Sharp 2009 Annual Report Download - page 27

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Sharp has been working on a high-power blue-violet laser
diode to allow high-speed recording on multi-layer Blu-ray
Discs. Up until now, an obstacle to raising the power output
was that the tip of the diode that emits the laser light dete-
riorated at high power. We developed processing technol-
ogy that suppresses this deterioration, even at high power.
As a result, we have developed a laser with a pulsed-output
power of 500mW, twice the level of current lasers in mass
production. Our new laser also has outstanding durability
for stable operation over long periods of time. These fea-
tures make it possible to record four-layer Blu-ray Discs at
the 8X speed. We are
aiming to commercialize
the laser by improving the
reliability of the laser diode
and creating the technolo-
gies needed for mass
production.
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Sharp developed its own XMDF*1 electronic document
technology. XMDF allows
mobile phones and
e-dictionaries to use the
same content. In addition,
we operate a joint e-book
service with other compa-
nies. In February 2009, the
IEC*2 announced two new
standards (IEC 62448
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Sharp views its intellectual property strategy as one of its
key management measures, promoting it in a coherent
manner with business and R&D strategies. In order to
secure a competitive edge with one-of-a-kind products
and one-of-a-kind devices for stronger business founda-
tions, Sharp is aggressively promoting patent right obtain-
ment, while keeping certain technologies as “black-box.”
Sharp has clearly delineated the fields that are central to
each business group and has assigned engineers well-
versed in patent matters to each of these core business
areas to conduct strategic patent development close to the
frontline. Sharp also obtains useful patents arising from
alliance activities from collaboration with other companies
Edition 2.0 and IEC 62524) based on XMDF, a move that is
expected to increase the use of this format around the
world. With acceptance of XMDF growing, we plan to
develop more services and mobile terminals that utilize this
technology.
*1 XMDF (ever-eXtending Mobile Document Format): The name of Sharp’s
electronic document format and associated technologies.
*2 IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission): An international body that
creates international standards for the electrical and electronics fields.
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Ongoing R&D at Sharp for handwriting recognition technol-
ogy has achieved an accuracy level of more than 90%. Fur-
thermore, we have used our proprietary feature vector
extraction technology and multi-template method to over-
come challenges posed by differences in writing styles.
Sharp’s latest e-dictionary includes technology for recog-
nizing handwritten text in
Japanese, English, Chinese
and Korean. We will con-
tinue to upgrade recognition
accuracy while improving
user interface technologies
in order to make handwrit-
ten input even easier.
A prototype high-power blue-violet laser
diode
A mobile phone using XMDF to display an
e-document (a comic book)
DRAGONBALL© Bird Studio/Shueisha
The Sharp “Brain” e-dictionary with
handwriting recognition technology
or universities. As of March 31, 2009, Sharp had approxi-
mately 18,000 patents in Japan and 22,000 overseas.
Sharp utilizes these patents to strengthen its strategic
businesses. In addition, we take actions to protect our
patents, such as by examining the products of competitors.
At the same time, we exercise care concerning the intel-
lectual property of other companies. If we discover an
infringement on one of our patents, we issue a warning. In
certain cases, more aggressive action is taken, including
filing lawsuits. Sharp is also promoting obtainment of
design and trademark registrations based on its brand strat-
egy and aiming to increase the number of applications and
registrations globally.
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