ISO/IEC 15286:1999

Information technology - 130 mm optical disk cartridges for information interchange - Capacity: 5,2 Gbytes per cartridge

This International Standard specifies the characteristics of a series of related 130 mm optical disk cartridges (ODCs) by using a number of Type designations. A disk has two sides, called Side A and Side B. Each side can have a nominal capacity of 2,6 Gbytes. Type R/W provides for data to be written, read and erased many times over the recording surface of the corresponding disk side, using the thermo-magnetic and magneto-optical effects. Type P-ROM provides for a part of the disk surface to be pre-recorded and reproduced by stamping or other means. This part of the disk is read without recourse to the magneto-optical effect. All parts which are not pre-recorded provide for data to meet the requirements of Type R/W. Type O-ROM provides for the whole of the disk surface to be pre-recorded and reproduced by stamping or other means. The corresponding disk sides are read without recourse to the magneto-optical effect. Type DOW provides for data to be written and read many times over the recording surface of the corresponding disk side, using the direct overwrite thermomagnetic and magneto-optical effects requiring a single external magnetic field. Type P-DOW provides for a part of the disk surface to be pre-recorded and reproduced by stamping or other means. This part of the disk is read without recourse to the magneto-optical effect. All parts which are not pre-recorded provide for data to meet the requirements of Type DOW. Type WO provides write once, read multiple functionality using the thermo-magnetic and magneto-optical effects. Type WO-DOW provides write once, read multiple functionality using the direct overwrite thermo-magnetic and magneto-optical effects. In addition, for each Type, this International Standard provides for cartridges containing a disk with a sector size of 512 bytes, cartridges containing a disk with a sector size of 1 024 bytes and cartridges containing a disk with a sector size of 2 048 bytes. All sectors of a disk are 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, physical and dimensional characteristics of the cartridge, so as to provide mechanical interchangeability 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, the modulation methods 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.

Technologies de l'information — Cartouches de disques optiques de 130 mm pour l'échange d'informations — Capacités: 5,2 Gbytes par cartouche

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-1999
• 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 15286:1999 specifies a family of 130 mm optical disk cartridges (ODCs) with a nominal capacity of 5.2 Gbytes per cartridge (2.6 Gbytes per side). The standard defines physical, optical and logical characteristics to ensure mechanical and data interchangeability between optical disk drives. It covers multiple media Types (R/W, P‑ROM, O‑ROM, DOW, P‑DOW, WO, WO‑DOW) and supports sector sizes of 512, 1 024 and 2 048 bytes per sector.

Key Topics

• Media Types and Recording Modes: Definitions and behavior of Type R/W (rewritable), P-ROM (partially pre-recorded), O-ROM (fully pre-recorded), DOW (direct overwrite), P-DOW, WO (write once), and WO-DOW.
• Reference Drive & Conformance Testing: Requirements for a Reference Drive, read/write channels, tracking and rotation, and conditions used for compliance testing.
• Environmental and Safety Requirements: Operating, storage, transportation and temperature shock environments; safety and flammability constraints to ensure reliable interchange.
• Mechanical and Dimensional Characteristics: Cartridge and disk case drawings, reference axes and planes, shutter and sensor features, clamping method, hub and spindle interfaces to guarantee mechanical interchangeability.
• Optical & Magneto‑Optical Characteristics: Recording layer behavior, Kerr rotation, read/write power considerations and magneto‑optical processing needed for writing and reading data.
• Logical Format & Error Management: Track geometry, sector formats, error correction codes (ECC/Reed‑Solomon), modulation methods, and embossed (pre‑recorded) versus user‑written information; minimum quality criteria for user-written data and defect management.
• Interchange Objective: Specifies embossed information characteristics and formats to allow drives from different vendors to interoperate.

Applications / Who Uses This Standard

• Optical disk drive and cartridge manufacturers implementing 130 mm ODC hardware and firmware.
• System integrators building storage systems requiring media interchangeability.
• Data archiving and preservation organizations relying on magneto‑optical media longevity and standard formats.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing conformance testing against the Reference Drive specifications.
• Software developers and vendors that implement low‑level volume/file structures in concert with media format standards.

