The growing demand for higher image resolutions has led to the usage of serial interfaces in image sensors, making them more effective when compared to parallel interfaces.
In a recent survey, In-Stat has found that in consumer and computing electronic products with an image sensor, there is a distinctive MIPI CSI-2 interest. In-Stat estimates that by 2016, the penetration of MIPI CSI-2 will exceed 70% in these devices. The MIPI Alliance develops interface specifications to ensure consistency in peripheral interfaces and processors.
Chief Technology Strategist at In-Stat, Jim McGregor stated that to avoid industry fragmentation, proprietary interfaces such as MIPI's CSI-3 and CSI-2 set a standard that is low-power, high-speed, scalable and cost-effective for the electronics industry as a whole.
MIPI CSI contributing companies include Texas Instruments, Synopsis, STM/ST-Ericsson, Sharp, Samsung, Renesas, Qualcomm, OmniVision, Motorola, LG Electronics, Intel, Infineon, Broadcom, Aptina, Analog Devices and Agilent.
In-Stat research also found that the highest growth rate and largest percentage of CSI-2 and CSI-3 penetration will be in handsets and smart phones. The main use of image sensors is expected to be in game consoles. In-Stat predicts that in 2016, more than 225 million image sensors for Tablet PC using MIPI will be shipped, with about 20% being represented by MIPI CSI-3 and 80% by MIPI CSI-2.