When it comes to cutting-edge imaging technologies such as the ultra-wide-angle camera, telephoto camera, and TOF camera, what do these have in common?
They are the "molecules" or building blocks that make up a smartphone's imaging module and also form the hardware foundation for good imaging performance.
To Vivo, these imaging components mean much more: they also underpin Vivo's global R&D strategy, reads a press release.
Recently, Vivo presented its Tokyo R&D centre, with the Japanese expert team and interesting imaging technology R&D stories.
Masazumi, the chief expert of the Vivo Tokyo R&D centre, unveiled more on this.
Introducing Vivo Tokyo R&D centre
In 2019, the Vivo Tokyo R&D centre was established in Shimbashi, Tokyo, and it set its sights on the pre-research and development of technologies that can be applied two years later.
Why does the centre conduct pre-research two years in advance? Why was Tokyo chosen as the location for the research centre? To answer these questions, we trace back to 2017 when the centre was not yet established.
That year, the mobile phone market was fast-growing, with intense competition between older and newer brands.
When competition shifted from marketing to core technologies, "globalization", a term frequently used by the trade and manufacturing sector, began to appear in the R&D sector. It was in that exact year that Vivo decided to take a step ahead by announcing the launch of its global R&D strategy.
The vision behind the strategy is to make full use of valuable resources in different parts of the world to conduct different R&D work. The establishment of the Vivo Tokyo R&D centre was also based on this strategy.
“Japan has more than 100 years of history in mobile imaging development and has undergone huge transitions from film to digital imaging (including lenses, sensors, and motors).”
Masazumi believes that mobile camera technology can only be developed on the foundation of a robust and mature imaging industry, which is precisely the biggest advantage of Tokyo as the location of the Tokyo R&D centre.
As the Tokyo R&D centre grows its focus has gradually expanded from mobile phone imaging to more niche areas such as car cameras, sports cameras, and industrial cameras.
These technologies may have not fully emerged in other markets. But with the launch of the Vivo signature gimbal camera and the completion of Vivo's global manufacturing bases, the successful application of the above technologies is worth looking forward to.
Vivo's blueprint for the future with consumer needs at its core
In Vivo's corporate culture, being user-oriented remains the main principle guiding Vivo's R&D work. Whether it is the gimbal camera, the V1 imaging chip, these are all based on Vivo’s insights and overall review of consumer needs.
The planning/product team in HQ analyzes future research trends of smartphone imaging based on user feedback. This information is then shared with the Tokyo R&D team.
The setting of the Tokyo R&D centre is the epitome of Vivo's global R&D strategy. In 2017, Vivo proposed that its technological research would no longer focus on a single aspect but would focus on the innovation of the smartphone as a whole.
To achieve this goal, Vivo has 10 R&D centres in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Taipei, San Diego and Tokyo, which are devoted to the development of cutting-edge consumer electronics technologies and services, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies.