C O N T E N T S

Digital Imaging Technologies

Laser Beam Printers 6

Network Digital Multifunction Products (imageRUNNER (iR) Series) 10

Color Network Digital Multifunction Products (iR C Series) 12

High-Speed Full-Color Copying Machines (CLC Series) 14

Bubble Jet Printers 16

Displays 21

Digital Cameras 22

Digital SLR Cameras 24

35mm SLR Cameras 26

Digital Video Camcorders 28

Flatbed Image Scanners 30

Ultraprecision Equipment 32

Optical Equipment 35

Software 36

Devices 45

Production Technologies 48

Next-Generation Technologies 51

Environmental Technologies 52

Index 57
Technology––
Canon’s Driving Force
Since our start in 1937, when our dream was to create a
high-quality camera, we have continued to cross new
technological frontiers. Our emphasis on quality and origi-
nal technologies has earned the trust of customers
around the world.

Canon’s technological strengths did not stop with cam-

eras, but have expanded into business machines such as
copying machines and printers, and even devices and
environmental technologies. Today, we are making
advances in network imaging, a field that we are deter-
mined to lead through the ongoing development of pio-
neering technologies.

1
 Canon’s Continuing Pursuit of
The Foundations of Our Proprietary
Technologies
Canon began with the dream of becoming the world’s
top camera manufacturer. The Hansa Canon, released
in 1936, was the first 35mm focal-plane shutter camera
developed and manufactured in Japan. Since then, we
have continued winning the loyalty of photographers,
from amateurs to professionals, by introducing cameras
with such technological innovations as automatic expo-
sure, autofocus, optical image stabilization and eye-
control autofocus.
Our expertise in optical technologies does not stop
at conventional silver-halide camera technologies. Our
TV broadcasting lenses, widely recognized for their
unparalleled performance, have enabled us to maintain
a large share of the broadcast lens market. Canon tech-
nologies are also seen in diverse medical fields. Our X-
ray cameras, for example, operate in many hospitals
and clinics.
Semiconductor production equipment is another
important business in which we have applied our opti-
cal technologies. High-density chips made using this
equipment are incorporated in Canon products as well
as a wide array of information equipment on the mar-
ket today.
2
Developments in Digital Imaging
Canon entered the business machines industry in the
1960s, and went on to achieve world-class status for its
technological innovations. Our goal has been to
become a leader in network imaging through our pio-
neering digital imaging technologies.
In 1968, after working for several years to commer-
cialize a plain-paper copying machine, the fruits of our
efforts could be seen in the revolutionary NP system. By
linking the NP system with a laser, we also created the
laser beam printer. In the years following, we further
perfected our electrophotography technologies, intro-
ducing such advances as color copying machines. We
also applied ourselves to digitizing and networking our
products, and creating products with multiple func-
tions. Thanks to these endeavors, we have launched
full-color copying machines in the CLC-series, the
imageRUNNER (iR) series of network digital multifunc-
tion products and other sophisticated information
equipment meeting the needs of the modern office.
In the digital age, Canon’s mission is to pioneer
information technologies that revolutionize our work-
styles and lifestyles, encompassing text, voice and
image data.
Innovation
Displaying Technological Diversity
Our digital imaging equipment incorporates a variety of
innovative technologies. Canon toners, inks and paper
products adopt our chemical technologies, while
image-processing methods draw on our software tech-
nologies, and control devices accurate to the nanome-
ter level use our ultraprecision technologies. Proprietary
production technologies, which allow us to market
high-quality products at reasonable prices, are also a
vital element in the Canon technology mix.
Bubble Jet printers are the result of a technological
innovation arising from our pursuit of technology
advances. We have perfected this groundbreaking tech-
nology to the point that Bubble Jet printers can output
photo-quality images comparable with conventional sil-
ver-halide photographs. Not satisfied with the results to
date, we continue to push forward in our quest to pro-
vide the ultimate in image quality.
In recent years, we have focused on developing and
manufacturing key components for our products in-
house, including optical elements, image sensors, print
heads and system LSI chips for our digital imaging
equipment, as well as developing software and algo-
rithms. These and other technologies ensure that
Canon always remains ahead of the competition.
Responding to Networking and
Environmental Needs
The advent of networks has propelled digital imaging
into a new realm. Users now demand even greater con-
venience, innovation and just plain fun through net-
work connectivity. As a result, stand-alone products are
increasingly being linked via networks to create new
value.
Two elements vital to the networked imaging move-
ment are innovative technologies and the rapid estab-
lishment of global standards. At Canon, we are actively
developing new products featuring proprietary tech-
nologies and functions based on such standards.
We are also working from both the technological
and business standpoints to provide the value users
demand in all-encompassing packages. To accomplish
this, we are collaborating with business partners in a
variety of fields.
Canon is also committed to developing environmen-
tal technologies with applications throughout our prod-
uct lines. Our goal is not only to reduce, but to elimi-
nate the burden of our products throughout their life-
cycles. One way in which we do this is by promoting
energy conservation and the minimization of waste
from our production processes.
3
Our Global R&D Network Leverages Regional Strengths
Canon’s emphasis on technological development is illustrat-
ed by its annual research and development investment, an
amount equivalent to at least 10 percent of the net sales of
Canon Inc. These allow us to maintain our technology lead-
ership by working now on products for 10 years in the
future.
The global nature of our operations also allows us to
synergize fundamental research and product development,
in addition to sales and marketing activities. Canon’s corpo-
rate philosophy of kyosei, living and working together for
the common good, is one of the driving forces behind the
●CSL
● CRE
●CRF PeCan●
ISDC
●
Overseas R&D bases
•Canon Development Americas, Inc. (CDA)
•Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd. (CRE)
•Canon Research Centre France S.A.S. (CRF)
•Canon Information Systems Research Australia Pty. Ltd. (CiSRA)
•Criterion Software Ltd. (CSL)
•Canon India Software Development Center (ISDC)
•Canon Information Technologies Philippines, Inc. (ci-tech)
•Beijing PeCan Information System Co., Ltd. (PeCan)
4
globalization of our activities. To keep the innovations com-
ing, our R&D organizations often conduct research in collab-
oration with educational and research institutions world-
wide. The results of these projects are shared throughout
the Canon Group, and many develop into global collabora-
tions.
Multinational corporations must be able to respond to
divergent needs in individual regions through localized oper-
ations, from R&D and production through sales. Guided by
Canon’s Excellent Global Corporation Plan, we are making
steady progress toward this objective.
●R&D Headquarters
●CDA
ci-tech
●
R&D organizations in Japan
•Technology Management Headquarters
•Core Technology Development Headquarters
•Device Technology Development Headquarters
•Platform Technology Development Headquarters
•Display Development Headquarters
•Ecology Research & Development Center
•Development centers in product operations
•Image Communication Products Operations
•Office Imaging Products Operations
●CiSRA •Peripheral Products Operations
•Inkjet Products Operations
•Chemical Products Operations
•Optical Products Operations
Our Future Direction

One measurement of a company’s R&D capabilities is the
number of U.S. patents it acquires. Canon’s worldwide repu-
tation as a technology leader is demonstrated by its contin-
ued presence in the top five companies awarded U.S.
patents each year (see chart below).
We continue to fortify the foundations laid through our
operations and are strengthening our Three Regional
Headquarters System. Each of our regional headquarters will
further pursue global diversification by fostering the exper-
tise of Canon engineers and promoting the exchange of
personnel across regions, thus advancing our businesses on
a global scale.
At Canon, we believe that this approach to global opera-
tions will help evolve digital imaging technologies as open-
standard networked environments proliferate and demand
grows for advances that promote equipment connectivity
and ease of use. Our proven expertise in these technologies
should enable us to make crucial contributions for years to
come.

Top Five Corporations Receiving U.S. Patents

(1995–2002)
Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

1995 1996
1 IBM 1,383 1 IBM 1,867
2 Canon 1,087 2 Canon 1,541
3 Motorola 1,012 3 Motorola 1,064
4 NEC 1,005 4 NEC 1,043
5 Mitsubishi Electric 973 5 Hitachi 963
1997 1998
1 IBM 1,724 1 IBM 2,657
2 Canon 1,381 2 Canon 1,928
3 NEC 1,095 3 NEC 1,627
4 Motorola 1,058 4 Motorola 1,406
5 Fujitsu 903 5 Sony 1,316
1999 2000
1 IBM 2,756 1 IBM 2,886
2 NEC 1,842 2 NEC 2,021
3 Canon 1,795 3 Canon 1,890
4 Samsung Electronics 1,545 4 Samsung Electronics 1,441
5 Sony 1,410 5 Lucent Technologies 1,411

2001 2002
1 IBM 3,411 1 IBM 3,288
2 NEC 1,953 2 Canon 1,893
3 Canon 1,877 3 Micron Technology 1,833
4 Micron Technology 1,643 4 NEC 1,821
5 Samsung Electronics 1,450 5 Hitachi 1,602

5
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Laser Beam Printers

Through its ongoing development of technologies for image quality, speed, operability, network con-
nectivity, expandability, printing solutions and color output, Canon continues to lead the laser beam
printer industry. Our laser beam printers continue to prove their effectiveness in offices around the
world, which is why so many users have selected Canon as their output peripheral partner.

HOW CANON LASER BEAM PRINTERS WORK

Laser beams cause static discharge when applied to an electrostatically
charged photosensitive drum. Toner is affixed to the affected area of the
drum, and then transferred to paper.

[Color Laser Beam Printer]

Optical System

IH Fusing Laser Transmitter Unit

Paper Transfer Belt System

Polygon
Mirror

Electrical
Charging Roller

Photosensitive
Drum

Developing
Cylinder

6
 Digital Imaging Technologies

[Monochrome Laser Beam Printer]

Reflecting Mirrors
Optical System Reflect laser beams in the direction of the
Focuses a laser beam onto photosensitive drum
the photosensitive drum Toner
Ink made of magnetized particles
Laser Transmitter Unit
Emits the laser beams Developing Cylinder
Supplies toner to the photosensi-
tive drum; contains a magnet
Polygon Mirror that attracts and distributes toner
Comprising four to six surfaces, evenly on the surface of the cylin-
horizontally reflects laser beams der for transfer to the photosen-
while rotating at a speed of sitive drum
20,000 to 30,000 rpm

Fixing Film
Fixes toner onto paper using
pressure and heat of from
150 to 200ºC
Paper Transfer
Roller
Draws paper from
Electrical Charging the paper tray
Roller
Negatively charges the surface of
the photosensitive drum

Photosensitive Drum
Optical semiconductor drum with a surface that
alters electrostatic resistance through the applica-
tion of light
Laser Beams

Transfer Roller
Positively charges the back of paper and transfers
toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum
to the paper

Fixing Film

Developing Cylinder
Pressure Roller
Photosensitive Drum
Electrical Charging Roller Transfer Roller

Printing Process

➀ Electrical ➁ Exposure ➂ Developing ➃ Transferring ➄ Fixing

Charging
The surface of the photosen-
sitive drum is negatively
charged with about 700V
Laser beams scan the surface
of the photosensitive drum
to “draw” letters and
images by discharging static
electricity
Negatively charged toner
affixes to the areas of the
photosensitive drum on
which negative static elec-
tricity has been discharged
After paper is affixed to the Heat and pressure are
photosensitive drum, a posi- applied to firmly fix the toner
tive charge is applied to to the paper
attract toner

7
 Digital Imaging Technologies
Four-Color Vertical In-Line Engine
A Totally New Concept Advances Full-Color Printing
In Canon’s proprietary, world’s first Four-Color
Vertical In-Line Engine, the four color toner car-
tridges (one each for CYMK) are positioned verti-
cally, achieving full-color printing along the short-
est possible route within the printer. In addition,
when the toner runs out users need only change
the toner cartridge for that color, and maintenance
is greatly simplified. With toner cartridges, the
heart of image formation in the printer, fixed in
place, the problem of color mis-registration, an
issue in many color laser beam printers, is
removed. Another strong feature is a faster first-
printout time, made possible by the short paper
path.
The main technological difficulty Canon faced
in developing the Four-Color Vertical In-Line
Engine was the fact that the paper needed to trav-
el upward against the force of gravity, so the
paper’s own weight would not help the paper
movement. Canon applied speed-control technol-
ogy in the areas of the unit where paper is fed
from the paper-supply unit to the transfer belt and
fixing unit, and also worked with loop-control
technologies to smoothly feed the paper through
the printer. At the same time, our engineers
sought to ensure optimal paper positioning for
each of the four colors.
Also present was the concern that, by vertical-
ly positioning the image-formation unit of the
device, including the toner cartridges, overall print-
er height might have to be increased. To avoid this
issue, Canon developed thin toner cartridges,
made the fixing unit more compact using its Color
Color IH Fusing Technology
Radically Reducing Warm-up Time
Canon’s Color IH (induction heating) Fusing tech-
nology, another world’s first, is a next-generation
fixing technology that greatly reduces the warm-
up time of laser beam printers. Induction heating
is used in a variety of home appliances. In our
color laser beam printers, it replaces conventional
fixing rollers.
In this system, an IH sleeve is used, consisting
of a thin metallic film and a rubber layer, with a
coil installed inside. When high-frequency electric
current runs through this coil, heat is generated in
the thin metallic film. This sleeve, which comes
into contact with the toner on the paper, rapidly
relays heat, achieving one-tenth the warm-up time
of conventional color laser printers (in-house com-
parison). The low heat capacity IH sleeve also
reduces energy consumption during regular opera-
tion by about 70% (in-house comparison) com-
pared with the existing color roller-fixing method.
Because the IH sleeve is metallic, ensuring its
durability was an issue during development. The
thin metallic sleeve uses a high-frequency magnet-
ic field to generate heat internally, which would
alter its property. When rotated during operation,
the part of the sleeve that comes into contact with
8
IH Fusing Technology, and also created a multi-
sheet supply tray inside the paper cassette to mini-
mize the height of the paper-feeding cassette.
The Four-Color Vertical In-Line Engine struc-
ture significantly reduces printer noise and space
requirements. Because the heat-generating fixing
unit is located at the top of the printer, heat can
escape without running a cooling fan at high
speed. A smaller fan can be used, which reduces
unit noise (35 decibels (db) at standby mode, 51
db when printing). In addition, printers with this
engine take up only about as much space as a
monochrome printer for A3-size paper, and com-
plete front operation means easy operation and
maintenance. Our cleaner-less transfer belt, with
which toner residue is removed using static elec-
tricity rather than a cleaning blade or brush, also
contributes to saving space.
Toner density/color mis-registration sensor
Adjusts toner density and color mis-registration; ensures
intermediate density is linear
Color mis-registration controller
Adjusts CYMK toner misalignment on paper by comparing
with pattern on belt
Drum phase controller
Adjusts phase of CYMK drums by comparing with pattern
on belt
Left edge sensor
Detects paper edge and adjusts laser beam position to pre-
vent misprinting
ATVC (Automatic Transfer Voltage Controller)
Controls image transfer by adjusting for paper type and
environmental conditions
Structure of the Four-Color Vertical In-Line Engine Sensors in the Four-Color Vertical In-Line Engine
the pressure roller would be flattened. And since 1 kilowatt (kW) during ramp up, whereas it is kept
fixing would take place on the flattened surface of minimum to keep the target temperature after
the originally curved sleeve, mechanical flexure warm up, achieving extremely stable temperature
fatigue would accumulate on the metal. To over- control with almost no temperature deviation,
come these adverse conditions, Canon performed despite the low heat capacity of the IH sleeve.
exhaustive metallic materials research, not only in
the area of heating characteristics, but also related
to mechanical characteristics for dispersing stress.
While working on structural improvements in the
Alternating Current (AC)
fixing unit, including sleeve holding methods,
Coil
Canon was able to develop an IH sleeve durable
enough to last through 150,000 sheets of output.
We also added innovations to the power
Fixing Sleeve
source to ensure stable operation of the IH sleeve.
Placing a coil that generates a high-frequency Magnetic Line of Force
magnetic field inside a metallic sleeve results in an
eddy current, heating the sleeve itself. While the IH Fixing Sleeve
sleeve, with its thin metallic film, heats up very
Magnetic Line of Force
rapidly, conventional heat-control methods could
lead to significant overshooting or undershooting Coil
Paper
of the target temperature. To resolve this problem,
Canon developed a low-loss, high-frequency
inverter that controls output in the wide range of Pressure Roller
20 kilohertz (kHz) to 50 kHz. By adjusting the fre-
quency, its output power is controlled around a full IH Fusing Method

The Laser Unit
Scanning the Photosensitive Drum with Ultraprecision
Based on image information generated from the
controller, the laser unit—comprising a semicon-
ductor laser, plastic aspherical lens system, polygon
mirror and rotating motor mirror—scans the pho-
tosensitive drum in laser beam printers.
The photosensitive drums are scanned by laser
beams that are reflected from a polygon mirror,
comprising four to six faces and rotating at 20,000
to 30,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), and con-
verged by a plastic aspherical lens system.
S Toner
Guaranteeing Ultrasharp Color Output
The S Toner used in Canon’s color laser beam
printers and color copying machines is comprised
of perfectly spherical microparticles. Because con-
ventional toners for color electrophotography are
produced by pulverizing coloring materials into
tiny particles, not even the most accurate tools can
achieve a uniform shape and size for individual
particles.
In producing S Toner, Canon adds wax and a
monomer to the coloring material, and then causes
a polymerization reaction by applying heat. The
resulting material is solidified. This process is similar
to mixing oil and water, then stirring the mixture to
disperse tiny oil droplets of a uniform size, and final-
ly causing a chemical reaction to solidify each
droplet. Like the oil droplets, each particle of S Toner
is spherical in shape and of a uniform size. This
All-in-One Toner Cartridges
Making Maintenance Easy
In 1982, we developed the world’s first all-in-one
toner cartridge containing mechanical parts––such
as the photosensitive drum, charger and cleaning
system––that could be easily changed together
with the toner, greatly simplifying printer and
copying machine maintenance. Canon has
obtained patents covering several hundred of its
all-in-one toner cartridge innovations.
Laser Beam Printer System Controller
Highly Efficient Print Job Processing
The system controller plays an important role in
color laser beam printers. By achieving a balance
between the tasks of job analysis, printing data
creation, and data compression and decompres-
sion, the controller retains firm control over total
throughput and guarantees both the speed and
the quality of the output.
Unlike conventional systems, where all process-
ing is carried out by the main central processing unit
(CPU), Canon’s color laser beam printer controller is
also configured with two dedicated chips, one for
rendering and the other for compression/decom-
pression. The main CPU concentrates on job analy-
sis, while the rendering chip creates a printing data
bit map after it has converted the colors in accor-
Digital Imaging Technologies
High-precision image quality requires ultra-
high-precision scanning. For example, a polygon
mirror with a surface finish as fine as one-fifth or
less of the laser wavelength (about 780 nm; 1 nm
is 1/1,000,000 mm) is needed. Furthermore, we
had to develop a compact motor to steadily rotate
the mirror at high speeds, as well as a highly pre-
cise aspherical lens. The laser unit, the heart of our
electrophotographic expertise, brings together all
of our most advanced technologies.
Laser units
secret makes it possible for S Toner to provide image
output with incredible sharpness and beauty.
In conventional printers, the fixing roller was
coated with oil to ensure that paper would not
adhere to it during fixing processes.
Coloring material (toner)
S Toner incorporates wax at the core of each
toner particle. Oil-less fixing becomes possible
Wax
because this wax is released and spreads out dur-
ing fixing. The result is output images without the
glossiness associated with conventional toners.
Canon’s proprietary S Toner is continuously
being advanced. We have developed S Toner for
each of the colors CMY and K. In our newest inno-
vation, we completely upgraded materials and
achieved vivid secondary colors (RGB), further
improving on the already remarkable color expres-
sions made possible by S Toner. Structure of S Toner
We have also successfully developed all-in-one
toner cartridges incorporating a photosensitive
drum and toner for our LBP-2810 and LBP-2710
color laser beam printers. Since each of the CMYK
colors has its own slimly designed cartridge, users
only need to change a single unit when a particu-
lar toner color runs out. Canon has also been col-
lecting and recycling used toner cartridges on a
global scale since 1990. Thin all-in-one toner cartridges for the LBP-2810/2710
dance with the engine’s characteristics. High-speed
throughput is possible because the time-consuming
job of rendering processing is handled by a dedicat-
ed processor. For compression and decompression,
Canon has developed a method with a high com-
pression ratio and no loss of data. Since the dedicat-
ed processor handles its task at high speed, we have
achieved multiple-gradation, high image quality
without eating up memory.The controllers in the
LBP-2810 and LBP-2710 color laser beam printers
employ the PowerPC 740L/603e for their CPUs. We
also use the Super L/S Chip II to more precisely
divide roles such as job analysis, creation of print
data and image data generation, realizing faster
output speeds. Controller for the LBP-2810/2710
9
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Network Digital MFPs

(imageRUNNER (iR) Series)
Data infrastructures are advancing, leading to
rapid demand in offices around the world for
business machines with network compatibility.
Needs also continue to expand for equipment
Scanning Unit
that maximizes the efficient usage of office Scans a document with a CCD by exposing
documents while making office work more it to light and converting it into image data
effective and comfortable. Network digital to be sent to the controller

multifunction products (Network Digital

MFPs) in Canon’s imageRUNNER (iR) series,
developed specifically for network applica- Fixing Roller
tions, are redefining the office equipment Applies heat and pressure to firmly fix
toner to the paper
genre. Acting as core document stations,
these products are also packed with industry-
leading digital imaging technologies.

HOW CANON NETWORK DIGITAL MFPs WORK

In addition to the basic functions of copying, scanning, print-
ing and faxing, these powerful business machines also pro-
vide network functions such as data input, storage, process-
ing and transmission. Canon’s proprietary iR Controller radi-
cally improves data processing speed.

iR System Architecture
Expanding the Scope of Network Usage
Canon’s imageRUNNER (iR) network digital MFPs files in TIFF, JPEG*, PDF and other formats and to processing without causing any delays, rather like
serve as core document stations for offices by transmit these files as e-mail attachments. the traffic roundabouts common in Europe, where
ensuring the smooth input and output of paper Copying, faxing, printing and other commands there is no need to stop at an intersection. They
and electronic documents. These products take full can be made remotely, and the system can also be send large volumes of image data at high speed,
advantage of internal and external networks, linked with document management systems and providing the equivalent of a dedicated bus lane,
including the Internet and intranets, to handle groupware for advanced office documentation. thus offering incredibly large information-handling
input, storage, processing and transmission of doc- Products in the imageRUNNER series scan and capacity with no possibility of congestion.
uments, while integrating the basic functions of print documents, and handle input and output via
copying, faxing, scanning and printing. Canon’s the Internet. They perform simultaneous multitask * In color models only
embedded server architecture removes the need
for separate servers to provide all of these func-
Scanning Scanning
tions.
The imageRUNNER series incorporates four
server functions—scanning, faxing, imaging and
Networking
the Internet—in addition to scanner and printer
hardware. The iR controller (see page 11), which
processes information flows at high speed, defines
the tasks of each server function and platforma-
tizes the basic common control elements. The iR
controller also handles the individual functions of Printing Printing
each of the modularized servers.
The advanced configuration of this system
Conventional document management Simultaneous multitask processing
allows the user to convert paper documents into

10
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Board with iR Controller

Equipped with a System-On-Chip (SOC) LSI that simultane-
ously processes multiple functions in parallel

Laser Transmitter Unit

Emits the laser beams

Polygon Mirror
Comprising four to 12 surfaces, horizontally reflects laser
beams while rotating at a speed of 20,000 to 40,000 rpm

Optical System
Converts the polygon mirror’s scanning laser beams from an
asymmetrical angle to a uniform speed, and adjusts the light
path and frequency caused by slanting of the mirror with
micron precision

Developer
Applies toner to the areas of the photosensitive drum surface
from which static electricity is discharged through laser beam
application

Photosensitive Drum
The surface is processed with an optical semiconductor; the
electrical resistance of the surface changes with the applica-
tion of light

Electrical Charging Unit

Negatively charges the surface of the photosensitive drum
with static electricity

iR Controller
The Heart of Network Digital MFPs
The iR Controller, the heart of Canon’s
imageRUNNER (iR) series of network digital MFPs,
has been integrated onto a single dedicated system
LSI chip. Canon has been working on the develop-
ment of this million-gate System-On-Chip (SOC) LSI
since 1996.
As the functionality of business machines
increases, their controllers are also becoming more
complex, and controller boards are growing larger.
Canon tackled this issue based on the assumption
that creating a one-chip system would not only
facilitate cost and size reductions, but would also
greatly enhance performance. There is considerable
difference in the processing speeds between signals
traversing a circuit board and signals traveling with-
in a single chip.
The development of a multifunction chip with
more than one million gates required the coopera-
tion of many engineers, with both a highly orga-
nized development structure and an excellent
design environment. Canon established an efficient
organization comprising three teams, one each for
SOC design, development-tool and design-environ- other products. For example, in November 2002 we
ment improvement, and verification. The develop- released a full-color network digital MFP, incorporat-
ment tool and design environment improvement ing our new Color iR Controller (see page 13).
team developed version management software for
the source code while the verification team devel-
oped test tools and provided robust backup by con-
ducting elaborate simulation tests at each stage.
The finished SOC consists of a CPU, a network
controller, a memory controller, a printer interface
and other peripheral interfaces. These functions,
conventionally handled by multiple chips, are now
combined on a single chip. This chip also has an
independent high-speed image bus and an I/O bus
to raise the speed and efficiency of data processing,
enabling simultaneous multitask processing.
One-chip integration has led to significantly
lower costs, and greatly enhanced processing speed
and functionality. After several generations of
refinements, Canon’s latest SOC houses a greater
number of gates, thanks to ongoing semiconductor
process miniaturization. We will continue to make
improvements as we incorporate SOCs into our
Board with iR Controller

11
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Color Network Digital MFPs

(Color imageRUNNER (iR C) Series)
Canon’s monochrome network digital MFPs in the imageRUNNER series have promoted the rationalization of
office documentation and brought about a new style of office work. In the Color imageRUNNER (iR C) series,
we have brought color to the network digital MFP, incorporating and improving on the features of our mono-
chrome models to provide high performance while sustaining the shift to color documents in offices. These
products—bringing together advanced technologies at a high level—will become the core “document stations”
of tomorrow’s offices.

