News and Research on Vimicro International Corp. (VIMC)
Business Description
Vimicro International Corporation, a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the design, development, and marketing of mixed-signal semiconductor products and solutions. The company conducts most of its operations in China.
The company is a supplier of PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processors. Its multimedia processors are incorporated into the products of the PC and embedded notebook camera vendors, such as Logitech, as well as notebook computer vendors, such as Lenovo.
Products
The company primarily designs, develops and markets mixed-signal multimedia processors for PC and embedded notebook cameras, as well as for mobile phones. It provides customers with system-level solutions that include integrated semiconductors, customizable firmware and software, software development tools, reference designs, and applications support. Its products support a range of standards, platforms and components in order to facilitate its customers’ designs and their assembly and supply chain management processes.
PC and Embedded Notebook Camera Multimedia Processors
The company designs various models of PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processors based on the same technology platform with modifications in successive models with improved performance and functionality. Its PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processors are fully compatible with sensors that are based on CMOS or CCD technology, the two primary types of technology for sensors. All of its PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processors are single-chip processors manufactured under its own brand name using proprietary intellectual property.
VC0336: VC0336 is a controller chip for USB 1.1/2.0 PC Cameras with high resolution up to 5mega pixel; supports 2 Channel Audio ADC or 2 channel Digital Microphones for audio recording; supports UVC, UAC and one Parallel and one SMIA sensor interface; supports Microsoft Microphone Array (dual Mic); and supports Video & Audio Synchronization, special HW Compression for 2mega ~ 5mega high speed capture;
VC0301V: VC0301V is a controller chip for USB 1.1/2.0 PC Cameras with high resolution up to 2mega pixel; and supports UVC;
VC0332: VC0332 is a controller chip for USB 1.1/2.0 PC Cameras with high resolution up to 2mega pixel; supports mono Audio ADC for audio recording; and supports UVC and UAC;
VC0331: VC0331 is a controller chip for USB 1.1/2.0 PC Cameras with high resolution up to 2mega pixel; supports UVC; and small footprint QFN package fit to embedded camera applications;
ZS0211: ZS0211 is a single-chip solution with an integrated USB controller and transceiver;
VC0326: VC0326 is a high-speed imaging processor with 0.18µm technology for PC and embedded notebook cameras, supports a 1.3 mega pixel CMOS sensor with a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second at VGA resolution; integrates noise cancellation features, a USB 2.0 controller and transceiver, a JPEG codec, two channel audio ADC, and an AC97 Interface; and supports human face tracking applications;
VC0325: VC0325 is high-speed imaging processor with 0.18µm technology for PC and embedded notebook cameras; supports a 1.3 mega pixel CMOS sensor with a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second at VGA resolution; integrates a USB 2.0 controller and transceiver, a JPEG codec, and an AC97 interface; and supports human face tracking applications;
VC0323: VC0323 is a high-speed imaging processor with 0.18µm technology for PC and embedded notebook cameras; supports a 1.3 mega pixel CMOS sensor with a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second at VGA resolution; and integrates a USB 2.0 controller and transceiver;
VC0301PLH: VC0301PLH is a high-speed single-chip processor supporting a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second at VGA resolution, with an integrated USB controller and transceiver;
VC0321: VC0321 is a single-chip processor targeted at the high-speed PC and embedded notebook camera market, supporting a 1.3 mega pixel CMOS sensor with a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second at VGA resolution; and integrates a USB 2.0 controller and transceiver;
VC0301PL: VC0301PL is a single-chip solution with an integrated USB controller and transceiver;
VC0305: VC0305 is a single-chip solution for the PC and embedded notebook camera applications, with an integrated USB controller and transceiver; and supports all major image processing functions;
The company’s PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processors have been incorporated into PC and embedded notebook cameras sold by PC and embedded notebook camera vendors, including Logitech, Sony and other brands.
Mobile Phone Multimedia Processors
The company’s mobile phone multimedia processors are specifically designed to address the need for solutions for embedded cameras, video and audio functions in mobile phones. All of its mobile phone multimedia processors are sold under its own brand name.
