Fujifilm Business Innovation develops spatial sensing technology

Fujifilm Business Innovation has developed a new spatial sensing technology utilizing its proprietary laser light source, ‘Smart Addressable VCSEL’. This technology leverages optical device expertise originally cultivated through the development of multifunction printers and printers to enable wide-area sensing.

The system uses a combination of the VCSEL light source, a photodiode receiver, distance measurement circuits, and a control unit for data analysis. By integrating 576 laser emission points and using high-speed selection circuits with a wide-angle projection lens, the technology achieves a scanning range exceeding 150 degrees. It can identify not only the position of people and objects but also their movement and direction.

Because the system relies on distance data rather than camera imagery, it offers advantages in privacy preservation and reduced communication processing loads. Potential applications include automatic device activation upon human approach to save energy, touchless operation via movement, and safety support through situational awareness. The company plans to explore various fields, including office equipment and industrial machinery, and will demonstrate the technology at CEATEC 2026.