NEC shows camera chip that supports 12MP images and 1080p HD video

NEC CE143

Today NEC introduced a new member of its "camera engine" chips that will enable component makers to design camera phone modules that support 12 megapixel still photos and full 1080p HD video. The new chip, called the CE143 ("Camera Engine 143") also sports built-in support for image stabilization and includes advanced circuitry that the company claims handles face recognition 25 times faster than typical software based solutions.

The company plans to start shipping chip samples of the CE143 in March of this year and will go into full production of 1 million chips per month starting in April.

NEC Electronics will be showing off the CE143 and other products in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress show that starts on February 16.