We are pleased to announce that at 12:54 (Japan Standard Time) on the afternoon of January 23rd 2009, a small demonstration satellite equipped with 2 monitor cameras developed by JAXA which featured camera modules developed by Shikino High-Tech, was launched from Tanegashima Space Center (Kagoshima Prefecture).
The satellite was launched along with the Ibuki (GOSAT) satellite (a technology for measuring greenhouse gases) on board the H-IIA 15 rocket. Development of the 2 monitor cameras was conducted under the guidance of JAXA, who gave recognition to Shikino High-Tech's specialist fields of image processing, embedded software and mounting technology. We then became involved in planning for this project from 2005 onwards and supervised development of the camera modules, as well as carrying out circuit design, software development and mounting for the camera modules and interface substrate for image data transmission. One of the monitor cameras was a 350,000 pixel model, while the other was a high-function 3 megapixel camera.
Two of these 350,000 pixel monitor cameras were also on board the Maido 1, which was developed after transfer of technologies from JAXA to SOHLA. In future, we at Shikino High-Tech will continue to utilize our specialist fields to contribute to scientific development in Japan. The photograph was taken as an operational test for the monitor camera during the final satellite check.
About camera modules
Miniature embedded camera modules, like the one used in the monitor cameras for the satellite, are used in cellular phones, and as their application has expanded over the years they have started to permeate into new products centered on the communication and security fields such as IP visual telephones, amusement arcade machines and consumer network monitoring cameras.
Shikino High-Tech handles this new field of applications by providing low cost development of custom cameras and small-lot production of existing products according to customers' specifications.
Furthermore, we are actively dealing with environmental issues, delivering lead free products and implementation of the RoHS directive.
