ST Micro continues to churn out backside illuminated sensor applications. US20080017893 application solves the diffusion crosstalk problem. The solution is a retrograde doping of the substrate to form an electric field in vertical direction, so photoelectrons in the substrate are pulled toward the photodiode directly above them (or below them in backside illuminated pixels). The application shows that ST bumpes into the same problems like all the industry and uses the same approaches trying to solve them. I'm not sure this application will be granted, but at least it reveals that ST has a good team devoted to backside illumination.
Another ST's application US20080017946 talks about reducing thermal gradients in back-lit sensors. The proposed solution is to use through-silicon vias to conduct heat to the bottom side of the sensor and then use thermaly conductive layer to spread heat equally over the sensor area. It's a popular solution used by many packaging designers, I doubt this patent would be ever granted. Well, may be in combination with backside illuminated sensor they can cut something.
Application US20080018662 filed by Avago, now it probably belongs to Micron. To reduce crosstalk between pixels it proposes to put a shading elements in between them. That's it. One more thing, the shading is symmetrical to avoid artifacts. The application was filed in mid-2006, published just now. What I can say about it? First, I do not believe it will be granted, but if it will, I do not believe anybody can be sued for its infringement.
Application US20080018762 comes from Micron and talks about reset transistor charge injection suppression. How it works? Very simple: when the reset transistor is turned off, its gate goes to some sufficiently low voltage, which is higher than the prior art ground. So, the charge injection becomes smaller. Many companies use similar solutions for various reasons, I don't think Micron invented anything here.
Samsung US20080018765 application talks about hexagonal pixels with 2-way sharing. Very interesting read, just to learn what wild ideas these guys are trying! It gives example pixels layouts and how they plan to squeeze all the transistors in between. I'm unable to say anything about its novelty, buy I enjoyed reading this application. I don't think this is practical though.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Micron-Ambarella HD Video Reference Design
Yahoo: The new DevCam HD solution is a ready-to-build reference design consisting of a Micron 1.6MP image sensor (product number MT9M002) and a video processor (product number A2) from Ambarella. The high-speed imager and processor that make up the DevCam HD enable 720p HD video capture at 60fps. The design includes an HD fixed-focus lens.
The new reference design is a production-ready solution for customers.
The new reference design is a production-ready solution for customers.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Kodak Q4 2007 Earnings Call
Seeking Alpha published today's Kodak conference call transcript. There was one interesting pre-announcement by Antonio Perez, Kodak CEO:
Shannon Cross - Cross Research
Okay, and then one other question with regard to CMOS because I don’t think we’ve had a lot of discussion on CMOS -- any update on where you stand on that, both with regard to internal Kodak as well as deals with say Motorola or any of the other carriers?
Antonio M. Perez
We’ll do more on February 7th but we just introduced one camera with our own CMOS in it and it is selling very well and it allowed us to go into a lower price point and keep our margins in good shape.
We have the deal with Motorola that we’ll be delivering. Motorola has to announce introductions, I cannot, but in the next six months, you should be seeing products from Motorola and our contribution.
And you will see an announcement that will come between now and the seventh, so I’m pre-announcing, which I shouldn’t be doing but I’m doing it anyway since I started, and we are going to -- we announced a series of breakthrough technologies about six months ago or something like that. Those are becoming a product and we will be announcing that that will be a product available for sale in the industry. I won’t tell you anymore but it will come in the next few days.
We are making a lot of progress. This is a long cycle business. We have very good technology, good partnerships, so I feel very well about the business but it takes time to build this business.
My guess is that Antonio means the new color pattern idea, instead of Bayer's. The idea was presented in mid June, so it fits Antonio's description. Probably Kodak is about to announce the first products based on this idea.
Shannon Cross - Cross Research
Okay, and then one other question with regard to CMOS because I don’t think we’ve had a lot of discussion on CMOS -- any update on where you stand on that, both with regard to internal Kodak as well as deals with say Motorola or any of the other carriers?
