Panasonic 2008 Annual Report Download - page 43

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
48,061 47,166 46,040 44,137
40,785
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
48,061 47,166 46,040 44,137
40,785
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
54,240
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
38,358
43,660
48,444
52,835
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
54,240
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
38,358
43,660
48,444
52,835
new research facility in Vietnam, while also strengthening the
development of products such as refrigerators and air condi-
tioners that are more adapted to local conditions in terms of
food, clothing and housing in China and other countries.
Meanwhile, we are working to prioritize R&D projects
based on a medium- to long-term vision, so as to optimally
allocate technology resources. At the same time, the
Company has accelerated development by promoting
active “open innovation” via measures like collaboration with
academic institutions.
Matsushita will maintain its focus on a number of key
R&D areas in fiscal 2009, including higher-resolution PDPs
that use less electricity; development for commercializing
next-generation mobile phones; network-compatible digital
TVs and other networkable products; fuel cell cogeneration
systems for energy creation; and robots designed to pro-
vide support in everyday situations for the benefit of
people. Matsushita will also pursue new possibilities in
domains including networks, the environment and energy,
health, and components and devices in order to ensure
sustainable growth.
*1 Compared to Matsushita’s former model (TH-42PZ750SK)
*2 As of January 8, 2008; Matsushita estimate.
Intellectual Property Strategy
The new technologies and designs that result from R&D
activities are protected as intellectual property rights in the
form of utility and design patent rights. The brand, the face
of the Company and its products, is also protected by
trademark rights. By securing legal protection for products
and businesses, intellectual property rights form a founda-
tion for corporate growth.
The Matsushita Group is a general electronics manufac-
turer involved in a wide range of fields from digital AV equip-
ment and information and communication equipment to
household appliances and devices. As such, it has a diverse
lineup of technologies and products. Matsushita has there-
fore positioned “intellectual property portfolio management”
as a fundamental strategy, one that is formed through
detailed analysis based on the groups of core technologies
and products, to efficiently acquire high-quality intellectual
property rights in each group, and maximize their use. By
protecting unique technologies and designs as intellectual
property rights, Matsushita secures a competitive advan-
tage for its products. Moreover, broadening the range of
freedom for the Company’s own R&D activities through
Longer recording time in high resolution for full HD images is
highly desired by consumers. The key to achieving this lies in
image compression technology. This means we must develop
not only superior techniques to compress and decompress
image data, but also new semiconductor hardware to compress
and decompress the image data quickly and beautifully.
Panasonic Singapore Laboratories has a group of specialists
who develop image-processing technologies that play a vital
role in semiconductor advances. We were involved in developing
the standards for the next-generation MPEG-4 AVC image
compression format used around the world, and we have also
worked to develop the semiconductors capable of realizing this
format’s potential.
The most important aspect of image compression is the
ability to analyze images. Applying the same compression to all
image data sacrifices image quality—so we collaborated with
divisions in Japan to develop unique technology that compresses
images according to image characteristics such as the speed at
which the background moves.
To develop the semiconductor hardware, we enhanced our
semiconductor computing power and created a design that would
decompress the data in a rapid and energy-efficient manner.
The fruits of our efforts can be found in the semiconductors
used in the BD recorder DIGA, which offers HD image recording
time that is approximately four times longer than that of previ-
ous models.*
* During recording in HE mode (approx. 5.7Mbps); Compared to recording of
BS digital HD broadcasts in DR mode (approx. 24Mbps).
Michael Bi Mi (Left)
Leader, Development Team for Semi-
conductor Image Compression Circuits
Panasonic Singapore Laboratories Pte. Ltd.
Lim Chong Soon (Right)
Leader, Development Team for MPEG-4
AVC Image Compression Format
Panasonic Singapore Laboratories Pte. Ltd.
Matsushita Develops Semiconductors That Allow
Longer Recording Times for Full HD Images
Global Patents Held
Note: Each graph depicts the number of patents held by Matsushita and its
principal subsidiaries (excluding MEW, PanaHome and JVC) as of
March 31 for each year.
Number of patents held in Japan Number of patents held overseas
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 2008 41