THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 /2024
Focus on Technology and R&D

Create the Future by Creating Innovations
through Systematic Integration ofTechnologies

Canon’s technology, with its origins in camera development, is now expanding
its possibilities and being applied to four business areas of printing, imaging,medical, and industrial.
All in order to solve diverse social challenges and enrich lives.
By creating competitive products through a development environment thatenables systematic technology integration, while leveraging open innovation
structure, Canon is leading the way into the future.

CONTENTS
3

Technologies Supporting Canon

5

CTO Message

CHAPTER 1

Fundamental Technologies
7 	SPAD Sensor / Ultra-high-sensitivity

Camera9

Photon Counting CT

11

Image Analysis

13 	Super Color Management

Technology

15

Commercial Printing

17

Nanoimprint Lithography

CHAPTER 2

Value Creation Technologies
19 	Development and Design Platform
21

Manufacturing Platform

23

Materials Development Platform

25

Digital Business Platform

27

Green Platform

CHAPTER 3

Core Competency Technologies
29

EOS R331

Inkjet Ink Technology

33

Global R&D

Technologies Supporting Canon

Interchangeable lenses

N

AG

I

Network cameras

Mirrorless cameras

s
gie
olo
chn
e
T

G

Big data
utilization

Image
qualityquantification

Colormanagement

Precisionmechanics

OpticsProcessdesignElectrophotographic
process

Systemization

Simulation
technology

Toolingtechnology

Inkjetprocesses

Green plEco-friendly
product
designPR

Sheet-fed presses

Paperhandling

IN

IN

T

Laser printers
Office multifunction
devices3

Deviceelement

Development and design platform
Measurement
analysis

Inkjet printers

Image
processing

Manufacturing platform

Multi-purpose
camerasContinuous feed presses

Image
sharpening

Capturing purposeful images and videos

MR systems

Toner cartridgessor accue base f
rm th
o
f
t
tha

Creating value from

Sensors

Broadcast lenses

ment

gie
olo
hn
c
Te

CMOS sensors

Image
processing

mportant formost i

ental
m
a
nd
u
F

Video
recognition

4K professional
displaysarethat

Opticalmaterials
andelements

IM

Projectors

yste m
S
d
n
ta
c
u
d
etency
Pro
p
m
o
C
e
r
Opticaldesign andComeasure-Large-format printers

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

Professional inkjet printersG

Eco-fri
produ

Va
lue
Creation
Tec

Recordingmaterials

hno

logi

es th

at suppo

Functional
materials

rt prD e sig n T eTechnol

chno

ogie

creating com
petiti
ve, s
tron
gp
rod
uct
s

CMOS
sensor

s

log

ie s

M

Bio
measurement

mulating co
re com
pete
ncy
tec
hn
olo
gie
s

CA

Bio
materials

Standardization

Optics /Precisionmechanics

Devices

MRI systems

Image
reconstruction

Drawing purposeful images and videos
Materials

L

Radiant
energymeasurement

images and videos
Imagerecognition

E

Diagnostic ultrasound systems

DI

Technologies

CT systems

Image
processing

Diagnostic X-ray systems

Materials development platform
Materials
functiondesignSynthetic
processing

Analysis /Measurement
evaluation

Manufacturing
process
OLED
materials
anddevices

Digital business platform
Secureconnected
platformDatasolution
platformBusiness
supportplatform

es
i
g
o
l
Technooducts andcore c

et
omp

enc

ies

Alignment
control andmeasurement

Microstructuremold releaseandimprinting

IN

Flat panel display lithography equipment

RI

Collection /
Reuse

AL

Driving
andcontrol

atformendly
ction

Semiconductor lithographyequipment

U
D

T
S

Components

OLED panel manufacturing equipment

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

4

CTO Message

Looking to Solve Social Problems
through Innovation
The post-COVID19 society is in a period oftransformation. Amid these developments,
how will Canon develop new technologies and carve out
a new future?
Toshio Homma, Executive Vice President andChief Technology Officer (CTO), talks about research anddevelopment at Canon.

Toshio Homma

Executive Vice President & CTO, Canon Inc.

5

Social Changes and Canon

Research and Development at CanonAs society undergoes significant changes thanks to
striking technological progress in the forms of digitaltransformation (DX) and artificial intelligence (AI), Canonis also approaching a major turning point. Alongside thecontinued contraction of markets for cameras and otherproducts that once constituted our core businesses,
significant changes are affecting the office multifunction
device and printer markets as well. We are taking on thechallenge of great transformation in order to reach thenext stage of growth.
In the future society we are about to step into, researchand development undergoes a paradigm shift, where an
innovation-focused approach to solving society problems
is being added to the prior invention-focused approach.
We are in an era where a variety of social issues such asenvironmental concerns are coming forth and technologies solve them. Social issues come to define technologies in need. Relying solely on inventions after spending
much time to nurture the seeds for the future is no longer
possible. There is an even greater need for innovation-focused R&D that can address social issues in timely manner. Canon’s R&D units are also engaged in self-transformation for that purpose.

Since Canon’s foundation, we have been promoting diversification of our business through development of corecompetency management, which combines core competency technologies (core technologies), which create
industry-leading core products, with fundamental technologies that form the basis of our technology accumulation, and value creation technologies that form the basisof our product commercialization technologies.
We have transformed several of these core technologies into fundamental technologies through repeated
R&D efforts. For example, the core technology behindcamera people detection has been further developed as afundamental technology for detection AI/statistics analysis and is now being incorporated into healthcare IT
systems helping to enhance our business unit.
Core competency management is put into practice inthe research and development process through the“matrix R&D structure.” The head office’s research departments and the product development divisions of thebusiness units of various products have established amatrix-style system and created a structure that will makeit possible to use company-wide technologies. The
development divisions of our business units are the main

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

SocialEnergy conservation

Resource conservation

Resource efficiency

Op

en

inn

ova
tion

Tree
/
Shaft

Soil

Chemical substances

Business enterprise

nc e
Allia

Product and System Design Technologies
Core Competency Technologies

Fundamental Technologies
Value Creation Technologies

players when it comes to the core technologies that makeour products competitive. Meanwhile, the head office’s
research departments handle research into forthcoming
trends and the development of fundamental technologies. This can lead to the advance development of coretechnologies at the business departments.
Furthermore, the most distinctive feature of Canon’s
R&D is that a holistic environment (one where technologies can be joined in complex ways) has been developed
where it is possible to use and deploy together throughout the company the “technologies that go into products”
like core technologies/fundamental technologies and the“technologies that support products” such as value
creation technologies. With this, by simultaneously
leveraging the technologies included in products andthose that support products in product development, we
will create competitive products that are hard to mimic forother companies.

Aiming for New Heights
At Canon, the three groups of core technologies andfundamental technologies, both of which are employed in
products, respectively related to capturing, value deriving,and outputting of video/image, have strongly supported
the four businesses of Printing, Imaging, Medical, andIndustrial, while at the same time having promoted
business diversification. This structure has been the main
source of Canon’s current strongpoints. Going forward,
Canon will use open innovation through industry-academia collaborations and collaborations with partnercompanies to further strengthen our businesses andexpand their scope. Canon’s value creation technologies

for our products are very advantageous in such efforts.
For example, in the XR field we are creating new value
by collaborating with partner companies which havecyber (software etc.) technologies as their core competencies, making use of the physical (product) technologies for
capturing and depicting videos and images that are
Canon’s strengths. In the fields of such materials technologies as inks and toner, we are working through collaborations with our partners in the fields in questions to expand their uses beyond printing. In addition, we will workon a wide range of alliances in the field of environmental
technology to realize a sustainable society.
Canon needs young, vital people to make these changes. In order to maintain the R&D system that meets thedemands of the times, we actively provide opportunities
for them to demonstrate their power in both the research
department of our headquarters, which develops cutting-edge fundamental technologies, and the development department of business units, which develops
world-class core technologies. In addition, for new areasof technology that need to be strengthened, we provide
opportunities for education to acquire the technology.
Canon hopes to continue its corporate culture by developing human resources who have a distinctive insight
into both technological fields and social issues, which isessential for innovation, and who are willing to take on
uncharted territory.

For more information about
Research and Development at Canon

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

6

Fundamental Technologies

C H AP T E R 1

SPAD Sensor / Ultra-high-sensitivity Camera

Canon Successfully Develops
Key Devices for Future Society
One of the key components that we expect to further enrich our society in the future, beyond what we see
today is the sensor that converts light into electric signals. Canon has successfully developed an ultra-small(13.2mm x 9.9mm) SPAD sensor capable of capturing the world’s highest*1 resolution 3.2-megapixel color
photography—a higher resolution than full HD (approximately 2.07 megapixels), even in low-light environments.

*1 SPAD sensors for video photography use. As of July 31, 2023. Based on Canon research.

