Specialty foundry company, TowerJazz, announced that its CMOS image sensor (CIS) technology is being used by Canesta Inc. in the manufacture of 3-D image sensors. The CanestaVision 3-D image sensors feature chips that are the first System on a Chip (SoC) single-chip CMOS 3-D image sensors in the world to be used for TV, entertainment, and consumer desktop computing applications.
These next-generation 3-D image sensors for consumers are designed to allow a device to interact and understand the environment. This innovative technology is expected to stimulate the image sensor market. iSuppli predicts that the CMOS image sensor market is expected to escalate to $9.7 billion in 2012, from the $7.3 billion recorded in 2007.
According to Canesta President and CEO, Jim Spare, the chips have unique intellectual property and innovative applications that warrant a 3-D image sensor that is equipped with advanced characteristics. As these 3-D image sensors allow consumers to work together with devices in a natural way, they show potential of being deployed in diverse markets such as including consumer electronics, PC, entertainment, and industry applications. The recent success of touchscreen mobile phone and video game products underline the popularity and potential of new mechanisms where users can operate functions through actions or gestures.
TowerJazz Specialty Business Unit Vice President and General Manager, Dr. Avi Strum, feels that the roadmap alignment and collaboration between the two companies have paved the path for long-term innovative solution development that will enhance future power consumption and performance.