Semiconductor solutions provider, Samsung Electronics has launched the S5K2P1 image sensor and its latest imaging technology at the Samsung Mobile Solutions Forum. The imager has been particularly designed for digital still cameras, camcorders and smart phones.
The Complementary metal oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor adopts the 1.34 µm Backside Illumination (BSI) pixel technology to give an image resolution of 16 megapixels. The image sensor has a video format of 16:9 and has 8.3 megapixel resolutions with a frame rate of 60 fps. For still images, the sensor has a resolution of 16 megapixels and a frame rate of 30 fps without the effect of the shutter lag. The image sensor can also produce bright and clear images in the dark or in poor light. The image sensor has the capability to support various interfaces, which makes it ideal for smart phones.
The S5K2P1 is also highly sensitive and produces low noise levels. Samsung will commence the large scale production of the image sensor by November 2011. According to a report from the market research firm, Techno System Research, the digital still camera is estimated to reach a production rate of 150 million units by 2012. Cameras having CMOS image sensor as their primary sensing device are expected to take up 48.2% of the total production. According to Dojun Rhee, VP System LSI Marketing, Device Solutions at Samsung Electronics, the growing demand for CMOS image sensors will directly increase the demand for the S5K2P1 image sensor.