ISO/IEC 17346:2005

Information technology - Data interchange on 90 mm optical disk cartridges - Capacity: 1,3 Gbytes per cartridge

ISO/IEC 17346:2005 defines the characteristics of 90 mm Optical Disk Cartridges (ODC) with a capacity of 1,3 GB per cartridge. It specifies only Type R/W for 2 048-byte sectors of such cartridges. Type R/W provides for data to be written, read and erased many times over the entire recording surface of the disk using the thermo-magnetic and magneto-optical effects. It is also referred to as "fully rewritable". ISO/IEC 17346:2004 provides for 2 048-byte sectors only. All sectors on a disk are of the same size. ISO/IEC 17346:2005 specifies: the conditions for conformance testing and the Reference Drive; the environments in which the cartridges are to be operated and stored; the mechanical and physical characteristics of the cartridge, so as to provide mechanical interchange ability between data processing systems; the format of the information on the disk, both embossed and user-written; including the physical disposition of the tracks and sectors, the error correction codes, and the modulation method used; the characteristics of the embossed information on the disk; the magneto-optical characteristics of the disk, enabling processing systems to write data onto the disk; the minimum quality of user-written data on the disk, enabling data processing systems to read data from the disk. ISO/IEC 17346:2005 provides for interchange between optical disk drives. Together with a standard for volume and file structure, it provides for full data interchange between data processing systems.

Technologies de l'information — Échange de données sur cartouches de disque optique de 90 mm — Capacité: 1,3 Go par cartouche

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 06-Feb-2005
• ICS: 35.220.30 - Optical storage devices
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 23 - Digitally recorded media for information interchange and storage
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 23 - Digitally recorded media for information interchange and storage
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 21-Aug-2020
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Overview

ISO/IEC 17346:2005 specifies the characteristics and interchange requirements for 90 mm optical disk cartridges with a capacity of 1.3 Gbytes per cartridge (noted in the standard as 1,3 Gbytes). The standard covers Type R/W (fully rewritable) media organized in 2 048‑byte sectors only, enabling repeated write/read/erase over the disk surface using thermo‑magnetic and magneto‑optical effects. ISO/IEC 17346:2005 defines physical, optical and logical formats to ensure reliable data interchange between optical disk drives.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Media capacity and sector format
  • 90 mm Optical Disk Cartridge, capacity 1.3 Gbytes; 2 048‑byte sectors only.
• Type R/W (fully rewritable)
  • Magneto‑optical and thermo‑magnetic recording methods for repeated rewriting.
• Mechanical and physical characteristics
  • Cartridge and disk dimensions, shutters, alignment holes, clamping methods, mass, moment of inertia and tolerances to ensure mechanical interchangeability.
• Optical and magneto‑optical characteristics
  • Substrate thickness, refractive properties, reflectance and recording sensitivity required for drive compatibility.
• Information format
  • Physical track layout, sector structure (sync, ID, data, CRC/ECC), recording code and modulation methods to support data integrity.
• Error control and defect management
  • ECC/CRC definitions and Defect Management Areas (DMAs) to manage bad sectors and maintain readable data.
• Reference Drive and conformance
  • Definition of a Reference Drive and conditions for conformance testing to validate cartridge/drive interoperability.
• Environments and handling
  • Requirements for testing, operating, storage and transportation environments, plus temperature shock and safety/flamability considerations.
• Minimum quality of user‑written data
  • Criteria ensuring that data written by one system can be read reliably by another.

Applications and Who Uses It

ISO/IEC 17346:2005 is intended for:

• Optical disk drive manufacturers designing drives that accept 90 mm ODC media.
• Media manufacturers producing compliant cartridges and disks.
• System integrators and storage vendors implementing removable optical storage solutions.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing conformance and interoperability testing.
• Archival and enterprise users needing standardized, rewritable removable media for data interchange and backup.

Practical applications include removable backup archives, off‑line data transfer between systems, and interchangeable storage where mechanical and logical compatibility across drives is required.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 17346 complements standards for volume and file structure and other optical-media format standards to provide full data interchange. It should be used alongside the appropriate file‑system/volume standards adopted by implementers for end‑to‑end compatibility.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 17346, 90 mm optical disk cartridges, 1.3 Gbytes, Type R/W, magneto‑optical, 2048‑byte sectors, data interchange, Reference Drive, conformance testing, defect management.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 17346
First edition
2005-02-01
Information technology — Data
interchange on 90 mm optical disk
cartridges — Capacity: 1,3 Gbytes per
cartridge
Technologies de l'information — Échange de données sur cartouches
de disque optique de 90 mm — Capacité: 1,3 Go par cartouche

Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2005
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©  ISO/IEC 2005
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ii © ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. viii
Section 1 — General . 1
1 Scope. 1
2 Conformance . 1
2.1 Optical Disk Cartridge (ODC). 1
2.2 Generating system. 1
2.3 Receiving system. 1
2.4 Compatibility statement . 2
3 Normative references . 2
4 Terms and definitions. 2
5 Conventions and notations. 5
5.1 Representation of numbers . 5
5.2 Names. 5
6 List of acronyms . 5
7 General description of the optical disk cartridge . 6
8 General requirements . 6
8.1 Environments . 6
8.1.1 Testing environment. 6
8.1.2 Operating environment. 6
8.1.3 Storage environment . 7
8.1.4 Transportation. 7
8.2 Temperature shock . 7
8.3 Safety requirements. 7
8.4 Flammability . 7
9 Reference Drive. 8
9.1 Optical system. 8
9.2 Optical beam. 9
9.3 Read channels. 10
9.4 Tracking . 10
9.5 Rotation of the disk. 10
Section 2 — Mechanical and physical characteristics. 11
10 Dimensional and physical characteristics of the case . 11
10.1 General description of the case (see Figure 2). 11
10.2 Reference planes of the case . 11
10.3 Dimensions of the case. 11
10.3.1 Overall dimensions (see Figure 3) . 11
10.3.2 Location hole (see Figure 3) . 12
10.3.3 Alignment hole (see Figure 3). 12
10.3.4 Reference surfaces (see Figure 4) . 12
10.3.5 Detents (see Figure 5). 13
10.3.6 Functional Areas (see Figure 6) . 13
10.3.7 Spindle and head windows (see Figure 7). 14
10.3.8 Shutter (see Figure 8) . 15
10.3.9 Path for shutter opener and shutter sensor notch (see Figure 9) . 15
10.3.10 Mis-insert protections (see Figure 10) . 16
10.3.11 Gripper slots (see Figure 11) . 16
© ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved iii

10.3.12 Label area (see Figure 12) .17
10.4 Mechanical characteristics.17
10.4.1 Material .17
10.4.2 Mass.17
10.4.3 Edge distortion .17
10.4.4 Compliance .17
10.4.5 Shutter opening force .17
11 Dimensional, mechanical and physical characteristics of the disk.29
11.1 General description of the disk.29
11.2 Reference axis and plane of the disk .29
11.3 Dimensions of the disk (see Figure 13) .29
11.3.1 Hub dimensions (see Figure 13).29
11.3.2 Clamping zone (see Figure 13) .30
11.4 Mechanical characteristics.30
11.4.1 Material .30
11.4.2 Mass.30
11.4.3 Moment of inertia.30
11.4.4 Imbalance .30
11.4.5 Axial deflection.30
11.4.6 Axial acceleration.31
11.4.7 Radial runout .31
11.4.8 Radial acceleration.32
11.4.9 Tilt .32
11.5 Optical Characteristics .32
11.5.1 Index of refraction .32
11.5.2 Thickness of the substrate.32
11.5.3 Birefringence .32
11.5.4 Vertical Birefringence .33
11.5.5 Reflectance .33
12 Interface between cartridge and drive.33
12.1 Clamping method .33
12.2 Clamping force .33
12.3 Capture cylinder (see Figure 14).34
12.4 Disk position in operating condition (see Figure 14) .34
Section 3 — Format of information .36
13 Geometry of physical tracks .36
13.1 Physical track shape.36
13.2 Direction of track spiral .36
13.3 Physical track pitch.36
14 Track format.36
14.1 Logical Track number .36
14.2 Logical Track layout.36
14.3 Clock frequencies and periods.36
14.4 Radial alignment.37
14.5 Sector number .37
15 Sector format .37
15.1 Sector layout.37
15.2 Sector Mark (SM) .38
15.3 VFO fields.39
15.4 Address Mark (AM).40
15.5 ID fields.40
15.6 Postambles (PA).41
15.7 Gap.41
15.8 Sync .41
15.9 Data field .41
15.9.1 User data bytes.42
15.9.2 CRC and ECC bytes .42
iv © ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved

15.9.3 Resync bytes . 42
15.10 Buffer field . 42
16 Recording code . 42
17 Format of the Information Zone. 43
17.1 General description of the Information Zone. 43
17.2 Division of the Information Zone. 43
17.2.1 Initial Zone . 43
17.2.2 Buffer Zones . 43
17.2.3 Test Zones . 43
17.2.4 Control Zone. 44
17.2.5 Data Zone. 45
18 Format of the Data Zone. 45
18.1 Buffer tracks and Test tracks in the Data Zone . 45
18.2 Defect Management Areas (DMAs) . 45
18.3 Disk Definition Structure (DDS). 48
18.4 Partitioning . 49
19 Defect management . 50
19.1 Initialization of the disk . 50
19.2 Certification . 50
19.2.1 Slipping Algorithm. 50
19.2.2 Linear Replacement Algorithm. 50
19.3 Disks not certified . 51
19.4 Write procedure. 51
19.5 Primary Defect List (PDL). 51
19.6 Secondary Defect List (SDL). 51
Section 4 — Characteristics of embossed information . 53
20 Method of testing . 53
20.1 Environment . 53
20.2 Use of the Reference Drive . 53
20.2.1 Optics and mechanics. 53
20.2.2 Read power. 53
20.2.3 Read channels. 53
20.2.4 Tracking . 53
20.3 Definition of signals. 53
21 Signals from grooves . 54
21.1 Divided push-pull signal. 54
21.2 Phase depth. 55
21.3 Track location. 55
22 Signals from Headers . 55
22.1 Sector Mark. 55
22.2 VFO1 and VFO2 . 55
22.3 Address Mark, ID field and Postamble. 56
22.4 Timing jitter. 56
22.5 Asymmetry. 56
23 Signals from embossed Recording fields . 56
23.1 Signal amplitude . 56
23.2 Timing jitter. 56
Section 5 — Characteristics of the recording layer and user data. 58
24 Method of testing . 58
24.1 Environment . 58
24.2 Reference Drive. 58
24.2.1 Optics and mechanics. 58
24.2.2 Read power. 58
24.2.3 Read magnetic field . 58
© ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved v

24.2.4 Read channel .58
24.2.5 Tracking.58
24.2.6 Signal detection for testing purposes.59
24.3 Write conditions .59
24.3.1 Write pulse and power .59
24.3.2 Write magnetic field .61
24.3.3 2T and 4T pulse power determination.61
24.3.4 Media power sensitivity .61
24.4 Erase conditions.62
24.4.1 Erase power .62
24.4.2 Erase magnetic field .62
24.5 Definition of signals .62
25 Magneto-optical characteristics .62
25.1 Figure of merit .62
25.2 Imbalance of the magneto-optical signal.62
25.3 Magneto-optical signals obtained from the embossed Headers.63
26 Write characteristics .63
26.1 Resolution .63
26.2 Narrow-band signal-to-noise ratio (NBSNR) .63
26.3 Cross-talk ratio .64
26.3.1 Rewritable track test method .64
26.4 Timing jitter.64
26.5 Media thermal interaction.65
27 Erase power determination .65
Section 6 — Characteristics of user data .66
28 Method of testing.66
28.1 Environment.66
28.2 Reference Drive .66
28.2.1 Optics and mechanics .66
28.2.2 Read conditions.66
28.2.3 Read amplifiers.66
28.2.4 Mark Quality.66
28.2.5 Channel bit clock.67
28.2.6 Binary-to-digital converters .67
28.2.7 Error correction .67
28.2.8 Tracking.67
29 Minimum quality of a sector.67
29.1 Headers .67
29.1.1 Sector Mark.67
29.1.2 ID fields.67
29.2 User-written data .67
29.2.1 Recording field .67
29.2.2 Byte errors .67
29.2.3 Timing jitter.68
30 Data interchange requirements .68
30.1 Tracking.68
30.2 User-written data .68
30.3 Quality of disk.68
Annex A (normative) Edge distortion test.69
Annex B (normative) Compliance test.70
Annex C (normative) CRC for ID fields.72
Annex D (normative) Interleave, CRC, ECC, Resync for the data field .73
Annex E (normative) Contents of the Control Zone.77
vi © ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved

Annex F (normative) Determination of the Resync patterns . 83
Annex G (normative) Measurement of the figure of merit. 88
Annex H (normative) Read Channel for measuring NBSNR and jitter. 89
Annex I (normative) Implementation Independent Mark Quality Determination (IIMQD) for the
interchange of recorded media . 92
Annex J (normative) Air cleanliness class 100 000 . 93
Annex K (normative) Position of the cartridge relative to the reference planes . 94
Annex L (normative) Relaxation by zones of the requirements for signals. 95
Annex M (normative) Test method for measuring the adsorbent force of the hub. 96
Annex N (informative) Track deviation measurement . 98
Annex O (informative) Derivation of the operating climatic environment . 101
Annex P (informative) Transportation . 106
Annex Q (informative) Office environment . 107
Annex R (informative) Values to be implemented in existing and future standards. 108
Annex S (informative) Measurement of the vertical birefringence of the substrate. 109
Annex T (informative) Sector retirement guidelines . 111
Annex U (informative) Laser power calibration for evaluation of media power sensitivity. 112

© ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved vii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 17346 was prepared by Ecma International (as ECMA-351) and was adopted, under a special “fast-
track procedure”, by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, in parallel with its
approval by national bodies of ISO and IEC.

viii © ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 17346:2005(E)

Information technology — Data interchange on 90 mm optical
disk cartridges — Capacity: 1,3 Gbytes per cartridge
Section 1 — General
1 Scope
This International Standard defines the characteristics of 90 mm Optical Disk Cartridges (ODC) with a
capacity of 1,3 GB per cartridge. It specifies only Type R/W for 2 048–byte sectors of such cartridges.
Type R/W provides for data to be written, read and erased many times over the entire recording surface of the
disk using the thermo-magnetic and magneto-optical effects. It is also referred to as "fully rewritable". This
International Standard provides for 2 048-byte sectors only. All sectors on a disk are of the same size.
This International Standard specifies:
− the conditions for conformance testing and the Reference Drive;
− the environments in which the cartridges are to be operated and stored;
− the mechanical and physical characteristics of the cartridge, so as to provide mechanical interchange
ability between data processing systems;
− the format of the information on the disk, both embossed and user-written; including the physical
disposition of the tracks and sectors, the error correction codes, and the modulation method used;
− the characteristics of the embossed information on the disk;
− the magneto-optical characteristics of the disk, enabling processing systems to write data onto the disk;
− the minimum quality of user-written data on the disk, enabling data processing systems to read data from
the disk.
This International Standard provides for interchange between optical disk drives. Together with a standard for
volume and file structure, it provides for full data interchange between data processing systems.
2 Conformance
2.1 Optical Disk Cartridge (ODC)
A claim of conformance with this International Standard shall specify the Type of the ODC. It shall be in
conformance if it meets all mandatory requirements specified herein for that Type.
2.2 Generating system
A claim of conformance with this International Standard shall specify which Type is supported. A system
generating an ODC for interchange shall be in conformance with this International Standard if it meets the
mandatory requirements of this International Standard for the Type specified.
2.3 Receiving system
A claim of conformance with this International Standard shall specify which Type is supported. A system
receiving an ODC for interchange shall be in conformance with this International Standard if it is able to
process any recording made on the cartridge in accordance with 2.1 on the Type specified.
© ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved 1

2.4 Compatibility statement
A claim of conformance with this International Standard shall include a statement listing any other
International Standard supported by the system for which conformance is claimed. This statement shall
specify the number of the Standard(s), the ODC type(s) supported (where appropriate) and whether support
includes reading or both reading and writing.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ECMA-287, Safety of electronic equipment (2002)
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
4.1
band
Part of the Data Zone comprising a fixed number of consecutive physical tracks.
4.2
case
The housing for an optical disk that protects the disk and facilitates disk interchange.
4.3
Channel bit
The smallest element for the representation of data on a disk. It is recorded as either a space or a mark.
Twelve Channel bits are used to represent eight input bits.
4.4
clamping zone
The annular part of the disk within which the clamping force is applied by the clamping device.
4.5
control track
A track containing the information on media parameters and format necessary for writing, reading and erasing
the remaining tracks on the optical disk.
4.6
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
A method for detecting errors in data.
4.7
defect management
A method for handling the defective areas on the disk.
4.8
disk reference plane
A plane defined by the perfectly flat annular surface of an ideal spindle onto which the clamping zone of the
disk is clamped, and which is normal to the axis of rotation.
4.9
embossed mark
A mark so formed as to be unalterable by magneto-optical means.
2 © ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved

4.10
entrance surface
The surface of the disk on to which the optical beam first impinges.
4.11
Error Correction Code (ECC)
An error-detecting code designed to correct certain kinds of errors in data.
4.12
field
A subdivision of a sector.
4.13
format
The arrangement or layout of information on the disk.
4.14
fully rewritable disk
An optical disk in which the data in specified areas can be rewritten by an optical beam.
4.15
groove
See 4.19.
4.16
hub
The central feature on the disk which interacts with the spindle of the disk drive to provide radial centering and
the clamping force.
4.17
interleaving
The process of allocating the physical sequence of units of data so as to render the data more immune to
burst errors.
4.18
Kerr rotation
The rotation of the plane of polarization of an optical beam upon reflection from the recording layer, as caused
by the magneto-optical effect.
4.19
land and groove
A trench-like feature of the disk, applied before the recording of any information, and used to define the track
location. The groove is located nearer to the entrance surface than the land with which it is paired to form a
track.
4.20
logical track
Seventeen consecutive sectors for disks with 2 048-byte sectors in one or more physical tracks. The first
sector of each logical track is assigned sector number 0.
4.21
logical ZCAV
A disk format requiring Zoned Constant Angular Velocity operation and with tracks n in the Data Zone all
being logical tracks.
© ISO/IEC 2005 – All rights reserved 3
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