Vision and Imaging Sensors / Detectors
Johnson Electric Launches NanoZoom(TM) for Camera Phones
Hong Kong, 1 February 2006 - Johnson Electric Holdings Limited ("Johnson Electric") today announced the launch of NanoZoom(TM), a high-precision motion technology module for in-focus continuous zoom in camera phones. Together with its recently introduced NanoLens(TM) that provides fast and accurate autofocus, the company is well-placed to enter the high-end and high-growth camera-module market for camera phones, a sector that has been enjoying double- digit growth annually.
NanoZoom(TM), using Tamron® optics and driven by Johnson Nanomotion piezo technology, offers unprecedented silent zoom, speed and optical quality in a compact 3X continuous Zoom interfaced to a 3 Mpixel CMOS sensor. It operates over a range of more than 10 mm at a high speed of 100 millimeters per second or faster while maintaining exceptionally high positioning accuracy. Johnson Electric also offers an "application development toolkit" that allows the camera phone designer to rapidly integrate the two modules and the associated ASIC driver within the camera phone's system.
Mr Jim Dick, senior vice president of Johnson Electric said, "NanoZoom(TM) and NanoLens(TM), together with Tamron® optics, represents a new picture-quality threshold for camera phones, one that could transform mass market usage of such phones, from 'shoot-for-fun' to 'shoot-to-keep' applications.
"Such cutting-edge technology in motion solutions will open up vast possibilities for camera phone makers and users alike. Consumers today are ready for fast, simultaneous and accurate zoom-and-focus functions in camera phones, and those who are first-to-market with next-generation camera phones will be the winners."
Dick sees the opportunity for camera-phone handset makers to further differentiate their products with this new and powerful technology, while service providers would also benefit from greater system usage by more serious users such as doctors, engineers, realtors and others.
Like its NanoLens(TM) predecessor, NanoZoom(TM) is a technology enabler that opens up all kinds of opportunities for new applications, and consequently increased revenue for service providers in the camera phone industry.
Dick added, "Many professionals do not currently use their camera phones for photo-taking and photo-messaging because of poor image quality. All that will change as issues such as speed, size, noise and accuracy are overcome by new technologies."
According to Dick, the possibilities are infinite. Anyone who happens to be in a situation where a quality photograph would be useful for record purposes or for immediate transmission to a third- party, would benefit from this new technology. For example, engineers inspecting buildings or equipment could take quality photographs on their camera phones and transmit them to their colleagues for review and discussion. Such "anytime, anywhere" usage would be just as applicable to doctors, designers and other users who need quality images.
The concept of 'citizen journalists' also has huge potential. South China Morning Post launched its 'Citizen Post' initiative during the WTO meetings in Hong Kong last December, inviting readers to send in digital photos for use in the scmp.com website. The newspaper group is considering making the website a permanent feature as other media groups in the region launch similar initiatives. High image-quality in camera phones expands the number of citizen journalists into potentially the millions.
NanoZoom(TM) was created by the same team of experts who developed NanoLens(TM) at Johnson Electric's Value Innovation Center in Shenzhen, China. Experts from Johnson Electric's Nanomotion Ltd in Israel, with their piezo motion technology, provided the foundation while Johnson Electric's Nihon Mini Motor Inc in Japan and Johnson Electric in China took care of micro components and production. As with NanoLens(TM), the end product NanoZoom(TM) leapfrogs competition from Japan, USA and Europe.
The alliance with optics specialist Tamron® reinforces the high-end performance niche that NanoZoom(TM) targets.
Johnson Electric will demonstrate its NanoZoom(TM) module, together with NanoLens(TM), at the 3GSM World Congress 2006 in Barcelona, Spain from 13-16 February 2006. Held annually, the 3GSM World Congress is the world's leading mobile communications conference and exhibition. With more than 200 speakers and 700 exhibitors from 171 countries, the event claims to attract more than 30,000 professionals and leaders from the mobile phone industry.
