CMOSIS, an independent developer and supplier of high end CMOS image sensors
for professional imaging applications, and Tower
Semiconductor, Ltd. (Nasdaq: TSEM)(TASE: TSEM), the leading global specialty
foundry, today announced CMOSIS has ramped its first off-the-shelf high resolution
sensor (CMV2000) using Tower's advanced 0.18-micron CMOS image sensor
(CIS) technology. This highly integrated image sensor targets machine vision
applications and enables global shutter (snapshot) operation and fast on-chip
analog to digital conversion (ADC) to meet this market's demanding requirements
for leading-edge performance, advanced features, and reduced die size and price.
CMOSIS estimates the machine vision sensor market at ~$200M (CCD and CMOS combined).
Tower and CMOSIS are well-positioned to win a significant share of future industrial
and professional CMOS image sensor markets as next-generation CMV2000 sensors
could also be used for automotive and security applications.
“We chose Tower based on its advanced CMOS technology and process flexibility
which allowed us to explore more options leading to stronger and more reliable
performance. With other foundries, you have to stay within smaller technical
boundaries,” said Luc De Mey, CMOSIS CEO. “In addition, we found
easy accessibility to Tower's excellent R&D support and we value the
long term process availability that Tower offers.”
“CMOSIS, its key personnel, and its IP are well known in the industry.
Combined with our expertise in CMOS image sensors, we are able to provide them
an edge in the market,” said Dr. Avi Strum, Vice President and General
Manager of Tower's Specialty Business Unit. “Our dominant position
especially in Europe, Korea and the U.S. has been proven by our many customer
engagements and CMOSIS now joins the ‘club' of leading edge companies
who have chosen Tower for our specialty process superiority over every other
foundry.”
CMOSIS also selected Tower's advanced 0.18-micron process for its aggressive
layout rules, allowing a novel pixel structure featuring a pixel size of 5.5µm
x 5.5µm which is needed to stay close to a 2/3" optical format with
2.2M pixel resolution and form factor. The CMV2000 combines a pipelined global
shutter operation that allows true correlated double sampling and a full-frame
rate of 300 fps and yields an unprecedented low noise level below 18 electrons
and 16-channel LVDS interfacing. The CMV2000 integrates a high performance 10bit
column ADC on-chip which features a slow 12bit mode and multiple HDR modes,
all housed in a very compact 95pin ceramic PGA package.
Posted October 20th, 2009
