IHS: CMOS image sensor supply hit by quake

LONDON – The supply of CMOS image sensors, becoming ubiquitous in cell phones and notebook computers, has been affected by the Japan earthquake of March 11. In turn this is affecting the manufacture and distribution of camera modules for cell phones, according to market research firm IHS-iSuppli.

Two wafer fabs, belonging to companies responsible for about 17 percent of global CMOS image sensor supply, have been closed for periods since the March 11 quake.

IHS-iSuppli did not quantify the level of disruption or whether it believed that mobile phone makers could build from inventory until normal supply chain service resumes.

Toshiba's Iwate wafer fab, which produces logic chip and CMOS image sensors for mobile phone cameras was due to resume partial operation in April, but the plant was hit by the strong aftershocks of April 7 and April 11. That plant is now due to restart partial production on April 18.

Similarly supply from a Sony wafer fab that makes CMOS image sensor was delayed. Sony had resumed manufacturing at a large number of its factories but was also affected by the April 7 aftershock.

In 2010 Toshiba was the world's fifth-largest supplier of handset image sensors with a 13.1 percent market share by revenue, according to IHS-iSuppli. Sony ranked sixth with a 3.9 percent share.

However, while CMOS image sensor has been impacted charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor production, used in some digital still cameras, appears not have been impacted, IHS said. This is despite the fact that global supply of CCD image sensors is dominated by Japanese suppliers, including Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Sharp and Toshiba.


Related links and articles:

MEMC Japan plant back on line; rivals idle

Another major aftershock hits Japan

Analyst: GaAs supply chain robust after quake

Several Japan fabs halted by aftershock