Science Quiz™ - Mart :: Nauka ~ Tehnika ~ Military

1967    NHK Technical Research Institute demonstrates a 12-bit PCM digital audio recorder with a 30 kHz (30,000 times per second) sampling rate. The digital recording goes onto a high-grade video tape.

1969    Sony introduces it's 13-bit PCM digital recorder at a 47.25 kHz (47,250 time per second) sampling rate. The digital recording is sent to a 2" video tape.
Klass Compaan, a Dutch physicist comes up with the idea for the Compact Disc.

1970    At Philips, Compaan and Pete Kramer complete a glass disc prototype and determine that a laser will be needed to read the information.

1971    Microprocessor produced by Intel
Digital Delay line used by BBC's studios (first digital audio device).

1972    Compaan and Kramer produce color prototype of this new compact disc technology

1973    BBC and other broadcast companies start installing digital recorders for master recordings.

1977    Mitsubishi, Hitachi & Sony show digital audio disc prototypes at the Tokyo Audio Fair.
JVC Develops Digital Audio Process

1978    Philips releases the video disc player
Sony sells the PCM-1600 and PCM-1 (digital audio processors)
"Digital Audio Disc Convention" Held in Tokyo, Japan with 35 different manufacturers.
Philips proposes that a worldwide standard be set.
Polygram (division of Philips) determined that polycarbonate would be the best material for the CD.
Decision made for data on a CD to start on the inside and spiral towards the outer edge.
Disc diameter originally set at 115mm.
Type of laser selected for CD Players.

1979    Prototype CD System demonstrated in Europe and Japan.
Sony agrees to join in collaboration.
Sony & Philips compromise on the standard sampling rate of a CD -- 44.1 kHz (44,100 samples per second)
Philips accepts Sony's proposal for 16-bit audio.
Reed-Solomon code adopted after Sony's suggestion.
Maximum playing time decided to be slighty more that 74 minutes.
Disc diameter changed to 120mm to allow for 74 minutes of 16-bit stereo sound with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz

1980    Compact Disc standard proposed by Philips & Sony.

1981    Matsushita accepts Compact Disc Standard
Digital Audio Disc Committee also accepts Compact Disc Standard.
Sharp achieves production of semiconductor laser.
Philips & Sony collaboration ends.

1982    Sony & Philips both have product ready to go.
Compact Disc Technology is introduced to Europe and Japan in the fall.

1983    Compact Disc Technology is introduced in the United States in the spring
The Compact Disc Group formed to help market.
CD-ROM Protoypes shown to public
30,000 Players sold in the U.S.
800,000 CD's sold in the U.S.

1984    Second Generation & Car CD players introducted.
First Mass Replication Plant in the United States built.
Portable (i.e., Sony DiscMan) CD Players sold.