For more information about
SPAD Sensor

Measuring the Number of Photons, not the AmountSingle Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor is a type of
an image sensor. The term “image sensor” may brings tomind the CMOS sensors typically used in digital cameras,
but SPAD sensors operate on different principles.
Both SPAD and CMOS sensors take advantage of thefact that light possesses the property of particles. Whilein CMOS sensors, each pixel measures the amount oflight that reaches to the pixel within a given time, SPAD
sensors on the other hand measure each individual lightparticle (i.e, photon) that reaches to the pixel. Eachphoton that enters the pixel immediately get converted
into an electric charge, and the generated electrons are

eventually multiplied as an avalanche, allowing one
photon to be extracted as one electrical signal.
CMOS sensors read light as electric signals by measuring the volume of light that accumulates in a pixel
within a certain time frame. This also counts the noisethat enter the pixel along with the light particles (photons), hence contaminating the information received.
Meanwhile, SPAD sensors digitally count individual
photon particles, preventing from any analog noise toenter. This makes it possible to obtain a clear image evenin dark places when there is little light, and vividly
capture subjects in the darkness.

CMOS sensor

N-typeElectronElectron

Correctly detect anincident of single photon.
Detection of an individual
photon without noise
increases the accuracy of
infomation.

ElectronN-typeP-typeDue to the impact ofnoise, may not be able todetect a single photon,leading to degradedaccuracy.

NN-typeSingle photon
Single photon
approx. 1000000X
multiplicationN
N-typeSingle photon
Single photon

P-typeapprox. 1X
multiplication

SPAD sensor

P-typeElectronP-typeAvalanche Avalanche
multiplication
multiplication

Low-light Scenes as if It Were in Bright Areas
The SPAD sensor developed by Canon employs a proprietary pixel architecture that reflects photons inside thepixel in order to effectively detect photons across theentire region of effective pixels. Under equivalent light
conditions, the SPAD sensor can capture the same images
as a conventional CMOS sensor while requiring only 1/10
of imaging area. This realizes an ultra-small design thatcan be installed even in small devices and can greatly
increase sensitivity. Both static images and video images
7

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

can be performed in low-light environments, including
dark night conditions. By equipping cameras designed for
low-light environments and other monitoring applications to this SPAD sensor, even video footage of low-lightenvironments can be viewed as if it were recorded inbright areas, enabling identification of subject movement
as though viewing with the naked eye in well-lit environments.

Achieving High Pixel Density and High-sensitivity
entire pixel area, allowing it to efficiently capture thecharge (quantity of electricity) generated from incident
photons. This makes it possible to achieve 100% fill factor,
realizing both miniaturization and high sensitivity.
As a result, clear images with the world’s highest resolution of 3.2 megapixels can be captured under environments darker than starless night skies.

In conventional SPAD sensors, only photons that travel
through the region covered by high electrical field (sensitivity field) can be detected, leading to a challenge which
require pixel size to be shrunk and as a result, sensitivity to
be lowered.
With the proprietary architecture of Canon’s SPAD
sensor, the space within the sensitivity field covers theCanon’s SPAD sensor

Fundamental Technologies

Conventional SPAD sensor

P+

N+

P+

N+

Epi

Epi

Photon

P+

P+

N+

P+

N+

P+

Photo-sensitive

Conventional SPAD array (left) andCanon’s SPAD array (right).

Photo-insensitive

Unprecedented High-speed and High-precision Distance Measurements
capturing light trails moving at a speed of approximately
300,000 km (7.5 times the earth’s circumference) per
second.
Taking advantage of those characteristics, it is expected
to be used as a sensor for driverless vehicles and medical
diagnostic imaging equipment, etc.

Value Creation Technologies

Canon’s SPAD sensor has a time resolution as precise as
100 picoseconds (1/10 billion seconds), which enables
extremely fast information processing. This makes possible to capture the movement of objects that move
extremely fast, such as light particles. In addition tohigh-resolution and high-sensitivity, it is also capable of

An Ultra-high-sensitivity Camera Created from a Combination of the Latest
Technologies

Canon has launched the MS-500, the world’s first*2
ultra-high-sensitivity camera for color photographyuse, equipped with a SPAD sensor. When combinedwith an ultra-telephoto broadcast lens, it is possible tocapture clear color videos of vessels several kilometers
away, even at night. Not only can you discover thevessel, you can also determine what type of vessel it is.
Canon develops and produces sensors, lenses, camera
imaging engines, and the like, and deeply understands
their characteristics. Because the structure of the SPAD
sensor differs from that of ordinary sensors, it called for
new ideas to take advantage of its unique characteristics
and to achieve its maximum performance regarding

Core Competency Technologies

Captured image of the night approx. 5km away (Lens: CJ45eX13.6B IASE-V H)

World’s first ultra-high-sensitivity interchangeable-lens camera for color photography, equipped with a SPAD sensor

things like electrical circuits and image processing. For
this reason, we took a fresh look at everything fromsensor controls to color and gradation processing,
contour enhancement, noise reduction, and otherfunctions. Completing such improvements throughcooperation among the various departments involved
resulted in developing this product.

As a color camera equipped with a SPAD sensor. As of July 31, 2023. Based*2 on
Canon research.

For more information about
Ultra-high-sensitiviry Camera

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

8

C H AP T E R 1

Fundamental Technologies

Photon Counting CT

Next-generation CT That Allows Materials
in the Body to be Accurately Identified
Interest in the early detection and prompt treatment of diseases has increased over the years. CT systems,
which feature short examination times and widespread availability at many hospitals, are therefore attracting
a great deal of attention. In particular, there are high expectations for photon counting CT, which promises toimprove CT performance in many ways.

Canon and the National Cancer Center Japan have been conducting joint clinical research on photon counting CT since April 2023.

Growing Expectations for CT Systems
With the rapid aging of society, the demand for healthpromotion and disease prevention is greater than ever.
Computed tomography (CT) has been introduced inmany hospitals because of its advantages such as
shorter examination times, a wider range of applications (including head, heart, and tumors), and clearer
images as compared to magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). On the other hand, because CT systems employ
X-rays, the risks of radiation exposure must be kept inmind.
For these reasons, the introduction of photon counting CT (PCCT), which can provide higher-resolution
images while reducing exposure dose, is eagerly anticipated.

PCCT can even Identify Materials in the Body While Minimizing the
Exposure Dose
Canon is currently conducting clinical research on
PCCT, which generates diagnostic images by counting
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THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

individual photons, the smallest quanta of light.
Conventional CT and PCCT can be compared using theresulting in clearer images with lower exposure. In
addition, the color of each raindrop can be identified, so
the energy information for each photon can be determined. Every material has unique energy response
characteristics in terms of the degree of attenuation of
the photons passing through the material (a gradualdecrease due to photon absorption, dispersion, etc.).
Precise information concerning the materials in the body
can therefore be obtained from the acquired energy
information.
PCCT employing this photon counting approach canbe useful for identifying whether a mass is a high-grade
tumor or for determining the amount of residual contrast medium. By improving diagnostic efficiency, we
aim to reduce the burden on patients and to ensure
more effective treatment planning.

Fundamental Technologies

analogy of collecting raindrops in a bucket. Conventional CT measures the total amount of water after collecting
all the raindrops (photons) of various colors in thebucket (Figure 1). In this measurement method, the photons cannot be counted directly and only approximate
numbers are obtained, which leads to measurement
errors in determining the number of photons.
The colors of the raindrops represent the energy
information of the photons, which differ from one other.
But the raindrops of various colors are all mixed together
in the bucket, so the energy information of the individual photons cannot be evaluated.
PCCT, on the other hand, measures the raindrops(photons) one by one at high speed. By measuring theraindrops individually, it is possible to discriminate
between raindrops and dust particles (which represent
circuit noise). This allows image noise to be reduced,

Mechanism of photon counting (Figure1)
Conventional CT

Photon Counting CT

Value Creation Technologies
Core Competency Technologies

Promoting Patient-centric Healthcare from
Prevention to Long-term Prognosis
It is also expected that PCCT, which has the advantage of low exposure
dose, will gain widespread acceptance in preventive care. Its higher
diagnostic accuracy and its ability to accurately identify materials in the
body can lead to quicker decision-making and more effective treatment
planning. With regard to prognosis, PCCT can be very helpful in deciding
whether or not further treatment is necessary, such as in patients withcancer. PCCT is also expected to contribute to health maintenance andpromotion thanks to its wide range of applications from prevention to
long-term prognosis.
Canon and the National Cancer Center Japan began joint clinical researchon PCCT in April 2023 to assess its effectiveness and safety in actual medical
equipment. By conducting advanced clinical research, developing new
diagnostic methods, and verifying their clinical usefulness, we are working
to promote the rapid practical application of PCCT.

