Milestone for embedded camera modules

Agilent Technologies has shipped its 25 millionth embedded camera module for mobile handsets.

Agilent Technologies has shipped its 25 millionth embedded camera module for mobile handsets.

Agilent is now supplying four million camera modules per month to customers, including four of the top five mobile handset manufacturers worldwide.

To satisfy customers' high-volume requirements, Agilent built a secondary supply chain to back up its primary IC fabrication and final assembly facilities.

New camera-enabled mobile applications such as MMS (multimedia messaging), visual caller ID and mobile photo albums have become popular with consumers, making mobile imaging an essential feature for many market segments.

Worldwide demand for camera-enabled handsets is expected to be in excess of 170 million units this year.

"This milestone demonstrates strong customer acceptance of our competitive advantage - excellent image quality, strong supply chain management, and worldwide customer support", said Jason Hartlove, Vice President and General Manager of Agilent's Sensor Solutions Division.

"We intend to build on this momentum with new product innovations and a new family of megapixel camera modules".

Agilent camera modules combine a high image quality CMOS image sensor with a tightly integrated image processor, an embedded power supply and high-quality lens to offer a complete, fully integrated imaging solution.

These miniature modules are available in CIF (352 x 288 pixel) resolution, VGA (480 x 640 pixel) resolution and 1.3Mpixel (1280 x 1024 pixel) resolution, with 2.0Mpixel (1600 x 1200 pixel) resolution in development.

The modules are easily designed into mobile phones and wireless PDAs, reducing the manufacturer's time to market.

They also incorporate low-power internal voltage regulation for optimum power management.

Agilent's camera modules use a proprietary low-noise imaging-optimised IC process and innovative analogue circuitry for very high sensitivity pixel designs that enable enhanced low-light performance.

This allows great pictures to be taken in low-light situations.

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