CMOSIS

TowerJazz and CMOSIS Announce Ramp to Volume Production for CMOSIS’ 12-megapixel CMV12000

2013-06-11T08:49:12+00:00

ANTWERP, Belgium and MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, June 11, 2013 – CMOSIS, a leading independent developer and supplier of high end CMOS image sensors for professional imaging applications, and TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, today announced the ramp to volume production for CMOSIS’ 12-megapixel CMV12000, following the very successful volume production of its CMV products. In 2010, CMOSIS and TowerJazz announced collaboration on the CMV product line, the flagship product family of CMOSIS. Since its introduction, the CMV product family has been very successful in gaining market share. CMOSIS’ off-the-shelf CMV12000 is manufactured in TowerJazz’s Fab-2 in Migdal Haemek, Israel using its advanced 0.18µm specialty CIS process (TS18IS). The sensor’s excellent performance is based on CMOSIS’ collaboration and co-development with TowerJazz’s R&D experts. The CMV 12000 product features 5.5 x 5.5 µm pixels laid out in a high-resolution 4096 x 3072 matrix covering superHD (4k) resolution in an APS-C optical format. It offers high sensitivity and low noise, global shutter and a frame rate of 150 fps providing best in-class performance serving various markets such as industrial inspection, broadcasting, motion analysis and others. According to a 2012 Yole Développement CMOS image sensors report: 530,000 machine vision cameras were sold in 2011 and sales of machine vision cameras are expected to grow to 644,000 units in 2015 at a 5% CAGR. The report also noted that while today CCD still represents the large majority of the machine vision market, CMOS cameras are expected to represent half of the sales in 2015 and to take over about 80% of the machine vision market in 2020. Today, CMOS-based cameras represent only 20% of the global market in units, but 80% of the R&D of camera manufacturers’ investments. CMOSIS continues to apply TowerJazz’s advanced CMOS image sensor technology to meet the market’s growing demands and to expand its relationship with TowerJazz to collaborate on its next generation of CMOS image sensors. CMOSIS addresses the need for image sensors used in consumer, industrial, medical and automotive applications such as those used in movie and TV, traffic monitoring and motion control, among others. CMOSIS’ in-house developed CIS technology, along with TowerJazz’s proven experience in the imaging field and its own CIS technology developed in-house, enables optimized designs with superior performance. TowerJazz’s process features low dark current, low noise and high dynamic range and its skilled experts support the customization of pixels per customer requirements and project needs. “We have enjoyed a very fruitful relationship with TowerJazz for several years. TowerJazz has an expert team that can customize the CIS process to our needs and create, together with us, new pixels that outperform our competitors. Our ability to offer innovative imaging products with highly reliable performance is based on our collaboration with TowerJazz and their mature process technology, extensive R&D investment and excellent customer support. By combining our companies’ expertise, we are able to offer a rich solution for various digital imaging applications,” said Lou Hermans, Chief Operating Officer, CMOSIS. “We are thrilled to work with partners such as CMOSIS, true innovators in the imaging field. The success of their CMV products is based on our successful and wide-ranging relationship with CMOSIS from concept to development, together solving complex engineering challenges and delivering products to their customers with best in class, quality results. Together, we are dedicated to bringing to market superior technology and we aim to gain a significant share of the consumer, industrial and professional CMOS image sensor markets,” said Dr. Avi Strum, VP and GM, CMOS Sensors Business Unit and VP of Sales, Europe, TowerJazz. About CMOSIS CMOSIS is a pure-play supplier of standard off-the-shelf and application-specific CMOS image sensors for the industrial and professional market covering applications such as machine vision, scientific, medical, automatic data capture and space. Founded in 2007 as a fabless CMOS image sensor vendor CMOSIS provides standard off-the-shelf and turn-key solutions to customers based on in-house design, characterization and qualification facilities for research, development and volume production. CMOSIS currently employs more than 50 people and is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium. About TowerJazz Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), its fully owned U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor Ltd., and its fully owned Japanese subsidiary TowerJazz Japan, Ltd., operate collectively under the brand name TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader. TowerJazz manufactures integrated circuits, offering a broad range of customizable process technologies including: SiGe, BiCMOS, Mixed-Signal/CMOS, RFCMOS, CMOS Image Sensor, Power Management (BCD), and MEMS capabilities. TowerJazz also provides a world-class design enablement platform that enables a quick and accurate design cycle. In addition, TowerJazz provides (TOPS) Transfer Optimization and development Process Services to IDMs and fabless companies that need to expand capacity. TowerJazz offers multi-fab sourcing with two manufacturing facilities in Israel, one in the U.S., and one in Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.towerjazz.com. Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. A complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may otherwise affect TowerJazz’s business is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in Tower’s most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Israel Securities Authority and Jazz’s most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as were filed with the SEC, respectively. Tower and Jazz do not intend to update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release. ### TowerJazz Europe Contact: Limor Silberberg | +972-4-604-7738| limor.silberberg@towerjazz.com TowerJazz Investor Relations Contact: Noit Levi | +972-4-604-7066 | noit.levi@towerjazz.com CMOSIS Company Contact: Wim Wuyts | +32-3-260-17-33| wim.wuyts@cmosis.com