HOW CANON COLOR NETWORK DIGITAL MFPS WORK

In addition to the basic functions of copying, scanning, printing and faxing, these powerful business
machines provide network functions such as data input, storage, processing and transmission in color.
While maximizing color document usage with new technologies such as the Color iR Controller and
twin-beam laser transmitter unit, these products achieve stable high-speed processing.

Scanning Unit
Scans a document with a CCD by exposing it to
Board with the Color iR light, and converts it into image data to be sent to
Controller the controller; uses xenon as light source
Contains three system LSIs: MEDOC
for simultaneous multitask process-
ing, the GRAVES graphic engine and Twin-Beam Laser
the SURF rendering engine for high- Transmitter Unit
speed output. Four units, each containing two laser
transmitter units (one located above
the other), a polygon mirror and a
lens system, are installed in each
machine. The twin laser beams,
adjusted horizontally by the polygon
mirror, are changed from a uniform
angle to a uniform speed, returned
and bent again by the mirror, and
finally emitted onto the photosensi-
tive drum.

Drum Unit
Incorporates electrical charging, expo-
sure and developing processes into a
single compact unit, four of which are
installed in each color network digital
MFP. The areas of the photosensitive
Fixing Roller drum onto which laser beams are
Applies heat and pressure to emitted lose their electric charge, and
firmly fix toner to the paper the toner supplied from the developing
unit by the developing roller affixes to
these areas.

Photosensitive Drum
The surface is processed with an optical
semiconductor; the electrical resistance of
the surface changes with the application
of light

Intermediate Transfer Belt

A four-color toner image is first created in
reverse on the intermediate transfer drum,
and then transferred onto the paper

12

Twin Beam “Flat 4” Engine
Guaranteeing Stable High-Speed Operation
The engine section of Canon’s color network digi-
tal MFPs consists of four optical units (twin-beam
laser units) and four drum units. This tandem
method of serially arranging the four drum units—
one each for the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and
black (CMYK)—enables a higher output speed
than the single-drum method of image creation.
The optical units adopt an L-shaped design to
make best use of space within the machine. They
are also arranged contiguously to the CMYK drum
units, enhancing compactness and speed.
We employed the newly designed twin-beam
laser unit in the optical system. Two laser transmit-
ter units each emit a laser beam (one above the
other). These beams are guided in two-line sets
through the optical system and onto the photo-
sensitive drum at a resolution of 600 dots per inch
(dpi), which contributes to higher output speeds.
At the heart of the laser unit is the polygon
mirror, which reflects the two laser beams horizon-
tally. Conventional polygon mirrors have six to 12
surfaces, but this compact mirror has four 20 mm-
wide surfaces. Minimizing the number of surfaces
and reducing the size of the driving motor (which
rotates the mirror) make quiet operation possible,
Cleaner-Less/Toner-Reuse System
Environmentally Conscious Mechanism
Office-use color network digital MFPs are often
required to output a combination of monochrome
and color documents at high speed. One particu-
larly important challenge is maintaining high quali-
ty while keeping running costs reasonable (such
costs are the same for combined monochrome-
color printing and monochrome printing alone).
Concern for the environment is another important
consideration.
To meet this challenge, Canon has developed
a unique cleaner-less/toner-reuse system compris-
ing the electrical charging roller and a toner
residue recharging mechanism. All copying
machine photosensitive units need to be electro-
statically charged. However, instead of the conven-
tional corona discharge method we designed a
Color iR Controller
Maximizing the Potential of Color Network Digital MFPs
The Color iR Controller was developed to create
color network digital MFPs as advanced, function-
ally diverse and easy to use as its monochrome
network digital MFPs. The fact that output is in
color should not be an issue. This controller
enables color documents to be scanned at the
same speed as monochrome documents, even
though color documents contain 30 to 40 times
the data volume.
The Color iR Controller consists of three sys-
tem LSIs: MEDOC, GRAVES and SURF. MEDOC,
which controls the entire system, is fitted with the
industry’s first dual-CPU SOC, making possible
simultaneous multitask processing to efficiently
Digital Imaging Technologies
even though the mirror rotates at 23,000 revolu- Photo sensor
tions per minute (rpm).
Compared with the single-drum method, the LED
tandem method is more susceptible to color plane
mis-registration and image density variations. To
solve these problems, in our imageRUNNER
C3200/C3200N (iR C3200/iR C3200N) color net-
work digital MFPs we used automatic gradation
correction (using sensor technologies) and registra- Color-by-color pattern
tion correction technologies. Registration correc- reader
tion involves forming a pattern for each color on
Registration Correction
the intermediate transfer belt. This test pattern is
read and measured by a photo sensor, which auto-
matically corrects the writing position of each color Folding mirror
Polygon mirror
vis-à-vis the photosensitive drum. Automatic gra-
dation correction entails forming a patch for each Laser driver
color on the intermediate transfer belt. The patch-
es are read and automatically corrected by a high-
Correction
precision, high-density RRPS sensor. These correc- motor
tion technologies ensure near perfect correction of
color plane registration problems and image densi-
ty variations, resulting in stable, high image quality
all the time.
Enlarged view Photosensitive drum
Canon's Twin-Beam Laser Unit
system in which the charging roller comes into
direct contact with the photosensitive drum to Toner bottle Mirror
Lens
provide a direct electric charge. The system is also
environmentally conscious, emitting no ozone. Polygon mirror
In terms of both output image quality and the
environment, a mechanism that recovers and
reuses residual toner is essential. We achieved such Developer
a mechanism by combining these functions into Developing roller
the developer. Variances in the electric charge of Drum unit
residual toner are controlled, and toner recovery
Electrical charging
stabilized via a supplementary charged brush and roller
Brush
the process of recharging the particles. An AC bias
is also applied to the charged bias. This bias is con-
tinuously and automatically regulated at the opti- Intermediate
Photosensitive drum transfer belt
mal value, which minimizes damage to the photo-
sensitive material on the drum. Cleaner-Less System
handle multiple jobs while consuming minimal allowing high-speed output.
power. The GRAVES graphic engine conducts iden- With more than 10 million gates, our Color iR
tical-dimension processing of all images and com- Controller offers a high level of integration. It
mands related to the original document, such as enables our color network digital MFPs to deliver
scanning, printing and sending. Other functions high-performance color-image and document pro-
include a dual direct mapping computing process cessing with
for extremely faithful color reproduction, and T- unparalleled
MIC, which provides error dispersion processing to efficiency.
improve graininess and gradation. SURF is the
print-rendering engine. Housing a system LSI incor-
porating our UFR (Ultra Fast Rendering, see page
38) high-speed printing algorithm, it spreads the
burden of processing the printing data between
the computer and printer with high efficiency,
Board with Color iR Controller
13
 Digital Imaging Technologies

High-Speed Full-Color Copying

Machines (CLC Series)
Canon continues to seek new advances in electrophotography. Efforts to realize
the ideal in color reproduction can be seen in our high-speed full-color copying
Fixing Roller
machines. These products achieve a level of visual expression comparable with Applies heat and pres-
offset printing, as well as precise color matching. We are also using advanced sure to firmly fix toner
to the paper
technologies to ensure both high output speed and image stability. Boasting
excellent expressivity and productivity, our high-speed full-color copying
machines are highly evaluated by creative professionals around the world.

Full-Color Copying Process

Using the same principle as our laser beam
printers, color toner is applied in the order of Transfer Belt
cyan, magenta, yellow and black (right to left), Attached to the Quattro
allowing the output of images in full color. Engine, feeds paper
through the system
while applying toner

Auto-Registration Servomechanism
Excellent Quality from Ultrahigh-Speed Copying Machines
Responding to user demand for higher full-color copy-
ing speeds, Canon has incorporated a four-drum pho-
tosensitive unit into the processing mechanism of its
ultrahigh-speed full-color copying machines, which
can output 50 full-color letter-sized copies per minute
(cpm). These drums (one each for CMYK) operate
sequentially to transfer the corresponding image area
for each color to the sheet of paper. However, since
the mechanism is the same as that used in printers,
the potential for misaligned colors arises. Canon
solved this problem by developing Auto-Registration
Servomechanism technology, which automatically
compensates for misaligned color.
With the four-drum photosensitive unit, mis- scopic resolution required to autocorrect even the
aligned color can result from time lags, the skewing of slightest misalignment in color output.
the laser beams and magnification. This new technol-
ogy uses a CCD to measure the degree of color mis-
alignment, which is computed by the CPU. The optical
system is then adjusted to compensate. If the mecha-
nism indicates the need for a correction of 100 µm,
for example, the optical system must be adjusted by
20 µm to 30 µm. Canon’s technology permits the
optical system, which is 300 mm wide, to be con-
trolled with an accuracy of 5 µm in all four directions.
This is equivalent to moving a 60 km long board a dis-
tance of only 1 m. Canon thus provides the micro-
Four-Drum Photosensitive Unit (Quattro Engine)

New Image Processing Technology (ARCDAT)

Reproducing High-Quality Images Every Time
Canon’s full-color copying machines must ensure sta-
ble supplies of the appropriate amounts of toner to
achieve consistent results over long periods. We there-
fore developed the Automatic and Reciprocal Color
Density Adjustment Technology (ARCDAT), an
advanced system with four types of sensors to detect
toner status and make automatic adjustments.
Our Dual ATR (Attenuated Total Reflection) mech-
anism, combining a toner density and ATR sensors,
controls toner density and automatically regulates
supply in response to changes in temperature, humidi-
ty and other operational conditions. The toner density
sensor monitors the internal status of the develop-
ment unit and adjusts toner and carrier density
accordingly, while the ATR sensor monitors the toner
colors on the photosensitive drum. The environment
sensor monitors temperature and humidity around
the copying machine, controls the electric potential of Gradation-Laser Digital Image-Processing System (DIPS II)
the photosensitive drum and makes image adjust- guarantee faithful reproduction of even faint colors.
ments based on gradation change characteristics.
Completing the sensor lineup is our newly
ARCDAT
designed regular reflection photo sensor (RRPS), which
accurately monitors the toner density on the photo-
Newly designed
sensitive drum. It monitors light colors with high accu- RRPS
racy and works in conjunction with the toner density
sensor, which monitors darker colors, to further
enhance the ARCDAT system. By controlling toner
Dual ATR for toner Responds to environ-
density in real time, ARCDAT minimizes image density density control mental fluctuations
inconsistencies, resulting in 170% better image stabili-
ty than conventional systems. ATR Toner densi- Environment
sensor ty sensor sensor
Canon also offers ALGO Control image-processing
technology, as well as a Gradation Control System, where-
Consistent high-quality images
by the copying machine reads calibration sheets and self-
Overview of ARCDAT Image Processing Technology
adjusts accordingly. Technologies such as our High-

14

Toners for Full-Color Copying Machines
Ensuring Faithful Color Reproduction on a Par with Offset Printing
Color reproduction in color copying machines
sometimes falls short of the original image
because of differences between toners and print-
ing inks. To remedy this situation, Canon has
developed a full-color copying machine toner with
a wide color reproduction range.
We not only raised the chromaticity of each
toner color—cyan, magenta, yellow and black
(CMYK)—but also refined a material that raises
reproduction capability over the entire color-space
spectrum when colors are mixed. The new toner,
which has 30% higher color reproduction range
Image-Processing Algorithm
Assuring the World’s Best Colors
Toner alone does not determine the color repro-
duction of full-color copying machines. Also
required are computing mechanisms to ensure
that color shades as read by scanners are faithfully
translated when output.
To maximize the wide color reproduction
range achieved by its toners, Canon is incorporat-
ing a variety of image-processing algorithms into
its products. These algorithms draw on two tech-
nologies: direct-mapping computing technology, in
which input signals are directly allocated to memo-
Digital Imaging Technologies
CCD
Polygon Mirror
Comprising eight to 10 surfaces, horizontally
reflects laser beams while rotating at a speed of
20,000 rpm to 30,000 rpm
(In the CLC 5000, the polygon mirror has a two-
layer structure)
Laser Transmitter Unit
Emits the laser beams
(The CLC 5000 has four laser transmitter units,
one each for CMYK)
Quattro Engine
Four engines, one each for CMYK, handling elec-
trical charging, exposure, developing and transfer,
and designed for high output speed
HOW CANON HIGH-SPEED FULL-COLOR
COPYING MACHINES WORK
A high-speed scanner and printer engine using the
four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black
(CMYK) allow the output of images in full color.
than previous toners, is used in the CLC1180/1160 machines can produce proofs with image quality
series of full-color copying machines to provide a rivaling that of printing presses.
color reproduction range comparable with that of
offset printing. With excellent heat-fusion proper-
ties, the new toner fixes quickly and boasts a 1.5 Offset printing
times faster process speed than previous toners,
CLC1160/1180 series
thus contributing to higher-speed output.
To meet the demands of high-end users in the
design and printing sectors, we have matched the
coloring materials used in the four toner colors to a*
L
b*
those contained in offset printing inks. Thus, when
using external controllers, these full-color copying Color Reproduction Range of CLC1180/1160 Series
Z Color information
ry signals, and matrix computing technology,
which more closely reflects human visual charac- Y
teristics. The combination of these two technolo-
gies with our new toner realizes the meticulous
reproduction of color highlights and a feeling of
quality from the smoother gradation of high-densi-
ty colors and detailed skin tones. The color differ- Direct
0 allocation
ence between original images and copies has also to memory
signals
been reduced with these algorithms.
X
Color Spaces and Direct-Mapping Computing
15
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Bubble Jet Printers

In the mid-1970s, during an experiment at the Canon Research Center in Japan, a soldering
iron came into contact with the needle of a syringe filled with ink, and a Canon researcher
noticed that ink suddenly spurted from the needle. This incident gave birth to Canon’s inno-
vative Bubble Jet printing technology. We overcame numerous technological hurdles before
launching our first Bubble Jet printer in 1985. Ongoing R&D has also resulted in such
advances as color printing, higher resolutions and faster output. Today’s Bubble Jet printers
make it easy to output photo-quality images at high speeds. We are continuing to develop
Bubble Jet printing technologies with the aim of creating the ideal medium for expressing
digital images.

HOW CANON BUBBLE JET PRINTERS WORK

Ink Cartridges
These printers use the energy of bubbles generated The i950 employs six ink cartridges: cyan, magen-
by a built-in heater to expel ink droplets from noz- ta, yellow, black, photo cyan and photo magenta.
zles onto paper.

Carriage
Moves right and left while expelling ink droplets

Line-Feed Motor
Feeds the paper as it is printed on, Carriage Motor
and sends it to the output paper Moves the print head unit to the right
tray when printing is complete and left; vital to ensuring high-speed,
accurate printing

Print Head Unit

Manufactured with ultrahigh-precision technologies to achieve
512 nozzles for each color, totaling 3,072 nozzles (i950)

Maintenance Motor Auto Sheet-Feeder Motor

Adjusts the ink nozzle cap when the print head Rapidly and precisely feeds the paper into the
is not in use and removes clogged ink printing position from the paper feed tray
Print Head Unit

16

New MicroFine Droplet Technology
Ultrafast Printing of Photo-Quality Images
In order to obtain highly faithful image expression in
inkjet output, it is essential that the ink dots be
extremely small and precisely distributed. As ink
droplets become microscopic, however, image quality
is affected by such problems as uneven droplet size
and placement on the paper. Conventional inkjet
printers have compensated by employing a multiple-
pass printing system, in which the print head unit
makes several passes to print each line. However, this
significantly adds to the printing time. In order to
achieve high image quality and high speed, Canon
returned to its Bubble Jet roots, successfully develop-
ing and commercializing its revolutionary New
“MicroFine Droplet Technology,” a core technology in
new generations of Bubble Jet printers. This technolo-
gy combines an ink-ejection mechanism based on a
unique concept, as well as an innovative ink nozzle
manufacturing method. It has sparked dramatic
improvements in all aspects of printer output, includ-
ing image quality, color gradation and image repro-
duction, resulting in a high level of perfection in
photo-quality printing.
New Ejection Mechanism Provides Precision
Placement of Microscopic 2-pl Ink Droplets
The actual size of ink droplets ejected from inkjet
printer nozzles tends to vary depending on a number
of factors. Image quality is not greatly affected when
the ink droplets are relatively large. When microscopic
ink droplets are used, however, such fluctuations have
a fatal impact on image quality. On the other hand,
the effects of air resistance, which can cause uneven
ink dot placement on the paper, are increased as
droplets become smaller.
In conventional inkjet processes, including Bubble
Jet and piezoelectric processes, ink droplets are
formed by applying pressure to ink inside the nozzle
and, after repeated forward-and-return motion, sepa-
rating a tiny volume of ink from the ink pressed out
from the tip of the nozzle. Once ink droplets leave the
nozzle, however, there are fluctuations in the dis-
charge volume and direction depending on such fac-
tors as ink temperature and viscosity.
In Canon’s new proprietary ink-ejection mecha-
nism, ink droplets are separated away and ejected
using the bubbles formed at the tip of the nozzle. We
have made the nozzle even smaller and attached a
heater to its tip, so that the ink-ejection opening is
positioned directly beneath the heater. Bubbles gener-
Conventional Ink-Ejection Process
ated on the heater surface cause ink droplets to be
thrust downward. Since all of the ink beneath the
heater is ejected, the volume is determined by the dis-
placement between the heater and the ink-ejection
opening, guaranteeing precise uniformity in droplet
size, unaffected even by changes in ink temperature.
The only pressure necessary is that needed to push the
ink from the nozzle, resulting in highly efficient trans-
fer of the power developed when the bubble is gener-
ated and a dramatic increase in ink droplet speed:
more than 1.5 times that of conventional mecha-
nisms. In addition, ink is directed accurately without
being affected by airflow caused by the movement of
the print head. Our i950 Bubble Jet printers maintain
a high level of ink droplet ejection precision, even with
their microscopic 2-picoliter (pl*) ink droplets, for
excellent placement accuracy on the paper.
New Print Head-Manufacturing Process Exploits
Ultraprecision Technology
In the past, print heads in all inkjet printers were made
by bonding components containing miniscule grooves
and/or holes. Achieving smaller dots and higher print-
ing speeds required high-precision technologies to
enable the placement of a greater number of nozzles
in larger areas. If the nozzle area of the print head on
our i950 Bubble Jet printer were likened to that of half
of a tennis court, the print head’s 3,072 ink nozzles
would each have a diameter of only 10 mm. What’s
more, the ink ejection opening on each nozzle would
have to be sized and aligned with precision equaling 1
mm. However, due to the limited precision of conven-
tional manufacturing processes, it was not possible to
align nozzles uniformly and precisely over such large
areas. To do so, Canon developed a new nozzle man-
ufacturing process, combining our semiconductor pro-
1 2
Resin A Heater Resin B
New Ink-Ejection Process
Digital Imaging Technologies
duction technologies, original material technologies
and innovative processing technologies.
Under this new manufacturing process, the print
head is produced by forming the heater and the noz-
zle on a wafer as a single unit. First, the heater and cir-
cuit pattern are formed on a silicon wafer. Special
resin A, which we developed specially for nozzle for-
mation, is then applied on the wafer. A pattern is
made through exposure and development using semi-
conductor exposure equipment. On top of this pat-
tern, resin B is applied to form a new layer. This layer is
also exposed and developed, forming the ink ejection
openings, and a special etching technique is used to
create ink supply ports. Finally, when resin A is
removed, the highly precise hollow nozzles are
formed. This process enables nozzles to be made with
high precision over a large surface area, using semi-
conductor-level precision without the need for bond-
ing.
The i950 Bubble Jet printer features high-density
alignment with real 1200 dpi pitch, with 512 nozzles
for each of six colors, for a total of 3,072 nozzles. The
result is ultrahigh resolution of 4800 dpi (horizontal) x
1200 dpi (vertical). Canon has also increased the num-
ber of ink droplets by accelerating the print head drive
frequency with this multinozzle, ultrahigh-density print
head. As a result, the printer can output photograph
images at ultrahigh speeds of one minute for a sheet
of letter-size photo paper, and 30 seconds for a 4” x
6” sheet of photo paper.
* 1 pl = 1 trillionth of a liter
3
Ink ejection
opening
Ink supply port
Photolithographic Print Head Manufacturing Process
1200
600 dpi
dpi
i950 Print Head (Enlarged View)
17
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Precision Color Distribution Technology

Providing both High Speed and Excellent Image Quality
Printer manufacturers have faced the ongoing improving the color contrast when printing on matically increasing printing quality in the standard
dilemma of how to increase printing speed while plain paper. There are various kinds of plain paper, printing mode on plain paper.
maintaining or improving image quality. Canon’s each with its own absorption and drying charac- We took this technology one step further in
answer is Precision Color Distribution Technology teristics. For example, when printing a document the print head of the i850 Bubble Jet printer,
utilizing the New “MicroFine Droplet Technology.” containing black text on a cyan background, the released in 2002. We added four rows of 2-pl ink
Although existing bi-directional printing sys- black ink is placed first. Depending on the paper, it nozzles, two each for cyan and magenta, to the
tems enable sufficiently high-speed printing, image might be difficult to use the full intensity of black, existing six left–right opposing rows of ink nozzles
quality is a problem. One reason for this is the because the cyan (dye) ink would affect the black (see figure 3). By using these ink nozzles in line
inconsistency in color produced between forward- (pigment) ink. with the 5-pl nozzles, we were able to further raise
pass and return-pass movements. With inkjet In our new system, we have separated the image quality without sacrificing printing speed.
printers, colors become tinged with the first color black from the color ink nozzles by one scan The width of space between these ink nozzles is a
placed on the paper. For instance, when blue width. Time elapses between when the black and mere 42 µm, and the shift width is only 21 µm.
(magenta + cyan) is produced, the final color dif- color inks hit the paper, allowing the black ink This print head, which employs our New
fers slightly depending on which color is placed ample time to fix. This removes the limitation on “MicroFine Droplet Technology,” features extreme-
first. If magenta is first, it will tend to dominate the the amount of black ink that can be applied and ly high precision spacing between the ink nozzles
resulting blue. The same applies if cyan is first. In brings out the full vibrancy of the color inks, dra- separated on its right and left edges for accurate
conventional bi-directional printing, the order of image output. Thanks to this new technology, the
colors placed differs in the forward i850 offers the highest speed in its class
and return passes, leading to stripes M2 C2 M1 C1
for high-image-quality output on plain
and inconsistent colors. paper and photo-quality printing on
C2 M2 M1 C1
With Canon’s technology, two photo paper.
groups of ink nozzle rows with cyan,
magenta and yellow are arranged
C1+M1 C1+M1 C1+M1 C1
symmetrically. One group is arranged Forward-pass printing +M2+C2 +M2
C2 M2 M1 C1 Return-pass printing
in the order of cyan, magenta and M2 C2 C1 M1
yellow, while the other is arranged in 1,280 color ink nozzles
(128 nozzles in 10 rows) 2pl
the reverse order. When printing
C2 C2+M2 C2+M2 C2+M2
blue, cyan 2, then magenta 2, are +M1 +M1+C1
ejected in the forward pass, followed 1200dpi
by magenta 1 and cyan 1. In the Figure 1: Precision Color Distribution Technology
return pass, the order of ejection is
cyan 1 and magenta 1, followed by Black ink print head
magenta 2 and cyan 2. As a result, Color ink print head

the blue produced in each direction

is absolutely identical. The problem
of color variation between print
Paper movement
ABCDE 5pl
head directions is solved by making
the order of color ejection the same
(C➝M➝M➝C), irrespective of direc- FGHIJKLMN Interval of
one scan width

tion (see figure 1).

