SUNNYVALE, Calif. and CHIBA, Japan – October 3, 2006 – OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a leading independent supplier of CMOS CameraChip™ solutions for high-volume imaging applications, today unveiled a new high-performance Square Graphics Array™ (SGA) 400 x 400 resolution camera chip sensor. The new OV6680 is intended principally for use in secondary cameras in the fast growing 3G video phone market, and has already been designed into several 3G handsets.
“Our new SGA camera chip has outstanding low light sensitivity and is designed to meet the small form factor requirements of our handset customers by utilizing a 3.6 micron pixel with OmniPixel®2 technology,” said Jess Lee, Vice President Mainstream Products at OmniVision. “The OV6680’s excellent performance and image quality should make it very attractive both for secondary cameras in 3G phones and for entry-level camera phones.”
Market research firms Strategy Analytics and Yankee Group have estimated that this year 3G handset volume will reach 193 million units, or 25 percent of total handsets sold worldwide,. By 2009, 3G handsets are expected to comprise over 60 percent of total handset shipments worldwide, translating into more than 500 million 3G phones. Even more importantly for OmniVision, approximately 85-90 percent of 3G handsets are expected to have a secondary camera.
The OV6680 combines superior low-light performance and image quality with a compact module design (5 x 5 x 3.0mm) to enable reliable, cost efficient camera solutions. Low light performance is especially critical in video conferencing applications because LCD screens rarely emit enough light (~5 lux) to compensate for the lighting conditions of most indoor environments.
The OV6680 operates at 30 frames per second in SGA resolution with complete user control over image quality, formatting and output data. The 400 x 400 pixel output enables image stabilization functions with post processing and all required image processing functions, such as exposure control, gamma, white balance, color saturation and hue control, are also programmable through the serial camera control bus (SCCB) interface.
The OV6680 comes in CSP packaging and is currently available in sample quantities. Volume production is expected to start in Q4 of calendar year 2006.
Safe-Harbor Language
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance, capabilities and prospects of OmniPixel®2 and the OV6680 CMOS image sensor, the timing of expected volume production, and the outlook for 3G handsets are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, which could cause the forward-looking statements and OmniVision’s results to differ materially, include, without limitation: potential errors, design flaws or other problems with OmniPixel®2 or the OV6680 CMOS image sensor; risks associated with building customer acceptance of and demand for OmniPixel®2 and the OV6680 image sensor; the development of the market for CMOS sensors in the camera phone market as well as in markets for other portable applications incorporating image sensors; the rapid changes in technical requirements for camera phone products; competitive risks; as well as other risks detailed from time to time in OmniVision’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, OmniVision’s most recent annual report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly report filed on form 10-Q. OmniVision expressly disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.