Antonio M. Perez
We’ll do more on February 7th but we just introduced one camera with our own CMOS in it and it is selling very well and it allowed us to go into a lower price point and keep our margins in good shape.
We have the deal with Motorola that we’ll be delivering. Motorola has to announce introductions, I cannot, but in the next six months, you should be seeing products from Motorola and our contribution.
And you will see an announcement that will come between now and the seventh, so I’m pre-announcing, which I shouldn’t be doing but I’m doing it anyway since I started, and we are going to -- we announced a series of breakthrough technologies about six months ago or something like that. Those are becoming a product and we will be announcing that that will be a product available for sale in the industry. I won’t tell you anymore but it will come in the next few days.
We are making a lot of progress. This is a long cycle business. We have very good technology, good partnerships, so I feel very well about the business but it takes time to build this business.
My guess is that Antonio means the new color pattern idea, instead of Bayer's. The idea was presented in mid June, so it fits Antonio's description. Probably Kodak is about to announce the first products based on this idea.
Kodak CES Presentation
Kodak published its CES 2008 investor's conference transcript with some views on image sensor business:
Jay Vleeschhouwer, Merrill Lynch asks: You’ve improved thus far in the last year but can you continue that, and then let’s see, sensor technology, when do we run into the limitations of current sensor technology in terms of microns per pixel. There was some talk a year ago at the show about some physical limitations at the semi conductor level and when do you see this hitting the wall in that respect.
Naturally, Kodak pushes its pixel binning technology in response:
John Blake, General Manager, Digital Capture & Imaging Devices: I’m not sure this was mentioned in the tour, one of the key elements of smart capture is also floating resolution. So rather than give you a standard mega pixel, e.g. give you an eight mega pixel shot in all situations, we will float the mega pixels that are available for the scene. So if it’s a low light scene, we’ll actually do things where we will pull back on the number of mega pixels that we use to shoot, do some pixel bending afterwards to bring out the light and therefore, actually I can prove to you that a lower mega pixel capture will be better than a higher mega pixel capture. In terms of a physical limitation. We’re getting pretty close on CCD’s at 12 and 14 mega pixels. I think that you will see over the next two to three years, certainly more prevalence of CMOS sensors into digital cameras because of some of the capabilities they will provide where again, I’d like to get the world focused on image quality not on the mega pixels.
Shannon Cross, Cross Research: Just a couple of additional questions one with regard to digital cameras. On the CMOS opportunity that Kodak manufactured CMOS, what can you tell us about the sales of the five mega pixel that you put out, how you expect that to sort of move through your product line over time. If you talk to Canon or Sony and granite Sony has a major vested interest in CCD’s but if you talk to them, they’re not anticipating CMOS really moving into the compact camera line any time soon, so I’m just curious as to how fast you think it will move up.
John Blake: So the first aspect of the success of 513, the C513 was a camera that we launched in the late, latter part of the summer, very attractive price point, five mega pixel Kodak manufactured CMOS sensor, did very well, is doing very well. We will not disclose individual data on a specific product but we’re very pleased with the results very pleased with the performance and the capability we’ve registered the important learning for the business of integrating a Kodak CMOS sensor into a Kodak camera.
Going forward, I do believe that CMOS sensors will be in compact cameras. I do think that will happen over the next two to three years and having the capability and the technology we have in CMOS sensors does very well for us in bringing to life some of the unmet consumer needs in terms of the value they can provide for the end camera product.
Jay Vleeschhouwer, Merrill Lynch asks: You’ve improved thus far in the last year but can you continue that, and then let’s see, sensor technology, when do we run into the limitations of current sensor technology in terms of microns per pixel. There was some talk a year ago at the show about some physical limitations at the semi conductor level and when do you see this hitting the wall in that respect.