The European Patent Offices grants CMOSIS its first European patent

2013-05-22T07:26:09+00:00

Today the European Patent Office (EPO) published CMOSIS' first patent ever granted by the EPO. The publication EP 2075843 B1 grants patent protection for a new CMOS image sensor pixel architecture. The patented pixel architecture has a structure and doping profiles allowing the manufacture of pixels with high charge collection efficiency and low diffusion crosstalk in combination with a relatively small physical photodiode size compared to pixel architectures.This is realized by implementing a collection area deeper below the silicon surface and unrelated junctions in the pixel. This allows for full flexibility in design of the photodiode capacitance and therefore the optimization of pixel performance parameters as full well charge capacity, conversion gain, noise, ... .

1000 km Against Cancer

2013-04-12T06:39:39+00:00

Just like last year, the CMOSIS cycling team will participate in the 1000 km event, organized from 9th to 12th of May this year. In this charity event, more than 200 cycle teams will be riding in 4 days a disctance 1000 km to raise as much money as possible. The event is organised by the 'Kom Op Tegen Kanker' foundation. The money raised will be mainly used to fund scientific cancer research. In last year's event one CMOSIS cycle team raised more than 7.000 euro. This year, we aim at raising more than 10.000 euro. To realise this goal 2 CMOSIS cycle teams will participate, with some cyclist riding twice the distance, totaling 250 km in a single day!. CMOSIS as a company donates a generously, but to meet the 10.000 amount we need addtional donations. We are counting on your help. Donations supporting the CMOSIS team can we paid on the account BE14 7331 9999 9983 (BIC KREDBEBB) with the notification 170-058-321 gift. Gifts above 40 euro are tax detuctable, at least for Belgian tax payers. Everybody has been directly or indirectly confronted with this disease, so your donations are to everyone's benefit. In particular do we at CMOSIS remember our friend and collague Andre who lost his 'race' against cancer in 2012. Thanks for your support !

Pixel Array with Shared Readout Circuitry

2013-02-01T21:20:04+00:00

On December 18th, 2012 the US Patent Office published the granted patent US 8,334,491. The patent describes the CMOSIS invention of staggered shared pixel readout structures. The staggering results in improved manufacturing yield and a more symmetric layout resulting in a more uniform pixel behaviour.

CMV300 REACH and RoHS Certificate of Compliance

2013-01-25T20:00:46+00:00

CMOSIS is happy to announce the issue of a Certificate of Compliance with REACH and RoHS for the CMV300 CMOS global shutter pixel image sensors. The CMV300 offers a frame rate of 600 fps with a VGA resolution in a 1/3 inch optical format. This image sensor is currently sampling.

JM Vistec appointed as new CMOSIS distributor in APAC regions

2013-01-07T10:13:45+00:00

JM VisTec System Pte Ltd has been appointed to distribute our products in APAC regions starting January 1st 2013. JM Vistec is focussing to offer a line card dedicated to machine vision solutions and will distribute our products in Signapore, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand. More contact details can be found here.

CMOSIS a Partner of the EU’s CAReIOCA Medical Research Project

2012-11-28T10:24:09+00:00

CMOSIS is a key partner in the academic-industrial research consortium CAReIOCA, which was set up in January 2012 within the EU FP7 Initiative. CAReIOCA - acronym for "Non-Invasive Optical Biopsy for Cancer Assessment Using Ultra-high-resolution Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography" – is to develop a novel OCT procedure for non-invasive cancer assessment based on a high-performance CMOS camera. CAReIOCA will apply the latest advances in CMOS imaging for performing an “optical biopsy” that uses non-invasive visualization methods at the cellular level for a faster, more accurate cancer assessment. The resulting clinical setup is to optically penetrate and then digitally visualize cancerous - pathological or suspicious – tissue areas and corresponding microstructures in real-time. The project was prepared and submitted to the EC by the consortium as a whole and subsequently selected for funding as part of the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Core in the disruptive photonic technologies subprogram. Work will commence on November 1, 2012. Consortium members are: LLTech Management of France as project coordinator, the Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands), French Institut Gustave Roussy IGR, CMOSIS BV and Adimec AD of the Netherlands

