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Annual Report 2008 15
dye BD-R discs. As a result, a multitude of media
manufacturers are now expected to enter this
field with the view to achieving full-scale con-
sumer uptake of BD-R discs going forward.
Also in collaboration with Mitsubishi Kagaku
Media, Pioneer has successfully developed a
commercial-grade BD-R disc with a metal nitride
recording layer. Because this recording layer has
high information storage stability and low suscep-
tibility to power fluctuations and dispersion in the
drive’s recording laser, one advantage is that it
facilitates the development of discs with faster
data write speeds. Separately, because this
recording layer is a proprietary Pioneer technology,
we plan to license the use of this technology’s
basic patents to media manufacturers, with the
aim of playing a part in the development of BD-R
discs with outstanding recording performance.
Image Recognition Car Navigation
System
Recently, the automotive industry has been
equipping vehicles with rear-view and other video
cameras that monitor vehicle surroundings. In
response, Pioneer is conducting R&D focused on
new car navigation systems that combine tech-
nologies for analyzing images from these vehicle
cameras with navigation functions.
Pioneer exhibited an image recognition car
navigation system applying image analysis tech-
nologies that was well received at CEATEC
JAPAN* 2007 in October 2007. The system has
three primary functions: “Real View Navigation”
provides real-time video-based driving guidance
by recognizing traffic lights, road lines, signs and
other cues from a forward video camera; “Around
Monitor Navigation” warns the driver of dangers
by analyzing the movements of the driver’s
vehicle and adjacent traffic; and “Roadscape
Navigation” recognizes road scenery, and
suggests alternate routes when similar scenery
has continued along the current route. Based on
these three functions, the system provides greater
navigation convenience, enhanced driving safety
and new ways of enjoying driving.
Building on these and other technologies,
Pioneer aims to quickly commercialize automo-
tive devices that incorporate image-processing
technologies.
Real View Navigation screen-shot
* One of the largest international exhibitions in Asia featuring imaging, information and communications
R&D in next-generation optical discs