Shortage of Blu-ray Disc pick-up heads expected to ease in 2007

This is a good news for all those looking to buy a PS3. According to DigiTimes, the current global shortage of BD pick-up heads, in which blue laser diodes is a key component, will gradually relax next year. Nichia and Sony are currently the world’s top two producers of blue laser diodes, but Nichia is suffering from a defect rate too high to meet global demand and Sony’s output is going mainly for use in its PS3 and BD writers.

Sharp, in light of the large market potential, announced in November that it is producing blue laser diodes mainly for use in BD PUHs with an initial monthly capacity of 150,000 diodes, the sources pointed out. Sony, in order to attain a goal of selling six million PS3 units globally by March 2006, has to expand its production capacity of blue laser diodes as soon as possible, the sources noted.

Both Sony and Nichia declined to release details about their expansion of blue laser diode production, the sources said.

Source: DigiTimes