Optics.org
daily coverage of the optics & photonics industry and the markets that it serves
Featured Showcases
Photonics West Showcase
Optics+Photonics Showcase
Menu
Historical Archive

'Automatic focus' CMOS camera modules launched

31 Aug 2006

Global Optics develops and prepares to market auto-focus CMOS camera to cellphone, digital camera and laptop markets.

Global-Tech Appliances, Hong Kong, has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Global Optics has developed a novel CMOS camera module (CCM) incorporating an innovative automatic focus function.

The automatic focus CCM will incorporate a 1/4 inch 1.3 megapixel sensor. By adopting voice coil motor technology in addition to the automatic focus function, Global Optics has boosted the CCM's focus range from 10 cm to infinity and improved its response time to 0.7 s.

The module is a sensor capable of outputting 1280x1024 active pixels with improved image stabilization for taking still pictures while at the same time supporting full-motion video capture at 30 fps for recording picture clips. Automatic focus CCM is suited to applications such as cellular phones, web cameras, personal and laptop computers, and other video imaging devices.

"We started to ship standard CCMs in mid-2005 while continuing our R&D programs to achieve some form of technical advantage," said John Sham, Global-Tech's president and CEO. "With the introduction of the automatic focus CCM, we will be able to differentiate our products and attract new customers."

"The initial expressions of interest received for our automatic focus CCM exceeded our expectations. We expect to begin production and shipment of the 1.3 megapixel automatic focus CCMs in late November 2006, followed by the 2.0- and 3.0-mega-pixel versions shortly thereafter."

Sham concluded, "As the digital imaging industry continues to evolve, we are committed to keeping pace with the latest technology incorporating digital optics and have concurrently redirected some of our R&D effort and emphasis on electronics products so that we can take advantage of business opportunities in other market segments. We continue to believe it's essential for us to reinvent and reposition ourselves so that we can grow our business and enhance long-term shareholder value."

About Global-Tech

Global-Tech Appliances Inc. is a holding company, owning subsidiaries that manufacture and market a range of consumer electrical products worldwide, including floor care products and small household appliances. These products are marketed by customers under brand names such as Black & Decker, DeLonghi, Dirt Devil, Eureka, Hamilton Beach, Kenwood, Pentax, Presto, Proctor-Silex, Sanyo, Sharper Image, Sunbeam, and West Bend.

RELATED LINKS
Mad City Labs, Inc.Hyperion OpticsIridian Spectral TechnologiesLaCroix Precision OpticsOptikos Corporation HÜBNER PhotonicsLASEROPTIK GmbH
© 2024 SPIE Europe
Top of Page