In 2001, we announced our
Advanced Precision Color
Black ink nozzles used
for color printing OPQRSTUV 600dpi

320 black ink nozzles

(160 nozzles in two rows)
Distribution Technology (see figure
2), which raises image quality by Figure 2: Advanced Precision Color Distribution Technology Figure 3: Color Ink Nozzle Placement in the i850

High-Intensity Inks and Specialized Paper

Realizing Outstanding Chromaticity
Because the inks used in Canon’s Bubble Jet print-
ers are instantaneously heated to temperatures of
more than 300°C, their stability must be retained
at high temperatures. Measures also need to be
taken to ensure that ink nozzles are not clogged,
so that truly spherical ink droplets are accurately
affixed onto the paper. We worked from our tech-
nologies in fields such as organic, inorganic and
bining these high-intensity inks with our Photo halide paper.
Paper Pro, users are guaranteed photo-quality out-
put that retains light-fastness for more than 25 * The figure of 25 years is based on simulations by
years*, without fading. Canon Inc. and does not represent a guarantee
of performance.
Photo Paper Pro consists of a four-layered
structure, built on the same materials as those
used in silver-halide paper for film development. Paper thickness: 245 µm
On the absorbent top layer are microscopic inor- Ink-absorption layer

high polymer chemistry to develop high-functional
inks that satisfy stringent safety standards.
Our innovative dedicated high-intensity inks
provide high chromaticity, higher density levels
(optical density (OD) values) and light fastness.
ganic particles that provide a high-transparency Intermediate
reflective layer
glossiness level of more than 30%. The particles
capture the ink the moment it hits the paper, pre- Base paper
venting any blotting or fuzziness, and the com-
pressed base layer ensures quick drying and dura- Back coating layer

Furthermore, these inks realize a 30% higher bility. In fact, the brightness and chromaticity of
intensity than that of conventional inks. By com- output on this paper surpass conventional silver- Structure of Photo Paper Pro

18

Image-Processing Technologies
Maximizing Photo Value
To realize the beauty of photographs in digital photo
output, Canon is further pursuing exhaustive develop-
ment activities in six fields to improve image quality.
Color Reproduction
The color range of digital cameras (YCC) is much
wider than that of monitors (sRGB), making it possible
to store a vast amount of color information when
shooting. This difference in color reproduction ranges
is the reason why the colors of digital photographs
look different from original image when viewed on a
computer monitor. In order to reproduce digital pho-
tograph images on a printer, color reproduction sur-
passing sRGB is required to output digital photos with
colors as close to the original data as possible.
Canon’s Bubble Jet printers had been capable of
reproducing wider color range than sRGB range of
monitors, but monitor-matching techniques often
compressed color information into the sRGB range to
ensure printed that output matched the monitor dis-
play. To resolve this issue, Canon developed digital
photograph image-processing technologies capable of
handling the YCC color range of digital cameras. This
technology is adopted in its Easy-PhotoPrint applica-
tion software and also in the S830D/i470D Bubble Jet
printers with direct printing functions. As a result, digi-
tal image information on digital cameras in YCC color
range is sent directly to the printer. In addition, our
Bubble Jet printer adopts ”Vivid Photo” image pro-
cessing technology in its printer drivers to reproduce
colors that match human preference. Vivid Photo
incorporates algorithms to determine the details of
colors in images and process only those colors deter-
mined necessary.
Graininess
When printing using the inkjet method, large ink
droplets may appear as graininess when they hit the
paper. Thoroughly removing this graininess results in
smoother, more natural-looking images.
At Canon, we developed several different types
of Bubble Jet print head that can eject ink droplets of
2 picoliters (pl). These microscopic ink droplets suc-
cessfully reduce graininess in every area of an image,
Bubble Jet printer
YCC color range sRGB color range color range
Digital camera
Color Reproduction Using Digital Photograph Image-Processing Technologies
from highlights to mid-density and dark areas.
Because the dot placement of ink droplets is also con-
trolled at the micro level, no noise is generated even in
half-tone areas, which contributes further to the
removing graininess. Our Bubble Jet printers deal
effectively with noise created by the CCDs in digital
cameras, and the Digital Camera Noise Reduction
function eliminates mottled-appearance noise and
dark noise.
Sharpness
Microscopic ink droplets and ultrahigh-precision ink
placement are needed to print sharp, well-defined
images. Unfortunately, the smaller ink droplets
become, the higher is the likelihood that misplace-
ment will impact image quality. Further, the effects of
air resistance occur while ink droplets ejected from the
print head travel at a high speed and are placed onto
the paper. In printers with print heads using Canon’s
originally developed New “MicroFine Droplet
Technology,” the precise amount of ink is thrust
downward by a bubble generated at the tip of the ink
nozzle, and the energy created when this bubble is
formed is efficiently converted into a powerful ejection
force. As a result, each ink droplet is placed accurately,
with virtually no effects from air resistance, making
possible extremely sharp image output.
Bubble Jet printers:
Digital camera:
Use Canon’s originally devel-
Uses the YCC range to store much
more color information than sRGB oped technology to print out in
a much wider color range than
sRGB range: sRGB
Standard color range for
computer monitors
sRGB, Bubble Jet Printer and YCC Color Reproduction Ranges
Color range using
sRGB color matching
Digital camera image data surpassing
the sRGB range is sent directly to
Bubble Jet printers, realizing output
surpassing the color reproduction
range of sRGB.
Bubble Jet printer
Digital Imaging Technologies
Color Tone
People tend to prefer bright and vivid color hues in
images of objects they regularly see, such as the blue
of the sky or the green of tree leaves, because these
hues are perceived as the most natural by the human
eye. Canon is using this and other characteristics of
human sight to develop unified colors used in its prod-
ucts. We are actively employing our Color
Management Concept in new printer development
(see page 37).
Contrast and Gradation
To achieve images with high contrast, it is necessary to
print out areas of high density as darkly as possible.
However, simply making these areas darker would
lead to poor color gradation, reducing the overall
smoothness of the image. Exhaustive materials
research at Canon has made possible development of
high-intensity inks and specialized paper (see page 18)
that contribute to high-density printing. To guarantee
effective gradations, in addition to 2-pl ink droplets
we have developed a technology to rationalize the
gradation curve for dark areas of images.
OFF ON
Output Enhanced by Vivid Photo
Digital Camera Noise OFF
Reduction
ON
Digital Camera Noise Reduction System
19
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Exif Print
Maximizing Digital Camera Data
Exif Print (Exif 2.2) is a digital camera storage for-
mat established by the Japan Electronics and
Information Industries Association (JEITA). Unlike
Exif 2.1, Exif 2.2 allows the storage of not only
image data, but also tag information such as date
and time, shutter speed and exposure. It has
become a global standard for digital cameras.
The tag information storable with Exif Print
was carefully and precisely regulated to realize
high-image-quality output of digital photos.
Canon was involved with the Exif Print
Standardization Project from early on, and has
since actively supported the standard’s establish-
ment and diffusion.
Exif Print is an open global standard.
Compatible digital cameras record camera setting
data and image data as Exif tags linked to the
JPEG image. Canon Bubble Jet printers support
Exif Print and use Easy-PhotoPrint application soft-
ware to read the camera data precisely, producing
high-grade output. Using Easy-PhotoPrint, users
can achieve dynamic and vibrant color reproduc-
tion.

Micro Bubble Jet Print Head

Making More Compact Printers Possible
Advances in Bubble Jet printing technology are
allowing us to reduce printer sizes. The Micro
Bubble Jet print head was made possible by a
combination of several technologies, such as those
for the production of minute Bubble Jet print
heads, compact and high-precision driving sys-
tems, and conveying mechanisms. A wide range of
applications is possible, from mobile devices, digi-
tal cameras and game consoles to household
appliances, making it possible to instantly enjoy
beautifully printed photos at the touch of a but-
ton.
Micro Bubble Jet Print Head

1-Inch Wide Print Head

Employing High-Density Bubble Jet Ink Nozzle Technology
Commercial-use Bubble Jet printers must provide
both high image quality and high output speed,
which is why we developed a wide print head with
a 1-inch printing width. This print head offers
1200-dpi printing quality with 1,280 ink nozzles
for each ink color, the highest levels of density and
ink nozzles for mass-production print heads in the
industry.
Canon’s N1100/N2100 office color printers improved printing control
adopt 1-inch wide print heads with four rows of technologies also realize
nozzles, while the W7200, W7250, W8200 and high-precision and stable
W2200 large-format printers have 1-inch wide output for every printing
print heads with six rows of ink nozzles, making a job.
total of 7,680 ink nozzles. These print heads make
it possible to provide high output speed. Our
newly developed print head structure and 1-Inch Wide Print Head

Bubble Jet Application Technology
DNA Microarray Production
Pursuing Applications in Clinical Medicine
DNA microarrays (DNA chips) are glass plates
(slides prepared for microscopes) on which are
arranged multiple rows of DNA solutions con-
taining known genes in microspots about 40–50
µm in diameter. By extracting DNA from human
blood and applying it to this microarray after
amplication and labeling, characteristics such as
the existence, mutation, and variation of a gene
can be determined. As gene analysis advances,
the field is gaining attention particularly in the
clinical diagnosis of cancer and other maladies,
and in examining the constitution of patients.
Canon has developed a DNA microarray pro-
duction method based on its Bubble Jet technol-
ogy, devising new print head production, control
and ink technologies. With this method, synthe-
sized DNA fragments purified and dissolved in
DNA ink solution are printed precisely on the
glass plate.
DNA microarrays currently used in genetic
analysis are produced using photolithography to
successively synthesize more than 100,000
reproducibility. Canon’s DNA microarrays have of affordable production cost, high quality and
high sensitivity and can be easily reproduced easy mass production.
because they are made with ink solutions of syn- We have developed technologies for the sur-
thesized and purified DNA, which are bound to a face analysis of DNA probes (see bottom figure)
glass plate using stable covalent bonding. With and are also working on a fluorescent image
our new Bubble Jet print head for DNA microar- analysis system to examine fluorescent results at
rays, which can output different probe solutions the time of diagnosis (see top figure). We have
simultaneously, production processes are reduced also established a team of researchers from vari-
and a large volume of DNA microarrays can be ous fields in Canon to ensure high-quality prod-
produced at reasonable costs. uct development and establish technologies to
Until now, our research has been done with bring DNA microarray operations on-stream.
DNA microarrays containing up to 100 probes.
However, our new Bubble Jet print head enables
us to radically increase the number of probes
that can be studied.
Significant advances are being Example of Analysis Using Canon’s DNA Microarray
made in genome research, and it has
been found specific diseases can be
diagnosed with remarkable precision by 76.2mm
examining the expression of the related
genes. For example, cancer could be Fluorescent photograph
25.4mm 15mm (during examination)
found in the early stages by examining
the approximately 100 genes known to DNA probe PO2- PO3-
be related to the disease. Canon is now
Bifunctional
developing a DNA microarray for cancer reagent
diagnosis in a national project in Japan Aminosilane
Glass plate

probes on a substrate. However, this method is coupler

expensive, making it difficult to apply in clinical
diagnosis, and the method of synthesizing
probes on the substrate has problems in terms of
to develop practical systems for genetic Cross-sectional view
diagnosis at the clinical level. Canon’s
On the right, a photo of DNA probes on a Canon DNA microarray observed
using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)
DNA microarrays meet the requirements
Canon DNA Microarray Precision

20
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Displays
Printed media like newspapers and magazines can be read just about anywhere and any time, but
the contents cannot be changed by the reader. Digital images on a display, however, can be
altered any number of times. In its digital imaging technology development, Canon aims to create
the displays of tomorrow.

SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display)

Flat-Panel Display Facilitates Screen Enlargement while Maintaining High Picture Quality and Low Power Consumption
The advent of the high-definition TV and the broad- ma display panels with diagonals larger than 40", yet
band communication era has led to demand for larg- it is just several centimeters thick. Low power con- CRT Phosphor

er screens and higher image quality. So far, however,
attempts to enlarge CRT (cathode ray tube) screens,
today’s most common display, have been beset by
various obstacles. Structural problems have been
overcome at the expense of size, causing screens to
be heavier and deeper. A major challenge facing dis-
play manufacturers has been how to develop a new
sumption is another main feature of the new display Electron
emitter
technology. SEDs convert electrical energy to light
with an emission efficiency of 5 lm/W or higher,
resulting in energy consumption that is roughly one-
third that of a plasma display panel, and they also
provide other advantages over CRTs and LCDs. SEDs
are highly environment-friendly displays that meet the Deflection yoke

kind of screen, with the same picture quality as a needs of the times. Applying ink jet printing technol-
SED
CRT, that is both slim and large. Canon’s Flatscreen ogy to develop a high-performance electron emitter Electron Phosphor
emitter
SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display) has and a screen-printing method to produce matrix
successfully met this challenge. wiring, we are improving production technologies to
The SED consists of a glass plate mounted with manufacture large-screen panels at low cost.
electron emitters, similar to a CRT’s electron gun, in Canon began researching a certain type of elec-
an amount equal to the number of pixels on the dis- tron emitter in 1986. Using this emitter technology,
play. Positioned next to it is another glass plate coat- we developed a small SED pilot unit, which offers
Spacer
ed with a fluorescent substance. Between the two excellent potential as a thin emissive display, in 1996.
glass plates is a vacuum. The key here is the extreme- In 1999, we signed a codevelopment agreement with
ly narrow slit (several nanometers* wide), made from Toshiba Corporation, and our efforts are now target- Comparison of CRT and SED
ultrafine-particle film. Application of 16 to 18 volts ing preliminary production of a large SED.
creates the emission of electrons from one side of the
slit. Some of these electrons are scattered at the other *1 nm: one-billionth of a meter
Glass Phosphor
side and accelerated by the voltage (approximately
Metal back
10kV) applied between the glass plates, and they col- Nano-slit
H
lide with the fluorescent-coated glass plate, causing Va Electron beam
light to be emitted. Since SED is an independent
light-emitting structure similar to a CRT and also, nm
Scattering
SCE cathode
unlike CRTs, does not need electronic-beam deflec- Vf
tion, it creates more brilliant image quality and per- Electron tunneling
forms faster video response than other flat panel dis-
plays, such as LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) and plas-
Mechanism of SCE (Surface-Conduction Electron emitter)

Paper-Like Display
Like Paper, but Reusable
Paper books, newspapers and printouts have the upon the electric field applied. The PLD will be thin
benefit of being reliable, portable and easy to read and flexible, just like a sheet of paper, and will also
and handle. Once printed, however, their form have sufficiently high resolution for regular use.
becomes permanent, unlike text on LCD or CRT One potential application is in the education
displays, which can be edited. But these displays’ field, where teachers and students can share the
media storage systems are also volatile, so the text same “notebooks.” We foresee unlimited uses for
disappears when power is turned off. Post-paper this revolutionary medium.
solutions, such as Canon’s paper-like display (PLD),
feature the advantages of both systems, as well as
the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.
At Canon, we are developing a PLD based on Black
particles
electrophoretic display (EPD) technology. Black par-
ticles like toner are dispersed in transparent liquid
and sealed between two sheets of plastic film.
Electrodes Bright Dark Electrodes
Distribution of the particles changes, depending
Paper-Like Display Mechanism Paper-Like Display

21
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Digital Cameras
The number of digital camera users, from hobbyists to professionals, is growing exponentially.
The secret to the popularity of digital cameras lies in the new creativity they bring to still photog-
raphy. Canon’s expertise and technology leadership in film cameras allowed it to adapt propri-
etary technologies to digital cameras. Our cutting-edge optical, high-density packaging and elec-
tronic device technologies have contributed to the development of a wide range of high-perfor-
mance digital cameras with excellent image quality, including lightweight and compact models, as
well as single lens reflex (SLR) models.
HOW CANON DIGITAL CAMERAS WORK
Mode Switch Digital cameras replace film with an image sensor
Easy-to-use shooting mode selector and digital imaging processor that converts light into
electronic signals to record images as digital data.

Compact Flash Card

Enables storage of large volumes of
image data

CCD
Adopts a primary color filter for vivid color
reproduction

Lens
Ultracompact lens using a glass mold
with a high refractive index
Digital Imaging Processor (DIGIC)
Dedicated processor making possible high-speed,
high-quality image data processing

Ultracompact Optical Lenses

Providing Ultraprecise Images
Canon’s PowerShot DIGITAL ELPH/DIGITAL IXUS
series of digital cameras combines high image
quality and multiple functions in compact bodies.
Fitting so much power into such small devices
required special technologies for creating ultra-
compact optical lenses.
The PowerShot S230 DIGITAL ELPH (DIGITAL
IXUS 330), for example, offers the high resolution
of a 1/2.7-type, 2.11-megapixel CCD and an opti-
cal 3x-zoom lens. Despite having this lens, the
camera’s lens configuration, with 7 elements in 5
groups, is the same as its 2x-zoom predecessors. It
also features high resolution and low distortion,
and a storage length of only 23 mm. The first lens
group effectively corrects various aberrations by
using a glass-molded lens (see page 48) with a
high refractive index. It employs both convex and
concave lenses, enabling significant reductions in
the frontal diameter and the overall length of the
lens.
Many short zoom lenses employ a 3-group
configuration, in which the second lens group is
mainly responsible for altering the zoom ratio. The
positioning of the zoom, however, can lead to
color aberration. This can only be compensated for
by adding more lenses, which impedes the goal to
achieve greater compactness. Canon has solved
this challenge by strategically positioning and fus-
ing together two lenses with different optical char-
acteristics. Any color aberration that cannot be
corrected with the aspherical lens is dealt with in 20-mm diameter 23-mm diameter
the full zoom area.
In addition, because the depth of focus, or the Optical Configuration of PowerShot S100 DIGITAL
ELPH (left) and PowerShot S320 DIGITAL ELPH (right)
range of the focusing lens surface, is reduced as
the pixel pitch of the CCD narrows, a high level of
precision is required to compensate for the relative
inclination of the image-formation surface of the
focal lens and the light-receiving surface of the
CCD. We resolved this problem by accurately posi-
tioning these two surfaces and obtaining uniform
image formation, enabling clear images even at
the periphery.
Precision expertise and advanced production
technologies have enabled us to design this ultra-
compact optical lens.
PowerShot S320 DIGITAL ELPH Lens

22

Digital Imaging Processor (DIGIC)
Attaining High Speed and High-Quality Images
This newly designed digital signal-processing inte-
grated circuit (IC) is a core device in Canon digital
cameras. Most of the functions required to process
signals in a digital camera are condensed on this
single chip.
Light passing through the lens is gathered by
the CCD as electric charges and converted to elec-
tronic signals. By itself, the CCD is incapable of
color perception, so it obtains color data via a
color filter arranged above individual pixels. Image
data gathered by the CCD is converted to digital
signals using an A/D (analog/digital) converter.
Once converted, the data is processed by the digi-
tal signal processing circuits and recorded onto a
Compact Flash memory card.
In the past, some signal processing was cur-
tailed due to the enormous amount of time
required to accurately process signals covering the
Color Reproduction Technologies
Optimizing the Primary Color Filter
Color reproduction is an important factor in gener-
ating sharp photographs using digital cameras, but
can the original colors be truly preserved? To solve
this problem, a number of issues must be tackled
at the same time.
One of these is the CCD on-chip filter. Color
reproduction is impossible without a color filter,
and the two existing types—primary and comple-
mentary—both have strengths and weaknesses.
Complementary color filters have higher sensitivity
and provide superior resolution and signal–noise
(S/N) ratios, but actual color reproduction can easi-
ly deteriorate. The primary color filter, on the other
hand, offers truer general color reproduction, but
Original Software for Digital Cameras
Allowing Advanced Manipulation of Digital Images
One of the most important elements related to
digital camera technologies is application software
that enables users to effectively edit and process
their photographed images on a computer. With
this in mind, Canon embarked on an in-house
software development quest.
PhotoStitch enables multiple images, snapped
sequentially (vertically or horizontally), to be fused
into a single panoramic image. Using this applica-
tion, 360˚ panoramic images can also be generat-
ed automatically.
Our ZoomBrowser EX application features
Canon Direct Print
Printing Digital Camera Images Without a Computer
Seeking to make digital cameras even more versa-
tile, Canon has developed ”Canon Direct Print,“ a
system that enables users to print out their photos
without the need for a computer. By simply con-
necting the digital cameras to our CP-100/CP-10
series Card Photo Printers or S830D and S530D
Digital Imaging Technologies
finest details of the image. Deploying its propri- image processing. It also provides natural color
etary technologies, Canon designed the DIGIC to reproduction, false color suppression and simulta-
alleviate the heavy burden normally placed on the neous recoding of RAW and JPEG images.
CPU, so that even the finest images are processed
at high speed. The unit also incorporates an algo-
rithm that optimizes the image via a primary color
filter. All these functions are embedded on a single
chip, measuring 13 mm x 13 mm, which allows
considerable reductions in camera size and energy
consumption.
Canon has also developed a dedicated high-
performance digital imaging processor for its EOS-
1D and EOS-1Ds digital SLR cameras. This proces-
sor incorporates a dual-structure for high-speed
processing. Designed to meet the demands of pro-
fessional photographers, it has such features as
parallel reading of signals from the camera sensors
and resolution-oriented, high-speed, precision Digital Imaging Processor (DIGIC)
comparatively weak resolution and S/N ratios. blocks or more, and white balance information is
Canon has incorporated the best of both in its calculated from each these blocks. An ideal coeffi-
new primary color filter, which offers the advan- cient is then devised. This level of accuracy enables
tages inherent to filters of this type, while also lim- highly precise control.
iting shortcomings in resolution and S/N ratios. The
key to this ideal color solution is our new signal-
processing algorithm. This enables a significant R G R G R Cy Ye Cy Ye Cy
reduction in false colors, as well as faithful repro-
G B G B G Mg G Mg G Mg
duction, high resolution and excellent S/N.
R G R G R Cy Ye Cy Ye Cy
Another factor in true color reproduction is
the white balance. If accuracy slips for this adjust- G B G B G Mg G Mg G Mg
ment, the entire color scheme can be affected. R G R G R Cy Ye Cy Ye Cy
Canon’s new algorithm plays a part in this as well.
Primary Color Filter Complementary Color Filter
The entire image is divided into 100,000 small
search and image-management functions. The
application runs automatically once the camera is
connected to a computer with a USB cable, and
significantly reduces the amount of time required
to transfer images. All the registered images can
be viewed in one column on the computer screen,
and individual images can be reduced or enlarged
with ease.
Our PhotoRecord application can automatical-
ly arrange photos for borderless printing on a
Bubble Jet printer, resulting in prints with a profes-
sional photo appearance. Image Lists Created with ZoomBrowser EX
Bubble Jet printers using a dedicated cable, users
can obtain photograph-quality prints on the spot.
This is yet another advanced innovation from
Canon, the leader in digital camera and printer
solutions.
23
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Digital SLR Cameras

In its development of digital SLR cameras, Canon took on the immense challenge of realizing the same oper-
ability as its renowned 35mm film SLR cameras. We succeeded by developing new technologies such as a dig-
ital imaging element and a high-performance digital imaging engine, bringing to life digital SLR cameras
that have been acclaimed as the best on the market. Combining our expertise in optical technologies and
cutting-edge digital imaging technologies, we introduced digital SLR cameras that symbolize a new genera-
tion of photography from Canon.

How Canon Digital SLR Cameras Work

Like 35mm film SLR cameras, these products capture images just as the user sees them through the
viewfinder. Instead of film, image sensors (CMOS sensor or CCD) detect light, which is converted
into electronic signals and image data for storage on a memory card.
Light-Metering
Memory Card Mirror/Focusing Screen
CMOS Sensor
Converts light entering the lens into elec-
tronic signals (comparable to film in a
film camera)

Shutter

Low-Pass Filter

High-Performance
Imaging Engine
Processes large volumes of digitally
converted image data at high speed

CMOS Area AF Sensor

Main CPU

Secondary Image-
Formation Lens

Infrared-Cut Low-Pass Filter

Preventing False Colors and Moiré
False colors and moiré are problems with high-reso- well as a facilitation of light reception by <Infrared-Cut Filter>
lution digital cameras. They occur because highly multiple pixels, providing more detailed Infrared absorption glass
(absorbs infrared light)
spatial light rays enter certain pixels, causing result- light patterns and minimizing false colors. CMOS sensor
ing colors to appear different from actual colors. The optical low-pass filter is laminated Dichroic mirror (reflects infrared light)
Horizontal and vertical
Canon’s optical low-pass filter, located in front together with an infrared-cut filter, which separation=Light
received as individual
of the CMOS sensor, solves this problem. This three- suppresses ghosting and color overlapping Highly spatial frequency incoming RGB pixels
layer filter was developed specifically in response to caused by infrared light. The surface of the light (e.g., dot image)

CMOS sensors with higher pixel counts.
Two of the three layers are single-crystal sub-
strates, which perform the task of separating the
image data into horizontal and vertical directions.
A phase plate, which converts linearly polarized
light into circularly polarized light, has been sand-
wiched into this conventional configuration. The
result is more accurate image data separation, as
filter is coated to provide the characteristics
of a dichroic mirror, which serves to reflect
Low-pass filter 1 (separates subject
infrared light. The addition of an infrared- data horizontally)
absorbing glass substrate creates a hybrid Phase plate
(converts linearly into circularly polarized light)
structure that both reflects and absorbs
infrared light. Low-pass filter 2 (separates subject
data vertically)
<Low-Pass Filter>
Infrared-Cut Low-Pass Filter

24
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Full Frame 35mm CMOS Sensor

A Large, Highly Precise Image Sensor
Raising the operability of a digital SLR camera to developed a new partition exposure technology frames per second (fps).
the level of film-base SLR cameras required devel- under which each 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor The new CMOS sensor has been designed to
opment of a large high-resolution image sensor. is exposed three times, and each of the exposures give greater depth to each pixel, allowing more
Digital cameras normally use smaller image sensors is ultraprecisely bonded with the others. This ample gradations, from highlighted to shadowed
than the frame size (36 mm x 24 mm) of 35mm method allowed us to produce a large, high-preci- portions of images. Each pixel can store more elec-
film. When an interchangeable lens is attached to sion CMOS sensor at a relatively low cost. tric charges, allowing a higher saturation point. As
digital SLR cameras with smaller image sensors, the The number of pixels in this sensor is impres- such, the dynamic range of the CMOS sensor is
effective angles of view and perspectives of the sive, but how can it scan large volumes of image equivalent with that of reversal film.
captured image differ from the focal distance data at high-speed? CMOS sensors have one This is a full-frame 35mm high-resolution
marked on the lens. For this reason, photographers amplifier (converter that changes electric charges to CMOS sensor that performs on a par with 35mm
were unable to utilize their experience using 35mm voltage signals) per pixel, so they can perform sig- film. This sensor will open a new frontier in the
film-base SLR camera lenses with digital SLR cam- nal amplification on a per-pixel basis. For this rea- world of digital imaging.
eras. son, CMOS sensors transfer image data faster than
Responding to the challenge of resolving this CCDs. To achieve even higher speed, Canon devel-
issue, in 2002 Canon developed a full-frame 36 oped its sensor to simultaneously read each image
mm x 24 mm CMOS image sensor, which it incor- element line via two channels. In a green/red line,
porated in its top-of-the-line EOS-1Ds digital SLR for example, the sensor can read both the green
camera. The EOS-1Ds accommodates the full range and red data simultaneously. As a result, the speed
of interchangeable lenses available for the EOS- of Canon’s new CMOS sensor is twice that of other
series SLR cameras, ensuring faithful angles of view CMOS sensors, allowing continuous shooting of 3
and perspectives according to
CMOS sensor CCD
the focal distance. CMOS Sensor
Pixel amplifier
We employed our newly
developed CMOS sensor (see One-channel signal
reading
page 46) to achieve 35mm EOS-1Ds:
full-frame digital photography. Two-channel signal
Signal reading reading
This high-resolution image CMOS sensor
sensor boasts an effective 11.1
million pixels, for images com-
parable in quality with 35mm Reads signals in a “bucket relay”
Amplifies signals on a per-pixel basis style, then amplifies
film-base SLR cameras. Time
Lower power consumption, higher speed, uni-
Canon’s semiconductor Advantage
fied-computing circuits Proven track record Time

production technologies
played a major role in the
development of the new
CMOS sensor. In short, we
Requires suppression of pixel dispersion Large power consumption, diffi-
Disadvantage cult to achieve higher speed, com-
plex production process
Reading by CMOS Sensors and CCDs: High-Speed, Parallel Reading with Two Channels
Comparison of Electronic Signal Output Methods

High-Performance Imaging Engine

High-Speed Processing of High-Volume Images
This imaging engine creates image data from sig- potential inherent in the image sensor is maximized buffer memory, however, allows handling of multi-
nals output from the CMOS sensor. The engine as a result. ple images after shooting is complete. The interval
serves as the core of the digital camera, eliminating “Noise” is a common problem with slow shut- between slow-shutter speed shots has been drasti-
noise from output signals to create and compress ter-speed shots. The imaging engine reduces such cally shortened as a result.
images. Canon developed this high-performance noise more efficiently than before. Conventionally,
imaging engine in response to increasingly high- noise reduction was carried out frame by frame.
resolution CMOS sensors. The new imaging engine with a large-capacity
The capacity of the buffer memory, which tem-
Imaging Engine 1 Imaging Engine 2
porarily stores image data during its creation, has
been doubled, allowing high-speed image process- RAW
compression
ing of high-resolution images. Even with simultane- A-D
conversion Thumbnail Buffer
ous recording of RAW/JPEG (large/fine) images as CMOS
Detection Compensation Color
creation DMA* memory 3 CPU CF card
block block process
A-D
large as 15.3 MB per shot, the imaging engine can conversion
handle a maximum burst of up to 10 frames of JPEG
compression
continuous shooting.
External memory Memory controller
A unique algorithm developed by Canon control block
LCD
Encoder
enables the high-performance imaging engine to monitor

detect and alleviate false colors and moiré con- (*Direction Memory Access)
Buffer Buffer
tained in the image data. This helps minimize the memory 1 memory 2 Imaging Engine 1 handles noise reduction and other tasks, while
tendency for the low-pass filter to cause reduced Imaging Engine 2 takes care of image creation and compression.

resolution perception as it performs its task of sup-

pressing and converting false colors. The resolution Configuration of High-Performance Imaging Engine

25
 Digital Imaging Technologies

35mm SLR Cameras Light-Metering Sensor

21-zone evaluative metering sensor
that can be linked to 45 AF points in
evaluative metering mode
Canon was founded in 1937 as a camera manufacturer, and optical technologies
lie at the root of our development of leading digital imaging technologies. In
recent years, the melding of optical and electrical engineering technologies have
led to rapid advances in the industry. We continue working on optical technolo-
gies to capture what the photographer’s eye sees as accurately as possible. This is
why the evolution of our renowned EOS series of autofocus (AF) SLR cameras is a
never-ending process.

