Chipworks Reveals Snap Shot View Inside Omnivision's Camerachip Technology.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2003 Chipworks Inc. ("Chipworks"), the standard-setting supplier of reverse engineering services, announced today that they have released their findings describing the breakthroughs in camera chip CMOS image sensor A CMOS-based chip that records the intensities of light as variable charges similar to a CCD chip. Although initially used in less expensive digital cameras, the quality of CMOS sensors has improved steadily. CMOS sensors have advantages over CCDs. technology discovered inside OmniVision Technologies' OV3610. The OV3610 CMOS image sensor is fabricated fab·ri·cate tr.v. fab·ri·cat·ed, fab·ri·cat·ing, fab·ri·cates 1. To make; create. 2. To construct by combining or assembling diverse, typically standardized parts: utilizing TSMC's advanced 180 nm process. Information published on this device indicates it was designed for use by volume manufacturers of digital still cameras or combination still image/video cameras where high image quality and low power constraints are required. The OV3610 has a 1/2-inch optical format CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. CameraChip(TM) with 2048 x 1536 pixels. "The device is manufactured in a full CMP CMP (cytidine monophosphate): see cytosine. (1) (CMP Media LLC, Manhasset, NY, www.cmp.com) Part of United Business Media, CMP is a leading integrated media company that offers a wide variety of publications and services in the information , 180 nm process. The smallest gate length we have uncovered is in the logic area, measuring in at approximately 150 nm," stated Julia Elvidge, vice president, marketing and sales for Chipworks. "Additionally the device was constructed utilizing three levels of aluminum metallization Met`al`li`za´tion n. 1. The act or process of metallizing. and one level of polysilicon," commented Elvidge. "From a circuit perspective we have found that both the sensor array A sensor array is a set of several sensors that an information gathering device uses to gather information (usually directional in nature) that cannot be gathered from a single source for a central processing unit. and the peripheral circuits that include the AFE (Apple File Exchange) An earlier Macintosh utility that converted data files between Mac and PC formats. It also included a file translator between IBM's DCA format and MacWrite. (analog front end) and the DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive (digital signal processor A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing, generally in real-time computing. Characteristics of typical Digital Signal Processors
Chipworks has documented these and related findings in a standard report format designed for persons responsible for technology and product development. "Our reports provide key competitive intelligence and are designed to assist industry professionals to build strategies and protect product positioning in the marketplace," said Ms. Elvidge. About Chipworks Chipworks is an internationally recognized technical services company that analyzes the circuitry and physical composition of semiconductor chips and electronics systems for applications in patent licensing support and competitive study. Chipworks' technical experts use sophisticated lab facilities and a rich library of in-house semiconductor data and expertise to conduct detailed analyses of a wide selection of chip types. Chipworks develops high-value, meticulously researched, on-time reports presented in a format that is easy to understand and tailored to customer needs. For over 10 years, Chipworks has successfully helped leading-edge semiconductor and electronics organizations achieve their goals by supporting research and development efforts in strategic product development and patent portfolio management. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, the Company has offices worldwide. Chipworks can be visited via the Internet at www.chipworks.com |
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