Samsung Electronics announced an 8.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor (CIS). Notably, an extended photo diode technology was implemented to achieve higher light sensitivity and saturation levels, resulting in an enhanced fill factor. Furthermore, it provides the same image quality as the charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors currently used in most digital cameras and camcorders. Since the sensor only uses one-tenth the power of a CCD image sensor, it could replace CCDs in mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders. Samsung’s present portfolio of CIS technology spans across the range of 1.3 through 5Mp resolutions with the 8Mp CIS expected to be available in the second half of this year. The CIS market is expected to show high demand for high-resolution devices. The current outlook toward 2009 shows a compound annual growth rate of over 90 percent for 3Mp and higher resolution devices over a four-year term from 2006 through 2009.