Oct. 20--Specialty foundry Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (Nasdaq: TSEM; TASE:TSEM) has produced its first off-the-shelf high resolution sensor (CMV2000) for CMOSIS, an independent developer and supplier of high end CMOS image sensors for professional imaging applications. Tower utilized its advanced 0.18-micron CMOS image sensor (CIS) technology. This highly integrated image sensor targets machine vision applications and enables global shutter (snapshot) operation and fast on-chip analog to digital conversion (ADC) to meet the market's demanding requirements for leading-edge performance, advanced features, and reduced die size and price.

CMOSIS estimates the machine vision sensor market at $200 million. Tower and CMOSIS are well-positioned to win a significant share of future industrial and professional CMOS image sensor markets as next-generation CMV2000 sensors could also be used for automotive and security applications.

CMOSIS CEO Luc De Mey said, "We chose Tower based on its advanced CMOS technology and process flexibility, which allowed us to explore more options leading to stronger and more reliable performance. With other foundries, you have to stay within smaller technical boundaries."

Tower's Specialty Business Unit VP and general manager Avi Strum said, "CMOSIS, its key personnel, and its IP are well known in the industry. Combined with our expertise in CMOS image sensors, we are able to provide them an edge in the market."

CMOSIS also selected Tower's advanced 0.18-micron process for its aggressive layout rules, allowing a novel pixel structure featuring a pixel size of 5.5µm x 5.5µm which is needed to stay close to a 2/3" optical format with 2.2M pixel resolution and form factor. The CMV2000 combines a pipelined global shutter operation that allows true correlated double sampling and a full-frame rate of 300 fps and yields an unprecedented low noise level below 18 electrons and 16-channel LVDS interfacing. The CMV2000 integrates a high performance 10bit column ADC on-chip which features a slow 12bit mode and multiple HDR modes, all housed in a very compact 95pin ceramic PGA package.

Tower's share closed yesterday on Nasdaq at $1.08, giving a market cap of $172.84 million. The share rose 1 percent on afternoon trading on the TASE to NIS 4.04.

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