Production of cutting-edge HD & FHD SoC security sensors using PSCo's 65nm CIS process

TowerJazz and PixelPlus are collaborating to produce sensors based on TPSCo's 65nm CIS process.

TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co. (TPSCo, Japan), a joint venture between Israeli foundry TowerJazz and Panasonic, announced that it has successfully developed an HD/FHD SoC security sensor product through collaboration with Pixelplus, a leading image sensor and imaging solution company.

PixelPlus has succeeded in integrating ISP (image signal processing) and HD-Analog transmission functions into a CIS sensor for the first time in the world. Generally, CIS sensors with built-in HD transmission functions can transmit image data over a distance of 500 m via a coaxial cable, but they generate a lot of heat and noise, which reduces image quality. However, PixelPlus has succeeded in integrating three chips—ISP, HD-Analog transmission, and CIS—into a single chip without any degradation in image quality by utilizing TPSCo’s 65nm CIS process.

In the security/surveillance market, low dark current and high image quality are important for high performance in low-light conditions, and TPSCo’s 65nm CIS process is well-suited to meeting these requirements for digital data transmission. Through this, Pixelplus has secured the advantage of price competitiveness and high-resolution images, and has been able to solidify its position as the world's number one in the security/surveillance market with a 34% market share as of 2014. According to the Yole report, the security sensor market is expected to increase from USD 140 million in 2014 to USD 350 million by 2020 (annual average growth rate of 17%).

Targeting the Chinese security camera market...TowerJazz expects annual sales of tens of millions of dollars

TPSCo’s 65nm CIS process boasts high resolution, high sensitivity, low noise, and high dynamic range, which will help Pixelplus expand its business from the current security/surveillance market to various fields such as the battlefield and IoT markets. In addition, TowerJazz’s extensive experience in CIS process technology, which is its strength, is expected to help lead future markets that require advanced technologies such as WDR, high frame rates, and IR sensors.

“Through this joint venture with TPSCo, we have been able to produce unprecedented HD & FHD SoC security sensors, which we expect will help PixelPlus increase its sales and maintain its leadership in the CIS sensor market,” said Lee Seo-gyu, CEO of PixelPlus. “Furthermore, we are confident that the close collaboration between TowerJazz’s pixel experts and PixelPlus’ development team will allow us to establish a high-quality, successful mass production system. We look forward to a strategic partnership with TowerJazz to develop additional innovative products in the future.”

Russell Ellwanger, CEO of TowerJazz and Chairman of TPSCo, said, “The strategic partnership between PixelPlus and TowerJazz/TPSCo has been well-integrated from a design and process technology perspective to produce the best possible results. “Pixelplus’ leading position in the security market and the best combination with TPSCo’s 65nm CIS process can be expanded to areas such as the high-resolution battlefield sensor market, which will also provide TowerJazz with a great opportunity to expand its production experience,” he said.