Image acquired by PCCTFor more information about
Photon Counting CT

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

10

Fundamental Technologies

C H AP T E R 1Image Analysis

Reducing the Burden on the Patients andMedical Staff
Canon will contribute to reducing the burden on patients and healthcare professionals by developing technologies that aim to solve the incompatible problems of obtaining high-resolution images and reducing thetime required for examinations.
Conventional examination

Examination with PIQE

Number of pixels

960×960

960×960

Examination time

11 minutes 40 seconds

3 minutes 56 seconds

Image

PIQE’s noise reduction and high-definition scanning technologies improve image quality.

MRI system with PIQE technology

Trade-off in MRIA Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, which isa type of diagnostic imaging system, uses a strong
magnetic field to obtain images of the organs andblood vessels in the body. Because MRI does not involve
radiation exposure, demand for MRI is growing in a wide
range of fields, including diagnosis, treatment, andresearch. However, compared to computed tomography(CT), which can acquire images in a relatively short scantime, MRI requires a longer scan time of around 30
minutes to acquire images of various scan planes in the
body. The longer the scan time, the more likely thepatient is to move during the examination, making it
difficult to obtain high-resolution images. In MRI examinations, there is a trade-off between high-resolution
imaging and a short scan time. Canon has been actively
developing new technologies to address this issue.

Continuously Evolving Technologies for Achieving Higher Image Quality
In 2019, Canon developed Advanced intelligent ClearIQ Engine (AiCE), a noise reduction and reconstruction
technology for MRI based on deep learning*. And in
2023, Canon introduced an MRI system equipped with
Precise lQ Engine (PIQE) which is a further evolution of
AiCE.
While AiCE employs deep learning specifically fornoise reduction, PIQE focuses on further improving
image quality by adding high-definition imaging functions to the technologies developed for AiCE. In addition, PIQE minimizes the artifacts (differences from theactual image) that arise during digital image processing.
PIQE therefore helps to avoid the trade-off between
11

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

high-resolution imaging and a short scan time.
Canon will continue to listen closely to the voices ofour customers in the medical community and work hard
to respond to their needs. We are committed to employing our image processing and manufacturing technologies which have been developed since our founding tofurther promote patient-centric healthcare.

Deep learning is used only
* during
the design stage.

The diagnostic imaging
system itself does not haveself-learning capabilities.

For more information
about PIQE

Responding to Social Issues with Our Technology
to Obtain High-quality Images

1 An image shot with ISO sensitivity of 51200 at

moonlit night brightness (0.05lux)

2 The same subject shot with ISO 4000000

Fundamental Technologies

Canon uses the latest image processing technology to sharpen images taken with network cameras and otherdevices, thereby transforming them into valuable information.

3 An image obtained by applying the latest noise
reduction technology to the image 2

Value Creation Technologies

Making Invisible Things with Human Eyes Visible
the subject. Canon has developed a technology tocorrect image data appropriately by calculating the
distance to the object to be photographed and theamount of fog and haze in the distance. Thanks to thistechnology, now we can reliably visualize what we want
to see even at night, in bad weather, or in other situations where it is difficult for the human eye to see.
Canon will continue to contribute to solving various
social issues, by creating clear images beyond humanvision, using image processing technology, which takes
advantage of our own development and production of
key devices such as lenses and sensors.

Core Competency Technologies

Canon has been researching various image processing
technologies that utilize deep learning, and is working
to develop technologies that can transform images
captured with network cameras into value-added
images so that changes in objects can be clearly seen
even in the dark or at a distance.
For example, if a network camera located outside in adark, it will record a noisy, grainy image when the ISO is
increased for shooting. Therefore, Canon has developed
an image processing technology that uses deep learning
to predict noise and remove it.
What is needed for image processing using deeplearning is a number of shooting cases in which theimage you want to see is degraded by shooting underbad conditions. Canon has been developing and producing cameras for many years and is fully aware of thecharacteristics of lenses and sensors. Canon has accumulated numerous appropriate examples needed in thedevelopment of noise reduction method that process
degraded images into “images you want to see.” These
examples enable objective image processing without
relying on human experience or intuition, making it possible to sharpen images taken under adverse conditions.
Also, Canon has developed technologies to eliminate
the effects of fog and haze for monitoring in difficult
shooting environments. Fog and haze reduce the difference between light and dark. Thus, the resulting image
loses contrast. The contrast depends on the distance toImages with reduced sharpness due to fog or haze (left) and images withsharpening processing (right)

For more information about
Image Processing Technology

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

12

C H AP T E R 1

Fundamental Technologies

Super Color Management Technology

Reproducing the Colors That People Perceive
One of the most important technologies for video, photography and printing is the management of colors.
Canon—which has been uncompromising when it comes to color reproducibility throughout its work ofdeveloping cameras, displays, and printers—is developing the next generation of color management technology.

Color Management That Achieves the Colors Intended
Technological innovations have brought about various
changes in society. The field of printing is one such
example. A shift is underway from conventional offset
printing which uses a printing plate to digital printing,where digital data are printed directly onto paper.
Because the range of colors that a printer can produce

depends on its specification and the type of paper used
for output, generally speaking, the colors of the final
products will not match if those conditions vary. With
digital printing, color management plays the crucial roleof uniformly managing the colors among devices.

Diversification of Printed Matter Makes
Color Matching All the More Important
Conventional color management has focused onminimizing the difference of values that measured thecolor of the printed images. To wit, when matchingcolors among several items of printed matter, the items
would be measured using a colorimeter with the goalof getting those values as close to one another as
possible. However, as printed matter has diversified, we
have learned that even if the physically measured
values are the same, the colors appear different in
13

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

some cases when seen by the human eye. After many
years of research at our R&D department into howhumans recognize colors, Canon created a “color scale”
that shows numerically the colors and gradations(shades) that humans sense and developed a measuring method using it. Based on this technology, Canon ismoving forward rapidly on development to respond tothe heightened demand for color matching.

Automatic Adjustment to “Colors That People Perceive”
with Canon’s Proprietary Algorithm
technology that assigns colors based on a proprietaryalgorithm so that, even if the color gamut of the image
you want to print extends beyond the printer’s representable color gamut, the colors you perceive whenviewing the printed image are closer to the colors thatthe print data originally have. Canon has also enabled
dynamic color mapping for each printed image. As aresult, It achieved the effect that the color perceived by
the human eye from the printed image comes closest
to the original color.

Fundamental Technologies

With conventional color management, sometimes theprinted results look unnatural to human eye, because
the original range of colors in the to-be-printed image
is squeezed into the color gamut of the printer.
Canon is striving to reproduce colors perceived by
the human eye by developing Super Color Management (SCM) that can appropriately process colors evenwhen there is a big difference in the color gamut
between the to-be-printed image and the printer thatprints it.
As part of SCM, Canon has developed a “mapping”

Automatic assignment of “colors that people perceive”

Value Creation Technologies

Super Color Management

Conventional
color management
Development ofproprietary technologies

Recognition by the brain

Core Competency Technologies

It performs uniform mapping processing on all kinds ofimages. In some cases, the human eye feels the expression
is flat with less shading than the original color.

Human eye perception

It automatically compares the colors that the printer can
express with the colors of the image data to be printed,
and converts the colors outside of the printer’s gamut intocolors that are close to the original colors when viewed byhuman eyes.

Changing Corporate Marketing Workflow for Improved Productivity
With the spread of digital printing presses, there is a
growing trend of printing original goods within companies and using them for marketing activities. In sucha case, it is common to print posters on a large-format
printer, flyers on an office multifunction printer, shop
cards on a small inkjet printer, and so on, using different printers depending on the intended use of theprinted material. In cases where the output paper andprinter models are different, or where the output has tobe checked at multiple sites, how to unify the colors

has been a problem. With the introduction of SCM,
however, there is no need to spend time and effort tocheck the quality of print repeatedly. Even if no one has
specialized skills, printing of original goods that require
matching colors can be made in-house, changing theworkflow of corporate marketing.
For more information about
Super Color Management Technology

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

14

C H AP T E R 1

Fundamental Technologies

Commercial Printing

Next-generation Inkjet Technologies to Meet
Needs in Commercial Printing
To meet diversifying customer needs in the field of commercial printing, Canon has developed compact commercial digital presses with excellent print media compatibility by combining three technologies—ink circulation print
head, high-concentration latex ink, and the closed heater process.

