After removing the plastic lens housing, closer examination of the wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP) PixArt PFS052 image sensor reveals an optical size of 1/6 inch versus the 1/4 inch stated in the operation manual. With a die area of just under 10 mm2 and 20 I/O pins, the image sensor is one of the smallest and simplest CIF image sensors analyzed by Portelligent.
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| Board 1 |
Image processing is handled by a PixArt image processor with die markings, PEP004-PA001. The WLCSP image processor with a glob-top encapsulant provides an inexpensive method to manufacture and protect the die. Working memory for the image processor and storage for the images is provided by a memory package with markings, CW3664164T-7.
A thorough search on the part number turned up a Chinese customs document indicating the manufacturer is Conwose. The manufacturer identification was reinforced by the CW logo on the package. However, decapping the memory package revealed the die as a Mitsubishi manufactured 64-Mbyte SDRAM with die markings, M2V64S20D.
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| Board 2 |
With only three ICs consuming less than 57 mm2 of silicon mounted on a PCB with a board area less than 13 cm2, the Mini Digital Camera highlights the integration and reduction in silicon and board area which has enabled Vivitar to bring a toy camera to market at a price point below $10.
When compared to a teardown of a toy camera in 1999, the KB JamCam required sixteen ICs with a die area of 198 mm2 mounted on a PCB over 49 cm2. At a price point of $99, the JamCam would have been relegated to a spot under the tree instead of hanging above the fireplace.
If semiconductor integration and digital camera price erosion continues at the same unabated pace over the next nine years as it has over the previous nine, expect today's $99, 7.2-megapixel digital camera with autofocus, face detection, QVGA movie mode, 22 Mbytes of memory and flash to end up as tomorrow's $10 blister-packaged stocking stuffer.
Sure those nagging details like CCD versus CMOS and more substantive glass lenses with moving parts may hinder progress a bit, but the concept remains: Yesterday's under-the-tree gadget can often become tomorrow's stocking stuffer.
— Jeff Brown is a principle analyst at Portelligent.
