega, Texas Instruments, TDK, Mitsubishi Chemical, Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics (Panasonic), Sanyo Electric, and Shinano Kenshi (Plextor).
History
By 2001, Calimetrics had developed prototype ML-CD reader/writers capable of storing 2GB on media similar in form to standard CDs. However, the rapid decline in prices of CD-R/RW drives driven by Taiwanese manufacturers, combined with increasing industry preference for DVD recordable formats, obstructed ML-CD’s commercial adoption. Previous unsuccessful initiatives such as Sony's double-density CD (DDCD) also contributed to reduced market enthusiasm. In absence of broad industry support for compatible drives and media, ML-CD technology never reached consumer markets.
Following its acquisition by LSI Logic in 2003, Calimetrics shifted focus to ML-DVD technology that required new drive electronics and specialized media but no changes to the optical pickup unit. The storage capacities targeted were 16GB for dual-layer discs and 8GB for single-layer variants; rewritable discs offered an 8GB single-layer option. The ML controller chip was engineered as a direct replacement for existing DVD drive controllers to minimize production costs.
ML-DVD encountered strong competition from higher-capacity blue-laser formats: Philips/Sony's Blu-ray and Toshiba/NEC's Advanced Optical Disc (AOD). Although these alternatives were more expensive, they benefited from greater industry backing. Concurrently, Taiwan promoted the Forward Versatile Disc (FVD), a lower-capacity format supported by its government and semiconductor industry. In 2006, the DVD Forum endorsed AOD as the HD DVD standard, followed soon after by Blu-ray’s widespread acceptance.
Despite China representing a potentially significant market for ML-DVD technology, it ultimately adopted Taiwan’s FVD format instead. Facing limited commercial opportunities, LSI ceased further development of MultiLevel Recording technology.