Epson 2016 Annual Report Download - page 30

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4. Research and development activities
Epson conducts research and development to create products and services that offer value that exceeds customer
expectations. We seek to create value by driving advances in Micro Piezo inkjet technology, microdisplays,
sensing, and robotics, all of which are unique core technologies that evolved from the efficient, compact, and
precision technologies that have become embedded in Epson’s DNA. Further value is added by developing
technology platforms that meet the needs of a wide spectrum of customers.
The R&D organizations in our operations divisions follow these basic guidelines to develop core technologies
and shared technology platforms that will strengthen Epson’s market position, in both the near and long term.
Meanwhile, the mission of Corporate R&D is to develop new and existing core technologies as well as shared
technology platforms so as to create new businesses and revolutionize existing ones.
Total R&D spending during the fiscal year was ¥53.1 billion. The printing solutions segment accounted for
¥22.1 billion, the visual communications segment for ¥10.2 billion, and the wearable and industrial products
segment for ¥6.5 billion. The “other” segment and corporate segment accounted for the remaining ¥14.1 billion.
The main R&D accomplishments in each segment are described below.
Printing solutions segment
The printer business launched as its flagship consumer inkjet printer model an A3 all-in-one that produces
stunning color and monochrome photographic prints thanks to Epson ClearChrome K2 ink, a new six-color dye
ink set that has red and grey ink in addition to the standard cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors. This
product is Epson’s first consumer printer to come fully equipped with the Logical Color Conversion System
(LCCS), color-generating technology that is used in Epson’s Proselection series. LCCS realizes smooth
gradations, a wide color gamut, and stable image quality.
Epson also launched its fastest-ever A4 business inkjet printer, a model that also boasts a durability rating of
300,000 pages. This product eliminates the stress of waiting for your prints. Its PrecisionCore printhead
achieves speeds of approximately 24 images per minute (ipm)1 in both color and monochrome (compared to a
high of 20 ipm for the PX-M840F business inkjet printer). And, with only a short warm-up period needed, first
print time for both color and monochrome prints is only about seven seconds.
In the professional printing business, Epson launched new large-format inkjet printers, including a 10-color
pigment ink model equipped with UltraChrome HDX ink and an 8-color pigment ink model equipped with
UltraChrome HD ink. These printers produce denser blacks because Epson used new ink technology to increase
the volume of pigment particles in the photo black ink by about 50% compared to earlier ink2. As a result, they
are an excellent choice for high-end print applications, such as photos, posters, and proofs.
1 Images per minute (ipm) indicates the number of images that can be printed under the conditions for the
office category of the printing productivity measurement standard established by the International
Standards Organization.
2 As measured in tests conducted by Epson
Visual communications segment
Epson developed a new lineup of 3LCD projectors for business. The models in this lineup range from products
that offer 6,000 lumens3 of brightness to a series of laser projectors that deliver 25,000 lumens of brightness,
making them the brightest projectors on the market4. These laser projectors are the first LCD projectors on the
market to combine an inorganic phosphor wheel and inorganic LCD panels with a laser light source. The
superior reliability of the inorganic materials results in up to 20,000 hours5 of virtually maintenance-free use.
Epson also developed a sleek new third generation of Moverio smart glasses. These smart glasses are the first in
the Moverio series to use an optical engine with Epson’s 0.43-inch ultra-compact high-definition color silicon
organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, and the 100,000:1 contrast enables them to seamlessly merge the
projected digital content with the real world better than the previous generation, which had a contrast ratio of
230:1. In addition, Epson optimized the OLED displays specifically for smart glasses, reducing the size of the
optical lenses and making Moverio lighter than ever. In fact, the headset itself is 20% lighter than that of the
previous model.
Epson also launched sales of a smart headset with advanced features for professional use. The smart headset
was developed by using Moverio smart glasses in joint real-world tests in a variety of fields, suggesting ways
that smart glasses could help improve work processes, and sharing information about needs identified through
these activities with the development team. Binocular, see-through Moverio smart headsets drive greater