scansen imagers 2009
DESCRIPTION
Image Sensors 2009: The Competitive Intelligence Perspective•Overview of image sensor technology currently on the market•The global patent landscape and R&D investment trends•Market share analysisTRANSCRIPT
The Competitive Technical Intelligence
PerspectiveDon Scansen
semiconDr Inc.
Image Sensors 2009
www.semicondr.com
semicon rResearch-ANalysis-Decision
2Image Sensors 2009
0
350
700
1050
1400
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
Un
its S
hip
ped
(M
illio
ns)
Year-
over-
year
(%)
Volume (Millions)
Y-O-Y (%)
Worldwide Cameraphone Shipments
Source: Fomalhaut Techno Solutions / Ministry of General Affairs of Japan
In 2011, volumes return to pre-recession levels.
semicon rResearch-ANalysis-Decision
3
AR layer
color filter
µlens
W
Reverse engineering images and analysis are provided courtesy of Chipworks who were the first to provide competitive intelligence reports on consumer BSI technology.
Image Sensors 2009
First Backside Illuminated (BSI) CMOS Image Sensors Introduced by Sony in 2009
BSI Technology to become more prevalent for pixels < 1.4µm
1.75 µm
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Image Sensors 2009
OmniVision First to Produce BSI Image Sensor for Cameraphone Market
Reverse engineering images and analysis are provided courtesy of Chipworks who were the first to provide competitive intelligence reports on OmniVision BSI technology.
4
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5Image Sensors 2009
WW Patent Applications - Image Sensor
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007USPTO JPO EPO KIPO
Is activity in the US representative of worldwide trends?
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6Image Sensors 2009
Applications for US Patent on Image Sensor
0
1,500
3,000
4,500
6,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009*
*Forecast
Patent activity is a measure of R&D effort, so is it in decline?
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0
1.667
3.333
5.000
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009*
7Image Sensors 2009
*2009 Numbers are Forecasts Based on Activity through March 31
Image Sensor - % of Total USPTO Volume
US Patent Application Rate Trends
0
7.5
15.0
22.5
30.0
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009*
Image Sensor - % of USPTO Volume on Integrated Circuit
Image sensor R&D is robust compared to activity in other technologies.
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8Image Sensors 2009
US Patent Application Rate Trends- Backside Illumination
Total Volume BSI Applications on File in USPTO Database
*Forecast
BSI technology is not new, but application volume becomes significant in 2004 and continues to accelerate through to the present (once adjustments are made for delays in USPTO database updates).
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9Image Sensors 2009
US Patent Applications Assignee Distribution- Backside Illumination
It is no surprise that OmniVision and its foundry partner, TSMC, account for nearly one-third of BSI applications.
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10Image Sensors 2009
US Patent Applications - Backside Illumination
Assignees Listed on BSI Applications on File in USPTO Database (Jan. 1, 1999 through May 31, 2009)
Nearly half of all applications belong to assignees with only a single BSI application.
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Acknowledgements
• Minatake Kashio, Fomalhaut Techno Solutions / Japanese Ministry of General Affairs
• Ray Fontaine, Chipworks
11Image Sensors 2009semicon r
Research-ANalysis-Decision
Thank you
12Image Sensors 2009
For more information, please go towww.semicondr.com
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