Security 4K/8K CIS chip, automotive-grade two-in-one CIS+ISP chip, industrial-grade application CIS and 1600 million pixel mobile phone series CIS chip, SmartVision released a number of new CIS products.
On December 27, Smartway (Shanghai) Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Smartway”) held the 2021 CIS new product launch conference in Shenzhen. According to Chief Operating Officer Ma Weijian, Smartway has released a number of new CMOS image sensor (CIS) chips, which cover the fields of security, vehicle electronics, mobile phones, and machine vision.
Ma Weijian said that as of now, Smartway has released and mass-produced 36 new CIS products in 2021. Among them, there are 31 CIS tapeouts, 12 products in the security field, 6 in the automotive electronics field, 3 in machine vision, 7 in mobile phone products and 3 in consumer products. The growth momentum of security and machine vision CIS is remarkable, and major breakthroughs have also been achieved in automotive, mobile phone and consumer products.
Figure 1: SmartSens CMOS image sensor product line and focus areas
Focus on the four major sectors of the industry and continue to innovate CIS technology
In recent years, CIS has benefited from the rapid development of policy dividends, and has continued to grow in the security monitoring, smart car, consumer electronics, and industrial application markets. The growing popularity of smartphone multi-cameras, advancements in ADAS-assisted safety, and the ability of CIS to perform in lighting environments such as low light are driving the implementation of CIS for security purposes.
According to Yole data, 98% of the global market revenue of CIS products comes from the six major markets of smartphones, security monitoring, autonomous driving, computers, industrial and consumer electronics. Smartphones (accounting for 68%) ranked first; security monitoring, computers, and autonomous driving were followed by 8%, 8%, and 7%, respectively; consumer electronics and industry were 4% and 3%, respectively.
According to Smartway data, the company’s CMOS image sensor business mainly includes four major sections: security, vehicle electronics, machine vision, mobile phones and consumer products. Among them, security and machine vision account for more than 90% of its total revenue, and automotive electronics, mobile phones and consumer products are also riding the wind.
In the field of security, the trend of high-definition image sensors is becoming more and more obvious. Tan Yang, vice president of the security chip department, pointed out that the demand for 2K and above has increased significantly, the demand for 4K has increased significantly, and the demand for ultra-high resolution has expanded to 8K. More market applications require CIS to have higher frame rates, 4K/8K clear imaging, rich HDR combinations, excellent noise control and excellent night vision imaging.
Figure 2: Smartway 16 new security products will debut in 2021, with pixels covering 1M-8M
In response to this, SmartVision 4K Pro high-definition “SC850SL” and “SC830AI” and 8K Pro high-definition CIS new products appeared at this conference. According to its introduction, Smartway has launched 16 new security products in 2021. From 100 million to 800 million pixels, it has achieved full coverage of high, medium and low levels.
Figure 3: SmartSens released 4K/8K Pro high-definition CMOS image sensor chips for security scenarios
Ma Weijian pointed out that in 2021 Smartway security and IoT applications have been comprehensively upgraded, and innovative use of SmartClarity-2, DSI-2 and the new Star Light technology to innovate CIS products, thus making CMOS image sensors in frame rate, resolution, Dynamic performance, power consumption, noise performance and other aspects are more advantageous.
Figure 4: Core Technology of CMOS Image Sensors in SmartVision Security/AIoT Applications
In the field of machine vision, SmartVision’s new industrial and emerging sensor department was established, focusing on the innovation and research of machine vision and high-end large-area image sensors. Launched the new SmartGS®-2 series “SC410GS”, “SC910GS” for intelligent transportation applications and “SC350HGS”, “SC650HGS”, “SC950HGS” for industrial machine vision applications.
Figure 5: SmartSens releases five new SmartGS®-2 series image sensors for machine vision
With the development of automobiles, the direction of intelligence, automation and electrification continues. According to Shao Ke, vice president of Smartway’s automotive chip department, the current number of smart car bicycle cameras can be as high as 15, including 1 for rear view, 4 for 360° surround view, and 1 to 3 for streaming media applications; In the vehicle perception ADAS, there are 1~3 front view and 4 side view.
To meet the huge market demand. In the field of in-vehicle electronics, SmartVision’s new in-vehicle chip department was established, which relies on domestic self-developed in-vehicle image sensor technology to enable three major automotive intelligent vision application directions: in-vehicle imaging applications, in-vehicle perception ADAS applications and in-cabin applications . And innovatively launched a new car-grade two-in-one CIS+ISP “SC120AT”. In addition, a variety of vehicle-mounted CIS products are also about to be mass-produced.
Figure 6: SmartVision releases SC120AT, a new car-grade two-in-one CIS+ISP
In the field of consumer electronics, SmartSens has launched new CS series image sensors for mobile phone applications, “SC1600CS” with 16 million pixels and “SC1300CS”/”SC1301CS” with 13 million pixels. 1.0um pixel size, high-definition pixels and QCell technology enable it to have high-quality imaging performance.
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Figure 7: SmartSens releases new products of mobile phone application series image sensors
IPO first meeting, plus code CMOS image sensor
Chief Operating Officer Ma Weijian said that SmartVision will continue to deepen the field of CMOS image sensors, adhere to the product value of “based on the market, be good at quality” and the service concept of “think what customers think and empower customers” to provide customers with better quality. Serve.
In October this year, Smartway had its first IPO meeting, and its listing is imminent. The company plans to raise more funds to continue cultivating CMOS image sensors in the fields of security, machine vision, vehicle electronics, and mobile phones.
Specifically, in terms of CIS investment, SmartVision independently developed and systematically upgraded the image sensor test platform, upgraded equipment and upgraded CMOS image sensor technology.
Figure 8: SmartVision’s self-developed and systematically upgraded image sensor test platform
On the supply chain side, the company has established stable cooperative relationships with wafer fabs such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, Hefei Jinghe, Dongfang Hi-Tech, as well as packaging factories such as Jingfang Technology and Huatian Technology, which ensures the company’s rapid development and continuous growth in production capacity. demand.
In terms of customer channels, according to the author’s information, Smartway CIS products have been applied in the terminal products of Dahua, Dajiang Innovation, Uniview Technology, Pulian Technology, Tiandiweiye, Netease Youdao, Ecovacs and other brands.
In terms of product innovation capability, SmartVision has developed image sensors with high signal-to-noise ratio, high sensitivity, high-speed global shutter capture, ultra-wide dynamic range, ultra-high near-infrared sensitivity, and low power consumption. The technology iterates and continues to innovate and develop new CIS products.