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EL SEGUNDO, USA: Backside Illumination (BSI) sensors—the sort used in the mobile camera of Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4—are leading the charge in a newly resurgent market for image sensors in general, and other handset manufacturers are likely to follow Apple’s bold move to boost image-capture possibilities in smart phones, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp.

Shipments of BSI sensors for mid- to high-end smart handsets are projected to reach 33.4 million units in 2010, up from virtually nil last year. The market will continue to post sizable increases during the next four years and rise almost tenfold to over 300 million units by 2014, consumer electronics research from iSuppli indicates.

The startling growth of BSI sensors is completely in line with the robust, double-digit expansion projected this year for the overall area image sensor market as it recovers from the economic downturn and also penetrate new applications.

Area image sensor shipments in 2010 will hit 1.7 billion units, up 20 percent from 1.4 billion units in 2009, with revenue during the same period climbing to $6.9 billion, up from $5.9 billion.

The figure shows iSuppli’s image sensor forecast from 2009 to the end of the forecast period in 2014.Source: iSuppli, USA.

In the case of Apple’s iPhone 4, which arrived in June, a 5-megapixel BSI image sensor from OmniVision Technologies is credited with enhancing image quality taken with the smart phone’s camera, said Pamela Tufegdzic, analyst for consumer electronics at iSuppli.

The BSI architecture in the iPhone 4 employs a 1.75-micron-pixel sensor that improves light absorption, resulting in better image quality in low-light conditions. The bigger pixel size, compared to traditional Frontside Illumination (FSI) sensors, is also ideal for high-definition video recording.

“With Apple tending to shape trends, handset OEMS are likely to follow suit and incorporate enhanced cameras with BSI image sensors,” Tufegdzic noted. “BSI sensors will first see utilization in high-end mobile handsets, and then gradually make their way into the camera phones of lower-cost feature handsets as the price of BSI sensors comes down.”

By 2014, approximately 75 percent of mid- to higher-end smart phones will include BSI sensors—a huge leap from the 14 percent projected for the end of this year, she noted.

CMOS or CCD?
Within the image sensor market, sensors employing Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology—such as the BSI type—are on the ascent, trumping their rival Charge Coupled Device (CCD) counterparts.

Already the mainstream image sensor technology in mobile handsets and digital SLR cameras, CMOS is making its way into lower-end, point-and-shoot cameras. Furthermore, the sensors are used in an increasing number of computers for webcam video, as well as in various automotive applications such as blind-spot detection, parking assist and infrared night vision.

In comparison, the fortunes of CCD sensors—which cost more to produce—continue to decline, iSuppli’s consumer electronics research shows. By 2014, CCD sensor shipments will be off by nearly half of their levels in 2008, with the market inexorably heading in the direction of CMOS image sensors.

Source: iSuppli, USA.

EL SEGUNDO, USA: International Rectifier (IR) has introduced two automotive DirectFET®2 power MOSFETs optimized with low gate charge for switching applications including Switch Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), Class D Audio systems, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting, and other automotive power conversion applications.

The AUIRF7648M2 and AUIRF7669L2, IR’s first automotive grade DirectFET devices tailored to DC-DC applications, offer low gate charge and on-state resistance (RDS(on)) to help minimize switching and conduction losses in a variety of switching applications. Moreover, the low parasitic inductance offered by the DirectFET power package results in excellent high frequency switching performance with reduced waveform ringing which in turn helps limit EMI and filter size.

“IR’s consumer grade DirectFET products have brought great value to DC-DC customers for years, and our automotive customers can now enjoy the same novel features and benefits of excellent high frequency performance and efficiency,” said Benjamin Jackson, product manager, IR’s Automotive Products Business Unit. “Micro and full hybrid as well as conventional internal combustion engine cars now feature a multitude of DC-DC applications that stand to harness the many advantages of these new automotive DirectFET devices,” he added.

The AUIRF7648M2 features a PCB footprint 54 percent smaller than a DPak while the AUIRF7669L2 features a PCB footprint 60 percent smaller than a D2Pak. With package current ratings of 179 A and 375 A respectively for each device, the DirectFET package places no constraint on current capability of the silicon. Moreover, the maximum package current ratings far exceed the limits of traditional DPak and D2Pak packages.

The devices are qualified according to AEC-Q101 standards, feature an environmentally friendly, lead-free and RoHS compliant bill of materials, and are part of IR’s automotive quality initiative targeting zero defects.

PALO ALTO, USA: Nanosys Inc., an advanced materials architect, today announced the opening of a new subsidiary, Nanosys Korea Inc. with facilities in Gyeonggi-do, Korea.

