What Pixelplus Co.,ltd. does

Pixelplus Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ-listed, founded 2000) is a South Korean fabless semiconductor company that designs CMOS image sensors (CIS), image signal processors (ISP), and analog HD video transmitter/receiver chips. The product portfolio spans ~35 SKUs ranging from 0.3MP to 2MP image sensors in both rolling and global shutter variants, PI-series ISP processors for automotive surround view monitoring and DVR systems, and PT/PR-series video Tx/Rx ICs. Underlying these are two proprietary technology platforms: HiperVis (HDR up to 120dB via DCG and multi-exposure, LED Flicker Mitigation, RGB-IR via proprietary Color Noise Adaptation, and BST backside scattering for IR QE) and HiperCat (BSI-based Voltage Mode Global Shutter pixel technology). Several products are AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified with ASIL-B safety functions for automotive use.

The company serves seven vertical markets — automotive (surround view monitoring, rear-view cameras, dash-cams, Driver Monitoring Systems, front cameras for ADAS), security (cameras, door phones, biometrics), smart home (kitchen appliances, environmental sensors), defense (multi-spectral imaging, military surveillance), medical (endoscopes, diagnostic imaging), industrial (machine vision, barcode readers, robots, drones), and emerging AI applications (on-sensor AI, super resolution). Historical milestones include the world's first 1.3MP mobile phone sensor adopted by Samsung in 2003, global #1 share in security camera image sensors in 2013, a direct NASDAQ listing in January 2005, and a subsequent KOSDAQ listing in June 2015.

Pixelplus operates as a fabless semiconductor vendor earning revenue through one-time hardware sales of image sensor and ISP chips, with quote-based B2B pricing determined by volume, specifications, and customer requirements. Go-to-market combines direct sales teams for key accounts (global automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, security and industrial customers) with regional distributors — AlliedSens in the United States and Altech in Spain/Europe — plus direct offices in China and Taiwan and reach into Japan and Southeast Asia. The company is led by founder-CEO Lee Seo-gyu (이서규), who also founded the Korea Fabless Industry Association, and relocated its headquarters to a new Pangyo R&D-focused smart building in March 2024.

Name

Pixelplus Co.,ltd.

Legal name

주식회사 픽셀플러스

Website

https://pixelplus.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pixelplus Co., Ltd. is a Korean fabless semiconductor company that designs CMOS image sensors and image signal processing chips for automotive, security, smart home, defense, medical, and industrial applications, selling through direct sales and authorized distributors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

CMOS Image Sensors

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth) (HDAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH), Edge AI Hardware & NPUs (SoCs, modules, accelerators) (HDAAAJAC), Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG)

Keywords

• CMOS image sensors
• Image signal processors
• Automotive image sensors
• Global shutter sensors
• Machine vision semiconductors

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam-si, Sujeong-gu

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CMOS Image Sensor Sales: Pixelplus designs and sells CMOS image sensors (CIS) to automotive, security, smart home, defense, medical, and industrial customers. Revenue comes from one-time hardware sales of image sensor chips.
2. ISP Chip Sales: Sale of Image Signal Processing (ISP) chips for automotive surround view monitoring, DVR systems, and other video processing applications.
3. Tx/Rx Chip Sales: Sales of video transmitter and receiver chips for analog HD and SD video systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pixelplus is a fabless semiconductor company that designs CMOS image sensors (CIS) and image signal processing (ISP) chips using proprietary pixel, analog, digital, and ISP design technologies. Its products — ranging from 0.3MP to 2MP rolling and global shutter sensors, AEC-Q100/ASIL-B automotive sensors, RGB-IR sensors, SVM processors, and analog HD video Tx/Rx ICs — are sold to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, security camera makers, smart home appliance brands, defense, medical, and industrial machine vision customers.

Product overview

Pixelplus is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in CMOS image sensors (CIS) and image signal processing (ISP) chips. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) Image Sensors including rolling shutter and global shutter variants ranging from 0.3MP to 2MP, featuring HDR, LFM, RGB-IR, and ASIL-B automotive-qualified products; (2) ISP processors (PI series) for surround view monitoring, automotive cameras, and video processing; (3) Video transmitters/receivers (PT/PR series) for analog HD and multi-channel video systems. The company offers proprietary HiperVis technology for high-dynamic-range imaging and HiperCat technology for global shutter applications. Products serve automotive (SVM, rear-view cameras, dash-cams, DMS), security (cameras, door locks, biometrics), smart home (kitchen appliances, environmental sensors), industrial (barcode readers, machine vision, robots), medical (endoscopes), defense (military surveillance, night vision), and emerging AI applications (on-sensor AI, super resolution).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Xkhan: Brand launched in 2011 for D1-class WDR integrated single chip solution products

