Bellevue, Wash. –Ioptics Incorporated has introduced OROM, an extremely small, optical read-only memory (ROM) storage technology that will dramatically transform the way software and content are distributed in compact portable computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics. The company also announced that Microsoft Corporation and Polaris Venture Partners are key investors in a $9.5 million financing package.

The patented OROM technology is comprised of an innovative electro-optical reader and a low-cost removable plastic "data card" with a 128MB storage capacity. The reader is compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket and the data card is smaller than a business card. OROM was conceived by Ioptics' vice president and chief technology officer James T. Russell, who invented digital optical data recording that led to the CD-ROM.

OROM is a revolutionary design that is a radical departure from current approaches in optical storage systems such as CD-ROMs and DVDs. Unlike these devices, which rely on a moving data sensing head and rotating media to access data one bit at a time, OROM features a novel illumination and data reading system which uses no moving parts and quickly accesses thousands of bytes of data at once.

Because it uses no moving parts, the small-format OROM is fast, shock resistant and consumes minimal power-key concerns in the portable and embedded electronics markets. With a low media cost comparable to CD-ROM, OROM's removable data card is a cost-effective and efficient means for distribution of software and other content.

"OROM is the first groundbreaking optical storage technology the industry has seen since the introduction of the CD-ROM," said Fred Hanson, Ioptics' president and CEO. "Beyond its primary function as a superior means for software and content distribution, its innovative technical features will allow designers to rethink the fundamental memory architecture of portable and embedded systems to create devices that are significantly more appealing and functional. We expect OROM to have as big an impact on these markets as the CD-ROM has had on desktop computing. The market potential for OROM is phenomenal."

Ioptics will initially target mobile computing and embedded applications that use Microsoft's Windows CE, in addition to other real-time operating systems and Sun Microsystems Java operating system. "Ioptics' innovative technology is a major contribution to the Windows CE marketplace-a high-capacity, exceptionally small, removable data storage peripheral that provides a very cost-effective and easy way to distribute software and other content," said Harel Kodesh, general manager of the Consumer Appliance Group at Microsoft. "With OROM's superior capabilities we will see more robust applications such as databases, digital maps, presentations, and voice recognition for compact portable devices and embedded systems, and it paves the way for exciting new applications for these devices. We're very optimistic about OROM's potential to transform the entire Windows CE portable-device arena."

OROM offers exceptional advantages as a distribution media compared to semiconductor storage such as flash memory and mask ROM, which have smaller storage capacity and higher costs. "Small handheld computing and consumer electronics devices are starving for storage. Ioptics will meet that need with its innovative OROM technology that provides 128MB of ROM storage at a very low cost and power consumption," said Dr. Gerry Purdy, president and CEO of Mobile Insights. "We believe that exciting new applications will result in these devices as a result of Ioptics bringing OROM to market. This is the CD-ROM for handheld computing."

How OROM works

OROM works on an entirely new and patented approach to optical data storage. Current optical data storage devices like CD-ROM drives read data one bit at a time by rotating the media disk and positioning a single laser emitter/detector on an arm that moves from track to track. OROM is radically different in that it uses no moving parts. Data is pre-recorded on the OROM data card in a number of two-dimensional images or data patches. There are close to 5,000 patches on the data card, each storing 32Kbytes of data. When the data card is inserted in the reader, it is aligned over an array of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). One OLED is assigned to each data patch on the data card. To access information the data patch is illuminated by the OLED assigned to it. The light is transmitted through the data patch to create an image of the data, which is ultimately projected onto the reader's image sensor. The sensor and reader's electronics convert the image to digital data for use in a computer, game or other supported device. The total data access time is a mere 10 milliseconds, the equivalent of most hard drives, and 10 times faster than CD-ROMs.

"OROM is an intriguing new approach to optical storage that is extremely suitable for mobile computing," said Mike DeNeffe, director of handheld products for NEC Computer Systems Division of Packard Bell NEC. "It has the potential to dramatically expand the power and versatility of portable devices." NEC is a leading worldwide supplier of notebook and desktop computer systems, including the MobilePro series of handheld PCs.

"By enhancing the capabilities of mobile computing with a high-capacity, durable and low-cost removable ROM, OROM promises to extend the ultimate appeal of highly mobile products." said Brad Garrison, vice president of Mobile Computing and Communications for LG Electronics, USA Inc., a major consumer electronics manufacturer and division of LG, a $73 billion global corporation.

Significant OROM Advantages

OROM offers many key benefits over alternative storage devices making it ideal for the demanding requirements of the portable computing and embedded systems markets.

• No moving parts for efficient power usage and durability
  Peripherals such as CD-ROMs and hard drives use moving parts that consume considerable amounts of power and are susceptible to data loss and damage from shock and vibration. With no moving parts, OROM uses very little power, saving precious battery resources for longer device operation, and provides very high data integrity with rugged skip-free data retrieval.
• Small size for increased portability and flexibility
  OROM's extremely small size makes it ideal for the new generation of mobile computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications. The OROM reader will be available in both internal and external configurations, providing exceptional flexibility for a wide range of devices.
• Speed for enhanced performance
  OROM has an extremely low latency and fast data transfer rate. Data access is 10 times faster than other optical-read devices like the CD-ROM. The first version of OROM will provide 10ms access time and 1.6MB/second data transfer rates.
• High capacity for added functionality
  Before OROM, mobile computing applications were restricted by the low capacity of available storage peripherals. OROM breaks new ground with a high capacity 128MB, which will satisfy the demand for more functionality and content like detailed maps, high-powered games, accurate voice recognition and even high-quality multimedia content.
• Low-cost, removable media for easy distribution
  The OROM data card offers superior functionality for the portable computing and embedded systems markets at a cost of pennies per megabyte, comparable to the CD-ROM. Data can either be stamped onto the card for high-volume applications or stored on a recordable data layer for lower-volume requirements. With the OROM technology, users will be able to install software simply by sliding a new data card into the reader. With OROM users can upgrade their devices quickly and easily on their own. This ability to add new software and upgrade to new releases is a major strategic advantage of OROM-empowered products.

The next steps

Ioptics is developing strategic relationships with leading electronics manufacturers to incorporate the OROM technology in their portable computing devices and embedded systems, and soon after, will target games and other entertainment devices. The company will establish manufacturing licensing agreements within the computer and consumer electronics industries, and also plans to manufacture OROM readers. Ioptics has completed a feasibility prototype and will have a product prototype later this year with product availability in mid-1999.