Renesas Electronics Introduces New Optical Image Stabilizer Driver IC for Smartphones and Tablet PC Cameras

Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the development of the RAA305170GBM, an optical image stabilizer (OIS) control driver IC for use in camera-equipped mobile phones and tablet PCs. 

Renesas Electronics Optical Image Stabilizer Driver IC RAA305170GBM for Smartphones and Tablet PC Cameras

The RAA305170GBM is the first OIS driver IC available [Note 1] with the three systems of sensor/driver circuits for smartphones, raising the performance of functions such as Image Stabilization AF [Note 2].

With the RAA305170GBM, product developers can bring high performance on par with that of standalone digital cameras to the smartphones or tablet PC camera modules. This level of performance allows smartphones and PCs to meet general consumer demand for camera functionality that enables them to capture high-quality video and still photos without ever missing a good shot, while uploading these videos and still photos to the web immediately without any need for image processing.

In recent years the demand for smartphones has grown rapidly within the mobile phone market, with matching increases both in the number of mobile Internet users and in the variety of applications and content. In addition, as the proportion of video among the images posted on the Internet has grown, consumers have come to demand higher pixel counts and more advanced functionality in their smartphone and tablet PC cameras. This has led to a growing demand in smartphone products market for image stabilization functionality.

Smartphones and tablet cameras need optical image stabilization function because they are susceptible to blurry images caused by shaking. Although low-cost electronic image stabilizers are widely used in smartphone cameras, the stabilization functionality tends to become less adequate as the camera resolution increases. Digital cameras can prevent blurry images caused by shaking through complementary functions such as diaphragm and high-speed shutter. Smartphone cameras, on the other hand, have limited space and they require alternate measure.

The image stabilization technology addresses these quality concerns by aligning the lens with the shaking of the camera, leveraging the technology developed by Renesas, used in compact digital cameras. The technological innovations accumulated in this way are incorporated into this new OIS driver IC, which is capable of three voice coil monitor (VCM) drivers [Note 3], as the first product with this capacity for the smartphone and tablet market.

Key Features of the RAA305170GBM:

(1) The first OIS driver IC available with three systems of sensor/driver circuits for smart phones, raising the performance of functions such as Image Stabilization AF
Three systems of sensor / driver circuits can independently control three VCM actuators and the corresponding to closed loop control of AF, contributing to high performance of OIS and high-speed AF control.

( 2) RL78 CPU core with servo control DSP for high-performance image stabilization using parallel processing
Processing is divided between the RL78, which detects and processes data on lens position gap, and the DSP, which drives the image stabilization lens. This enables excellent image stabilization performance with low power operation by a low clock frequency and with high-speed servo response by the servo control DSP.

(3) Support for actuator noise reduction and thermal drift [Note 4] compensation
The on-chip DSP makes it possible with digital filters to reduce audible noises from actuator operation and to decrease gyro sensor output drift due to temperature variations. In addition, a variety of actuator types can be accommodated, enabling support for stabilization methods such as module tilt [Note 5], lens tilt [Note 6], and lens shift [Note 7]. 

(4) On-chip flash memory for rapid camera startup so no photo opportunities are missed
The on-chip nonvolatile flash memory eliminates the need to download firmware from an external device. As a result, the CPU startup time following power-on is reduced from the 40 milliseconds (msec.) with previous Renesas products with no flash memory to only 0.7 msec. for the RAA305170GBM. This means that all opportunities for a good shot will never be missed.

By storing the control firmware and data in flash memory, changes to the product specifications or control parameters can be accommodated through firmware updates and can be updated after the product has entered mass production. It is also possible to store data such as model-specific actuator trimming values [Note 8] in the flash memory, and access this data very efficiently.

Renesas plans to actively promote sales and introduce new products in this market and targets to achieve a 50% market share in this product category by 2015.

Pricing and Availability
Samples of the RAA305170GBM are available now, priced at US$10.0 per unit. Mass production of the RAA305170GBM is expected to reach a scale of 10,000,000 units per month in March 2014. (Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.)

Notes
[Note 1] The first OIS driver IC in the world: researched by Renesas as of July 11, 2013
[Note 2] AF: “Auto focus,” a function that focuses the camera automatically.
[Note 3] VCM: “Voice coil motor,” a type of linear actuator.
[Note 4] Thermal drift: A phenomenon in which the zero point (the reference position) of the sensor varies when the ambient temperature changes.
[Note 5] Module tilt: An image stabilization method involving control of the entire camera module. It provides excellent performance, but module thickness is a concern.
[Note 6] Lens tilt: Except for a dedicated lens, the entire module is fixed. Stabilization is achieved by tilting the lens only.
[Note 7] Lens shift: An image stabilization method in which the lenses inside the module are shifted mechanically. This contributes to reduced module thickness.
[Note 8] Trimming values: Adjustment values that are needed to compensate for variations in the characteristics of individual actuator units or differences due to the housings in which they are mounted.