Omnivision Announces Two Versions of 8MP Sensor for Smartphones

PRNewswire: OmniVision announces the OV8856, a 1/4-inch 8MP, 1.12um pixel PureCel sensor for mainstream mobile devices.

"The global market for 8-megapixel sensors is booming, with analysts expecting over one billion in annual unit sales by 20171. A vast number of mainstream mobile handsets are already using 8-megapixel cameras for their rear-facing cameras. Looking forward, industry observers expect a strong trend toward an ever-increasing number of mobile handsets with their former 1/4-inch 5-megapixel cameras upgraded to 1/4-inch 8-megapixel cameras2," said Arun Jayaseelan, product marketing manager at OmniVision. "The capabilities and compactness of the OV8856 address the increasing consumer demand for higher resolution and more advanced features in mobile front- and rear-facing cameras."

The OV8856 captures full-resolution 8MP images and video at 30fps, and 1080p video at 60fps. The sensor also supports interlaced HDR (iHDR) for HDR video. The OV8856 is said to be one of the smallest 8MP sensors in the market today, and is approximately 15 percent smaller than OmniVision's previous generation OV8858 image sensor. It can fit into a 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm fixed focus module with a z-height of approximately 4 mm.

OmniVision also announces the OV8855, a variation of the OV8856 with PDAF. Both sensors are currently available for sampling, and are expected to enter volume production in the fourth quarter of 2015.