Maxoptix Joins With Pentax to Develop Advanced Optics for 40 GB Drive; Pentax and Parent Company Asahi Optical to Provide Opto Mechanical Assemblies

Business Wire, Nov 15, 1999

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999--

Maxoptix Corp., developer of Optical Super Density(TM) (OSD) technology and Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., parent company of Pentax Technologies Corp, a leader in the visual communications industry, announced today a technology partnership for the development of a new Opto Mechanical Assembly (OMA) designed specifically for OSD removable disk drive solutions.

In addition to providing the capability to write and read greater capacities per disk through higher track and bit density, the technically advanced OMA will enable drives to perform continuous focus for greater reliability and environment adaptation.

In it's first generation, the new OMA design will use low cost laser diodes that are in volume production today. As more advanced components become available, the architecture insures easy design-in and forward compatibility.

"We are pleased to have this opportunity to lend our 90 years of experience toward the development of this breakthrough optical data storage technology," said Bob Bender, president of Pentax Technologies. "With network storage requirements doubling every year, we envision a major commercial success for this venture."

In the future, continual improvements will allow the read back of ever-smaller recording marks to allow far greater bit densities and drive capacities. It is also anticipated that by the year 2002 the market will see the first products featuring blue laser technology.

Capable of providing a spot incident 30 percent smaller than is possible with today's red lasers, blue laser will effectively double OSD capacity to between 80 and 100GB on a single 5.25-inch disk.

"The OSD technology platform involves the integration of several key enabling elements," said Gary Potts, president and CEO of Maxoptix Corporation. "For the OMA, we needed a very experienced development partner to help us execute our design from the prototype stage into volume production. It has been a pleasure to work with Pentax because of their commitment to expand the possibilities of optical technology."

A formal introduction of the OSD technology and its partners will be made at a press conference during Fall Comdex '99, on Tuesday, November 16th at noon in the main press room. These new drives will be easily integrated into Windows(R)

3.1x, Windows NT, Windows 95, Macintosh(R), and UNIX(R)-based environments.

Both drives and media will be available by Q4, 2000 through leading OEMs, distributors, VARs and system integrators worldwide.

About Asahi Optical/Pentax Technologies

Founded in 1919, Asahi Optical Co., Ltd./Pentax Technologies Corp is a leading manufacturer of cameras, interchangeable lens, optical and measuring instruments, electro-visual instruments and fibrescopes. Their pursuit of unmatched "Light & Image" quality has made Pentax a leader in the visual communications industry.

For more information contact Rick Clinkingbeard at Pentax Technologies Phone: 303/460-1613, or 800/543-6144. Email: rick.clinkingbeard@pentaxtech.com, or visit the Pentax Technologies website http://www.pentaxtech.com

About Maxoptix Corp.

Founded in 1986, Maxoptix is a pioneer of high-performance optical drive and media with several key patents in the field of optical recording.

Maxoptix serves a global customer base from its U.S. headquarters in Fremont, Calif. and European headquarters in Woking, England. Maxoptix may be contacted at 3342 Gateway Blvd., Fremont, Calif., 94538. Phone: 510/353-9700 and 800/848-3092. Fax:510/353-1845. In Europe, contact Maxoptix Europe, Ltd.; Maxoptix House, St. John's Road, St. John's, Woking, Surrey, England, GU21 1SE. Phone: 011-44-1483-776-799. Fax: 011-44-1483-762-679. Website: http://www.maxoptix.com/

Note to Editors: For more information on OSD, the partnership press conference at Fall Comdex, contact Tracy Laidlaw at Beyond Words, Ltd., 3520 E. Morrow Drive, Phoenix, Ariz. 85050. Phone 602/569-0222. Fax 602/569-0282. Email: mailto:beyondw@cerfnet.com

Maxoptix is a trademark of Maxoptix Corporation.