Corephotonics Collaborates with Samsung Electro-Mechanics to Bring New Era of Imaging to Smartphones.

 Corephotonics has partnered with prominent camera module integrator Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) to develop a complete reference design, based on its revolutionary dual camera technology. Through this reference design, which is now in volume production, smartphone manufacturers are able to benefit from dramatic enhancements in image quality without any impact on the slim designs that consumers now expect from their handsets.

The new partnership combines SEMCO’s universally recognized expertise in camera module design and manufacturing, with Corephotonics’ innovative camera-related technologies. It enables a far greater number of smartphone manufacturers to access ground-breaking imaging technology that will help them to elevate user experience.

The dual camera concept made possible by Corephotonics’ proprietary technology presents smartphone manufacturers with the means to distinguish their handsets from those of their rivals through greatly improved imaging capabilities – with better zoom, increased effective resolution and broader dynamic range all being derived. It comprises one camera producing a wide field of view (FOV) image – much like the technology found in a conventional smartphone. In addition, however, there is a second camera that features a telephoto lens – which addresses the narrow FOV image.

The result is an imaging mechanism that can deliver up to 3x optical zoom and provides the user with highly detailed photographs even in the most challenging of low light conditions. Combining such imaging capabilities with proprietary lens design and actuator implementation allows a compact form factor (down to 5.5mm in Z-height) to be maintained, while eliminating delicate opto-mechanical arrangements that are prone to damage.

“The camera has become a key differentiator in the current, highly competitive global smartphone market. Via the dual camera zoom solution pioneered by Corephotonics and the access we have now gained to their technology, it is possible to greatly expand upon our current smartphone camera capabilities,” states EVP Hong, CMO of SEMCO. “This will take us closer than ever before to the imaging performance that would normally be associated with an SLR.”

“SEMCO is an acknowledged leader in smartphone camera modules and it is now fully equipped with a broad range of Corephotonics technology,” adds Eran Briman, VP of Marketing & Business Development at Corephotonics. “By integrating our calibration tools into its production lines, SEMCO is now better positioned for delivering mass production zoom dual camera modules which are drop-test certified and support relaxed calibration assembly. Combining such modules with Corephotonics’ zoom and bokeh algorithms easily satisfies consumer demands for elevated imaging functionality.

About SEMCO
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO), established in 1973 as a manufacturer of key electronic components, has become a major global player in the field of electronic components. SEMCO is a technology-driven company and focuses on developing state-of-the-art technologies and parts. SEMCO has been intensively developing PCBs, chip components, camera modules and network modules into the world’s very best. In addition, the evolution of information technology is accelerating our development of parts that are more energy efficient and environment friendly, and our abilities are being focused on seeking out new business areas with future growth potential such as Internet of Things and automotive. For more information visit: www.samsungsem.com

About Corephotonics

Corephotonics is the leading licensor of dual camera imaging technologies. The company provides end-to-end dual camera solutions which dramatically improve the image quality and user experience of mobile imaging, while introducing optical zoom, superb low-light performance, Bokeh and depth features, and optical image stabilization in an incredibly slim form factor. The company was established in 2012 by Professor David Mendlovic, Dr. Gal Shabtay and Eran Kali. Thus far, Corephotonics has raised more than $50 million, and its investors include Magma VC, Samsung Ventures, Amiti Ventures, OurCrowd, flash storage solutions company SanDisk, Chinese telephony services provider CK Telecom, and BetaAngels VC. For more information visit: www.corephotonics.com

OmniVision and Corephotonics Announce Dual-Camera Zoom Reference Design for Smartphones.

Best-in-Class Sensors Combined with Leading-Edge Algorithms Deliver First-Rate Zoom and Bokeh Image Quality.

OmniVision Technologies, Inc., a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today announced its collaboration with dual-camera technology pioneer Corephotonics in producing a new dual-camera zoom reference design for mobile devices. Combining OmniVision's OV12A10 and OV13880 image sensors with Corephotonics' proprietary zoom and Bokeh algorithms, the reference design brings best-in-class optical zoom capabilities commonly found in DSCs and DSLRs to smartphone camera applications. The reference design will be available for demonstrations at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, from February 27 through March 2, 2017.

According to a June 2016 market research report from Yole Développement, mobile devices with dual-camera configurations are expected to account for 20 percent of the total handset market by 2020. A dual-camera zoom configuration that combines an OV12A10-based wide-angle camera with an OV13880-based telephoto camera to achieve high-quality optical zoom is now available for adoption in high-end smartphones and is well-positioned to enter mainstream markets in 2017.

"Corephotonics is widely regarded as a world leader in dual-camera technology," said Will Foote, senior partnership manager, OmniVision. "The rapid expansion of the dual-camera smartphone market gives us the perfect opportunity to combine our companies' expertise. We are pleased to introduce our first joint reference design, and are excited about many more future collaborations based on OmniVision sensors and Corephotonics' algorithm IP."

"OmniVision has established itself as a leader in image sensors and image signal processing. We are confident that combining its imaging technologies with our proprietary algorithms can deliver a highly competitive dual-camera optical zoom solution for our customers," said Eran Briman, VP marketing and business development, Corephotonics. "This unique collaboration can enable smartphone OEMs to leverage the system integration and image quality tuning effort already made, and achieve the fastest time to market."

Dual-camera configurations in smartphones require advanced technologies that have not usually been found in single cameras, such as image registration, image fusion and depth map generation. These technologies can enable advanced features like the Bokeh portrait effect, which brings elements into sharp focus while blurring the background. In this reference design, Corephotonics works with OEMs and camera module integrators to integrate its proprietary algorithms specifically optimized for OmniVision's sensors to deliver excellent image quality to the smartphone user. 

The Corephotonics algorithms fuse the images from the wide-angle cameras and telephoto cameras to deliver optical zoom, increase resolution, reduce SNR and enable smoother video transitions. OmniVision's OV12A10 and OV13880 are optimized to deliver top tier performance in dual configurations. Key benefits include: 

• Slim form factor, which is enabled by reduced module height
• Superior performance enabled by PureCel® Plus 1.25-micron large pixel and 1.0-micron small pixel
• Dual-camera sync: master/slave capability to switch between sensors during zoom operation
• Ultra-low power using unique toggle mode to extend phone battery life

The reference design is now available for customer demonstrations.

About OmniVision

OmniVision Technologies, Inc. is a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions. Its award-winning CMOS imaging technology enables superior image quality in many of today's consumer and commercial applications, including mobile phones, notebooks, tablets and webcams, digital still and video cameras, security and surveillance, entertainment devices, automotive and medical imaging systems. Find out more at www.ovt.com.

About Corephotonics

Corephotonics is the leading licensor of dual-camera imaging technologies. The company provides end-to-end dual-camera solutions that dramatically improve the image quality and user experience of mobile imaging while introducing optical zoom, superb low-light performance, Bokeh and depth features, and optical image stabilization in an incredibly slim form factor. The company was established in 2012 by Professor David Mendlovic, Dr. Gal Shabtay and Eran Kali. Thus far, Corephotonics has raised more than $50 million, and its investors include Magma VC, Samsung Ventures, Amiti Ventures, OurCrowd, flash storage Solutions Company SanDisk, Chinese telephony services provider CK Telecom, and BetaAngels VC. Find out more at www.corephotonics.com.

OmniVision®, the OmniVision logo and PureCel are registered trademarks of OmniVision Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE OmniVision Technologies, Inc.