Compact Commercial Digital Presses with High Productivity Demanded by
the Market
Analog offset printing is suitable for high-volume printing and was once the mainstay for commercial printingpresses producing catalogs and other printed materials. In recent years, however, the industry has beentransitioning to digital printing, to meet the needs suchas variable printing in which contents change from one
printed piece to the next, and on-demand printing,suitable for high-variety small-lot production.
High-quality commercial digital presses, which arecomparable to offset printing, have also emerged.
Digital commercial printing can be divided into two
main types—electrophotographic printing, in which
toner is fixed to paper such as in copiers, and inkjet

printing, which jets ink droplets from fine nozzles.
Electrophotographic commercial digital presses havethe advantage of being compact and low-cost to install,but they do not easily print materials larger than A3+
size(329×483mm) or print at high speeds. Although
inkjet commercial degital presses are fast and can produce results comparable to offset printing for such items
as photo books and product catalogs, the equipment
tends to be larger and more expensive. As customers’
needs diversify and the demand for digital printing in­creases, the market is looking for presses that are superior to offset printing. That demand can be fulfilled by
Canon’s compact, high-speed, high-quality digital presses.

A New Concept in Print Heads—Ink Circulation
In the print heads used for inkjet printing, moisturetends to evaporate from the nozzles when exposed tothe air, causing ink viscosity to increase. Especially withhigh-concentration latex inks*1, which can reproduce
text and colors clearly, the print heads are more prone
to dispensing failures. To prevent ink viscosity fromrising, we introduced a structure for ink circulation. This

allows the jetting velocity to be lowered to the point
where the main droplet of ink fired*2 is a few pl (picoliters)*3 in size so that only clean main drops are dispensed from each print nozzle.
particles dispersed in water*12 NPolymer
jetting creates multiple droplets, which interferes with image quality*3 1plormal* (picoliter) = billionths of a milliliter

Suppress viscosity rise by ink circulation

Landed dots

In-nozzle ink circulation technology
Conventional print head Newly developed print head

Conventional technology
Extend beyond the main drop
Rising ink density
Rising ink density

Ink droplet Ink droplet

Circulation Circulation
Ink droplet Ink droplet

New technology
Only main drop landed

15

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

Achieved Miniaturization by Developing a New Heater That Significantly
Improved the Fixing Processes
photography, applied to inkjet printing for the first time.
In this system, the paper printed with high-density ink issemi-dried using non-contact hot-air drying. The paper
is then heated in a sealed space sandwiched between
the upper and lower belts, allowing the additives topermeate the paper, coating the ink pigments with alatex film, and strengthening the bonding to the printed
surface. This new design cuts out more than half thepaper transport distance needed conventionally fordrying and fixing, thereby reducing the size of theequipment.

Fundamental Technologies

When fixing ink on paper, two issues are at play—controlling paper deformation due to moisture and using
moisture to get additives to penetrate the paper. These
conventional processes required a large drying equipment to instantly evaporate moisture upon printing.
Then, once the paper deformation had been prevented, the paper would be steamed to fix the ink. This
resulted in commercial digital presses tending to bevery large pieces of machinery.
The innovation that solved this problem of contradictory processes is Canon’s closed heater process, whose
design is based on technology developed for electro-

Newly developed commercial digital press that realizes
miniaturization of equipmentby the closed heater process

Value Creation Technologies

FixingDryingClosed heater process

Hot air

Steam

Belt
Water
Ink

Paper

Core Competency Technologies

Paper

Ink

Belt
Belt
Form latex film to enhance strength of printing surface

Suppress paper deformation by hot air drying

Continuing to Create New Printing Technologies by Combining
Technologies
Canon’s proprietary value creation technology, simulation technologies are being fully leveraged to verify
things like the ink density distribution inside nozzles inink circulation and the behavior of ink droplets affectedby dispensing speed. Canon’s chip fabrication andmounting technologies cultivated over our long history
have also led to the creation of a high-density array of
nozzles that makes high-speed, high-resolution printing possible.
In this way, Canon incorporate some of our funda-

mental technologies in materials, devices, precision
mechanisms, and image processing. These technologies
give rise to products that are valuable to our customers
and that only Canon can deliver. We will continue to flexibly respond to the needs of the times by refining ourvarious technologies.
For more information about
Commercial Printing

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

16

C HA P T E R 1

Fundamental Technologies

Nanoimprint Lithography

An Innovator Drastically Changing Convention
in the Semiconductor Industry
Technology fields responsible for the manufacture of semiconductor chips over half a century are about to bejoined by an innovative technology.

Nanoimprint semiconductor-manufacturing system is currently being studied mass production at KIOXIA Corporation Yokkaichi plant, Japan.

New Technology That Achieves Miniaturization with Low Power
Consumption and at Low Cost
The evolution of semiconductor chips relates directly
to the history of circuit miniaturization. The key to thisminiaturization has been the shortening of light-source
wavelengths and advances in lithography technologies
that support miniaturization. In the early 1990s, 350nm
patterns (nm: nanometer = one-billionth of a meter)
were realized with i-line lithography systems. That
miniaturization has since continued, with KrF/ArF
lithography systems, and, in recent years, with EUV
lithography systems.
Advances in lithography technology have contributed
significantly to miniaturization and cost reduction ofsemiconductor chips. However, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve further miniaturization andmanufacture complex semiconductor chips at low cost
only through extensions of current technology.
Canon has achieved miniaturization at lower power
consumption and lower cost with nanoimprint lithography (NIL), a new technology that is an alternative toconventional lithography technology. By enabling
inexpensive production of patterns of 15nm or smaller,
NIL is poised to revolutionize the semiconductor industry.

Confronting the Frequent Issues That Arise from a Simple Principle
Unlike conventional lithography technology that uses
light to expose circuit patterns, NIL does not require alight source. Circuits are formed using a simple principle that involves transferring a circuit pattern mask
(mold) onto the coated resist (resin) on the surface of
the wafer (a thin silicone plate).
However, because of the system’s simplicity, there are
numerous issues, and for a long time it has been said
that practical application would be a challenge. To
17

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

overcome a number of these issues, Canon began byworking on technology to control the amount andpositioning of the resin applied to the wafer surface. This
technology precisely controls how much and where theresin is applied to prevent it from being squeezed out
when the mask is pressed into the resin, while also
ensuring the formation of a resin layer with a uniform
thickness regardless of the size or number of indentations on the mask being used.

Next, Canon developed a nanometer-level control
technology to prevent the deformation of the convex
circuit patterns formed in the resin, making it possible tocleanly remove the mask from the wafer.
Furthermore, through the comprehensive develop-

ment of hardware, software and materials technologies,
along with environmental control technologies to keep
microscopic particles in check and prevent contamination, Canon successfully overcame numerous obstacles
on the way to practical application.

Comparison of Photolithography (conventional lithography technology)
and Nanoimprint Lithography manufacturing processes
Photolithography

Light

RemovalWafer

resist (resin) for light
1 The
exposure is coated on thewafer surface

Nanoimprint Lithography

Fundamental Technologies

Resist (resin)

A chemical reaction occurs

projection lens is used to
2 Areduceand project circuit
patterns drawn on the reticle*1
onto the silicon wafer, causing achemical reaction in the resist
 hotomask used in*1 Psemiconductor
manufacturing

development, the resist
3 Afterthat was exposed to light isremoved to create a circuit pattern

Ultraviolet light
Resist (resin)

Mask
RemoveMask (mold)

Wafer

Inkjet technology is used todispense droplets of liquid
resin to the wafer surface inaccordance with the circuit
pattern2

A mold, called a mask, has
the circuit patterns. It ispressed like a stamp onto
the resin that has been
applied to the wafer surface

Energy-saving Processing Technology andExpanding Applicable Devices

sponsored by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan and the Nikkan*2 Awards
Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd. and supported by the Ministry of the Environment

Ultraviolet light is used tosolidify the resin and form
the circuit patterns, after
which the mask is removed
from the resin

Patterning performance
Three-dimensional circuit patternCore Competency Technologies

Recently, NIL’s energy-saving processing technology has also attracted
attention. With existing lithography systems, complex circuit patterns areformed through repeated etching, but the overall manufacturing process istime-consuming and costly as a result. NIL, on the other hand, is able toform complex two- and three-dimensional circuit patterns in a single pass,
power consumption can be reduced by about one-tenth compared toadvanced logic exposure technology.
Furthermore, Canon, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., and KIOXIA Corporation
together succeeded in pattern formation using NIL at the most advanced
semiconductor manufacturing level (minimum line width of 15nm). At theEnvironmental Awards*2 held in 2022, the efforts by these three companies
received an Award of Excellence and they were recognized with their contribution for reducing power consumption during semiconductor manufacturing and for the technology which will support the rapid expansion of an IoTsociety going forward.
The range of possibilities for semiconductors that can be manufactured
using NIL is expanding to include DRAM which is memory for storing data,logic for processing data and controlling equipment, and even micro-opticalelements other than semiconductors.

