As competition heats up for the ultimate mobile device, one aspect that differentiates such devices is the camera. Aside from increasing megapixels, a handset camera should handle low light situations, minimize power consumption, shoot high-resolution videos, have a fast shutter speed, and include larger apertures. The BSI CMOS sensors have helped meet these objectives, and as such are experiencing strong growth compared to traditional CMOS sensors.
The introduction of BSI has been the break in camera technology that has given CMOS the edge over CCD. BSI CMOS sensors are found in everything from high-end compact cameras to the Apple iPhone 4S. BSI helps to eliminate the noise issues found prior in CMOS there is less advantage for CCD image sensors going forward. An example of this transition to CMOS includes Canon, who is now offering many of their point and shoots with CMOS image sensors.
BSI image sensors have become the technology of choice within the mobile handset segment. IHS iSuppli believes the trend of using BSI sensors has begun in the mid- to high-end handsets since the BSI CMOS image sensors can cost roughly 20% more than front side illumination (FSI) sensors in 2011. As BSI becomes more dominant, IHS iSuppli believes the superior BSI image sensors will make their way into the higher end feature handset camera phones as well. As forecasted in 2011, IHS iSuppli forecasts BSI owning 48% of the smart and high-end feature camera handsets, 35% in low-end smart phones, and 6% in feature phones, but not owning the mass market due to cost considerations. In addition, notebook integrated cameras today are roughly 50 percent BSI along with other emerging applications transitioning to BSI.
Sony for one plans to increase its image sensor capacity again with increasing production capacity by 50% within the next few years starting this Spring. The new plan calls to boost the image sensor capacity to 75,000 a month, measured in 300 mm equivalents, by March 2014 or 2015. IHS iSuppli believes the majority of this boost will be to the ever-growing CMOS sector of its image sensor business.
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