Canon U.S.A. Introduces Three XGA-Resolution LCD Projectors With Break-Through Optical Technology

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2000-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., the company whose imaging solutions give people Know How, today announced the introduction of three new XGA-resolution LCD projectors that provide greater brightness and pointer capabilities to make presentations easier to manage and watch.

"Two unique break-through features developed from Canon's expertise in optical technology make the new Canon projectors far more advanced than conventional products," said Hiroshi Shimoda, director and general manager, Visual Communications Systems Division. "The technology, which allows Canon to provide an outstanding communications platform for a wide range of environments, supports improved presentation management and greater audience attention and interaction."

The most requested improvement for projectors, according to Canon, is the demand for increased brightness. Canon's exclusive(a) Turbo Bright System technology supplies its new projectors with 25 percent additional brightness at virtually no additional cost. The new `brighter than the brightest' projectors include a switch that allows users to select standard brightness or improve brightness intensity by 25 percent, depending on presentation conditions.

Another revolutionary feature unique to the new projectors is the Canon Digitizer Pointer. This pointer device, equipped with a mouse-click function, allows users to conduct presentations while standing away from the personal computer. With the drawing software that is included by Canon, the Digitizer Pointer allows users to annotate on the screen, making presentations easier to follow and more visually interesting than those conducted with conventional projectors.

Compared with the remote mouse capabilities presently on the market, the Canon Digitizer Pointer provides the user with greater presenting flexibility and more control of the flow of information in a presentation.

LCD projectors are powerful presentation tools, projecting visual data from a PC onto a large screen. Today, LCD projectors are finding increased uses outside the office. Schools use projectors in classrooms from grade schools to the university level to adult education, courtrooms use projectors to help view documents and other evidence, and showrooms use them to show displays that are designed to attract customers.

Canon Multimedia Projector LV-7525: The flagship model of Canon's LV-series achieves a brightness of 2,750 ANSI lumens. The projector, the industry's brightest within the portable XGA (1,024 x 768 pixels) class(b), is equipped with a bright 200W UHP (Ultra High Power) lamp and includes the newly developed Turbo Bright System for more efficient light utilization.

The projector, with a suggested retail price of $11,995, includes a Progressive Scan function, that ensures the sharp, smooth reproduction of interlace-signal video images, and enables high- resolution performance through compatibility with HDTV and DVD component inputs (Y, Pb/Cb, Pr/Cr). Canon's Digital Keystone feature corrects image distortion caused by projector angle, providing an even, square projection frame.

Canon Multimedia Projector LV-7325/LV-7320: These compact, lightweight Native XGA-compatible models also incorporate the Turbo Bright System and Digital Keystone correction. Both deliver brightness levels that rate among the highest for the class.(c)

The exterior is made from a lightweight, durable magnesium alloy with a refined glacial blue and purple two-tone body design. The LV-7325 also is equipped with a built-in PCMCIA TYPE II card slot, allowing users to load PC cards containing stored JPEG or bitmap image file data. The feature enables users to conduct entire presentations from the PC card.

The LV-7320 has a suggested retail price of $6,795, and the LV-7325 has a $7,795 suggested retail price.

Canon Digitizer Pointer LV-DP10/LV-DP11: Incorporating Canon's advanced AF sensor technology, the Digitizer Pointer comprises a pointer with a mouse-click function and a receiver unit that rests on top of the projector. The device emits an infrared beam from the pointer tip, which is captured by the receiver's CCD line sensor and read by a photo diode.

When used with the new Canon projectors, the Digitizer Pointer permits the presenter to mouse-click operation functions on the PC while positioned in front of the projected image. This also includes various draw capabilities, including underlining, highlighting, drawing symbols and writing text.

The LV-DP10 is used with the LC-7320 and LV-7325. The LV-DP11 is used with the LV-7525. Suggested retail price is $499.

"Many conventional remote controls for projectors have mouse function capability, but operation is awkward," said Mr. Shimoda. "The Canon solution, a simple point and click at the screen, not only makes presentations easier to conduct, but also allows the audience to concentrate on the presentation and not the presenter."

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc., is a top patent-holder of imaging technologies. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

(a)Patent pending.

(b)Among portable LCD projectors weighing less than 15 pounds, as of February 1, 2000.

(c)Among compact-type (less than 10 pounds) LCD projectors, as of February 1, 2000. LV-7325: 1,500 ANSI lumens and LV-7320: 1,250 ANSI lumens.

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CONTACT: Canon U.S.A.
Mike Virgintino, 516/328-4825
mvirgintino@cusa.canon.com
URL: http://www.usa.canon.com
or
The Rowland Co.
Kara Woods, 212/527-8839
kwoods@rowland.com