HOW CANON 35MM SLR CAMERAS WORK

Cameras that use a pentaprism to photograph images on sil-
ver-halide film just as the user sees them through the
viewfinder and use a variety of interchangeable lenses to
photograph many different kinds of scenes.

Secondary Image-Formation Lens

Separates light from the submirror into four, and then
forms four images on the CMOS area AF sensor

45-Point Area AF
Breaking New Ground in Distance Measuring
In 1987, Canon unveiled an AF SLR camera that
automatically focused on single central points
(range points) in the viewfinder. In 1990 and 1992,
we launched cameras with three-point (central
horizontal-axis direction) and five-point AF, respec-
tively. Then in 1998, we developed the EOS-3, an
SLR camera with 45-Point Area AF covering a wide
range of 8 mm x 15 mm. This new AF technology
helped propel us far ahead of the competition.
AF SLR cameras automatically measure the
distance between the photographer and the
object, after which the lens automatically moves to
the appropriate position. In the case of AF SLR
cameras with five focus points or less, light enter-
ing through the lens is directed via a submirror to
several secondary image-formation lenses depend-
ing on the AF point. Distance is then measured by
After light converging at the focal point is
directed by a CMOS area AF sensor (see page 46),
it is again dispersed and passes through secondary
image-formation lenses. There are two sets of such
lenses, one acting on each eye, as well as upper
and lower “eyes” not found in humans. The
CMOS area AF sensor binds these four parallax
images together. Distance is measured from the
resulting image, point values chosen by the user
are selected using eye-control technology (see Center-spot light- Range points Area AF frame
metering area
page 27), and the lens moves accordingly.
45-Point Distribution
We developed the CMOS area AF sensor to
conform to the 45-Point Area AF. This sensor has
Sightline sensor
30 to 40 times more pixels than conventional AF
Dichroic mirror
line sensors, and it can perform processes impossi-
Infrared
ble for previous sensors, such as the quick and light-emitting
accurate writing of images at a certain level for all diode

five sets of line sensors. 45 points.

Ocular lens
This method cannot be used to measure 45 With a 45-Point Area AF SLR camera, there is
points because the average SLR camera is too no need to position the object at the center of the Dichroic mirror

small to embody the required mechanism. For this viewfinder; users can take desired photos instantly. Main mirror

reason, we developed a new mechanism. We What’s more, thanks to their wide AF areas, these Film
made the submirror using an elliptical curved sur- cameras are well equipped to photograph moving Submirror (oval)

face mirror, allowing light rays from 45 locations to objects, allowing the photographer to capture
Full-reflective
be gathered by a single mirror. The light rays are powerful moments such as sports scenes. Further mirror

directed to two sets of secondary image-formation improving the performance of this system, adopt- CMOS area
lenses. This new mechanism works on the princi- ed in the top-of-the-line EOS-1V 35mm SLR cam- AF sensor

ple that light emerging from one elliptical focal
point that is reflected from an elliptical surface
must converge at a single point.
era, and in the EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds digital SLR Secondary image-
formation lens
cameras, Canon is earning high praise from
Full-reflective mirror
advance amateurs and professionals alike.
Cutaway View of EOS-3 and Light Path

26
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Pentaprism
Rotates the image on the focusing screen 180 degrees into an erecting
image for viewing through the viewfinder

Focusing Screen
Reproduces an image of the object to be photographed

Main Mirror
Guides light from the lens to the light-metering sensor and viewfinder,
and swings up to create a light path to the film so that the film is
exposed

Shutter
Opens when the shutter button is pressed to expose film to incoming
light

Film
Submirror
Elliptical curved surface mirror that guides light to the AF sensor

CMOS Area AF Sensor

Designed to rapidly process the distance between camera and object
using four individual images from different distances in the AF system

Eye-Control
Perfectly Capturing the Photographer‘s Viewpoint
Canon invented and developed the first eye-con- AF sensor.
trol technology in the world. Incorporated in our The image is used to determine the position of
Dichroic mirror
EOS-3 SLR camera and other SLR models, it uses the center of the pupil and the position of the
Area AF sensor
non-contact technology to determine where pho- reflected light. From these, the angle of rotation of
Image-
tographers are looking as they look through the the eye is calculated, and with that the sensor can formation
lens
viewfinder. The eye-control mechanism is compact determine exactly where the photographer is look-
and located in the viewfinder of the camera. ing in the viewfinder. From the angle of rotation of
When the photographer looks through the the eye, the direction of the line of sight can be
viewfinder, a beam of infrared light, emitted by a physiologically determined. We expect that, far
diode, shines on the photographer’s eye. The above being used in SLR cameras, this technology
cornea reflects this infrared light. The reflected will have applications in innovations in “bionic” Infrared
Focusing screen
image of the entire eye surface passes through vision in other areas. light-emitting
diode
image formation lenses and is focused on the area
Eye-Control Mechanism

Multiple-Zone Evaluative Metering

Accurate Reading of Delicate Light
Canon’s EOS-3, EOS-1V, EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds changes slightly, or when multiple metering points
employ a 21-zone evaluative metering sensor cover the subject.
linked to 45 Area AF points. This multiple-zone In addition to 21-zone evaluative metering,
evaluative metering system uses output from 21- these cameras all have six AF metering functions.
zone sensors and AF point information to adjust Users thus benefit from a diversity of choice, from
exposure instantly, calculating at high speed with manual to automatic exposure.
our newly developed algorithm.
This configuration enables the camera to
make compensations as necessary and maintain
exposure stability. It also uses an average metering
element depending on periphery conditions. This
assures stable exposure even when composition

Multiple-Zone Evaluative Metering

27
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Digital Video Camcorders

As with other digital imaging devices, today’s digital video camcorders are expected
to be compact, lightweight and boast very high image quality. Canon has mastered
imaging technologies, developing a wide range of digital video camcorders ranging
from stylish models for personal use to high-grade models that expand the creative
possibilities of digital video. By combining the optical technologies behind our world-
class cameras with our proven expertise in dynamic video expression, we are maximiz-
ing the potential of video.

HOW CANON DV CAMCORDERS WORK

Light entering through the lens is converted into
electronic signals by a CCD, which, along with
audio recorded via a microphone, are converted into
digital video data and recorded onto videotape. Optical Image Stabilizer (IS)
Depending on the product, either the shift-
method or Vari-Angle Prism system is employed

CCD
Converts light into electronic signals

Lens
Aspherical lens made with a glass mold with a high
refractive index, and developed specifically so that
digital video camcorders can produce bright, high-
quality images

One-Chip Video IC (VIC)

Proprietary system LSI that processes video signals
from the CCD and audio signals from the micro-
phone

28
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Vari-Angle Prism
Using an Optical Mechanism to Stabilize Images
Camera shake is a common problem with video
camcorder operation. When a camcorder is held in
the hand, it moves at the frequency of about 1 Hz
to 5 Hz. The effect cannot be overlooked as the
photographing magnification increases. Especially
at 10x magnification or higher, a large amount of
image blurring occurs.
Canon developed the Vari-Angle Prism (V.A.P.)
optical image stabilizer to deal with
this problem. This revolutionary unit
instantly corrects camera shake by
V.A.P. is a vertical-angle variable prism. It has
two glass plates connected with bellows made of
special film, and the space between them is filled
with a high-refraction liquid. When camera shake
occurs, it is detected by a gyrosensor, and the opti-
mum correction value is calculated by a microcom-
puter. An electromagnetic actuator freely controls
the prism’s vertical angle to correct vibration of the
No hand shake
optical axis. Compared with the electronic image
stabilizer used in many video camcorders, V.A.P.
boasts lower image deterioration. It also can cor-
rect up to 20 Hz of camera shake frequency and
performs optical axis correction. The V.A.P. can be
used to create an image-stabilizer lens simply by
adding it to existing lens types.
Hand shake

changing the angle of two glass

plates connected with special film,
to compensate for the vibration.
The V.A.P. is incorporated in our
digital video camcorders and binoc-
ulars, and is also suited to television Vari-Angle Prism
broadcasting camera lens adapters.
Vari-Angle Prism Vari-Angle Prism IS System

Shift-Method Optical Image Stabilizer

Built for Compact Spaces
Because of their size, there is no free space in SLR
cameras to incorporate a Vari-Angle Prism optical
image stabilizer (see above) for compensation of
camera shake in front of or midway through the
lens group. Canon has thus developed image sta-
bilizer technology using the shift method.
As is the case with the Vari-Angle Prism, the
shift method uses a gyrosensor to detect camera
shake, which automatically cancels the effects of
movement by laterally shifting a correction lens.
The image stabilizer lens system allows the
user to compensate for camera shake by the
equivalent of two to three shutter speed settings.
For example, when photographing at 1/30th of a
method image stabilizer system for digital video
camcorder lenses that assures shooting stability,
even for high-speed action shots.
In previous video camcorders, Canon used a
Vari-Angle Prism lens at the front of the optics sys- Focus lens Corrective Film
group lens group surface
tem. However, the shift method makes it possible
to place the optics system midway through the
Subject
lens system, even with zoom lenses, which allows
the lens system to move. We were therefore able
to make the entire lens system more compact,
enabling smaller, lighter and more competitively
priced products.
Canon employs either the Vari-Angle Prism Camera
method or the shift-method optical image stabiliz- shake

second, it is possible to achieve an image with
quality comparable to a photo exposed for
1/125th of a second.
With our highly reliable aspherical lenses, it
has become easier to create compact corrective
er, depending on specific requirements of prod-
ucts. The DIGISUPER 100 xs field lens for high-defi-
nition TV broadcasting, which boasts a zoom ratio
of 100x, uses the shift method to compensate for Compensated
camera shake and ensure the steadiness of the light beam

optical systems. We have developed a shift- broadcast image. Shift-Method Image Stabilizer System

One-Chip Video IC (VIC)

Compressing Functions on an Originally Developed LSI
System LSIs combine data conversion, peripheral
equipment control and other multiple systems with
CPUs on a single chip.
Canon began developing system LSIs for video
camcorders in the early 1990s, when they were a
novel idea. We successfully installed on a single
chip the image-processing circuitry of the camera
section of our products. This device, which con-
verts signals received via the CCD into video sig-
nals, is known as a digital IC (DIC). We first
installed the device in an 8mm video camcorder in
1994.
The following year, we began developing a
one-chip video IC (VIC) incorporating images from
the recorder portion of a digital video camcorder
and audio-signal processing circuitry. We first single general-use DRAM, simplifying the struc-
installed this device in a Canon digital video cam- ture, raising the efficiency of product develop-
corder in 1997. Signal processing in the recording ment, and improving circuit reliability.
portion is more complex than that in the camera The VIC and VIC2 allowed us to make our dig-
portion, but we approached 1 million gates in our ital video camcorders more compact and energy
VIC. After that, we developed the VIC2, incorpo- efficient, and contributed significantly to reducing
rating an interface for IEEE 1394, and from the costs.
year 2000 began adding it to Canon products. The
VIC2 chip and a 64 Mb SDRAM are currently being
combined into a multichip module (MCM).
One of the features of the VIC is the creation
of a single interface between memory and circuits
for data compression/expansion, error correction,
recording modulation/demodulation and packetiz-
System LSI for Digital Video Camcorders
ing. The multiple memories were integrated into a (Courtesy of Fujitsu Limited)

29
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Flatbed Image Scanners

Scanners use optical technologies to convert the
contents of documents into digital data. In the
past, they were mainly used to scan text or pho-
Light Source for Film Scanning
tos, but demand has also grown for products Light source using a specially designed fluorescent
that can directly digitize 35mm film. Canon is lamp for film scanning
responding by applying its extensive digital
imaging technologies. Our flatbed scanners
incorporate advanced optical, mechanical, elec-
trical, electronic and software technologies.
Featuring top-class 3200-dpi resolution, these
scanners are also reasonably priced.

HOW CANON FLATBED IMAGE SCANNERS

WORK
Light applied to a document on a glass plate is read
by the optical unit and sent to a computer as image
data. These products are called scanners because
the optical unit moves vertically down the glass to
Carriage
read documents. Canon scanners use either a CCD An optical unit––incorporating a fluorescent light
or CIS to convert electric signals into image data, source, reflecting mirrors, lens and CCD––which
depending on the imaging element used. slides vertically down the document while scanning

Super Galileo Lens

Boasting a Compact Size and Maximal Resolution
As scanners become more compact and resolution
increases, their lenses become increasingly impor-
tant. However, increasing compactness in lenses
gives rise to curvature of field, which causes image
distortion on the edge of documents. Color aber-
ration is also difficult to correct. For these reasons,
Canon developed its Super Galileo Lens based on
high-performance camera lenses.
Super Galileo has six elements in six groups,
with a convex lens group on the document side
and a concave lens group on the CCD side.
Although a mere 29 mm in length, its precision
ranks on a par with 600-mm super-telephoto lens-
es used by professional photographers. This
required an advanced level of work in every step of
the development process, from selection of glass
for each lens to overall optical design. In consider-
ation of the environment, Canon uses lead-free
glass.
Cross-Section of Super Galileo Lens

Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement (FARE)

Automatically Reducing Dust and Scratches During Film Scanning
When photographic film is scanned with ultrahigh res- Infrared rays are used to detect dust and scratch- and shape of the flaws, as well as characteristics of
olution, minute dust particles and scratches that are es. When such rays, which do not fall within the visi- surrounding data. It then removes the flaws from the
invisible to the human eye are picked up by the scan- ble range, scan a film, the images on the film appear image. The two light sources––a fluorescent lamp as
ner. To solve this problem, Canon has developed its almost transparent. However, dust and scratches the white light source and an infrared LED array as the
revolutionary Film Automatic Retouching and obstruct the infrared rays, making it possible to scan infrared light source––are placed parallel to the light
Enhancement (FARE) technology. images containing only dust and scratches. Based on guide.
Conventional photo film scanners already location data about the detected flaws using white
adopted this technology, but flatbed scanners did light, FARE assesses various factors, such as the size
not. This was because it was impos-
sible to incorporate an infrared light
source––necessary for detecting
dust and scratches on the film sur-
face––into the backlight used to
scan the film. In response, Canon
developed a backlight that enables
this function to be incorporated into
a flatbed scanner––a world‘s first.
Image picked up by scanner with dust and scratches Dust and scratches detected with infrared light Image after FARE process

30

Controller
Uses a dedicated LSI to process image data
from the CCD and send it to a computer
Reflective Mirrors
To obtain the appropriate optical path length, repeatedly
reflects light on the document so that light passing through
the lens can be converted into an image by the CCD
Carriage motor
Drives the carriage
Ultra Hyper CCD
Spearheading 2400-dpi Resolution
Canon’s line CCD image sensor makes possible
ultrahigh 2400-dpi resolution in scanners. Our 6-
line CCD has two rows of 1200-dpi pixels for each
of the red, green and blue color groups. These
rows are arranged in a zigzag pattern half a pixel
apart, doubling resolution to 2400 dpi without
reducing the size of the CCD.
Only 4 µm separate each CCD pixel, but
arranging pixels at a higher density is insufficient
to improve resolution. Each pixel must realize inde-
pendent and reliable light perception because
images blur if pixels detect light entering from
LED Indirect Exposure (LIDE)
Providing Compact and Energy Efficient Scanner Support
The need to make high-precision scanners smaller,
lighter and more energy efficient cannot possibly
be satisfied unless the carriage, which plays a piv-
otal role in the scanner mechanism, is also made
smaller. Canon’s LIDE (LED Indirect Exposure) is a
revolutionary carriage. Situated in the scanner, it
contains an optical unit using a CCD, an optical
imaging system and image sensors. Its dimensions
are between 1/10th and 1/20th those of conven-
tional CCD carriages, and it consumes less than 10
percent of the electricity.
One special feature of the LIDE is its use of a
three-color (RGB) LED as a light source. Compared
with fluorescent lamps used in conventional scan-
ners, LEDs are significantly smaller and lighter,
while also being long lasting and energy efficient.
The problem is that they produce very small quan-
tities of light. We succeeded in eliminating light
Digital Imaging Technologies
Dual Reflector
Reflective surfaces on both sides of the light Light Source
source greatly increase the amount of light gener-
ated, resulting in brilliant, low-noise scanning
Reflective Mirror
Cutaway View of Carriage
Ultra Hyper CCD
A 6-line true 2400-dpi CCD featuring
two rows of 1200-dpi RGB elements
Super Galileo Lens FARE Glass
High-performance lens with a mere
Adjusts the optical path length of infrared
and normal light
29 mm in length
adjacent pixels. Canon’s Ultra Hyper CCD uses and secondary scans to provide extremely clear
semiconductor-processing technology to create image scans.
aluminum light shield layers between pixels, raising The Ultra Hyper CCD III, the top of the line in
the sharpness pixel sensitivity distribution and dra- this series of sensors, employs a new process-for-
matically improving resolution. Subtle black-white mation method to deliver ultrahigh-resolution
line differentiation has also been enhanced. 3200-dpi performance.
We raised both the resolution and sensitivity
Canon’s Ultra Hyper CCD II Conventional Hyper CCD
of the Ultra Hyper CCD II by employing diamond-
shaped (hexagonal) pixels for sharper, more
Pixels Pixels
detailed scans from center to periphery. This raises
Diamond-pixel CCD CCD with zigzag layout
the modulation transfer function (MTF), or the res- Sensitivity distribution per pixel on the document surface
olution of the sensor itself, on both the primary
CanonÕs Ultra Hyper CCD II
loss along the light path, guaranteeing that suffi-
cient light is provided for scanning.
In CCD-based methods, scanning is done with
an image sensor that is shorter than the dimen-
sions of the document platform. This has necessi- CanoScan LiDE50, Incorporating LIDE and CIS
tated installation of a complex optical system,
including mirrors to guarantee a light path of the
required length. With Canon’s LIDE, however, the
lens array and the contact image sensor (CIS, see
Light guide
page 46) do not require mirrors and other com-
plexities. This has enabled us to reduce scanner
size significantly, while at the same time making it
lighter. Lens array
To drive the carriage, we employ ultramicro-
motors, which allow a reduction in energy con-
LED
sumption, enabling the scanner to be powered Image sensor
from a computer via a USB port without a dedicat-
ed AC power source. LED Configuration
31
 Digital Imaging Technologies
Ultraprecision Equipment
Ultraprecision is the microscopic world of the nanometer (nm),
equal to a millionth of a millimeter, utterly invisible to the naked
eye. Nevertheless, basic technologies designed to accurately control
substances at the nanometer level lie at the core of many of the
products that enrich our lifestyles and working
environments today. Canon’s ultraprecision tech-
nologies are featured in a wide range of equip-
ment, from semiconductor production equip-
ment to apparatuses designed to view the far-
thest reaches of outer space.
Ultraprecision Positioning Technology
Sustaining High-Density Semiconductor Production
In tools used to expose semiconductor circuit pat-
terns on silicon wafers, minute electronic circuit
patterns on a photographic plate (reticle) are pro-
jected onto a wafer with a photoresist (positive
photosensitive material). Multiple processes, such
as development–removal, etching and doping, are
repeated more than 10 times to form transistors,
diodes and countless other elements. This process
facilitates creation of diverse high-density chips,
including CPUs and memories.
After the initial exposure, a wafer moves 22
mm in just 0.2 seconds. The precision required at
this phase is ± 10 nm. To meet this difficult
requirement, precise positioning and control tech-
nologies are needed on the wafer stage, where
the wafer rests throughout the production process.
To satisfy such strict positioning criteria,
Canon has adopted a noncontact air-guide system
using static-pressure porous ceramic bearings.
IDEALSmile
Taking Existing Exposure Systems Generations into the Future
In its ongoing quest to facilitate advances in chip
density, Canon has developed an exposure technol-
ogy, called IDEALSmile (Innovative Double Effective
source Aided Lithography with Single mask imple-
mented lithographic enhancement), which permits
existing exposure tools to be used for several gener-
ations in the future. The only way to achieve more
precise design rules in exposure patterns is to use
light sources with shorter wavelengths. Changing
the wavelength, however, normally requires whole-
sale changes elsewhere, especially in the lens system
and resist material. Canon’s IDEALSmile technology
solves this problem by enabling current-generation
steppers and scanners to provide improved resolu-
tion performance without major changes. Using this
technology, for example, a scanner fabricating 150-
nm chips would be able to deliver 110-nm feature
resolution.
With this technology, exposure is performed
32
Reticle
Source image that is scaled down by the lens and
projected onto the surface of the silicon wafer
Reticle Changer
Supplies reticles for each stage of the production
FPA-5000ES3 Scanning Stepper process, from image projection and development
to final processing
Atmospheric pressure is used to push the porous part of the lens, while moving the reticle and
ceramic bearing upward from the base, eliminat- wafer simultaneously in opposite directions.
ing friction and permitting swift positioning. Also, Innovations such as these are earning praise for
the drive portion of the system is contactless, obvi- Canon’s semiconductor-exposure tools from cus-
ating the need for maintenance. The lightness of tomers around the world.
the mobile portion ensures movement speed,
boosting wafer-processing performance. Wafer Bar mirror
The wafer stage features not only forward- Y guide
X-axis linear
motor
reverse and left-right drive and control (X–Y axis),
but also up-down movement (Z axis) for focus align-
ment, as well as rotation-direction control centering
on the X–Y–Z axis, to achieve nanometer-level con-
trol along six axes. A linear motor controls the
wafer’s movement in each direction. Vibration-con-
trol technology for the overall device, as well as
meticulous control of airflow, temperature and XY stage Y-axis linear motor
other internal factors, are also incorporated.
X guide
Canon is also manufacturing a scanning step-
per, which increases resolution using only the core High-Speed, High-Precision Wafer Stage
using a special illumination system with oblique clearly illustrates the benefit of our new technolo-
incidence (IDEALSmile Illumination) and a special gy. If IDEALSmile is applied to a tool with an ArF
mask (IDEALSmile Mask) that provides an addition- (argon-fluoride) excimer laser light source, resolu-
al cyclical assist pattern in close proximity to the tion can be improved further, to achieve contact
actual pattern to be exposed. Contact holes can holes with diameters as low as 70 nm to 80 nm,
be imaged at very high resolution—a convention- which can normally only be produced by next-gen-
ally difficult task, especially when exposing ultra- eration F2 laser exposure tools (see page 33).
fine patterns.
Illumination
By implementing Canon’s IDEALSmile Conventional 2/3 Conventional quadru- IDEALSmile
Mask annular illumination pole illumination illumination
technology without changing the wave-
775 J/m exposure dose
2
1660 J/m exposure dose
2
635 J/m exposure dose
2
length, exposure tools currently in use can
Conventional
produce resolution levels several genera- binary mask
tions ahead of their time, and semiconduc-
tor production costs can be reduced.
570 J/m exposure dose
2
1500 J/m exposure dose
2
410 J/m exposure dose
2
The figure shows contact holes with a
IDEALSmile
110-nm diameter exposed using a KrF mask
(krypton-fluoride) excimer laser with 248-
nm wavelength. Comparing the conven-
tional and IDEALSmile exposure methods Comparing Conventional and IDEALSmile Exposure Methods
 Digital Imaging Technologies

HOW CANON SEMICONDUCTOR-

EXPOSURE TOOLS WORK
Semiconductor exposure tools expose elec-
tronic circuit patterns on silicon wafers to
produce ultraprecise semiconductors for
CPUs, memories and LSI chips. Using resins
and other materials that solidify under
light, the patterns of semiconductor blue-
print exposure and processing are repeated
numerous times to produce hundreds of
individual chips. This repetition of many
steps is where the device gets its name
“stepper.”

