CMOS image sensor market is hot
As the "eyes" of electronic devices, image sensors have become the focus of the market in recent years, becoming one of the hottest areas of the semiconductor industry. At present, the CCD image sensor and CMOS image sensor (CIS) is commonly used in two kinds of image sensors. CCD image sensors with high quantum efficiency, low noise and other advantages are used in broadcasting and television and industrial monitoring and other fields. With the improvement of ultra-large scale integrated circuit technology and CMOS manufacturing process level, CIS is gradually replacing the traditional CCD image sensors in the civilian consumer electronics market due to many advantages such as small size, low cost, low power consumption, high integration, etc., which drives the development of the image sensor market. According to relevant statistics, the global image sensor sales scale reached $19.32 billion in 2019, of which, CIS contributed $18.81 billion, an increase of 26.3% year-on-year, CIS has become one of the fastest growing products in the semiconductor industry.
Domestic CMOS image sensor development status
Compared with foreign manufacturers, domestic CMOS image sensor manufacturers in terms of technology, scale and other aspects are still insufficient, and their products are mainly used in the field of low-end consumer electronics, the high-end field has long been monopolized by foreign manufacturers. This trend, the domestic manufacturers have been actively seeking development, in recent years, some of the strength of the CMOS sensor manufacturers have risen, they rely on independent core technology, is gradually accelerating the penetration of the high-end market.
Our manufacturers how to break through
For a long time, the CMOS market is dominated by Sony, Samsung and other Japanese and Korean manufacturers. According to relevant data, the current global CMOS image sensor value has reached 12 billion U.S. dollars, Sony's market share of 50.1%, Samsung 20.5%, the two head of the manufacturers accounted for more than 70% of the market share. cis belongs to a special process, including from the lens, color filters, optical modules, logic components and integrated packaging, there is no general public version of the development process. arm provides General IP can accelerate the development time of wafer designers and simplify the process, but the CIS technology are mastered in the hands of their respective practitioners, and IDM factory because of the speed of product development on their own to master the speed and strategy, the technology development is relatively more advantageous, which is the CIS market share is mostly divided by the IDM factory reasons. Sony has many years of R & D experience in the field of CMOS, continue to refine high-end technology development; and Samsung, in addition to its own semiconductor rich resources and R & D strength, their own terminals also provide a guarantee for its CIS sales.
In the face of Samsung, Sony's strong performance, China's manufacturers how to seize the opportunity of the current round of CMOS demand rise? Relevant professionals in the industry pointed out that CMOS image sensors are technology- and capital-intensive industry, with technology and talent, scale and capital, customer certification three barriers. And it is recommended that domestic manufacturers can seize the opportunity of this round of CMOS rise from four aspects.
First, from the low-end market area to the high-end field. Domestic manufacturers need to take advantage of the low-end market to increase R & D investment and technological innovation, to the high-end field, and gradually occupy the market.
The second is mergers and acquisitions, and cooperation with foreign enterprises to upgrade technology and enhance the efficiency of research and development.
Third, to seize the CMOS sensor application segments, and gradually enter a larger market. Domestic newcomers can enter the market from the segmentation, seize a segment of the whole industry chain, to achieve market leadership in the segment, and then take the opportunity to develop a broader CMOS market.
Fourth, to strengthen cooperation with domestic small and medium-sized enterprises to get customer product certification. Cooperation with domestic small and medium-sized enterprises can be used as a breakthrough to certify and promote product quality.
To seize the CMOS market opportunities, but also return to the technology development and mass production capacity. Domestic manufacturers in the design and wafer manufacturing there is still room for improvement, especially for CIS this process technology is more special, difficult to realize the technology with other products **** with the product. In addition, the IC design industry and foundry cooperation is also the focus of the need to cooperate with each other to make good product planning and development schedule, in order to continue to create competitiveness in the CIS after the trend is optimistic.