Another ProMOS Article

EETimes-Asia: ProMOS' image sensors are expected to roll out in 2008 and be in the 1.3Mpixel range.

Like several of its rivals, ProMOS is looking to leverage its older DRAM fabrication facilities to make the sensors. "It's been well-established by Micron and then Samsung that, compared with a normal foundry, a DRAM fab is better for a CMOS sensor because both products require very low leakage current," said Ben Tseng, VP of sales and marketing at ProMOS.

ProMOS owns Taiwan's oldest 300mm wafer fab, built in Hsinchu Science Park in 2002. Tseng said the fab is a good candidate for producing the sensors since it is almost fully depreciated. Another possibility is its 200mm wafer fab, also in Hsinchu, that will be shut down in 2008 and its work transferred to mainland China to lower costs. The sensor business would also be able to source at other foundries if capacity is tight at ProMOS, Tseng said.