€141M "MINimage Programme"

EduBourse: The aim of the "MINimage programme", which represents overall expenditure on R&D of €141M spread over four years, is to perfect a new generation of micro-cameras for mobile phones. The programme, which is being implemented in association with Saint-Gobain, Varioptic, DxO Labs, French research bodies and small businesses, is coordinated by the ST Micro group.

France intends to grant the aid of €70 million to the MINimage programme. The EU Commission decided that the state subsidy would not have any lasting damage on rivals because it was small compared to overall research spending in the sector. Even if the project manages to create a breakthrough, ST Micro would only see market share increase by a few percentage points, the EU said.

EETimes Europe adds that CEA, the National Institute for Computer Science and Control (INRIA) and the Hubert Curien Laboratory are among the participants in the program.

Jean Monet University defines the program objectives:

"The principal innovations of the MINIMAGE program aim at the miniaturization of optics and the mechanics of focus, the increase in the definition and in the sensitivity of the detectors, and the improvement the algorithms of treatment and analysis of images, embarked in a specialized processor.

The MINIMAGE program aims to develop technological bricks very innovating, in particular: detectors with higher definitions (5 to 8 million pixels); optics with liquid lens and digital lens for a miniaturized and robust autofocus; a process to do a collective assembly of modules integrating the sensor and its optics; a heart of processor flexible and optimized for the image processing."

From Saint-Gobain's site:

"Saint-Gobain Flat Glass has joined forces with STMicroelectronics (a leading name in the semiconductors industry), two mid-sized businesses and four research centers on the MinImage project, to develop innovative microcamera processes for mobile phones. On December 21, 2006, the go-ahead came through from AII, the industrial innovation agency that will be contributing to project funding of €69.9 million over four years. On this project, Saint-Gobain is supplying complex glass micro-lenses that combine optical features such as thin-film-deposited optical diaphragms, shutters and IR filters."