Archives for March 2021
Nikon is developing the Nikon Z 9 full-frame flagship mirrorless camera
Omnivision Beats its Own Guinness World Record
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
BusinessWire: OmniVision announces the OH0TA OVMed medical image sensor—with a package size of just 0.55mm x 0.55mm, featuring a 1.0um pixel and a 1/31” optical format—smaller than the Guinness World Record held by its predecessor for the “Smallest Commercially Available Image Sensor.” The OH0TA also quadruples the RGB image resolution to 400x400, or 160 K Pixels, at 30 fps while reducing the power consumption by 20% to 20mW. This allows designers to add ultra-compact visualization to single-use and reusable endoscopes, as well as catheters and guidewires, with a small outer diameter of 1-2mm. Alternatively, this sensor’s uniquely small size gives medical device OEMs the flexibility to create a larger-diameter scope with a larger working channel.
“The trend toward minimally invasive procedures continues to grow, due to their greater success rates and shorter patient recovery times. However, for the narrowest areas of the anatomy, particularly in neuro and cardiac surgeries, previous sensors did not have the necessary combination of high resolution and extremely small size,” said Ehsan Ayar, medical product marketing manager at OmniVision. “The OH0TA is the world’s first sensor to offer this combination, enabling significant endoscope improvements, especially in comparison to traditional videoscopes made with optical fibers, which have limited resolution, poor imager quality and high cost.”
To achieve this increase in resolution, along with a smaller pixel size and optical format, the OH0TA is built on PureCel Plus-S stacked die technology. This pixel also provides sensitivity of 3600 mV/lux-sec, along with a SNR of 37.5dB. Additionally, PureCel Plus-S enables the OH0TA’s higher FWC, zero blooming and lower power consumption.
Other key features include a 15.5 degree CRA, enabling the use of lenses with high fields of view and short focus distances. It also supports a 4-wire interface, as well as raw analog data output, both of which can transmit via cables as long as 4 meters with minimal signal noise. For backward compatibility and easy adoption, this sensor interfaces with OmniVision’s existing OV426 ADC bridge chip. Additionally, it is autoclavable for reusable endoscope sterilization.
Samples of the OH0TA are available now, in OmniVision’s hCSP chip scale package with 100 micron thick cover glass and an anti-reflective coating.
BusinessWire: OmniVision also announces the OVMed OCHTA camera module based on the new sensor.
Rumor: Apple AR Headset to Include 15 Cameras
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
i-Micronews and AppleInsider quote analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying that Apple rumored AR/MR headset is to be presented to the world in 2022 and will include 15 integrated cameras:Sony Announces Large Format 127.68MP Global Shutter Sensor
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
PRNewswire: Sony announces the upcoming release of a large format 56.73mm diagonal CMOS sensor "IMX661" for industrial equipment with a global shutter and the industry's highest effective pixel count of 127.68MP. Its optical size nearly 10 times larger than the common 1.1-type image sensor corresponded to the C mount for industrial equipment. It also features global shutter "Pregius" pixel and high-speed readout at a data rate nearly four times faster than conventional products. The sampling of the new IMX661 sensor is planned for April 2021.
ON Semi Lays-off 740 Employees
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
PhoenixBusinessJournal: ON Semiconductor plans to lay off approximately 740 employees across the company and its subsidiaries during the first half of 2021. The company said these terminations are part of its ongoing efforts to refocus on growth drivers and streamline operations.Isorg Organic Photodiode-Based Fingerprint Sensor Gets FBI Certification
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
ALANews, BusinessWire: Isorg Fingerprint Acquisition Profile (FAP) 10 module has received FBI certification, the first in this category of organic photodiode (OPD) based optical sensors. The FAP 10 biometrics module is now approved for use in security applications, in particular in mobile device identification for access control at airports and other facilities where the highest security levels are needed.
Rode Wireless Go II review
Assorted Videos: Optasensor, ST, Ouster, NASA
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Optasensor publishes a company presentation video:TechInsights on Small Pixels
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
TechInsights has held an excellent webinar on image sensor trends and comparisons on March 3, 2021. The webinar is available for on-demand access now. There is a lot of interesting information there. This is a second post about small pixels:
Nikon 17.8MP 1,000fps Sensor – English Version
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Nikon publishes an English version of its February 17th announcement of the 17.8MP 1,000fps stacked sensor presented at ISSCC 2021.
Vision Research Unveils 76,000fps @ 1MP Camera
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Ametek Vision Research introduces the Phantom TMX Series, its first high-speed cameras that use BSI sensors to achieve up to 75 Gpx/sec speed and improve light sensitivity.
The Phantom TMX Series consists of two models, TMX 7510 and TMX 6410. TMX 7510 achieves 76,000 fps at full 1MP resolution of 1280 x 800, over 300,000 fps at 1280 x 192 resolution, and over 770,000 fps at smaller resolutions. With the export-controlled FAST option, TMX 7510 reaches a 1.75 Million fps and 95ns minimum exposure time, eliminating motion blur.
