EETimes: It seems that Micron Imaging separation process is moving fast.
"Micron is in the final stages of separating the operations of its CMOS image sensor business to be a stand alone entity. While Micron did not provide further details for its image sensor business, we believe Micron is looking at a potential JV or sale in which it will own a minority stake," said Betsy Van Hees, an analyst with SG Cowen Securities. Hess attended Micron's analyst day this week.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
ST's First 1.75um Pixel Product
Yahoo: ST Micro announces its first 1.75um pixel based product - a 2MP 1/5" VD6725 sensor with integrated ISP. VD6725 fits in phone camera modules smaller than 6 x 6 x 3.8 mm. Its speed is 15fps at full resolution and 30fps at VGA resolution.
The sensor is available in ST's TSV (Through Silicon Via) wafer-level package. This type of package enables the production of reflowable camera modules. These are soldered directly on the phone motherboard, which saves cost, space and time compared with the process of fixing traditional camera modules in the board socket. ST is one of the very few companies that have reflowable camera modules in production.
Engineering samples and demo-kits are available now, with the volume production scheduled for the end of June 2008. Unit pricing is in the $2 range, depending on the production period and quantities. ST's VD6725 single- chip camera sensor is available in two package options, as a COB die or in the TSV wafer-level package.
The sensor is available in ST's TSV (Through Silicon Via) wafer-level package. This type of package enables the production of reflowable camera modules. These are soldered directly on the phone motherboard, which saves cost, space and time compared with the process of fixing traditional camera modules in the board socket. ST is one of the very few companies that have reflowable camera modules in production.
Engineering samples and demo-kits are available now, with the volume production scheduled for the end of June 2008. Unit pricing is in the $2 range, depending on the production period and quantities. ST's VD6725 single- chip camera sensor is available in two package options, as a COB die or in the TSV wafer-level package.
Weekly Patent Review
I found only one noteworthy idea out of 21 image sensor related applications published this week.
Samsung US20080023624 presents an idea of a drastic reduction of CRA. The proposal is to place a refractive plate, such as fresnel lens, just in front of microlens. It refracts the light in such a way that it comes almost perpendicular to the silicon surface across whole the array, edge to edge. Then the side and corner pixels get essentially same optical conditions as the center ones. No need in metal, microlens and color filter shifts. Neat. I believe fresnel lens is not the best way to implement this. Graded refractive index lens would work better here.
Samsung US20080023624 presents an idea of a drastic reduction of CRA. The proposal is to place a refractive plate, such as fresnel lens, just in front of microlens. It refracts the light in such a way that it comes almost perpendicular to the silicon surface across whole the array, edge to edge. Then the side and corner pixels get essentially same optical conditions as the center ones. No need in metal, microlens and color filter shifts. Neat. I believe fresnel lens is not the best way to implement this. Graded refractive index lens would work better here.
Micron Announced Standalone CIS Company?
KTVB.com tells that Micron announced it "will place the CMOS imaging division in a separate company, which Micron will continue to control. About 700 Micron employees are involved in the manufacture of CMOS sensor - based mostly in San Jose, Calif.
Micron said it is evaluating whether to bring a partner into the business - to take over some of the non-technical portions of the business, like dealing with cell phone makers or purchasing the physical lenses used in cameras."
Reuters sounds less confident that a formal announcement has been made. It only writes that "The company is also in the process of spinning off its image sensor business into a separate company because it concluded it did not fit well with the rest of the company, which is focused solely on memory chips."
"We still like that business a lot," Appleton said. "With what's happening in our memory business, we can't really do justice to that part of our business in its current form."
Ultimately, whether Micron takes the imagine sensing business public or forms a partnership with another chipmaker, it will function as a foundry for the image sensor chip business.
"Right now they don't feel like it garners any sort of valuation," American Technology Research analyst Doug Freedman said of the image sensor business. "It will still have the benefit of diversifying their revenue base (as a stand-alone entity) but they can monetize it at the same time."
Idaho Statesman adds that "much of Micron's image-sensing manufacturing occurs at two plants in Italy, and most of its research, development and design takes place in San Jose, Calif., and Pasadena, Calif.
Over the last year, analysts have strongly suggested that Micron distance itself from the image-sensor business. The sensors are profitable, but sales have grown slowly and account for only about 10 percent of the company's revenue - not the one-third the company sought a few years ago.
Micron plans to spin off its division that makes sensors used in cameras and cell phones, into a separate company so Micron can focus on memory manufacturing, Chairman and CEO Steve Appleton said Thursday."
Micron said it is evaluating whether to bring a partner into the business - to take over some of the non-technical portions of the business, like dealing with cell phone makers or purchasing the physical lenses used in cameras."
