July 9, 2008 — Siimpel Corporation, a supplier of optical microsystems solutions, and VistaPoint Technologies, a business unit of Flextronics and supplier of mobile camera solutions have introduced the first silicon MEMS-based autofocus camera for the handset market. Based on the SiimpelFocus SF9x design, VistaPoint has begun production of its Model FCM-3ADF1S 3 megapixel camera as part of its efforts to integrate high-performance features into mobile handset cameras similar to those found in digital still cameras.

The FCM-3ADF1S is a high-performance, compact 3 megapixel (MP) auto-focus camera using a 1/3.2 inch CMOS image sensor, a high-quality lens, and Siimpel’s MEMS-based autofocus technology for low power consumption and best-in-class image quality. The FCM-3ADF1S camera is now shipping to a leading handset customer.

“This joint development effort confirms our strategy of integrating our unique silicon MEMS-based designs into camera phones in order to enable key digital camera features such as autofocus, shutter, zoom, and image stabilization into mobile handsets while reducing the camera size and power consumption,” says Shawn Maloney, vice president of marketing, sales, and business development for Siimpel. “Our partnership with VistaPoint, a leader in camera phone development, has been a critical part of our efforts to bring this technology to market.”

“Our work with Siimpel is a key piece of our commitment and ongoing strategy of bringing better technology and products to the mobile market,” adds Mike Walters, general manager of VistaPoint’s camera module group.
Siimpel and VistaPoint will continue to collaborate on future camera designs that improve the performance of camera phones. This will include integrating additional high-end camera features such as shutter, image stabilization, and zoom while further meeting the handset market’s ongoing requirement for smaller sized, lower power camera devices.