Kyocera Using OMNIVISION Sensors in Mobile Phone Camera
SUNNYVALE, CA — March 5, 2001 — OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OVTI), a leader in designing, developing and marketing advanced, highly integrated CMOS image sensors used in electronic cameras and other optical imaging devices, today announced its newest design win with Kyocera Corporation, a leading manufacturer of mobile phones in Japan. Kyocera is using OMNIVISION’s OV6630 image sensor for its new mobile phone camera attachment. OMNIVISION’s highly integrated, proprietary technology gives OMNIVISION an advantage in providing solutions for hand-held, battery-operated applications such as mobile phones. OMNIVISION is currently working with many top mobile phone manufacturers worldwide to supply the image sensor chip in new products.
“We are pleased to be working with industry leaders such as Kyocera to bring next-generation applications to the mobile phone market,” said Hank O’Hara, vice president of worldwide sales for OMNIVISION. “OMNIVISION is well-poised to be a leading supplier of image sensor chips to Japan’s mobile phone market, a potentially large new market.”
Kyocera’s tiny camera attachment, the Treva™, enables users to capture still images that are stored in the memory of the mobile phone. Still images can then be displayed or transmitted to another mobile phone or to an email account. The Treva camera attachment is being sold in Japan by Kyocera for use on a number of mobile phones, including Kyocera’s Tesoro PS-C1™, on Sanyo’s Leje RZ-J91™, Panasonic’s KX-HS100™ and Toshiba’s Carrots™. All of these mobile phones are designed to access the feel H”™ content service over the existing PHS transmission system in Japan.
“We believe the ability to capture, display, transmit and receive images is a natural extension of the multi-function mobile phone, and we are seeing consumer acceptance and demand for this capability,” said a Kyocera Optical Division spokesman. “The small size and low power consumption of OMNIVISION’s camera sensor are very important for our mobile phone application, and we believe OMNIVISION has the production capability to meet our quantity requirements.”
Kyocera’s camera attachment for mobile phones is an example of how different user applications are merging into a single, easy-to-use-device. Kyocera’s Tesoro PS-C1 offers phone, color display screen, email, music replay and digital still camera capabilities in one device. Kyocera has informed OMNIVISION that they have already produced approximately 500,000 camera units for mobile phones, and that they continue with regular production.
About the OV6630
The OV6630 is a single-chip color CMOS image sensor with CIF (352×288) pixel resolution that outputs digital YUV 4:2:2, raw RGB 4:2:2, CCIR 656 and CCIR 601 compatible video. It can operate from 1-to-60 frames per second. It operates at 3.0-3.6 volts at 20 milliamps for a total power consumption of only 60 milliwatts at full video rates of 30 frames per second. In standby mode the OV6630 draws ten microamps for a power consumption rate of only 30 microwatts. It is designed for a 1/4″ lens and requires only 3 lux of light at f1.2.
Pricing and Availability
The OV6630 is currently available at $7.00 in OEM quantities. For information about Kyocera’s Treva and Tesoro PS-C1, the Sanyo Leje RZ-J91 or other mobile phones, please contact the manufacturer.
About OMNIVISION
OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. designs, develops and markets high-performance, high-quality and cost-efficient camera chips. The company’s highly integrated image sensors are used in a variety of electronic cameras and optical imaging products for both still picture and live video applications. OMNIVISION provides all the functionality of a complete camera, and only a lens need be added. OMNIVISION is able to integrate many image system functions into a single chip instead of multiple chips required to achieve the same functions by competitive image sensors. The highly integrated design enables customers to design cameras that are lower in cost, smaller, lighter in weight, consume less power, are more reliable and more easily integrated with other circuits than cameras using multiple-chip image sensors. OMNIVISION is based in Sunnyvale, California. For more information about the company, visit www.ovt.com.
OMNIVISION is a trademark of OMNIVISION Technologies, Inc. All other trade, product or service names referenced in this release may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
The foregoing press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. In particular, the statements relating to the positioning of the company to be a leading supplier of CMOS image sensors to Japan’s mobile phone market; the potential size of Japan’s mobile phone market; the manufacturers to whom the Treva will be sold; Kyocera’s belief in the natural extension of the mobile phone market and consumer acceptance of this extension; Kyocera’s belief of the important traits for their mobile phone application; Kyocera’s belief concerning the company’s production capacity and Kyocera’s production of camera units for mobile phones are forward looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the company’s forward looking statements include: general economic conditions; adverse changes in market conditions in both the United States and internationally; lack of acceptance of the company’s products; the company’s limited operating history which makes evaluation of future prospects difficult; any delay in the widespread acceptance of CMOS technology or the development of new markets for the company’s products; failure to obtain design wins from camera manufacturers; intense competition in current markets and in emerging markets; any delay in the development and introduction of new products; the company’s reliance on a limited number of third party wafer foundries, color filter vendors and assembly vendors; the company’s may be unable to achieve planned wafer manufacturing yields; latent defects in the company’s products; any adverse changes to Kyocera’s business or Sanyo, Panasonic or Toshiba’s businesses and the risks detailed from time to time in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, the company’s quarterly reports filed in calendar year 2000. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement.