The battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD to control the high-definition DVD market could be solved by a laser that can read the two competing formats.

According to reports in the Japanese press, Ricoh is developing a system that uses a single component to read both kinds of discs. 

HD-DVD discs and regular DVDs hold data 0.6mm from the surface of the disc, while Blu-ray discs must be read at 0.1mm from the surface.

Ricoh's optical laser technology uses a "diffraction grate" to read the discs at the correct level.

However, the technology will initially be used only in high-definition DVD players because the process decreases the intensity of the beam. To counterbalance this effect, the devices will use higher powered lasers.

The technology will be on show for the first time at Tokyo's International Optoelectronics Exhibition on Wednesday. 

According to Ricoh, the optical laser will be ready for use in devices by the end of the year and will be offered to OEM companies at that time.