Advances in storage. (Software World).

KHD Ltd

A new form of computer memory with massive capacity has been developed by Keele High Density Ltd, a company formed between Keele University and Cavendish Management Resources. The new technology, invented by Professor Williams at Keele University also incorporates important renovations in data compression and manipulation, with the result that very significant increases are achieved not only in memory capacity, but also for bandwidth capacity and processor speeds. The solid state memory capacity achievable is 10.8 Terabytes in the surface area of a credit card, scaleable up and down without limitation. Production cost will be less than $50. The Keele technology will have a major impact on many areas, including; computers, communications, Internet mobiles, consumer electronics to name a few.

Developed by Professor Williams at Keele University, Staffordshire the new system combines a breakthrough in direct binary code compression and data handling technology, with a highly innovative new memory system. The result is:

1) A new 'solid state' memory system giving up to 10.8 TB of non-volatile, random access memory in the area of a credit card, with no conventionally moving parts. This Is equivalent to 270 GB/cm squared double-sided. The memory system is scaleable both downwards and upwards without limitation. Production cost will be less than $50. Delivery expected within 24 months, after further production engineering to refine the laser addressing system.

2) A new memory system delivering 475 GB of non-volatile RAM memory on rotating media in same surface area as a DVD.

This uses the data handling and compression aspects of the new Keele system, but uses existing hardware technology. Availability will be measured in months. The system also increases memory capacity by 8 times for other memory systems including Flash memory.

3) An increase in transmission bandwidth capacity of 8 times, obtained by using the new KHD compression system - which works on top of, and in addition to all existing compression techniques. The effect is to compress the binary code itself by a factor of eight.

4) An increase in processor speeds of up to 8 times when processing data streams due to the effects of the KHD binary compression system - a 1.5 GHz chip emulates the output of a 12 GHz chip.

The new technology combines several distinct components to achieve the overall result as follows:

a) New software-based techniques for handling data and directly compressing binary code - this also has the great benefit in non-memory applications of significantly increasing bandwidth capacity and processor speeds by up to eight times. These effects are achieved by the reduction in actual binary code for storing, transmitting or processing.

b) Daisy chaining RLL codes and elimination of need to record unchanged aspects, results in high speed and major reductions in error correction needed.

c) Use of a hybrid silicon/magneto optical storage device allows fast read/write rates and data manipulation before optical storage of data.

d) Use of special media materials and surface coatings, greatly enhances signal / noise ratio allowing effective multi-layer use.

e) Special optic fibre technology using magnetically coated, tapered, optic fibre with immersed, melted lens tips, and closed-loop navigation, to achieve near 'solid state' laser addressing of the memory media. As a result the unit has no moving parts in the conventional sense. Being software-based, the first two components are applicable to all existing IT systems, without significant development delays being expected. They could be implemented almost immediately to enhance existing memory systems (DVD, Flash etc.), bandwidth capacity, and processor speeds. The special media and surface coatings will also be applicable to existing rotating media systems (CD-ROM & DVD).