Broadcast Newsroom (link 1, link 2): In a surprizing move Altasense announced a switch to regular 4T technology. The pixel sizes are 2.09um and 2.7um for different sensors in the family - a very good start for the company new to 4T pixel design. The sensors are made in IBM's process.
A5262-4T 5MP HD sensor is based on 2.09um pixel. It's designed for Hitachi’s Blue-Ray DVD/HD camcorder. It does 60fps at HD resolution and 30fps at 4.5MP resolution, both with 12b output. This is quite a unique combination for today's market. The sensor is at production ramp-up stage.
A337x-4T sensors are based on 2.7um pixel and offer 72fps speed of 1080p HD video stream at 12b resolution. The engineering samples are available now.
While transition to 4T is a very logical step for the company, it's a little bit sad to see that Altasens' pixel differentiation is lost.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Omnivision Uses Non-Linear Microlens Shift Technology
Yahoo: Omnivision's new OV7680 1/10" VGA sensor features a non-linear micro-lens shift technology. The technology reduces the distance between the sensor and the lens, so the height of the camera module can be just 2.5 mm. The sensor is based on 2.2um pixels.
Omnivision already started shipping volume production quantities of the sensor.
Omnivision already started shipping volume production quantities of the sensor.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Pixelplus Reports Q2'07 Results
Yahoo: Similarly to the previous quarterly report, Plixeplus says that a part of its sensors is "sold" while another part is "supplied" - a strange statement. Here it is:
"The Company sold approximately 3.0 million image sensors in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which represented an increase of about 1.8 million units from its sale of around 1.2 million units in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Separately, the Company provided approximately 7.4 million image sensors arising from its supply of services to a leading Japanese module maker in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which represented a decrease of about 0.8 million units from its supply of around 8.2 million units in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. So, in terms of combined figures, the Company sold and supplied a total of about 10.4 million image sensors in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which represented an increase of roughly 1.0 million units from its sale and supply of around 9.4 million units in the first quarter of fiscal 2007."
Gross margin for the Q2'07 was roughly 36%, compared to approximately 26% in the Q1'07 - excellent margins for relatively low-end product mix of the company.
"The Company sold approximately 3.0 million image sensors in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which represented an increase of about 1.8 million units from its sale of around 1.2 million units in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Separately, the Company provided approximately 7.4 million image sensors arising from its supply of services to a leading Japanese module maker in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which represented a decrease of about 0.8 million units from its supply of around 8.2 million units in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. So, in terms of combined figures, the Company sold and supplied a total of about 10.4 million image sensors in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which represented an increase of roughly 1.0 million units from its sale and supply of around 9.4 million units in the first quarter of fiscal 2007."
Gross margin for the Q2'07 was roughly 36%, compared to approximately 26% in the Q1'07 - excellent margins for relatively low-end product mix of the company.
Monday, July 30, 2007
CCD Remains Mainstream in Digital Cameras
Digitimes: In spite Kodak launch of C513 CMOS sensor-based camera, the Taiwan-based digital camera manufacturing industry said that CCD will remain as the mainstream image sensor for mid-range and high-end models.
More than 90% of the digital cameras shipped by Taiwan-based makers during the first half of 2007 were CCD models and the proportion for CMOS was less than 10%, according to the sources.
When the mainstream resolution level of digital cameras stood at 3-4 megapixels in 2002-2003, CMOS was thought likely to eventually replace CCD as the mainstream type. However, viewing that the mainstream resolution for digital cameras is predicted to shift from the current 7-8 megapixels to 10 megapixels, and that Japan-based suppliers such as Sony, Matsushita and Canon are making efforts to reduce the production costs of CCD sensors through decreasing defect rates, CCD will continue to be the mainstream type of image sensor, the sources explained. CMOS has become dominant only among entry-level models, the sources noted.
More than 90% of the digital cameras shipped by Taiwan-based makers during the first half of 2007 were CCD models and the proportion for CMOS was less than 10%, according to the sources.
When the mainstream resolution level of digital cameras stood at 3-4 megapixels in 2002-2003, CMOS was thought likely to eventually replace CCD as the mainstream type. However, viewing that the mainstream resolution for digital cameras is predicted to shift from the current 7-8 megapixels to 10 megapixels, and that Japan-based suppliers such as Sony, Matsushita and Canon are making efforts to reduce the production costs of CCD sensors through decreasing defect rates, CCD will continue to be the mainstream type of image sensor, the sources explained. CMOS has become dominant only among entry-level models, the sources noted.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Planet82 Under Investigation
The Hankyoreh: Korean prosecutors have launched a probe into whether Planet82 Single Carrier Modulation Photo Detector (SMPD) really exists. The probe comes amidst prior charges raised on stock manipulation and false disclosure.
The technology was allegedly developed by the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), a state-run research institution operated under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. It was then sold to Planet82 Inc., a KOSDAQ-listed company, in November 2005 for 5 billion won (US$5.5 million). The government reportedly spent as much as 10 billion won (US$10.93 milion) to develop the technology in question.
After disclosing that it had acquired the technology, stock prices in Planet82 skyrocketed more than ten-fold, from 4,300 won (US$ 4.69) per share on November 11 to 46,950 won (US$ 51.31) on December 7.
