Reiter's Camera Phone Report

Kodak hopes for camera phone success with smaller, five megapixel CMOS sensor

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle looks at Kodak’s entry into the camera phone marketplace and its relationship with Motorola.

The newspaper, that extensively covers Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak, writes that Kodak is developing five megapixel CMOS chipsets for camera phones.  Some time this year, Motorola is expected to offer at least one handset with a Kodak chipset.

The article says Kodak is “banking on camera phones appearing on the market by next year that shoot high-quality, five-megapixel digital photos.  Those photos would be due to a new line of inexpensive image sensors Kodak is starting to market.”

In February Kodak announced the world’s first 1.4 micron CMOS five megapixel image sensor, the KAC-05020.  Kodak says the new sensor can produce photos that are as good as or better than larger, 1.75 micron CMOS sensors.

Why it’s better

Kodak explains its redesign of traditional CMOS sensors:

“In a standard CMOS pixel, signal is measured by detecting electrons that are generated when light interacts with the surface of the sensor.  As more light strikes the sensor, more electrons are generated, resulting in a higher signal at each pixel.

“In the KODAK TRUESENSE CMOS Pixel, however, the underlying ‘polarity’ of the silicon is reversed, so that the absence of electrons is used to detect a signal.  This change enabled a series of improvements to the design and structure of the pixel that ultimately results in CMOS imaging performance that rivals that available from CCD image sensors.

“Light sensitivity in the new sensor is enhanced through the use of the recently announced KODAK TRUESENSE Color Filter Pattern, which adds panchromatic, or ‘clear,’ pixels to the red, green and blue pixels already on the sensor.  Since these pixels are sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light, they collect a significantly higher proportion of the light striking the sensor.

“This provides a 2x to 4x increase in sensitivity to light (from one to two photographic stops) compared to current sensor designs, improving performance in low light and reducing motion blur in action shots.”

Samples in the spring

Sample quantities of the new sensor are expected in the second quarter of this year, Kodak says.  They will be produced in Taiwan, the newspaper says.

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle says other 1.4 micron sensors offer a maximum of three megapixels.

In the United States we’re seeing a fair number of two megapixel camera phones.  I think the highest resolution camera phone that’s available from a U.S. cellular operator is 3.2 megapixels.  Overseas, five megapixel camera phones are available from a variety of manufacturers.

Five megapixels if you pay for it

In the U.S., unlocked five megapixel camera phones may be purchased from, for example, Nokia.  However, they aren’t subsidized by any cellular operator and cost about $500 or more. 

I have a five megapixel Nokia N95, that’s a great handset.  I hope to get a new, more advanced Nokia camera phone in the near future.

Nokia introduces 6220 with Xenon flash, N96 with dual-LED flash

Nokia has introduced several new cellular phones here at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and the 6220 Classic has a Xenon flash (see above) and the N96 (see below) has a flash with two LEDs side by side and a "video light."

A month or two ago Nokia introduced the N82, its first handset with a Xenon flash, although other cellular phone manufacturers have offered models with Xenon. This type of flash produces a powerful bright light that's excellent for photos.

The dual LEDs on the N96 -- a successor to the extremely popular feature-rich N95 -- are designed for videos.  The LEDs don't produce as white a light as Xenon, but they are preferably, Nokia tells me, for staying on continuously while taking videos.

Nokia tries to optimize specific components based on the target market and applications.  The 6220 will cost 325 euros ($473) retail and the N96 will cost 550 euros ($801).

Broadcom's new processor offers 12 megapixels and 30 fps camcorder for 2009

Will a 12 megapixel camera phone with a high definition camcorder be available in 2009?  That’s a possibility based on a new BCM2727 processor from Broadcom, according to infoSync World.

The article says the processor will support “720p HD video with H.264 encoding and decoding, both high profile at 30 fps and supports all major video compression algorithms, including H.263, MPEG 4/2/1, and VC-1.  In addition to being capable of delivering a HD camcorder, it also provides an up to 12-megapixel digital camera.

“A HDMI port has also been incorporated, in order to connect smartphones to full-size HD televisions….

“The processor should also enable up to 60 hours of audio playback and 3 hours of HD camcorder capture time, however, in combination with cellular radios and processors, it's expected that the battery life will stay at the current real-world level.”

Yes, it’s possible

Whether this will occur in a couple of years, I don’t know, but I think it’s entirely possible.  I do know you can now buy a ten megapixel camera phone in South Korea.  So an extra two megapixels in two years won’t be a stretch.

As for a high definition video recorder, the new LG Viewty offers recording at 120 frames per second in addition to a five megapixel camera.

CMOS sensor business declines because of VGA orders, but improvement forecast

The CMOS manufacturing business is decreasing as orders for camera phones decrease, and VGA sensors remain the biggest seller (boo!), although 1.3 megapixel and two megapixel sensors are on the rise, according to an article in EE Times.

