DIS Announces First 9MP Camera Phone Module

Remember Sarnoff CMOS Sensors group? In 2002 it was acquired by Germany-based Dialog Semiconductor. In 2006 Dialog spun-off its imaging group as Dialog Imaging Systems. The new company decided to concentrate on camera-phone market and licensed Carl Zeiss lens to use in its modules. In 2007 Dialog Imaging Systems renamed itself to Digital Imaging Systems (DIS), probably to break all ties with Dialog heritage.

Yahoo: Today DIS launches world-first 9MP camera module with integrated AF, mechanical shutter, ND-Filter with actuator and ISP. The DIS6931 module is based on CMOS sensor and features fast autofocus (<300ms) The company site reveals few more interesting bits about the module:

• The module size is quite big 14x15x9.2mm
• Lens F# is 2.8 (5.6 with aperture enabled) - I'd guess it uses ND instead of iris to improve lens diffraction.
• Lens optical format is 1/2.5", which translates to pixel size 10% smaller than 1.75um
• Optics is said "by World Leading Partners for Optic Design" without naming Carl Zeiss

The site also has spec of 2.75X optical zoom version of 9MP module - DS6951. However, it was not announced so far.

In the past Dialog used to use IBM as its CIS foundry. Now, with IBM CIS team disbanded, I wonder who manufactures the sensors for DIS?