Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Hong Kong University publishes its video poster on modeling of Current-Assisted Photonic Demodulator (CAPD) for iToF sensors:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Hong Kong University publishes its video poster on modeling of Current-Assisted Photonic Demodulator (CAPD) for iToF sensors:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Sohu: Suzhou Keyang Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (Keyang Semiconductor) receives a strategic investment of more than 100M yuan. After the completion of this round of investment, Keyang Semiconductor will accelerate the upgrade of the CIS production line.

Li Yongzhi, Director and CEO of Keyun Semiconductor, says: "In the face of new opportunities, Keyang Semiconductor will continue to dig deeper in the field of advanced semiconductor packaging, and is committed to becoming the world's leading through-silicon via (TSV) and wafer-level packaging (WLP) solution provider!"

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

GlobeNewswire: Ambarella announces an Artificial Intelligence Image Signal Processor (AISP). The new AISP will become available across Ambarella’s entire CVflow SoC portfolio at resolutions up to 4K. The applications of this technology encompass all of the company’s target markets, where low-light and HDR processing are critical. This includes security and automotive cameras, where full-color night vision is a key operating point, and where better low-light and HDR enable reductions in external illumination, the use of lower cost sensors, and cleaner video for both human viewing and analytics processing.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Dartmouth publishes "Q&A with engineering professor and Technology and Engineering Emmy winner Eric Fossum." Few quotes:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

BusinessWire: Omnivision announces the latest addition to its Nyxel NIR family―the OX05B1S is the automotive industry’s first 5MP RGB-IR BSI global shutter sensor for in-cabin monitoring systems (IMS) with a pixel size of just 2.2µm with improves 940nm NIR sensitivity. Additionally, it is the first RGB-IR sensor for in-cabin monitoring to feature integrated cybersecurity.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

BusinessWire: Omnivision launches the OX03D, a 3MP SoC for automotive surround-view systems (SVS), rearview systems (RVS) and e-mirrors. The new SoC provides a path for automotive OEMs to upgrade from 1MP to 3MP while retaining a 1/4-inch optical format. The OX03D4C has a fully integrated ISP, is capable of 140dB HDR and includes the tone-mapping algorithm along with the LED flicker mitigation (LFM).

It features 105dB motion-free HDR with a total range of 140dB, and provides HDR and LFM simultaneously. The OX03D supports a number of CFA patterns, and can output both YUV and RAW process streams at the same time. The OX03D4C provides four on-screen display overlay layers for driver guidelines, as well as distortion correction to straighten any curved edges from lenses with a wide viewing angle. The OX03D4C consumes less than 500 mW power, enabling the use of a plastic case for lighter weight and lower cost.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

BusinessWire: Omnivision announces the OVB0, said to be the world’s smallest 200MP image sensor with pixel size at just 0.61µm for smartphone cameras. The OVB0B is the first 200MP to offer 100% quad phase detection (QPD) for fast autofocus.

The OVB0B features the industry’s first 16-cell binning capability for 4K2K video with 16 times the sensitivity. In low light environments it achieves 12.5MP performance with 2.44µm-equivalent pixel size using near pixel 4x4 binning. An on-chip remosaic enables 50MP at 24 fps and 8k video at 30 fps with 1.22µm-equivalent performance. The OVB0B can also output 12.5MP at 30 fps with 3-exposure staggered HDR timing.

“Consumers want high resolution captures and high quality preview and video. As the image sensor technology leader, we have applied our PureCel Plus-S stacked die technology to dramatically push mobile main cameras to a new level,” said Arun Jayaseelan, staff marketing manager at Omnivision. “With the new OVB0B, we now offer the industry’s highest resolution in a small package for high end smart phones along with the best low-light performance in its class.”

“We estimate more than 40 million image sensors with 100MP+ resolution are expected to be shipped to smartphone vendors in 2022,” says Jeffrey Mathews, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics.