Related Standards

• Companion standards for volume and file structure are referenced to achieve full data interchange between systems (consult ISO/IEC catalogue for the appropriate file/volume structure standard).
• ISO/IEC standards family for optical and magneto‑optical media and storage interfaces.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 15286:1999, 130 mm optical disk cartridge, 5.2 Gbytes, optical disk, ODC, magneto‑optical, R/W, DOW, write once, sector size, ECC, interchange.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 15286
First edition
1999-05-15
Information technology — 130 mm optical
disk cartridges for information
interchange — Capacity: 5,2 Gbytes per
cartridge
Technologies de l'information — Cartouches de disques optiques de
130 mm pour l’échange d’informations — Capacité: 5,2 Gbytes par
cartouche
Reference number
Contents Page
Section 1 - General. 1
1 Scope. 1
2 Conformance. 2
2.1 Optical Disk Cartridge (ODC) .2
2.2 Generating system.2
2.3 Receiving system.2
2.4 Compatibility statement .2
3 Reference . 2
4 Definitions. 2
4.1 asymmetry. 3
4.2 band. 3
4.3 case. 3
4.4 clamping zone . 3
4.5 control track . 3
4.6 Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). 3
4.7 defect management. 3
4.8 direct overwrite . 3
4.9 disk reference plane. 3
4.10 entrance surface. 3
4.11 Error Correction Code (ECC). 3
4.12 format. 3
4.13 hub. 3
4.14 interleaving. 3
4.15 Kerr rotation. 3
4.16 land and groove . 3
4.17 logical track. 3
4.18 mark . 3
4.19 mark edge. 3
4.20 mark edge recording. 3
4.21 optical disk . 3
4.22 optical disk cartridge (ODC) . 3
4.23 physical track . 3
4.24 polarization. 3
4.25 pre-recorded mark . 4
4.26 read power. 4
4.27 recording layer . 4
4.28 Reed-Solomon code . 4
4.29 space. 4
4.30 spindle . 4
4.31 substrate . 4
4.32 track pitch. 4
©ISO/IEC 1999
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the
publisher.
ISO/IEC Copyright Office • Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Genève 20 • Switzerland
Printed in Switzerland
ii
©ISO/IEC ISO/IEC 15286:1999(E)
4.33 write-inhibit hole .4
4.34 write once functionality .4
4.35 zone.4
5 Conventions and notations.4
5.1 Representation of numbers .4
5.2 Names .4
6 List of acronyms .5
7 General description of the optical disk cartridge .5
8 General requirements.6
8.1 Environments.6
8.1.1 Test environment .6
8.1.2 Operating environment .6
8.1.3 Storage environment.6
8.1.4 Transportation.7
8.2 Temperature shock.7
8.3 Safety requirements .7
8.4 Flammability.7
9 Reference Drive.7
9.1 Optical system .7
9.2 Optical beam.9
9.3 Read channels.9
9.4 Tracking.9
9.5 Rotation of the disk.10
Section 2 - Mechanical and physical characteristics.10
10 Dimensional and physical characteristics of the case .10
10.1 General description of the case.10
10.2 Relationship of Sides A and B.10
10.3 Reference axes and case reference planes.10
10.4 Case drawings.10
10.5 Dimensions of the case .11
10.5.1 Overall dimensions .11
10.5.2 Location hole .12
10.5.3 Alignment hole .12
10.5.4 Surfaces on Reference Planes P.12
10.5.5 Insertion slots and detent features.13
10.5.6 Gripper slots .14