Light Source
Uses laser beams at an extremely low wavelength

Lens
One of the most important components in
semiconductor-exposure tools, requires far
more precision than a camera lens

Wafer Stage
Moves rapidly and with ultraprecision while hold-
ing the silicon wafer

Next-Generation Exposure Technology

Seeking Greater Circuit Density
Technologies used in semiconductor-exposure next-generation steppers with a wavelength
Mask stage
processes have evolved rapidly, as narrower circuit of 157 nm.
EUV lithography mask
exposure has become necessary to create high- To achieve even higher resolutions, we
Illumination system
density devices. Canon adopted an excimer laser are also researching semiconductor-exposure
lithography device for the production of 256 tools using EUV (extreme ultraviolet) as the
MDRAMs, offering a stepper that exposes line- light source. EUV stepper technology, the lat-
widths of down to 150 nm and a scanning stepper est generation in exposure technology, is
Projection
featuring line-widths down to 100 nm. based on 50-nm design rules and is expected system
Our current steppers use KrF excimer lasers, to advance miniaturization across a number EUV light source Vacuum and controlled Wafer
with a wavelength of 248 nm, and ArF excimer of generations over 35 nm. environment system stage

lasers with a wavelength of 193 nm. But F2 lasers

will be used in realizing shorter wavelengths for Conceptual Overview of EUV Stepper

Large Concave Mirror

Enabling Single-Exposure Processing for Large LCD Panels
LCD panels are finding widespread application in Canon‘s large concave mirror has a surface
computer screens, TVs and other devices. One key processing precision of 0.015 µm. Such precision
to LCD production is an exposure process for trans- requires extremely sophisticated technologies,
ferring pixels onto glass substrates, which can be including superior grinding, processing and calibra-
performed in a number of ways. From a cost stand- tion technologies, as well as processes for vaporiz- Large-Diameter, High-Precision
Concave Mirror
point, the ideal method is a single-exposure process, ing metals onto a glass lens. As a result, we are in
whereby minute patterns written on an optical a position to mass-produce large-diameter, high-
mask are transferred onto the glass substrate using precision concave mirrors.
a mirror projection aligner. Large LCD panels require
a larger exposure area, and consequently the aligner
requires a large-diameter, high-precision concave
mirror. Canon has developed the world‘s largest
high-precision concave mirror, with a diameter of
800 mm. It allows LCDs for 32-inch widescreen TVs
to be made with a single exposure process. MPA-7500 Mirror Projection Aligner

33
 Digital Imaging Technologies
Prime Focus Corrector Lens for the Subaru Telescope
Producing Results in Astronomical Observation
Located at the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii,
4,200 m above sea level, are 10 large-scale astro-
nomical telescopes. This high density has led to the
site being called the Mecca of astronomical obser-
vation. Each telescope here is at the top of its class
worldwide. One of them is Subaru, a large-scale
optical-infrared telescope operated by the National
Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).
The primary mirror on this telescope has an
effective aperture of 8.2 m, making it the largest
single primary mirror in the world. Subaru is
installed with an optics system that links images to
the primary focus point. The prime focus corrector
lens was made possible by Canon’s lens technolo-
gies.
The primary focus has a shorter focal length than
the Cassegrain and other foci, allowing it to capture
bright images from wide fields of view. However, it
has always been extremely difficult to install optics
systems in the primary focus of large-scale reflecting
telescopes, because conventional optics designs
made the system itself too large to be installed in the
head of the telescope. Also, it was necessary to cre-
ate a system in which it is easy to interchange sec-
ondary mirrors and the optics system.
The difficulties were cleared, however, with
Canon’s new-concept prime focus corrector lens,
designed to be smaller and lighter. Canon suc-
ceeded in creating a system that is, on average,
more than 70 percent smaller than other designs,
and more than 50 percent lighter. Despite this
miniaturization, the system incorporates five large
lens groups of seven lenses each. The maximum
lens diameter is 520 mm, and the total weight is
170 kg, making it the largest lens unit ever pro-
duced by Canon.
The field of view of the prime focus corrector
lens is 30 arcmin, meaning that it can view the
moon almost in its entirety. This translates into 25
times the width of the viewing angle of the
Cassegrain focus, which is 6 arcmin. In other
words, Subaru is capable of viewing much wider
areas of space than any other telescope.
Thermal Infrared Radiometer for the TERRA
Maximizing the Performance of Remote Sensing
Remote sensing, the technology of monitoring the
earth’s surface from satellites, is being used in a
variety of applications, such as weather prediction,
environmental preservation, disaster prevention,
land surveys and geographical searches for oil and
mineral resources. In 1999, the U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
launched the TERRA earth observation satellite with
international cooperation. This orbiting satellite fea-
tures the state-of-the-art Advanced Spaceborne
Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer
(ASTER) developed by the JAROS (Japan Resources
Observation System Organization).
Canon was put in charge of developing the
telescope for the thermal infrared radiometer (TIR)
34
In addition, the prime focus corrector lens The completed prime focus corrector lens was
functions with high accuracy to compensate for installed on Subaru, and full-scale usage of the sys-
atomospheric dispersion, which occurs because tem began in 2001.
the refractive index differs according to the wave- In addition to Subaru, Canon is working to
length of light entering the earth‘s atmosphere enter the fields of outer space development,
from distant stars. Canon innovation is also fea- including optics systems for satellites, and astro-
tured in the design of this corrector system. The nomical observation itself.
original design incorporated two units with two
wedge-shaped prisms joined together. Rotating
these units in opposing directions would compen-
sate for atmospheric dispersion. However, this
method resulted in a heavy system, requiring four
sheets of glass for the corrector alone. As an alter-
native, Canon proposed a system of two lenses
with the same refractive index but made from
materials with different wavelength dispersion
characteristics. Compensation would occur by
shifting these lenses at right angles to the optical
axis. Canon’s method made it possible to greatly
reduce the weight of the corrector lens system.
Other problems had to be resolved to produce
these systems. A truly high level of processing pre-
cision was required to create the two large-diame-
ter aspherical lenses. When the lenses, one of
which weighs 30 kg, were inserted in the titani- Subaru Telescope, on the Summit of Mauna Kea
um-alloy lens barrel, it was necessary for the clear-
ance between the lens barrel and each lens
Prime focus
to be no more than several dozen nanome-
ters. Here again, Canon’s lens production Optical Cassegrain
Prime focus
secondary mirror
corrector lens
know-how was put to good use. optics system
Optical Nasmyth
secondary mirror
Nasmyth focus
(optical)
Infrared
secondary mirror
Atmospheric dispersion corrector
Aspherical lens Aspherical
lens
Nasmyth focus
(infrared)
Primary
Tertiary mirrors mirror
(optical and infrared)
Cassegrain focus
Shifting the correction lenses
compensates for atmospheric dispersion
Prime Focus Corrector Lens Structure of Subaru
on-board TERRA. While the ASTER can sense light been highly evaluated as sharper and more distinct
from the visible (0.52 µm) to the infrared (11.65 than any others to date.
µm) bands, the TIR is responsible for monitoring
thermal infrared light in the 8.125-µm to 11.65-µm
bands, which is also the peak band for radiation
from the earth’s surface. In other words, the TIR is a
thermography camera focused on the earth.
Thermal infrared
The primary mirror in the optical system has a radiometer
and optical
280 mm parabolic surface. We were able to keep device
the weight of the overall system to 15 kg by using
ultralow-expansion glass with a reduced weight in
the primary mirror and carbon fiber reinforced-
plastic (CFRP) in the lens barrel.
In 2000, the first pictures from TERRA were
successfully received on earth. The images have
Internal View of TIR Optics System
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Optical Equipment
Canon’s origins are in optics technologies, which we continue to advance in a variety of fields. Much of our
optics expertise is being applied in communications, medical, broadcasting and a range of other systems that,
unlike everyday-use products, require specific highly advanced technologies. Canon stands ready to answer
the call for such high-level optics technologies.

Optical Beam Communications Systems

Achieving High-Speed Wireless Communications
The CANOBEAM optical beam communication sys-
tem for Free Space Optics (F.S.O.) uses two units
placed up to a few kilometers apart to transmit
data via semiconductor laser beams. This technolo-
gy resulted through the merger of the optical
design and light beam expertise Canon has
amassed through the years. CANOBEAM units fea-
ture an automatic beam-tracking function that
corrects for shifts in the optical axis caused by
vibration or distortions of the unit mount. The lens
system was also designed for maximum perfor-
mance to provide highly reliable and stable trans-
mission over a distance of kilometers.
Demand has recently grown for high-speed
LANs serving entire communities and regions.
However, cable-based systems using conventional
public communication networks or dedicated line
connections cannot meet the needs of the multi-
media age in terms of speed, functions or costs.
Optical-beam communications can transmit data at
the high speed of 1.25 gigabits per second (Gbps).
This method does not require official usage
approval or fall under regulations concerning wave-
length allocations, nor is there a risk of electronic
interference or interception.
The CANOBEAM system has made it easy to
link networks, for diverse applications such as col-
lege campus networks and company intranets,
including gigabit-class backbone connections,
remotely operated supercomputers and high-defi-
nition image transmission.

Auto Eye-Tracking Technology

Making Possible Fully Automatic Eye Examinations
Ophthalmic measuring equipment known as auto
refract-keratometers use near-infrared light to
automate refract-keratometry measurements,
making them widely applicable in clinical diagno-
sis. But conventional refract-keratometers require
operators to monitor the image of the patient’s
eye while performing manual alignment with a
joystick. A high level of operator skill is needed,
and improving the accuracy of the alignment val-
ues and operation speed is an ongoing challenge.
Canon’s auto eye-tracking technology enables
a fully automatic system that performs all opera-
tions, from alignment to measurement and print-
outs, so that even nonprofessionals can perform
accurate ophthalmic procedures just by pressing
the start button. The technology also enables suc-
cessive measurements of both eyes, reducing the
time and cost of eye tests. The result is improved
measurement consistency and repeatability.
To achieve reliable measurements, eye-track-
ing technology must be able to accurately detect a
wide area in the front of the eye. However, widen-
ing the detecting scope deteriorates alignment res-
olution. Canon has overcome this by combining
wide-area pupil detection, depth alignment via corneal depth of only several millimeters. However,
detection of light reflected in the cornea and high- Canon harnessed these three component tech-
ly accurate alignment via detection of the refrac- nologies to create a 20-mm x 15-mm detection
tometer light reflected in the cornea. scope with a wide examination depth of more
Developing these three technologies was diffi- than 30 mm. Our automatic eye-tracking system
cult due to light source challenges. When a beam features a simple mechanism that provides stable
from the refractometer light source is directly pro- results, is reliable and contributes to reduced costs.
jected onto the cornea, the reflected image can
only be detected over an extremely narrow range
because the beam itself is very narrow. Eye track-
ing becomes virtually impossible in the case of
patients who have poor eye fixation. Employing a
light source exclusively for eye
tracking gives rise to unwanted
Triple-beam processing
ghost images and light spots in the Pupil detection
External light source to
detected image. illuminate front of eye
Detection of light reflected in cornea
Detection of refractometer light
Canon created a wide bundle reflected in cornea
of projection light for the eye-track- Area sensor for moni-
Measurement (refractometry)
toring front of eye
ing index by placing a semitranspar-
ent diffusing plate into the refrac- Diffusing plate Refractometer light
source
tometer light projection path. Other
products have only achieved a spot
Refractometer area
detection of about 4 mm and rely sensor
on manual measurement for Auto Eye-Tracking Optical System

Television Broadcasting Lens

World’s First Triple-Digit Zoom
Canon offers a whole range of broadcast television
lenses popular worldwide. Prominent among these
is our DIGISUPER series. Recently, we unveiled the
most advanced model in this series: the DIGISUPER
100 xs, a field lens for standard-definition television
(SDTV) and high-definition television (HDTV) broad-
casting with the first triple-digit zoom ratio in the
world.
The new lens incorporates Canon’s original
optical element manufacturing technologies—such
as ultralow-dispersion (UD) glass and fluorite—
allowing the correction of various types of aberra-
tions over a wide range. The special characteristics
of this optical system are maximized by Canon’s
original optical design technology, called the Power
Optical System. Together, these technologies
ensure ample compensation for phenomena such
as chromatic aberration and curvature of field. In
fact, while raising zoom power to 100x, the new
lens achieves a magnitude of chromatic aberration
at the telephoto end on a par with that of our pop-
ular DIGISUPER 86 xs, which offers an 86x zoom.
Other features of the DIGISUPER 100 xs
include Canon’s original Optical Shift Image
Stabilizer, which compensates for the slight vibra-
tion that cannot be avoided when shooting at
super telephoto focal length with television broad-
casting cameras. We also adopted a digital servo
system to determine zoom and focusing positions
with exceptional accuracy.

35
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Software technologies such as image processing play a vital role in the perfor-
Software mance of input/output equipment from digital cameras to copying machines,
facsimile machines and printers. For this reason, Canon is actively developing
system-related, image-formatting, signal-processing and other technologies
to raise the effectiveness of text and image data. We have set for ourselves
the challenge of achieving technologies for a unified color system spanning
our product lines, data retrieval technologies to increase system efficiency and
cutting edge technologies in fields including mixed reality (MR).

Digital Offices
Sharing and Managing Digital Data
To respond effectively to the needs in today’s diversi-
fying and decentralizing office environments, Canon
has devised its digital office concept, which concen-
trates on maximizing the potential of data networks.
This concept revolves around the idea of more
efficiently managing work in offices, including the
creation of organic links between computers,
peripherals and networks; the digitization of shared
information; and the ability to create, input, search,
manage, share and transmit information.
We are working from the knowledge gained
through our development of connectivity software
and drivers to develop application software (docu-
ment-management systems, etc.) and middleware
(OCR, color management systems, etc.) to help
realize the digital office. We are also developing
communication software that can handle data
including images and video.

imageWARE Series
Centralized Management of Office Documents
Canon’s imageWARE suite of software products
enables centralized management of all types of office
documents without having to produce hard copies.
At the core of the suite is imageWARE Document
Manager, which centralizes management of docu-
ments from various types of media and enables prac-
tically anybody to view or output documents effi-
ciently at their leisure. On the input side, this product
supports the popular TWAIN and ISIS scanner drivers.
Documents can be output via laser beam printer,
Bubble Jet printer or copying machine. Users can
even send documents via fax modem or as e-mail
attachments.
imageWARE Document Manager Gateway is an
application server that calibrates and distributes docu-
ments scanned from Canon imageRUNNER (iR) net-
work digital MFPs. It can convert images into full-text-
searchable PDF format, and can automatically index
and modify documents for storage in the designated is included only in imageWARE Document Manager
Document Manager folder. Enterprise.)
Document Manager data is easily shared within imageWARE Scan Manager indexes and effi-
the user network. Those requiring more advanced, ciently processes large volumes of form documents,
robust document management solutions can such as checks and invoices imported using a scanner
upgrade to imageWARE Document Manager or other input device. Indexed documents are easily
Enterprise. Compatible with “Single Sign-on” for retrieved as needed. Other functions include “form
Windows™ networks, Enterprise enables users to recognition,” which automatically recognizes stan-
access resources seamlessly, based on a single dard form layouts to allow selected processing.
authentication when they initially access the network,
removing the need for repeated user name and pass-
word input. It offers three choices for retrieving
stored data: “Attribute Search,” based on file name
or annotation, “Full Text Serch,” which searches for
documents containing a key word or phrase, and
“Concept Search,” which analyzes the content of
stored documents and identifies those with similar
content to that required by the user. (Concept Search

Network Print Management Software

Improving Office Efficiency by Centrally Managing Multiple Printers
Canon is developing network print management
software to effectively control multiple output
devices connected in networked environments,
such as printers and copying machines, in offices.
NetSpot is groupware application software
designed to set up and manage network printers.
It can monitor conditions on all network printers,
ascertain on/offline status, error status/conditions,
and the amount of paper in cassettes as well as
verify information on available fonts and other
readings. With NetSpot, almost all the functions
found on the operation panels of conventional
machines can now be done without users having
to leave their desks.
NetCraft is print job-scheduling software that
controls and monitors network printers for more
efficient printing. NetCraft relieves the burden on
the print server with the following functions: total
print assurance (saves and manages the data until
printing is completed), print status/job monitoring,
job rerouting (reroutes the job to another printer if
there is a print failure) and print log function (man-
ages print usage logs).
In addition, the imageWARE series includes
imageWARE Form Manager, a form production
and output application incorporating Form Editor
for form creation and the Overlay Printing Library,
which efficiently prints out forms. This software
contributes to reducing costs by removing the
need for preprinted paper forms and provides an
environment for more rapid and creative form pro-
duction and output.
Our NetSpot Suite is a middleware device
management solution. NetSpot Accountant, totals
and analyzes output statistics for printers and
copying machines. NetSpot Console allows inte-
grated management of not only printers, but also
of copying machines and network digital MFPs.
And NetSpot Device Installer helps users install NetSpot Accountant Screen (Top)
new peripheral devices into networked offices. NetSpot Console Screen (Bottom)

36

Color Management Concept
Establishing a Unified Color Scheme in All Canon Products
A look at the typical modern networked environ-
ment reveals a variety of input and output
devices, all connected together to send and
receive digital image data, as well as growing
diversity in the types of devices handling the
same image data.
For example, users of digital cameras have
output choices for their photographs. They can
connect the digital camera directly to a printer,
import images to a computer for onscreen confir-
mation before printing, or send images via the
Internet for output by a third party. Output device
choices are even more diverse, covering laser
beam printers, Bubble Jet printers and color copy-
ing machines. And then there are various home,
business and high-end industrial user needs.
The major problem with this increased diver-
sity is that the colors of the output might differ
from the original image, owing to characteristics
of the output device. These color-matching prob-
lems have magnified with progress in network-
ing, leading to needs for fundamental solutions.
The Visual Information Technology
Development Laboratory in Canon Inc.’s Platform
Technology Development Headquarters has
launched a project to realize consistent high-qual-
ity Canon colors. The ultimate aim is to ensure
consistency in color creation across Canon’s digi-
tal imaging product lines through the following
processes:
(1) Color optimization for different reproduction
modes of input/output devices
(2) Panel tests aimed at producing desired colors
(3) Highly efficient development to realize high-
image-quality colors
Color Optimization for Different Devices
The optimal color reproduction mode depends on
the content and intended use of the image.
Canon has adopted three modes—Perceptual,
Saturation and Colorimetric—each with its own
design policy. The perceptual mode centers on
digital photo colors, while saturation covers col-
ors in business use, centering on documents and
graphics, and the colorimetric mode is for high-
end colors, where faithful reproduction of origi-
nals is paramount.
Panel Tests Determine Color Preferences
Of the three modes, perceptual and saturation
reflect user preferences. While colors are chemi-
cally controlled in film photography, they are con-
trolled in digital images by digital means. For this
reason, there is a need to quantify colors that
people regard as desirable.
Taking up the challenge, the Visual
Information Technology Development Laboratory
conducted large-scale panel tests in Japan, North
America and Europe, drawing on Canon’s long-
accumulated image-processing, assessment and
evaluation technologies. Participants of the test
ranged from regular users to designers, photog-
raphers and other professionals. In the tests, par-
Digital Imaging Technologies
ticipants provided subjective assessments of mul- assessment standards, and set up measurement
tiple image samples amid a changing observation environments in each business division. We also
environment. Through these tests, we succeeded formulated strict traceability standards for our
in obtaining consistent preferences for top-quality measuring instruments (especially colorimeters).
color images, without relying on specific prod- These standards guide all aspects of our equip-
ucts. We have decided to reflect these results in ment management, from development to quality
designing all our digital imaging products. assessment.
Efficient Development for High Image Quality (4) Image Evaluation at the Color Stadium
We have also developed a special environment Canon’s Color Stadium provides the perfect envi-
for designing and assessing digital imaging prod- ronment for obtaining high-quality images. Here,
ucts. Development evolved in the following we undertake objective technological assess-
stages: (1) High-precision simulations at the Color ments of Canon devices and how they interface
Technical Center; (2) Image design; (3) with one another, as well as studies of combina-
Measurement; (4) Image assessments at the tions with other companies’ products. We have
Color Stadium and (5) Integrated image design created a benchmarking environment that pro-
environment. vides matrix evaluations of input and output
devices made by Canon and its competitors.
(1) Color Technical Center
At the Color Technical Center, we perform high- (5) Integrated Image Design Environment
precision measurements of colors from various All sorts of design and evaluation data are stored
devices and conduct high-precision image simula- in an image information database and utilized.
tions using a supercomputer (also used in our Design and assessment applications can be used
development of ink colors for Bubble Jet printers, over Canon’s information network, allowing opti-
in which we performed simulations by automati- mal design at any product development location.
cally selecting optimal colors
from 270 trillion color combina- (2) Image design (3) Measurement
tions).
(2) Image Design
To achieve color consistency
among all our devices, we need Design tools (3D color CAD)
to develop software applications Image Information
for efficient color design and Database
(1) Color Technical Center (4) Color Stadium
assessment in line with our
design policy, and share those
applications throughout the
Canon Group. Because distribu-
tion of preferred colors is
(5) Integrated image design environment
extremely complex and nonlin-
ear, compiling color tables nor-
mally requires advanced tech- Efficient System to Create Colors for High Image Quality
nologies and large amounts of
time. Instead, using data based
on 3D technologies and actual 1. Color optimization for different devices
Color design policy
human eyesight characteristics, 2. Panel tests to determine desired colors established
the Visual Information 3. Efficient development to realize colors for high image quality
Establishing unified
Technology Development Canon colors
Laboratory developed another
Digital cameras
Canon original: an advanced dis-
Large-format printers
tortion-elimination algorithm that
surpasses human vision limita-
1. Color design policy
tions. Using this algorithm, we 2. Color Technical Center/Color
Bubble Jet printers
Stadium
perfected a 3D-CAD design appli- 3. Consistent color UI
cation that allows efficient design 4. Integrated image design envi-
ronment
of advanced color tables for spe- Laser beam printers
Imaging technologies, quality Scanners
cific devices. Full-color copying assessment, patents, etc.
machines
(3) Measurement
Maintaining high image quality
requires accurate and stable color Canon Input/Output
measuring instruments, which is Displays
Devices
why Canon has established its
own color measurement and Canon’s Color Management Concept
37
 Digital Imaging Technologies

Ultra Fast Rendering (UFR) Algorithm

High-Speed Color Rendering
The printer controller, which constitutes a consid- al printers achieve this via software (“software development, where demand for higher speed and
erable portion of the overall printer cost, becomes RIP”). Special hardware can also be used to create resolution will continue to grow.
proportionately more expensive as the printer a “hardware RIP.” Canon‘s UFR can be used either
engine speed increases and output resolution is as a hardware or a software RIP, allowing system
enhanced. To address this problem, Canon has scalability from low- to high-speed models.
developed a new printing algorithm called Ultra Our UFR algorithm technology is incorporated
Fast Rendering (UFR). In this bold new approach, in the color network digital MFPs we launched in
most of the printing functions are performed by October 2002. In the future, we believe that UFR
the CPU in the controller incorporated onto a pur- will become an essential technology in printer
pose-built IC.
The chip at the core of UFR uses a pipelined
Windows™ PC Printer
architecture, a method of increasing processing
speed in which every element of the chip is oper-
Application Windows™ GDI Printer driver Printer controller Engine
ating simultaneously but at a different stage of the
process. The latest RISC microprocessors also
employ this architecture to maximize processor General PDL GDI command PDL Interpreter Rendering Bitmap
performance. With UFR, even using a low-priced
CPU and limited memory capacity, the maximum
performance of the printer can be achieved.
Another major advantage of the UFR algo- UFR GDI command Display list Rendering Bitmap
rithm is that it enables flexible construction of
raster image processor (RIP) systems. RIP is the
process that creates a raster image, which is com-
posed of rows and rows of dots. Most convention- Conventional and UFR-Based Printers

Epsilon
Building Home Imaging Networks
The IEEE 1394 serial communication standard, Epsilon includes a control unit and provides an explained above, the switching function can be
which combines high speed and plug-and-play interface for remote control capability, such as the placed inside the central device to create a star
convenience, is the standard interface for comput- infrared AV remote controller, enabling residents topology.
ers and digital AV equipment. It is also gaining to control a variety of equipment in any room in In the home of the future, residents will be
widespread attention as a standard interface in the house. Canon has succeeded in transmitting able to connect a range of multimedia equipment
home AV networks. However, due to traffic prob- multiple video streams using different standard and share both digital and analog content from
lems that occur when IEEE 1394 is used as the sole compression methods, such as DV or MPEG-2 any location. But the potential applications of
backbone in network construction, there have Transport Stream, concurrently with Internet traffic Epsilon are even broader. For example, it could be
been calls for development of a new backbone. over an Epsilon network. used as a component of distributed system archi-
By comparison, the IEEE 1355 serial communi- Epsilon home networks allow flexible network tecture to link distributed office networks, or even
cation standard performs effectively as the back- structures. In addition to the distributed structure to link the cabins on spaceships.
bone for home-use systems in terms of cost, scala-
bility and installation ease. Canon has developed a
combined system called Epsilon, incorporating a
SIHAV network
modified IEEE 1355 with a packet-switching inter- Switchover using home AV network
face as the backbone and IEEE 1394 as the user
Room 1 Room 2
interface. TV SIHAV SIHAV TV
The SIHAV (Switch Inside Home Audio/Video) DVD
Network is one Epsilon application being promot-
ed by Canon Europe. A home imaging network
Room 3 Room 4
that allows residents to share images, sounds and
Satellite tuner
data can be built by simply installing SIHAV boxes Pay TV
Digital STB multistream
in each room. They are connected to each other
via inexpensive UTP5 cable, and to digital equip-
ment using the IEEE 1394 interface. Optionally,
D-STB SIHAV SIHAV IDTV
the SIHAV box may provide Ethernet connectivity
and the most popular analog audio/video inter-
faces. TVs and other existing analog equipment
X-DSL Computer Printer Digital video VCR Computer Digital video
can also be used on the same network as digital camcorder camcorder
AV and IP network devices. DS cable, IEEE 1394 Wireless link: Ir, IrDA, etc.

