Camera modules tested for SMIA compliance

RFI Global Services (RFI) has launched the market's first handset camera module test services. RFI is the first laboratory to be approved by the founder members of the SMIA forum, Nokia and STMicroelectronics, who have selected RFI as the first fully qualified SMIA Approved Laboratory to independently test compliance of camera modules. As a developer of the SMIA standards, Nokia will be purchasing SMIA-compliant camera modules for its mainstream camera phone range, which is a huge incentive for manufacturers to adopt the new SMIA standard.

Manufacturers currently developing SMIA products include STMicroelectronics, Micron, Omnivision, Magnachip and Toshiba.

The rapidly increasing demand for camera phones and other mobile imaging devices has created a wide variety of different solutions in the market.

A lack of standards has meant that camera module manufacturers have created their own definitions for electrical interface, protocol and mechanical form, making it difficult for camera phone and mobile imaging manufacturers to 'second-source' the camera module.

The Standard Mobile Imaging Architecture (SMIA) is an open standard available to all companies making, specifying or buying miniature integrated camera modules for use in mobile applications.

The purpose of this initiative is to accelerate the development of camera modules with a common interface and performance specification.

The SMIA forum, cofounded by Nokia and STMicroelectronics in July 2004, has today around 500 members.

Richard Jacklin, Director and Head of RFI's cellular business, commented: 'To become the first SMIA Approved Laboratory is an important milestone for RFI'.

'Our target is to offer camera module manufacturers a quick route for independently tested and approved products that will comply with the SMIA standard'.

Janne Haavisto, Director Audio Visual Systems, Nokia said: 'To have the first SMIA Approved Laboratory is a significant step to speeding up the roll-out of SMIA approved camera phones and we look forward to RFI's co-operation with the members of the SMIA forum'.

'Setting up an independent test laboratory complements the SMIA forum's target of streamlining and accelerating camera module development'.

Jean-Yves Gomez, Vice President and General Manager of STMicrolectronics' imaging division commented: 'There has been huge momentum behind SMIA despite the lack of a compliance test house'.

'The selection of RFI as the first SMIA Approved Laboratory is yet another milestone in establishing SMIA as the standard for camera modules'.