Reuters sounds less confident that a formal announcement has been made. It only writes that "The company is also in the process of spinning off its image sensor business into a separate company because it concluded it did not fit well with the rest of the company, which is focused solely on memory chips."
"We still like that business a lot," Appleton said. "With what's happening in our memory business, we can't really do justice to that part of our business in its current form."
Ultimately, whether Micron takes the imagine sensing business public or forms a partnership with another chipmaker, it will function as a foundry for the image sensor chip business.
"Right now they don't feel like it garners any sort of valuation," American Technology Research analyst Doug Freedman said of the image sensor business. "It will still have the benefit of diversifying their revenue base (as a stand-alone entity) but they can monetize it at the same time."
Idaho Statesman adds that "much of Micron's image-sensing manufacturing occurs at two plants in Italy, and most of its research, development and design takes place in San Jose, Calif., and Pasadena, Calif.
Over the last year, analysts have strongly suggested that Micron distance itself from the image-sensor business. The sensors are profitable, but sales have grown slowly and account for only about 10 percent of the company's revenue - not the one-third the company sought a few years ago.
Micron plans to spin off its division that makes sensors used in cameras and cell phones, into a separate company so Micron can focus on memory manufacturing, Chairman and CEO Steve Appleton said Thursday."
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Panasonic HDR Sensor on ISSCC 2008
CNET Crave was impressed by Panasonic HDR sensor presented on ISSCC. The 177x144 pixel image sensor that takes three frames of the same scene in rapid succession.
In one example, the first exposure lasts 1.5us, the second 150us, and the third 15ms. Extra circuitry built into the sensor records the data from the multiple exposures and uses an assortment of electronic capacitors to combine it into a single image that spans a greater dynamic range.
The image can span a dynamic range of 140db at 15fps rate.
In one example, the first exposure lasts 1.5us, the second 150us, and the third 15ms. Extra circuitry built into the sensor records the data from the multiple exposures and uses an assortment of electronic capacitors to combine it into a single image that spans a greater dynamic range.
The image can span a dynamic range of 140db at 15fps rate.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Kodak to Pursue its Patent Royalties
AP reports that Kodak is widening its effort to boost profitability by tapping its rich portfolio of imaging patents. Chief Executive Antonio Perez told analysts last week he expects Kodak to earn between $1 billion and $1.4 billion in patent-licensing royalties by 2011.
Tessera Achievements
SeekingAlpha Tessera conference call transcript has few interesting bits on EDoF technology adoption by Toshiba and more:
Kevin Vassily - Pacific Crest Securities
And then me kind of shift case it to a little bit to another licensee for the OptiML Focus Technology Toshiba, what if were to describe kind of the end product that they are producing, is this going to be their version of wafer-based fully integrated module solution or they using your OptiML Focus in conjunction with more conventional technology?
Bruce McWilliams
Yeah. This technology is a in a conventional 3 megapixel camera. The are things are changes the lens designed is changed and in the electronic logic and firmware go and so it will be a very high volume product. And it will be a First Tier OEM and it's our understanding that it will likely also be in pixel counts higher than 3 megapixel camera follow-on versions. So, we love the fact that we can enter into the market without having to wait for the infrastructure to be built out for wafer-level.
We do believe long-term, most of the mobile phone cameras will be eventually made in wafer-level technology because of size and cost reduction is possible.
Kevin Vassily - Pacific Crest Securities
Yeah. Thanks for taking some questions. Let me start with the Nemotek we want you to get share a little bit more about these guys, who they are, who they are planning to work with or if they are already working with people, why a mobile solution company, your mobile products company were chose to work with them versus the other traditional or more established module makers, you maybe announcing around the licensee because you feel there is a -- brings the markets that others aren't bringing as far as your technologies?
Bruce McWilliams
I will take that question. So maybe most people probably don't know in Morocco there are over 4,000 people in chip assembly. There are some large plants there. I'm bullish about the area, we have actually been training their engineers and we found them to be more skilled than similar ones we've had from China. We like the environment there because people are very stable in their jobs and low wage inflation and it's competitive with places like India and China and cost.
We also like the management. (Inaudible) was the people came over from STMicroelectronics, where he was the Chairman of ST Morocco and that's plan with over 4,000 of people in very state-of-the-art plan. So, we are excited about it. We like the fact that they are going to be totally vertically integrated having all the technology. So, wafer and parts out. So, we have a very strong groups is providing the investment for the company.
Now, what we do have, we believe some additional big players that will come on Board and they were optimistic. You will see some other mainstream players in the first half of the year.
