Samsung Electronics opens the age of the 20-mega pixel camera module...Smartphone cameras covets the fame of DSLR
Samsung Electronics began to develop the 20-mega pixel smartphone camera module with a view to releasing it in the second half of 2014. Samsung Electronics wants to infinitely increase the number of pixels even after it applied the 16-mega pixel camera module to the Galaxy S5. As Samsung Electronics, No. 1 in the global smartphone market, decided to mount the 20-megapixel camera module in the next-generation smartphone, development of related parts, such as Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, auto-focus (AF) actuators and high-index lenses, will gain momentum.
According to the industry on December 1, the Advanced Development Team of the Wireless Business Division of Samsung Electronics began to develop the 20-megapixel camera module targeted for release in the second half of next year.
Some forecast that Samsung Electronics would not competitively increase the number of pixels of smartphone cameras anymore after the 16-mega pixel camera module, or settle for a 18-mega pixel product. As the performance of smartphone cameras has already come close to that of compact digital cameras, they believed that Samsung Electronics would shift focus from pixel competition to functions like the optical image stabilizer (OIS).
However, while Samsung Electronics was dithering due to unstable supply and demand, competitors like LG Electronics adopted the OIS function ahead of Samsung Electronics and they are using it as a marketing point. For Samsung Electronics to apply the OIS function to its flagship models like the Galaxy S series, the company must procure at least 50 million parts. But the number of OIS AF actuator suppliers is absolutely insufficient in Korea, and the production yield is rather poor. Samsung Electronics originally considered introducing the OIS function to the Galaxy Note 3, but postponed it until after the second half of next year. Instead, Samsung Electronics decided to continue its pixel race.
Samsung Electronics resolved the procurement issue by recently entering into an agreement with SONY for the exclusive supply of high-pixel CMOS image sensors. As the System LSI Business Division localized the 13-mega and 16-mega pixel products, Samsung Electronics can now afford to participate in the pixel race. System LSI Business Division capitalized on the ISOCELL technology for converting the CMOS image sensor pixel structure from a plane to a 3D structure to successfully produce the 8-mega pixel CIS, and is known to have introduced the 13-mega and 16-mega pixel product samples.
Samsung Electronics is known to adopt the 16-mega pixel camera module for 25% of the smartphones it will release next year. The 16-mega pixel camera module will be installed in one out of four Samsung smartphones. Considering that Samsung Electronics plans to ship 360 million smartphones next year, the demands for the 16-mega pixel camera module will reach 90 million. Its strategy is to use the 16-mega pixel smartphone camera to get the upper hand in the pixel competition next year, and consolidate its lead by commercializing the 20-mega pixel camera module in 2015.
“When Samsung Electronics included the 13-mega pixel camera module in the next-generation smartphone roadmap after its development of the 8-mega pixel product, it virtually became the industry standard,” said an industry insider. “After the 16-mega pixel product, the 20-mega pixel product will become the general trend.”
According to the industry on December 1, the Advanced Development Team of the Wireless Business Division of Samsung Electronics began to develop the 20-megapixel camera module targeted for release in the second half of next year.
Some forecast that Samsung Electronics would not competitively increase the number of pixels of smartphone cameras anymore after the 16-mega pixel camera module, or settle for a 18-mega pixel product. As the performance of smartphone cameras has already come close to that of compact digital cameras, they believed that Samsung Electronics would shift focus from pixel competition to functions like the optical image stabilizer (OIS).
However, while Samsung Electronics was dithering due to unstable supply and demand, competitors like LG Electronics adopted the OIS function ahead of Samsung Electronics and they are using it as a marketing point. For Samsung Electronics to apply the OIS function to its flagship models like the Galaxy S series, the company must procure at least 50 million parts. But the number of OIS AF actuator suppliers is absolutely insufficient in Korea, and the production yield is rather poor. Samsung Electronics originally considered introducing the OIS function to the Galaxy Note 3, but postponed it until after the second half of next year. Instead, Samsung Electronics decided to continue its pixel race.
Samsung Electronics resolved the procurement issue by recently entering into an agreement with SONY for the exclusive supply of high-pixel CMOS image sensors. As the System LSI Business Division localized the 13-mega and 16-mega pixel products, Samsung Electronics can now afford to participate in the pixel race. System LSI Business Division capitalized on the ISOCELL technology for converting the CMOS image sensor pixel structure from a plane to a 3D structure to successfully produce the 8-mega pixel CIS, and is known to have introduced the 13-mega and 16-mega pixel product samples.
Samsung Electronics is known to adopt the 16-mega pixel camera module for 25% of the smartphones it will release next year. The 16-mega pixel camera module will be installed in one out of four Samsung smartphones. Considering that Samsung Electronics plans to ship 360 million smartphones next year, the demands for the 16-mega pixel camera module will reach 90 million. Its strategy is to use the 16-mega pixel smartphone camera to get the upper hand in the pixel competition next year, and consolidate its lead by commercializing the 20-mega pixel camera module in 2015.
“When Samsung Electronics included the 13-mega pixel camera module in the next-generation smartphone roadmap after its development of the 8-mega pixel product, it virtually became the industry standard,” said an industry insider. “After the 16-mega pixel product, the 20-mega pixel product will become the general trend.”
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