UTP5 cable (SIHAV) Analog, video + audio (L+R)

Epsilon Home Imaging Network

38
 Digital Imaging Technologies

3D Software Object Modeller (3D S.O.M.)

Automatic Modeling in 3D
Because effective 3D modeling normally requires cannot be clearly defined against the background
highly developed technical skills, significant time (due to color or other factors), manual remasking
investment and high-priced hardware, the market can be performed prior to creating the final model.
has generally been limited to video game develop- Models created using 3D S.O.M. can easily be
ers, designers and similar specialized users. used in online product catalogs and a variety of
Canon‘s 3D Software Object Modeller (3D other content, and we are further developing 3D
S.O.M.) digital imaging software changes all that. S.O.M. technologies for application in e-commerce
It can automatically create a 3D model in minutes, and other markets.
using an ordinary digital camera and a computer.
A Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) view- More information at www.cre.canon.co.uk/3dsom
er can be used to perform rotation, zoom and sim-
ilar operations, and animations can also be added
using 3D editing software.
The object to be modeled is first placed on a
dedicated measuring mat, and about 15 pictures
around it are taken with a digital camera. Absolute
precision in camera positioning is not even nec-
essary. The 3D S.O.M. creates the 3D model
from planar images by calculating the spatial Input: digital images Output: 3D model
relationship between the camera and the object
using photographed image data.
Canon‘s 3D S.O.M. incorporates texture
mapping into the model using actual image
information, thus raising its realism. It is particu-
larly effective in faithfully rendering objects, such
as fruit and vegetables, that traditionally have
seemed unnatural in 3D models. The measuring ➀ Photograph object on measuring ➁ Extract object from images ➂ Generate wire frame model ➃ Add texture to wire frame
mat can be printed out on a normal printer, mat (approx. 15 angles)

allowing users to tailor it to the size of the

object to be modeled. In cases where the object 3D S.O.M. Model Creation

Broadband Printing and Photo Service (BPPS)

TV-based Photo Viewing, Sharing, and Printing Solution
As digital photography becomes available to main-
stream consumers, digital camera owners are
seeking more convenient solutions for viewing and
sharing their images. The TV is perfectly situated
to support group viewing in a conversational set-
ting.
Canon's Broadband Printing and Photo
Service (BPPS) technology creates a virtual link
between the home computer and TV without
requiring new hardware or additional wiring in the
home. This technology leverages a user's existing
Japan on market tests, with a focus on establish-
ing a growing business. Cable TV operators can
offer this technology to their subscribers as a
value-added service. In the future, new services
can be added to this basic architecture, including
customized content delivery, integration with
third-party photo services and new video applica-
tions.
Home Cable TV provider
Home PC Cable modem

broadband connection and digital cable set-top Application server

Print rasterization
server
box to enable an array of new printing and imag-
ing services. Configurations also exist for users
who do not have a home computer.
Using the photo application, photos are Database server
(Images,documents, users)
uploaded to a secure server via a broadband-con- Digital camera Cable
Printer network
nected computer. Once uploaded, the user simply Digital cable STB
selects a TV channel and can immediately browse Content
• News
through multiple photo albums using a standard • Weather
remote control. Sharing photos is as simple as • Coupons
TV
• Entertainment
choosing a friend or family member on a share list, • Sports
• Travel
and printing from the TV sends the print job back • Hobbies
to the user's own computer-connected printer. Remote control • Local events
• Others
Today, Canon is cooperating with cable TV
and broadband operators in North America and
BPPS System Overview

39
 Digital Imaging Technologies

uiCard System
Connecting Directly to the Internet
The rapid proliferation of broadband networks and
services promises to popularize interactive TV. But
conventional Internet browsers are not suitable for
a TV environment, where users need fast, easy
Web access. In response to this, Canon has devel-
oped the uiCard (user interface card), which can
be used just as easily as a TV remote control unit.
The size of a standard credit card and embed-
ded with a chip, the uiCard uses the uiPad smart
card reader. The user merely inserts the card into
the uiPad, and a transparent touch panel makes
icons on the card visible, providing a graphical user
interface (GUI). The user then simply points the
uiPad at a set-top box (STB) connected to the TV
to access the Web. The uiPad can also be config-
ured for use with a computer for Internet access.
The uiCard and uiPad are very economical to
produce. Developers‘ kits (the uiCard Application
Developer‘s Kit and the uiCard Web Developer‘s
Kit) are available to make it easy for third parties to
develop compatible applications for the STB or
computers, or services for hosting on Web servers.
Service providers can issue their own customized
cards easily, allowing the user to simply insert the
relevant card. By issuing cards carefully tailored to
people‘s ages and tastes, providers can rapidly
reach their target markets. A user identification
function can also be included, enabling providers
The uiPad supports PIN-protected uiCards, as system approaches to accessing content and ser-
well as full-security CPU cards, in which all infor- vices.
mation is protected. As a result, banking, stock Canon is forming strategic alliances with com-
trading and other services can be provided in a panies in finance, smart cards, the Internet and
highly secure environment by simply incorporating interactive TV in order to commercialize the uiCard
a keypad for PIN entry. The card can be easily in the near future.
updated and customized for a variety of devices.
The uiCard is compatible with all digital STBs, and
the software allows either walled-garden or open-
STB or Computer
Infrared or USB
TV or Computer
display
Internet or
walled-garden
network*
uiPad
uiCard Services
* Closed network through which the service provider
offers content and services only to its own customers.

to offer more personalized services. uiCard and uiPad uiCard Concept

Image Retrieval Technologies

Matching by Color, Texture, Composition
Today’s Internet users can easily access and search video, automatically categorizing scenes with simi-
a variety of image databases on Web sites. lar elements, which enables searches for analo-
However, it is difficult to search through the vast gous scenes. We are also working on applications
amount of data available to find a specific image. such as video visualization technologies.
To resolve this issue, Canon is developing an
image retrieval system that allows users to directly
seek specific images, without the need for key-
words, by making comparisons with an original
image. In this system, users first choose the origi-
nal image that will serve as the basis for the simi-
larity search. After specifying the respective priori-
ties of color, regular patterns (texture) and compo-
sition, the database search begins. Original image
Search results are listed on the user’s computer
screen with numerical rankings of how closely they
Search results
match the original, making a narrower search pos- showing similar images
sible.
The most significant feature of Canon’s image
retrieval engine is that it adds the elements of tex- 2D-DP Matching
ture and composition to color, which was already
available. Texture correlations are calculated by
analyzing image frequency, and we are developing
a new method called 2D-DP (2-Dimensional
Dynamic Programming) Matching for composition Original image Comparison image
correlations.
By using this new correlation method, com- Comparison
processing Comparisons are made by enlarging /reduc-
parison images are expanded, contracted or
ing portions of the comparison image to
moved so that they more closely match the origi- Enlarged/reduced image (internal expression) produce similarities with the original image
nal image, and are therefore easier to compare.
Applying 2D-DP Matching, it is possible to analyze

40
 Digital Imaging Technologies

WebView Livescope
Relaying Live Action Over the Internet
The rapid advance of network infrastructures is let-
ting people around the world enjoy video over net-
works. Canon’s WebView Livescope image trans-
mission system, used to transmit live images taken
with a computer-controlled Canon camera over
the Internet and intranets, is contributing to this
progress.
In addition to the camera itself, the compo-
nents of WebView Livescope include a network
camera server, which relays the images from the
camera, and viewer software. Users can operate
controls on the Viewer panel to change the cam-
era angle and zoom from their computer screens,
creating a live video experience unlike any avail-
WebView Livescope MV also allows contents tories and other areas. We even envision applica-
providers to simultaneously transmit images from tions for this innovative system in remote medial
multiple camera servers to computers with multi- diagnosis and educational programs.
view Viewers.
Products that take advantage of these tech-
nologies, such as the VB-C10 Network Camera
System, have vast potential applications. WebView
Livescope can be used, for example, to produce
Web pages with video images, to broadcast live
video images over the Internet, and in monitoring
systems for retail stores and hazardous sites in fac-
Webcasting Transmitting live images from Web pages
Image transmission side Viewer side

able before. Public facility Web sites

The network camera server compresses up to Tourism promotion
Internet
30 frames per second (fps) in Motion JPEG format
and can transmit video images to as many as 50 IP monitoring Remote monitoring via LAN
Image transmission side
people at a time. The image-compression and Viewer side

encoding, data-transmission and application

From analog to
architecture technologies employed in this system digital Internet

are all based on Internet standards but add tech-

nologies developed originally by Canon.
WebView Livescope Concept WebView Livescope Screen
In addition, we have used TCP and HTTP pro-
Viewer
tocols to transmit camera control and image data, Camera server
HTML&HTTP Java viewer (Web browser)
improving compatibility with Web browsers and HTTP conversion server WebView-HTTP
Java viewer (Applet)
other Internet-related software. The Viewer soft- WWW
server Java VM
ware is a Canon original configured on standard Windows MacOS UNIX
Image-transmission protocol Camera-control protocol
Web browser architecture, and it can handle such Image-transmission protocol
WebView-TCP (original) Custom Viewer
diverse multimedia data formats as Java applets.
Camera-control protocol Helper MV
WebView Livescope is being developed to WebView-TCP (original)
Active x
respond to a wide range of user needs. The sys- Operating system (OS)
Windows
tem is mobile-friendly, as it can be used to trans- Image-
CPU Serial Network
capture port Network Computer
mit images to cellular telephones, total sales of
which have surpassed 70 million units in Japan, as
well as to Personal Data Assistants (PDAs). Using WebView Livescope Architecture

Digital Watermarking
Protecting Image and Document Copyrights
Digital watermarking technology can provide copy- cated in terms of monochrome values. To over- reproduction or transmission can be incorporated
right protection on photos, illustrations and other come this challenge, the watermarking develop- as a digital watermark, which is then detected by
images in digital form, as well as on DVD and ment team collaborated with Canon’s OCR tech- facsimile or copying machines incorporating dedi-
other video content. The copyright holder, creation nology engineers to develop a high-grade digital cated software. This makes it easier to counteract
date and other relevant information can be encod- watermarking technology for text documents, any misuse.
ed and embedded within the digital content. employing a document image segmentation and
There are various ways of embedding these character segmentation methods used in OCR to
markings. Data for still images, for example, is embed image or pattern information on normal
transformed into frequency domain using Fourier paper. Text data embedded with a digital water-
transformation, where the transformed data is mark appears identical to the original text, but the
manipulated according to the key information— watermark can be
embedding location and strength—and the image retrieved even if the
data is restored by inverse Fourier transformation document is printed
of the transformed data where pulse signals are on paper.
inserted. These pulse signals are dispersed Applying this
throughout the image during the inverse transfor- technology enables
mation process, forming a digital watermark. The the protection of Watermark incorporated Image after digital Watermark detected
Original image
watermark is invisible within the image data, and important docu- watermark is added
(no visible difference from
detecting it requires dedicated software. Only the ments. In contracts original)
person with the key can manipulate the signal. and other sensitive
Canon has been developing a digital water- documents, for
mark for text documents. Embedding information example, informa-
in text documents is not easy, because text is indi- tion preventing Digital Watermarking

41
 Digital Imaging Technologies
Document Image Recognition Technology
Making Internet Publishing Simple
Canon is innovating document recognition, an ele-
mental technology used in the intelligent process-
ing of document images, by applying its know-
how in layout analysis and OCR technologies.
Conventional OCR techniques are useful only
for recognizing the text portions of documents.
However, Canon has developed a method to ana-
lyze the layout of scanned documents, recognizing
individual objects rapidly and with high accuracy.
The document is first separated into a number of
sections using our block selection technology. Text
is recognized and converted to code data, while
images become bitmap data and straight lines are
turned into vector data.
This digital layout data is saved with the for-
matting and colors in place. Text data can be saved
Intelligent Information Retrieval System
Convenient Network Searches
Canon’s intelligent retrieval system supports the
difficult task of accurately retrieving necessary
data, either images or text. Our work on retrieval
systems is designed to facilitate the search for spe-
cific information from the vast amount of data
available on the Internet and intranets. We have
developed substantial natural language processing
and artificial intelligence technologies to this end.
One successful example is the electronic
patent registry search tool known as CanoPAT for
Windows. Using JetSearch, a full-text retrieval
engine developed by Canon, CanoPAT for
Windows rapidly retrieves data that matches con-
High-Compression PDF Conversion (Compact PDF)
Reducing Color Document Data Volume
Degitized data files of full-color documents are natu-
rally quite large. Thanks to advances in speed and
capacity, however, modern networks can usually
accommodate large files, allowing transmission of
fully laid-out color documents in PDF format.
Nevertheless, multi-page full-color PDF files are some-
times so large that they test even the newest limits.
Canon has developed a high-compression PDF
conversion technology that can compress a color
document file to the same size as its monochrome
equivalent, allowing more versatile handling and
network transmission. This breakthrough stemmed
from our document image analysis technologies,
seen in such applications as ImageTrust (converting
text images to text data) and document image
recognition technologies. With conventional JPEG
compression, an A4-size color document filled
with text and photos, scanned at 150-dpi resolu-
tion, would create a file around 1.5 MB in size.
This is quite large. However, using Canon’s high-
compression PDF conversion technology, the file is
compressed to one-tenth this size, without com-
promising image quality.
42
in word processing software files with the layout
intact, making editing easy. It is also easy to con-
vert data into HTML or PDF format for publishing
on the Internet with the original layout. This tech- Draft
nology works just as well with various handwritten
Lines recognized
characters, such as alphanumerics and Japanese, and registered in
the database.
and Canon is continuing development to support Form matching
performed.
European, Chinese and other languages in addi-
tion to Japanese and English.
Recognition Registration
We are also turning our technology into soft- results form
ware modules for use by engineers, such as our
software development kit (SDK) and Rosetta Stone
Engine, a middleware application development
module. Matching
ditions from among all the information on a
patent registry.
We continue to explore next-generation tech-
nologies for software that will allow anyone to
conveniently search for intellectual property infor-
mation. In one project, we are developing funda-
mental technologies for a service in which an
“agent” will act on the user’s behalf to seek out
desired information. The agent will categorize the
results according to the user’s specific interests and
deliver a summary of the retrieved information at
the user’s request.
CanoPAT for Windows screen
To achieve this, scanned images are first con- technology are now being incorporated in our color
verted into multiple layers for elements such as text, network digital MFPs.
backgrounds and other graphics. Distinctive com-
pression methods are used for each type of layer,
and the multilayer function of the PDF format is
then used to re-integrate the layers and display the
image. With conventional PDF compression, reduc-
tion of overall resolution usually means visual deteri-
oration of the text component. Thanks to Canon’s
advanced document image
analysis technology, however, imageRUNNER C3200 using imageRUNNER C3200
the text layer is individually com- High-Compression PDF using 150-dpi JPEG
pressed with its high resolution imageRUNNER 3250 (earlier model)
using 150-dpi JPEG
intact. Text codes can also be
attached transparently into the Sample document 1
(mainly text)
PDF file using optical character
recognition (OCR). Given the
Sample document 2
importance of text in business- (text, photos and graphics)
use documents, this technology
is expected to come into wide Sample document 3
(mainly text and photos)
use. Functions using our high-
compression PDF conversion 0 500 1,000 1,500 (KB)
Canon’s High-Compression PDF Conversion and
Conventional Compression Methods

Handwritten Character-Input
Accurately Converting to Text Data
We have developed an online character-input tech-
nology that allows users to input Japanese charac-
ters without using a keyboard or mouse. This tech-
nology recognizes handwriting, even barely legible
script, with a high degree of precision.
The software uses an algorithm that approxi-
mates the human thought process to enable com-
puters to convert with accuracy. It compares input
Speech Recognition
Converting the Spoken Word to Data
Speech recognition is a computer processing tech-
nology that converts the human voice into text. It
has potential applications in equipment control and
human-computer interaction as a convenient alter-
native to the keyboard and mouse GUI.
Canon is currently working on proprietary
speech-recognition technologies and succeeded in
the development of VoiceMaster, one of the most
sophisticated speech-recognition engines in the
industry. VoiceMaster can recognize the voice of
any individual with a high degree of accuracy, even
if the speaker’s voice has not been registered
beforehand. This recognition surpasses mere
vocabulary identification, making it possible to
rapidly recognize phrases and sentences.
VoiceMaster also employs a unique technology
effective against interference from noise around
the speaker. Canon now boasts a lineup of
speech-recognition engines with capacities from
100 to tens of thousands of words to meet varied
needs, and the CPU performance and data storage
capacity of the user’s computer. We are also pro-
viding systems compatible with English, as well as
with Japanese.
We have incorporated our speech-recognition
technology in commercial-use portable data termi-
Speech Synthesis
Transforming Text into Natural-Sounding Speech
Speech synthesis involves using a computer to turn
text data into the spoken word. This requires tech-
nology that can analyze text and assume the correct
accents and intonation. Canon’s PureTalk speech
synthesis engine produces speech that is as natural
and clear as the human voice.
The quality of the resulting voice is PureTalk’s
most distinguishing feature. In the highly competitive
area of compact voice-synthesis system develop-
ment, Canon has won widespread acclaim for pro-
ducing the highest voice quality in the industry for
compact electronic equipment with built-in speech
synthesis functions. PureTalk also provides a diversity
of voices—young, old, male and female.
Canon was among the first companies in the
world to recognize the importance of both compact
electronic equipment and voice interfaces, which is
why we pursued engine compactness from an early
Digital Imaging Technologies
against lists of commonly used
characters as well as common
phrases and combinations of
words. This enables the system to
discern between characters of simi-
lar construction at one of the high-
est rates in the industry.
Handwritten Character-Input Sample
nals manufactured by Canon Electronics Inc. in
Japan. It is also featured in the Railway Line
Information Service for the Visually Impaired, a ser-
vice offered by Canon in Japan.
Canon’s developments in this area extend to
ultracompact voice recognition technologies pio-
neered by Canon Research Centre Europe Ltd.
(CRE). These have been incorporated into a home-
use facsimile machine with a speech recognition
dialing function to improve operability. We are also Data Input Into a Portable Data
Terminal Via a Headset
providing our technologies to IBM on an OEM basis.
Canon now has a tripolar
development structure for
these technologies with bases
in Japan, Europe and China.
Working together, these bases
Public telephone network
are expanding our expertise
Extensions
through next-generation PBX
speech-recognition research
and multilingual capability. Telephone Control Board
Phoneme model
for telephones Word dictionary
VoiceMaster PureTalk
Synthesis unit
Grammar of database
application
Railway line information
Railway Line Information Service for the Visually Impaired
stage. The result is an engine only 1 MB in size,
including acoustic and language processing tasks, Dear Friends,
without any decline in sound quality. On June 27th, we will have the Birthday
Party in Shibuya. Everybody is welcome.
Our top-class voice-synthesis engine is incorpo- Looking forward to seeing you!
rated in some models of our home-use facsimile
Best regards,
machines for NTT Corporation's L-mode service in
Japan and portable data terminals and is a feature of
our Railway Line Information Service for the Visually Computer
Impaired. In addition to providing Japanese- and
English-language voice synthesis, we are now devel-
L-mail
oping technologies to handle other languages.
Combining speech-recognition and language-pro-
Cellular phone
cessing technologies, our voice-synthesis engine is
set to form the heart of next-generation human
interface systems.
L-Mode
Compatible fax
Home-use Facsimile Machine for L-Mode Service
43
 Digital Imaging Technologies
Mixed Reality Technology
Creating the Future of Entertainment
Mixed Reality (MR) is a technology for seamlessly
merging the real and the virtual worlds in real
time. By exploiting the information abundance of
the real world with the flexibility of the electroni-
cally created virtual world, MR is set to overcome
the limitations of conventional virtual reality.
In 1997, Canon jointly established the Mixed
Reality Systems Laboratory Inc. with the Japanese
government‘s Key-Technology Center. The results
of their research activities have won widespread
acclaim in Japan and overseas. Canon continued
its research in this field after the completion of the
project. Because few companies have built systems
envisioning actual worldwide applications, our MR
technologies have achieved a high level of superi-
ority.
Augmented Reality
The most exciting thing about MR is that users can
have interactive experiences in real time while
manipulating reality from their own viewpoints.
This can be achieved by either of two
approaches. One is called augmented reality, a
technology that layers a computer-generated virtu-
al world on top of a reality-based world (see
Augmented Virtuality below for more on the other
approach). To provide a highly realistic MR world,
Canon has developed a compact, comfortable
video see-through HMD (head-mounted display)
with a built-in video camera.
Among the many augmented reality research
projects conducted to date, perhaps the most
renowned is the MR Car. Here, augmented reality
technologies have been applied to the Virtual Car
system, one of the most advanced virtual reality
Marker image recognition using a video camera in an HMD
An image recorded with the HMD video camera (bot-
tom) is correlated using marker image recognition to
let the user align his hand
Contact Water
44
systems in the world, created by Germany‘s ART +
COM AG. The only real part of the car is the seat.
When the user puts on an HMD, however, a life-
size Mercedes Benz appears. The user can check
the styling and interior of the car as part of the
combined real-virtual experience.
While the MR Car is expected to find applica-
tions in the fields of industrial design and show-
room presentations, another augmented reality
product, Contact Water, has much potential in the
entertainment world. Wearing HMDs and gloves
with sensors, the players step into the game arena,
and water appears in the palms of their hands. In
the center of the arena is a virtual fountain, from
which aquatic creatures emerge. By moving their
hands, players are able to interact with each other
and the creatures, which they can make swim and
dive simply by moving their hands.
The most important challenge of augmented
reality is how to combine and eliminate mismatch-
es between the virtual and the real, namely, space
coordinates and time and image quality. Canon
has solved the space coordinate problem by devel-
oping a hybrid technology that uses image pro-
cessing and multiple sensors to measure the posi-
tioning characteristics of the user‘s head.
Mismatches are quickly corrected to ensure accu-
rate position measurement. The challenge of time
synchronization has been overcome by combining
several advanced technologies. Accuracy has been
boosted by introducing an algorithm that antici-
pates the subject‘s position/perspective. Time lags
have also been reduced to an absolute minimum
by improving the processing efficiency using such
software techniques as multithread coding.
Input equipment Light-ray description
(X0,0)
θ0
Z
Camera
µ
µ
µ
µ X
µ
Reconstructing Images from Arbitrary viewing Positions
Augmented Virtuality
The other mixed reality approach is augmented vir-
tuality. In contrast to augmented reality, this
approach involves bringing real-world data to a
computer-generated virtual world to make that
world more realistic. This approach is well suited to
exhibits in museums and showcases in virtual envi-
ronments that need to look real.
To date, making computer graphics look more
realistic has been complex and labor intensive.
Tasks include detailed modeling by transforming
the geometric shapes of objects into polygons,
then undertaking a time-consuming rendering
process. Efforts to render complex true-to-life
shapes and textures have unfortunately produced
limited results. To meet this challenge, Canon uses
light ray-based rendering, where images are recon-
structed from arbitrary viewing positions using
multiple realistic images. This technology is based
on a photographic principle whereby light project-
ed or reflected from the surface of an object pass-
es through a lens and is recorded as a pixel.
All light rays reflected through 3D space from
the object‘s surface are photographed from vari-
ous viewpoints, collected and recorded. Light rays
passing from this light-ray database through the
virtual camera site are extracted and reconstructed
into an image viewed from an arbitrary viewing
position. To solve the problem of the huge volume
of data used to produce such images, Canon has
developed a technology for compressing the light-
ray data to an optimal level.
Image reconstuction
Xmax
X
(X0,µ0)
X
X
X
X
 Devices

Devices that Look to the Future

At the heart of every electronics product we use today are a host of devices that make diverse functions possi-
ble. Canon’s imaging expertise is evident in its electronics devices. Our sensor development, which led to the
creation of our innovative CMOS and X-ray image sensors, benefited from continuing development of sensors
used in input equipment including facsimile machines, scanners, cameras and copying machines. We are also
heavily involved in developing core technologies for devices, such as next-generation silicon wafers with the
potential to take electronics to new heights of diversity and compactness.

