Image Sensors Shifting to MIPI Interfaces

SCOTTSDALE, AZ /Marketwire/ -- Image sensor interfaces have historically been proprietary and/or parallel. But increasing demand for higher image resolutions is pushing the bandwidth capacity of processor-to-camera sensor interfaces beyond their capability to perform effectively. Enter serial interfaces, which address many of the shortcomings of parallel interfaces but have their own issues, primarily that of incompatibility. The MIPI Alliance is a nonprofit corporation developing interface specifications that drive consistency in processor and peripheral interfaces. Their efforts have led to strong MIPI CSI-2 interest, across all computing and consumer electronic devices with an image sensor. According to In-Stat, penetration of CSI-2 in these devices will exceed 70% by 2016.

"Proprietary interfaces prevent devices from different manufacturers from working together and result in industry fragmentation," says Jim McGregor, Chief Technology Strategist. "MIPI's CSI-2 and CSI-3 provide the entire electronics industry, not just mobile devices, with a standard that is high-speed, low-power, cost-effective, and scalable."

Recent research findings include:

  • Applications that directly manipulate image sensor data are forcing a migration of many devices away from using image sensors with integrated image signal processors.
  • Smartphones and handsets will account for the largest percentage and highest growth rate of CSI-2 and CSI-3 penetration.
  • Game consoles are expected to be the primary use of image sensors (and cameras) in the living room.
  • The following are among MIPI CSI contributing companies: Agilent, Analog Devices, Aptina, Broadcom, Infineon, Intel, LG Electronics, Motorola, OmniVision, Qualcomm, Renesas, Samsung, Sharp, STM/ST-Ericsson, Synopsis, and Texas Instruments.
  • In-Stat expects over 225 million Tablet PC image sensors to ship using MIPI in 2016, with MIPI CSI-3 representing about 20% of these, and MIPI CSI-2 representing 80%.

New In-Stat research, Camera Interfaces Go Serial: Handsets Leading the Way with MIPI (#IN1105055SI) provides a background of mobile camera interfaces along with an overview of MIPI. Also covered are:

  • Future technology migration patterns
  • Six-year forecast for MIPI interfaces by product segment
  • Six-year forecast for MIPI interfaces by application

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