Sony to split off fast-growing image sensor business

The division will be separate from Sony‘s devices group as a large reorganization takes place while other groups, like batteries and storage, will be folded in other groups. Research and development, business control, deals and different operations identified with the semiconductor business, which are shortly regulated by business gatherings and R&D units inside Sony Corporation, will be exchanged to Sony Semiconductor Solutions.

Last year, for example, Sony’s image sensors dominated its competitors, making about 40 percent of all new image sensors in the market.

This is logical, and in this sense Sony made a decision to place the new company in a string of satellite companies that will keep sensors as the main focus.

A new company called Sony Semiconductor Solutions will be set up and start operations on April 1, 2016. If this is the case, that would mean better, beefier chips in our cameras as time goes on.

Sony said the integration of business functions and manufacturing operations will ensure a continued, stable profit generator.

Sony said the changes are aimed at enabling its semiconductor, battery and storage media businesses to “more rapidly adapt to their respective changing market environments and generate sustained growth”.

Imaging sensors is seen as a key area of expertise that Sony can exploit.

Sony is regarded as the market leader in the image sensor industry. Its sensor rivals include OmniVision Technologies and Samsung Electronics. The company was responsible for putting two image sensors in each new iPhone, generating as much as $20 on the sale of each handset according to analysts. That came shortly after Olympus – the world’s largest provider of endoscopes – was hit by scandal. Sony Semiconductor Corp. and Sony LSI Design Inc., which cover Sony’s semiconductor manufacturing and design operations, respectively, will become subsidiaries of Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Sony said.