3

Value Creation Technologies

1

Two-dimensional circuit pattern

Two- and three-dimensional circuit
patterns formed by NIL
Source: KIOXIA Corporation

For more information about
Nanoimprint Lithography

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

18

C H AP T E R 2Value Creation Technologies

Development and Design Platform

Virtual Prototyping Technology Applied to
Various Products
Virtual prototyping is a simulation
technology that runs the prototyping
process in a virtual environment
inside computers without actuallybuilding a prototype.
Canon has expanded the scope of
virtual prototyping technology to be
applied to all of our businesses toimprove quality and shorten development lead times.

Issues of Simulation Technology to be Addressed
In conventional product development, a number oftangible prototypes were produced based on drawings
designed in Computer Aided Design (CAD) in order toconfirm the adequacy of design, discover new issues
through repeated experiments, and share images
among developers. This method placed a burden on
product development in terms of cost and duration of
prototyping because we had to build many pieces ofdifferent prototypes for each stage of development.
Therefore, in recent years, we have come to build

models that act as prototypes in the virtual environment in computers and use them to evaluate performance and quality.
That method, in turn, had other issues. For simulationin virtual space, product design data created using CAD
must be converted to Computer Aided Engineering(CAE) models. This took a lot of time and effort. In addition, general-purpose simulation software did notprovide accurate simulations that were optimized forverification of specific product designs.

The Pursuit of High-precision Virtual Prototyping Technology
Canon has been developing virtual prototyping technology to check how a product will function andcomplete the design process on a computer, without
producing any physical prototypes when possible.
Efforts began in earnest at Canon in the early 2000s
through a group-wide project to create a virtual prototyping environment. With these efforts, Canon developed a technology for automatic conversion of 3D CAD
data into CAE models and original in-house software.
We now have the virtual prototyping technology inplace for all of Canon’s products and have built a proprietary development and design platform that enables thedesign process to be completed in a virtual environment
19

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

alone. Using virtual prototyping technology that faithfully reproduces the various malfunctions that may
occur to a product, it is possible to evaluate virtually thedesign accuracy and solve problems without creating aphysical before producing the product. As a result, we
can develop products in a shorter period than before.
In the development of a multifunction device, forexample, a simulation model is automatically generated
in a computer to simulate movement in the paper feeding unit. In this virtual environment, the paper movement in the feeding unit can be checked in detail withoutbuilding a physical prototype. A product of higher quality
can therefore be developed in a shorter period of time.

In simulations, publicly available values are often used to specify material properties, but Canon uses actual and analyzed values measured in-house to improve theaccuracy of simulations, even going so far as to manufacture in-house dedicatedequipment for that purpose to ensure accuracy in the measurement and analysis ofsuch values.
Using this virtual prototyping technology, a variety of tasks are now possible on
the computer. It is now possible to verify parts that would have been too small or
hidden to see if they had been verified using a physical prototype. In addition, sincealmost all of the verification which could not have been covered by a single physicalprototype can now be carried out, the design quality can surely be improved.

Simulation of paper feeding processinside a printerFundamental Technologies

Virtual Prototyping Technology for Group-wide Use across Businesses
Canon has developed a library of virtual prototyping
technologies for a full range of phenomena involved in
product development, such as drop impact, vibration,and heat generation. The library is made available todevelopers to conduct virtual prototyping, whichallows simulations to be performed with high accuracy
in the early phases of new product development acrossa wide range of businesses.

Heat flow virtual prototyping technologies used for
multifunction devices are a good example. The same
type of simulation is applied to the development andmanufacture of the internal parts of equipment used to
produce high-definition displays used in smartphones
and TVs. In this way, virtual prototyping technology is
being used throughout the company beyond the scopeof businesses.

Imaging

MedicalValue Creation Technologies

PrintingIndustrial

Visualization of simulation results

Inkjet ink discharge

Internal temperature rise
Image prediction
Inkjet head control

Body strength Inkjet body vibration

Noise reduction

Drop impact

Optical tolerance
Circuit board noise

Paper feeding

Lens material design
Electromagnetic
interference

CAD-CAE integrated system

Transfer dischargeCore Competency Technologies

Simulation platform technologies

Powdersimulation

Sound noise
vibration

ThermalFluid

simulation

simulation

Paper feed
simulation

Vibrationnoise
simulation

simulation

Material
Opticalsimulation

simulation

Electromagnetic
compatibility
simulation

Virtual prototyping technologies applicable to a wide range of products

Virtual Prototyping Technology Makes a Big Contribution to EQCD
The virtual prototyping technology thus shortensdevelopment time and allows Canon to createhigh-quality products. It also contributes significantly toachieving carbon neutrality by reducing physical prototypes and enhances Canon’s pursuit of improvements interms of the environment, quality, cost, and delivery(EQCD).

Canon’s virtual prototyping technology allows it todeliver high-quality products to customers in a timely
manner leveraging its unique technology and knowhow accumulated over many years, while also taking theenvironment into consideration.
For more information about
Development and Design Platform

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

20

C H AP T E R 2Value Creation Technologies

Manufacturing Platform

Evolution of Automated Assembly to Achieve
the Previously Impossible
Once responsible for only simple assembly, automated assembly has evolved to include delicate and complex
assembly processes that require sophisticated skill. Automated assembly technology enables rapid and stable
precision assembly and even contributes to quality improvement. By linking automated assembly with product design, many of Canon’s businesses aim to reach unexplored territories.

Automation of Difficult Processes That Requires Sophisticated Skill
Delivering attractive products to the world requires afoundation of extremely delicate and highly precise
assembly technology. Canon now produces lenses forcameras by automated assembly. Canon has also succeeded in automating exceptionally difficult production
processes such as assembling components into tiny
space surrounded by delicate and complex structures orinserting components into connectors on electricalboards.
By realizing a system that is constantly in operation tosteadily produce high-quality products, Canon goesbeyond rationalization to the stage which could not bereached with conventional assembly.

In-house Development of Basic Technology for Automated Production
Canon’s automated production robots have been developed as a unique technology to shape new ideas generated within the company to enable the assembly of
precision optical equipment that requires high quality.
For example, Canon has achieved precise part alignment with “Visual Servo,” applying high-definition andsmall cameras, that analyzes video information from thecamera attached to a robot arm.
An example to show the excellence of Canon’s comprehensive production technology is an automated production

robot called a “multi-skilled automated assembly machine.”
Moving multiple robotic arms at the same time, the machine executes complex parts assembly processes while
accurately picking up parts of various shapes and properties
from the randomly stacked pile of parts.
The creation of the automated production robot that canwork quickly, reliably, and stably, regardless of the numberof processes or the sensitivity of the work, is the result of
accumulation of experiences developing various automated production technologies.

Continuous feedback on
image characteristics(Image displacement)

Alignment using a camera
at the robot’s end effector

The multi-skilled robot identifies parts of different
shapes and properties
Pin insertion
Position control
Torque control

Position adjustment with images from the camera

21

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

The position of the hole is detected by visual
servoing and the arm moved into position to insert

Visual Servo performs precise alignment

Canon has developed its own simulation software that
reproduces robot movements in cyberspace.
The proprietary simulation software, which has reflected experience in all the businesses across the company,
can design a motion of a robot in just a few tens ofFundamental Technologies

Opening Up a New World of Manufacturing through Cyber-physicalCooperation
minutes. This preparation work to apply the robots in
production lines used to take days. This system greatly
shortened the time needed. In addition, the robot’s
high-precision sensors enable it to achieve the delicate
movements set in the simulation.

Easy and saves time
Disparity correction for thevirtual and physical(cyber)

Virtual space

Robot’s movements are designed in a virtual space

ActualValue Creation Technologies

Virtual(physical)

Actual space

Physical position is checked visually and by pressure, and movement is reproduced
Reproduce the movement

Block’s position

Calibrate
the actual machine

Robot’spositionCore Competency Technologies

A Solid Foundation of Production Technology Produces Cutting-edge
Products
Canon’s automation technology originally started forthe production of consumable products including
toner cartridges. The technology has contributed to customer value in terms of rapid supply and stable quality.
Now, Canon’s production technology, which was primarily a source of its price competitiveness, has been evolving to become a technology for providing customers
with high-quality products, at the same time.
For example, automated assembly greatly increases
assembly accuracy to levels that were previously impossible, allowing for complex designs that could not be
adopted due to lack of accuracy.
Starting from consumable products such as tonercartridge, in all areas of Canon’s business, including cam-eras, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, andmedical equipment, the product development andproduction technology divisions have joined forces torealize this evolution, which allows the company tocreate higher value-added products in each business.
Canon continues to develop a new future by developing technologies to create new values of its products
through production technology and deliver them to thecustomers.

For more information about
Manutucturing Platform

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

22

Value Creation Technologies

C H AP T E R 2Materials Development Platform

Technological Infrastructure to Improve Product
Performance and Boost CompetitivenessCanon has built up materials technology through the development of a wide
range of products. We have systematized these technologies into a proprietary materials development platform
which serves as a company-wide
technological infrastructure for improving product performance and boosting
competitiveness.

