If we look back in time, we will realize that most of us used CD-ROMs as a method of storing information for quite a long time. In today's times, CD-ROMs are no longer fashionable. Due to technological development, we now use Google Drive, USB sticks, or other data storage methods. But, if you didn't know, a Romanian scientist invented the Hyper CD-ROM.

Why is Eugene Pavel famous?
Dr. Phys. Eugen Pavel, from the Institute of Atomic Physics in Magurele, made a CD (Compact Disk), made of glass, with a 15000 times more storage capacity compared to a regular one.
In November 1999, his invention was awarded the gold medal at the "Brussels Europa" World Invention Fair. In the same year, the author wanted at any cost the serial production of this CD in Romania.
He graduated from the Faculty of Physics of the University of Bucharest in 1976 (Department of Solid State Physics), as head of promotion. In 1992 he obtained the title of Doctor in Condensed Matter Physics at the Institute of Atomic Physics, with the paper "The catalytic effect of metallic inclusions in synthetic diamond technology", and in 1997 he was nominated in "Who's Who in the World".
Over time, he has been awarded numerous prizes, such as the Romanian Academy Prize, in 1991, the gold medal at Eureka - 1999 (World Inventions Fair "Brussels-Europe"), the Prize of the World Periodical Press Organization, "Kent Premium Lights Annual Awards for Innovation", gold medal at the Salon of Inventions in Geneva 2004. He has over 40 scientific works published and presented at specialized conferences, 62 patents and applications for invention patents.
In 2000, the National Technical Museum awarded him the "Prof. Eng. Dimitrie Leonida", for outstanding achievements in the field of optical memory media. In 2000, the American company "Constellation 3D" announced the creation of a similar optical memory media, under the name "Fluorescent Multilayer Disc".
Why do we like Eugen Pavel?
He is the creator of the technology for manufacturing a special fluorescent and photosensitive glass. In 2004 he founded the company Storex Technologies where, together with 4 collaborators, they work on perfecting the registration system. He is known as the inventor of the Hyper CD-ROM, with a storage capacity of over 10000 Gigabytes.
Awards and patents in the USA, Canada and Israel followed. In November 1999, his invention was awarded the gold medal at the "Brussels Europa" World Invention Exhibition.

Regarding the Hyper CD-ROM technology, it has 4 patents:
- Photosensitive fluorescent materials with three-dimensional optical memory capacity;
- The writing/reading system adapted to the existing installations (confocal microscope);
- Memory technology;
- The multiplication process.
Company Storex Technologies carried out in-depth research activities in the field of photosensitive glass and ceramics. The researcher made disks the size of a CD-ROM, with a capacity that can exceed 1000000 GB (1 PB- petabyte), the technology uses low power lasers and optical elements currently on the market.
This type of glass can store three-dimensional information — including vertically. Hyper CD withstands 550 degrees Celsius, the lifespan is 5000 years. The optical system was taken over by Sony and applied to the system called Blu-Ray.
Technical features Hyper CD-ROM (Petabyte Optical Disc)
The disc has a height of 10 mm and a diameter of 120 mm and can be manufactured using current technology.
Disk storage capacity is over 10.000 gigabytes (Go), data storage is done on 10.000 different levels inside a glass disk.
Capacity: 10 To (terabytes), with the theoretical possibility of expansion to 100 To or 1 Po (petabyte);
Average transfer rate: 3Mo/s (can be increased);
Dimensions of the CD-ROM reader: 80x150x300mm;
CD-ROM dimensions: 10mm x ø120mm;
Temperature resistance: up to 550°C;
Very high reliability;
Duration of use: (approx 5.000 years).
sources:
https://z-upload.facebook.com/valorilenoastre/
https://ziarulnatiunea.ro/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper_CD-ROM
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-021-00581-y
https://www.researchgate.net/
Transfer rate too low. I don't think anyone wants to wait hours or days to transfer files. Plus, at the moment, the simplest and fastest way is to use flash memory (stick). Maybe the invention is useful someday, but not in its current form.
Appearing in the years '99 - 2000, it was important with a rather large impact. Today, indeed, the transfer rate is very low, but the storage medium can be used for long-term data archiving.
Everything that emerges from the research goes to the army and hi tech. After years, he arrives at home.
The thing is older, it hasn't really been put into practice. It has nothing to do with interests.
Yes, it was not really considered. It is curious that glass-based accumulators have also been developed since a few years ago 🙂
I have not read this article, but I have read others on this topic. It was developed out of a novel, so if it was feasible now we all had one in our computer..
A great invention that is not put into practice like others out of various interests.