VC0978: VC0978 is a mixed-signal single-chip mobile audio processor with 0.18µm technology; embedded with hardwired MP3 decoder, 64-channel MIDI synthesizer, 10-band equalizer, stereo audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, mono speaker amplifier, 8-bit MCU, FAT 12/16/32 file system, Nandflash controller, and a SD/MMC card controller; and provides a solution for 2.5G and 3G music phones;
VC0548; VC0548 is a single-chip mobile camera processor with 0.13µm technology; integrates hardwired JPEG codec, 1.3 mega pixel camera processor, LCD controller, scaler, power management unit; and provides a camera solution for the 2.5G handset market;
VC0528: VC0528 is a single-chip mobile camera processor with 0.13µm technology; integrates hardwired JPEG codec, 0.3 mega pixel camera processor, LCD controller, scaler, and power management unit; and provides a camera solution for the 2.5G handset market;
Vinno II: Vinno II is a single-chip mobile multimedia processor with 0.13µm technology; supports a FAT 12/16/32 file system; powered by an embedded microprocessor core with low-power consumption; integrates a MPEG4 codec, a H.264 Codec, a 2 mega pixel camera processor, an AMR codec, an MP3 decoder, an AAC/AAC+ decoder, a WMA decoder, a MIDI synthesizer and a game engine; provides a solution for the 2.5G handset market; and also supports video conferencing for 3G phones;
Vinno I: Vinno I is a mixed-signal single-chip mobile multimedia processor with 0.18µm technology; embedded with 1.3 mega pixel camera processor; integrates a JPEG codec, an ISP (Image Signal Processor), a LCD controller, an MP3 decoder, a 64-channel MIDI synthesizer, a 3D-sound processor, a 10-band equalizer, a stereo audio speaker/headphone amplifier, a stereo voice ADC, an 8-bit MCU, a FAT 12/16 file system, a flash controller, and a SD/MMC card controller; and provides a solution for 2.5G and 3G phones;
VC0968: VC0968 is a high-speed integrated mixed-signal mobile audio processor with 0.18µm technology; integrates a FAT 16/32 file system storage, an MP3 decoder, a 64-polyphony MIDI synthesizer, an IMA-ADPCM decoder and a 2-channel ADCs, DACs and power amplifiers; also integrates a SD/MMC/T-flash and NAND flash interfaces; provides mobile audio center functionalities; supports transfer of audio data from PC or other devices through USB 2.0 and SD/MMC card memory interface; enables music and 3D virtual sound effects; supports recording and playback of phone conversations, answering machine messages, and MMS/Voice mail with musical background features; and enables digital rights management, or DRM, protection of music content through an integrated advanced encryption standard decryption engine;
VC0927: VC0927 is a mobile audio processor with 0.18µm technology; integrates 64-polyphony wavetable MIDI synthesizer; supports playback of MIDI ringtones in various formats, including SMF, SP-MIDI, VMD, and i-Melody, as well as playback of real-time audio streams in ADPCM format; offers additional features, such as user-defined musical instruments, user-defined sound effects, rhythm vibration, pulsating RGB color LED, and caller ID; and supports hands-free operations, media playback on stereo headphones and karaoke functions;
VC0917; VC0917 is a mobile audio processor with 0.18µm technology; integrates 40-polyphony wavetable MIDI synthesizer; supports playback of MIDI ringtones in various formats, including SMF, SP-MIDI, VMD, and i-Melody, as well as playback of real-time audio streams in ADPCM format; offers various features, such as user-defined sound effect, rhythm vibration, pulsating RGB color LED and caller ID; and supports hands-free operations, media playback over stereo headphones and karaoke functions;
VC0937: VC0937 is a mobile audio processor supporting a range of audio applications including MP3 playback, Hi-Fi ringtone, polyphonic ringtone, game background music and streaming audio playback;
VC0568: VC0568 is a 1.3 mega-pixel camera controller chip enabling real-time capture and display of video and still images; supports 16x digital zoom, with pan functions, overlay and alpha-blending functions between camera’s video stream and host CPU’s graphics; and includes 384KB of embedded SRAM and an integrated graphics engine delivering graphics acceleration;
VC0938: VC0938 is a low-power single-chip mobile audio processor supporting a range of applications such as MP3 playback, Hi-Fi ringtone, polyphonic ringtone, game background music and streaming audio playback;
VC0558: VC0558 is a single-chip video processor enabling images and video clips communication between a mobile phone and display; directly connects to CMOS/CCD image sensors and LCD display modules; and supports 8x digital zoom and includes 2D graphics acceleration, image rotation and special image effects;
VC0918: VC0918 is a single-chip audio processor providing music ringtones and game sounds for mobile phones; supports karaoke functions and 3-D sound effects; and integrates a 40-polyphony wave-table MIDI synthesizer;
VC0928: VC0928 is a version of the VC0918 with 64-polyphony wave-table MIDI synthesizer and support for various MIDI file formats as well as user-defined musical instruments;
The company, in 2006, shipped approximately 18.6 million units, of mobile phone multimedia processors. Its mobile phone multimedia processors have been used by international and China-based mobile phone brand owners, such as Samsung, LG, Bird, Lenovo Mobile, Pantech, UTStarcom, ZTE and Huawei, as well as mobile phone design houses based in China, including China Techfaith, CECW and Yuhua.