Naturally, Kodak pushes its pixel binning technology in response:
John Blake, General Manager, Digital Capture & Imaging Devices: I’m not sure this was mentioned in the tour, one of the key elements of smart capture is also floating resolution. So rather than give you a standard mega pixel, e.g. give you an eight mega pixel shot in all situations, we will float the mega pixels that are available for the scene. So if it’s a low light scene, we’ll actually do things where we will pull back on the number of mega pixels that we use to shoot, do some pixel bending afterwards to bring out the light and therefore, actually I can prove to you that a lower mega pixel capture will be better than a higher mega pixel capture. In terms of a physical limitation. We’re getting pretty close on CCD’s at 12 and 14 mega pixels. I think that you will see over the next two to three years, certainly more prevalence of CMOS sensors into digital cameras because of some of the capabilities they will provide where again, I’d like to get the world focused on image quality not on the mega pixels.
Shannon Cross, Cross Research: Just a couple of additional questions one with regard to digital cameras. On the CMOS opportunity that Kodak manufactured CMOS, what can you tell us about the sales of the five mega pixel that you put out, how you expect that to sort of move through your product line over time. If you talk to Canon or Sony and granite Sony has a major vested interest in CCD’s but if you talk to them, they’re not anticipating CMOS really moving into the compact camera line any time soon, so I’m just curious as to how fast you think it will move up.
John Blake: So the first aspect of the success of 513, the C513 was a camera that we launched in the late, latter part of the summer, very attractive price point, five mega pixel Kodak manufactured CMOS sensor, did very well, is doing very well. We will not disclose individual data on a specific product but we’re very pleased with the results very pleased with the performance and the capability we’ve registered the important learning for the business of integrating a Kodak CMOS sensor into a Kodak camera.
Going forward, I do believe that CMOS sensors will be in compact cameras. I do think that will happen over the next two to three years and having the capability and the technology we have in CMOS sensors does very well for us in bringing to life some of the unmet consumer needs in terms of the value they can provide for the end camera product.
Sony Announces FF Image Sensor
DPReview: Sony announced the development of a 35mm full size (diagonal: 43.3mm) 24.81MP high speed CMOS image sensor for DSLR cameras with pixel size 5.94um.
There are a number of technical challenges to developing full (large) size image sensors, such as the propagation delay caused by using extended power circuitry and signal lines, and the difficulty of maintaining uniform sensitivity and signal saturation across the surface of the screen.
Furthermore, because current photolithograthy systems are unable to cover the entire chip surface of 35mm full size CMOS image sensors, multiple exposures are required. This results in the difficulty of accurately controlling exposure variance and matching circuit patterns.
Sony image sensor uses a system of joining multiple exposed patterns together and advanced planarization for minimizing fluctuation. Column-parallel ADC provides full-resolution frame rate 6.3fps.
While we are at large sensors, Samsung's newly announced GX-20 DSLR uses its own manufactured 14.6MP 23.4mm x 15.6mm CMOS sensor. Another version of this sensor was designed in cooperation with Pentax and used in Pentax K-20D DSLR as well.
There are a number of technical challenges to developing full (large) size image sensors, such as the propagation delay caused by using extended power circuitry and signal lines, and the difficulty of maintaining uniform sensitivity and signal saturation across the surface of the screen.
Furthermore, because current photolithograthy systems are unable to cover the entire chip surface of 35mm full size CMOS image sensors, multiple exposures are required. This results in the difficulty of accurately controlling exposure variance and matching circuit patterns.
Sony image sensor uses a system of joining multiple exposed patterns together and advanced planarization for minimizing fluctuation. Column-parallel ADC provides full-resolution frame rate 6.3fps.
While we are at large sensors, Samsung's newly announced GX-20 DSLR uses its own manufactured 14.6MP 23.4mm x 15.6mm CMOS sensor. Another version of this sensor was designed in cooperation with Pentax and used in Pentax K-20D DSLR as well.
OKI Offers Imaging Subroutines for Sale
OKI demonstrates FSE (Face Sensing Engine) and mobile iris recognition middlewares on 3GSM Mobile World Congress 2008 (MWC2008) in Barcelona, Spain on Feb. 11-14.
