Panasonic planning two high-sensitivity 1/1.8"-class sensors for late-2010 and 2012

Image Sensors World has spotted a new version of the Panasonic Image Sensor roadmap. The most interesting part of this is that Panasonic is planning two high sensitivity sensors in the 1/1.8" sensor class, one scheduled for late-2010 (Photokina?) and one for mid-to-late 2012.

On the megapixels-parade front at the 1/2.3", we SADLY see 16mp, then 18mp, and then 20mp by the end of 2012. Ouch! They also have a 12mp 1/2.3" sensor scheduled for CES/PMA 2011 time, so perhaps they may try something to counter what Sony is doing with the lower-megapixel backlit CMOS sensors?

You can check the 12-page PDF file if you like, from the Panasonic Semiconductors Japan website. The roadmap is on page #3 of the document (page #5 of the PDF file).

(Interestingly none of the 43rds/M43rds sensors are listed in this, perhaps they don't want to tip their hat?)

And one more thing - we don't know if this is just a presentation thing, or perhaps they are sneaking it in, but look at the graphic on page #2 of the document (page #4 of the PDF file), this looks like an interesting camera design: