Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (Nasdaq: TSEM; TASE: TSEM) (which trades as TowerJazz), TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co. (TPSCo), the analog foundry in Japan that is a joint venture between Tower and Panasonic, and PIXELPLUS, a supplier of image sensors and imaging solutions, announced today they have collaborated to produce a state-of-the-art HD and FHD (full high-definition) SoC security sensor with what they describe as unprecedented performance using TPSCo's 65nm CMOS image sensor (CIS) process. Production is expected to start at the beginning of 2016 at TPSCo's 12" fab in Japan.
PIXELPLUS successfully embedded image signal processing (ISP) and HD-Analog transmission function into one integrated CMOS image sensor (CIS) -- for the first time in the world. Embedding the HD-transmission function into a CMOS image sensor enables image data transmission over coaxial cables to distances longer than 500 meters, but typically it generates a lot of heat and noise which degrade the quality of the image. PIXELPLUS succeeded in combining three separate chips into one CMOS image sensor without degradation of image quality, enabled by using TPSCo's 65nm CIS process.
The companies say that this breakthrough technology for the security/surveillance market is meeting the needs of a new era of digital data transmission in FHD/HDsensors and due to its very low dark current performance, permits the extremely high performance that is now required by security sensors especially in low light conditions. TPSCo's 65nm process supports high resolution imaging, fulfilling the demand for high definition solutions in the surveillance market. This benefit leads to cost-effective CIS sensors with high quality imaging, helping PIXELPLUS maintain its number one position worldwide in the security/surveillance market, which includes 34% market share in 2014 by dominating VGA. According to a report from Yole, the security sensor market is estimated to grow from $140 million in 2014 to $353 million in 2020, a CAGR of 17%.
TPSCo's 65nm CIS process offers higher resolution and sensitivity and low noise architectures compared to competitive processes and will enable PIXELPLUS to expand its business from security/surveillance to various other markets requiring higher resolution such as automotive, industrial and the IoT. TPSCo's 65nm CIS technology supports the needs of image sensitivity, high dynamic range, low dark current and noise ratio for optical sensors used in security and surveillance applications. Extensive experience in the imaging field combined with in-house CIS technology development enables TowerJazz to meet future market requirements of advanced technology in WDR, high speed frame rate, and IR sensor, among others.
"We look forward to expanding our relationship with PIXELPLUS and supporting the expected boom in the security market especially in China where we aim to take a lead position," said Tower Semiconductor CEO and TPSCo chairman Russell Ellwanger, "This partnership between PIXELPLUS, TowerJazz and TPSCo combines the utmost in technology, engineering and manufacturing excellence. The leadership of PIXELPLUS in the surveillance market, combined with our best in class 65nm CIS process, enables breakthrough technology which can be applied to other markets requiring higher resolution, such as automotive sensors, in which we also have extensive manufacturing experience."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 11, 2016
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