Remembering AML, OPL, OSI and OptotechDi Chen, Chen and Associates

August, 2010

AML-Advanced Memory LabMPI (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.

In October 1979, I joined Steve, together with Bill Stanis, Mike Konshak , Dorrel Silvy, and later Dennis Weid, Curt Shuman, Chuck Ernst and others, to start engineering design of a recordable optical drive.

Searching for Joint venture PartnersMPI, 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.

Joint Venture discussions with Philips

Joint venture discussion with Hitachi

OPL and OSI A number of Philips engineers and managers, including

Maarten de Haan, Chris Steenbergen, Roeland Hekker, Hans Verboom, Kurt Getreuer, Rien Monen 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, Haim Haskal, 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.

OPL at 1982 Comdex, and up Pike’s Peak

Early Joint Publication

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.

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

Optotech was bornI 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, Dorrel Silvy, 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

Optotech 5984 drive and first purchase order

WORM disc discussion with Dicel

Optotech at Comdex 1986

Optotech changed DirectionManufacturing 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.

Optotech 5984 WORM Drive

Exciting Moments at Optotech

Optotech sold to HPDon 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.

Optotech was sold to HP and ceased operation in 1989Based 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.

The Passing of Optotech in 1989

Life is a JourneyThe 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.

Thank You