Feb 20 2013
DigitalOptics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tessera Technologies, Inc., today introduced mems|cam™, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) autofocus camera module for smartphones.
The mems|cam modules harness the performance advantages of MEMS technology to deliver dramatically improved speed, power, and precision in smartphone cameras. DigitalOptics has demonstrated that mems|cam offers significantly faster autofocus, at 1 percent of the power consumption of traditional voice coil motor (VCM) autofocus technology. DOC’s mems|cam components provide micron-level precision for greater focus accuracy, leveraging the benefits of semiconductor processing at major wafer foundries.
“As a 30 year veteran of the mobile industry, I recognize the tremendous opportunity created by smartphone growth and consumer demand for quality imaging,” said John Thode, president of DigitalOptics Corporation. “DOC’s mems|cam modules will provide meaningful camera differentiation that smartphone OEMs want to deliver to consumers.”
The mems|cam modules answer the smartphone industry’s demand for ever sleeker handset designs. The camera module is the primary height constraint for smartphones. DOC’s first mems|cam module (an 8 megapixel, 1/3.2” format camera) is available in wire bond (COB) and flip chip packages. This module will allow designers to pursue aggressive form factors thanks to its ultra-low z-height of as small as 5.1mm.
DigitalOptics is initially targeting smartphone OEMs in China for its mems|cam modules. “Smartphone OEMs in China are driving innovative new form factors, features, and camera functionality,” said Jim Chapman, SVP sales and marketing at DigitalOptics Corporation. “These OEMs recognize the speed, power, and precision advantages of mems|cam relative to existing VCM camera modules.”
“We have a strategic relationship with DigitalOptics for mems|cam modules, having recognized the potential advantages of implementing a mems|cam module into our handsets,” said Zeng Yuan Qing, vice general manager of Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd, a leading Chinese smartphone OEM. “Our interest in the mems|cam solution builds on our existing relationship with DigitalOptics. We have implemented DOC’s suite of video and still image software products, including the very popular face beautification tools in our Ulike 2 smartphone.” DigitalOptics plans to demonstrate the Ulike 2 at Pepcom MobileFocus and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month.
DigitalOptics has developed an in-form factor demonstration of its mems|cam All-in-One module. The All-in-One is a fully tuned camera incorporating an OmniVision 8835 image sensor and a Fujitsu Semiconductor Milbeaut® ISP. The CK Telecom smartphone used for this demo is based on the new MediaTek 6589 quad-core application processor platform. DOC plans to show this demo at Mobile World Congress. “We worked closely with DOC on the mems|cam All-in-One demo,” said Roy Ho, chief executive officer of CK Telecom. “CKT has a long relationship with DOC, and we value the differentiation provided by the mems|cam module and DOC’s suite of embedded imaging processing applications.”
“We are delighted to work with DigitalOptics by including Fujitsu Semiconductor’s Milbeaut® ISP in the mems|cam All-in-One module,” said Tom Miyake, corporate VP, Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited. “Fujitsu Semiconductor’s Milbeaut® lineup is the world’s leading image signal processor, and enables superior image quality with an abundance of advanced features, several of which are made more efficient by DOC’s unique intellectual property (IP) cores.”