Image Sensors 2009: The Competitive Intelligence Perspective •Overview of image sensor technology currently on the market •The global patent landscape and R&D investment trends •Market share analysis

1. The Competitive
Technical Intelligence
Perspective
Don Scansen
semiconDr Inc.
www.semicondr.com
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Image Sensors 2009 Research-ANalysis-Decision

2. Worldwide Cameraphone Shipments
1400 20
15
1050 In 2011, volumes
Units Shipped (Millions)
return to pre-
Year-over-year (%)
10
recession levels.
700 5
0
350
Source: Fomalhaut Techno Solutions / Volume (Millions) -5
Ministry of General Affairs of Japan Y-O-Y (%)
0 -10
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
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3. First Backside Illuminated (BSI) CMOS Image
Sensors Introduced by Sony in 2009
1.75 µm
BSI Technology to
become more
AR layer prevalent for pixels
< 1.4µm
color filter
Reverse engineering
images and analysis are
provided courtesy of
µlens Chipworks who were the
first to provide
W competitive intelligence
reports on consumer BSI
technology.
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4. OmniVision First to Produce BSI Image Sensor for
Cameraphone Market
Reverse engineering
images and analysis are
provided courtesy of
Chipworks who were the
first to provide
competitive intelligence
reports on OmniVision
BSI technology.
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5. WW Patent Applications - Image Sensor
8000
6000
4000
Is activity in the US
2000
representative of
worldwide trends?
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
USPTO JPO EPO KIPO
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6. Applications for US Patent on Image Sensor
6,000
4,500
3,000
Patent activity is a
1,500 measure of R&D
effort, so is it in
decline?
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009*
*Forecast
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7. US Patent Application Rate Trends
5.000
Image sensor R&D is robust
Image Sensor - % of Total USPTO Volume compared to activity in other
technologies.
3.333
30.0
Image Sensor - % of USPTO Volume
on Integrated Circuit
1.667 22.5
15.0
0
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009*
7.5
*2009 Numbers are Forecasts
Based on Activity through March 31
0
1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009*
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8. US Patent Application Rate Trends
- Backside Illumination
BSI technology is not new, but
application volume becomes
significant in 2004 and
continues to accelerate
through to the present (once
adjustments are made for
delays in USPTO database
updates).
Total Volume BSI Applications on
File in USPTO Database
*Forecast
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9. US Patent Applications Assignee Distribution
- Backside Illumination
It is no surprise that
OmniVision and its foundry
partner, TSMC, account for
nearly one-third of BSI
applications.
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10. US Patent Applications - Backside Illumination
Nearly half of all
applications belong to
assignees with only a single
BSI application.
Assignees Listed on BSI Applications on File in USPTO
Database (Jan. 1, 1999 through May 31, 2009)
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11. Acknowledgements
• Minatake Kashio, Fomalhaut Techno
Solutions / Japanese Ministry of
General Affairs
• Ray Fontaine, Chipworks
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12. Thank you
For more information, please go to
www.semicondr.com
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