United Microelectronics (UMC), through its takeover of Mie Fujitsu Semiconductor (MIFS), has entered the supply chain for Sony's CMOS image sensors, according to industry sources.
UMC in October completed its full acquisition of MIFS, a Japan-based 12-inch foundry capable of 90nm, 65nm and 40nm process manufacturing.
MIFS has been among Sony's major foundry partners, and will still have about 30% of its available capacity utilized for Sony's orders after its acquisition by UMC, the sources said. MIFS has been renamed United Semiconductor Japan (USJC) after the acquisition.
Through USJC, the Taiwan-based pure-play foundry will also be able to expand its Japan-based client portfolio and grasp new business opportunities in Japan's automotive and other niche market sectors, the sources indicated.
TSMC is another foundry partner of Sony, which reportedly has placed orders for high-end CIS products with the pure-play foundry, the sources noted.
Both TSMC and UMC declined to comment on the report citing customer confidentiality.
Sony is among the world's few CIS suppliers including Samsung and OmniVision. CIS demand is set to be robust for smartphones, thanks to rollouts of new 5G-capable models and the rising popularity of multi-lens camera phones. Sony is reportedly a major supplier of CIS for high-end smartphones.
UMC co-president Jason Wang disclosed in a recent interview that UMC's MIFS acquisition will bring UMC an additional 12-inch manufacturing capacity of over 30,000 wafers monthly and boost UMC's global market share to 22% in specialty processes.
Acquiring MIFS is in line with UMC's increased focus on specialty process nodes
Photo: Digitimes file photo
Article translated by Jessie Shen
