SEPTEMBER 29--The image-sensor market has seen continued growth over the past year, marking a bright spot in the beleaguered semiconductor sector, reports In-Stat/MDR (Scottsdale, AZ; www.instat.com). Overall, the high-tech market-research firm expects the image-sensor market to grow at a 28.1% annual rate in unit terms through 2007. However, due to ASP erosion, annual revenue growth will be just 8.2%.
Total unit shipments of CCDs and CMOS will be nearly even by 2007. Charge-coupled-devices (CCDs), the incumbent technology in this segment, are currently seeing tremendous growth, driven primarily by growth in the markets for camera phones and digital still cameras. Complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors have continued to see growth in the lower end of the camera market, particularly in PC cameras, low-end digital still cameras, and dual-mode cameras, which combine PC and still camera functions. "The death of the CCD industry, at the hands of CMOS image sensors, has been greatly exaggerated," says Brian O'Rourke, a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "CCDs are experiencing a renewed industry dominance, both in unit shipments and revenues."
In-Stat/MDR has also found that CMOS image sensors are expected to grow at roughly twice the rate of CCD sensors through 2007.
In the market for linear image sensors for applications such as fax machines and scanners, CCDs have long been challenged by contact image sensors (CISs), a more integrated, lower-cost solution. The CIS competition has been forcing CCD manufacturers into lowering prices over the last few years.
Japanese companies, including Sony, Matsushita, Sharp, and Toshiba, continue to lead the world in CCD production for high-volume applications such as digital still cameras, camcorders, security cameras, and camera phones.
The Instat report, "CCDs & CMOS: Zooming in on the Image Sensor Market" (#IN030702MI), provides a complete review of the 2002 market for image sensors, as well as annual forecast numbers through 2007. CCD, CMOS, and CIS market shares for each application, in both units and revenues, are provided for the entire forecast period. This report contains extended analysis of the market for camera phones, the fastest growing market ever for image sensors. Profiles of the world's leading image sensor suppliers are also presented. To purchase this report, or for more information, please visit www.instat.com/catalog/Ccatalogue.asp?ID=161 . The report is priced at US$3495.
