IMEC sets up CMOS company

17 Jun 2002

The largest independent microelectronics research and development centre in Europe, IMEC of Belgium, has launched a spin-off company to develop and market complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors - the alternative to charge-coupled devices (CCDs).

The new company, FillFactory, which expects to increase its workforce from 11 to 26 by the end of 2001, has already attracted business partners. These include Scitex of Israel, to develop digital imaging and printing solutions, Vision Research, US, for fast-motion analysis cameras for vehicle crash testing and ballistics research, and an unnamed Japanese collaborator.

Low-power and voltage operation, lower production costs and increased versatility are expected to create huge growth in the CMOS market, with applications such as portable videophones.