Kevin Vassily - Pacific Crest Securities
And then me kind of shift case it to a little bit to another licensee for the OptiML Focus Technology Toshiba, what if were to describe kind of the end product that they are producing, is this going to be their version of wafer-based fully integrated module solution or they using your OptiML Focus in conjunction with more conventional technology?
Bruce McWilliams
Yeah. This technology is a in a conventional 3 megapixel camera. The are things are changes the lens designed is changed and in the electronic logic and firmware go and so it will be a very high volume product. And it will be a First Tier OEM and it's our understanding that it will likely also be in pixel counts higher than 3 megapixel camera follow-on versions. So, we love the fact that we can enter into the market without having to wait for the infrastructure to be built out for wafer-level.
We do believe long-term, most of the mobile phone cameras will be eventually made in wafer-level technology because of size and cost reduction is possible.
Kevin Vassily - Pacific Crest Securities
Yeah. Thanks for taking some questions. Let me start with the Nemotek we want you to get share a little bit more about these guys, who they are, who they are planning to work with or if they are already working with people, why a mobile solution company, your mobile products company were chose to work with them versus the other traditional or more established module makers, you maybe announcing around the licensee because you feel there is a -- brings the markets that others aren't bringing as far as your technologies?
Bruce McWilliams
I will take that question. So maybe most people probably don't know in Morocco there are over 4,000 people in chip assembly. There are some large plants there. I'm bullish about the area, we have actually been training their engineers and we found them to be more skilled than similar ones we've had from China. We like the environment there because people are very stable in their jobs and low wage inflation and it's competitive with places like India and China and cost.
We also like the management. (Inaudible) was the people came over from STMicroelectronics, where he was the Chairman of ST Morocco and that's plan with over 4,000 of people in very state-of-the-art plan. So, we are excited about it. We like the fact that they are going to be totally vertically integrated having all the technology. So, wafer and parts out. So, we have a very strong groups is providing the investment for the company.
Now, what we do have, we believe some additional big players that will come on Board and they were optimistic. You will see some other mainstream players in the first half of the year.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Kodak Catching-Up in Pixel Race
Yahoo: Kodak announced its 1.4um pixel sensor generation. KAC-05020 is claimed to be the world’s first 1.4 micron, 5MP device. The sensor uses two new technologies:
The KAC-05020 will be demonstrated by Kodak at the GSMA Mobile World Congress held Feb 11 – 14 in Barcelona, Spain. Samples of the KAC-05020 are scheduled to be available in Q2 2008.
Kodak was late with its 2.2um pixels. So it probably decided to forgo 1.75um pixel generation and jump directly to 1.4um. Micron, Samsung and ST Micro already presented 1.4um sensors, so Kodak plays a catch-up game here.
Update Feb. 5: AP reports that the new sensor will be sold for around $5 each in quantities of 1 million or more.
- High sensitivity color filter pattern which adds panchromatic, or “clear,” pixels to the RGB pixels already on the sensor. I believe this CFA idea was announce in June.
- N-type substrate, so that holes are detected instead of electrons. Probably Kodak is going to discuss this technology in a few days on ISSCC 2008.
Correction: The substrate is still P-type, but the photodiode is located inside deep N-well, thanks to Albert T. for the info from ISSCC.
The KAC-05020 will be demonstrated by Kodak at the GSMA Mobile World Congress held Feb 11 – 14 in Barcelona, Spain. Samples of the KAC-05020 are scheduled to be available in Q2 2008.
Kodak was late with its 2.2um pixels. So it probably decided to forgo 1.75um pixel generation and jump directly to 1.4um. Micron, Samsung and ST Micro already presented 1.4um sensors, so Kodak plays a catch-up game here.
Update Feb. 5: AP reports that the new sensor will be sold for around $5 each in quantities of 1 million or more.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Omnivision's Automotive Solutions
EETimes Asia: In a rare appearence in the press Omnivision marketing presents an article on automotive solutions. It concentrates on NIR and HDR capabilities and their usefulness.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Tessera Buys FotoNation
Yahoo: Tessera acquires FotoNation, a provider of embedded imaging solutions for DSC and camera-phones. Tessera will pay $29M in net cash with up to $10M of additional consideration, contingent upon certain milestones over one year.
FotoNation is a privately-owned, 80-person company based in Burlingame,CA. It develops solutions for red-eye correction, face tracking, smile and blink detection, as well as other solutions for enhancing digital image quality. FotoNation’s technology is claimed to be embedded in more than two out of three digital still cameras sold today.
FotoNation is a privately-owned, 80-person company based in Burlingame,CA. It develops solutions for red-eye correction, face tracking, smile and blink detection, as well as other solutions for enhancing digital image quality. FotoNation’s technology is claimed to be embedded in more than two out of three digital still cameras sold today.
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