iPhone 18: Samsung should produce the image sensors for Apple

Apple has announced “an innovative new technology for the production of chips”, “which has never been used worldwide before.” Corresponding chips will be produced for Apple in Austin, Texas, for Apple. They should “optimize the performance and energy efficiency of Apple products, including iPhone devices that are delivered worldwide.” The announcement is part of Apple’s plan to invest $ 600 billion in the United States.

Which manufacturing technology or chip type is leaves Apple open. When reading it for the first time, this could sound like a state-of-the-art manufacturing process, for example with extreme ultraviolet exposure technology including high numerical aperture (High-NA EU). According to the corresponding reports, including From the Financial Timeshowever, should not be processors, but should be image sensors, among other things for iPhone-18 generation. The sensors are therefore not yet ready for the 17 series.

Stacking chips for cameras

“New technology” does not refer to particularly fine chip structures, but to the sensor construction with several chip levels. It fits that the chips are to be created in Samsung’s older Austin neck conductor work. Samsung wants to produce new manufacturing processes in neighboring Taylor, where a new work is created. However, image sensors do not require particularly fine structures.

Image sensors can be set up on different ways. Apple’s previous supplier Sony relies on up to three sensor systems. In the three -layer image sensors there are the photo diodes for capturing the rays of light on the top. Below is the second location with the pixel transistors to save the load. In the third location, the logic circuits for converting the transistorloads into image information. Sony exposes all three levels on different silicon wafers.

Another approach is the distribution of the necessary red, green and blue pixels to different levels in order to significantly increase the light output. In previous image sensors, the corresponding photo diodes sit next to each other, so that only a third of the incident light is captured. Optimizing the light output would explain Apple’s promise to improve energy efficiency.