On July 24, prosecutors raided the offices of Planet 82 and confiscated boxes of computer files to obtain related evidence. The previous day, college professors who had participated in certification of the nano image sensor technology were summoned as part of the investigation.
The prosecution’s move comes as some have raised suspicion over whether the technology really exists, as its commercial launch has been long delayed. Stock manipulation charges have also been raised. In December last year, the Korea Exchange asked the prosecution to launch a probe into the charges that seven workers of Planet 82 had sold off their stakes in the company, just after company stock prices soared in the wake of its disclosure of the technology development.
The prosecution is also weighing charges of a fake disclosure in which the company promised to make the nano image technology commercially available within three months. “To that end, we have no choice but to investigate whether the technology itself exists,” the prosecution said.
Planet 82’s legal representative Cha Hyung-geun said, “The company has already been under investigation by KETI’s technology certification committee. The prosecution, without waiting for the results of the probe, is just going ahead with its own investigation.” She added, “The nano image technology surely exists and is in its final stage of development before its commercial launch.”
Meanwhile, the KETI said the results of its own investigation will be announced on July 25 and a certification committee consisting of outside experts will soon carry out an in-depth probe into the suspicions.
So far there is no update on the probe results.
The technology was allegedly developed by the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), a state-run research institution operated under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. It was then sold to Planet82 Inc., a KOSDAQ-listed company, in November 2005 for 5 billion won (US$5.5 million). The government reportedly spent as much as 10 billion won (US$10.93 milion) to develop the technology in question.
After disclosing that it had acquired the technology, stock prices in Planet82 skyrocketed more than ten-fold, from 4,300 won (US$ 4.69) per share on November 11 to 46,950 won (US$ 51.31) on December 7.
On July 24, prosecutors raided the offices of Planet 82 and confiscated boxes of computer files to obtain related evidence. The previous day, college professors who had participated in certification of the nano image sensor technology were summoned as part of the investigation.
The prosecution’s move comes as some have raised suspicion over whether the technology really exists, as its commercial launch has been long delayed. Stock manipulation charges have also been raised. In December last year, the Korea Exchange asked the prosecution to launch a probe into the charges that seven workers of Planet 82 had sold off their stakes in the company, just after company stock prices soared in the wake of its disclosure of the technology development.
The prosecution is also weighing charges of a fake disclosure in which the company promised to make the nano image technology commercially available within three months. “To that end, we have no choice but to investigate whether the technology itself exists,” the prosecution said.
Planet 82’s legal representative Cha Hyung-geun said, “The company has already been under investigation by KETI’s technology certification committee. The prosecution, without waiting for the results of the probe, is just going ahead with its own investigation.” She added, “The nano image technology surely exists and is in its final stage of development before its commercial launch.”
Meanwhile, the KETI said the results of its own investigation will be announced on July 25 and a certification committee consisting of outside experts will soon carry out an in-depth probe into the suspicions.
So far there is no update on the probe results.
Monday, July 23, 2007
iPhone Uses Micron Sensor
With all the noise about iPhone components, I felt this blog would be incomplete without saying that iPhone uses Micon 2MP sensor (Yahoo).
Friday, July 20, 2007
ADVIS Dies while Signal Sciences Lives
It came to my attention that Mark Bocko's and Zeljko Ignjatovic' ADVIS company site is down now, while they offer similar ideas under different name - Signal Sciences.
It's time to update image sensor companies list.
It's time to update image sensor companies list.
ProMOS Sensors Nearing
Digitimes reports that image sensor samples from ProMOS Fab2 (Hsinchu, Taiwan) are to be available in August and September.
ProMOS chairman ML Chen says deprecation on Fab2, ProMOS' first 12-inch fab, will be completed in 2007, meaning that this fab should runs on an optimized cost structure next year.
ProMOS chairman ML Chen says deprecation on Fab2, ProMOS' first 12-inch fab, will be completed in 2007, meaning that this fab should runs on an optimized cost structure next year.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Foveon Under Scrutiny
EDN compiles a negative article on Foveon technology. The main statement is that Foveon's Mpixel claims can't be taken seriously. The statement is supported by many references, including the recent Popular Photography tests.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Canon to Build $451M CIS Fab
Reuters: Canon will invest about 55 billion yen ($451 million) to build a new factory site in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo. The new plant will have roughly the same annual production capacity as another factory in Kanagawa that can churn out 3 million image sensors a year. It is expected it to start operations in July 2008.
The CMOS chips will be used in both SLR models as well as in some compact models. Canon's compact cameras have to date used CCDs. The company has been developing CMOS sensors for compact models as part of its strategy of bringing key component production in-house to lower costs.
Canon is aiming to produce 24 million digital cameras this year, including 3 million SLRs. Assuming just 6 million imagers production capability on both fabs, old and new, only a small fraction of its compact cameras will be equipped by CMOS sensors.
The CMOS chips will be used in both SLR models as well as in some compact models. Canon's compact cameras have to date used CCDs. The company has been developing CMOS sensors for compact models as part of its strategy of bringing key component production in-house to lower costs.
Canon is aiming to produce 24 million digital cameras this year, including 3 million SLRs. Assuming just 6 million imagers production capability on both fabs, old and new, only a small fraction of its compact cameras will be equipped by CMOS sensors.
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