Canon 2013 Annual Report Download - page 27

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25
cemented Canon’s high status in the field of intellectual
property. In 2013, Canon was granted 3,817 patents in the
United States, ranking it third in the world and the top-
ranked Japanese company for a ninth consecutive year.
Reinforcing Core Technologies
Canon is concentrating efforts on pre-competitive fields,
involving research that can take more than ten years. At
the same time, the Company is continually bolstering
activities centered on key parts and key devices in order
to enhance the competitiveness of its products. In 2013,
Canon successfully developed a high-sensitivity 35 mm
full-frame CMOS sensor exclusively for Full HD video cap-
ture. The current limit for recording video of astral bodies
with a commonly used electron-multiplying CCD sensor is
magnitude-6 stars (equivalent to the visual capabilities of
the naked eye). By comparison, the high-sensitivity CMOS
sensor was able to capture video images of faint stars with
magnitudes of 8.5 and higher.* In addition to astronomi-
cal and natural observation, Canon is looking into apply-
ing this CMOS sensor to medical research purposes as well
as surveillance and crime-prevention equipment. Through
the further development of innovative CMOS sensors,
Canon aims to expand the realm of photographic possibili-
ties while cultivating the world of visual expression.
* The brightness of a star decreases 2.5-times with each numerical
increase in magnitude.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Canon has integrated high-precision machine vision
technology with information technology to develop
intelligent robots that think and act on their own
accord. This is one of many areas in which Canon has
applied these technologies.
Canon built a super high-sensitivity, 35 mm full-frame
CMOS sensor prototype that can capture images of
things not visible to the naked eye and has demonstrated
its capability in exceptionally low-brightness shooting.
Medical and Industrial Equipment
Canon is working to establish two new business pillars:
medical equipment and industrial equipment.
In medical devices, for some years Canon has been
involved in the “CK Project” in collaboration with Kyoto
University. Under the project, two of our technologies are
currently at the clinical evaluation stage. One relates to a
photoacoustic mammography device capable of diagnosing
breast cancer more accurately than before, with minimal
bodily impact during examination. The other relates to adap-
tive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AO-SLO), which
contributes to the examination of the retina at the cellular
level and the early detection of lifestyle-related diseases.
Furthermore, Canon is developing DNA diagnostic sys-
tems using Canon’s unique technologies, including our
expertise in CMOS sensor and inkjet methodologies, at
our U.S. R&D Center. We aim to start the production from
2015 at Canon Virginia. If realized, the equipment will be
the first Canon product born in the U.S.
In the industrial equipment field, Canon is working to
develop intelligent robots and other systems through cutting-
edge application technologies by integrating high-precision
machine vision technology with information technology
that operates as the brains of robotic systems. Canon is pro-
ceeding with R&D of these application technologies with
a view to use them beyond intelligent robots in fields like
risk prediction and the support and care of senior citizens.