Dayal,
12 months is the estimated time frame provided by PMG. Also, somebody called Karen and indicated that KM+TFI is at 38% net increase in capacity and KM+MR is at 20% net increase in capacity. You may want to double check with IR to confirm those numbers.
As I understand it, there are at least three variables in KM:
1) composition of the keeper layer,
2) thickness and location of the keeper layer, and
3) size of the bias current.
The first 2 are platter-centric and sputtering machines are generally capable of applying multiple layers of thin film so it becomes a matter of finalizing the specs and programming the machines.
There is a very precise relationship between the small bias current flowing from the inductive head during reads/writes AND the MAIN current, or the MEDIA FLUX, which represents the interaction of the electrified head and the spinning permanent magnet(the disk). Simplistically, the addition of a small bias current changes the signal waveform. Michael Ferran referred to park.com which contains pictures of keepered and unkeepered media, and compares the signal waveforms of the two. Even for an untrained eye, the difference is noticeable. To what extent that requires MAJOR engineering changes in the channel electronics? I don't know except that the preamplifier was the only component spelled out in the contract. Be aware that my understanding is based on my reading of the patents. Since Ampex has additional patents pending regarding KM, the issues in the latest iteration of KM may be different.
FWIW, the market is long term efficient, short-term and even medium term inefficient. That's the way I see it.
Gus |