The OVB0B supports CPHY, DPHY and dual DOVDD (1.8V and 1.2V). Samples of the OVB0B are available now.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

PRNewswire: Sony announces Vision-S concept vehicle. It has 18 cameras and 4 LiDARs:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

SemiconductorEngineering: VPS Semiconductor startup promising "For the first time, a new type of imaging device with a single pixel composed of a single transistor-vertical charge transfer imaging device (VPS technology for short)" raises 100M yuan in series A financing round.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Seetrum ( Chinese name Yuguang Technology) announces the completion of a pre-A round of financing of several hundred million yuan. Yuguang Technology focuses on providing spectroscopy chips,  AI algorithms and smart perception solutions.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Soitec Capital Market Day presentation shows the company's innovations in wafers for imaging:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

The AUTOVISION Spearhead Project aims to develop a graphene-based SWIR image sensor, and integrate it in a suitable camera system for self-driving cars.

Led by Qurv in Barcelona, AUTOVISION counts on the collaboration of industrial partners such Aixtron in the UK and Veoneer in Sweden, to help make safe deployment of autonomous vehicles possible.

The AUTOVISION project, over the course of three years, will produce CMOS graphene quantum dot image sensors in prototype sensor systems, ready for uptake in the automotive sector. Across the duration of the project, the developing image sensor is set to take huge leaps in sensitivity, operation speed and pixel size.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Hamamatsu presents Lightsheet Readout Mode for microscopes that is said to improve image quality:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Here is my list of the most significant achievements in image sensor industry this year:

• New theory of RTS noise based on multi-atom metastable defects in Si crystal structure 
• If correct, it might cause a paradigm shift in the ways to reduce RTS noise
• Opens a way to simulate and analyze various ways of RTN suppression on computer models
• This is my personal favorite of 2021 that hopefully would turn into commercial product achievements in 2022-25
• Gives a hope that RTN would be eradicated in future devices
• Samsung 17nm FinFET process for stacked CIS logic die
• Samsung 2.2V supply pixel is in mass produced 108MP smartphone sensor
• Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology presented its version of 0.8um color-routing pixel
• Sony splits 4T pixel transistors between two layers in a stacked sensor
• SPAD progress:
• Sony created 6um-pitch SPAD with 20.2% QE at 940nm
• Canon presented 3.2MP SPAD sensor
• LiDAR SPAC parade continues:
• Quanergy SPAC
• Aeye SPAC
• Indie Semiconductor SPAC
• Cepton SPAC
• LiDAR consolidation: Sense Photonics has been acquired by Ouster for $68M in stock with 5-year reverse vesting for key employees
• China News:
• Galaxycore IPO makes CEO Stanly Zhao a multi-billionaire
• High productivity: Smartsens completed more than 30 tapeouts in 2020, 31 tapeouts in 2021, released 36 new products in 2021
• Smartsens IPO at $4.4B valuation
• Tyrafos raised "hundred of millions of yuan" investment

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Tencent, Sohu: Smartsens reports that in 2021 it has released 36 new products to mass production, and completed 31 tapeouts of future products including 4K and 8K image sensors for security and surveillance applications.

In a separate announcement, Smartsens presents its new automotive sensors: VGA SC031AP and 1MP SC101AP, both integrated with ISP and Tx output port:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

IEEE TED publishes Panasonic paper "Nonlinear Carrier Dynamics in a Single Photon Avalanche Diode: Stability, Bifurcation, and Quenching Condition" by Akito Inoue and Yutaka Hirose.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

BusinessWire: Stratio will work with South Korea’s National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) to create a first-of-its kind app that detects design infringements. The app instantly matches photos of suspected items to similar designs from an IP database to obtain a similarity score. This is possible through a backend which utilizes several of Stratio's imaging technologies, including algorithms for object detection, image retrieval, and report generation.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

JW Insights publishes a list of top R&D spenders among semiconductor companies in China. Image sensor companies Will Semi (Omnivision) and Goodix take 3rd and 5th places respectively:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Canon publishes a press release about its SPAD sensor with 6.39 μm pixels presented at IEDM 2021:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

ITHome, GizomoChina, Huaweiupdate: Huawei semiconductor division HiSilicon presents its Yueying ISP at China International Social Public Safety Expo (China Security Expo for short).