The article says Micron Technology, OmniVision, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Toshiba and other CMOS sensor manufacturers are suffering, although orders for the second half of this year are more encouraging.  Micron’s CMOS revenues decreased 12 percent to $138 million in its last fiscal quarter, compared to the previous quarter and decreased 35 percent year-over-year, EE Times says.

Also, CMOS revenues has declined because orders for VGA sensors have been stronger than suppliers had predicted.

VGA holding strong

“In 2006, CMOS image sensor sales totaled $4.2 billion, up more than 30 percent from about $3.2 billion in 2005, according to IC Insights.  The current outlook for CMOS image sensors is for only 4 percent growth in 2007 to $3.4 billion, after a year-over-year decline in the first half of this year, according to the firm,” EE Times reports.

“Overall, worldwide revenues for image sensors — including both CCDs and CMOS image products — fell about 4 percent in the first six months of 2007, according to the firm.”

Robert Lineback, an analyst with IC Insights, says VGA sensors comprised the majority through 2006 but 1.3 megapixel CMOS sensors are catching up.  Lineback says 1.3 megapixel sensors have become even in sales with VGA in 2007, but orders for VGA will still be high at 35 percent.

Hope for better sensors

I’ve had written and will continue to write that VGA sensors typically are awful and are a major reason consumers continue to talk and write about their “crappy camera phone photos.”  This will not change until mass market camera phones come standard with higher resolution sensors, better lenses and other components to produce better images.

However, there is some optimistic news.

Doug Freedman, a senior analyst at American Technology Research, says cellular phone growth is increasing and the maturity of two megapixel sensors is sparking the jump in some handsets from VGA to two megapixels rather than 1.3 megapixels.  The higher resolution sensor generates increased revenues.

University of California engineers develop thin digital camera, telephoto lens

Engineers at the University of Californa, San Diego have created a very thin digital camera with a unique telephoto lens that folds up like an "origami" (see left), according to an article in What Digital Camera.

The engineers believe the technology could be used for camera phones as well as for unmanned surveillance aircraft and infrared night vision applications.

Eric Tremblay, a Ph.D. candidate in electrical and computer engineering at the university's Jacobs School of Engineering, says the imager (sensor?) is seven times more powerful that other lenses with comparable depth, the article reports.

Applicable for camera phones

Joseph Ford, a professor of electrical and computer engineering who oversees the project, says, "This type of miniature camera is very promising for application where you want high resolution images and a short exposure time.  This describes what cell phone cameras want to be when they grow up."

Tremblay doesn't know whether the product will be available for camera phones, although he says he's "hopeful" and thinks there's "a good possibility."

How does it work?

The article says the concept of an origami type of folded lens has been around for hundreds of years.  "It employs the use of mirrors to reduce camera thickness yet retain good light collection and high-resolution capabilities.

"Instead of bending and focusing light as it passes through a series of separate mirrors and lenses, the new folded system bends and focus's light while it is reflected back and forth inside a single 5mm thick optical crystal.  The light is focused as if it were moving through a traditional lens system that is at least seven times thicker."

Germany's Schneider Kreuznach provides lenses for LG camera phones

German lens manufacturer Schneider Kreuznach is providing lenses for LG's camera phones, according to an article in The Korea Herald.

Schneider already provides lenses for LG's new "Shine" camera phone "and will continue to use Schneider's for premium handsets in local and overseas markets," the article says.

As many of you know, Nokia incorporates Carl Zeiss lenses in some of its higher-end camera phones, as I've written previously.

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CAP-XX says its LED flash is brighter than most Xenons

CAP-XX, a manufacturer of supercapacitors, says in its press release that its "LED BriteFlash" is brighter and smaller than most Xenon flashes and "can offload demands from the battery and handle all mobile-phone functions that need peak power -- wireless voice and data, GPS readings, digital video, music and TV -- improving talk time, battery life and audio quality."

Figuring light energy

CAP-XX says:

"The key to clear pictures is Light Energy -- the total amount of light that fills a camera's pixels during image-capture time.

"On the other hand, Light Power refers to the intensity of a flash.   Light power, along wi th flash exposure time is used to calculate Light Energy:   light power (lux) x flash exposure time (secs) = Light Energy (lux.secs).

"Ten to fifteen lux.secs of Light Energy is ideal for high-resolution pictures.

"Xenon flash has excellent light power, but a very short flash exposure time.

"An LED flash, powered by a supercapacitor, delivers lower light power over a longer flash exposure time for total Light Energy that exceeds or equals most Xenon flashes."

Not perfect

The company's camera phone flash product doesn't solve all problems, though.   The release says, "A supercapacitor-powered LED flash delivers lower power over longer time for total Light Energy that exceeds or equals most Xenon flashes.

"This solution is capable of higher-quality still shots, but not action shots, in low light.   A designer can use image-stabilization software to correct for hand movement that may cause blurry photos. 

