Olympus Debuts New Ultra-Portable VP-1 Data Projector at the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show

Melville, New York, January 8, 2004 - Olympus, a leading digital camera manufacturer since entering the market in 1996, has drawn on its expertise in designing high-quality optics for digital imaging to develop the VP-1 Data Projector, the first-ever projector from Olympus. The new 1,000-lumen projector weighs just 2.4 pounds, and is one of the smallest and lightest projectors of its kind in the world. The VP-1 is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in March 2004.

"With the introduction of the VP-1, Olympus is expanding our image output product line to include projectors and related devices, offering consumers an even broader range of choices," said Ian Igari, Director of Marketing for projectors at Olympus America Inc. "In the future Olympus will apply its Optical and Digital technology expertise to the development of more compact, lightweight projectors that offer outstanding image quality for business applications as well as personal and home entertainment use."

Innovative
The VP-1 Data Projector has a 1:1.2 Zoom Olympus Zuiko Digital lens to produce more detailed presentations than other projectors with similar brightness. The lens fills every pixel consistently, minimizes chromatic aberrations and delivers an image rich in color from center to edge. The high S-XGA (1024x768) resolution eliminates jagged edges so an audience can easily read the fine print, follow the diagram flow and distinguish spreadsheet details.

The VP-1 offers 1,000 ANSI lumens of brightness and a contrast ratio of 2000:1, the highest contrast ratio in the industry for a projector this size. The high ratio ensures that the audience sees the blackest blacks, the whitest whites, and the widest range of fine gradations in between.

Stylish
Approximately the size of a daily planner (1.85" H x 7.1" W x 6.4" D), the VP-1 is the perfect traveling companion. At just over 2 pounds - small and light enough to hold in one hand - this ultra-portable projector goes anywhere it's needed and is designed to help users do more.

Intelligent
Images projected by the VP-1 are created by Texas Instruments Digital Light ProcessingTM technology featuring the next-generation Digital Micromirror Device chip and then sent through the high-quality Olympus Zuiko Digital Lens.

Picture-in-picture (PIP) multimedia functionality permits the projection of two images at once. For example, while displaying images or documents on the main screen it is possible to simultaneously play a video in the pop-up window. Because the VP-1 also includes a Digital Video Interface (DVI), which allows for a direct connection between digital devices, the projector faithfully and vividly reproduces video and data image quality by eliminating the conversion to analog signal that occurs when conventional video modes are used. For video sources such as a computer or DVD Player, the VP-1 can accommodate practically all types of video connections such as VGA, S-Video, Component Video (Y, Cb, and Cr)/(Y, Pb, and Pr), or Composite Video.

Approachable
The VP-1 is designed to enable presentations anytime, anywhere. With the built-in manual zoom and short-throw lens, it is easy to project a large-screen presentation even in a small, cramped space. It is also possible to use the projector's digital zoom to magnify any portion of the projected image, up to 10 times. This is ideal for showing fine details within larger images.

Distorted images are a thing of the past because images can be adjusted both side-to-side as well as top-to-bottom with built-in four-way digital keystone correction that allows for projection at a comfortable viewing level.

Set up is hassle free. Just place the projector in a convenient location near the screen, and then turn the zoom ring to optically resize the image to match the screen size. The Auto Source feature automatically detects the input signal, selects the appropriate video mode and synchronizes the signal for optimal viewing. There's no more manually adjusting for each computer make and model attached. The VP-1 ships with all necessary data, video and audio cables, a full-function remote control and soft carrying case, fulfilling every requirement for effective presentations.

Availability
The VP-1 is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in March 2004.

U.S. Pricing: VP-1 Data Projector MSRP: $2495.00 (U.S.)

About Texas Instruments Digital Light ProcessingTM
At the heart of Texas Instruments Digital Light ProcessingTM technology is the Digital Micromirror Device. The DMD switch has an array of up to 1,310,000 hinged, microscopic mirrors, which operate as optical switches to create a high resolution, full color image. For more information, please visit www.dlp.com

About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analogue technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to semiconductor, the company's businesses also include sensors and controls, and educational and productivity solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide.

Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:
Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents; and Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.

In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus serves healthcare, scientific and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results. Olympus is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. The company's market-leading consumer electronics business spans North and South America.