10.5.7 Write-inhibit holes.14
10.5.8 Media sensor holes .15
10.5.9 Head and motor window.16
10.5.10 Shutter.16
10.5.11 Slot for shutter opener .17
10.5.12 Shutter sensor notch.17
10.5.13 User label areas.18
10.6 Mechanical characteristics.18
10.6.1 Materials .18
10.6.2 Mass.18
10.6.3 Edge distortion.18
10.6.4 Compliance.18
10.6.5 Shutter opening force.18
10.7 Drop test .18
11 Dimensional, mechanical and physical characteristics of the disk .19
11.1 General description of the disk .19
11.2 Reference axis and plane of the disk.19
11.3 Dimensions of the disk .19
11.3.1 Hub dimension.19
11.4 Mechanical characteristics.20
iii
11.4.1 Material . 21
11.4.2 Mass . 21
11.4.3 Moment of inertia. 21
11.4.4 Imbalance . 21
11.4.5 Axial deflection. 21
11.4.6 Axial acceleration. 21
11.4.7 Radial runout. 21
11.4.8 Radial acceleration . 22
11.4.9 Tilt. 22
11.5 Optical characteristics . 22
11.5.1 Index of refraction. 22
11.5.2 Thickness. 22
11.5.3 Birefringence. 22
11.5.4 Vertical Birefringence . 22
11.5.5 Reflectance. 23
11.5.5.1 General . 23
11.5.5.2 Measured value . 23
11.5.5.3 Requirement . 23
12 Interface between cartridge and drive . 23
12.1 Clamping method . 23
12.2 Clamping force. 23
12.3 Capture cylinder. 23
12.4 Disk position in the operating condition . 24
Section 3 - Format of information. 39
13 Track geometry . 39
13.1 Track shape . 39
13.2 Direction of track spiral. 39
13.3 Track pitch . 39
13.4 Logical track number . 39
13.5 Physical track number . 39
14 Track format. 39
14.1 Physical track layout . 39
14.2 Logical track layout. 40
14.3 Radial alignment . 40
14.4 Sector number . 40
15 Sector format. 40
15.1 Sector layout. 40
15.2 Sector mark . 42
15.3 VFO fields. 43
15.4 Address Mark (AM). 44
15.5 ID fields. 44
15.6 Postamble (PA) . 44
15.7 Transition Area (TA ). 45
15.8 Gap. 45
15.9 Flag. 45
15.10 Auto Laser Power Control (ALPC). 45
15.11 Sync. 45
15.12 Data field. 46
15.12.1 User data bytes . 46
15.12.2 CRC and ECC bytes. 46
15. 12.3 Bytes for Sector Written Flag (SWF). 46
15.12.4 The bytes following SWF in the Data field of the 1 024-byte and 512-byte sector format. 46
15.12.5 Resync bytes. 47
15.13 Postamble field (PA ) . 47
15.14 Buffer field. 47
15.15 Transition Area (TA ). 47
16 Recording code. 47
iv
©ISO/IEC ISO/IEC 15286:1999(E)
17 Formatted Zone.48
17.1 General description of the Formatted Zone .48
17.2 Division of the Formatted Zone.48
17.2.1 Lead-in Zone.50
17.2.2 Manufacturer Zones.50
17.2.2.1 Outer Manufacturer Zone .50
17.2.2.2 Inner Manufacturer Zone.51
17.2.3 User Zone .51
17.2.4 Reflective Zone.51
17.2.5 Control Track Zones .51
17.3 Control Track PEP Zone.51
17.3.1 Recording in the PEP Zone.52
17.3.2 Format of the tracks of the PEP Zone.52
17.3.2.1 Format of a sector .52
17.3.2.1.1 Preamble field.53
17.3.2.1.2 Sync field.53
17.3.2.1.3 Sector Number field.53
17.3.2.1.4 Data field .53
17.3.2.1.5 CRC .55
17.3.2.2 Summary of the format of the Data field of a sector.56
17.4 Control Track SFP Zones .56
17.4.1 Duplicate of the PEP information.57
17.4.2 Media information .57
17.4.3 System Information .59
18 Layout of the User Zone .60
18.1 General description of the User Zone .60
