80GB SATA 2.5-Inch HDD From Toshiba

Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) introduced its first 80GB Serial-ATA (SATA) automotive-grade HDD, expanding its line of ruggedized and temperature-enhanced storage solutions for in-car navigation and infotainment applications.

The seventh-generation, automotive-grade HDD (model MK8057GSC) is Toshiba’s first to offer a SATA interface, complementing the company’s existing line of Parallel-ATA (PATA) products in 40GB, 60GB and 80GB capacities. Migration to the SATA interface enables automotive in-dash system designers to easily integrate with the latest automotive chip-set technologies. The SATA storage interface allows automotive systems designers to reduce signal-line complexity, while supporting faster top-end data transfer rates versus Parallel-ATA (PATA) based HDDs.

Toshiba also celebrates a key milestone of shipping more than nine million automotive-grade HDDs, highlighting the strong demand and accelerated adoption of disk-based storage solutions by the automotive industry worldwide. The company commands an 84 percent market share in the automotive HDD segment, according to research firm Techno Systems Research (TSR) Co., Ltd.

"Toshiba has been a pioneer in the automotive-grade HDD market since developing the first ruggedized 2.5-inch HDD able to withstand extreme operating temperatures and altitudes of the automotive environment," said Toshio Magome, senior director at Techno Systems Research Co., Ltd. "The introduction of SATA will play a pivotal role in delivering next-generation automotive infotainment applications and sophisticated navigation systems."

Toshiba’s leadership in commercializing automotive HDDs draws from more than 10 years of experience working with leading automotive manufacturers and systems providers to design cost-effective, high-capacity data storage solutions that deliver the extended operating specifications required for the automotive operating environment. Toshiba’s latest model features an operating altitude specification of 5,500 meters and supports an operating temperature range of -30 degrees to 85 degrees Celsius. The MK8057GSC also can withstand operational shock of 300G, providing a rugged and dependable storage solution for automobiles operating through extreme temperatures and terrain.

"Automotive system designers now have a state-of-the-art storage solution with high capacity and the latest interface technology to improve digital offerings in the car," said Scott Wright, automotive product manager at Toshiba SDD. "As the industry seeks increasing amounts of storage capacity and transitions to next-generation chip-sets for in-dash infotainment systems, SATA is emerging as the interface of choice for its ease of integration and robust performance. Combined with Toshiba’s know-how and commitment to working with leading automotive industry companies, our new SATA storage solution will help shape future innovations in automotive applications that enhance both the driving experience and driver safety."

Samples of Toshiba’s new 80GB SATA automotive-grade HDD are available to automotive OEMs and aftermarket suppliers, and volume production will begin in spring 2009.

Product Specifications

• Model no.: MK8057GSC
• Capacity: 80GB
• No. of platters: 1
• No. of heads: 2
• Average seek time: 16 msec
• Interface: Serial ATA (v 2.6)
• Interface transfer rate: 1.5Gb/s
• Rotational speed: 4,200 rpm
• External dimensions: 69.85mm x 100.0mm x 9.5mm
• Weight: 98g (max.)
• Energy consumption efficiency: 0.01 W/GB
• Temperature: Operating -30 degrees – +85 degrees C; Non-operating -40 degrees – +95 degrees C
• Altitude: Operating -300 – +5,500m; Non-operating -300 – +12,000m
• Vibration: Operating 29.4m/s, 3G (5-50Hz), 19.6m/s, 2G (50-500Hz); Non-operating  49m/s(2), 5G (10-500Hz)
• Shock: Operating 2,940m/s, 300G (2.0ms, 1/2 sine), 980m/s, 100G (11ms, 1/2 sine); Non-Operating 7,840m/s, 800G (1.0ms, 1/2 sine)