Tokyo –
said Monday that
it plans to invest 100 billion yen (about $1.2 billion) to increase its
production of image sensors, used in digital cameras and smartphones.
The proposed investment also calls for doubling production
capacity for both CCD and CMOS image sensors.
Sony said it plans to make the 100 billion yen investment in the
Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corp. at the Nagaski Technology Center by the end of
its fiscal year (March 31, 2012).
The investments will further strengthen Sony’s production
capacity for Exmor and Exmor R CMOS image sensors in line with growing demand
for smartphones and digital still cameras, the company said in statement.
The proposed expansion combined with a 40 billion yen investment
announced in September would boost Sony’s total production capacity for CCD and
CMOS image sensors from the current 25,000 wafers per month level to
approximately 50,000 wafers per month by end of March 2012, the company said.