ELTRAN SOI Wafer Production

Taking Electronics to a New Generation
Today's LSIs are fabricated on silicon wafers of sev-
eral hundred microns in thickness, where the
device layer thickness is less than 1 µm from the
wafer's surface. The rest of the wafer, which serves
to support the semiconductor's structure, causes
relatively high power dissipation and can slow
down the switching speed of the device.
The silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer was devel-
oped to resolve these issues. In the SOI, an insulat-
ing layer is set between the device and the support
substrate, negating the effects of the substrate
and thereby conserving power while raising
switching speed. Canon has developed an SOI
wafer employing the ELTRAN (Epitaxial Layer
TRANsfer) method and is now working to establish
the necessary core, process and production tech-
nologies to realize top-class SOI wafers.
In the ELTRAN process, two layers of porous
silicon with a great number of pores measuring
about 10 nm in diameter are formed on a seed
wafer's surface. On the surface, we grow an epi-
taxial single-crystal silicon layer, which we thermal-
ly oxidize to create an oxide layer (silicon dioxide
wafer). The oxidized layer works as an insulating
layer. We then bond the silicon wafer (handle
wafer), which will become the support substrate,
to the oxide layer, and increase the bonding
strength through heat processing. After this, a
high-pressure water jet (see photo) separates the
bonded wafers at the boundary of the two layers
of porous silicon.
When the water-jet separation is complete,
the remaining porous silicon is removed through
an etching process in which we employ a special
chemical etchant. This method removes the porous
silicon with 100,000 times higher selectivity than
single-crystal silicon, maintaining the uniformity of
the SOI layer thickness while completely eliminat-
ing only the porous silicon. Finally, we apply ther-
mal annealing in a hydrogen atmosphere to heat
the wafer, creating a flat surface that maintains
excellent uniformity of thickness. Because Canon's
production method does not require chemical
mechanical polishing, the wafer is free of polishing
damage and degradation in thickness uniformity.
Thus, etching quality is high.
Because ELTRAN SOI wafers are made using
epitaxial single-crystal silicon on the SOI layer,
where transistors are formed to create chips, their
quality is extremely high. In the future, such
devices will be used to fill demand for a wide vari-
ety of high-speed low-power chips, such as Micro
Processor Units (MPUs).
At Canon, we are now working at the cutting
edge of the industry to develop Ultra-Thin-Film SOI
wafers with an SOI layer of 50 nm and less. These
devices, which will respond to needs for semicon-
ductor manufacturing processes in the range of
several dozen nanometers, are in high demand
from manufacturers of electronics equipment.
Thus far, we have made excellent progress in the
areas of achieving uniformity of thickness in Ultra-
Thin-Film SOI layers, ensuring the smoothness of
the SOI surface and minimizing wafer degradation.
It will not be long now before mobile informa-
tion terminals and other electronics products peo-
ple use everyday are manufactured with chips
made using Canon SOI wafer technologies.
Seed Wafer

Anodizing

Handle Wafer

Epitaxy & Oxidation

Silicon wafer

Reuse
Bonding
Cross section
Seed
Wafer
Conventional SOI wafer
silicon wafer Splitting
Transistor Porous Si
Silicon layer
Insulating layer

SOI
Excess silicon

Support
Silicon substrate layer Etching
(Handle wafer)

BOX
layer
The insulating layer
H2 Annealing
Power runs through
several hundred mm separates the support
of excess silicon. substrate. Only the Handle
amount of silicon needed wafer
for the device is formed
above this layer.

Water-Jet Splitting Technique Conventional and SOI Wafers ELTRAN Production Process for SOI Wafers

45
 Devices
X-Ray Image Sensor
Allowing Medical Facilities to Share Data
In the development of an X-ray digital radiography
system with a flat panel image sensor, Canon has
brought the digital revolution to the field of med-
ical diagnosis using X-ray images, and thus speed-
ed up the process of saving lives. After an X-ray
image is taken using Canon’s X-ray digital radiog-
raphy system, it can be digitally processed, instant-
ly read out and diagnosed, immediately sent to
medical workstations, shared with specialists
across the local hospital network, and transferred
to specialists in distant locations. Computer-aided
diagnosis algorithms and new applications for the
Internet are also possible.
Canon began to develop an X-ray digital
image sensor in 1993, using the amorphous silicon
line sensor technology used in facsimile machines
since 1986. There are, of course, significant differ-
ences between facsimile machines and medical
imaging systems. For example, in facsimile
machines, amorphous silicon is used for line sen-
sors. In medical imaging sensors, however, in addi-
tion to meeting the obvious requirements of high
spatial resolution and high image quality, it is also
necessary to minimize the exposure time to reduce
image blur due to patient movement (even heart-
beats). We therefore decided to develop the area
sensor known as LANMIT (Large Area New MIS
Sensor and TFT), which has the world’s largest
screen, with an imaging area of 43 cm x 43 cm (17
inch x 17 inch), and 7.2 million pixels.
The LANMIT has an amorphous silicon visible
light detector coated with a phosphor material. X-
rays that pass through the patient are detected on
CMOS Sensors
Superior Performance in Input Devices
Because the quality of images depends wholly on
the quality of the image sensor that transfers the
data, Canon has incorporated CMOS sensors into
its diverse range of input equipment.
The CMOS sensor not only guarantees superi-
or image quality, but also requires a lower voltage
than CCDs. In our slim flatbed image scanner,
which employs our Contact Image Sensor (CIS),
sufficient energy to operate the unit can be
obtained through the USB connection, so no addi-
tional power source is necessary.
The CMOS sensor is also used in autofocus
and eye-control systems in our SLR cameras, and
enabled 45-Point Area AF. The sensor stores opti-
cal image signals, monitors the amount of data
and controls the data flow. Its measuring and
detecting functions realize the high level of perfor-
mance.
Our CMOS area sensor is incorporated in our
digital SLR cameras, including the EOS D30 (3.25
megapixels) introduced in 2000 and the EOS D60
(6.3 megapixels) released in 2001. In 2002, we
also began marketing the EOS-1Ds, our flagship
digital SLR camera, which uses a full-frame CMOS
46
this fluorescent screen, where they are converted direct readout, hospitals, emergency medical facili-
to visible light. The amorphous silicon detector ties are now realizing the advantages of immedi-
then senses this visible light, which it converts into ately available digital X-ray images that can be sent
charges. The resulting charges are directly read out directly to work-
and displayed on a monitor in only three seconds. stations, printers
The sensor itself is based on a five-layer struc- and databases.
ture. Both sensor and switching elements (TFTs) are
constructed in the same way using a simple pro-
duction process. The most difficult point in the
large-screen sensor development was noise reduc-
tion, but this was successfully overcome through
CXDI-31 Cassette-Type X-Ray Digital Camera
the use of specially developed low-noise ICs and
power supplies. The world’s first X-ray digital radi-
ography system (CXDI series) incorporating the
LANMIT was released in 1998. The CXDI series
makes it possible not only to read out images in a
short time, but also to display X-ray images imme- Protective cover
diately, much like a digital camera. In addition to
Fluorescent screen
standing and bed-type X-ray digital cameras, a
New sensor plate
cassette-type model
was released in Sensor Unit
2001, making possi-
ble a fully digital
radiography system n-type amorphous silicon
that allows the X-rays
Amorphous
Upper Metal silicon
patient to be taken
from a variety of Scintillator
angles, even when Passivation
on a stretcher.
B e c a u s e
Canon’s system is
based on a truly dig- Glass substrate
ital sensor with Insulator Lower Metal
CXDI-11 X-Ray Digital Camera LANMIT Cross-Section
area sensor and boasts an impressive 11.1- CMOS sensor technologies are being applied
megapixel resolution. throughout Canon’s products in the form of detec-
Canon’s CMOS sensor applies on-chip noise tion sensors, line sensors for image capturing and
reduction and in-pixel signal amplifier technologies area sensors. We anticipate that these and other
to achieve image quality comparable with that of related devices will be incorporated in our prod-
CCDs. In addition, these sensors have low energy ucts in years to come.
consumption, contributing to smaller and lighter
digital SLR cameras. We developed a new stitching
exposure technology for the CMOS sensor incor-
porated in the EOS-1Ds to attain a sensor larger
than the exposure area of a stepper and equivalent CIS for Image Scanners
with the full frame size of 35mm film. Our CMOS
area sensor technology will play a major role in
In the EOS-1Ds
expanding the market for digital SLR cameras in (35mm full-frame; 11.1 megapixels)
the future.
Our current CMOS area sensor lineup includes
3.25-megapixel and 6.3-megapixel devices at APS-
C size (23.4 mm x 16.7 mm), and an 11.1- In the EOS D60
(APS-C size; 6.3 megapixels)
megapixel model equivalent in size to 35mm full
frame film (36 mm x 24 mm). Images taken with
the EOS-1Ds were exhibited at Photokina, the
In the EOS D30
world’s largest exhibition of cameras and photog- (APS-C size; 3.25 megapixels)
raphy-related products, where they were lauded
by professionals from around the world.
CMOS Area Sensors in Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Domain Wall Displacement Detection (DWDD)
Realizing High-Volume Data Storage
Minimizing the spot diameter of the laser beam
maximizes the storage density of magneto-optical
(MO) disks. However, as semiconductor manufac-
turers have experienced, formidable technical and
cost barriers exist in reducing the laser spot diame-
ter beyond current levels.
Canon is developing a new MO technology
called domain wall displacement detection
(DWDD). When the recording track of a disk
comes into the irradiating spot of the laser beam,
the magnetic data on the lower memory layer is
transcribed on the upper displacement layer and
then expanded. This principle forms the basis for
the new technology. The edges (domain wall) of
the magnetically recorded marks transcribed on
Ultrasonic Motors
Converting Ultrasonic Waves into Rotational Motion
Originally, Canon developed an ultrasonic motor to
serve as the driving motor for the EF lens in its EOS
series AF SLR cameras. Now, our ultrasonic motors
are used to drive photosensitive drum units in
office-use color copying machines, providing the
durability needed to perform high-precision rota-
tions over long periods of time.
The motor that Canon led the world in com-
mercializing works on the following principle. The
stator (elastic body) is subject to vibration, result-
ing in friction that rotates the rotor (moving body)
in a certain direction. Because small vibrations are
used to induce repeated motion (ultrasonic derives
Rotary Encoder
Expanding Memory with Minimal Investment
An encoder can ascertain the operating status of a
machine by converting evaluations of location,
speed and additional speed into electrical signals.
This rotary encoder can provide high reliability in
equipment inspection, which is required as robots
assume a larger role in the automated factory envi-
ronment.
In 1986, Canon utilized the diffraction/inter-
ference phenomenon of laser beams to develop a
laser rotary encoder. Using prism optics, we devel-
oped a compact interference optical system,
Laser Interferometer
Detecting Tiny Displacements with High Precision
In recent years, hard disc devices capable of stor-
ing large volumes of video and other data have
become a widely used recording medium in digital
home appliances. Recording densities continue to
improve almost on a daily basis. As such, there is a
greater need than ever for accurate detection and
measurement of unintended surface and shaft
movement of the hard disc, which can directly
affect recording density.
To address this issue, Canon developed its
Micro Laser Interferometer. Using a semiconductor
Devices
the displacement layer are smoothly extended. The Magnetic head
term domain wall displacement detection derives
from the behavior of the wall of recorded marks. Disk structure
Using this method, tiny recorded marks stored on Overcoat Recording mark
the media are expanded only at the time of data Protective layer
reading in a process similar to moving a magnify- Memory layer
ing glass over a tiny insect. As a result, data can be Switching layer
read even if the recording mark is smaller than the Displacement layer
Domain wall
diameter of irradiating spots. Protective layer displacement Domain
Although the recording medium is provided Substrate enlargement
by the displacement layer, conventional equipment
for MO disks, including the laser beam and drive Laser diode
(frequency:
unit, can be used as is. Thus, this technology 650 nm)
makes it easier than ever to develop high-volume Effective spot size
storage systems at costs users will find affordable.
DWDD Concept
from the vibration frequency range), the resulting ation and low noise. In addition to ring-type ultra-
rotation is slow. Nonetheless, the frictional energy sonic motors, Canon has developed pencil-type
generated produces considerable force. An ultra- and button-type motors to deliver high-precision
sonic motor would have higher torque than a simi- drive control in a variety of products.
lar-sized conventional electromagnetic motor.
Likewise, an ultrasonic
motor with the same Rotor
torque would be smaller
than an electromagnetic
motor. Major features of
Stator
ultrasonic motors include
Vibration waves
an absence of gears, as
well as highly precise oper- Ring-, pencil- and button-type motors The ultrasonic motor transforms the oscillation of
ultrasonic waves into linear/rotational movements
achieving precision and size reduction to an extent
previously considered impossible. The rotary
encoder was incorporated in factory automation
equipment, creating a new market in which overall
precision was guaranteed. The most recent version
of the rotary encoder weighs only 80 g and has a
diameter of 36 mm.
We will continue to develop even smaller, easi-
er-to-install equipment and devices, following the
same principles that we used to develop the rotary
encoder to develop a high-speed sensor.
Laser Rotary Encoder
laser as the light source, this device employs a reduction enables the interferometer to also be
noncontact method to measure slight displace- used for wafer-stage position control in steppers
ments and vibrations on the object’s mirror reflec- and surface measurement of silicon wafers.
tion. The Michelson Interferometer method has
been adopted for the first time in a sensor that
measures displacement and vibration, allowing
ultrahigh resolution of 0.08 nm.
Canon’s unique optical design has allowed the
development of a light and compact interferome-
ter weighing about 50 g and measuring a mere
38 mm x 47 mm x 19 mm. This dramatic size
Ultracompact Laser Interferometer
47
 Production Technologies
Production Technologies
No matter how efficient and easy-to-use the products we develop might be, they become
meaningful only when they sell widely for their excellent quality and cost performance.
Thus, we consider production technologies to be as important as the products themselves.
In 1998, Canon began shifting all its production plants to the cell method, which has
greatly increased the productivity of individual employees and led to other improve-
ments.
Aspherical Lenses
Highly Accurate Molding Technology Makes Mass Production Possible
Aspherical lenses have a curvature that changes
continuously in the direction of the lens diameter.
Because this construction allows light to gather at
a single point, aspherical lenses are able to radical-
ly minimize the blurring of light. Using optics sys-
tems with these lenses makes it possible to take
sharp photos with very low image blurring.
Unlike spherical lenses, which require multiple
lenses to adjust for spherical aberrations, aspheri-
cal lenses reduce the number of lenses needed for
optics systems. Canon has adopted them to devel-
op smaller, lighter and better performing compact
camera lenses, as well as lenses for its SLR cam-
eras, copying machines, laser beam printers and
other products.
To apply aspherical lenses in many different
ways, it was crucial to develop cost-effective mass-
production techniques. Canon utilized design the-
ory, precision processing and measuring technolo-
gies—even creating measurement techniques
using laser interference—die molding production
technologies and a variety of other originally devel-
oped techniques.
For example, in the lens-formation method
known as plastic molding, in which a delicate aspher-
ical metal mold is filled with plastic, we devised a vari-
ety of innovations to ensure very precise and stable
formation. These innovations made possible the use
of aspherical lenses in compact cameras.
Our Photoreplication method involves the cov-
ering of a spherical lens surface with resin hardened
Optical Thin-Film Technology
Boosting Stability and Transparency
The surfaces of lenses and prisms in cameras,
video camcorders and copying machines are coat-
ed with optical thin films to control the reflection
and transmission of light.
The reflection of glass lenses is usually
between 4% and 8% per surface, but camera and
video camcorder lenses, normally consisting of five
to 10 layers, would lose more than half of their
light transmittance without antireflective coating.
Anti-reflective films spring from optics systems
that use the wave interference effect of light. By
installing a multilayered, antireflective coating over
the lens surface, Canon has made possible a light
transmittance of 99.9% in the spectrum from ultravi-
48
under ultraviolet light, which is then hardened to
create an aspherical surface. We have exhaustively
studied resin properties and materials, and are now
able to produce large-diameter aspherical lenses.
Our glass-mold technology incorporates the
high-precision processing of an aspherical molding Spherical lens
die, into which glass is directly pressed. It proved
very difficult to maintain a high level of precision at
the high temperature under which glass softens.
We analyzed glass and molding die materials and,
following numerous simulations of temperature
and size changes, succeeded in creating a molding
die that stayed stable even at high temperatures
(shape precision: less than 0.3 µm; surface rough- Aspherical lens
ness: 0.02 µm). To avoid oxidation during the Differences Between Spherical and Aspherical Lenses
press-molding process, we developed formation In aspherical lenses, the continuously changing curvature in
the direction of the lens diameter gathers light to a single
equipment that performs heating, pressurizing, spot. The result is more compact, lighter cameras and lenses
formation and cooling functions in nitrogen gas. with improved performance.
Producing lenses using our glass-mold technology
offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of index
of refraction and other factors, and the lenses are
suitable for use in a number of lens systems.
At Canon, we determine which production
technology is best suited to each product in terms
of the precision, diameter and cost required of the
lens, and thereby satisfy every need with high
accuracy. In addition, these high-level technologies
are being adopted in lenses for semiconductor-
exposure tools, TV broadcasting lenses and other
lenses that demand the highest precision possible.
Aspherical Lens Production Molds
olet to near infrared rays, and thereby realized highly the dip-coating method.
transparent lenses free from flares or ghosts.
In the field of excimer laser steppers, which
requires a high degree of lens performance, Canon
became the first company in the world to use the
sputtering technique with plasma, thereby estab-
lishing highly precise and stable films through heat
vapor deposition. By adopting this thin-film tech-
nology, we were able to improve the transparency
of stepper lenses by 10% over conventional tech-
niques.
For vacuum processes such as vapor and sput-
tering deposition, Canon is creating low-cost thin
films with optical thin-film technologies based on
Sputtering Deposition Film Formation

Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element
Reducing the Size of High-Performance Camera Lenses
Following its development of fluorite, aspherical
and free-form surface-prism lenses, Canon is
developing lenses using the Multi-Layer Diffractive
Optical Element. One result of this effort is the
world’s first diffractive optical element for camera
lenses.
Lenses are optical instruments that make use
of the refraction properties of glass. The refractive
index of glass differs slightly according to the
wavelength of light. Color blur (chromatic aberra-
tion) caused by such differences lowers picture
quality and must be corrected in photographic
lenses. Generally, several lenses of positive and
negative refractive power are combined to reduce
the chromatic aberration. Zoom, telephoto and
other complicated lenses comprising many lens
elements are large and heavy, but our Multi-Layer
(1)Refractive
optical element
Chromatic aberrations
Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element
Anti-Fogging Technologies
Using Absorptive Polymers
Mist or fog can cause lenses to cloud, making it
difficult for cameras to take clear photos. To
address this situation, Canon used its thin-film
expertise to develop an absorptive polymer that
can be affixed to optical groups to keep camera
lenses and viewfinders clear of moisture.
Canon’s anti-fogging membrane comprises an
organic and an inorganic polymer, both of which
are layered on the glass surface. The organic poly-
mer absorbs moisture. However, because the
absorbed moisture tends to run off the organic
polymer, we used the sol-gel method to solidify
Precision Equipment Downsizing Technologies
Realizing Lighter and Smaller Products
The trend is toward ever lighter and smaller prod-
ucts, including computers, office equipment, video
camcorders, digital cameras and SLR cameras.
Behind such developments are semiconductor
chips with increased precision, speed and function-
ality.
With further advances in chips, printed circuit
boards (PCBs) now require space-saving technolo-
gies to achieve higher pin counts and finer line
widths. To achieve the necessary size reduction, we
have introduced such techniques as tape automat-
ed bonding (TAB) to affix IC chips to film. This
technology has allowed the development of small-
Production Technologies
Diffractive Optical Element technology resolves them unsuitable for camera lenses. We solved this
these issues. problem by innovating a multilayer structure, in
The phenomenon of light, which has the char- which two appropriate diffractive optical layers are
acteristics of electromagnetic waves and enters the placed within a few microns of one another. Our
shadow at the back of an object when passing new EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM lens is far smaller
near its edge, is called diffraction. Usually, a dif- and lighter than conventional refraction lens sys-
fraction grating, or thousands of parallel grooves tems, opening up a new world of possibilities in
of the same interval per millimeter on a glass or the field of telephoto lenses.
metallic plate, is used as an optical element. A dif-
fraction lens with concentric grating grooves caus-
es chromatic aberration in the opposite direction
to the refractor. A diffractive grating formed on
the surface of a refractor thus allows the creation
of a single concave, chromatic and aberration-free
lens.
However, the diffracted light in such lenses
tends to branch in unnecessary directions, making
Diffraction grating
(2)Multi-Layer Diffractive Combining
Optical Element (1) and (2)
BGR RGB
Countering chromatic Chromatic
aberrations aberrations canceled out
Glass lenses
High-performance Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element Structure of Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Elemnt
the organic polymer in an inorganic polymer Droplets of
moisture in air
before affixing the resulting stabilized layer to the Organic
polymer
glass surface of the lens. The anti-fogging mem- Anti-reflective
coating Water
brane is attached to the surface of a porous, anti- molecules
reflective coating, thereby also providing excellent
protection against reflections from the glass plate.
Anti-
The anti-fogging film is only several nanome- fogging
ters thick and forms a porous anti-fogging film on membrane
the lens surface, which allows it to provide flawless
anti-fogging properties while functioning to pre- Glass substrate Inorganic
vent surface reflections. polymer
Structure of Anti-Fogging Membrane
er and lighter personal-use copying machines and
portable data terminals.
Canon also developed a miniature solder-
mount technology (surface-mount technology),
which enables line widths of 0.3 mm in a 0.5 mm.
To meet further needs for downsizing, Canon
is promoting ball grid arrays (BGAs) and is also
involved in ongoing R&D on the chip-scale pack-
age (CSP), a technology for bonding silicon chips
directly to substrates of similar size.
TAB Bonding
49
 Production Technologies
Chemical Components Technologies
Using Functional Parts and Materials
Parts and materials required for a given product to
perform to the best of its potential are known as
functional components. Thanks to such compo-
nents, copying machines and printers have
advanced significantly in terms of image quality,
faster output speeds and greater compactness. To
achieve vivid image quality, parts and materials
must have heat, capacitance and friction charac-
teristics to conform to diverse standards.
Canon makes detailed analyses of physical
phenomena during each process in which a part
operates. When the necessary characteristics are
determined, we design materials that can perform
Plasma Technologies
Advancing Chip Production
Semiconductor devices, which sustain our highly
information-intensive society, are becoming more
densely packed, with higher circuit integration and
lower prices. In line with this trend, plasma-process
equipment, which performs such functions as
etching, chemical vapor deposition and ashing,
must be faster and cause less damage to semicon-
ductor wafers.
Simulation Systems
Resolving Problems in the Design Stage
Major parts in today’s business machines are made
from plastic produced by injection molding, which
means their quality is closely linked to their metal
molds. Using the Canon Plastic Analysis System
(CAPLAS), it becomes possible to make detailed
analyses of the injection molding process through
simulations before metal molds are produced.
Injection molding incorporates the process of fill-
ing the metal mold with resin, followed by packing
and cooling. Being able to determine the most
appropriate mold conditions in advance helps
rationalize molds, reduce production costs and cut
product development lead times.
In the same way, electromagnetic field simula-
tion is a software utility that makes it possible to
discover and resolve problems in the design phase.
This software is used in areas such as analyzing the
Toner Cartridge Production System
Highly Flexible and Cost Efficient
At the heart of our production of toner cartridges
for laser beam printers is an in-line automatic
assembly system consisting of more than 100
processes. This highly productive system contains a
variety of unique innovations to produce high-
quality products at a low cost.
One of the automated assembly technologies
we have devised is the automatic adhesion system
for parts used in the sealing of toner within car-
tridges. Previously, it was considered difficult to
automate the production of these sponge-shaped
seals, but Canon has automated the entire
50
their functions in a well-balanced manner. Starting
with plastic, rubber and other basic organic poly-
mer materials, we adopt methods such as chemi-
cal reactions, degeneration and blending to create
the right material. Further processing is performed
to complete the components.
Electric separation transfer and electrical
charging rollers, which are used in ozone-free elec-
trophotographic processing, require a narrow band
of semiconductivity and elasticity. We developed
our own conductive rubber blending and foaming
technologies to enable the mass production of
these components. Functional Components for Copying Machines and
Laser Beam Printers
Canon has developed surface-wave interfered
plasma (SIP) suited to manufacturing processes for
next-generation semiconductors. This plasma-
process equipment reduces damage to wafers, and
achieves high productivity and reliability. The tech-
nology is also being applied in the development of
ashers and nitridation systems for processing large-
diameter wafers. Surface-Wave Interfered Plasma
mechanism of electromagnetic noise generation,
predicting noise emissions at the mounting design
stage and developing technological countermea-
sures.
Device malfunctions caused by electromagnet-
ic noise have been an increasing problem. This
software is therefore vital to the rapid develop-
ment of products that eliminate noise emissions or CAPLAS Simulation
are resistant to the effects of noise.
Electromagnetic Field Simulation
process, from parts processing to sealing on the
toner container.
To sustain the reliability of production equip-
ment, we are working to establish technologies to
limit equipment stoppages to less than one time
per 10,000 processes. In addition, we are proceed-
ing with the development of highly flexible pro-
duction systems capable of handling major
changes in production requirements, thereby real-
izing radical cost improvements and ultracompact
equipment.
Automated Assembly Line for Toner Cartridges

Technologies to the Nanometer
Ultra-advanced technologies are being explored at the Canon Research Center, where work proceeds at the
nanoscale, from 1/100,000 mm to a millionth of a millimeter, and even at the atomic level. These activities are
leading to devices for tomorrow’s information networks and opening doors to next-generation products.
Near-Field Optical Technologies
Overcoming the Diffraction Limitations of Light
Conventional optical technologies employ propa-
gating light to see images and process objects.
Even if such light is focused using lenses, it is
impossible to create a beam with a diameter small-
er than the light’s wavelength. This phenomenon
is known as the “diffraction limit of light.”
An alternative to propagating light is near-
field light. When light is illuminated on an object,
near-field light is created around its periphery
(within about 100 nm). Usually, however, this near-
field light gets mixed up with the penetrating and
diffusing rays of the propagating light. More effort
is needed to effectively isolate and utilize the near-
field light.
For example, if tiny holes or slits of 100 nm or
less in diameter were created on a metallic film
impenetrable by light, and then light was applied
from the underside, the only light that would pass
through the holes or slits on the upper surface
would be the near-field light. This is because the
Nanostructural Materials
Creating Future Nanodevices
Under its research into nanostructural materials,
Canon is producing nanoscale pores and nano-
sized needle-shaped crystals. By combining two
factors—the self-assembling properties inherent in
the materials themselves with conventional
processes—we have begun creating more accu-
rately controlled mechanisms than ever before.
These technologies are anticipated to lead to the
development of devices in diverse fields, including
high-density recording media and photonic ele-
ments, as well as solar cells.
One way of producing nanostructural materi-
als is to use anodized aluminum. Countless alu-
minum nanoholes are produced when aluminum
film is anodized in an acid solution. Canon has
Mesoporous Materials
Facilitating Microscopic Control
Mesoporous materials are porous materials with
regularly arranged, uniform mesopores (2 nm to 50
nm in diameter). Their large specific surface area,
over 1,000 m2/g, makes them useful as catalysts or
adsorbents. Mesoporous silica (SiO2) is particularly
important, because it facilitates macroscopic mor-
phological control for products such as films, fibers
and monoliths.
Canon prepared mesoporous silica films with
aligned tubular mesochannels of 3 nm to 4 nm in
diameter on a glass substrate simply by holding the
Next-Generation Technologies
propagating light is reflected by the film’s lower to next-generation exposure instruments for pro-
surface. This concept allows the creation of light cessing to resolutions of several dozen nanometers
spots with diameters less than 100 nm, depending without the need for large-scale equipment. We
on the size of the holes or slits created on the also foresee that development of near-field optical
metallic film. Canon is applying this concept to its technologies will lead to other applications in opti-
R&D on next-generation lithography technologies. cal memory and micro-optical devices.
Here, we use a photomask made of transparent
base material and a thin metallic film with tiny
nanoscale slits.
To achieve tight, gap-less contact between the
photomask and photoresist, a photomask using a
thin-film base material is created first. This pho- 100nm
tomask is placed on a substrate coated with a
20nm
photoresist, and the two components are attached
together by applying pressure. Using a mercury
lamp, light is illuminated onto the underside of the
photomask. Near-field light emerging on the sur- µM
face exposes the photoresist. After development, a 0.8
0.6
fine structure less than one-tenth the wavelength 0.4
of the source light is obtained. 0.2
Canon is pursuing development of this near- Half-Pitch 50-nm Resist Pattern Formed Using
field mask exposure technology, seeking to apply it Near-Field Mask Exposure Technologies
found ways to systematically arrange these dicularly from the substrate. Taking advantage of
nanoholes according to size, and even to make the zinc oxide’s properties as a transparent semicon-
bottoms of the nanoholes into electrodes. ductor, we are studying applications in dye-sensi-
By filling these nanoholes with a magnetic tized solar cells and other devices.
substance, we are developing applications in pat-
terned media—regarded as the future of high-
density magnetic recording media. The magnetic
force microscope image shows the magnetic char-
acteristics of the substances filled in the
nanoholes in anodized aluminum film.
The dark dots are tiny upward-pointing
magnets.
Canon is also conducting research
into the crystallization of nano-oxide
materials. The image shows zinc-oxide
nanowhiskers, created through an elec-
troplating process, growing out perpen- Nanostructural Materials Filled Zinc Oxide Nanowhiskers
with Magnetic Substance
glass substrate in an acidic reactant a solution con- ion-conductive materials, and a fluorescent film can
taining a surfactant and silica-oligomer. A special be prepared by incorporating small silicon clusters.
surface treatment of the substrate for the alignment These remarkable nanoscale materials are set to
of the surfactant molecule assemblies led to our open a new gateway to future technologies.
success. Mesostructured silica, with fully aligned
tubular mesochannels, is grown on the substrate 300A
spontaneously. A continuous film can be obtained
after one to three days of the reaction.
Mesoporous materials have potential for a wide
variety of applications. A small laser array can be
fabricated using a patterned mesoporous silica film
by incorporating dyes into the mesochannels. A
solid electrolyte can be obtained by incorporating Mesoporous Silica (TEM Photo)
51
 Environmental Technologies

Environmental Technologies
Full-scale eco-technology development at Canon began in the early 1990s, when we became the first company
in Japan to earn accreditation for ISO 14001 and EMAS environmental management standards. We have also
made the environment a central consideration in product development, and have created products that con-
serve energy and resources, eliminate hazardous substances and are suitable to a range of applications. In addi-
tion, we are pursuing basic ecology research that will find applications in Canon products of the future.