Products and services

• PKB210K 1/2.72" 2MP RGB Bayer CMOS Image Sensor with Global Shutter, supporting HDR 120dB via Dual Conversion Gain (DCG) and multi-exposure, LED Flicker Mitigation (LFM), and ASIL-B safety function. Qualified to AEC-Q100 Grade 2. Designed for automotive ADAS, DMS, SVM and other safety-critical camera modules.
• PG1200K 1/2.8" 2MP RGB-IR Global Shutter Image Sensor featuring real-time spectral analysis and Pixelplus's proprietary CNA (Color Noise Adaptation) technology that balances RGB color and IR-cancelling noise regionally. Integrated ISP functions. Targeted at RGB-IR applications in security, smart home, and automotive in-cabin monitoring.
• PG7130KA 1/3.92" 1.3MP Global Shutter Image Sensor One Chip with up to 60fps, embedded ISP, auto exposure function, ASIL-B safety function and AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualification. Part of the HiperCat global shutter technology line. Targeted at automotive DMS and machine vision applications.
• PK5130KA 1/3.75" 1.3MP RGB Bayer CMOS Image Sensor with 120dB HDR and LFM at 30fps, DVP/MIPI 2-lane interface. Implements ASIL-B safety function and qualified to AEC-Q100 Grade 2 for automotive applications such as front ADAS cameras, rear-view cameras, and SVM.
• PK9210K 1/2.92" Full HD RGB Bayer CMOS Image Sensor with 120dB HDR at 30fps and 2MP rolling shutter with MIPI 2-lane interface. Targeted at AI home appliances, security, and automotive applications.
• PKA210K 1/2.92" 2MP RGB-IR Bayer CMOS Image Sensor with 120dB HDR, DVP/MIPI 2-lane interface, and an embedded processor that converts RGB-IR to RGB Bayer so the output works with standard RGB Bayer ISPs. Used in smart home, security, and automotive applications.
• PX6130KA 1/3.75" 1.3MP RGB Bayer/YUV CMOS Image Sensor one-chip solution with 120dB HDR using DCG and multi-exposure method. AEC-Q100 Grade 2 / ASIL-B qualified for automotive use.
• PGD030K 1/7.50" VGA BW (black & white) CMOS Image Sensor with global shutter at up to 240fps, advanced 3.0um pixel, and external synchronization support. Targeted at barcode readers, machine vision, robots, and drones.
• PI5008KA Surround View Monitoring (SVM) Processor with 4-channel HDR ISP and Analog HD Receiver. Supports up to 20-bit combined raw Bayer format with comprehensive video processing for automotive surround view and DVR applications.
• PI6018K FHD Image Signal Processor for automotive camera with HD Analog Transmitter. Features AE/AWB, private zone mask, LSC, DPC, BLC, 2D noise reduction, de-mosaic and comprehensive peripheral interfaces for automotive camera modules.
• PR1000K 4-channel Multi-Standard Analog HD Video Receiver and Audio Codec for Long-Reach Analog HD DVR Systems. Features motion detection (64x48 detection cells), camera tampering detection, and 1.46W power consumption. Used in automotive DVR and security video recording.
• PT1000K Multi-Standard Analog HD/SD Video Transmitter supporting 1080p25/30, 720p, 480i, 576i with I2C interface and 0.26W power consumption. Designed for analog HD/SD camera and automotive video systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• HDR up to 120dB (2x improvement over standard 60dB cameras)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• AlliedSensregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlliedSens is an authorized distributor for Pixelplus products in the United States market, based in San Diego, CA. They serve automotive and industrial image sensor customers.
• AltechregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAltech is an authorized distributor for Pixelplus products in Spain and the European market, based in Tarragona, Spain. Representative Francesc Olle manages customer relationships.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sony Semiconductor Solutions: Global #1 CMOS image sensor supplier across mobile, automotive, and industrial segments. Direct competitor to Pixelplus in automotive and security CIS, with vastly greater scale and R&D capacity.
• Samsung System LSI (ISOCELL): Samsung's image sensor division, dominant in mobile CIS and expanding into automotive. Historically a Pixelplus customer (Samsung mobile in 2003) and now a competitor across multiple segments.
• onsemi (ON Semiconductor): Major automotive image sensor and ISP supplier with strong Tier 1 and OEM relationships. Competes directly with Pixelplus in automotive ADAS and SVM applications.
• STMicroelectronics: European semiconductor leader with automotive image sensor and global shutter products (e.g., VD55G0, VD56G3). Direct overlap with Pixelplus's automotive DMS and ASIL-B portfolio.
• Canon (CMOS sensor division): Diversified imaging company with CMOS sensor offerings for industrial, security, and machine vision. Competes with Pixelplus in industrial and specialty imaging markets.

Direct peers

• OmniVision (Will Semiconductor): Pure-play fabless CIS designer serving automotive, security, mobile, and emerging markets. Closest direct competitor to Pixelplus — overlapping product categories, target customers, and automotive security focus.
• GalaxyCore: Chinese fabless CIS designer serving mobile, automotive, IoT, and security. Competes with Pixelplus in security and emerging imaging markets with similar fabless design approach.
• SmartSens Technology: Chinese fabless CIS company targeting automotive, security, machine vision, and AI imaging. Comparable fabless business model and overlapping product portfolio with Pixelplus.

Emerging players

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Specialty imaging and photonic sensor company with strengths in scientific, medical, and defense imaging. Overlaps with Pixelplus's medical and defense segments (NIR/SWIR capabilities).
• CMOS Sensor Inc. Specialty CIS provider focused on niche and emerging applications including industrial and medical imaging. Comparable fabless model and product portfolio targeting similar specialty imaging applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pixelplus-co-ltd

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pixelplus Co.,ltd.