Smartsens Partners with MEMS Drive to Deliver Chip-Level OIS

PRNewswire: SmartSens has signed a cooperation agreement with MEMS image stabilization company MEMS Drive. The two will collaborate on a series of research projects in the fields of CMOS sensing chip and chip-level OIS technologies to open up new areas of applications.

Through this collaboration, SmartSens now introduces chip-level anti-vibration technology directly into CMOS sensors, made available in non-mobile applications, such as security and machine vision. In comparison with conventional OIS technology, sensors with chip-level stabilization offer higher simplicity in engineering, without losing any of the robust capabilities unique to OIS in traditional VCMs. Additionally, these sensors will feature added stabilization control to the rotation of the sensor, achieving optimal stabilization with 5 axes. For applications in AI-enabled systems, which often require HDR imaging, high frame rate video capture, or sensing in ultra-low light conditions, SmartSens will be able to provide a solution in the form of efficient stabilization.

Besides its conventional application in mobile cameras, image stabilization is equally important for application in non-mobile areas such as security monitoring, AI machine vision and autonomous vehicles. As an example of the importance of video capturing chips in the field of AI machine vision, CMOS image sensors need to be able to respond to factors such as uneven roads and air turbulence that could result in blurred images. This requires that the image sensor itself possesses exceptional stabilization capabilities, in order to increase efficiency in both the identification as well as the overall AI system.

SmartSens CMO Chris Yiu expresses her optimism, saying, "Optical image stabilizing technology is one of the hottest areas of research and development in the fields of DSLR and mobile cameras, and is unprecedented in non-mobile applications such as AI video capturing. SmartSens's collaboration with MEMS Drive in the area of non-mobile image stabilization opens up new possibilities in this field. SmartSens and MEMS Drive are both companies that rely on innovation to drive growth, and we are very pleased to use this partnership to bring forth further innovation in the field of image sensing technology."

MEMS Drive CEO Colin Kwan notes, "Since its founding, MEMS Drive has dedicated itself to replacing the limited voice coil motor (VCM) technology with its own innovative MEMS OIS technology. Our close collaboration with SmartSens will further improve efficiency of MEMS OIS develop image stabilization for non-mobile fields, and together achieve many more technological breakthroughs."