CMOSIS a Partner of the EU’s CAReIOCA Medical Research Project

2012-11-28T10:12:31+00:00

CMOSIS, the renowned European specialist for image sensors in CMOS technology, is a key partner in the academic-industrial research consortium CAReIOCA, which was set up in January 2012 within the EU FP7 Initiative. CAReIOCA - acronym for "Non-Invasive Optical Biopsy for Cancer Assessment Using Ultra-high-resolution Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography" – is to develop a novel OCT procedure for non-invasive cancer assessment based on a high-performance CMOS camera. CAReIOCA will apply the latest advances in CMOS imaging for performing an “optical biopsy” that uses non-invasive visualization methods at the cellular level for a faster, more accurate cancer assessment. The resulting clinical setup is to optically penetrate and then digitally visualize cancerous - pathological or suspicious – tissue areas and corresponding microstructures in real-time. The project was prepared and submitted to the EC by the consortium as a whole and subsequently selected for funding as part of the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Core in the disruptive photonic technologies subprogram. Work will commence on November 1, 2012. Consortium members are: LLTech Management of France as project coordinator, the Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands), French Institut Gustave Roussy IGR, CMOSIS BV and Adimec AD of the Netherlands At the core of the project is a high-performance CMOS camera contributed by CMOSIS for performing the intended ultra-high-resolution, full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) procedure. The camera is a key component of the research effort, because it defines system performance including acquisition speed, sensitivity and, to a certain extent, the achievable tissue penetration depth. The camera operates at a high frame rate anddelivers a megapixel resolution at enhanced near-infrared (NIR) sensitivity. With its special pixel design, the camera is optimized for the targeted application. "We feel honored that this project including our advanced CMOS imaging portfolio was selected by the EC for funding. It proves the validity of the consortium's proposal as an important advance of medical diagnostics," said Guy Meynants, CTO at CMOSIS, Antwerp, Belgium. "CMOSIS has proven itself as a pioneering European CMOS image sensor provider with many leading designs for industrial and consumer applications." The CMOS camera for CAReIOCA will be an integral part of the FFOCT microscope and optical biopsy probe, which yields a record 3-D resolution to overcome the limitations of current techniques such as white-light endoscopy, CT scan or ultrasound. The new system will provide imagery approaching the resolution of traditional histology slides during localization, biopsy and resection to surgeons or pathologists. Large-scale digital image mosaïcing enables both macroscopic and microscopic examinations of human tissue. The CAReIOCA project's core objective is to enable high-speed imaging at an isotropic 3-D resolution of about 1µm3 (1x1x1µm³) for microstructure visualization. The system will be able to provide high-resolution images of large-scale areas, typically 50x50 mm², at a diagnostic sensitivity of >95%. The CAReIOCA project is funded by the EU FP7 Research Program as a "Small or medium-scale focused research project (STREP)", according to ICT Call 8 (FP7-ICT-2011-8). About CMOSIS CMOSIS is a pure-play supplier of standard off-the-shelf and application-specific CMOS image sensors for the industrial and professional market covering applications such as machine vision, high-end DSC markets, scientific, medical, automatic data capture and space. CMOSIS was founded in November 2007 as a fabless CMOS image sensor vendor providing in-house design, characterization, test and qualification facilities for research, development and volume production. CMOSIS has developed unique IP related to CMOS image sensors such as global shutter pixels, fast and low-noise AD converters, backside illumination and increased dynamic range, resulting in six patents and several more pending. The company has grown continuously and consistently, currently employing more than 40 at its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. CMOSIS Media Contact Wim Wuyts Director of Sales and Marketing Tel.: +32 3 260 17 33 E-mail: wim.wuyts@cmosis.com http://www.cmosis.com

US patent no. 8,283,195 published

2012-10-09T15:30:18+00:00

Today the US Patent Office published the US Patent 8,283,195 granted to CMOSIS. The claims of this patent relate to a method for the manufacturing of backside illuminated image sensors, and more in particular to the passivation of the surface after wafer thinning, the addtion of other layers to reduce antireflection and the deposition of color filters and micro lenses.

CMOSIS supplies 24 mega pixel CMOS image sensor for new Leica M camera

2012-09-18T13:27:49+00:00

At the Photokina Leica presents the new M camera. This camera uses a 35 mm format CMOS image sensor, developed exclusively by CMOSIS for Leica. For more information see our latest press release.

