Creative Sensor Incorporated (CSI), a Taiwan-based maker of color contact image-sensor modules for multi-function peripherals, will invest about NT$100 million (US$3.1 million) in a production line for liquid lenses, with small-volume shipments slated to begin by the end of 2006, according to company president Doris Hsu.
The production line, which will be installed in CSI's manufacturing site in Wuxi, China, will initially have a production capacity of 100,000 liquid lenses a month, using techniques licensed from the France-based Varioptic, Hsu added.
Under a cooperative agreement between Varioptic and CSI, the French company will be responsible for soliciting orders for liquid lenses from the world's leading handset vendor, while the local image-sensor company will undertake OEM production, Hsu indicated.
Since liquid lenses are more competitive in terms of production costs and manufacturing process, as compared to prevailing handset-use camera modules, some other companies, including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, are also engaging in the development of liquid-lens modules, Hsu said.

CSI showcases its forthcoming liquid lens.
Photo: Andrea Liu, DigiTimes, August 2006