Our Materials Development Platform Supports Product Evolution and theCreation of New Businesses
Materials are an important element that impacts
product performance. When classified according to thefunctions performed by materials, the material technologies that Canon has accumulated through thedevelopment of interchangeable lenses, printers, etc.
are divided into four categories. These are (1) technology for creating color, (2) technology for adjusting light,(3) technology for transmitting and blocking heat andelectricity, and (4) technology for creating force.
For each material, which fulfills one of these fourfunctions, Canon has built up a set of technologies thatcombines “design of the material that provide highfunctionality,” “synthesis and processing” that realize thefunctional design of the material, “manufacturing” thatenable its production in the quantity and quality
enough to be used in products, and “analysis, measurement, and evaluation” to confirm that the material is
produced as intended.
Canon has systematized these technologies to establish a “materials development platform” as a technological foundation across the Group, and uses it to further
improve its products and to launch new businesses
earlier to provide customers with high value-added
products in a timely manner.

Four features that enhance product performance

Function

Creating color
Materials to create new colors
Materials to enhance coloration
properties

Materials &Components

Inks / Toners
Organic EL

Adjusting lightMaterials to control reflection
Materials to suppress
chromatic aberration

Lens materials

Transmitting and blocking
heat and electricity
Materials that transfer heat andelectricity
Coating materials that block heat

Heat-shield coatings
Fixing and transferring components
for office multifunction devices

Creating force
Materials to create vibration
Materials to mimic hardness

Ultrasonic motors

Products
Inkjet printers

23

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

Toner Cartridges

Cameralenses

Office multifunction
devices

CameralensesCameralensesStreamlining Development with Our Own Materials Database
Materials development once took years, relying on theknowledge and experience of engineers in an iterative
process of prototyping, evaluation, and verification.
Canon has now consolidated into a database all of theinformation on material characteristics and experimental data from R&D processes to serve as a materialbank. This system, which utilizes the knowledge accu-

mulated by engineers with the help of AI, contributes
to identifying new materials with the necessary functions. It improves our developmental efficiency andallows us to find new materials that will boost thecompetitiveness of Canon’s businesses, utilized indevelopment of light-emitting materials for displays,
and other areas of material development.

light into a single point to create a sharp image. In order
to eliminate image blur and color shift, blue light control
was a particular problem. Commonly available materials
do not offer the optical performance that Canon requires in terms of blue light control, so we synthesized
our own optical material, starting from the basic molecular design. By combining this new optical material withglass materials, we succeeded in dramatically reducing
chromatic aberration. The result was Canon’s Blue
Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) Lens, an optic elementthat has made superior imaging performance possible
and is winning accolades from camera users.

Value Creation Technologies

Components and materials that add value to products
are positioned as “key parts” at Canon. We accumulated
and refined technologies related to them by developing them in-house. Particularly in interchangeable
camera lenses, our advances in materials technology
have improved the products’ performance and given us
an enormous competitive edge.
Chromatic aberration is one thing that directly impacts the performance of interchangeable lenses.
Because common optical materials have different
refractive indices for the red, green, and blue lights thatmake up natural light, ordinary lenses cannot collectFundamental Technologies

Using Materials Technology Developed In-house for Better Performanceand High Value-added Products

Materials Technology of Current Businesses Leading to New Businesses
To improve the performance of interchangeable lenses,
more than our BR Lens is needed. We also developed
in-house surface processing technologies for lenses
that all but eliminate reflection.
These are Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC), atechnology for forming nano-scaled structures on asurface and Air Sphere Coating (ASC), a technologythat allows the coating to contain a certain percentageof air, which has a lower refractive index than opticalCore Competency Technologies

Air Sphere Coating (ASC)glass. Both coating technologies provide superioranti-reflective performance. These coating technologies are being used in other businesses, such as films
that clear the field of view of network cameras. In
addition, they are also being applied in new fields, suchas in paints that suppress the reflection of display
surface. Thus, these technologies are expected tocontribute to strengthening the competitiveness ofCanon’s businesses.

Application to anti-reflective paintLight
The film, containing a certain
percentage of air

PaintedThe film, containing a certain percentage of air with lower refractive index than optical glass, forms an ultra-low
refractive index layer

Unpainted

Due to lack of light reflection, the depth of objects ishard to recognize(Photo: anti-reflective paint on a flask)

For more information about
Materials Development Platform

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

24

C H AP T E R 2Value Creation Technologies

Digital Business Platform

The Canon Digital Platform Technologies That
Provide Our Customers with New Value
Canon's Cyber-Physical Systems concept (Figure1)

Canon’s Digital Business Platform—which increases product value through coordination (Cyber-Physical Systems) of the cloud (cyber) withhardware products (physical)—to provide newvalue that anticipates customers’ expectations
and demands.

Customer support using unique
technology and data

Cyber

Environment for safe andsecure use of products
High-quality, high-performance hardwares

Business expansion

Various support services tosupport stable operation

Customer Issue
Resolution Services
Smart
Services
Basic
ServicesCanon
products

PhysicalIncreasing customer value

Digital Business Platform That Connects Canon Products to Virtual Spaces
to Provide Value
With Canon’s own products serving as the core, we arefurther developing the basic services that provide theenvironment that makes it possible to use products
securely and safely in the cloud, as well as the smart
services that support stable operation of those products. We are also providing services for solving customer issues that provide those customers with new value.
What serves as the technological infrastructure that
supports these three services is our Digital Business
Platform. (Figure1)
In other words, our Digital Business Platform is the col-lection of fundamental technologies that deliver value
by linking the hardware (physical = products) that
Canon maintains with the cloud (virtual space). We
define this as Canon’s Cyber-Physical Systems. We areworking to expand our lineup of products and services
in ways that will make it possible for them to be safely
connected to virtual space, adopt constantly runningmonitoring and defect prediction features, allowing
them to be used with peace of mind, and being able toanticipate future expectations and demands of customers.

The Digital Business Platform that uses Canon’s digital technologies to support all types of services
Data solution platform
Data
collection

Data
processing/accumulation

Experience/
knowledge
Data
analysis

Secure connected platform(Cyber ​​side)

Secure connected platform(Physical side)

Value creation fromimage processing
technologies
Image analysis
technology, etc.

Collected
data

Maintains technology related tonumerous images

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

Variouscommonfunctionsto support
business
operations

Collaboration
with othercompanies'
services

Cyber

Device management/authentication/connection/control

Antenna/wireless module, simulation, secure transmission/transmission protocol, wireless control software, high-speed video transmission

Optimized for integration into Canon products

25

Business support

PhysicalEquipping Products with Basic Services That Connect Securely, Quickly
and Stably
Transmission technology that connects
services quickly, easily, stably, and securely
Service/Solutions

Secure connected platform (cyber side)

Wi-Fi
WirelessLAN

5G
Publicwireless

MPEG
Video compression
transmissions

Fundamental Technologies

To maximize experience value for our customers, it is crucial that
Canon’s input and output devices with their excellent video andimaging technology be linked to cyber space and connected
securely and stably. Canon takes an active part in planning withinternational standards bodies for such standards as Wi-Fi and 5G
communications, and makes proposals for specifications. With
these international standards providing the base, we develop
technologies for transmitting data at high speeds, simply, stably,and securely depending on how they are being used and the data
involved. This work includes, for example, the development ofcommunication control technologies that upload large volumesof high-quality images to the cloud at high speeds and boosting
device security through the use of secure chips.
The hardware and software for telecommunications such asantennas and wireless modules are developed internally at Canonso they can be used in products across all of Canon’s businesses,
including printers and cameras.

Qi
Wireless powertransmissions

connects services quickly, easily, stably, and securelyInternational
standards
compliance

Commoninfrastructuretechnology

Implementation
optimization

Secure connected platform (physical side)
Canon products

Improving Value for Customers by Utilizing Data

Lithography
Plus

Online support service tomonitor the status of thecustomer's printerIn the medical field, Canon Medical Systems’ Remote
Diagnostic System constantly monitors the status of customers’ CT and other equipment, and even when a problem occurs, it remotely analyzes the status of the equipment and provides support, thereby resolving problems
in a timely reasonable manner.

Hospital

In the semiconductor field, we provide our “Lithography Plus“ service. This service analyzes the vast amountsof operating data generated by Canon lithographyequipment around the world so it can optimize equipment operating at customers’ facilities. On the other
hand, the “anomaly detection” function —which observes data in real-time to detect abnormalities andsigns of potential trouble during production—it prevents malfunctions in semiconductor lithography equipment that generally operate throughout the year andrealizes superior operating rates for those devices.

Core Competency Technologies

Remotemonitoring
service

Value Creation Technologies

Canon is making significant progress in the use of data
to improve customer value. In the printing field, we can
not only automatically have toner sent based on theremaining toner information of our networked officemultifunction devices use, but also collect and analyze
data on how much a variety of consumable products
such as the drum have been consumed. We can detect acomponent’s life expectancy based on use and minimize
downtime for customers by systematically replacing
parts so we provide services that enable customers can use
their products with peace of mind.

Lithography Plus detects
equipment problems andtheir warning signs

We are working to further develop the use of suchdata so we can deliver new value to our customers.

Data center

For more information about
Digital Business Platform
Remote Diagnostic System monitors the status of equipment

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

26

C H AP T E R 2Value Creation Technologies

Green Platform

A Technology Infrastructure That Helps
Reduce the Environmental Impact of All Our
Products and Corporate Activities
Canon has been ahead of its time in creating environmentally conscious products. We have been involved in efforts
across the entire product lifecycle, not only to conserve resources and power, but also to reuse and recycle products.
In response to changes in society surrounding environmental issues, we have organized these technologies andknowledge into a company-wide technology infrastructure called the Green Platform to strengthen our activities.

DesignPower-saving,
Resource-saving,
Circular design

Transportation

Procurement
Business
Partners

Green Platform
Materials

Reuse

Decarbonization

Repair,
Reuse,
RecycleResource
Ef f iciency

Products

Production
Reduction of Power ,Waste,and Water

Customer
Use

Canon’s Green Platform

Organized as a Technology Infrastructure Based on the Environmentally
Conscious Systems and Technologies That Canon Has Accumulated
In recent years, more attention has been paid to sustainable corporate activity. Since its founding, Canonhas remained ahead of its time in working to consider
the environment. In 1993, we established the Canon
Group Environmental Charter. Under this charter basedon the concept of EQCD (Environment, Quality, Cost,
Delivery), we position the Environment as a matter ofCanon Eco Technology Park, communications base for sustainability activities

27

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

priority over Quality, Cost, and Delivery. We haveconducted business under the EQCD concept andbelief that, “Companies are not qualified to manufacture goods if they are incapable of environmental
assurance.”
The Green Platform is a technology infrastructure thatcomprehensively helps all of Canon’s business activities,
based on the environmentally conscious
systems and technologies that Canon has
accumulated over the years. Canon
contributes to minimizing environmental
impact, including decarbonization andimprovement of resource ef f iciency , bycombining and utilizing a variety ofproprietary technologies at each stage ofthe product life cycle such as design, production, and reuse.

Promoting Reuse Initiatives Ahead of the Circular Economy

Canon Bretagne
S.A.S.
(Europe)Canon Giessen
GmbH(Europe)Canon Dalian Business
Machines, Inc.
(China)Since 1992, Canon has also undertaken the “remanufacturing” of used multifunction devices. We collect useddevices and break them down into parts, which are
washed, cleaned and replaced any parts that show wear
or deterioration. When a remanufactured device isshipped, it is guaranteed to offer the same level ofquality as a new product. Furthermore, Canon has
designed a new stain-resistant toner bottle that minimizes toner adhesion and messy leaks for consumables.
We are also working on toner bottle refill production,
taking into account ease of collection for customers andease of recycling at Canon after product use. In addition,from inkjet printers for home use to cameras that meet
professional needs, we are equipped to handle repairs.

Fundamental Technologies

Canon has established five recycling sites around theworld, and has created to improve resource efficiency.
We began collecting used toner cartridges recycle
programs in 1990. If you were to lay end-to-end all of therecycled toner cartridges we’ve recycled to date, theywould circle the Earth four times.
At Canon Eco Technology Park, opened in 2018, stateof-the-art automated recycling lines have been implemented. Used toner cartridges are crushed and thematerials automatically separated for recycling of themain component, high-impact polystyrene (HIPS). The
sorting purity of the recycled plastic reaches 99% orgreater with the intensive use of various separation
technologies.

Canon Virginia, Inc.
(Americas)

Canon Eco Technology Park*(Japan)Canon’s global recycling sites

Value Creation Technologies* Operated by Canon Ecology Industry Inc.

Remanufacturing of a multifunction devices

Reduce Environmental Impact through Resource-saving and Power-saving
Product Design
product, eliminating the need for cooling fans. In addition, the structure (shape) and arrangement of themembers were optimized by minimizing the curve of thepaper path. As a result of these efforts, we are realizing
products that are miniaturized (power-saving).

Core Competency Technologies

Using our proprietary simulation technologies, Canondevelops to conserve resources and power in the
product life cycle in product design. We reduce environmental impact by reducing resources used in products and improving transport efficiency during delivery.
For example, in the development of laser printers, it
was difficult to downsize the product due to the need forcomponents to cool the heat during toner fixing and thepath (space) for printing paper. Canon accurately simulates the flow of heat, wind, and paper during productdesign. Thermal updrafts create air flow inside theSimulation of heat flow contributing
to the miniaturization of laser printers

Challenging Power Waste ”Zero” during Production
In order to further reduce the amount of power consumed during production, Canon are developing asystem that enables detailed visualization and analysisof the state of power consumption for each process inthe factory. By disaggregating factory power not only by
location but also by operation of production facilities,
we can thoroughly identify hidden “power waste.” We
will accelerate the decarbonization of our production
sites by deploying this system throughout the company
to efficiently reduce power consumption.

The Green Platform is the technology infrastructure foradapting to the coming age of dramatically increasingsocial demand for reducing environmental impact, and itis the source of Canon's competitiveness in creatingstrong products. Canon advances its Green Platform andcontribute to the decarbonization and improvement of
resource efficiency.
For more information about
Green Platform

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

28

C H AP T E R 3Core Competency Technologies

EOS R3A Mirrorless Camera for
Snapping the Moments
You Want to Capture
The “EOS R3” full-size mirrorless camera with superb high-speed andautofocus performance. In the pursuit of unprecedented visualexpression, this camera is equipped with cutting-edge technologies.
With a development approach that always targets future needs, and reliability
obtained through strict evaluations of quality, we satisfy photographers’ wishes.

EOS R3

Our Unique Autofocus Technology Delivers Moments Beyond Ideal
As digital cameras have evolved, and their ability tohandle subjects and settings that are difficult to capture has increased. However, there is no end to thedesires of photographers who want to “take the photothat is more like what I had in mind.” Canon has been
giving thought to what sorts of functions would lead
users to expand their photographic horizons andcoming up with one new technology after another.
The “EOS R3” is equipped with an “eye control function” that precisely focuses on the spot that the photographer sees with their eyes. To detect the line of sight ofthe photographer requires that pupils be detected withgreat precision. We have improved quality through trial
and error, such as by studying the eyes of a variety ofpeople in order to reduce the impact on the precision of
pupil detection due to eyelids, eyelashes, the use ofglasses, and so forth.
With regard to the “subject detection function” thatcan detect the subject, the camera makes use of deeplearning technology that uses an enormous amount ofdata to train its AI. Detectable subjects and conditions
have also been enhanced. This is the most advanced
technology in Canon’s camera development, and we are
seeking further advances.

Possibility of Handheld Photography Widened by Image Stabilization
Achieved with Cooperative Control
What you want to avoid when taking photos is “camera
shake.” With our “EOS R5” (released July 2020), Canon
has achieved the high level of image stabilization thatsignificantly outperforms DSLR EOS systems with 8.0
Stops*1. Canon achieved this by developing a “cooperative control” in the image stabilizer for both the lensand camera body. This system can eliminate all five
types of camera shake.*2
Cooperative control optimizes the correction effectby changing the amount of correction between thelens and body according to the photographing opera-tion. In this system, a lot of information needs to beexchanged at high speeds. One of the elements thatmade cooperative control possible is high-speed
communication between the lens and the body. Canon
has long been refining its mirrorless camera “RF mount”
communication technology in anticipation of thesystem evolution. The entire EOS R system supports
photographers so they can take photos that satisfy
them even with a single, handheld camera regardlessof how bright or dark conditions may be.
hen using RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM, f=105mm*1 W
Yaw (up and down axis rotation)/Pitch (left and rightaxis rotation) direction, CIPA standard compliant

axes of shift shake (up, down, left, and right), angle*2 5shake(up, down, left, and right), and rotation shake

Without image stabilizer

29

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

With image stabilizer

Fundamental Technologies

The subject detection function can also detect animals, and other subjects that are moving quickly

Using Simulation Technology and Uncompromising Quality Assessments
single-lens reflex cameras.
At the prototyping stage, the quality control anddevelopment departments join together to makerepeated evaluations and take countermeasures. In
particular, quality evaluations for picture quality and autofocus are rigorous, and if those high hurdles are notovercome then the product cannot move to the next
step. Development continues ceaselessly to the very end
under the policy that we will not release a product until
the target specifications have been achieved.

