Samsung, Aptina, Omnivision Sensors in Short Supply

Digitimes reports that supply of Samsung and Aptina image sensors remains tight and also recently fallen short from OmniVision, according to the paper's sources. The shortage is attributed to better-than-expected demand from notebook customers.

Some customers had transferred orders to OmniVision due to the shortages at Samsung, the sources indicated. Asustek has chosen OmniVision's 9665 and 9660 products to replace Samsung's 1.3MP 6AA while Compal also turned to use OmniVision's 9665 due to the short supply of Samsung's 6AA.

OmniVision began placing orders with Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS), an affiliate TSMC, in June, indicated the sources. The sources expect the shortages to ease in the end of Q3 2009 at the earliest.