Toshiba working on 14.6-megapixel 1/2.3" backlit CMOS sensor at 1.4 micron

Toshiba has fired the first shot in the megapixel wars at the 1/2.3" sensor level by announcing a new 14.6-megapixel 1/2.3" backlit CMOS sensor with a gigantic (sarcasm) 1.4 micron pitch. It will spin at 60fps 1080p so fans of HD video can rejoice! It is expected to go in mass production in Q3 of 2010, so there's plenty of time for someone else to leapfrog it in terms of number of megapixels :)

Surely the average 1/2.3" digicam has grown out of 12-megapixels and people need more ;-)

Perhaps in conjunction with this move in sensors, perhaps Toshiba may be a potential candidate for a Pentax take-over. As you may recall, a few centuries ago, Toshiba was selling digital cameras but then palin'ed out when the market got tough.

Speaking of Toshi, they are part of a new anti-trust investigation on optical-drive price-fixing.

Further Reading
+ Image Sensors World
+ digitalcamera.jp
+ DC Watch
+ What is a back-lit sensor? (forum discussion)