"Xenon, with its short exposure time, is superior for capturing fast-moving action shots in low light."

Light, power, action

Hmmm.   If CAP-XX admits its flash requires image stabilization software for "action shots," that's obviously a drawback.  Camera phone "shake" is a major cause of blurred photos, with or without a flash.

Camera phones are more prone to movement than digital camera because they usually are lighter and not often held with two hands and steadied.   Also, the "shutter lag" in camera phones means many users move the phone before the photo is taken and saved, also causing blurring.   

There are significant improvements in image stabilization software for digital cameras and I assume camera phone vendors can take advantage of these developments.   

However, I'm certainly not an expert on the physics of flash technology. 

Future products

CAP-XX says its product will begin showing up in camera phones at the end of 2007 or 2008.

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In-Stat says camera phones comprise 70 percent of all digital cameras in 2005

The research firm In-Stat says camera phones comprised 70 percent of all digital cameras shipped in 2005, and the overwhelming majority of them incorporated CMOS sensors, not CCDs, according to the firm's report, "Image Sensors 2006: CMOS Sensors Outship CCDs" press release.

"Because of the strength of the camera phone market, overall area CMOS image sensor shipments exceeded area CCD shipments by nearly a factor of three in 2005.  This gap will continue to widen through 2010," In-Stat says.

In-Stat says digital still cameras are the second largest market for image sensors and more than 70 million were shipped in 2005.

CMOS, CCD devices

Brian O'Rourke, an In-Stat analyst, says in the press release, "CMOS will continue to flourish, due to its popularity in camera phones, Web cameras, and toy cameras.  CCDs will continue to thrive in markets such as digital still cameras, camcorders, and security cameras."

Kodak eyes camera phone integration; compact digital cameras "short term phenomena"

Will there be a "Kodak Inside" sticker on a camera phone?  That's the implication if you read comments by Fred Seibl, general manager of Kodak at Stuttgart in an interview during the Photokina camera show in Cologne, according to an article in Digit.

Seibl says, "The compact digital camera is a short-term phenomena; it's going to be eclipsed by the camera phone.  We would like to see a lot of our technology in those phones, and we are already taking steps to achieve that goal."

Kodal already struck a non-exclusive deal with Motorola to collaborate on camera phones where the camera company supplies its CMOS sensors and additional components to the wireless handset vendor, says Digit.

Joint branding

Kodak isn't going to develop its own camera phones, Seibl says, but that's certainly not a surprise.  Kodak isn't a cellular phone manufacturing expert.

But I've been suggesting for years that we should see camera manufacturers team with handset vendors to offer jointly branded phones.  Certain Sony Ericsson camera phones promote the Sony Cyber-shot brand.

Nokia prints "Carl Zeiss Optics" near the lens of camera phones in which that venerable lens maker supplies the optics.

Other conversations

Kodak is talking with other handset vendors, Seibl says, and the article suggests Nokia would be a prime candidate for a deal since the two companies already colloborate on photo storage and printing (and here).

Kodak, that purchased Ofoto's photo album/printing service more than five years ago, offers its EasyShare Gallery to cellular operators to brand as well as selling the service directly to consumers.  I see that Kodak now enables consumers to use the service for free, kind of, without paying a $2.99 per month fee, if consumers purchase at least one item from the Gallery (printing photos, for example) within 12 months.

Kodak EasyShare Gallery members also may upload videos of a maximum of 15MB per video and a video total storage of 150 MB -- for 30 days, after which time Kodak may remove the videos.

GreenBlub offers camera phone external LED flash, self-portrait mirror

GreenBlub has launched two camera phone accessories:  The Color Flash Cube external LED flash (see below) and the Self Shot Mirror that is designed to facilitate taking self portraits, according to an article in PopPhoto.com.

The Color Flash Cube doesn't sync automatically when the camera phone (or other type of camera) shutter is pressed.  Instead, you manually turn it on and off. 

It attaches to the camera with two-sided tape.   

The flash comes with three colored filters, red, blue and green, and a strap.  It retails for $12.99.

Funky

Shining an external light source in a dark area (ever use a small flashlight?) often will mean the difference between getting no image and getting a good-enough image.   Perhaps the Cube would make a difference.

I wonder how it well it works with a camera phone that has a flash (that's typically pretty poor).   I guess it could supplement the flash.

The GreenBlub Web site says "no further editing is requireded for funky looking snapshots."   The funky part is when you use the filters to color the shots.

However, it's one more thing to lose.

Mirror

The Self Shot Mirror is convex and attaches with tape to the side of a camera lens so it's easier to see yourself when taking self portraits.   Three mirrors are sold in a package for $3.45.

I've never liked using tiny self-portrait mirrors attached to camera phones so maybe the larger GreenBlub mirror helps.   A camera phone with a second external screen, though, is what you'd really want if you're into taking photos of yourself (and making video calls). 

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