Samsung Announces 8.4MP Sensor with 1.4um Pixels

Digitimes: "Highlight at the forum was the unveiling of an 8.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor with a 1.4-micron pixel design, highlighting that this CMOS image sensor delivers the same quality as charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors by implementing light sensing features and minimized noise levels. Samsung also makes the device with an extended photo diode technology that enhances higher light sensitivity and saturation levels, resulting in an enhanced fill factor. No production schedule of this CMOS image sensor has been announced yet."

The article looks like automatic translation to me.

Same wording appears in Samsung PR on Yahoo: "The new CIS chip provides a high signal to noise ratio (SNR), a key measure of overall image quality. Samsung achieved the high-resolution level by implementing advanced light sensing features and minimized noise levels. Notably, an extended photo diode technology was implemented to achieve higher light sensitivity and saturation levels, resulting in an enhanced fill factor."

Citizen Abandons Camera Module Business

Tech-On: Citizen Watch Co. has announced "selection and concentration" plan. Under the plan it will withdraw from unprofitable businesses, including camera modules.

Grace Foundry Got Orders from Japan

Digitimes: China-based Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (GSMC) anticipates that one-fifth of its sales are to come from Japan-based customers in 2007, with image sensor orders having already been landed from one customer, said company executive vice president Arthur Kuo.

GSMC will fabricate these image sensors for a Japan-based games console maker on a 0.15-micron process, Kuo detailed.

Micron Predicts Death of Fabless, Again

ElectronicsWeekly: “What makes a great difference is manufacturing. Companies using fabless are really struggling because the technology is all in the processing,” said Sandor Barna, imaging senior director at Micron.

This is at least 7-year old claim. The reality check shows the difference is in execution, rather than fab vs fabless. So far Micron execution was excellent, while, for example, Magnachip was not. So Micron proliferates, while Magnachip struggles, both being IDMs.

Mediatek to Buy NuCore

Reuters: Mediatek, said it will pay $37M in shares to NuCORE for a 69 percent stake in the U.S. firm, paving the way to diversify into the digital camera market.

Founded in 1997, NuCORE Technology Inc. develops digital image processing chips for video and digital cameras.

Surveillance Camera Market

EETimes: Global video surveillance camera revenue is expected to grow to from $4.9 billion in 2006 to more than $9 billion in 2011, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2 percent, according to iSuppli.

As the result in the growth of the video surveillance market, sales of video processor and interface chips, such as Ethernet, Power over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, will grow dramatically, iSuppli said. But spending on image sensors will fall off based on relentless price declines and accelerated adoption of less-expensive CMOS image sensors, the firm projected.

There is no price heaven for image sensors in surveillance market, like many companies think.

EDN On Camera Progress

EDN feature article covers "Imaging beyond pixels: Low-light sensors, low-power zoom lenses, antishake technology, and innovative optics". Its main claim is that the resolution race in consumer cameras is almost over. The main selling factor becomes features, rather than megapixels.

However, this does not mean an end to pixel size race. Even if resolution advance saturates, the consumer wants ever cheaper and smaller cameras. This translates into smaller pixels, primarily because of smaller and cheaper optical format.

Motley Fool on Micron

Motley Fool writes: "iSuppli expects the overall CMOS image sensor market to grow by 14%-15% annually through 2010. This growth rate may not seem too bad, but this is growth in units, rather than revenues. Throw last year's 19% average selling price decline (for Micron's sensors) into the mix, and it is possible that revenues for the industry overall will grow in the low- to mid-single digits at best over the next few years.

A continuation of average selling price declines seems likely, given that some semiconductor giants are squaring up -- Micron's success hasn't escaped notice. Competitors include MagnaChip, Samsung, Omnivision, Sony, STMicroelectronics, and Toshiba.

In order for any one of the players listed above to outgrow the market, it will likely have to steal market share. Hmm ... slowing growth and increasing competition -- sounds like an environment ripe for a price war."

To me the oncoming price war is a natural result of Micron inability to lead the market, letting competitors like Samsung and ST close the technology gap. Also, pixel technology laggards trying to compensate their lack of small pixels by features, be it DxO focus, SiliconHive ISP or Wide-DR.
The natural way for Micron would be the speed-up the pixel development, but this does not seem to work anymore at Micron. Who will be the next pixel race leader? Samsung?

Toshiba Wide-DR Sensor Launch Time

EETAsia says that Toshiba plans to launch its first products based on the Wide-DR technology in Q2 2007.

Jason Hartlove Leaves Magnachip?

Magnachip "announced that Robert Krakauer, President, has extended his role to take over responsibilities for MagnaChip’s Imaging Solutions Division from Jason Hartlove. Imaging Solutions is a core business of MagnaChip, and the company believes Mr. Krakauer is the best leader to drive continued execution of the growth plans in this area as communicated to date."

This sounds like Jason is not "the best leader" in Magnachip's opinion and he's unexpectedly fired. I believe if it was planned in advance, there would be a successor announced, rather than President managing a business unit.

In my opinion the true Magnachip problem is its (relatively) small size and thus inability to compete in process shrink. At the time when Micron, Samsung, ST and others work with 90nm process, Magnachip's cutting edge process is 0.13um.
With such a process lag, Magnachip just can not succeed in the mainstream CIS market, no matter who is managing the division.