New “Leica M” Uses CMOSIS’ 24-MP CMOS Image Sensor

2012-09-17T21:37:06+00:00

Antwerp, Belgium, 17 September 2012 – CMOSIS, the renowned European specialist for advanced CMOS image sensors, has developed a high-resolution, high-dynamic-range CMOS image sensor exclusively for Leica Camera AG geared to an important volume market. The new “Leica M” digital camera launched at Photokina 2012 incorporates the full-custom CMOSIS “Leica MAX 24MP CMOS Sensor” featuring 24 Megapixels across an active sensor area of 36 x 24 mm², corresponding to the full-frame 35mm format. The sensor is the first milestone in a long term, strategic cooperation between Leica Camera AG and CMOSIS. "This is the first time that a CMOS image sensor for a 35mm high-end camera was designed, and is manufactured, in Europe for a European customer," said Guy Meynants, CTO at CMOSIS, Antwerp, Belgium. "Apart form the ceramic IC package the Leica MAX 24MP CMOS Sensor is a 100-percent European product." The new custom-designed sensor chip, counting 6,000 x 4,000 pixels on a 6 x 6 µm² grid across the active area of 36 x 24 mm², is made by STMicroelectronics (STM) in Grenoble, France, using 300mm wafers in their IMG175 CIS technology. STM's 110nm frontend and 90nm backend CIS technology with copper metallization was originally developed for CMOS image sensors with 1,75µm² pixels for mobile phones and other consumer applications. The large die size, larger than the reticle size, requires the use of one-dimensional stitching. The imager for the “Leica M” is based on a 6 x 6 µm² pixel size, yielding a linear full well capacity of ≥40,000 electrons and a linear dynamic range close to 76dB. Pixel data are digitized by patented low-power, high-speed 14-bit column AD converters. The sensor features an electronic rolling shutter with global reset and noise cancellation through both analog as well as digital correlated double sampling (CDS) resulting in low temporal and spatial noise and non-uniformities. Special care was taken in the sensor development to reduce crosstalk between neighboring pixels for a wide range of incident light angles. The sensor reduces spatial crosstalk by its very small distance between color filters and photodiodes. This thin optical stack is optimized for an efficient light coupling into the silicon. Microlenses with a strong curvature and high top height focus the incoming light rays in the center of each pixel's photodiode. The resulting low angular sensitivity of the quantum efficiency (QE) at high ray angles was achieved by the particular features of STM's 110/90nm CMOS process. This allows the “Leica M” to accept the full range of high-quality lenses in the camera system, which includes wide-angle, large aperture lenses, at their full optical performance. Pixel size of 6x6µm² and full frame rate of 5fps are state of the art and comparable to other high-end CMOS image sensors used in 35mm cameras. The 24MP CMOS Sensor also allows Leica to offer, for the first time, full HDTV video recording and a live preview on an M-model camera. Power consumption of the sensor chip at full speed and resolution is specified at 700 mW. It is housed in a 78-pin ceramic package covered by a customized glass with anti-reflective coating and near-infrared cut-off filter. “With CMOSIS, we are very pleased to have found a partner who made it possible for us to design and construct a sensor especially for Leica. Thanks to the special sensor technology and wide pixel aperture from CMOSIS, we can now, and for the first time, offer a digital system camera that is perfectly optimised for use with both M- and R-Lenses”, said Alfred Schopf, Chairman of the Executive Board of Leica Camera AG. Leica is particularly proud of the fact that the “Leica M” employs a sensor “Made in Europe”, as a large proportion of the sensor is manufactured in France and Germany. “At the same time, the extremely low power consumption of the sensor brings added benefits for both image quality and battery life”, said Alfred Schopf. About CMOSIS CMOSIS is a pure-play supplier of standard off-the-shelf and application-specific CMOS image sensors for the industrial and professional market covering applications such as machine vision, high-end DSC markets, scientific, medical, automatic data capture and space. CMOSIS was founded in November 2007 as a fabless CMOS image sensor vendor providing in-house design, characterization, testing and qualification facilities for research, development and volume production. CMOSIS has developed unique IP related to CMOS image sensors such as global shutter pixels, fast and low-noise AD converters, backside illumination and increased dynamic range, resulting in six patents and several more pending. The company has grown continuously and consistently, currently employing more than 40 at its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. CMOSIS Media Contact Wim Wuyts Director of Sales and Marketing Tel.: +32 3 260 17 33 E-mail: wim.wuyts@cmosis.com http://www.cmosis.com

US patent no.8,259,199 granted to CMOSIS

2012-09-04T11:43:06+00:00

On September 4th, 2012 the US Patent Office published yet another US patent granted to CMOSIS. This patent, with number US 8,259,199, claims an invention to increase the yield on very large (waferscale) CMOS image sensors by taking specific design measures.