“We’re excited to introduce this new class of high-speed performance to the market,” says Jay Stepleton, VP and GM of Vision Research. “In bringing BSI technology to high-speed applications in a new, cutting-edge sensor, we continue to advance high-speed capabilities through innovation. We designed the TMX cameras for speed, to support the very high frame rate requirements we see in many new and cutting-edge applications.”
iToF Multipath Reduction Thesis
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
ISOCELL 2.0 Technology Explained
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
When Samsung announced its 0.7um pixel in September 2020, the PR mentioned that "the new 0.7μm lineup will adopt enhanced pixel technology with boosted light sensitivity, ISOCELL 2.0, later this year." By that time, ISOCELL 2.0 was said to increase the light sensitivity by 12%.Melexis Gets Exclusive Rights to Use Chronoptics Technology of ToF Multipath and Linearity Errors Correction in Automotive Applications
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Hynix to Unveil 0.7um Pixel by the End of 2021
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Korea Economic Daily reports that SK Hynix is is developing a 0.7um 64MP image sensor for smartphones and plans to bring it to market by the end of 2021. Hynix also plans to unveil new image sensors for security cameras and biological applications.TSR: Market Share Gap Between Sony and Samsung to Shrink to 10% in 2021
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
BusinessKorea, Aju.news: Korean media quote an interesting data from the recent TSR market report:- In 2020, Sony market share was 45.1%, while Samsung's - 19.8%
- The 2020 gap has shrunk by 5.1-5.2% in comparison with 2019
- TSR expects this gap to shrink further to 10% in 2021
- Aju.news: The global image sensor market is forecasted to increase by 22.1% from $20.4B this year to $24.9B in 2024
- BusinessKorea: The global image sensor market is forecasted to increase by 11.4% annually from $17.9B this year to $24.8B in 2024
- Goodix has emerged as a major image sensor market player with a share of 3.6% in 2020
French Government Invests in SWIR Sensors Development
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Report: Price of 13MP Mobile Sensors Falls to $1.55
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
News.hqew.com quotes MoneyDJ Nikkei report that mobile CIS sensor prices decline for the last 3 quarters. Specifically, 13MP sensors wholesale price declined by 3% to $1.55.
Other than Huawei sanctions, the reason for decline is said to be the attempts to reduce the price of 5G phones by simplifying camera modules.
Another version of this report appears on OFweek site:
"[Samsung and Sony start a price war: CMOS image sensor prices have fallen for three consecutive quarters]
According to the news on March 2nd, according to the Nikkei Shimbun’s report on the same day, the block transaction price of CMOS image sensors from January to March dropped by about 3% from October to December 2020. Recently, the two giants in the field of CMOS image sensor, Samsung and Sony, have become more and more fierce in the price war, and the price of CMOS image sensor has fallen for three consecutive quarters.
At present, among the many products of CMOS image sensors, the representative product is 13 million pixels (sensor size 1/3 inch). Prices for the quarter (October-December 2020) fell by 3%."
TechInsights on Voltage-Domain Global Shutter Pixels
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
TechInsights has held an excellent webinar on image sensor trends and comparisons yesterday. The webinar is available for on-demand access now. There is too much interesting information for one post. I'd start from Smartsens and Omnivision voltage domain global shutters (Microsoft Azure, Sony, and Samsung pixels have charge domain shutters):
Nikon releases NX Studio, a new software that enables the seamless viewing and editing of still images and video
Assorted Videos: Photon Force, NIT, ST, Brookman
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Photon Force publishes a video of its PF32 32 x 32 SPAD array with 55ps time resolution:
New Imaging Technologies (NIT) publishes the company's introductory video:
ST publishes a demo of its GS sensor in driving monitoring applications:
Ouster’s Digital LiDAR Pitch for Investors
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Ouster publishes its Investor Day presentation dated by Feb. 22, 2021, explaining advantages of its digital LiDAR:
Ouster’s Digital LiDAR Pitch for Investors
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Ouster publishes its Investor Day presentation dated by Feb. 22, 2021, explaining advantages of its digital LiDAR:Ams Establishes Consumer Imaging Center of Excellence in Rochester, NY
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
DJI FPV review
Senseeker Engineering Acquires SE-IR Corporation
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
ROIC company Senseeker Engineering acquired SE-IR Corporation, a cryogenic test equipment and electronics developer. The combination of Senseeker's digital ROIC and SE-IR's industry standard test Dewars and electronics is a highly complementary amalgam that will enable FPA makers to expedite their development and evaluation process.
The terms of the acquisition are undisclosed. Both Senseeker and SE-IR were privately held companies prior to the acquisition and Senseeker remains a 100% privately held company after this transaction. SE-IR's business and products are being integrated as seamlessly as possible into the Senseeker organization. The SEIR brand name shall be retained for Senseeker's product line of electronics and cryogenic equipment and modified as Senseeker Engineering Infrared.
"Senseeker builds solutions that help our customers create higher performance sensors and get them into production faster," said Kenton Veeder, President at Senseeker Engineering. "Our continued commitment not to sell infrared FPAs is aligned with SE-IR, who has been a strong ecosystem partner to Senseeker and the infrared community for many years. Together we accelerate our customers' capabilities through expanded stand-alone and combined solutions incorporating integrated circuits, Dewars, electronics and software. We will heighten our customers technology and bring their solutions to market faster."
ON Semi Launches World’s First Automotive Qualified SiPM Array for LiDAR Applications
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
i-Micronews, EEJournal: ON Semi announces the new RDM-Series silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array for LiDARs. The RDM-0112A20-QFN is said to be the first automotive qualified SiPM product in the market. The ArrayRDM-0112A20-QFN is AEC-Q102 qualified and developed in accordance with IATF 16949.
Technavio Forecasts CIS Market to Grow by $10.80B during 2021-2025
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
PRNewsWire: According to Technavio, the CMOS image sensors market is expected to grow by $10.80B during 2021-2025, expanding at a CAGR of almost 10%.
Hyperspectral Imaging Applications
Image Sensors World Go to the original article...
Stemmer Imaging publishes European Imaging Academy webinar on hyperspectral imaging use cases: