Gon Kawano’s Asagaya Lens Research Institute “Canon EXPO 2023”, a grand exhibition of Canon’s technological capabilities
Latest technology expo held for the first time in 8 years
Canon held the event for the first time in eight years.Canon EXPO 2023”, I realized that the company is a professional photographer, not only with optical equipment but also with image sensors. What particularly interested me was the universe and the microscopic world. I would like to introduce some of Canon’s technological capabilities that allow you to see things that you could not see before.
Two microsatellites in operation
Canon Electronics launched Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2017 and 2020, and currently two satellites are still orbiting the Earth. This satellite is equipped with a combination of the EOS 5D MKIII and a 400mm reflective telephoto lens, which boasts a ground resolution of 0.84m, which can identify the type of car from an altitude of 500km. It is also equipped with a PowerShot S110 for wide-area shooting, and an ultra-high-sensitivity camera. 90% of the satellite’s parts are manufactured by Canon Electronics, and assembly is also done by Canon Electronics. When we think of cameras that have gone into space, we think of the NASA-approved Nikon F series from the era of silver-halide photography, but Canon uses mass-produced models without any customization in space.
The first machine “CE-SAT1” in 2017 on the left, the second machine “CE-SAT-IIB” on the right
The combination of a 400mm reflex telephoto lens and EOS 5D MKIII in the back, and a 200mm reflex telephoto lens and EOS M100 in the front
The sensors used to measure the attitude of the satellite are also manufactured by Canon Electronics.
Night view of Rio de Janeiro taken with the ultra-high sensitivity camera mounted on “CE-SAT-IIB”.Until now, it was difficult to take clear pictures of city night views.
We are also in charge of producing the 30m diameter primary mirror segment used for the TMT International Astronomical Observatory. 492 segments are combined to form the primary mirror
A model of the TMT International Astronomical Observatory scheduled to be built on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Full-scale mockup of an aspherical mirror for earth observation satellites
Next page: Sensors that prove that light is both a wave and a particle
