Camera phone's to get image stabilization soon

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No More Shaky Camera Phone Photos

InvenSense says that it has developed a miniature image stabilization system, due out in the second half of this year, which can be used in mobile phones to stabilize shaky photo images. Consumers accustomed to digital still cameras (DSCs) are often dissatisfied with camera phone image quality, which suffers from blurring caused by natural hand jitter, especially in low-light conditions, and is magnified by zoom features. According to InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, the result is only half as many photos taken as with camera phones; only one fifth the number of images printed; and little wireless sharing of photos.

The challenge is that while DSCs have room to integrate image stabilization systems, camera phone circuitry is tightly packed, requiring tiny and inexpensive components.

InvenSense has created the world's smallest dual-axis gyroscope, which answers the camera phone industry need to accurately sense natural hand jitter. As a single-chip silicon device based on MEMS technology, InvenSense's solution is over 5 times smaller than the smallest competing devices that typically use older piezo-type technology, enabling InvenSense's gyroscope to fit into any camera phone. Proprietary wafer-level integration allows the gyroscope to meet the high-performance requirements for image stabilization applications, while meeting the strict size and cost requirements of mobile handset manufacturers.

"The resolution of the camera phones continues to increase every year, with 1 mega pixel representing the majority of camera phone shipments this year, and 4 mega pixels forecasted to represent the majority of shipments in 2010," said Scott Smyser, director and principal analyst for Communications and Consumer Electronics at iSuppli, an El Segundo, Calif.-based market research firm. "However, while resolution of camera phones continues to increase, other technical necessities for better image quality, such as image stabilization, continue to be overlooked. Adding image stabilization to camera phones will help to propel the usage of camera phones further."

"With the introduction of 3- and 5-mega pixel image sensors by all major sensor providers and the eagerness of handset makers to introduce new features that differentiate their products, image stabilization has taken a front seat. A number of camera module makers are trying hard to offer solutions in the coming months," said Steve Nasiri, president and chief executive officer of InvenSense. "The one key obstacle has been the lack of a tiny, high-performance and low-cost gyroscope suitable for sensing hand motion. InvenSense's IDG-1000 product family offers an integrated dual-axis gyro solution that can overcome these challenges for module makers."

The company is ramping production of its dual-axis gyro products for the digital still camera market with volume shipments for autumn 2006 models, and is sampling image stabilization devices for camera module makers.