The possible Face Sensing Engine applications are shown on the picture below. The iris recognition is intended for user authentication for mobile devices. With other companes offering similar subroutines as well, these solutions become quite a commodity on imaging middleware market.
The possible Face Sensing Engine applications are shown on the picture below. The iris recognition is intended for user authentication for mobile devices. With other companes offering similar subroutines as well, these solutions become quite a commodity on imaging middleware market.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ambarella Introduces Super-Fast ISP
Ambarella has introduced the A390 SoC that simultaneously captures 8Mpixels still pictures while generating and compressing HD video by H.264 codec in either 1080p60 or 1080i60 formats.
The A390 captures data as fast as 480Mpixels/s, that is 60fps at 8 MP resolution. At this rate the A390 demosaics data from Bayer pattern to RGB.
The 480MP/s capture rate allows a still image stabilization to improve low-light photography. Instead of capturing a single image in low light with a long exposure that results in a blurry picture, the A390 captures image sequences with short exposures. Then multiple images are combined to create a sharp, low-noise picture. This is the still-image equivalent of motion compensated 3D noise reduction.
The A390 captures data as fast as 480Mpixels/s, that is 60fps at 8 MP resolution. At this rate the A390 demosaics data from Bayer pattern to RGB.
The 480MP/s capture rate allows a still image stabilization to improve low-light photography. Instead of capturing a single image in low light with a long exposure that results in a blurry picture, the A390 captures image sequences with short exposures. Then multiple images are combined to create a sharp, low-noise picture. This is the still-image equivalent of motion compensated 3D noise reduction.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Omnivision Doing Better
newratings: Analysts at Robert W. Baird estimate that OmniVision is gaining share of the high-growth image sensor market for PCs. The company’s performance in 2H08 is likely to be boosted by the use of video applications in higher-end smartphones, continued market adoption of VGA-based cameras in low-end mobile phones sold in developing countries and accelerated adoption of VGA sensors in notebooks.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
STMicro Imaging Sales Up, Profits Down
STMicro has reported Q4 2007 results. Imaging business is a part MMC (Mobile, Multimedia and Comms Group) which is a part of ASG (Application Specific Product Groups, 4 groups in total). Here is all the ASG groups combined performance:
"ASG's revenues grew 9.1% sequentially and 13.3% year-over-year, led by imaging products, [etc]. ASG's operating profit declined sequentially due to the sequential increase in imaging device weighting" in the groups product mix.
To me this sounds like STM's imaging business is losing money - correct me if I'm wrong.
STM's CEO Carlo Bozotti clarifies in SeekingAlpha transcrpt:
"The ASG gross margin in Q4 has reflected a significant base expansion of sales in the imaging business in camera modules. As you are familiar with this business, structurally ramps at lower margin due to the significant pass through of components like lenses. Frankly, we have also to admit that this is not, given the current competitive structure of the business, one of our most profitable and highest margin business. So I would characterize this Q3 to Q4 dynamic as driven substantially by some very positive news, by the way, of sales expansion and addition of [indiscernible] and camera modules."
"ASG's revenues grew 9.1% sequentially and 13.3% year-over-year, led by imaging products, [etc]. ASG's operating profit declined sequentially due to the sequential increase in imaging device weighting" in the groups product mix.
To me this sounds like STM's imaging business is losing money - correct me if I'm wrong.
STM's CEO Carlo Bozotti clarifies in SeekingAlpha transcrpt:
"The ASG gross margin in Q4 has reflected a significant base expansion of sales in the imaging business in camera modules. As you are familiar with this business, structurally ramps at lower margin due to the significant pass through of components like lenses. Frankly, we have also to admit that this is not, given the current competitive structure of the business, one of our most profitable and highest margin business. So I would characterize this Q3 to Q4 dynamic as driven substantially by some very positive news, by the way, of sales expansion and addition of [indiscernible] and camera modules."
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Image Sensor Workshop Papers On-Line
As Eric Fossum wrote in comments, most of the papers from 2007 Image Sensors Workshop are now on-line. This is a huge repository of knowledge and recent design news! Many thanks!
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