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I note this is currently listed on STM under Status & Availability as "EVALUATION" which I don't recall seeing before. Definition of "EVALUATION" is "Product under characterization. Limited Engineering examples available"
https://www.st.com/en/imaging-and-photonics-solutions/cmos-image-sensors/products.html
On that basis I think volume orders are unlikely in the near term. Specs list no mention of SWIR.
It's listed as a new product here though https://www.mouser.co.uk/c/sensors/optical-sensors/?m=STMicroelectronics with a price of £5.04EA dropping to £2.90 for orders of 2500 and orders above 5000 subject to quote. I assume if you order 200m you can get a bit of a discount.
These specs match those on mouser
https://www.st.com/content/dam/AME/2023/sensors-converge-2023/pdf/sensors-swir-time-of-flight.pdf
Mouser says non -stocked..whether that means awaiting inventory and what lead time there may be is unclear..buy doesnt seem you can buy a VD55G1 and expect delivery as yet.
The evaluation is maybe concerning IF this is the product as it would indicate that the small order received is not necessarily to fulfil a customer order but maybe more to do with STM Scaling production and creating samples ..BT has said he doubts the materials are in customer products yet …so could mean genuine end customer and significant recurring orders are not imminent? Who knows as always a lot of grey and supposition but not surprising folks are trying to get a grip on what the company’s materials are going and trying to understand potential revenue growth.
Kooba it can be seen from two perspectives I suppose:
1. Maybe “concerning” if it’s to fulfil a STM development volume as you suggest IF there are no subsequent orders placed for VD55G1 or other iterations of the same array post characterization
2. Not concerning at all and in line with guidance.
On the latter I think this would give credence to the forecasts. A relatively small initial commercial order from Nanoco’s perspective recently they [STM] scale production and create samples so that they may be ‘characterized’. Some simple google searches on semiconductor characterization certainly backs up the theory VD55G1 is almost certainly not in any production device yet.
If we are to assume STM are confident that the new chip can easily integrate into devices (since its known technology with an added layer of QD film) then they will likely have similar confidence that commercial orders will follow and the supply chain will become complete ergo Nanoco can expect more orders in time and potentially of sufficient scale to reach BE in FY25. Leaping to Apple or Samsung possibly they are indicating integration into mobiles in ’26 or soon after.
You can also see why Nanoco are not able to speak openly about the end use as STM are still essentially in a development phase.
When is something still in R&D phase and when is something a commercial order?
Anyway with the scraps we know..we know nothing really.
We have ended the development phase and received a commercial order in my opinion STM have not ended their development phase hence the lag. I suggested this a while back.
Kooba does your prior investigation on the STM product selector page agree with my observation that the "EVALUATION" status is new? I don't recall seeing it before.
Not 100% i thought i had seen launch or available March previously so there may be a change in designation..difficult to understand the full relevance.
What is interesting on the “commercial” nature of the November order is that commercial orders were subject to a minimum volume ..specified ..but not to shareholders!.
“The agreement also commits ST to taking a specified minimum volume of nanomaterials from Nanoco if the enhanced sensors gain market traction and commercial volumes are required. These would be produced at the existing facility in Runcorn. Given the time taken to qualify devices, we expect this to be late 2021 at the earliest.”
https://www.edisongroup.com/research/supply-agreement-with-stmicroelectronics/26954/
2021..you say ! But anyhow after 2 years of r&d developing bespoke products you might have thought such a minimum commercial order might have been more than $200k or so ( which i believe from published information to be the case..maybe smaller)
To tell us they have a minimum specified volume in the agreement ..but don’t tell us what it was is so Nnanoco ..grey grey and more grey.
I agree the order must have been very small and it is all very opaque (more appropriate terminology don't you think?)
It's all about scaling. I think the company is being very careful what it says and what it says is in my opinion acceptable given my experience in reading other companies communications.....sadly it's just the way of things and I don't expect any change until there is a significant uptake in the technology and a fully functioning supply chain.
Until then there are many risks.
Mmmm
Like a doctor being opaque to his patients maybe ?
It was March then May if I recall and now I can't see a date....
The product data sheet was updated to Version 2 April 26th so the web page was likely updated at the same time to "EVALUATION"
Version 2 changes were:
"Updated title, cover information, and description.
Added ST Bright Sense subbrand, Section 1: Technical specifications, and
Section 2: Acronyms and abbreviations"
The title is interesting "Tiny, clever, low power, 0.56-megapixel, monochrome
global shutter image sensor" I wonder when polychrome sensors become important or will they always be monochrome?
There are actually 3 part numbers for VD55G1 - two were for preview and the latest for "EVALUATION" which again I'm assuming was launched or updated 26th April.
There are no distrubutors reported and the advice is to contact the sales office....
Still early days I suspect in the scaling cycle.
Good digging..though we don’t even know if thats the sensor our materials are in ! Again seems strange to me that stm have been out there demonstrating the great advantage of using QDs in short and near wave infrared sensors yet do not mention them as a USP in their wares. Nothing even in technical spec.
Kooba I suspect you are correct and VD55G1 is not the product we should be focused on.
https://www.st.com/content/dam/AME/2023/sensors-converge-2023/pdf/sensors-swir-time-of-flight.pdf
Pages 11-13 of the attached discussed VG55G1 which is a NIR sensor.
Page 14 discusses SWIR sensor based on Quantum film but there is no product code/part number associated with it in this particular presentation. Quantum Film should mean Quantum Dot enabled film one hopes.
Curiouser and curiouser!
Near infrared is just as valid for Nanoco technology as that termed SWIR so that is not a factor..i raised VD55GI some time ago as being the most likely and haven’t changed that view but also have nothing to confirm it either. But most of the research you can do goes round in circles..there are some good older pieces on STMs use of QDs in sensors but nothing linking that to a current or proposed product. Somewhat frustrating and difficult to know why its such a big secret.
“Nanoco's HEATWAVE™ quantum dots can be tuned to absorb light at different wavelengths across the near-infrared spectrum, rendering them useful for applications including cameras and image sensors.”
Https://youtu.be/dkcqmV_e7n8?si=U-KzKZ4T3QS-R6Bf
Sample kits available from May…
That's just a sales promo they won't happen overnight!
What won’t happen overnight?
Mmmm - Won't become the best thing since sliced bread.
Just like people I suppose !