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

ITHome, GizomoChina, Huaweiupdate: Huawei semiconductor division HiSilicon presents its Yueying ISP at China International Social Public Safety Expo (China Security Expo for short).

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Omnivision publishes a series of milestone videos summarizing the company's progress over the years:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

SigmaIntell publishes its report on camera module prices in China and its forecast for Q1 2022:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Omnivision opens Howard Rhodes Lifetime Achievement Memorial Wall in its visitor center in Santa Clara, CA:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Association for Advancing Automation (A3) publishes its list of "Image Sensor Innovations that Push Machine Vision Forward."

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

ST publishes an article about its recent IEDM paper "1.62µm Global Shutter Quantum Dot Image Sensor Optimized for Near and Shortwave Infrared" by Johnathan Steckel:

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

MDPI publishes a review paper "Metasurface Photodetectors" by Jinzhao Li, Junyu Li, Shudao Zhou, and Fei Yi from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, National University of Defense Technology, and Raytron (China).

"Typical photodetectors only convert the intensity of light electrical output signals, leaving other electromagnetic parameters, such as the frequencies, phases, and polarization states unresolved. Metasurfaces are arrays of subwavelength structures that can manipulate the amplitude, phase, frequency, and polarization state of light. When combined with photodetectors, metasurfaces can enhance the light-matter interaction at the pixel level and also enable the detector pixels to resolve more electromagnetic parameters. In this paper, we review recent research efforts in merging metasurfaces with photodetectors towards improved detection performances and advanced detection schemes. The impacts of merging metasurfaces with photodetectors, on the architecture of optical systems, and potential applications are also discussed."

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Gpixel announces GMAX3809 extending the GMAX family into ITS applications next to its traditional industrial inspection segment. Gpixel optimized the GMAX product architecture with dedicated ITS features such as enhanced NIR response, pixel size of 3.8 μm, LED flicker mitigation and multiple region HDR modes. GMAX3809 is first in a series of GMAX products with optimized product features for ITS applications.

GMAX3809 fits 4096(H) x 2160(V) (9 MP) resolution into a 1.1” format with low noise, charge domain Global Shutter pixels running at 65 fps at 12-bit ADC resolution. GMAX3809’s 3.8 μm pixel achieves a FWC of 11.5 Ke- and noise of 3.6 e- which delivers more than 70 dB linear DR. The peak QE is 60%, a Parasitic Light Sensitivity is -92 dB, and angular response at > 15° is 80%.

GMAX3809 comes standard in a NIR-enhanced version using Gpixel’s Red Fox technology, offering the ultimate balance between NIR sensitivity and MTF. GMAX3809 achieves a QE of more than 30% at 850 nm and 14% at 940 nm.

GMAX3809 delivers 65 fps with 8 pairs of sub-LVDS channels each running at 960 Mbps resulting in a maximum data rate of 7.68 Gbps. On-chip functions, such as on-chip color offset calibration, channel multiplexing, multiple region HDR and LED flicker are available and programmable through SPI or I2C interface.

GMAX3809 is housed in a 163-pin ceramic LGA package with outer dimensions of 27.1 mm x 17.9 mm. The sensor assembly includes a double side AR coated cover glass lid.

GMAX3809 engineering samples can be ordered today for delivery in January, 2022.

Go to the original article...

Image Sensors World        Go to the original article...

Sina Technology: BYD Semiconductor's 1/15-inch 80,000-pixel CMOS sensor BF30A2 won the 2021 "China Chip" product award for outstanding market performance in the field of home appliances.

Go to the original article...