Hello, Eric. You are a
Full Member. Log
out

My
Account | Preferences
| Help

Text size:

Library

Web

Reference

<  3 ways
to research

Search:

Try Advanced Search.
Get Alerts
and RSS
Feeds related to this term.

Save article

Print

E-mail

Export to
Microsoft Word

Export to Microsoft
PowerPoint

Blog this article

Related articles

TSMC First Foundry to Offer CMOS Image Sensor Technology at
0.25-Micron.

From:

Business Wire

Date:

November 20, 2000

More results for:

"eric fossum"

Companies mentioned:

Photobit Corp.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.

Y Media Corp.

Show
more >>

<< Show
fewer links

Business Editors/Technology Writers

HSIN-CHU, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2000

3-Megapixel Resolution Adds to Advantages of Camera-on-a-Chip Over

CCDs for the Rapidly Growing Digital and Video Camera Markets

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM), the world's
leading semiconductor foundry, today became the first foundry to offer
0.25-micron CMOS image sensor technology.

The geometry reduction enables 3 Megapixel resolution for a broad range
of high-volume applications, including digital-still cameras and digital
video cameras for Internet-enabled PCs. This Camera-on-a-Chip capability
also features lower power consumption, higher reliability, faster
time-to-market and comparable resolution to the top-end Charged-Coupled
Device (CCD) sensors currently on the market. CMOS image sensors deliver a
system-on-chip (SoC) that integrates logic, SRAM and silicon-proven IP
blocks.

TSMC collaborated with leading imaging technology companies Photobit
Corporation and Y Media Corporation to pioneer the 0.25-micron CMOS image
sensor process. Both companies were instrumental in analyzing wafers for
functionality and performance.

"TSMC's 0.25-micron process for image sensors extends our lead to as
much as two generations ahead of our competition and further shifts the
industry from CCDs to CMOS-based imaging technology," said Edward Chen,
TSMC's director of special technology product marketing. "As the
traditional role of the foundry has expanded to include technology
leadership, we are honored to team with product innovators to drive
technology advancements like our 0.25-micron CMOS image sensor process to
market."

"Y Media recently unveiled its 3.17 Megapixel CMOS-based image sensor,
a high-quality imager that will match and exceed the performance of the
current generation of CCDs in consumer electronics," stated Ian Olsen,
Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Y Media. "Of course TSMC was
instrumental in pioneering the advance to a 0.25-micron process. This
significant reduction in process geometry allows for both an increase in
the number of transistors and fill factor without compromising
performance, in addition to increasing pixel design options. Importantly,
this process break-through contributes directly to more complex image
sensor functionality, greater speeds, and lower power dissipation."

"We were pleased to work with TSMC in evaluating and improving their
0.25-micron process," said Eric Fossum, Photobit's chief technology
officer. "This technology will foster new advancements in active pixel
CMOS image sensor designs."

The dominant worldwide IC process, CMOS technology offers a number of
advantages over CCD technology, including lower power, lower cost, and
much higher potential volumes. Spurred by volume pricing and rapid chip
integration, semiconductor revenues for PC cameras are projected to grow
five-fold by 2002, and by 2003 should reach $1 billion in sales, according
to market research firm Cahners' In-Stat Group. By 2002, Cahners' In-Stat
forecasts, most PC cameras will be based on a single-chip designs, thereby
reducing system size and manufacturing cost. Other CMOS image sensor
applications include digital television, toys, security systems, and small
cameras embedded in laptop PCs and hand-held devices.

TSMC's 0.25-micron image sensor technology is available immediately.
Designers can use the TSMC standard logic design kit. Current TSMC
customers can also re-use other logic library elements such as SRAM and
other TSMC-specific IP. TSMC includes SPICE libraries and the image sensor
bit cell.

About Photobit Corporation

Photobit is a supplier of CMOS image sensors. Based in Pasadena,
California, the firm owns the rights to high-performance image-capture
technology invented at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Photobit has
further developed this technology to make it viable in the marketplace.
Applications for CMOS image sensors include: the PC video camera market,
where one Photobit customer is Logitech(R) and its popular QuickCam(TM)
Express; medical imaging, where customers include Given Imaging, for its
"camera-in-a-pill," and Schick Technologies, for dental radiography;
high-tech imaging systems for the automotive industry, where Gentex is a
customer and business partner; and the machine-vision market, where
Photobit is strategically allied with Germany-based Basler AG. Being the
industry pioneer, Photobit has already designed more than forty (40)
off-the-shelf and custom CMOS image sensors since its founding in 1995.
The company also performs U.S. Government research and development.

About Y Media Corporation

Y Media's multi-media device portfolio includes high-density image
sensors ideal for high-resolution digital still cameras and video
applications like HDTV, as well as a line of highly integrated image
sensors specifically designed to make possible image communications in
ultra-portable consumer electronics. Delivering portable vision that flows
easily from one medium to another, Y Media gives OEMs the opportunity to
lower system-level costs, expand market share, and add key product
differentiators. Y Media is a privately held company with headquarters in
Irvine, Calif., linked to Orange County's most prominent university, the
University of California, Irvine and regional operations in Japan. For
more information, please visit www.y-media.com.

About TSMC

TSMC is the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, providing
the industry's leading process technology, library and IP options and
other leading-edge foundry services. TSMC operates two six-inch wafer fabs
(Fab 1 and 2) and six eight-inch wafer fabs (Fab 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8).
The company has substantial capacity commitments at three joint venture
fabs - Vanguard, WaferTech, and SSMC. TSMC is currently ramping the
industry's first 300mm pilot line at its Fab 6 and is constructing three
dedicated 300mm fabs, Fab 12 in Hsin-Chu and Fabs 14 and 15 in Tainan. In
2001, TSMC expects to produce nearly 4.8 million eight-inch equivalent
wafers. Fabrication processes offered by TSMC include CMOS logic,
mixed-mode/RF, volatile and non-volatile memory, and BiCMOS. TSMC's
corporate headquarters are in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. More information about
TSMC is available through the World Wide Web at http://www.tsmc.com.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Business Wire. This material is
published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group,
Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights
should be directed to the Gale Group. For permission to reuse this
article, contact Copyright Clearance Center.

More articles like this:

.

;

See all results. Or, try our Advanced
Search.

We're searching over:

35 million articles

3,000 publications

Find more results for ""eric fossum"" in HighBeam Web and Reference.

My Research
Center

Saved
articles

Alerts

Saved
searches

RSS
feeds

New! Add
articles from other sites to HighBeam

View your account
settings and display
preferences.

Text size:

Library

Web

Reference

<  3 ways to
research

Search:

Try Advanced Search.
Get Alerts
and RSS
Feeds related to this term.

Academic
and Education

Business

Government

Health

Lifestyle
and Personal Interest

News

Sports and
Leisure

Technology
and Science

HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

About Us

Advertise with Us

Customer
Support

Site Index

Privacy Policy

Terms & Conditions