Mattson's Etch System Producing Devices at Major CMOS Manufacturer
Mattson Technology has announced that a major CMOS image sensor (CIS) manufacturer has bought one of its paradigmE etch systems for silicon etching. The tool was shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011, for use in its production facility.
Rampant demand for CIS technology is driven by the ever-increasing use of cameras in mobile handsets, tablet PCs, notebook PCs and automobiles. Now requiring image sensors with higher resolution and image quality with reduced power consumption is driving the industry's shift from the use of charge coupled device (CCD) array technology to CIS. Over 90% of image sensor unit shipments in 2011 were CIS devices, and market research firm IHS iSupply says that CIS unit shipments will grow up to 97% by 2015.
"Bolstered by their use in mobile handsets and an ever-growing number of other devices and applications, CIS devices have become the dominant technology," says Rene George, vice president and general manager of Mattson Technology's Plasma Products Group.
"Mattson's position in this market segment is an important part of continuing our etch market share growth. The acceptance of our paradigmE system, which is already established in the DRAM, NAND and foundry/logic segments, extends our advanced etch technology into the CIS market. The paradigmE will continue to deliver the excellent processing performance, high productivity and low cost-of-ownership our customers require to ramp their production of advanced devices to serve the mobile electronics market."
