Samsung announced a 3-megapixel (M-pixel) CMOS image sensor (CIS) with a 1/4-inch lens aperture that is well suited for ultra slim camera phones.

"Our 1.75um-pixel, 1/4-inch lens aperture 3M-pixel CIS is a unique combination of Samsung's high resolution sensor technology and high speed serial interface that brings digital still camera-level picture quality to mobile handsets," said Yong-Hee Lee, vice president of Samsung Electronics' System LSI Division.

Samsung's new 1.75um-size pixel enables the 1/4-inch lens aperture to reduce the camera module size by 30 percent. The small form factor allows the 1.75um-pixel, 1/4-inch lens aperture 3M-pixel CIS to immediately replace a 1/4-inch lens aperture 2M-pixel CIS module, as it shares the same physical measurements with the new 3M-pixel CIS.

By utilizing 90-nanometer (nm) process technology, Samsung expects to mass produce the new 1.75um pixel, 1/4-inch lens aperture 3-Mp CIS in the first quarter of 2007.