The camera module supply chain has entered an adjustment period

According to statistical reports from professional research institutions, the global output value of CMOS camera modules in 2013 was about 13 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 28.7% over the previous year, and in 2014 it will reach 15.9 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 22.3% year-on-year. Mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers are the main force in this market. Among them, smartphones have accounted for more than 80% of the camera module shipments. In addition, security monitoring, wearable electronics, car cameras and other fields are also in rapid growth. Since these markets still have large profit margins, they are also some emerging markets that module manufacturers are working hard to develop. .

Industrial supply chain faces reintegration

With regard to the increasingly fiercely competitive mobile phone camera module market, some manufacturers said that the domestic market was originally dominated by local large and small module manufacturers, and terminal manufacturers were less involved. But now, more and more manufacturers join this market. More and more companies, including Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese companies, are also stepping up their deployment in the domestic market. For products with different market positioning, as the overall module market price is gradually decreasing, high-end modules mostly increase product performance to increase added value, and strive to keep them within a reasonable price range; low-end modules follow Industry development, while ensuring product quality, promote more products that meet customer needs.

    At the same time, the competition of mobile phone camera module manufacturers is also reflected in the integration of the supply chain. What is more prominent is the CMOS sensor. In the past, such suppliers have always been dominated by foreign brands, especially in the high-end market. Take SONY, OmniVision, Aptina (acquired by ON Semiconductor), and Samsung as important manufacturers. Today, with the rapid rise of domestic design, foundry, packaging and testing companies such as Gekewei, BYD, SPIC, SMIC, Jingfang Technology, Huatian Technology, etc., it is expected to break the original pattern of oligarchic competition. It will bring more benefits to many camera module manufacturers.

    In terms of VCM voice coil motors, the popularization of OIS (optical image stabilization) function has brought new development opportunities for a group of related manufacturers. In the market where module manufacturers or mobile phone manufacturers are the end customers, the main suppliers of VCM motors include SHICOH, HYSONIC, TDK, Mitsumi, etc. Due to the optical image stabilization technology, it is necessary to add a gyroscope to the original VCM motor, which makes production difficult. Larger, lower product yield, and fewer matching driver IC manufacturers. Therefore, in the process of rapid evolution of different technical solutions, it is also possible to break the original competitive situation in the industry. In this field, domestic companies including King Long, Biluo Electronics, Shizun Technology, and Youhua Micro are also a technical force that cannot be ignored.

    In addition, although most manufacturers are still on the sidelines for the use of MEMS mechanisms to achieve auto-focusing functions, at the end of March this year, OFILM announced the acquisition of MEMS camera technology patents and related assets of DOC, a subsidiary of Tessera in the United States, and will be committed to promoting in the future The industrialization of MEMS cameras; recently, ST STMicroelectronics has adopted thin film piezoelectric (TFP) MEMS technology and co-designed with its partner poLight an autofocus camera function that can simulate the human eye. It is said that the focusing speed is the current VCM motor The battery power consumption is only 1/20 of that, and mass production is expected in mid-2015. All these signs indicate that with unique application advantages, this technology has become an important technical reserve for manufacturers in the next stage after continuous breakthroughs and innovations.

Pixel and function competition is increasing

    Analyzing the application status of the market at this stage, Ma Liang, deputy general manager of R&D of Truly Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., concluded that user needs are mainly reflected in thinness, small size, high pixels, large aperture, and a richer camera experience. Take mainstream mobile phones above 1,000 yuan as an example. The front camera adopts 5 million and 8 million pixel FF specifications, and the rear camera adopts 8 million and 13 million pixel AF specifications. In the market, domestic mobile phone manufacturers represented by OPPP, VIVO, Meizu, etc. are working hard to improve the pixels and functions of the camera to bring consumers better photo effects and customer experience. Other mobile phone manufacturers are also paying more and more attention The camera effect of mobile phones has become increasingly competitive in terms of camera pixels and functions.