Two new US patents granted to CMOSIS

2012-08-29T06:21:06+00:00

On August 28th, 2012 the US Patent Office granted the patents US 8,253,616 and US 8,253,617 to CMOSIS. Both patents cover inventions related to high-speed column analog-to-digital convertors (ADC's) optimised for CMOS image sensor applications. These 2 new patents further strengthen CMOSIS' patent portofolio in this domain. These inventions are, and will be, implented in existing and future CMOSIS image sensors products.

New press release: CMV20000 officially announced

2012-06-28T15:54:53+00:00

Check out our press release section for the announcement of our newest member in the CMV image sensor family!

CMOSIS expands its CMV global shutter CMOS image sensor family with a new 20 MP device

2012-06-28T08:03:07+00:00

CMOSIS, one of the leading suppliers of CMOS image sensors for industrial applications, today introduced a 20-Megapixel image sensor for demanding, industrial applications. With the introduction of the CMV20000, CMOSIS broadens its current CMV portfolio of high-performing global shutters CMOS image sensors addressing the high-resolution segment of the industrial vision applications as well. The unique properties and features such as high resolution, high dynamic range and global shutter, are a perfect fit for high-end industrial imaging systems, automation systems and medical applications. The CMV20000 image sensor features a 20 Megapixel (5,120 x 3,840) resolution with 6.4 um sized square pixels resulting in an active sensor area of 32.8 x 24.6 mm (35 mm film optical format). Peak quantum efficiency reaches up to more than 45 percent resulting in a superb responsivity of 8.29 V/lux.s in combination with an excellent dynamic range of 66 dB. By means of correlated double sampling in global shutter mode, the patented 8-transistor pixel cell architecture reduces any dark noise and FPN non-uniformity of the sensor matrix. The sensor also offers an excellent shutter efficiency, a common feature of the CMV image sensor family. At full 20 Megapixel resolution and with a 12-bit ADC resolution the CMV20000 delivers 30 full frames per second. This is achieved by using 16 LVDS outputs running at 480 Mbit/s each. Lower frame rates can be supported by multiplexing to 8 output channels only. Partial read out, windowing and subsamples modes, can be programmed to support higher frame rates. At full resolution and frame rate, the power dissipation is 1.1W. This power consumption can be dynamically controlled when lower frame rates are used. Driving and programming the on-chip features such as HDR (High Dynamic Range) modes, offset and gain programming and power dissipation control is done over a 3-wire read-write SPI control. The monochrome variant of the CMV20000 image sensor is in production today. A color variant, with RGB Bayer CFA filter, will be introduced to the market in Q4 2012. It is housed in a ceramic 143-pin PGA package and can be operated in the -20 to +70 ºC temperature range. This extended temperature range makes the CMV20000 perfectly suited for most demanding and robust industrial applications. The CMV20000 was originally developed as a customized, exclusive product aimed at complex traffic management applications. An agreement with the original customer allows CMOSIS to offer this imager to third parties for applications outside the traffic field. About CMOSIS CMOSIS is a pure-play supplier of standard off-the-shelf and application-specific CMOS image sensors for the industrial and professional market covering applications such as machine vision, high-end DSC markets, scientific, medical, automatic data capture and space. CMOSIS was founded in November 2007 as a fabless CMOS image sensor vendor providing in-house design, characterization and qualification facilities for research, development and volume production has grown continuously and consistently, currently employing about more than 40 people at it’s headquarter in Antwerp, Belgium. CMOSIS Media Contact Wim Wuyts Director of Marketing & Sales Tel.: +32 3 260 17 33 E-mail: wim.wuyts@cmosis.com www.cmosis.com

1000 km Against Cancer

2012-04-28T10:49:48+00:00

CMOSIS personnel has formed a cycling team that will participate in the "1000 km van Kom op tegen Kanker". From the 17th until the 20th of May the CMOSIS team will cycle 250 km per day for 4 consecutive days. You also can sponsor the CMOSIS team participation by transferring your financial contribution to account BE14 7331 9999 9983 (BIC-code: KREDBEBB) mentioning the action code "170-058-321 gift". Your contribution will for 100% fund the cancer research. Thanks for your support.