Home TV Cameras
The company, in December 2004, introduced the VC0701, a mixed-signal single-chip home TV camera multimedia processor, which can be used for both NTSC and PAL system display devices and which is fully compatible with sensors based on CMOS technology. It has jointly developed the VC0701 with PixelPlus Co., Ltd., or PixelPlus. In June 2006, the company introduced the VC0702, a home TV camera controller chip that can be used for both NTSC and PAL system display devices. VC0702 has been applied to home surveillance system, automobile rear-view system and video door phone system. The features of VC0701 and VC0702 multimedia processor is as follows:
VC0702: VC0702 is a high performance video camera processor designed for applications that require small package, low voltage; supports various video outputs, such as interlaced/progressive PAL/NTSC composite video output, RGB/YCbCr component video output, and S-Video output; and
VC0701: VC0701 integrates image processor supporting PC camera compatibility with tradition television input/output formats, such as PAL/NTSC; provides a video camera system using traditional TV, progressive TV and VGA monitors for a home TV camera system solution.
Other Products
The company is in the process of developing and selling mixed-signal power management chips as part of its mobile system solutions. In 2006, the company shipped 159.7 million units of power management chips.
Sales and Marketing
The company’s direct sales staff is located in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Taipei, covering major regional markets in mainland China, Taiwan and Korea.
Customers
The company also sells products to distributors, to original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, who incorporate its multimedia processors in their end products, and to design houses and module manufacturers.
PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processors market: The company’s customers include Akkord; HanVision Electronics Co., Ltd.; Hongtaili; Suzhou Logitech Electronics Co., Ltd.; Serome Electronics Inc.; and WooSung Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
Mobile phone multimedia processors market: The company’s customers include Samsung Electronics; LG; NingBo Bird Co., Ltd.; China Techfaith; Lenovo Mobile Communication Technology Ltd.; Pantech Communication, Inc.; UTStarcom Inc.; ZTE Corporation; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; JRD Communication Inc.; Longcheer Holdings Limited; and Ginwave Technologies.
Competition
The company, in the PC and embedded notebook camera multimedia processor market, competes primarily with ALi Corporation, EMPIA Technology, Sonix Technology and Sunplus Technology, as well as from large, diversified semiconductor vendors such as Philips.
The company, in the mobile phone multimedia processor market, competes with vendors of audio processors and vendors of image, video and graphic processors. Vendors of audio processors include NEC Electronics, Oki Electric, Rohm, Sunplus Technology, Winbond Electronics Corp. and Yamaha. Vendors of image, video and graphic processors include ATI Technologies, CoreLogic, MtekVision, Nvidia, Sanyo, Seiko Epson and Sunplus Technology.
The company, in addition, also competes with suppliers of semiconductor solutions to mobile phone manufacturers, which may be in a position to bundle or integrate multimedia processing functionality with their existing products. These suppliers include Analog Devices, Broadcom, Freescale, Infineon, Intel, Mediatek, NEC Electronics, Philips, QUALCOMM, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments.
History
Vimicro International Corporation was founded in 1999.
