Toshiba is set to boost production of CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors by 20% to 11 million units per month in the April-September half of the fiscal 2011 (from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011), with an aim to tap growing global demand for CMOS image sensors used in digital cameras and mobile phones, especially in emerging markets, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on April 24. Currently, Toshiba produces CMOS image sensors at its plant located in Oita Prefecture, which focuses mainly on the production of system chips. With a little capital investment, Toshiba is projected to also manufacture CMOS image sensors at another relatively new plant in Nagasaki Prefecture, which mainly produces high-performance Cell microprocessors.

 

In addition, Toshiba also plans to launch a new type of CMOS image sensor in the April-September half of the fiscal 2011, and the new CMOS image sensor will be manufactured at Toshiba's Oita plant, with an initial production capacity of 500,000 units per month.

 

According to the same source, Toshiba's Oita plant used to produce CMOS image sensors with a monthly capacity of 15 million units in fiscal 2008 (from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008) but dropped to nine million units in the October-March half of fiscal 2009 (from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009) due to the global financial turmoil.