In order for someone to produce, several things must happen. First and foremost, let it be possible. Then it should also be profitable. Many Romanian "inventions" fail in these 2 chapters. The car that works with water, the battery with gold and H2SO4, the car with compressed air and others that circulate on the net. And for those who haven't read the article, I'll tell you why it's not done. Pay attention here:
"Average transfer rate: 3MB/s (can be increased);"
With the extraordinary speed of 3MB/s, it can be read completely in approximately 404 days.
Don't you think it's enough to make it almost unusable?
There is magnetic tape with much superior properties and decent costs.
We are talking about the years '99 - 2000 here, but also about a support on which data was no longer stored until the invention. I would consider the reading/storage concept more than the special glass.
In those years, an ordinary CD read with 5-6 MB/sec. Double. There is a band even then.
And so? further, why is it not on the market?
The concept is on the market in the form of Blu-ray.
I know that a blu-ray has about 25-50 gb, depending on the model... can you tell me what I'm missing?
Well, I think you save the manufacturing costs for the reading units 🙂 the invented disc has a fairly noticeable height..
I think I'm not missing anything. Sony only "took over" the idea of "printing" three-dimensional information, but it was limited to only two faces, which in principle is completely different. Blu-ray uses a laser with a shorter wavelength, which gives the possibility of making smaller "holes" on the disc and implicitly results in a higher data density, which again is different from the author's idea. And last but not least, show me a link showing that the blu-ray is based on the idea of the novel? I say that if he sold the idea to Sony... very well, but they just removed a potential competitor from the market.
The technique among 3D, was most likely taken over from the Romanian inventor. He didn't just win a gold medal for nothing, did he? Regarding the link, no information can be found on the internet. I suppose it was most likely a verbal agreement.
Dad, don't worry, printing on two faces is not 3D! and if you verbally gave an invention patent to someone who made billions from it, you are either stupid or retarded and I think that is not the case.
Look, this was used for writing and reading – https://www.thorlabs.com/navigation.cfm?guide_id=2190 – Blu-ray uses almost the same method 🙂
confocal-microscope-functionality
You didn't convince me, although you have some arguments. I am referring first of all to the colossal capacity mentioned in the article. If the novel is the basis of the blu-ray, fine. But I think not.
Look, if you don't believe it, read more here – https://hackaday.com/2016/06/18/hackaday-prize-entry-microscopy-with-blu-ray/
Not only the capacity is relevant, although even by today's standards it is very high (somewhere around 10 TB), but also the access times. In vain I have the disk of 10 Terra, if I wait 2 seconds until it manages to find a file.
Correct, but here we are talking about the years '99-2000. However, I would consider the reading / storage mechanism more.
Indeed, one aspect I did not think about: reliability. High speeds, relatively heavy disc, so high wear in a relatively short time.
In the end, it seems to me that things are different. If it's a Romanian invention, it's a shame that it's not recognized, if something was stolen... that's it, it's been stolen since the beginning of time, and if something was sold, even in part, it's just as well!
It was something in its time. I really wondered why it wasn't adopted, if it worked. 100TB is serious capacity, no joke. Then I saw the Achilles heel: the write speed 3 MB / second. 5000(!) hours to fill the disk with data….
Like technology... it's ok. Writing speed.. 👎. IT IS NOT PRACTICAL nowadays.
Another legend like Ceaușescu's laser!
Yup. Romanians like to complain about how they are treated wrongly. This was not even at the prototype stage. One can patent his dreams as long as he pays and there is no other dream that says the same things.
An invention before its time, as was H Coandă's engine/plane. It will be mass produced when the writing/reading technology will evolve to the level of the invention.
Sure, there are occult interests behind says the know nothing about how the world works.
The idea is rather dumb. Using fluorescent materials in the real world is like putting a magnetic tape inside a magnet. While magnets have a very short range of action, light goes through many layers, and erases or adds information. No wonder no one even considered it as a valid option, apart from the author who didn't have a solid grasp of how materials behave.
Capacity: 1 PB (with possibility of extension up to 100 EB)
Medium transfer rate: 300 Mbit/s (may be more)
Hard drive dimensions: 80 x 150 x 300 mm
Disk dimensions: 1.2 mm ø 120 mm
Temperature resistance: up to 550 °C
High reliability
Maximum usage period: 5 years
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper_CD-ROM
In the year 2023, such an information storage medium is hilarious... anyway, it's the work of a "profession inventor", Mr. "doctor" has no idea that 1MB=1024KB, the little man thought it had 1000KB... so, clear.
Why do you appreciate Eugen Pavel?