Digital Camera Information

Fuel cells used in electronic products will soon become a reality in 2008.

Just recently, Sweden based Morphic Technologies’ subsidiary Cell Impact AB has received a further order relating to initial mass production of fuel cell flow plates for operating consumer electronics from Asia.

The Asian purchaser is one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers. The initial order is valued at around MSEK 90 and the first delivery is to take place 2nd quarter 2008.

Cell Impact has received a further order relating to the production of flow plates for methanol fuel cells. The purchaser this time is a global electronics manufacturer which has been evaluating Cell Impact flow plates for some time. The plates are to be used in a number of the customer’s future products, powered by fuel cells.

Second order in a short time
The order is the second volume order within a short period. At the end of August, Cell Impact received its first volume order concerning series production of fuel cell plates for operating consumer electronics for a customer in the USA. That contract has a value of approx. MSEK 60 over a two-year period. As has already been communicated, apart from the now published orders, Cell Impact has also received a number of test orders for flow plates from players within various areas of application, including the vehicle industry.

Production of the flow plates will take place, in both cases, at the Cell Impact production facility in Karlskoga.

“The fact that one of the world’s biggest players within consumer electronics is choosing us as it´s supplier shows the strength of what we have to offer. However, this order is not just a breakthrough for us, it is also a breakthrough for the entire fuel cell industry”, says Jonas Eklind, President and CEO at Morphic Technologies.

“We have now reached the point where fuel cells are in the consumer field. The fact that this order also relates to fuel cells for consumer electronics is characteristic of the way things are developing within the fuel cell field right now. In all certainty, consumer electronics, including computers, cameras and MP3 players, are going to be the first area in which we will see products powered by fuel cells. We estimate that methanol fuel cells for consumer electronics will start being introduced onto the market in 2008“, says Martin Valfridsson, MD at Cell Impact.

The principal advantages of fuel cells in consumer electronics include their significantly longer operating times. Unlike today’s batteries, very rapid charging of discharged units powered by fuel cells will also be possible.

In a fuel cell system for consumer electronics, electricity is produced by breaking down the fuel which then reacts with oxygen. Fuel cell technology has a great potential because of its virtually non-existent impact on the environment and its superior level of efficiency.

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It looks like Canon will be continuing to invest heavily on building another CMOS sensor plant expanding on the growth of digital camera. By expanding in another plant, it helps to reduce costs whilst increasing profits.

Here’s what ruters has to say:

“TOKYO (Reuters) - Canon Inc. (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research) will invest about 55 billion yen ($451 million) to build a new factory in Japan to double its production capacity of image sensors used in digital cameras.

Canon is aiming to produce 24 million digital cameras this year, including 3 million SLRs, which are high-end models that use interchangeable lenses.”

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Eastman Kodak Company has introduced a new advance development in Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor technology that significantly improves performance for applied imaging applications. Their new Interline Transfer CCD technology platform will be the basis for a full portfolio of image sensor products targeted to markets such as industrial and scientific imaging - starting with the newly announced KODAK KAI-01050 Image Sensor.

This eighth generation of Interline Transfer CCD technology developed by Kodak, this new platform reduces pixel size by almost 50%, doubles the maximum frame rate available from the image sensor, and provides a significant increase in image quality compared to the previous technology generation. With these advancements, customers working in applied markets will have access to new levels of performance, improving the capabilities and performance of their imaging systems.

“Exceptional imaging performance is vital to the success of applied imaging applications,” said Chris McNiffe, General Manager of Kodak’s Image Sensor Solution group. “This new technology platform was developed specifically to address this need by improving key sensor parameters such as pixel size, frame rate, and image quality. As camera manufacturers develop products with our new KAI-01050 image sensor, and later with other image sensors developed using this new technology, they will be able to offer a new generation of cameras that provide improved throughput, performance, and quality for their customers.”

Kodak has a rich history of supplying image sensors for use in applied imaging markets. With a broad portfolio of interline transfer CCDs ranging from VGA to 16 megapixels in resolution, Kodak is a leading supplier of image sensors used today in applied applications such as the automated inspection and assembly of electronics components, traffic monitoring, and medical and scientific imaging. As these applications have evolved, the ongoing requirement for improved throughput and imaging performance has driven the development of this new sensor technology to address these needs.

Kodak’s new Interline Transfer CCD platform was developed using a “clean sheet” approach, leveraging best practices in Kodak sensor design to optimize the imaging performance available from these new devices. To facilitate the design process for camera manufacturers, Kodak will also use a common package layout with shared electrical specifications where possible for image sensors commercialized using this new technology, allowing manufacturers to develop a single camera design that can easily support multiple sensors.

The KODAK KAI-01050 Image Sensor is the first product to be commercialized using Kodak’s new Interline Transfer CCD technology. With a 1024 x 1024 array of 5.5 micron pixels, the sensor provides a readout speed of up to 120 frame-per-second in a 1/2-inch optical format. Engineering grade devices of the KAI-01050 are currently available, with volume production planned for early 2008.

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Here’s a good review by Ephotozine on the Sony A700 which rates it quite .

It writes: “There’s no doubt about it, Sony have pulled out the stops on the A700, it’s a fast, well-built camera with plenty of photographic features for the enthusiast. The handling is good and would have been better overall than the Canon EOS 40D, if there had been a top plate LCD. Sony’s decision to omit this because everything could be placed on the rear LCD smacks of cutting corners because the other cameras at this price point have one. If you don’t mind, then it isn’t a problem, but it’s the small things that can make the difference when deciding to commit yourself to a camera brand”.

For the full review click here