2007.09.11
TSMC CMOS image sensor JV starts operation
Claire Sung, Taipei; Esther Lam, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 12 September 2007]
VisEra Technologies (VisEra), the joint venture between OmniVision Technologies and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) on CMOS image-sensor production, on September 11 announced the official operation of its 12-inch fab. Ground breaking for the fab was held last October.Production of color filters (CFs) will be initially fabricated on 0.13- and 0.11-micron, and will later migrate to 90nm, said VisEra company executives. Installation for the first batch of equipment was done on the same day of the announcement. The 1.8-hectare production hub includes facilities for the production of 8- and 12-inch CFs, as well as corresponding backend production facilities. Pilot runs are slated to complete in November with volume production to follow soon after, VisEra projected.
VisEra is optimistic about demand for CMOS image sensor stemming from handset, digital camera and automotive-related applications. The company anticipates that positive sales and profits contribution will arrive from 2009.
Industry watchers believe that the fab is going to be the most advanced CMOS image sensor-specific plant besides those of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) from China and ProMOS Technologies from Taiwan. VisEra posted sales of NT$4.85 billion (US$146.26 million) in 2006, with a profit of NT$500 million and earnings per share (EPS) of NT$4.
| Company | Technology ally | Production status |
|---|---|---|
VisEra |
OmniVision |
Production was made at TSMC’s 8-inch fab (Fab 7) before |
ProMOS |
Toppan Printing |
To be fabricated at ProMOS’ 12-inch fab at Hsinchu |
SMIC |
Toppan Printing |
Production to be mainly made on 0.18-micron process |
PSC |
NA |
Plans production at 8-inch fab |