Hynix signs on partner for image sensor venture

Article By : Mark LaPedus

Moving into the non-memory chip business, Hynix Semiconductor Inc. has entered into a partnership agreement with SiliconFile Technologies Inc., a developer of CMOS image sensors. Hynix has also taken a stake in the South Korean firm. As part of the agreement, Hynix will manufacture and sell CMOS image sensor products using SiliconFile’s design. Hynix will […]

Moving into the non-memory chip business, Hynix Semiconductor Inc. has entered into a partnership agreement with SiliconFile Technologies Inc., a developer of CMOS image sensors. Hynix has also taken a stake in the South Korean firm.

As part of the agreement, Hynix will manufacture and sell CMOS image sensor products using SiliconFile’s design. Hynix will also provide foundry services for SiliconFile.

Observers say that given Hynix’s history in memories, the company could turn the CMOS image sensor market upside down with potentially new and low-priced products, observers said. Several years ago, Hynix spun out its non-memory unit into a new company called MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd, which supplies CMOS image sensors and other devices and provides a foundry business.

Last July, Hynix announced plans to diversify its business portfolio to offset the wild swings in the company’s existing and core DRAM and NAND businesses. Since then, Hynix has been allocating its internal resources to the newly established CIS Division and expanding its workforce in the arena.

The company supplies its products to mobile manufacturers in Korea, Japan and China. It currently holds approximately 8 percent share of the CMOS image sensor market for mobile phones, according to Hynix.

Mark LaPedus
EE Times

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