We pursue maximization of resource efficiency and are improving our products and services by seek-
Eco-Conscious R&D
ing ways to reduce, reuse and recycle resources. Our aim is to create a product recycling flow that
From the Basics Up goes from the plant to the market and back again. The key is research into basic technologies.

VOC Decomposition
Reducing Pollution with a Nonthermal Plasma Process
As a good corporate citizen, Canon is making
every effort to comply with recent laws concerning
the full disclosure of information on the environ-
mental impact of manufactured products, and to
eliminate the use of hazardous substances linked
to destruction of the environment. Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), such as toluene, xylene and
methyl ethyl ketone, are produced in painting
processes whenever organic solvents are used.
Such processes are employed extensively in manu-
We are concentrating on nonthermal plasma
decomposition, which boasts the highest decom-
position efficiency. Because VOCs are organic com-
pounds, they can be broken down into carbon
dioxide and water by applying several kilovolts of
AC
electricity via a dielectric substance.
At a testing facility using barium titanate
(BaTiO3) as a ferroelectric substance, we have
achieved a decomposition rate of more than 90%,
irrespective of the density of the gas. VOC gas Decomposed gas

facturing, despite the fact that they cause VOCs to

Ferroelectric substance (BaTiO3)
be released into the atmosphere, but Canon has
developed a technology to render VOCs harmless. Nonthermal plasma decomposition unit

Photo-Activated Water
Decomposing Soil Pollutants Using Water and Light
The use of trichloroethylene (TCE) and other
organic solvents has been prohibited in the majori-
ty of manufacturing processes, owing to their
damaging effect on humans. However, because
until recently they were used in large quantities in
the cleaning of metal parts and semiconductors, as
well as in dry cleaning, TCE remains present in soil
and underground water in many areas.
TCE is an extremely stable substance that,
once formed, rarely decomposes. A number of
methods to remove such pollutants have been
considered, such as using activated carbon and
microorganisms, but Canon attracted widespread
attention in 1999 for its development of the
Photo-Activated Water treatment system.
This system employs functional water exposed
to a light source. Functional water is electrolyzed
water, formed at an anode when water is subject-
ed to electrolysis. When functional water is mixed
with TCE and exposed to light, the TCE decompos-
es. This process can even reduce high TCE concen-
trations exceeding 1,000 mg/liter to acceptable
levels within three to five hours, and it has also
proven effective in treating a host of other organic
compounds, including tetrachloroethylene,
dichloromethane and chlorobenzene.
This incredibly simple process was discovered
by coincidence at the Canon Research Center in
Japan. Researchers were studying TCE decomposi-
tion using microorganisms, and were using acidic
Pollutant gas Pollutant gas
electrolyzed water, which is effective in sterilization
and bacteria removal when handling such microor-
ganisms. One researcher had an unusual idea,
namely that TCE could be broken down using only
acidic electrolyzed water and noted that when
tests were performed near a window, light expo-
sure produced favorable results.
In 1999, Canon set up a testing facility with a
55-liter reactor vessel. The initial objective—to
process 10 g to 40 g of TCE per hour—has already
been achieved.
10 4 6mg/
12mg/
1,000 48mg/
120mg/
Residual TCE concentration (mg/ )

500mg/
Light Light 100
irradiation irradiation 1,000mg/
1,500mg/
Electrolytic water 10
formation device

Cathode Anode 1

0.1
Neutral waste
water vessel
0.01
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Time
Testing Plant Overview of Gas-Purification Plant for TCE Treatment Breakdown of TCE Solution

52

High-Performance Eco-Polymers
Deriving Plastics from Microorganisms
In recent years, the use of microorganisms for poly-
mer production has been in the spotlight. It is
known that certain microorganisms efficiently pro-
duce polyester (PHA: polyhydroxyalkanoate). By
using such properties more effectively, we can open
up new avenues to the practical application of poly-
mers with special properties that are difficult to pro-
duce via chemical processes. The use of microorgan-
isms, rather than chemical processes, facilitates cost
control and is less harmful to the environment.
Canon is working to activate and improve the per-
formance of such microorganisms in its quest to
produce a variety of devices and materials.
We have discovered four types of microorgan-
isms from soil that produce highly novel polyesters.
All four strains are able to uptake novel organic
substances into their cells and transform them into
the corresponding polyester. Canon has developed
basic technologies for using such microorganisms
to manufacture devices that can, for example,
Minimizing the Burden
of Our Products
On-Demand Fixing (SURF)
Realizing Zero Warm-Up Time
Canon’s advanced on-demand fixing (SURF) tech-
nology emerged as a result of our ongoing quest
for energy-conserving, easy-to-use copying
machines and laser beam printers.
To fix toner to paper in these business
machines, heat and pressure must be applied by a
fixing unit. The most used method to achieve this
in the past was heat-roller fixing. However, with
this method, a halogen heater in the center of the
roller must be operating even when the machine is
not in use.
Our on-demand fixing (SURF) technology
greatly improves heat transference while reducing
heat. The structure of the mechanism puts the thin
fixing film and a line ceramic heater in direct con-
tact. With this revolutionary advance, when paper
passes the fixing unit the heater comes into opera-
tion, transmitting heat through the film to fix
images to the paper. As a result, warm-up time is
Plastic Recycling
Reducing Costs in Plastic Recycling
When recycling its plastic components, Canon
employs a closed-materials system to create four
types of resin: PC+ABS alloy, ABS, HIPS and noryl
resins. These resins, which are extensively used for
housing materials in our copying machines, laser
beam and Bubble Jet printers, and toner car-
tridges, do not emit dioxins and thus are receiving
attention as environmentally conscious substances.
Canon has also developed a technology for
using recycled PC+ABS alloy resin in copying
Environmental Technologies
change in thickness when electricity is applied. By
applying different organic substances to the
microorganisms, we are able to produce polyester
with desirable functions. In addition, we have
developed new culturing technologies that facili-
tate the efficient uptake and transformation of
organic substances into a wide variety of poly-
esters for mass production.
Moreover we have already completed the
cloning of polyester-synthesizing genes from these
microorganisms, and found that Canon's microor- PHA-producing microorganisms
ganisms are quite unique from any known poly-
ester-synthesizing microorganisms.
Canon is accelerating its research activities to
make environmentally conscious functional materi-
als available on the basis of such biotechnological
achievements.
Polyester produced by microorganisms
We maintain data on all our products, which is used to reduce environmental burden throughout
product lifecycles. We are developing and applying practical new technologies from the product
design stage.
eliminated, and energy consumption is reduced to In addition, we have incorporated our unique
one-fourth that of the roller-fixing method. In IH Fusing method (see page 8) for the Four-Color
1990, we launched our first copying machine Vertical In-Line Engine in our newest line of full-
using this technology, and we have expanded its color laser beam printers. This method also reduces
employment to network digital MFPs, laser beam warm-up time while lowering operating noise.
printers and facsimile machines, for which Canon
received the Energy Vanguard Prize.
Fixing roller Fixing film
Paper Paper
Fixin
g Fixin
g
Ima Ima
ge surf
ace
ge s
urfa
ce
Heater Ceramic
heater
Toner
Pressue roller
Toner
Pressue roller
Roller Fixing Method On-Demand Fixing Method
Cross-Sectional View
machine housing materials. Called sandwich mold-
ing, this molding method sandwiches recycled
materials between layers of virgin materials, mak-
ing it possible to create up to 30% of the content
from recycled materials. With ABS and noryl resins,
Canon has enabled 100% recycling efficiency
compared with other technologies.
Sandwich-Molded Component
53
 Environmental Technologies
Ozone-Free Electrical Charging
Contributing to Cleaner Workplaces
In laser beam printers, copying and facsimile
machines, electrical images are formed through
the charging of the photosensitive drum.
Conventional systems for this task used the corona
discharge method to apply 5 kV to 10 kV of high-
voltage electricity to the drum. However, this
method generates ozone.
In office environments, ozone can be a source
of unpleasant odors and have adverse effects on
the skin. To absorb and disperse ozone through a
filter, a complex airflow structure is needed inside
office equipment to accurately guide the ozone to
the filter.
At Canon, we successfully developed a roller-
charging technology that replaces conventional
wires with an electroconductive roller, through
which both alternating (AC) and direct current
(DC) are used to charge the photosensitive drum.
Ozone generation is kept to less than 1/1,000th
Ecological Component and
Material Development
Lead- and Halogen-Free Technologies
Replacing Hazardous Substances
Canon is working to eliminate lead and halogenat-
ed flame retardants from its electronic parts and
products. Lead is a major substance used in the pro-
duction of printed wiring boards (PWBs), and is also
applied in many insulating materials for electrical
wires. Halogen serves as a flame retardant in PWBs.
With the goal of eliminating these substances
without sacrificing quality, we researched lead-free
solders, and shifted from a composite of lead and
tin to one of silver and copper, establishing pro-
duction processes and original technologies. From
2001, we began using them in our copying
machines and Bubble Jet printers. Lead was also
used in the insulating materials of electrical wires
as a pigment and stabilizer fixing material. We
achieved lead-free wires by using calcium and
Lens Sludge Reduction Technology
Cutting Time and Costs
In the shaving process to remove the coarseness of
glass lenses, lens sludge is generated as industrial
waste. Since 1996, Canon has been researching
ways to reduce the volume of sludge generated.
Working with an optical glass manufacturer, we
have developed a method to cut sludge genera-
tion by 50% to 80%.
With our production method, by pressing
melted glass to a high level of precision, the vol-
ume of sludge generated from the excess lens is
reduced. We analyzed the lens crevice depth to
propose a shape that would minimize shaving
processes and spearheaded development of a
highly accurate polishing technology. Hoya
Corporation developed the formation technology.
54
that of corona discharge, and the voltage is less
than one-fifth the previous amount.
Wire-charging
In 1989, we launched the world’s first product (Major air ionization) Charging wire
with this technology––an ultracompact laser beam
printer. Because this printer did not require a com-
plex airflow structure or ozone-absorbing filter,
and the voltage was lowered, it was possible to Photosensitive drum
reduce the number of parts in the unit, which con-
tributed to its small size.
Ozone-free roller-charging technology has Roller charging
(Minimal air ionization) Charging roller
earned high praise for its contribution to clean
office environments and has won several national
awards. This technology has also been advanced
into a cleaner-less system (see page 13) that uses
the electric-charging roller to collect toner residue. Photosensitive drum
The new system is featured in our latest business Roller-charging method
machines. Replacing wire charging, this method greatly
reduces ozone emissions
Roller-Charging Diagram
We pay particular attention to the materials and components that go into our products, each of
which is manufactured with consideration of its environmental impact.
magnesium as replacements for lead. Wires used
in our copying machines and printers have been
replaced with these lead-free wires. We have also
replaced halogen with
phosphoric acid to
achieve halogen-free
inflammable PWBs. Our
next step is to produce
lead- and halogen-free
PWBs.
Lead-Free Wires for Business Machines PWB Made with Lead-Free Solder
Reducing shaving also cut process time and manu-
facturing costs.
Lenses produced with this method are already
in use in our compact cameras and other products, <Conventional lens> <80% shaved lens>
and we are steadily implementing it at Canon’s
global production sites.
Shaved Shaved
portion portion
Lens Design with Reduced Shaving
 Environmental Technologies

Eliminating Hazardous Solvents and Gases

From Development to Production to Reuse
There are a number of chemical substances that
produce hazardous effects on the environment.
Among the non-energy-related greenhouse gases
are perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). These gases
have several thousand to tens of thousands the
global warming potential of CO2. In its production
processes, Canon had used these designated sol-
vents and gases in specialty paints, mold-releasing
agents, vapor-cleaning solvents and etchants for
semiconductor devices. for toner cartridge blades, Bubble Jet print head
We began phasing them out in 1998 by parts, toric lenses and magnetic heads.
replacing them with materials that have a minimal
effect on global warming. We reduced the emis-
sions of alternative materials by switching from the
drying of solvents to a dry-processing system. By
the end of 1999, we reduced our use of PFCs,
HFCs and SF6 by 95%, with the exception of their
application in etchants. We replaced these materi-
als and established new production technologies

Rare Earth Recovery Technology

Reclaiming Minute Elements from Waste
Rare earth metals, such as lanthanum, are precious Recovered lanthanum hydroxide is a precious
substances contained in sludge that is generated metal with a number of uses, such as in solvents
when optical lenses are polished and cleaned. for breaking down nitrogen oxides. Canon is
Canon‘s rare earth recovery technology enables working to commercialize this technology in the
these materials, as well as toxic lead and barium, to near future.
be simultaneously and separately recovered. Unlike
conventional dry methods, which use a sintering
process, Canon uses a wet method, which emits
less carbon dioxide and is also energy efficient.
First, sludge is dissolved in sulfuric acid and
extracted, thus removing lead and barium. Liquid
sodium sulfate is added to the filtered sludge, now
in liquid form, and the compound is heated, form-
ing a double salt. This is mixed with sodium
hydroxide, and lanthanum hydroxide is extracted
using a heat-separation process. With this method, Glass Sludge
Canon has achieved 95 % recovery efficiency.

Lead-Free Lenses
Developing Many New Varieties
Canon is currently devoting great effort to elimi- ardous. We have successfully produced lenses
nating the use of substances that are potentially using non-toxic titanium, and currently produce
hazardous to the environment, and to preventing about 100 varieties of lead-free lenses.
global warming. We have developed lead-free
glass in joint projects with manufacturers of optical
glass. Lead has been used in lenses, and especially
in high-precision lenses, because it increases the
refractive index. Since the lead used in lenses is in
solid form, there is no danger of it dissolving and
affecting the environment. However, the lead
Lead-Free Lenses
sludge produced during lens polishing can be haz-

Chromium-Free Steel Plates

Replacing a Harmful Chemical
In conventional copying machines, certain ele- Hexavalent chromium-free steel plate
Conventional (Same rust protection as
ments are rustproofed by chromating layer, but steel plate conventional methods)
this process contains a trace amount of hexavalent
chromium, a restricted substance. In its effort to Galvanizing layer Eliminate chromating Galvanizing layer Special organic layer
Chromating layer
eliminate hexavalent chromium, Canon has 3 µm 3 µm 0.7 µm
0.005 µm layer
replaced the process with an organic layer that is
just as effective in its anticorrosive capabilities. We
plan to incorporate hexavalent chromium-free Ferrite Ferrite

materials in all our products by 2004.

Overview of Treated Films

55
 Environmental Technologies

Solar Cells
True Clean Energy
Backed by widespread concern for environmental
protection around the world, scientists and
researchers are actively seeking ways to effectively
use clean energy sources, such as solar and wind
power. Because photovoltaic power generation is
regarded as the cleanest and safest method of
generating power, it has proliferated significantly
into residential rooftop power generation use in
recent years.
At present, silicon is the principal material for
solar cells. The two types of silicon most widely
used are crystalline (monocrystalline and multicrys-
talline) and thin-film (amorphous or microcrys-
talline). Thin-film solar cells, because they require
minimal amounts of silicon raw material and thus
are more environmentally conscious, have become
the object of calls for further technological
advancement.
Canon’s R&D on solar cells has concentrated
on thin-film types, with a focus on amorphous sili-
con. Recently, we successfully developed a highly
efficient solar cell technology featuring a triple-
junction structure (one amorphous and two micro-
crystalline silicon layers).
We incorporated this technology into a thin-
film solar cell that boasts industry-leading energy
conversion efficiency and highly competitive
wattage costs at the mass-production stage. Thin-
film solar cells are ideal for mass production and
offer the potential to reduce both resource usage
and manufacturing costs. Moreover, compared
with crystalline silicon solar cells, thin-film solar
cells are a cleaner energy source because they can
be produced at lower temperatures (300˚C versus
1000˚C) and thus deliver a shorter energy payback
time (the time required for a cell to generate the
amount of energy used in its manufacture) than
that of crystalline solar cells.
Thin-film solar cells are also more durable than
crystalline solar cells, and so are expected to find a
broad range of applications, not only in roofing
materials for homes, but also in such areas as com-
munications, public industrial, floating and agricul-
tural facilities.
Canon’s Solar Cell

Reuse and Recycle

Maximizing Resources
Canon is collecting and recycling certain compo- recycled paper. In addition, we have reduced the
nents and products on a global scale through use of polystyrene foam. We also recover poly-
bases in Asia, the Americas and Europe. styrene foam from Canon Group companies and
We have adopted an “inverse manufacturing” recycle it into packaging materials using melting
method in our product reuse and recycling efforts. and a bead-molding method, part of a closed-recy-
This begins at the development stage, where we cling system.
are designing product configurations that facilitate
dismantling and reuse, as well as substances that
are easy to recycle. The success of this method
requires extensive research at every step of the
production process, and in 1999 we created a joint
project at our Toride Plant, encompassing person-
nel from product development, sales and all other
relevant divisions.
The results have been diverse. In product
packaging materials, for example, we now use
paper-sheet pallets made from cardboard instead
of wooden pallets for shipments of large products.
For small products, we have developed a pulp-
molded, shock-absorbent material using 100% Toner Cartridge Recycling Recycled Paper and Polystyrene-Foam Packaging

56
 Technologies are evolving every day in an endless cycle that is
accelerating and intensifying. Mastering these technologies and
meeting the challenge of devising new methodologies will propel the future
evolution of humanity itself.

Canon’s tireless pursuit of new advances illustrates our desire to contribute to

society today and tomorrow through technology. This is why Canon and
technology will always progress hand in hand.

I N D E X

1-Inch Wide Print Head ----------------------------20 Handwritten Character-Input---------------------43 Paper-Like Display-----------------------------------21

3D Software Object Modeller (3D S.O.M.)-----39
45-Point Area AF ------------------------------------26
ARCDAT-----------------------------------------------14
All-in-One Toner Cartridges ------------------------9
Anti-Fogging Technologies------------------------49
Aspherical Lenses -----------------------------------48
Auto Eye-Tracking Technology -------------------35
Auto-Registration Servomechanism -------------14
Broadband Printing and
Photo Service (BPPS)---------------------------39
Canon Direct Print ----------------------------------23
CMOS Sensors ---------------------------------------46
Chemical Components Technologies -----------50
Chromium-Free Steel Plates-----------------------55
Cleaner-Less/Toner-Reuse System ---------------13
Color IH Fusing Technology ------------------------8
Color Management Concept ---------------------37
Color Reproduction Technologies ---------------23
Color iR Controller ----------------------------------13
DNA Microarray Production-----------------------20
Digital Imaging Processor (DIGIC)----------------23
Digital Offices ----------------------------------------36
Digital Watermarking ------------------------------41
Document Image Recognition Technology ----42
Document Profile Retrieval ------------------------42
Domain Wall Displacement
Detection (DWDD)-----------------------------47
ELTRAN SOI Wafer Production -------------------45
Eliminating Hazardous Solvents and Gases ----55
Epsilon-------------------------------------------------38
Exif Print-----------------------------------------------20
Eye-Control-------------------------------------------27
FARE ---------------------------------------------------30
Four-Color Vertical In-Line Engine-----------------8
Full Frame 35mm CMOS Sensor -----------------25
Glass Sludge Reduction Technologies ----------54
High-Compression PDF Conversion -------------42
High-Performance Eco-Polymers -----------------53
High-Performance Imaging Engine --------------25
High-Intensity Inks and Specialized Paper------18
IDEALSmile -------------------------------------------32
Image Retrieval Technologies---------------------40
Image-Processing Algorithm ----------------------15
Image-Processing Technologies ------------------19
imageWARE Series----------------------------------36
Infrared-Cut Low-Pass Filter-----------------------24
Intelligent Information Retrieval System--------42
iR Controller------------------------------------------11
iR System Architecture -----------------------------10
LIDE ----------------------------------------------------31
Large Concave Mirror ------------------------------33
Laser Beam Printer System Controller ------------9
Laser Interferometer --------------------------------47
Laser Unit-----------------------------------------------9
Lead- and Halogen-Free Technologies----------54
Lead-Free Lenses ------------------------------------55
Lens Sludge Reduction Technology -------------54
Mesoporous Materials -----------------------------51
Micro Bubble Jet Print Head ----------------------20
Mixed Reality Technology -------------------------44
Multi-Layer Diffractive Optical Element---------49
Multiple-Zone Evaluative Metering --------------27
Nanostructural Materials --------------------------51
Near-Field Optical Technologies------------------51
Network Print Management Software----------36
New “MicroFine Droplet Technology” ---------17
Next-Generation Exposure Technology---------33
On-Demand Fixing (SURF) -------------------------53
One-Chip Video IC (VIC)---------------------------29
Optical Beam Communications Systems -------35
Optical Thin-Film Technology---------------------48
Original Software for Digital Cameras ----------23
Ozone-Free Electrical Charging ------------------54
Photo-Activated Water-----------------------------52
Plasma Technologies -------------------------------50
Plastic Recycling -------------------------------------53
Precision Color Distribution Technology--------18
Precision Equipment Downsizing
Technologies------------------------------------49
Prime Focus Corrector Lens
for the Subaru Telescope---------------------34
Rare Earth Recovery Technology -----------------55
Reuse and Recycle ----------------------------------56
Rotary Encoder --------------------------------------47
S Toner--------------------------------------------------9
SED ----------------------------------------------------21
Shift-Method Optical Image Stabilizer ----------29
Simulation Systems ---------------------------------50
Solar Cells---------------------------------------------56
Speech Recognition---------------------------------43
Speech Synthesis ------------------------------------43
Super Galileo Lens ----------------------------------30
Thermal Infrared Radiometer
for the TERRA-----------------------------------34
Television Broadcasting Lens----------------------35
Toner Cartridge Production System -------------50
Toners for Full-Color Copying Machines -------15
Twin Beam “Flat 4” Engine -----------------------13
uiCard System ---------------------------------------40
Ultra Fast Rendering (UFR) Algorithm-----------38
Ultra Hyper CCD ------------------------------------31
Ultracompact Optical Lenses----------------------22
Ultraprecision Positioning Technology ----------32
Ultrasonic Motors -----------------------------------47
VOC Decomposition--------------------------------52
Vari-Angle Prism-------------------------------------29
WebView Livescope --------------------------------41
X-Ray Image Sensor --------------------------------46
 03-E

CANON INC. 30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 146-8501, Japan www.canon.com CTHE07 0803P15.2 Printed in Japan
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