Siimpel Corporation, a leading supplier of optical microsystems solutions, and VistaPoint Technologies, a business unit of Flextronics and leading supplier of mobile camera solutions, today announced the introduction of the first silicon MEMS-based autofocus camera for the handset market. Based on the SiimpelFocus™ SF9x design, VistaPoint has begun production of its Model FCM-3ADF1S 3 megapixel camera as part of its efforts to integrate high-performance features into mobile handset cameras similar to those found in digital still cameras. The FCM-3ADF1S camera is now shipping to a leading handset customer.
“This joint development effort confirms our strategy of integrating our unique silicon MEMS-based designs into camera phones in order to enable key digital camera features such as autofocus, shutter, zoom, and image stabilization into mobile handsets while reducing the camera size and power consumption,” said Shawn Maloney, vice president of Marketing, Sales, and Business Development for Siimpel. “Our partnership with VistaPoint, a leader in camera phone development, has been a critical part of our efforts to bring this technology to market,” added Maloney.
“Our work with Siimpel is a key piece of our commitment and ongoing strategy of bringing better technology and products to the mobile market,” commented Mike Walters, general manager of VistaPoint’s Camera Module Group.
Siimpel and VistaPoint will continue to collaborate on future camera designs that improve the performance of camera phones. This will include integrating additional high-end camera features such as shutter, image stabilization, and zoom while further meeting the handset market’s ongoing requirement for smaller sized, lower power camera devices.
About the Model FCM-3ADF1S
The FCM-3ADF1S is a high-performance, compact 3 megapixel (MP) auto-focus camera using a 1/3.2” CMOS image sensor, a high-quality lens, and Siimpel’s MEMS-based autofocus technology for low power consumption and best-in-class image quality.
The MEMS Advantage
MEMS technology uses sub-micron precision photolithography and etching of silicon wafers to enable the fast, repeatable, and accurate movement of mechanical structure such as digital camera auto-focus and shutter within one micron. This is important because the performance of an optical system is largely dependent on the alignment tolerances of the optical elements. As the optical system is reduced in size, these tolerances must be proportionately reduced in order to maintain the same optical performance. Currently, manufacturing and alignment technology constraints prevent product developers from significantly reducing the size of cameras integrated into consumer products such as mobile phones. Siimpel’s proprietary MEMS-based solution solves this issue, enabling manufacturers to develop mobile handsets and other consumer devices with higher-performance, integrated cameras.
About Siimpel Corporation
Siimpel is a leading developer and manufacturer of silicon MEMS-based solutions for mobile imaging applications. The company’s innovative products set new standards for the size and performance of digital cameras in mobile platforms. Siimpel is a privately held company with investors that include Motorola, QUALCOMM, and Micron Technologies. Founded in 2000, Siimpel has approximately 60 employees, and is headquartered in Arcadia, Calif. To learn more, visit www.siimpel.com.
SiimpelFocus™ is a trademark of Siimpel Corporation.
Contacts:
Shawn Maloney, 1-626-821-570 x350
