Over 225 Million Tablet PC Image Sensors to Ship Using MIPI in 2016

Image sensor interfaces have historically been proprietary and parallel. But increasing demand for higher image resolutions is pushing the bandwidth capacity of processor-to-camera sensor interfaces beyond their capability to perform effectively. Enter serial interfaces, which address many of the shortcomings of parallel interfaces but have their own issues, primarily that of incompatibility. The MIPI Alliance is a non-profit corporation developing interface specifications that drive consistency in processor and peripheral interfaces. Their efforts have led to strong MIPI CSI-2 interest, across all computing and consumer electronic devices with an image sensor. According to In-Stat, over 225 million tablet PC image sensors will ship using MIPI in 2016.

“Proprietary interfaces prevent devices from different manufacturers from working together and result in industry fragmentation,” says Jim McGregor, Chief Technology Strategist. “MIPI’s CSI-2 and CSI-3 provide the entire electronics industry, not just mobile devices, with a standard that is high-speed, low-power, cost-effective, and scalable.”

Recent research findings include:
• CSI-2 penetration to surpass 70% in computing and consumer electronic devices with image sensors by 2016.
• Applications that directly manipulate image sensor data are forcing a migration of many devices away from using image sensors with integrated image signal processors (ISPs).
• Smartphones and handsets will account for the largest percentage and highest growth rate of CSI-2 and CSI-3 penetration.
• Game consoles are expected to be the primary use of image sensors (and cameras) in the living room.
• The following are among MIPI CSI contributing companies: Agilent, Analog Devices, Aptina, Broadcom, Infineon, Intel, LG Electronics, Motorola, OmniVision, Qualcomm, Renesas, Samsung, Sharp, STM/ST-Ericsson, Synopsys, and Texas Instruments.

In-Stat