18.2 Divisions of the User Zone .60
18.3 User Area.61
18.4 Defect Management Areas (DMAs) .66
18.5 Disk Definition Structure (DDS) .67
18.6 Rewritable Zone.70
18.6.1 Location.71
18.6.2 Partitioning .71
18.7 Embossed Zone.71
18.7.1 Location.71
18.7.2 Partitioning .71
18.7.3 Parity sectors.71
18.8 Write Once Zone.72
18.8.1 Location.72
18.8.2 Partitioning .72
19 Defect Management in the Rewritable and Write Once Zones.72
19.1 Initialization of the disk .72
19.2 Certification.73
19.2.1 Slipping Algorithm .73
19.2.2 Linear Replacement Algorithm .73
19.3 Disks not certified.73
19.4 Write procedure .74
19.5 Primary Defect List (PDL) .74
19.6 Secondary Defect List (SDL) .75
Section 4 - Characteristics of embossed information.76
20 Method of testing.76
20.1 Environment .76
20.2 Use of the Reference Drive.76
20.2.1 Optics and mechanics .76
20.2.2 Read power.77
20.2.3 Read channels .77
20.2.4 Tracking.77
20.3 Definition of signals .77
21 Signal from grooves.78
v
21.1 Cross-track signal. 79
21.2 Push-pull ratio . 79
21.3 Divided push-pull signal . 79
21.4 Phase depth. 80
21.5 Track location. 80
22 Signals from Headers . 80
22.1 Sector Mark Signals . 80
22.2 VFO signals. 80
22.3 Address Mark, ID and PA signals . 81
22.4 Timing jitter . 81
22.5 Asymmetry. 81
23 Signals from embossed Recording fields . 81
23.1 Signal amplitude. 81
23.2 Asymmetry. 82
23.3 Timing Jitter. 82
23.4 Byte Errors . 82
24 Signals from Control Track PEP marks . 82
Section 5 - Characteristics of the recording layer . 83
25 Method of testing . 83
25.1 Environment. 83
25.2 Reference Drive . 83
25.2.1 Optics and mechanics. 83
25.2.2 Read power. 83
25.2.3 Read Channel . 84
25.2.4 Tracking . 84
25.2.5 Signal detection for testing purposes. 84
25.3 Write conditions . 84
25.3.1 Write pulse and power. 84
25.3.2 Write magnetic field and temperature . 85
25.3.3 Pulse power determination . 85
23.3.4 Media power sensitivity . 85
25.4 Erase conditions . 86
25.4.1 Erase power. 86
25.4.2 Erase magnetic field. 86
25.5 Definition of signals. 86
26 Magneto-optical characteristics. 86
26.1 Figure of merit for magneto-optical signal. 86
26.2 Imbalance of magneto-optical signal. 86
27 Write characteristics. 87
27.1 Resolution . 87
27.2 Narrow-band signal-to-noise ratio (NBSNR). 87
27.3 Cross-talk ratio. 88
27.3.1 Rewritable track test method. 88
27.4 Timing Jitter. 88
27.5 Media thermal interaction . 89
28 Erase power determination. 89
Section 6 - Characteristics of user data . 90
29 Method of testing . 90
29.1 Environment. 90
29.2 Reference Drive . 90
29.2.1 Optics and mechanics. 90
29.2.2 Read power. 90
29.2.3 Read Channel . 90
29.2.4 Mark Quality . 91
vi
©ISO/IEC ISO/IEC 15286:1999(E)
29.2.5 Channel bit clock .91
29.2.6 Binary-to-digital converters.91
29.2.7 Error correction.91
29.2.8 Tracking.91
30 Minimum quality of a sector.91
30.1 Headers .92
30.1.1 Sector Mark .92
30.1.2 ID fields .92
30.2 User-written data .92
30.2.1 Recording field .92
30.2.2 Byte errors .92
30.2.3 Asymmetry .92
30.2.4 Timing jitter.92
31 Data interchange requirements .92
31.1 Tracking.92
31.2 User-written data .92
31.3 Embossed data .
...