Overview
ISO/IEC 17592:2004 - Information technology - DVD rewritable disk (DVD‑RAM) defines the mechanical, physical and optical characteristics, data format and recording method for DVD‑RAM media. The standard covers two disk types (120 mm and 80 mm) with per‑side capacities of 4.7 Gbytes and 1.46 Gbytes respectively. It specifies requirements to enable interchangeability between media and drives, including signal quality, sector/track formats, error control and the phase‑change recording method used for read/write/overwrite operations.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Mechanical & dimensional characteristics: overall disk dimensions, clamping zones, rim and transition areas, mass, moment of inertia, runout and balance requirements to ensure reliable spinning and handling.
- Optical characteristics: substrate thickness, index of refraction, reflectivity and birefringence requirements that affect laser reading and compatibility.
- Reference drive & servo: definition of a reference optical head, read channels, rotation speed, axial and radial servo transfer functions to standardize drive behavior.
- Data format & sector structure: frame and sector layouts, Data ID and error detection codes (IED, EDC), scrambled frames, ECC blocks and NRZI/recording code conversion.
- Track & recording rules: track pitch, track path, radial alignment and rotation speed controls that determine data placement and read/write accuracy.
- Recording controls: DC component suppression (DCC), recording polarity randomization and PID/PED fields to preserve signal integrity.
- Information zones & defect management: lead‑in, data and lead‑out zones, buffer areas, disk identification zones and Defect Management Areas (DMAs) for reliable sector remapping and media health.
- Environmental & safety: test, operating, storage and transportation environments plus safety and flammability considerations for media handling.
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO/IEC 17592:2004 is practical for:
- Optical media manufacturers designing DVD‑RAM discs to meet interchangeability and quality specs.
- Drive and optical head engineers implementing servo, read/write channels and reference drive behaviors.
- Firmware and file‑system developers that implement sector formats, ECC and defect management.
- Test laboratories and QA teams performing conformance, environmental and signal quality tests.
- Archivists and IT managers choosing archival/rewritable optical storage for data retention policies.
Related standards
- Complementary ISO/IEC standards exist for other optical media types (CD, DVD family) and for general optical storage test methods; consult ISO/IEC catalogues for cross‑references when designing interoperable systems.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 17592:2004, DVD‑RAM, DVD rewritable disk, 4.7 Gbytes, 1.46 Gbytes, optical disk standard, phase change recording, data format, ECC, defect management, reference drive.