Friday, June 08, 2012

iPhone 5 Camera Rumors

MacRumors quote KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying:

"[A] number of components have required a slim-down. The component that will undergo the most dramatic make-over is the rear camera. Our research shows that iPhone 5 will feature the first-ever slimmed rear camera of all iPhones, in an effort to deliver an ultra-slim iPhone 5.

Meanwhile, to enhance photography effects, iPhone 5’s rear camera will feature a larger f/2.2 aperture than iPhone 4S’s f/2.4. However, larger aperture means more noises. In addition, the reduced thickness means even greater challenges for lens design and assembly, as not only the lens, but also the voice coil motor (VCM) and CMOS image sensor (CIS) need to be slimmer. Finally, the compact camera module (CCM) suppler, responsible for the terminal assembly, will be confronted by assembly yield.
"


Other Kuo's statements are:
  • The front-facing camera will be HD instead of the current VGA
  • The front-facing camera adopts new flip-chip package to reduce its thickness

21 comments:

  1. Where is Samsung?

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  2. Can someone explain to me the statement: "larger aperture means more noises"? Does he mean audio noises?

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    Replies
    1. it means that the noise of sensor is higher and larger aperture is needed to compensate this effect.

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    2. I don't think the statement is correct, at least not in a straight forward way. I think the pixel read noise is probably the same or better since it does not appear to have shrunk. Larger aperture will give more signal per pixel so technically the noise goes up but so does SNR. Cross talk might increase.

      One of the advantages of auto-focus is being able to compensate the lower depth of field which is not tolerable in a fixed-focus camera module and thus allow lower f-no's.

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    3. Hi Eric, do you have any news about IISW 2013? Indications about paper submission deadline? This is quite important for universities since they plan tapeouts according to conference dates...Thanks!

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    4. As a matter of fact I do. We just signed the hotel contract yesterday so the dates are now fixed and can be found at www.imagesensors.org under 2013 IISW. Thanks for such a timely question!

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    5. Why do you plan the tape-outs according to the conference date?

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  3. It can't be 1/3 inch IMX105. Apple needs a 1/4 CMOS to reduce the thickness of Iphone 5.

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  4. who has the thinnest cmos/lens body?

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    Replies
    1. Several manufacturers have announced 1.1 micro pixel 1/4 inch CMOS, but only Omnivision and Sony can deliver in large quantity in July, when the production of Iphone 5 allegedly starts.

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  5. here's sony's 1/4" 8mp
    http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/cx_news/vol65/pdf/imx081_091_111pq.pdf

    omnivision has its 8850
    http://www.ovt.com/download_document.php?type=sensor&sensorid=107

    ek

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    Replies
    1. Rumor from Taiwan says it is OV8850...

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    2. i believe that rumor has since been refuted by omnivision's own actions. however, i believe OV may get the slot for the front camera.

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  6. http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/chipworks-identifies-sony-sensor-inside.html

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  7. Hmmm, not sure about the level of accuraty of the embedded table. If they have genuinely removed 800um from the Lens TTL (almost impossible whilst keeping the optical format at 1/3") then why only 450um off the total camera height. I guess Lens TTL is more realistically 4.5mm or 4.6mm minimum, with thin lenses, and maybe a wider FOV. The rest of the shrink would have to come from the sensor and mechanics.

    The other option is an 8Mpix 1.1um 1/4" sensor, as discussed above, but current 1/4" VCM cameras are are 4.6 to 5.0mm Z height, so again not coherent with the table.

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  8. rear camera at least 12MP,
    why still someone believe Apple will stay on 8MP of Sony ?

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    Replies
    1. It'll be most likely a 8MP with smaller pixel (1.4 micron->1.1 micron). 12MP is way too big for iphone 5 with rumored 7.85mm height.

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  9. iphone5 rear camera will stay on Sony's 8MP, front camera will be OV9760

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    Replies
    1. Current Sony 8MP is too thick. Apple need a 1.1 um pixel 8MP.

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  10. I want to know image sensor of IPhone5 and Galaxy S3.
    IPhone 5: stacked CMOS image sensor[back camera:SONY,front ca:OmniVision]
    Galaxy S3: BSI CMOS image sensor[SONY]
    is that right?

    ReplyDelete

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