Value Creation Technologies

At Canon, by employing simulation technology in avariety of projects, the precision and speed of development have been improved and manufacturing is being
made more efficient. Previously, we had to use prototypes to, for example, carry out droppage tests andmeasure heat generation in the body, but now thesethings can be simulated at the design stage. Furthermore, when it comes to camera design know-how, wehave a vast accumulation of past technologies and we
make use of knowledge from when we developed film

Dust- and water-resistantconstruction
Sealing materials
Spots made dust- andwater-resistant due toincreased precision ofcomponents

Core Competency Technologies

Sealing materials for preventing intrusionof water and dust

Making the Most of the Accumulation of Technologies, and Continuing toCreate Cameras That Satisfy Demands
Component technologies from a variety of departments were combined for the EOS R3. Canon’s component technologies—which are developed and turned
into systems after thinking about what might lie years
down the road—cover a broad range, resulting in anenvironment where it is easy to realize ideas. The R&D
departments are closely tied together, and the very factthat we have these component technologies andsimulation technologies means we can develop theadvanced cameras we do.
Expanded uses are foreseen for cameras in such fields

as medicine, space, and agriculture. With our goal of
creating cameras that capture images that previously
were impossible to get, Canon will continue to expand
the possibilities of visual expression sustained by theaccumulation of technologies developed throughout
the company and feedback from a wide range of users.

For more information about
EOS R3

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

30

Core Competency Technologies

C H AP T E R 3

Inkjet Ink Technology

Advanced Ink Technology
for High Image Quality
Digital printing technology continues to evolve to meet diversifying printing needs. Canon develops ink for its
products in-house, as it is an important element that determines image quality to provide new value tocustomers by making vivid colors and a wide range of color expression possible.

Evolving Technology Expands the Role of Pigment-based Ink
Inkjet technology is expanding its applications fromhome-use printers to the field known as commercial
printing, which includes printing of catalogs and direct
mail, and also to the field of industrial printing, which
involves printing on a variety of media, such as labelsand packages. Color materials used in ink include
dye-based ink, in which the colorant penetrates into

the medium to show its color, and pigment-based ink,
in which the colorant is fixed to the surface of themedium. Pigment-based ink is the mainstream incommercial printing which may involve printing on water-resistant papers, and in industrial printing which
may involve printing on non-absorbent materials suchas plastic sheets or other materials.

Advanced Ink Technology for Vivid Colors
Improvements in pigment particle size and dispersion
technology have helped achieve higher quality images,
expanding the role of pigment-based ink. In ink, pigment is dispersed, instead of being dissolved, in water.
If pigment is not well dispersed in water, pigment
particles will aggregate together, causing poor coloration and affecting image quality. Therefore, it is neces-sary to find good dispersant that achieve uniform
dispersion, though that requires ingenuity. In addition,
smaller pigment particles generally achieve better
colors with less pigment, and broader color gamut.
Thus, creating extremely small, nanometer*-size grainsof pigment, to be put into ideal dispersant, is also
crucial in creating good ink.

* One-billionth of a materNon-uniform dispersion

Pigment well-dispersed in water

A pigment particle

Status in ink

A particle of pigment

Status in ink

Less dispersant
molecules around apigment particle

Pigment particles
aggregate together

More dispersant
molecules adsorbed
on a pigment particle

Less pigment
aggregating

Pigment
Dispersant

Pigment
Dispersant

Finding optimal molecular structure of pigment and dispersant to secure uniform dispersion

31

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

The product development divisions of printer business and headquarter R&D divisions in charge of basic
material research work together utilizing advanced
simulation technologies to identify the optimal molecular structure, including dispersion material and pigment particle arrangement and shape of crystal forgood coloration and dispersion. Canon designs the ink,

develops the production technology necessary to
produce the ink as designed, and mass-produces the
ink at its own factory. By exercising all these processes
in house, Canon is producing highly functional pigment inks. This arrangement reduces development
effort to one-third, and provides customers withhigh-quality ink in a timely manner.

Pigment crystal structure given
by computer simulation

Electron microscopic image of
pigment crystals
Fundamental Technologies

Accelerating high-quality ink development with computer simulation

Value Creation Technologies

Broader Color Gamut with Newly Developed Ink
Basic inks

Newly developed inksCore Competency Technologies

The needs for printed materials change with the times.
Prior to new ink development, we research what colors
are currently in demand. For example, posters require
strong impression. To address this requirement,
large-format printers are now equipped with fluorescent pink to express positive and light impression as
well as bright, soft luminescence in orange. These days,
there is an increasing demand for the vivid color
showcase composition with printed materials. Canon
has expanded its color range for high brightness andhigh saturation with newly developed red, orange,
green, and violet. The eye-catching coloration has beenwell-received.

High-impact bright color printing with newly developed inks

Evolving Ink Technologies for Higher Image Quality
Canon has kept up with diversifying printing needs
with a wide range of printers. These include home-use
printers for documents and photos, continuous feed
printers for books and high-quality catalogs, large-format printers suitable for posters and drawings, andlabel printers that can print on labels and packages ofvarious textures. In order to continuously produce
attractive products, Canon leverages its accumulated
expertise, ink technologies and other core technologies.

Digital printing, which does not require a large number of people or special skills, will solve the social problems of labor shortage and lack of business successors in
the printing industry. Canon is committed to helping
customers solve their problems through the advancement of printers and ink.
For more information about
Inkjet Ink Technology

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

32

Global R&D

R&D of New Technologies Around the WorldThe Canon group conducts business around the world. Today, sales outside of Japan account for approximately 80% of Canon’s consolidated net sales.
To ensure that the research work from Canon’s global R&D locations expands into businesses,
Canon’s developers activity collaborate and engage in exchanges with research institutes.

1
2

5
3

6
4
9
7

1

2

Canon Research Centre
France S.A.S.

3

Canon Production Printing
Netherlands B.V.

4

NT-wareSystemprogrammierungsGmbH

Edinburgh, U.K.

Rennes, France

Venlo, Netherlands

Bad Iburg, Germany

R&D of clinical decision support systems
AI automation.

R&D of next-generation networking andimaging technologies and its standardization activities.

R&D of commercial and industrial
printers, consumables, etc.

R&D, sales, and support of print and scanmanagement solutions and document
process management systems.

533

Canon Medical Research
Europe Ltd.

8

Milestone Systems A/S

6

Axis Communications AB

7

BriefCam Ltd.

8

Canon (Suzhou) System
Software Inc.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Lund, Sweden

Modi’in, Israel

Suzhou, China

R&D of video management solutions.

R&D for network video and analytics,
access control, intercom and audio
systems.

R&D of video management software.

Digital printing business related software.

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

9Canon Medical Systems
Corporation

10

Redlen Technologies Inc.

11

Arcules Inc.

12

Canon Nanotechnologies,
Inc.

Otawara (Tochigi), Japan

British Columbia, Canada

California, USA

Texas, USA

R&D of medical devices and systems.

R&D and manufacturing of semiconductor detectors modules used in photon
counting CT and other advanced
imaging applications.

Video surveillance-as-a-service.

R&D of nanoimprint lithographysystems.

13

Canon Medical Research
USA, Inc.

10
13
11
12

14

Illinois, USA
R&D of core system physics, dataacquisition, and image reconstruction
hardware and software for medical
devices and systems.

14

Quality Electrodynamics,
LLC

Ohio, USA
R&D, manufacturing and service forinnovative, high-performance RF-coils
used to obtain detailed MRI images of
the human body.

Canon Inc.
Headquarters …………………… R&D areas, development of digital cameras, etc.
 evelopment of inkjet printers, large-format printers, inkjet chemical
Yako Office ………………………… D
products.
Kawasaki Office ………………… R&D areas, R&D of production equipment and dies, R&D of
semiconductor devices, etc., and R&D of network cameras.
Tamagawa Office ……………… Development of quality management technologies.
Kosugi Office ……………………… Development of medical devices.
Hiratsuka Plant ………………… Development of displays and next-generation devices.
Ayase Plant ………………………… Development of semiconductor devices.
Fuji-Susono Research Park …… R&D of electrophotographic technologies.
Utsunomiya Office
Utsunomiya Optical Products Plant…………………………………… R&D of semiconductor lithography equipment and FPD lithographyequipment.
Optics R&D center…………… R&D of optical technologies.
Toride Plant ……………………… R&D of electrophotographic technologies, etc.

he 14 sites listed above are selected to have a certain size. It introduces businesses that are expected to synergize with Canon Inc., as well as some of its affiliates that conduct* Tresearchand development to promote global diversification.

For more information about
Global R&D

THE CANON FRONTIER 2023 / 2024

34

CANON TECHNOLOGY
The site presents a wide range ofCanon technologies from various angles,
providing easy access to the technology
you want to learn about.
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