Wednesday, October 31, 2012

First CMOS Sensor from Truesense Imaging

Formerly known by its CCDs, Truesense Imaging re-enters CMOS image sensor market with the new 12MP 4/3-inch KAC-12040 based on 4.7um 5T global shutter pixel. The new sensor is delivers 60fps at full resolution of 100fps in 4K 8.3MP 16:9 mode. The fast output is delivered through 64 LVDS lanes in 260MHz DDR manner. The ADC resolution can be selected in 10b to 14b range. The power consumption is 2W in 12MP/60fps mode.

The pixel full well is 13Ke-. The read noise is 10e in rolling shutter mode and 30e with global shutter, meaning DR of 62dB with rolling shutter or 52dB with the global one. The reported QE for Bayer color version is 40%, 45%, 43% at 470, 540, 620 nm respectively. The monochrome version's QE is 50%, 18%, 11% at 500, 850, 900 nm respectively.

The KAC-12040 Image Sensor is available in monochrome and Bayer color configurations, and is sampling now with production planned for Q2, 2013. An evaluation system that allows detailed analysis of the sensor’s performance is expected to be available in Q4, 2012.

The KAC-12040 CMOS sensor is said to be the first in a planned family of CMOS devices that complement Truesense Imaging’s CCD portfolio by providing the functionality and flexibility available uniquely from CMOS technology.

Posted by Vladimir Koifman at 21:08

9 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 1, 2012 at 3:29 PM

    They got rid of all their analog designers when they originally dropped CMOS a few years ago. I wonder how they are getting the CMOS design done. Also, their CCD fab can't handle CMOS geometries. I wonder if they are using Tower?

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  2. AnonymousNovember 1, 2012 at 4:34 PM

    Will they be sued by OV since all the KODAK CMOS patents have been sold to OV??

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 1, 2012 at 5:42 PM

      How do you know that they violate any of those patents?

      Delete
    2. Eric R FossumNovember 1, 2012 at 6:24 PM

      I am sure Kodak retained rights to make, or have made, products that use any of the IP that they sold. Probably right now Sony needs to be the most concerned about that IP package sold to OVT.

      Delete
    3. CDMNovember 1, 2012 at 9:23 PM

      Why Sony?

      Delete
    4. AnonymousNovember 2, 2012 at 2:32 AM

      Sony had an cross license agreement with Kodak that included the image sensor patents. As fas as I know such agreements remain valid even if the patents are sold, at least for the period of time stipulated in the agreement.

      Delete
    5. Eric R FossumNovember 2, 2012 at 3:44 PM

      I am pretty sure the contents of the IP package are under NDA, particularly non-published applications. I had not heard that the value of the package had been diluted by pre-existing licensing, which makes the initial asking price all that much more overpriced. All in all, it would be good if all the major players cross-licensed each other so that if one company goes under, a patent troll does not cause trouble for everyone else.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousNovember 12, 2012 at 12:47 PM

    "The read noise is 10e in rolling shutter mode and 30e with global shutter, meaning DR of 62dB with rolling shutter or 52dB with the global one. The reported QE for Bayer color version is 40%, 45%, 43% at 470, 540, 620 nm respectively. The monochrome version's QE is 50%, 18%, 11% at 500, 850, 900 nm respectively."

    Do you know the corresponding figures for existing 4/3 type sensors?

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  4. AnonymousDecember 29, 2012 at 10:13 PM

    TrueSense making cmos sensors ??
    They garbaged all their cmos designers and a complete facility ... so I really wonder about this sensor...

    ReplyDelete

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