Why do camera modules use small-size EEPROM chips?

火辣西米秀

Why do camera modules use small-size EEPROM chips? [Copy link]

Why do camera modules use EEPROM?
In the past, various camera-related parameters in camera modules were placed in the internal storage space of the sensor (OTP, which supports up to three burns). The disadvantages are self-evident. Once an error occurs in burning data in the OTP, the sensor will be scrapped, increasing the production cost. In addition, the sensor storage space is generally small. As consumers' demands for camera module imaging quality and fast focus increase, the data stored in the camera module (lens parameters, white balance parameters, autofocus position information and other factory settings and version information, etc.) are getting larger and larger, and the internal space of the sensor can no longer meet the demand. EEPROM meets the various requirements of camera modules for parameter storage with its versatility, stable data storage, and various specifications and capacities. At present, ordinary 8M/13M and above camera modules use 16-64K EEPROM memory, and camera modules with OIS, dual cameras and other functions use larger capacity 64-128K EEPROM memory.
The past and present of EEPROM for camera modules -
In the EEPROM market for camera modules, it used to be dominated by European, American and Japanese companies, with products from companies such as Onsemi, ST, Atmel and Rohm being the main representatives. The EEPROM products of these companies have good performance, but the price is high and the localization service cannot keep up. For this reason, the camera module industry hopes that domestic EEPROM memory can replace similar products from Europe, America and Japan. Fortunately, today, leading domestic EEPROM memory companies such as Fudan Micro (FM) and Juchen (GT) have begun to rapidly occupy the EEPROM market for camera modules with better cost performance.
In terms of performance, Fudan Micro is comparable to European and American brands such as Onsemi and ST, but it has more advantages in supply, price and service. Fudan Micro (FM)'s EEPROM memory has already occupied an important position in the fields of industrial control instruments, electric meters, Bluetooth, PC peripherals, home appliances and other fields in China. Now it has quickly entered the field of camera modules, showing its strong competitive advantage. It can be said that the use of EEPROM memory in the camera module industry has become a mainstream and trend.
Among many domestic EEPROM chips, Shanghai Belling has launched several WLCSP packaged EEPROM products in response to the characteristics of the mobile phone camera CCM module market. With the vigorous development of the CCM market at home and abroad, Shanghai Belling has gradually launched a new generation of wide voltage WLCSP packaged EEPROM products since 2015. The main models are: BL24C16/BL24C32/BL24C64/BL24C128.