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Volume 24 (Sep 14, 2004)
The 8-bit microcontroller-A hit product that supports digital still cameras (DSCs) from behind the scenes (1/2)
The evolving digital still camera
The market for digital still cameras (DSCs, hereafter referred to as digital cameras) has grown considerably to reach the 40 million range. One reason behind this growth is the improvement in image quality brought about by the shift to charge-coupled devices (CCDs) with fine-pitch connector technology. The evolution of digital cameras has been phenomenal. Although they only had a resolution of 250,000 pixels in 1995, that figure rose to 1 megapixel in 1997, and a 10-megapixel single-lens-reflex digital camera is expected to appear on the market in 2004.
A vast array of digital cameras is now entering the market. These digital cameras range from full-fledged, professional-use models with high resolution and performance to ultrathin, pocket-size types that hardly even seem like a camera and highly water-resistant types that can be used in a swimming pool or the ocean. It seems that digital cameras, which were created on the premise that they could be carried around on a daily basis, have become an integral part of our everyday lives. In fact, when a group of friends gets together, it is not unusual for at least one person to have brought a digital camera. Once primarily used to record special events such as school sports festivals or wedding ceremonies, cameras are now used to record even the mundane events of everyday life.
The way in which photographic images are enjoyed has also begun to change thanks to the digital camera. The editing of photos can now be carried out by simply connecting a digital camera to a PC, thus making it possible to view and enjoy photographic images as a slideshow on the large screen of a television. This type of convenience is one of the primary factors behind the diffusion of digital cameras. This diffusion is also influencing the digital consumer electronics field. Not only can digital cameras be connected to PCs and printers, but also to DVD and HDD recorders. Therefore, it will become increasingly necessary for digital consumer electronics to be compatible with digital cameras in the future.
Digital cameras have also found their way into the moving image category. The latest digital cameras have perfected the moving image function and can capture 30 frames per second, thus bringing their performance close to that of digital video cameras. Although there are still many issues to be dealt with, such as image quality and recording time, there is no doubt that the incorporation of a moving image function is one of the directions in which the digital camera is evolving.
At the foundation of the diffusion of the digital camera is its automatic performance, which makes it possible for literally anyone to take a good photograph easily, even if he/she knows nothing about exposure, aperture, sensitivity, etc. For example, the latest auto-focus technology not only includes functions such as motion prediction, continuous auto-focus, area selection and 3D auto-focus, it also does the focusing for you automatically so you don't miss the opportunity to get a great shot at just the right moment.
Supporting the evolution of digital cameras are semiconductors such as microcontrollers and memory. One such example is NEC Electronics' 8-bit microcontroller, which is employed in over half of the digital cameras produced throughout the world, thus making it a hit product-albeit one that plays its role behind the scenes. In 2003, the shipment volume of 8-bit microcontrollers for digital camera use achieved monthly shipments of two million.
At NEC Electronics, we maintain close relationships with camera makers to learn about digital camera technological trends that can guide our development of general-purpose microcontrollers to keep in line with those trends. This development stance has been praised by our customers and explains why our microcontrollers are used in more than 50% of the digital cameras on the market today. This stance is also adhered to for applications other than digital cameras, thus making these general-purpose microcontrollers capable of providing the appropriate functions and level of performance for a variety of applications. The more NEC Electronics' 8-bit microcontroller lineup expands (Figure 1), the more these products are being employed in a broader range of applications.
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