Konica Minolta 2005 Annual Report Download - page 23

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21
the other hand, the market for recordable DVDs is expanding rapidly. In addition, the
Group foresees new market growth for next generation optical pickup lenses. As the
barriers to market entry in this segment are high, Konica Minolta intends to establish
the leading market share in this segment based on its technological strengths.
In the LCD-use TAC film market, the Group foresees continued growth in demand
being driven by growing diffusion of LCD panels for televisions and personal
computers, and is emphasizing development and sales of higher value-added
products.
Competition is intensifying for micro lens units and microcamera modules with
the entry into the low image quality segment by Taiwanese and other overseas
producers. This notwithstanding, the Group believes it can continue to maintain high
market shares in Japan in the high image quality segment and aims to further expand
its market share through sales in growing overseas markets. This is because the
Group believes that micro lens units and microcamera modules still have good
growth potential, and it foresees a growing shift to higher image quality and higher
value-added. The key to higher value-added is the application of proprietary
technologies in creating additional features such as zoom and auto-focus supported
by proprietary micro actuator technology, where the Group intends to fully leverage
its competitive strengths.
The glass hard disk drive substrate market continues to show strong growth, and
the Group is therefore continuing to expand production capacity.
TECHNOLOGICAL STRENGTH IN HIGH VALUE-ADDED LCD-USE TAC FILM
LCD protective film for polarizing plate demand continues to expand with the
diffusion of LCD panels for televisions and monitors and the shift to larger screen
sizes. Given such promising market conditions, Konica Minolta is actively conducting
research and development leveraging its accumulated know-how in materials and
film technologies. With the shift to larger and brighter displays, the level of quality
demanded by users continues to rise. By making film thinner and adding the
retardation function, the Group intends to meet such user demands while at the same
time establishing superior competitiveness.
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
In pickup lenses, the Group has high expectations for next generation technologies.
Development of high precision lenses as well as optical elements is already
completed, and the Group is pursuing further development as it works to achieve
even more sophisticated solutions. As the market for projection televisions continues
to expand mainly in the United States, Konica Minolta is pursuing the development of
a revolutionary mirror optical unit that can provide both thinner projection units and
clearer pictures. In addition, development is under way on 0.85-inch glass hard disk
drive substrates in response to the continued growth in ever more compact mobile
equipment related applications.
DSC/Mobile Lenses
LCD Materials
Share of Sales by Product
(Fiscal year ended March 2005)
Optical
Pickup LensesOther
Glass hard disk
drive substrates
Optics
Back light
Composition of
Liquid Crystal Panel
1. Polarizing plate
2. Glass plate
3. Color filter electrode
4. LCD
5. TFT/Electrode
6. Glass plate
7. Polarizing plate
1
2
3
4
7
5
6
TAC film
Polyvinyl-alcohol polarizing element
Retardation film/TAC film
4 sheets of TAC film are required
per 1 LCD display
Color filter electrode