Canon 2004 Annual Report Download - page 27

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25
Canon has created “FINE: Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle
Engineering,” which offers a rich repertoire of capabilities for
picture-perfect results. Achieving this level of quality required
each individual dot to be printed at a smaller size and with
greater accuracy. However, as the ink droplets become
smaller, variations in droplet size and dot placement have an
adverse effect on overall image quality. FINE is based on new
concepts for the ink ejection mechanism and an innovative
manufacturing technology for the nozzles. Born of advanced
semiconductor manufacturing technology, FINE print heads
have an array of 6,144 nozzles, or 23 per millimeter in our
iP8500. Each of the nozzles in this unit can eject a maximum
of 24,000 ink droplets of only
two picoliters each per second.
Moreover, our PIXMA iP5000 is
capable of ejecting ink droplets
of only one picoliter. Using these
advanced Canon inkjet printers,
the droplets hit the paper with a
high degree of accuracy and
achieve both high levels of image
quality and speed.
Fiscal 2004 Review
In fiscal 2004, the spread of digital
cameras and heightened print
quality fueled the steady spread of
a “home-printing” culture, where
people enjoy making digital photo-
graphs using their own peripherals.
Although the inkjet printer market
on the whole has recently shown
only modest growth, Canon is
further developing its lineup of
single function and multifunction
models with FINE printing heads and PictBridge direct-printing
compatibility. Canon’s PIXMA series of advanced-design,
box-type printers, which were introduced in fall 2004, won
praise for their exceptional functionality, including dual-path
paper feeding and built-in automatic duplexing for double-
sided printing.
In the laser beam printer (LBP) area, we experienced explosive
sales growth in low-priced monochrome units that led to a
temporary shortage of units. Along with increases in demand in
growing markets, we reported major expansion overall in our
monochrome units because of their
superior energy-saving properties, fast
printing speeds, and reliability. In the
color LBP area, our printers are well
received because of our original
energy-saving technologies.
In 2004, to expand demand, we added new models to provide
a full lineup and introduced low-priced machines. As a result, unit
sales doubled from the previous year. In addition, sales of cartridges
for both monochrome and color printers showed steady growth.
The market for flatbed scanners is contracting because of
the shift in demand in major countries toward multifunction
printers. In response to this shift, we have introduced a high-speed,
high-resolution scanner and a slim-type scanner incorporating
Canon’s original contact image
sensor. We are expanding our market
share in countries around the world,
especially in Europe.
1,050,329
1,047,385
1,055,956
1,089,312
1,149,914
Sales Results:
Computer Peripherals
(Millions of yen)
00 01 02 03 04
0
1,150,000
Our Future Growth Engine:
FINE
PIXMA iP4000
LBP-5200
CanonScan 9950F
Conventional Bubble Jet
printing technology
“FINE” technology