Dec 6 2007
Pixelplus Co., Ltd., a fabless semiconductor company in Korea that designs, develops, and markets CMOS image sensors for various consumer electronics applications, today announced that the Company engages in the co-development of 'System-on-a-Chip' ("SoC") image sensors with Sharp Corporation of Japan ("Sharp").
In the first quarter of 2007, the Company completed a co-development agreement with Sharp to jointly develop the enhanced PO5030 VGA SoC image sensor ("PO5030") and, in July 2007, the Company unveiled samples of its PO5030, which features its PlusPixel2(TM) technology and incorporates Sharp's pixel design and architecture based on Sharp's CCD technology. The PO5030 is one of the industry's smallest and most compact with an optical size of 1/10 inch based on 2.2 micron pixel size. Pixelplus and Sharp have co-developed the PO5030 in response to the increasing demand for ultra compact camera modules embedded in mobile devices such as 3G mobile phones with dual camera functionality. Based on its co-development with Sharp, the Company believes it will be in a position to furnish the PO5030 to module makers and mobile phone manufacturers beginning in the first quarter of 2008.
In moving forward, Pixelplus will expand its co-development with Sharp to include the 1.3, 2.0, and 3.2 megapixel SoC image sensors, as well as higher and more advanced megapixel SoC image sensors, featuring PlusPixel2(TM) technology and incorporating Sharp's pixel design and architecture based on Sharp's CCD technology.
"Our co-development of the PO5030 with Sharp was made possible through our collective vision and abundant efforts we have consistently displayed for this undertaking since 2006, and reflects the ongoing commitment of our companies to expand our global business," said Dr. S.K. Lee, CEO of Pixelplus. "Pixelplus and Sharp are very pleased with this milestone achieved through our co-development, and we will continue to work closely with each other to co- develop higher resolution SoC image sensors, penetrate and establish ourselves in new mobile and non-mobile applications markets, and ramp new sources of revenue in moving ahead."