The company named former LG Electronics vice president Dr. Jong-Uk Bu as president of Nanosys Korea, Inc., which will support its growing Korean and Asian customer base.

This year, Nanosys commercialized its quantum dot technology with the QuantumRail, a process-ready component that improves LED backlit display color gamut and efficiency, and has announced partnerships with LG Innotek and Samsung Electronics.

The company is currently working with major battery manufacturers to improve lithium-ion battery capacity using its SiNANOde, a silicon composite material that can increase battery cell capacity by up to 40 percent. SiNANOde–enhanced batteries will be available to consumers in 2011.

“Samsung Electronics and LG Innotek have demonstrated the visionary nature of the Korean electronics industry by adopting new architected material solutions that deliver exponential performance results,” said Jason Hartlove, CEO of Nanosys. “Dr. Bu will lead Nanosys Korea’s efforts to meet our customers’ needs for architected materials and to expand our presence in Asia.”

UNTERPREMSTAETTEN, AUSTRIA: austriamicrosystems has announced the AS3940, the first fully integrated 2.4 GHz multi-channel FSK (frequency shift keying) transceiver with integrated link manager for reliable control of star networks (up to 8 clients).

It features low power, high sensitivity (-100 dBm @ 250kbps, -92 dBm @ 2 Mbps), data rates from 250 kbps up to 2 Mbps, and integrates a digital RSSI (received signal strength indictor), real-time-clock (RTC) and programmable clock output, a Gaussian filter, PLL (phase locked loop) and loop filter.

The AS3940 is the first 2.4 GHz transceiver with built-in star network management protocol manager that is royalty-free and provides an easy to use protocol for self-management of all network functions. This high level of integration not only speeds system design, but also decreases the MCU’s workload and ensures robust data transfer (burst and streaming modes) and correct protocol handling.

The AS3940 also offers excellent adjacent channel rejection and sensitivity (-100 dBm @ 250 kbps, -92 dBm @ 2Mbps) and unique features like battery voltage monitoring, adaptive channel switching, integrated TX/RX switch and 4 separate 256-bit user data buffers.

Other features include programmable output power, efficient power management and power-optimized wakeup modes, and support of frequency hopping. The performance and integrated functions of the AS3940 make it very well suited for a number of applications, including body area networks (health, fitness), wireless sensor networks, active smart labels, home & building automation, interactive remote controls, and data streaming.

“The introduction of the AS3940 2.4 GHz star network transceiver gives designers a device with a unique blend of high performance, low power, and ease of implementation”, stated Johnsy Varghese, austriamicrosystems’ Marketing Manager Wireless, “The AS3940 enables customers to be RF implementers instead of RF experts. With its high performance and adaptive channel switching features the AS3940 creates a robust wireless system, even in dense WiFi environments.”

IFA 2010 Berlin, ESCHBORN, GERMANY: Verbatim will reveal its first range of LED lamps at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin on September 3rd, 2010.

The lamps, which are direct replacements for conventional incandescent bulbs and halogen spotlamps, are all dimmable. They will be available in wholesale and retail outlets throughout Europe by the end of 2010.

* Seven models covering industry-standard E27, E14, R63, MR16 and PAR16 fittings.
* All dimmable.
* Power ratings from 4W to 10W with luminous flux from 90 to 500 lumens.
* Replacements for conventional lights rated between 15W and 40W.
* Providing energy savings of up to 80 percent.
* Offering warm white light with a colour temperature of 2700k or 2800k, depending on model.
* All based on Verbatim’s blue-chip LED technology, with a colour rendering index (CRI) of over 80.
* Life expectancy is 35,000 hours for all versions except the E14 candle lamp, which has a life expectancy of 25,000 hours.

LED lamps are now positioned to replace conventional lighting in residential and commercial applications. With an operating life of approximately 10 years at 10 hours per day (depending on conditions), and only around 20 percent of the power consumption of conventional lighting, they are now both economically and environmentally superior to other lighting technologies.

They produce very little heat and do not contain the toxic chemicals found in other low-energy lamps. In addition, they are ruggedly built and do not produce infrared or ultra-violet radiation, so do not cause fading of artwork or other materials.

Verbatim lamps are based on technologies developed by the company’s parent, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. which, as one of the world’s major chemical companies, has over 50 years’ experience in developing lighting materials.

The second generation of LED products from Verbatim is planned on violet chip technology. These will have a high colour rendering index (CRI), producing a light spectrum very close to that of natural light.