Canon Expo 2010 Held in New York

Canon Expo 2010 Held in New York

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Among the many intriguing technologies Canon unveiled at their once-every-five-years Canon Expo in New York last week was what the company called the world's largest CMOS image sensor, with a chip size measuring 202 x 205 mm.

Because its expanded size enables greater light-gathering capability, Canon claims the sensor is capable of capturing images in one one-hundredth the amount of light required by a professional-model digital SLR camera.

At 202 x 205 mm, the newly developed CMOS sensor is among the largest chips that can be produced from a 12-inch (300 mm) wafer, and is approximately 40 times the size of Canon's largest commercial CMOS sensor. In the past, enlarging the size of the sensor resulted in an increase in the amount of time required between the receiving and transmission of data signals, which posed a challenge to achieving high-speed readout. Canon, however, claims to have solved this problem through an innovative circuit design, making possible the realization of a massive video-compatible CMOS sensor.

Additionally, by ensuring the cleanest of cleanroom environments during the production process, the sensor minimizes image imperfections and dust. Because the increased size of the new CMOS sensor allows more light to be gathered, it enables shooting in low-light environments. The sensor makes possible the image capture in one one-hundredth the amount of light required by a 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor, facilitating the shooting of 60 frame-per-second video with a mere 0.3 lux of illumination.

Among the other more interesting peeks at future Canon products the Expo unveiled what Canon is calling their Mixed-Reality initiative, which uses computers to combine the real and virtual worlds in real-time, creating a visual experience in which users can not only “see” images in a visual space, but also control and create them.  Canon’s Mixed Reality system utilizes a head-mounted display with built-in cameras and a computer that processes video to blend real and virtual realities. 

Also on display were future technologies, such as Canon’s proposed new lightweight and compact, Multipurpose Camera that supports both video and still image capture with ultra-high definition 4K resolution and a newly developed CMOS sensor that enables video shooting at high frame rates in excess of 60 frames per second.

“Canon EXPO 2010 New York is an extraordinary demonstration of how Canon is uniquely positioned to say, ‘We Speak Image,’” said Joe Adachi, president and chief executive officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc.  “The ground-breaking products and solutions on display at EXPO are transforming the way businesses operate and how people across the globe share their experiences, reflecting our commitment to responsible innovation and our corporate culture of Kyosei.”

Also showcased  were three new high-resolution liquid crystal panel display units, featuring 8K, 4K and 2K high-resolution liquid crystal panels and high image quality display engines, that demonstrated their possible usage in  professional services such as color management in image editing and the printing industry, image quality management and retouching by professional photographers, checking image quality and making color adjustments in the field of video production and displaying high-definition medical images.

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