Pixel Plus expands new business for facial recognition image sensor

Pixel Plus, a domestic fabless company, is entering the facial recognition market. This is to secure new growth engines.

According to the information, Pixel Plus plans to launch an image sensor business for facial recognition in China this year. Promote sales and sales activities targeting facial recognition module companies. This is the first time that it has entered the facial recognition image sensor business overseas.

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The company plans to diversify its sales structure by expanding its business to the biometrics market from security cameras (CCTV) and automobiles (black boxes, rear cameras, and surround-view monitors), which have been focused so far.

The facial recognition system refers to a technology that verifies the identity by extracting the features of a person and comparing them with a previously stored database (DB). It is used in various fields such as commuting and access, security, and finance.

The role of the image sensor is important to secure an elaborate image of each part of the face, such as a person’s eyes, nose, mouth, and chin. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm technology is also required to identify people with the secured data.

An official of Pixel Plus said, “We have been supplying image sensors to the endoscope and automobile surround view monitor (SVM) markets that require high-definition image sensor technology.” said.

Previously, Pixel Plus released the system-on-chip (SoC) PM1002 for biometrics (fingerprint, face, iris) that requires image processing. Currently, sales are already coming out in the field of fingerprint recognition used for entrance and exit.

Pixel Plus carried out its business with a high view of the growth potential of the facial recognition market. According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the global facial recognition market is expected to grow at an annual average of 20% until 2022, forming a market size of about $9 billion (1.04 trillion won). The size of the facial recognition technology market in China is overwhelming. It is expected to grow at an annual average of more than 50%, exceeding 50 billion yuan (about 870 trillion won) this year.

Last year, Pixel Plus succeeded in diversifying its sales, turning its operating profit into a profit for the first time since 2015. This is thanks to the supply of SVM image sensors and system-on-chip (SoC) to Japanese automobiles through a Taiwanese auto parts company from the second half of last year.